Manila Standard - 2022 October 16 - Sunday

Gov’t to limit SIMs per person

Implementing rules to determine ‘reasonable’ ceiling—DICT

many SIMs

one

Government authorities will deter mine this as they hammer out the Im plementing Rules and Regulations of

the law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week.

What is clear this early, though, is

that there will be a cap per person as the measure seeks to address the del uge of text scams and spams.

“I think it will be in the IRR who will be navigating that area as to how many SIM can be registered under one name,” Department of Information and

Communication Technology Assistant Secretary Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo said in an interview with Teleradyo Satur day.

Lamentillo said there are around 160 million SIMs currently being used by Filipinos.

WHO studying if COVID still merits highest alert

THE World Health Organization’s COVID-19 emergency committee has started discussions if the pandemic still warrants the highest level of alarm the UN health agency can sound.

The quarterly meeting was held in hybrid format Friday (Manila time),

Lawyer

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

A FORMER head of the Philippine Bar Association on Saturday warned the justice system may collapse if interfer ence or influence is perceived on the anti-illegal drug case of the son of Jus tice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

"The law should not be influenced. The secretary of justice and even judg es must be impartial and unbiased,” Domingo said in a Teleradyo interview.

Public trust in the judicial process

with some participants in Geneva and others joining online.

The committee meets every three months to discuss the pandemic and reports to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Last time it concluded that the pan

demic still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – the WHO’s highest level of alert.

The committee is chaired by French doctor Didier Houssin and has 18 other members as well as 11 advisors.

It is meeting for the 13th time since January 2020.

The committee declared the COVID-19 outbreak a PHEIC on Janu ary 30, 2020, when, outside of China, fewer than 100 cases and no deaths

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy earlier said a person can register multiple SIMs, but these would have to be prop erly identified.

Lamentillo said the registration pro cess will likely be done online.

‘Neneng’ gains strength, 5 areas under Signal 2

TROPICAL cyclone “Neneng” intensified into a tropical storm Saturday, state weather bureau PAGASA said, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

should be maintained, he said.

"The Justice department is one of the five pillars of the justice system.

The five pillars are law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, penology, and our community. If the people lose faith on one of those pillars, our justice sys tem will collapse,” Domingo said.

“Key to maintaining that is the trust and confidence of the people in the justice system,” he added.

Remulla's eldest son, Juanito Jose

Brightest flash ever captivates

ASTRONOMERS have observed the brightest flash of light ever seen, from an event that occurred 2.4 billion light years from Earth and was likely trig gered by the formation of a black hole.

The burst of gamma-rays—the most intense form of electromagnetic radia tion—was first detected by orbiting tele scopes on October 9, and its afterglow is still being watched by scientists across the world.

NOW this is something to crow about.

The ubiquitous Filipino dish, “Inasal na manok,” was named the fifth best chicken dish in the world by Taste Atlas.

“It employs various chicken cuts marinated in a mixture of vinegar and numerous spices such as lemongrass, garlic, and ginger,” Taste Atlas said.

“During grilling, the meat is brushed with the annatto-infused oil which provides the chicken with an appetizing golden color and a unique peppery flavor.”

Peru's pollo a la brasa was ranked

The storm, the country’s 14th tropical cyclone this year, is moving toward the Batanes-Babuyan area, with gusts of up to 80 kph.

“This tropical cyclone may further intensify into a typhoon on Tuesday,” PAGASA said.

Signal No. 2 is hoisted in the following Luzon areas: Batanes; Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; Apayao; northern Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Lagayan); and Ilocos Norte.

The following areas have been placed under Signal No. 1: Northern Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon,

number one among the 50 top chicken dishes rounded up by the platform.

Taste Atlas recommended six restaurants in the Philippines, based on ratings from their food critics, where to eat the best chicken inasal.

Topping the list is Aida’s Manokan in Bacolod, followed by Manokan Country also in Bacolod, Island Chicken Inasal in Boracay, BalayDako in Tagaytay, Barrio Inasal in Iloilo City and Ka Joel's Inato in Puerto Princesa.

Pinoy pandemic

‘Inasal na manok’ is 5th best chicken dish in the world

BRIGHTEST GAMMA RAY BURST. Photo

by NASA shows

VISUAL DELIGHT. Seven areas—Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Bengeut, Ifugao, Kalinga and the Mountain Province – join the first Cordillera Festival of Festivals show in Baguio City on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Danny Pata

STORM SURGE PROTECTION PROJECT. Speaker Martin Romualdez is being brief by Department of Public Works and Highways Region 8 director Edgar Tabacon on the status of the Leyte Tide Embankment, also called Storm Surge Protection project currently under construction in Palo town. Ver Noveno

NCRPO will roll out more outposts on wheels for Undas, holiday season

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will roll out more mo bile police outposts (MPO) to ensure peace and order during the country’s the observance of the All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day, as well as the entire holiday season.

NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said these rolling outposts are “ready to be shifted to the cemeteries come the commemoration of ‘Un das’ where the people, after years of pandemic, are keen to visit their deceased relatives.”

The MPOs which are literally “wheels” are manned by police officers ready to assist the public in times of emergencies and extend safety services.

It was designed for mobility and quick re sponse to places needing emergency police

DBM chief: Admin on right track to economic recovery

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is going in the right direction to ensure the Philippines’ strong economic re covery, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

In a roundtable discussion with Washington-based business and fi nancial leaders on Saturday, Pangan daman noted that in the past weeks, there was a “common” observation about the positive outlook on the Philippine economy.

“(There is) optimism about the Philippine economy. This is not without basis. Business, consumers and the government all agreed that the Phil ippines is on track towards strong recovery,” Pangandman said.

She admitted however that external challenges exist on the country’s re covery and economic transformation.

She, nevertheless, said the Philip pine government made sure that its proposed 2023 national expendi ture program and structural reform initiatives would meet its economic prosperity agenda.

“We have prepared and designed our policies and programs to address these concerns,” Pangandaman said.

“We are working towards economic transformation that will be felt by every individual, family, and business in the Philippines.”

The DBM chief said the P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023, which is 4.9 percent higher than the 2022 budget, will account for around 22.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year.

assistance.

“As the holiday season approaches, the public will be expecting more rolling police outpost to be post ed in crime prone areas and other places or areas where influx of people are expected,” said Estomo.

The NCRPO chief said he crafted the mobile police outpost to be deployed in the region to ensure swift police response and assistance 24/7 in the metropolis. He added the project is also in line with the NCRPO’s project called SAFE (Seen, Appreciated and Felt).

“The establishment of MPOs is part of the crime prevention measures through immediate police response where patrollers will be on standby, ready to assist the public in times of emergency or extend safety services when needed. This initiative guarantees police presence is always seen and felt,” Estomo explained.

Last week, the NCRPO launched a new mobile outpost in Paranaque City, bringing to seven the total number of MPOs that were already deployed in the metropolis.

These MPOs are situated along Aseana Ave., Macapagal Ave., Ninoy Aquino International Air port Expressway southbound ramp, Bradco Ave., Valera St., Diokno Blvd., and Panay Ave. at the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

The NCRPO is programmed to increase police visibility and make them more accessible to the people, Estomo said.

PBBM MEETS EJ OBIENA.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presents a gold medal to Filipino pole vault superstar Ernest John “EJ” Obiena during a courtesy call at Malacañang.

GMA describes PBBM as ‘man who values justice system’

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

SENIOR Deputy Speaker and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. “a man who will be supportive of the work that trial judges do to provide justice to Filipinos.”

Speaking before the 29th conference of the Philippine Trial Judges League held last October 12 in Subic Bay Freeport, the former President advert ed to the Senate impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona when President Marcos, Jr. was still a senator.

“In the end, only three senators voted to acquit the then-Chief Justice….The third was Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. This, despite Justice Corona voting against the Marcos family in the cases before him,” Arroyo said.

Thus, our President is a man who believes in justice and principle, a man who will be supportive of the work that you do to provide justice to our citizens.”

Arroyo likewise qualified that the late Chief Justice received his judicial vindi cation after the Supreme Court’s unan imous decision to grant his retirement benefits to Corona’s widow, ruling that while the Senate impeachment as a political process removed him from office, he was not judicially convicted of any crime.

Furthermore, the former President recalled the politically-motivated cases filed against her by supporters of her immediate successor to emphasize the vital role of trial judges as frontliners in the delivery of justice. She stated: “I mentioned these big cases involving personalities at the highest levels. If in justices can be done at such high levels, what more at the lower levels, involving ordinary citizens. Who will protect them? As trial judges, your decisions are what will inspire our citizens to be lieve that the Philippine justice system works.”

Underscoring her continuing faith in the country’s justice system, she said that all the cases filed against her eventually failed “because so many in our judicial system are decent, fair-minded people who acted on the basis of actual evidence and their conscience, rather than giving way to blind, partisan zealousness.”

Court convicts 2 smugglers of wildlife pets

A PASAY City trial court has convicted two owners of wildlife species allegedly smuggled from Poland and Malaysia last year.

The decisions were separately hand ed down by the Pasay City Metropol itan Trial Court last Sept. 22 and Oct. 4 on the unidentified claimants of the questioned shipments.

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) said the shipments contained tarantulas, sulcate tortoise, black pond turtle, bearded dragon, corn snake, and sa vannah lizards.

Customs – officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport declined to reveal the names of the claimants.

They said however that the two were found guilty of violating Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).

The first defendant, who was ar rested late last year after claiming the shipment at the Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City, was sentenced by the court to 10 days imprisonment

and a fine of P26,000.

The shipment, which was falsely declared as “origami”, contained 10 tarantulas from Poland worth approxi mately P75,000.

The second defendant, on the other hand, owned a P284,000 worth parcel containing 41 different kinds of wildlife species (sulcate tortoise, black pond tur tle, bearded dragon, corn snake, and sa vannah lizards) declared as “Lego Toys” from Kuala Lumpur. He was sentenced to seven months in jail and meted a fine totaling P125,000. Joel E. Zurbano

SSS outlets in NCR shopping malls open on Saturdays until yearend

THE Social Security System (SSS) has announced that its branches located in shopping malls in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) are now open on Saturdays until December 31, 2022 to accommodate members who can only transact with SSS on weekends.

A total of 12 branches in shopping malls within Metro Manila are now accepting SSS transactions except the teller services on Saturdays which include Cubao, Malabon, Nova liches, Paso de Blas, Antipolo, Mandaluyong-Shaw, Marikina, Orti gas, Las Piñas, Makati-Chino Roces, Parañaque, and Taguig, the SSS said

Cavite 7th dist. special poll to be held on Feb. 25, 2023

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set on Feb. 25, 2023 the special election in Cavite’s seventh congressional district which lost its representative after relectionist Jesus Crispin Remulla was named Secretary of the ,Department of Justice.

The filing of certificates of candida cy is on Dec. 5 and 6 while the election period will be from Jan. 26 to March 12, 2023.

The campaign period will run from

January 26 to February 23.

The polling precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Comelec said canvassing of votes will be held immediately after the poll ing ends, according to the Comelec.

All candidates must file their state ments of contributions and expendi tures not later than March 10, 2023.

Remulla ran unopposed in the May 9 polls to secure a second consecutive term, amassing nearly 300,000 votes.

in a statement.

These branches are open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. except for Nova liches and Ortigas which are open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

SSS president and chief executive officer Michael Regino said they ex tended the business hours of several branches to accommodate transacting members even during weekends.

“We understand that many SSS members cannot visit SSS offices during weekdays given their working schedule, so we decided to open our branches in shopping malls on Satur days until the end of the year,” Regino said. Maricel V. Cruz

Solon hails release of P500m aid for cancer patients

AN OPPOSITION congressman has lauded the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Depart ment of Health (DOH) for ensuring the availability of over P500-million worth of financial assistance to Filipi no cancer patients.

“We applaud and thank the DBM, particularly Secretary Amenah Pan gandaman, and the DOH for heeding our incessant call to provide funding for the government’s cancer assistance program, which is a vital component of Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control (NICC) Act of 2019,” House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera said.

“With this funding, the government can now provide life-saving support to cancer patients and their families who are facing financial challenges, especial ly amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Herrera of the Henerasyon party-list.

The DBM recently announced that the cancer assistance fund (CAF) worth P529.2 million can now be used until the end of 2023.

According to the DBM, the alloca tion was included in the 2022 budget of the DOH under RA 11215 which provides, among others, financial sup port for cancer patients, persons living with cancer and survivors.

The funds were released after the DBM and the DOH signed a joint memorandum circular outlining the CAF guidelines.

It will be recalled that Herrera vowed to exert all efforts to restore in the 2023 na tional budget the P500 million line item allocation for cancer patients after finding out that it was not included in the 2023 National Expenditure Program submitted by DBM to Congress.

“We will do everything in our power to make sure that the cancer assistance fund will be included in the final version of the 2023 national budget,” Herrera then said.

The NICC Act, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, establishes a National Integrated Cancer Control Program which would serve as the framework for all cancer-related activities of the government. Maricel V. Cruz

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL. Residents of Iloilo City get a sneak preview of the much-awaited annual Dinagyang Festival with Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Rep. Jamjam Baronda and councilor Miguel Treñas leading the 100-day countdown at the local SM City shopping mall. Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor’s Office

MARAWI NARRATIVE.

Armed Forces of the Philippines opens its exhibit to mark the 5th Marawi Liberation anniversary at the Philippine Army Grandstand in Taguig City on October 15, 2022. Danny Pata

W

DEADLY DISASTER.

Death toll from Turkey mine blast rises to 41—Erdogan

R

ESCUERS on Saturday found the body of the last missing miner at a coal mine in northern Turkey, bringing the death toll to 41 from a methane blast the previous day.

The blast ripped through the mine near the small coal mining town of Amasra on Turkey’s Black Sea coast shortly before sunset on Friday.

Shortly after his arrival at the site on Saturday afternoon, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the last missing person had been found dead.

“Our priority was to find the miners in

the gallery. We finally reached the last one. He also died, bringing the num ber of deaths to 41,” he said, ending rescue operations more than 20 hours after the deadly explosion.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu earlier said 58 miners had survived the blast, “either by themselves or thanks to rescuers.”

He said 28 people had been injured as a result of the blast.

Television images late on Friday showed anxious crowds -- some with tears in their eyes -- congregating around a damaged white building near the entrance to the pit in search of news of their friends and loved ones.

Erdogan earlier vowed on Twitter that the incident will be thoroughly investigated.

Putin insists Russia ‘doing everything right’ in Ukraine

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was “doing everything right” in its nearly eight-month in vasion of Ukraine despite a string of embarrassing defeats against Kyiv’s forces, who will receive $725 million in new US military assistance. Putin’s comments Friday came hours after Kremlin-installed officials in the southern Kherson region urged residents to leave as Kyiv said its sol diers were advancing on the oblast’s main city.

Moscow also hinted at the extent of the damage dealt to the Crimea bridge – the sole land connection between its mainland and the annexed Ukrainian peninsula – following a blast last Satur day, saying it could take many months

GOV’T... “We can confirm that already. Our modality will likely have an onsite registration and elec tronic registration,” she said.

“What we are debating on now is should there be additional re quirements [for the registration],” Lamentillo said

“There should be an encryption process so in case there is a cyber attack, the data will remain protect ed,” she added.

Uy said the IRR will also outline the offenses that will fall under the law.

Section 12 of the SIM Registration Act states that the National Tele communications Commission, in co ordination with the DICT and other agencies and groups, will craft and promulgate an IRR of the measure.

The SIM Registration Act seeks to end crimes using phones, including text and online scams by regulating the sale and the use of SIMs by man dating registration to end-users.

Under this measure, all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) or direct sellers will require the SIM card user to present a valid identifi cation document with a photo.

Information in the SIM card reg istration will be treated as confiden tial unless the subscriber authorizes access to his information.

The measure also directs telecom

to complete repairs. “What is happening today is not pleasant. But all the same, (if Rus sia hadn’t attacked in February) we would have been in the same situa tion, only the conditions would have been worse for us,” Putin told report ers after a summit in the capital of Kazakhstan.

“So we’re doing everything right,” he insisted.

He did, however, acknowledge that Russia’s ex-Soviet allies were “wor ried.”

Putin said there was no need for further massive strikes against Ukraine at present and claimed the Kremlin did not intend to destroy its pro-Western neighbour. AFP

munications companies to disclose the full name and address contained in the SIM card registration upon a duly issued subpoena or order of a court.

Law enforcement agencies that investigate purported crimes commit ted through phones may also submit a written request to telecommunications providers to disclose the details of the SIM card holder.

The measure is the consolidation of the bills approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc., the country’s two biggest telcos, previously ex pressed support for SIM registration and vowed to assist the government in deterring crimes committed electron ically.

WHO... had been recorded.

Though declaring a PHEIC is the internationally-agreed mechanism for triggering an international re sponse to such outbreaks, it was only after Tedros described the worsening COVID situation as a pandemic on March 11, 2020 that many countries woke up to the danger.

“Clearly, we are in a very different situation now to where we were when the committee recommended that I declare a PHEIC more than 33 months ago,” Tedros told a press conference on Wednesday.

“We have all the tools we need to end

Most initial information about those trapped inside was coming from workers who had managed to climb out relatively unharmed.

But Amasra mayor Recai Cakir said many of those who survived had suffered “serious injuries.”

Turkey’s Maden Is mining workers’ union attributed the blast to a buildup of methane gas.

But other officials said it was pre mature to draw definitive conclusions over the cause of the accident.

Rescuers sent in reinforcements from surrounding villages to help in the search and rescue.

Television footage showed para medics giving oxygen to the miners who had climbed out, then rushing them to the nearest hospitals.

The local governor said a team of more than 70 rescuers had managed to reach a point in the pit some 250 meters below.

Turkey’s AFAD disaster manage ment service said the initial spark that caused the blast appeared to have come from a malfunctioning trans former.

It later withdrew that report and said methane gas had ignited for “unknown reasons.”

The local public prosecutor’s office said it was treating the incident as an accident and launching a formal investigation.

Turkey suffered its deadliest coal mining disaster in 2014 when 301 workers died in a blast in the western town of Soma. AFP

China’s economy slows as Xi plans for historic 3rd term

As China’s leaders gather for a crucial party congress, the country is expect ed on Tuesday to announce some of its weakest quarterly growth figures since 2020, its economy hobbled by COVID restrictions and a real estate crisis.

The figures for the third quarter, along with a salvo of other economic indicators, will be unveiled in the middle of the week-long political meeting that is expected to grant President Xi Jinping a historic third term in charge.

A group of experts interviewed by AFP said they expected an average GDP increase of 2.5 percent on last year’s July-September quarter.

In the previous quarter, growth in the world’s second largest economy collapsed to only 0.4 percent com pared to the previous year, the worst performance since 2020. The country posted 4.8 percent growth in the first quarter of 2022.

Many economists think China will struggle to attain its growth target this year of around 5.5 percent, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its GDP growth forecast to 3.2 percent for 2022 and 4.4 percent for 2023.

AFP’s panel of experts predicted average growth of three percent in 2022, a long way off the 8.1 percent seen in 2021.

That would be China’s weakest growth rate in four decades, exclud ing 2020 when the global economy was hammered by the emergence of the coronavirus. AFP

Singapore has strict policies restricting LGBTQ content within the city-state’s publications, with lifestyle magazines being banned from promoting or glamorising “alternative lifestyles.”

Nudity – including “depictions of semi-nude models with breasts and/or genitals covered by hands, materials and objects” – is also prohibited.

The Ministry of Communications and Information said Friday that it has issued the local edition of Vogue “a stern warning and shortened” its publishing permit. AFP

the emergency in every country.

But the pandemic is not over, and there is much more work to be done.

“WHO will brief the committee on the current situation globally, and present our concerns about the con tinuing risks to the world’s population, with large vaccination gaps, reduced surveillance, low rates of testing and sequencing, and uncertainties about the potential impact of current and future variants,” he said.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead, said the virus was still circulating at an “incredibly intense level” around the world.

There were more than three million reported cases last week – an under estimate as testing and reporting rates have dropped off. With AFP

LAWYER... Diaz Remulla III, was charged with violating Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for alleged possession of sus pected kush worth around P1.3 million.

The case carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.

Jennah Marie Dela Cruz, a mem ber of the Las Piñas City Prosecutor's Office, said Secretary Remulla has not intervened in the case.

"There was never an intervention from the justice secretary. We have not received any call from anyone,” she said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said there was no basis for calls

‘NENENG’...Divilacan, Palanan, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas); Kalinga, the rest of Abra; Northern Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig, Sadanga, Bontoc, Sagada, Besao); and Northern Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Bantay, City of Vigan, Santa, Caoayan, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Burgos, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Salcedo).

Based on the state weather bureau’s 5 p.m. bulletin, Tropical Storm Neneng was last spotted 255 km east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan and was moving westward at 30 kph.

It is expected to move westward toward the Luzon Strait and may also make landfall within Babuyan Islands or Batanes Sunday morning.

PAGASA said “Neneng” will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday.

BRIGHTEST... Astrophysicist Brendan O’Connor told AFP that gamma-ray bursts that last hundreds of seconds, as occurred on Sunday, are thought to be caused by dying massive stars, greater than 30 times bigger than our Sun.

The star explodes in a super nova, collapses into a black hole, then matter forms in a disk around the black hole, falls inside, and is spewed out in a jet of energy that travels at 99.99 percent the speed of light.

The flash released photons car rying a record 18 teraelectronvolts of energy – that’s 18 with 12 zeros behind it – and it has impacted long wave radio communications in Earth’s ionosphere.

“It’s really breaking records, both in the amount of photons, and the energy of the photons that are reaching us,” said O’Connor, who used infrared instruments on the Gemini South telescope in Chile to take fresh observations early Friday.

“Something this bright, this nearby, is really a once-in-a-centur yevent,” he added.

Gamma-ray research first began in the 1960s when US satellites de signed to detect whether the Soviet Union was detonating bombs in space ending up finding such bursts originating from outside the Milky Way. AFP

A

Vogue Singapore penalized for sex, LGBT content

AN ENTIRE human skeleton has been found outside Universal Stu dios Japan theme park, police said Saturday, after conducting a search following the discovery of a skull suspected to be part of it.

On Wednesday, a Universal Studios staff member found what appeared to be a human skull and an upper jaw, along with other bones, while pruning plants by the popular amusement park in the western city of Osaka.

Ten police officers then searched the area with two sniffer dogs and found the rest of the skeleton, according to an officer, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. AFP

Human skeleton outside Japan’s Universal Studios

HAPPY OCCASION. A couple burns incense during a collective wedding ceremony in downtown Hanoi on October 15, 2022. AFP

AUTHORITIES have shortened Vogue Singapore’s publishing permit, issuing a “stern warning” to the fashion magazine for its content containing nudity and promoting “non-traditional families.”

made on social media for the Justice secretary to resign.

“You call for somebody to resign if he’s not doing his job or that they have mis behaved in that job. He has done quite the contrary,” Mr. Marcos said.

“He has taken the very proper position that he is recusing himself from any involve ment in the case of his son,” he added.

By Othel V. Campos

MEGA

Global Corp., one of the world’s biggest sardines manufacturers, has launched a new subsidiary, Mega Prime Foods Inc. to be the company’s main revenue generator and research and development hub.

Mega Global chief growth and development officer Marvin Tiu Lim said the new subsidiary would expand the group’s product portfolio by offering more packaged products to add to the company’s existing assortment of canned sardines, canned vegetables and condiments.

“As the largest subsidiary of our business, MPSI will go beyond pioneering product innovations that will boost our commitment to uplift the lives of millions of Filipinos nationwide. We are excited to explore how much we can maximize this as a driver of domestic growth,” he said.

To support this goal, MPFI is ramping up operations to process more packed and canned food with a vision to support the community’s growing needs.

Mega Global invested P1 billion in 2021 to put up a new manufacturing facility in Batangas province to house the manufacturing and canning processes of choice vegetables and other food innovations that the R&D facility plans to offer soon.

MPFI will start operating in the Batangas facility by 2023 and will employ nearly a thousand workers in the marketing division and in the cannery.

The plant will improve the company’s manufacturing capacity by 30 percent to 50 percent, in anticipation of increased demand in the next five years.

Mega Global chief technical and innovations officer Malcolm Tiu Lim said the new plant would be equipped with state-of -the-art facilities, production machines, cold storage and dry storage compartments, fish meal plant and a world class R&D facility to come up with new and better products for consumers.

“When we upgrade our canning capacities and fully operate MPSI, we will actually produce 160 million cans of sardines across the whole production in one year. Our Batangas plant will actually put a premium to the company’s compliance to international certification standards,” he said.

As a world-class facility, MPFI manufactures food products to global

PRA to stage virtual Retail Leaders’ Summit

THE Philippine Retailers Association, the national organization of retail ers, shopping malls and suppliers, is staging the first people focused Retail Leaders’ Summit 2022 on Oct. 27 to 28 via Zoom.

Participants of the summit are ex pected to learn from industry experts who will share their knowledge in run ning businesses while facing challeng es from competition as well as those that are brought up by the continuing evolution of the business environment.

“Competition is now tougher than ever. Striving to be the best is one thing but consistently making the smart and practical business deci sion is everything. To stay ahead of the competition, leaders must equip themselves with fresh perspectives through innovative ideas,” said PRA president Rosemarie Bosch Ong, who is also the senior executive vice presi dent and chief operating officer of Wil con Depot Inc.

The two-day virtual summit is de signed to develop the next generation of leaders, founders, top executives, senior and middle managers, supervi sors, start-ups and entrepreneurs. It also aims to uncover ‘New Retail Mindset’ ideas, share perspectives on strategy and leadership towards creat ing future-ready retail leaders and stay competitive in the market with leading local and global companies, influenc ers and advisors.

Joining the esteemed line-up of foremost leaders at Day 1 of the sum mit is the managing director for South east Asia of LABBRAND, Jessalynn Chen who will help establish a new re tail mindset through her brand focused session on “How Brands Can Stand Out at Retail”.

The session will delve into key branding opportunities and the impor tance of building a strong brand value for customers to recognize and trust.

Biggest sardines manufacturer embraces modern technologies

specifications. The company complies with internationally recognized certifications and standards such as FSSC: 22000, HACCP, EU and HALAL.

The Batangas plant will operate in accordance with strict international standards by using best practices and innovations in manufacturing and business processes, ensuring that only top-quality products reach the homes of millions of Filipinos.

MPFI will be led by a team of professionals who would ensure that the new product lines are safe, of high quality and globally competitive.

The subsidiary is committed to sustainable practices such as zerowaste manufacturing capability and

sustainable energy sources and will endeavor to work for a food-secure Philippines through various initiatives and innovations.

The facility will be insulated by an energy light source to lower carbon footprint emissions by 511 metric tons. The facility will be partly-powered by renewable energy using solar panels, as the conglomerate moves toward increasing its environmental, social and governance footprint.

Mega Global is also actively pursuing its social responsibility by supporting Filipino youth through outreach programs such as the “Mega Lusog” feeding program for pre-schoolers and grade school

students. In expanding the outreach program, MPSI will open the plant for interactive tour for school children to teach them the value of food and appreciate the processes of how packaged food is produced.

“Food security is essential to the wellbeing of Filipinos and is critical to the country’s socio-economic development. We recognize that we have a key role to play in ensuring food security and in nation-building. Through our innovations and investments in our people and processes, we are confident that MPFI can help the Philippines achieve food security,” said Mega Prime Foods Inc. chief operating officer Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan.

Lufthansa Technik reveals startup challenge winners

LUFTHANSA Technik Philippines (LTP) held its hybrid pitch competition event in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City for the 12 aviation innovator finalists of the LTP Startup Challenge.

Block Aero (Thailand), Evitado Tech nologies (Germany), Aiir Innovations (Netherlands), Augmenteed (Singapore) emerged as the top four ventures.

Powered by Lufthansa Technik Phil ippines in cooperation with Seedstars, the LTP Startup Challenge is a unique opportunity for innovators, coders, de signers and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific looking to apply their ideas and solutions to aviation’s MRO (maintenance repair and overhaul) in dustry.

After launching a month-long open call and receiving over 100 applications, the LTP Startup Challenge narrowed down the selected participants to 12 ventures. The chosen startups were then given the opportunity to partici pate in a four-day training program last week, where they were able to receive venture-building support and access to subject-matter experts from Lufthansa Technik Philippines.

“You’ve all made the first steps in de veloping your business ventures, em barking on a journey of trial and error that is expected from every entrepre neur,” said LTP president and chief ex ecutive Elmar Lutter. “I pay my respect to all the startups here today for taking the risk and trying to solve something new. May you all succeed in your mis sions.”

“This is a festival of innovation. At Lufthansa Technik Philippines, we al ways strive to be on our toes, looking

out for ways to improve and innovate,” said Stefan Yordanov, vice president for finance, strategy and corporate proj ects. “To the brilliant minds of today, may you all continue to strive for your ideas and never give up.”

“It was amazing. We really benefited from the mentorship of LTP and Seed stars. Block Aero is incredibly excited to promote the Philippine startup eco system and we look forward to being a great innovation partner for LTP,” said Block Aero founder and chief executive Todd Siena.

Block Aero (Thailand) has com mercialized the world’s first block chain-based asset management solu tion for the aviation industry.

Meanwhile, Evitado Technologies (Germany) revolutionizes the future of

aviation by automating airside opera tions. Evitado mitigates the risk of col lisions and increases the level of safety and efficiency whilst providing real-time data for optimizing operations.

Aiir Innovations (Netherlands) pro vides the most advanced borescope inspections through AI and advanced digital tools for all inspectors to perform faster and qualitative inspections.

Augmenteed (Singapore) is a plat form where industrials can create their own procedures within hours and with out coding. They can now deploy mo bile applications to field technicians for MRO, inspection, or training.

The four startups will be flown into the LTP headquarters for the opportunity to collaborate directly with the team and company.

MAP

TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. will sign two agreements with the Depart ment of Environment and Natural Re source for the adoption of planting sites as part of its climate mitigation and bio diversity protection program.

“Toyota shares the responsibility in protecting the planet Earth and in fight ing climate change in line with Unit ed Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto.

Under the National Greening Pro gram, Toyota will team up with DENR Region IV-A to formalize the adoption of the planting sites in October.

The project sites—in an upland forest block in Siniloan, Laguna and mangrove forests in Calatagan, Batangas—will host 41,000 new trees and mangroves in a span of five years.

TMP initially mobilized groups of vol unteers to plant 10,000 trees and 5,000 mangroves in the projects sites in Sep tember.

It also participated in the International Coastal Clean-up Day, turning over to the local authorities 150 kilograms or 21 sacks of plastic wastes collected from

the Calatagan coastline.

“Global Toyota implements the Toy ota Environmental Challenge 2050 to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions and net positive environmental impact by year 2050,” Atsuhiro said.

As a biodiversity conservation effort, Toyota committed to plant native and fruit-bearing tree species in a 50-hect are area on the tail-end of Sierra Madre mountain range in Siniloan.

The area, according to University of the Philippines Los Baños, is the habitat of en demic flora and fauna such as the Philip

pine hornbill, gray monitor lizard, civet cat, cave nectar bat and wax plant species.

The Sierra Madre hosts some of the country’s oldest forests and serves as a natural barrier against typhoons with its long mountain range on the east of Luzon.

TMP also committed to planting 16,000 mangrove propagules in an eight-hectare area on the coast of Ca latagan. The project extends Toyo ta’s existing NGP planting site in Lian, Batangas where the company has al ready planted 30,000 mangroves since 2018.

The two coastal sites are both part of the Verde Island Passage which is consid ered as the “center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity” in the world.

TMP environment manager Mark An thony Marcelo said mangroves are a distinct part of Toyota’s climate change solution in the Philippines.

“Mangroves have high capacity to ab sorb CO2 as they store up to 10 times more per hectare than terrestrial forests. Mangroves also serve as a blockade against storm surges and are crucial to marine life and livelihood of coastal com munities,” Marcelo said. Othel V. Campos

It confers the award on individuals in business or government, whether a member of the MAP or not, who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management and have made valuable contribution to the progress of the country and in reshaping national values.

It is bestowed on exceptional persons who have posted a record of achievement and distinction as leaders and managers of organizations and who are exemplary models who deserve to be emulated by their peers and by the younger leaders and managers.

MAP said the conferment of the award follows a thorough, stringent selection process. The distinction has been conferred 46 times in the fivedecade history of the award. The criteria for the award include integrity, leadership and management qualities; contribution to nationbuilding and values formation; effective stewardship within the confines of the highest standard of business and management practice; among others.

MAP said Consunji was chosen for his business acumen and management qualities in transforming a private construction firm into one of the Philippines’ biggest and most resilient conglomerates and for leadership role in his group’s substantial contributions to national development, job creation and income generation through huge investments in construction, real estate, mining, energy and water distribution.

It also acknowledged Consunji’s unparalleled commitment to developing, training and sustaining a Filipino management team and staff; generous contribution to education, especially in the field of engineering and science; significant contribution in the form of innovative solutions to the housing problem of the Philippines; and expertise in turning problematic assets and distressed companies under seemingly insurmountable situations into very productive investments.

The MAP also recognized Consunji for being an exemplar of the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit without public display and self-promotion and for personal contributions to shaping national values and inspiring others through his track record of integrity, managerial competence and professional leadership.

Mega Global Corp. executives

THE Management Association of the Philippines named DMCI Holdings Inc. chair and president Isidro Consunji the recipient of the “MAP Management Man of the Year 2022” award.

DMCI Holdings Inc. chair and president Isidro Consunji

Lufthansa Technik Philippines and Seedstars teams

n

I

Pinoy ‘pandemic runners’ complete first world marathon

By CAMILLE ANNE ARCILLA

T WAS undeniable that health has become the topmost priority ever since the pandemic happened.

Coupled with the sedentary lifestyle and work-fromhome situation, it made people unhealthy and gain weight during this time. This, however, prompted some to take further steps in losing weight.

Sienna Flores, a disputes lawyer from a well-known law firm in the country, realized she was almost borderline obese and at her heaviest during the height of the pandemic in 2021.

This also took a toll on her mental state.

“Though I was doing CrossFit regularly via Zoom, I couldn’t lose weight. The doctor also found nothing wrong with my health. In May 2021, I decided I needed to gain control over my life again,” she said.

Flores then met Coach Ken Mendola of We Ken Run (WKR) and reached out to him for help. Little did she know that her initial goal of losing weight would lead her to run her first World Marathon Major (WMM).

Mendola told Flores that weight loss was just the effect of running. After achieving her personal bests, she decided that it was time to take it a notch higher and sign up for the London Marathon.

“As a newbie, I wasn’t sure what to expect during my first marathon. All I could do was trust my training, have faith that I’ve done everything I can and give everything I could to train hard for this, and know that Coach Ken prepared me well for the marathon,” she said.

She said her personal goal for the marathon was not just to finish strong, but to also make sure that she would not be too traumatized by the experience so she would come back and finish all six WMM.

Sharing the same concern with Flores, fellow We Ken Runner Adrian Bancoro said he reached out to Mendola after finding out that a CNN host he follows on Twitter had a medical situation during the Boston Marathon in April.

Bancoro, a tax director for a local building materials company, got his acceptance email notification for the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in December 2021 after five unsuccessful attempts.

Quiambao eyes second 5150 win in Subic

BEA Quiambao is all geared up for a crack at a second Olympic distance race crown, upbeat but wary of her chances against an equally de termined women’s field in the Alveo 5150 Subic Bay unfolding Oct. 23 in the country’s triathlon capital.

Quiambao, who dominated the Sun Life 5150 Bohol last July, was actually set for the “double” drive in Davao last month but opted to skip the Penong’s 5150 at the last minute to honor a previous commitment. But the extended break has given the Next Step Tri spearhead more time to prepare and toughen up for the up coming 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run event, making her the triathlete to beat both in the overall championship and in the 20-24 age category.

But a slew of others are also coming into

the race, featuring athletes keen on doing short-distance but challenging races in a world-class set-up, all primed up, including Francesca Mosni, Gaea Maramon, Jacque lyn Cruz, Meeren Aguilar, Jessica Espiritu, Charlotte Jackson, Gracelle Samson, Karen Manayon, Louise Lopez and Louise Santos, guaranteeing a spirited chase for both the overall crown and age-group trophie

Meanwhile, Jonathan Pagaura, who finished third in Bohol, headlines the men’s side of the event organized by the IRONMAN Group/ Sunrise Events, Inc. with the likes of Tristan Samson, Andrew Santos, Jose Simbillo, Jan So, Sebastian Teves, young Irienold Reig, Jr., Josh ua Patajo, Joaquin Laurel and Jigo Libiran also setting out targeting the top podium finish.

Beefing up the men’s roster in Alveo 5150,

Olympic medalists meet with PSC officials

PHILIPPINES’ Olympic gold medalists, bowling legend Arianne Cerdeña-Valdez and weightlifting superstar Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo met for the very first time on Fri day, when they paid a courtesy visit to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Jose Emmanuel Eala and PSC Commissioner Bong Coo at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Cerdeña-Valdez, 60, won the country’s “first” Olympic gold med al in 1988 at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. However, since bowling was being played as a demo sport at that time, it was not counted towards our official medal count.

After 33 years, four-time weight lifting Olympian Diaz-Naranjo lifted the country’s hope and gold en dream into reality after finally winning the ‘official’ gold medal for Team Philippines in the 2020+1 Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m so overwhelmed to meet our Olympic champion, our gold medalist [Hidilyn Diaz] for the very first time. I’ve only been seeing her in pictures and reading her in newspapers, Youtube and I’m so overwhelmed. Thank you so much.” expressed Philippine Sports Hall of Famer Cerdeña-Val dez in an exclusive interview with the PSC-PCO team.

“Syempre ako sobrang saya kasi nakikita ko lang sya sa news as Olympic gold medalist in bowling. Masaya po akong makita ka Ma’am [Arianne] and to know your story.” shared Diaz-Naranjo, who was ac companied by her husband Julius Naranjo during the courtesy visit.

The two Filipina sports legends expressed their willingness to work with Commissioner Coo in reach ing out to many Filipinas to be em powered and be part of the growing number of women in sports in the country.

sponsored by Alveo, SBMA, Finis, Rudy Project, Sante Barley, Lalamove, Active, Manila Bulletin and Tempo, are Thirdee Liceralde, Ron Lozano, Justin Lu, Nicolo Magadia, Alonzo Magadia, Reynald Mallari, Zachary Maranon, Kim Fran za, Michael Gacad, Enrico Galvez, Kevin Garcia, CJ Custodio, Justin Dee, Sydney Du, Cesar Carpio, Donovan Catindoy, Ralph Cayabyab, Benedict Adolph, Paul Adriano, Reuven Alzaga, Adrien Arqueza, Carlsten Baday and Micah Barcelona.

Registration is ongoing. For details, log on to www.ironman.com.

Aside from the individual honors, other titles to be disputed in the event, designed for those seeking to level up in endurance racing, are the relay all-male and all-female, the relay mixed and the Go For Gold Sunrise Sprint.

“That’s exactly when I decided I need to join a running group and have myself properly trained by an experienced coach,” he said.

“The determination to do a WMM is clear; what was not is how to get a marathon slot and how my knees could cope with the physical beat ing from running more than 42 kilometers.”

Trust the process

So, what exactly does it take to run a mara thon? Coach Ken breaks it down to the follow ing essential attributes: patience, consistency, desire, and confidence.

Patience, he said is for the results. But results come in, one should have consistency in putting in the work and the desire to be a better version of one’s self.

“The first three attributes come from the individual. As their marathon coach, my job is to develop in the athlete the belief in his ability which is confidence. Confidence happens when you have put in the work and embrace a growth mindset,” he said.

Lady Bulldogs book 101st straight UAAP win

THE count continues for six-time defending champion National Uni versity.

The Lady Bulldogs nabbed their 101st consecutive win in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament, downing Adamson University, 10066, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Saturday.

Tin Cayabyab led five NU players in double figures with 19 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.

“Tin Cayabyab I’ve been missing her for four games already. Good things maganda ‘yung start niya and ‘yung teammates niya looking for her para mabuhay ‘yung kumpyansa niya,” said Lady Bulldogs coach Aris

Dimaunahan.

NU asserted its dominance right from the opening frame, cruising to an 18-point lead, 31-13, and never looked back.

Karl Ann Pingol had 19 points as well in the victory with nine re bounds, while Angel Surada was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field to end with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Camille Clarin and Princess Fab ruada had 10 points apiece as well, both grabbing three steals in the process.

NU zoomed to 5-0 while halting the Lady Falcons’ two-game winning streak to pull them down to 2-3, still at fifth.

Lady Falcon Dindy Medina erupted for 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting but her efforts went for naught, while Victoria Adeshina had her best game with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“It’s always hard to play against a Dindy Medina. We played against her in 3x3, talagang grabe ‘yung scoring prowess niya,” shared Di maunahan.

Up next for the Lady Bulldogs is streaking De La Salle University on Wednesday, 1 pm, at the UST Quad ricentennial Pavilion.

Adamson looks to return to the win column later that day against Ateneo de Manila University at 3 pm.

SSC-R caps Shakey’s SL stint with win over EAC

SAN Sebastian College wrapped up its campaign in Pool B on a winning note after a quick work of Emilio Agui naldo College, 25-13, 25-13, 25-21, in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.

The Lady Stags staved off the comeback attempt of the Lady Generals late in the third set for their lone victory in four outings.

Christina Marasigan landed the finishing blows for SSC-R from the service line, stringing back-to-back aces in the Lady Stags’ last three points that quelled EAC’s uprising that trimmed its four-point third set deficit to just 22-21.

Kath Santos finished with 10 points anchored on nine kills while Marasigan posted three of her eight markers in the third frame for SSC-R, which had its way in the first two frames.

“I have seen a lot of improvement from my players. At least my players, especially the rookies, were able to get valuable experience and exposure in this tournament,” said Lady Stags coach Roger Gorayeb.

The Lady Generals absorbed their second straight defeat.

Anne Formento finished with eight points while Rhoan Manlapaz and Krizza Reyes had seven markers each for EAC, which will march back into battle on Sunday against University of Sto. Tomas at 10:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, expect nothing but explosive action when reigning UAAP champion National University meets Ate neo de Manila University in the much-anticipated Pool C showdown on Sunday.

Game time is at 5:30 p.m.

UST and Lyceum of the Philippines University, on the other hand, look to punch tickets into the next round against separate foes in Pool B.

Both teams tote identical 2-0 win-loss slates and another win will secure their seats in the next phase of the competition where the top two teams after the group stage will be bracketed into two pools and will play an other round of round-robin matches to determine their positions in the knockout quarterfinals.

The Lady Pirates will square off with Adamson University at 12:30 p.m. while University of the Phil ippines also seeks a berth into the second round in its Pool A encounter against winless San Beda University at 3:00 p.m.

WeKen Runners training for the marathon

Sienna Flores with WeKenRunners London squad Adel Torres, Star Elamparo, Angie Limbaco, Christy Avisado, and GT Reyes

Bea Quiambao

Look your best in a heartbeat with an organized closet

WOMEN are extra busy these days. They grab the first outfit they see in the closet, and slip on it. Lucky if she has a neat, organized closet that puts matching tops and pants together for quick, easy access on hectic days.

An organized closet saves time and effort. It does away with hours of figuring out if this shirt matches that skirt, or if this necklace blends with a blouse color.  It gives that well-coordinated, smart look in no time at all.

Veteran fashion designer Marianne Martin meets the challenge of dressing well for last-minute engagements, sudden trips, and rush client calls by organizing her closet.  Eighteen years of creating haute couture for politicos, elite ladies, and others have taught her how to look her best in a heartbeat.

She shares the following tips for organizing the closet. These will also come in handy when she gets even busier in her soon-to-open  NouVelle Haute Couture by Marianne Martin stores in Robinsons Galleria, Alabang, and Ermita.

Create zones according to function, color, and clothes type.  Summer dresses go in one area, sleepwear in another. So do gym clothes, casual tees, and formal attire.   Clothes in neutral shades of black and beige have their special zones. The same thing goes for accessories.

Clothes are stored based on height and bulk.  Tops are on lower racks or shelves.  Pants are on a hook rack or the mid-level part of the closet. Long dresses

and gowns, and heavy coats share the lowest area.

Arrange items based on height and bulkiness: Tops go on lower racks or shorter shelves, pants go on a hook rack or mid-level shelf, and long dresses and bulky coats go on higher racks and the biggest shelves.

Store accessories (belts, scarves, hats, caps, etc.)  and underwear you use often in the front part of the closet.  The rest stay at the back.

Set aside a separate storage area for jewelry.

Stick a  post-it labeled “workout clothes,” “formal wear,” “casuals” and others and put them on top of the applicable items.

Save space by installing hooks at the back of the closet door to hang bags, belts, and others.

ColourMe uses augmented reality to instantly and virtually show customers how they would appear with different looks as well as making product

AI-powered skincare solutions built using 16,000 selfies

A.S. WATSON, the world’s largest interna tional health and beauty retailer, has an nounced the regional launch of “Skinfie Lab,” an innovative skin analysis tool that creates highly personalized skincare product recom mendations based on customers’ selfies.

Skinfie Lab is first launched at Watsons Hong Kong and will be rolled out to Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia by early 2023.

The launch of Skinfie Lab in Asia is the latest development by A.S. Watson to deliver a truly O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience. It builds on the successful launch of an AI-powered skincare advisor at Superdrug in the UK last year. Customers love using the tool, and conversion rates doubled.

According to Freda Ng, Chief Digital Of ficer (Asia) of A.S. Watson Group, “We believe that Skinfie Lab will change the way custom ers shop skincare - with only a selfie.”

“We’ve been using cutting-edge technology to innovate and develop new solutions that help deliver seamless O+O shopping experiences to our customers. We’re thrilled to launch Skinfie Lab in Asia, a pioneering tool that makes it simple for customers to find just what their skin needs,” Ng adds.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze customers’ skin and create a highly tailored skincare regimen for them, Skin-

fie Lab has been jointly developed by A.S. Watson and ModiFace, L’Oréal’s AI and AR company. It was created with dermatologists and based on 15 years of research.

The AI-powered Skinfie Lab has been built and validated using over 16,000 selfie images and is able to detect a range of facial attributes from a customer’s selfie, including acne, fine lines, pigmentation, enlarged pores, wrinkles, radiance, skin firmness, and overall skin condition.

Customers can simply take a selfie and answer a few simple questions on their mobile phones about themselves. Skinfie Lab then generates a personalized, indepth skin analysis, as well as a bespoke list of product recommendations from all products available in Watsons eStore. The skincare routine it covers spans cleansers, face masks, toners, serums, eye creams, moisturizers, and sunscreen.

Ng continued, “Many customers want to better understand their skin and choose the best products to include in their skincare routine, but often they don’t know how. Now, all it takes is a selfie. Skinfie Lab can help beauty beginners who are looking for advice in developing their own skincare regimen, as well as beauty enthusiasts who are looking for highly personalized recommendations that draw on the latest trends and products.”

Exquisite Gaggand dining experience now in Singapore

GAGGAN ANAND, the man behind the eponymous Gaggan, deepens his love for Singapore with the opening of Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh’s first overseas outpost in the Lion City. The restaurant is officially opening on October 24.

In collaboration with The Proper Concepts Collective, the local hospitality group behind brands like The Feather Blade and RAPPU, expect some of the original hits in Bangkok as well as new tantalizing dishes specially created for Singapore.

Gaggan himself first got a taste of Singapore’s vibrant dining scene and global palate back in November 2021 with a residency of his eponymous Gaggan Anand experience.

Initially slated for only two months, the residency was extended multiple times due to popular demand, prompting his desire to launch something more permanent on these shores while expanding his love for the island.

Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh is Chef Gaggan’s cheeky culinary venture in Bangkok that was first opened in March 2020, two weeks before COVID-19 hit Thailand. The crosscultural concept is based on a fictitious origin story that reflects the love affair between a Mexican Girl, Ms. Maria, and an Indian Boy, Mr. Singh.

Once you step into the restaurant, you are immersed in the romantic story of how Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh meet and eventually fall

in love, which is depicted in a charming menu, and comic style. The comfortable and unpretentious casa setting is reminiscent of Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh’s house, where the two cultures find their similarities in gastronomy and design, showcasing a vibrant palette of orange and blue colors inspired by the cities of Oaxaca and Jaipur.

The food itself marries home-style Mexican and Indian cooking, a dynamic blend of flavors and traditions, reproducing a menu that is romantically influenced by both cultures. Expect a rendition of some of the greatest hits served at Gaggan Anand Restaurant such as Papdi Chat, a yogurt explosion of flavors featuring the popular Indian street food made with crisp fried puri, sweet and sour chutneys, yogurt, and sev, as well as Crab Curry, a coconut and coriander based curry dish, combined with shallots, tomatoes, tamarind, and juicy chunky crab meat. Alongside a refined menu tailored for Singapore at accessible price points, the chef-driven menu will whisk diners away on a culinary journey from India to

The outpost in Singapore features especially crafted Boo Jing , beverage director of The Proper Concepts Collective who was named Singapore Diageo Reserve World Class

Travel books offer tales of adventure, wisdom

P

ENGUIN

Random House SEA offers two exciting tomes that take us to different places outside the world and in our heads and hearts.

NO SHELF CONTROL BY JENNY ORTUOSTE

Wild Wisdom and Kopi Dulu are memoirs written with skill and flair, that tackle the themes of individuality and adventure in exciting and interesting ways.

Wild Wisdom Christine Amour-Levar is a French-Swiss-Filipina entrepreneur who established two non-profit organizations, Women on a Mission (WOAM) and HER Planet Earth. Over the past ten years, she has taken hundreds of women from all over the world to places such as Bhutan, Ethiopia, and Rwanda to “support and empower women affected by [violence] via [their] advocacy work and fundraising.”

In Chapters 1 and 2 of Wild Wisdom, Amour-Levar gives us a brief background of her childhood and current life. Born to an expat father and Filipina mother of the prominent Araneta clan, she grew up in the Philippines in privilege and affluence. However, her mother made sure to teach her compassion and kindness for others. Nineteen of the 22 chapters take the reader to a particular place to relive with Christine the adventures she and her team had there, as well as the life lessons they learned.

After a successful career in advertising and marketing in Japan and the U.S., Amour-Levar left corporate to fulfill a mission that burned in her heart – to uplift the plight of women and girls around the world suffering human rights violations. She also raises funds for other women- and gender-related charities.

In Chapter 12, Christine tells how she led a WOAM team to Mongolia in 2018 with 14 women from Singapore to raise $100,000 for women survivors of war. They journeyed to a remote area where they met a group of nomadic Kazakh Eagle Hunters. The WOAM team stayed in one of their homes, a traditional ger or circular tent of felt and skins.

“These resilient people,” Amour-Levar writes, “are the remnant of a disappearing culture that has survived for ages, mostly in harsh, isolated conditions.” The expedition team members are taken on horseback rides across the steppe – “I will never forget the incredible sense of freedom I felt when riding in the Altai Mountains. It was a heady combination of adventure, exhilaration, and deep relaxation.”

Among the many insights Amour-Levar shares are how the greatest achievements of her teams “came in the face of the greatest adversity, and that true growth and resilience comes only from challenge, from persevering, from having grit, from stepping away from what is comfortable, and having the courage to step out into the unknown.”

Wild Wisdom is an engrossing memoir, a narration of women’s adventures and the self-discoveries made when women come together in sisterhood and solidarity for a cause.

rest of his life, he would choose Indonesia. That’s how much this British-born writer has come to love the land that’s been described as “the world’s most invisible country.”

In six action-packed chapters of Kopi Dulu (literally “coffee first” in Bahasa), readers are treated to wonderfully detailed narratives of culture, place, and society, of the kind that anthropologist Clifford Geertz called “thick description.”

In Chapter 1, “Sumatran Blend,” Mark recounts the time he caught a five-foot-long monitor lizard with a towel while drunk, pulled 72 leeches off his legs in a single morning of trekking, and roasted garlic bulbs on glowing coals as food seasoning and garlic repellent. And that’s just in the first few pages! He goes on to tell of his many other adventures in Sumatra, including getting “addicted” to ‘bandrek,’ a hot drink made of ginger, cinnamon, palm sugar, condensed milk, and raw egg.

In Chapter 2, “Java Jolt,” Eveleigh arrives at midnight at the port town of Merak, where he is immediately ripped off by a ‘becak’ (like a tri-sikad) driver who charges him above the usual rate to take him to his hotel just across the plaza. Mark travels to Krakatoa, which killed over 36,000 people when it blew its top in 1883. “As we started up the slope,” he recounts, “I realized that I was walking almost on tiptoes – holding my breath, as if trying not to awaken the sleeping giant.”

The four other chapters are just as exciting and full of detail that make the narrative come alive.

Kopi Dulu was launched online last September 24. When I asked Mark why the coffee theme for his book, he replied, “For me, it’s a catchphrase of the country – ‘Take it easy, you don’t need to rush.’ It’s also the feeling of the hospitality of the country.” He adds he feels “safer in an Indonesian village than I would in a Western city.”

What’s his number one takeaway? “There are so many places I want to see in more depth,” Mark said. “On every little island in Indonesia, there is always something fascinating there, there’s so much to see…You couldn’t make up the kinds of stories you hear in the small communities in Indonesia.”

Eveleigh added that this book is a “tribute to the Indonesian people, who have always shown so much generosity in my journeys through their remarkable country.”

From Penguin Random House SEA:

Kopi Dulu: Caffeine-Fuelled Travels Through Indonesia

By Mark Eveleigh 2022, 392 pgs, pb

Dr. Ortuoste teaches communication and creative writing. She is a board member of the Philippine Center of International PEN and a member of the Manila Critics Circle that established the National Book Awards.

may reach the author on

Kopi Dulu

If writer Mark Eveleigh could only travel in one country for the

Wild Wisdom: Life Lessons from Leading Teams to Some of the Most Inhospitable Places in the World By Christine Amour-Levar 2022, 234 pgs, pb

Fashion designer Marianne Martin will soon open her own haute couture shop in three locations

Crab Curry

Wild Wisdom by Christine Amour Levar

Fil-Am reconnects with his roots while realizing musical dream

Kurt Tijamo believes that the ultimate goal for musicians is to be able to help through their music

FILIPINO American musician

Kurt Tijamo believes that music artists should pay it forward, which is why when he got the chance to visit the Philippines for the first time in September, he immediately took the opportunity to perform in a benefit concert for Child Haus, a shelter for children stricken with cancer and other dreaded diseases.

“I believe that the ultimate goal of every musician is to be able to help people with their music,” Kurt told Manila Standard Entertainment in an exclusive interview.

He was in town to promote his original single “U & Me” in collaboration with Curve Entertainment.

“It’s a song I wrote during the pandemic when I was stuck in my room. It was a terrible experience. After a couple of weeks of being stuck in my room, I was thinking of scenarios of being on the beach, with the summer breeze or being somewhere with a special person like just cuddling on the couch. That’s why I came up with what my perfect date be. That’s the inspiration for the song,” the classically-trained musician shared.

And rediscovering his native roots is also a given. Besides, it took him 29 years to finally visit his mother’s native land, which

Growing pains

New anthems for the heartbroken

Jeremy G keeps the mood light with the beat for ‘Sinayang Mo,’ but talks about the anger of having a lover throw away something worthwhile

LOVE is not always about the sweet, spice, and everything nice. It also deals with conflicts, heartbreaks, and moving forward. If you are looking for the right background music to get lost in your feelings after ending a toxic relationship, here are new releases from ABS-CBN’s rising music stars:

1. When you want to yell at your ex for wasting someone like you Jeremy G’s latest single “Sinayang Mo” is his first release under Star Music and serves as the first taste of his new album coming next year. The upbeat track, which he first performed live at 1MX London last October 1, shows his edgy

side while keeping the atmosphere perfect for a dance party.

2. When your ex has found a new partner and you’re still single FANA’s power ballad offering, “Bakit Ka Masaya,” tells the sorrow of seeing your former lover being happy in someone else’s arms. Watch out for the young diva’s new album—which includes this breakup song— slated to be released by the end of the year.

3. When you learned and grew from the relationship and you are now ready to look at the brighter side of your journey Janah Zaplan’s uplifting anthem “Eh Ano Ngayon?!” offers a more positive perspective on ending a relationship by standing up and acknowledging that what you have experienced has brought you to a better version of yourself. The empowering single was written by Trisha Denise and produced by Star Pop label head Rox Santos

You can add these songs to your breakup playlist by visiting ABS-CBN Star Music YouTube channel and various digital music platforms.

he now describes as “one happy, chaotic place.”

“It’s my first time in the Philippines. When I was young, both my parents were working full-time and we were workingclass people, so we didn’t have enough money to come here. For a long time, we were just getting by,” Kurt admitted saying they were poor that’s why he’s glad that they have “comfortable money now that it’s easier for him to visit the Philippines.”

He was in Manila for two weeks with his younger brother, Sean, as well as his parents, John and Edith Winterhalter

Growing up in the United States, Kurt already knew that being a Filipino American is a different experience.

“In school, there would be white kids’ groups and I don’t get them because I grew up truly Fil-Am,” said the San Franciscobased musician.

Although he grew up not speaking Tagalog “because nobody talked to me in Tagalog when I was young,” and he looks more like a white guy than a Filipino, Kurt associates

himself more with the Fil-Am community where he feels more comfortable and feels more at home.

“It’s so hard to fit in, to be honest. Being a biracial person has unique challenges. The plight of every biracial person is trying to figure out where they belong and knowing who they really are,” he confessed.

Like being “mixed,” Kurt considers his music “kind of eclectic,” given that the two songs he has already released are “too different from each other.” But he wanted to be known as a musician whose music talks to people.

“I try to be a storyteller through

my music,” he said.

Part of his visit to the country is to expand his artist profile by putting out more music. It’s a dream that he’s been trying to build since 15 when he started listening to the likes of John Mayer, Norah Jones, and Gabe Bondoc

StarPop’s Rox Santos delighted over foreign YouTuber’s version of his composition

RECORD producer and songwriter Rox Santos celebrates his birthday on October 8 with an extra dose of Pinoy pride in light of a video clip featuring a foreign YouTube star’s live rendition of his composition “Hanggang Dito Na Lang.”

The singer is Waleska Herrera , who has made a name in social media circles as one half of a sibling duo, the other being Efra , posting videos of themselves reacting animatedly over songs of their choice. It is said she “was born into the music business as a child performer in Venezuela.”

The clip shows Waleska singing “Hanggang Dito Na Lang,” an original performed by Pinay diva Jaya that has already reached 85 million views and streams on YouTube and Spotify.

“Oh wow! Amazed to see my composition ‘Hanggang Dito Na Lang’ performed by Efra and Waleska, a British artist at the 1MX Music Festival in London,” Rox shared.

Rox has spearheaded some of

StarPop label have amassed multiple nominations in this year’s Awit Awards.

In the clip, Waleska expressed, before singing the Tagalog song, “I don’t speak Tagalog but I dedicate this song with all my heart to all Filipinos who have supported us throughout this journey. Big shoutout to Jaya for making the original version of this song.”

Rox stated that Waleska even messaged him personally, saying, “I fell in love with your song straight away!”

The first-rate record producer and songwriter is also celebrating his 15th anniversary in the Philippine music industry next year with the release of an EP and staging of some special events. He hasn’t revealed details of the EP nor the shows to celebrate such personal milestone. But these are expected to be starstudded and contain hit music.

Among Rox’s heralded compositions of late are “Walang Pagsisisi,” the Angeline Quinto-sung main theme song for The Broken Marriage Vow , and “Sabay Natin,” the main tune in the official soundtrack for Love In 40 Days. He also penned Ronnie Alonte’s “Hindi Bibitawan” and “Napapangiti,” both also from Love In 40 Days.

Belter Sheryn Regis interpreted the hitmaker’s “Kung Pwede Lang,” while rising stars BINI and Ruiz performed “Kinikilig” and “Paano Ngayong Pasko,” respectively.

Also touched by Rox’s magic wand were Anji Salvacion ’s “Kasingkasing Dalampsigan”, Jeremy G ’s “Maybe Forever,” KD Estrada , and Alexa Ilacad ’s “When I See You Again,” among others.

Last year, ABS-CBN Music released its Top 12 most-watched videos on Youtube. Out of the list, five were released under StarPop. Rox recently co-wrote two special tracks. One is “Life’s a Beach,” the main theme song of the Dreamscape/IWant TFC series Beach Bros , performed by Jeremy G. & Nameless Kids. The other is “Moving On” by Matty J of Idol Philippines , a piece for ABS CBN Music’s Pride Month campaign.

“Top of the World” is one of the original songs from the musical comedy with Mendes as the singing voice of Lyle, the croc with a heart of gold.

Espanto said he “had so much fun” shooting the video and invited fans to sing along, and go on top of the world too.

Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a liveaction / CGI musical comedy that brings this beloved character to a new, global audience.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is distributed by Columbia Pictures and is now showing in the Philippines.

COLUMBIA Pictures has just unveiled the video of Darren Espanto covering Shawn Mendes ’s “Top of the World” from Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. The video is a collaboration with UMUSIC PH to celebrate the release of the movie and the original motion picture soundtrack featuring the Canadian singer.

‘U & Me’ talks about Kurt’s idea of a perfect date

FANA’s

Darren Espanto (right) shares that he had fun shooting the video for the cover of ‘Top of the World,’ originally sung by Shawn Mendes for ‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’

Record producer and songwriter Rox Santos feels a sense of Pinoy pride as his composition, ‘Hanggang Dito Na Lang,’ captured the interest of a foreign YouTube star

ScalarPrana Therapy: A natural, complementary healing method

By Mariana Burgos

NATURAL pet healing has entered the mainstream.

Acupuncture, chiropractic care, energy healing methods, and other complementary therapies are being offered by veterinarians and animal welfare advocates all across the country as well as the whole world.

Most of us associate "energy" with things that operate our cars, switch on and off the lights, or provide vitamins. We are unaware that we are made of energy and that energy underlies all of our interactions with other people and animals.

ScalarPrana Therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Reconnective Healing, and other energy medi cine techniques are founded on the ideas of resonance and entrainment. Energy healing therapies are complementary treatments that can help your pet heal and live a better life while they are ill or recovering from a surgery done by specialists. I've known about several alternative therapy methods for a while, and my daughter and I have been vocal supporters of them for both humans and animals. Because of our finan cial situation, it began as a necessity. However, as time passed, we began to see how effective these alternative healing modalities are, and we started to actually believe in them more than we did in the conventional methods.

In honor of World Animal Day 2022, on Octo ber 8th, Save Animals of Love and Light -Save ALL Inc., an animal welfare group, and Bioener getics Training Center Inc. (BTCI) collaborated to host a free online therapy session and talk to teach pet owners, caregivers, and rescuers how to use ScalarPrana Therapy to heal their animals and improve their general wellbeing.

BTCI hosted the zoom meeting and staff Aimee Emejas and Miriam Mia did the facilita tion. The event started with a discussion of what ScalarPrana Therapy is, the origin of the concept, who conceptualized it, how it is done, and its efficacy on both humans and animals. And this was presented by SP healer Amyh Del Barrio. ScalarPrana is the potent fusion of Scalar Energy and Prana, two universal energies. Prana originates from the sun and other natural elements, whereas scalar energy is unadulter ated energy from the limitless vacuum of the

universe. Through the use of techniques from ScalarPrana Therapy, they can be combined to promote multi-level healing. Both energies can be utilized to cure you, other people, your relationships, business or job, pets, and even plants. They can also be absorbed, developed, integrated, transferred, and redirected.

The ScalarPrana Therapeutic System was developed by Fe Pacheco, who also wrote the ScalarPrana Primer: The Human Energy System.

The effects and benefits of such a method was proven in the event by the testimonials of a couple of pet owners and one of them, Shiela Fallarme, who used to be simply a supporter of ScalarPrana Therapy but now, a healer herself.

Her pet dogs Botcho ( who had a severe skin ail ment) and Cara (who had fractures due to an ac cident) were both amazingly healed with Scalar Prana Therapy as complementary therapy.

Jasmine Julian, Elena Marchesi, Abigail Arcan gel, and Ginger Nepumuceno, who registered with BTCI, brought their pets in for therapy. Par ticipants from Save ALL included Desiree Carlos, EO R. Cedeno, Yam Enriquez, Niko Salgado, Mari cel Mondejar, and myself. When the treatment sessions started, each of us brought in our own pet/s for healing. All of us, participants, were asked for feedback after the actual healing ses

sions. I, for one, noticed that my overly energetic dog, Milky, began to calm down as soon as the therapy started. And this was evidently the same for most of the pets that were healed.

The ScalarPrana Healers who generously gave their energies and their time to heal our pets were Amyh Manalang, Enzo Neri, Joy Neri, Roy Kristiawan, Thea Eslava, Gil Cacha, Tina Mayor, Shiela Fallarme, and Gema Gonza les. The zoom meeting even had ScalarPrana Switzerland's Andreas Schinder grace the event as guest observer.

At the end of the talk, there was, indeed, healing: stress release, cleansed auras, and strengthened auric fields of our pets. With this experience, we recommend you try ScalarPrana Therapy for you and your pets.

For more information on energy healing ses sions, please contact them at ScalarPrana Thera peutic System Email: global.scalarprana@gmail. com Mobile numbers: +63917-1350220 or +639171287855 Website: www.scalarprana.com.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance art ist. She is a solo parent for 15 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.

Pawsbook

Editor’s note: We have been en countering posts on dogs, cats, and other animals on Facebook that are eye-openers, or inspiring, or enlight ening, or educational, or can make one feel good during a stressful day, or make one encouraged to help the poor souls among us.

Sunday Pets would like to share these notable posts of netizens through this space called Pawsbook.

Posted by Andy’s Paw Prints:

“If I passed before my dog(s), I would ask for permission to return just to say goodbye; to let my dog(s) know that God called me, and that I didn't abandon them.

I would tell them I want them to take care of themself (and each other), and that in the meantime, I'll be waiting for them.

I would give them one last kiss, one last hug, and tell them that they are the best things that have ever happened to me. That I have loved each with all my heart & I've loved them the most.

If I pass first, give me permission to tell them that. And especially to tell them that when we finally meet again, it will be forever.

- Anonymous”

Posted by Akash Patel in Jay Shetty Inspirational Quotes page

“My dad has bees.Today I went to his house and he showed me all of the honey he had gotten from the hives. He took the lid off of a 5 gallon bucket full of honey and on top of the honey there were 3 little bees, struggling. They were covered in sticky honey and drown ing. I asked him if we could help them and he said he was sure they wouldn't survive. Casualties of honey collection I suppose.

I asked him again if we could at least get them out and kill them quickly, after all he was the one who taught me to put a suffering animal (or bug) out of its misery. He finally conceded and scooped the bees out of the bucket. He put them in an empty Chobani yogurt container and put the plastic con tainer outside.

Because he had disrupted the hive with the earlier honey collection, there were bees flying all over outside.

We put the 3 little bees in the container on a bench and left them to their fate. My dad called me out a little while later to show me what was happening. These three little bees were surrounded by all of their sisters (all of the bees are females) and they were cleaning the sticky nearly dead bees, helping them to get all of the honey off of their bod ies. We came back a short time later and there was only one little bee left in the container. She was still being tended to by her sisters.

When it was time for me to leave we checked one last time and all three of the bees had been cleaned off enough to fly away and the container was empty.

Those three little bees lived because they were surrounded by family and friends who would not give up on them, family and friends who refused to let them drown in their own sticki ness and resolved to help until the last little bee could be set free.

Bee Sisters. Bee Peers. Bee Teammates.

We could all learn a thing or two from these bees.

Bee kind always. I did not write this, but love it.

ScalarPrana healers, furparents and pets meet online to help animals in need.

Senior dog Bea, a rescue of Save ALL, was treated for skin problems. Look at her being curious and seemingly feeling the healing energy. She ate a lot of lettuce and renal wet food after the session.

Participant Jasmine Julian with her cute furbabies.

Maricel Mondejar with dog Keira, a Save ALL rescued dog, was losing weight and became a picky eater. Today, she eats better and Maricel noticed any noise does not wake her up easily. She sleeps well now.

Putzi had a lump removed

weeks

and was healed by Miss Gemma to balance her chakras and facilitate her recovery. Cat Fluffy watched the healing session.

Sheila Fallarme, SP healer, with her handsome furbaby Botcho.

Choco, rescued dog of Save ALL Inc. who was adopted by Maricel Mondejar, sleeps a lot better now, and has regained her appetite.

World Bread Day

Keeping the world fed through the years

By Patricia Taculao

THROUGHOUT

generations and cultures, bread has been a staple in cuisines. Its versatility and accessibility allowed communities to develop new recipes using available resources. Today, people appreciate different types of bread that have kept them well-fed for years.

Although bread alone isn’t sufficient to keep the world fed, the United Nations recognizes that bread makes up 20 percent of the world’s calories. As a result, the UN established an annual international observance every October 16 called World Bread Day.

World Bread Day began with the help of the International Union Bakers and Confectioners, dedicating the day since 2006 to celebrating the staple food that has been significant for millennia. It coincides with World Food Day, an annual international celebration commemorating the establishment of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

In 1945, the UN created the FAO 1945 to combat world hunger and promote food security. It has a Latin motto, “Fiat Panis,” which translates to “Let there be bread.”

LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF BREAD

Bread is one of the oldest prepared foods. Some experts believe that people used a starch extract from plant roots to cook a primitive form of flatbread sa early as 30,000 years ago. Eventually, later civilizations switched to grains as the main ingredient in making bread during the start of the Neolithic age.

The Egyptians allegedly were the first to use yeast to leaven the dough.

During ancient times, bread went beyond symbolizing mere nutrition in many cultures. It became a metaphor for necessities and living conditions.

It became instrumental in historical events, especially the French Revolution.

Although there’s no truth to Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France, saying, “If they don’t have bread, let them eat cake,” the widespread hunger caused the French to revolt against their monarchs.

Variations in bread soon began appearing across the globe, again depending on the area’s culture and available resources. Environmental circumstances also left an impact on bread recipes. For instance, the sliced bread everyone knows and loves started in 1928, after World War I.

Otto Frederick Rohwedder developed a bread-slicing machine that both sliced and wrapped bread. The idea didn’t earn rave reviews initially, but by World War 2, people saw its convenience, especially during a crisis.

Nowadays, bread also became a staple food in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and European-derived countries, while rice remains the norm in Asian

countries. Baking bread grew from a necessity to a source of livelihood to a hobby before becoming a craft people enjoy today.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people found themselves stuck at home with little access to stores and food supplies. People began baking bread to keep themselves occupied and well-fed with the scarcest ingredients.

Common ingredients people use to make various types of bread include wheat, cereals, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, millet, and sorghum. Other cuisines follow a traditional bread recipe passed down from generation to generation.

In the meantime, in some religions, including Christianity and Judaism, bread holds a position as a ritual element.

Over time, bread recipes found their way across the globe, allowing communities to enjoy the flavor profile from other countries or develop a new version more suitable to their circumstances.

BREAD IN THE PHILIPPINES

Although rice is a staple in Philippine cuisine, the country is not without its bread varieties that are affordable, versatile, filling, and delectable. In almost every meal of the day, Filipinos find ways to enjoy bread.

For instance, local bakeries open a little before dawn to sell freshly-baked pandesal. Even though made with humble ingredients, such as eggs, flour, salt, sugar, and yeast, it’s a common sight during breakfast or snacks.

Pandesal goes with jam, eggs, butter, peanut butter, cheese, and other fillings available in the market. Some even eat pandesal with a cup of warm coffee or a chocolate drink.

The variety started in the 16th century Philippines. Initially, it was hard and crusty outside and bland on the inside. Over the years, it became a softer and sweeter bread.

Another local bread option in the Philippines is monay. Although it isn’t a staple on the breakfast table, Filipinos consume the bread throughout the day. It’s a milk and egg bread that’s heavy, fine, and solid. Depending on the bakery,

it can come in small or large sizes, but it’s distinct for its round shape and crease on the top.

Monay has a tough exterior but a soft, chewy interior. It’s tasty enough that people sometimes don’t add spreads or flavor enhancers.

Speaking of chewy and tasty bread, Filipinos also enjoy a specific bread option called ensaymada. It’s a rounded local bread, similar to a brioche, with grated cheese and sugar sprinkled on top. Its sweet flavor makes it popular among those with a sweet tooth, kids, or kidsat-heart.

Ensaymada is available in almost all bakeries and restaurants, adding a personal spin to the recipe. Some create significant serving portions, while others use specific ingredients to become more distinct.

When it comes to sweets, one can’t go wrong with the traditional buko pie. The baked pastry uses coconuts, which are available almost everywhere in the Philippines.

The meat is made sweet, thick, and rich with condensed milk.

Although initially made plain, thanks to the abundance of coconuts in the country, some establishments added other fruits or flavor essences to make the dish more enticing.

Philippine bread also comes in savory options. One example is the empanada, a world-recognized pastry from the Spanish word “empanar,” which means to wrap in bread. The local version is either baked or deep-fried to give either a chewy or crunchy texture.

The traditional Filipino fillings include beef, chicken, potatoes, onions, and raisins. Other recipes include cheese, fruits, and vegetables. In the Ilocos region, the locals use egg yolks, sausages, green papayas, and mung beans in their empanadas.

There are several ways to celebrate World Bread Day. An ideal approach is biting into quality bread from a trusted store or making some from scratch. Regardless of the activity, it’s necessary to remember that bread fed and sustained humanity for years and will continue to do so in the years to come.

Sen. Imee Marcos launches ‘World Pandesal Day’ celebration Oct. 14

SENATOR Imee Marcos on Oct. 14 distributed free Pandesal packs to principals, teachers and students of 4 public schools (Kamuning Elementary School, Quezon City High School, Tomas Morato Elementary School & Don Alejandro Roces Science High School) at a ceremony at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City to kickstart the annual “World Pandesal Day” celebrated every year on October 16. She also answered socioeconomic, geopolitics and other questions from media at “Pandesal Forum”. Free Pandesal breads and other foods shall be given, and free medical/dental/optical mission shall be conducted on October 16 Sunday 8 am to 12 noon for “World Pandesal Day” at 83-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe at Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City. This is also the first ever actual free medical/dental/optical mission by Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) ever since the global pandemic. The public is welcome.

Started on October 16, 2015 with special guests GMA Network, Inc. chairman attorney Felipe Gozon, Senator Sonny Angara and former National Youth Commission (NYC) Commissioner Dingdong Dantes, Kamuning Bakery Cafe owner Wilson Lee Flores said the goals of “World Pandesal Day” are to honor the humble yet great Pandesal as national bread of the Philippines and to highlight the need to solve the age-old problems of hunger and poverty. Other leaders who have expressed support for World Pandesal Day in the past included former President Rodrigo Duterte, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, former Vice-President Leni Robredo and others.

Wilson Lee Flores said this philanthropic project of giving away 70,000 free breads and other foods to urban poor families every October 16 was inspired by the miracle in the Bible of a boy who donated five loaves of breads and two fishes, which Jesus Christ multiplied to feed thousands of people.

The World Pandesal Day has the support of FFCCCII, Philippine Foremost Milling, San Miguel Mills, Mondelez Philippines, Hobe Noodles, Mega Sardines, King Sue Ham, Yan Yan International Phils. Inc., Ever Bilena, Nash Coffee, Caltex in Iba Malhacan Road, Meycauayan Exit, Bulacan, Cathedral Cargo Movers Trucking and Pagcor.

Always a Happy Bread Day with Gardenia!

Celebrating great products and the gift of sharing this World Bread Month

AS you may have already known, October is World Bread Month with an international observance celebrated on October 16 every year. It is dedicated to celebrating bread – its variety and goodness, being a staple food that has been of great importance in nearly every culture and country around the world. Whether it’s the classic white bread you prefer, the healthier wheat bread, or the premium artisanal and flavored bread, October is a month to remember.

HAPPY BREAD DAY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, the leading bread manufacturer in the country, has been celebrating this delicious occasion since 2011 through events like bread fairs, sandwich competitions and in-store activities where bread lovers can enjoy free bread and premium Gardenia items. Taking inspiration from how the freshly baked, nutritious, and delicious Gardenia breads can bring happiness to Filipino families in every special moment, Gardenia’s Happy Bread Day aims to replicate the same feelings of joy and festivity. It’s about the excitement one would look forward to when celebrating birthdays, fiestas, and even the holiday season.

And for us Filipinos, happiness is usually drawn from being together while sharing a good meal and enjoying each other’s company. As the saying goes, “Happiness is best when shared.” That’s why in every Happy

Bread Day celebration, Gardenia values the gift of sharing bread. One can celebrate Happy Bread Day by bonding with your family over your favorite Gardenia sandwiches – pairing them with your favorite beverage or experimenting with new bread recipes, even partnering your bread with your comfort ulam.

Some may even celebrate bread day by trying out Gardenia’s different bread variants such as muffins, pandesal, filled buns and toast. Although breads can be enjoyed any time of the year, Happy Bread Day symbolizes a unique time when you can go all-out with bread. Just like what some bread fans would say, when it’s October, whether it’s in the supermarket or in Gardenia’s on-ground events, it’s always raining bread!

THE GIFT OF SHARING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY October can also become the perfect time to share bread with your community. And that is just the case for Gardenia’s “I Shared Bread” project. We all know how bread and butter feel like the perfect combination – not too far off is how Gardenia’s Happy Bread Day and the “I Shared Bread” project make an inseparable duo – ever since 2011.

Aside from the company’s yearround bread donations, Gardenia spearheads the I Shared Bread activity every October wherein consumers can participate in the bread donation drive

for the benefit of chosen charities and organizations.

For instance, during the pre-pandemic years from 2011 to 2019, Gardenia plant tour visitors including kids and their parents were able to share bread by donating G-locks from their Gardenia Bread Store purchases. Gardenia matched these G-locks with bread donations resulting in thousands of Gardenia loaves shared with kids residing in orphanages. Moreover, the I Shared Bread project has also supported different communities in the country including the families affected by the siege in Marawi in 2018 and several groups of frontliners during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

I SHARED BREAD IN THE NEW NORMAL

This year, the I Shared Bread project continues amidst the limitation brought by social distancing. Bread lovers in selected areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao can participate in the project through Gardenia Philippines’ e-commerce platforms.

With every loaf bought online via Gardenia’s flagship store on Lazada and Shopee from October 12 to 31, as well as Pandamart from Oct 24 to 27, Gardenia will be donating one loaf of bread on your behalf to chosen beneficiaries. Thus this October, the happiness brought by every Gardenia bread you get –will be the same joy to be shared with deserving kids. Happy Bread Day will be extra merrier as these children will enjoy the same worldclass bread that you love.

ALWAYS GARDENIA

THIS HAPPY BREAD DAY AND BEYOND

In Gardenia, Happy Bread Day, along with other special occasions that come before and after it, will always be dedicated to celebrating and sharing great-tasting bread that is baked fresh and packed with nutritive value. This is Gardenia’s guarantee, driven by the company’s mission to serve the best quality baked goods to every Filipino.

Whether you’re celebrating at home with your family or breaking bread with your community, every consumer can rely on Gardenia in bringing happiness not just every October but all the days of 2022 and the years to come.

World Bread Day

PH wheat flour milling industry celebrates 64 years of partnership with bakers

By Ric Pinca

WARM up the rainy afternoons with a cup of tea or coffee with your favorite freshly baked bread at Bake My Day, home of the Villar Group’s tasty, exciting pastries and bread.

Bake My Day offers a variety of bread and pastries made from carefully kneaded dough to create a wonderful, soft bread baked to its delicious perfection.

AS

THE world celebrates World Bread Day this month, the Philippine wheat flour milling industry also observes 64 years of wheat flour milling business in the country.

The country’s first flour mill is Republic Flour Mills (now known as RFM Corporation). It started operations in 1958 and still churns out thousands of bags of flour daily at its plant in Pasig City.

Seven other flour mills started operating later. Wellington Flour Mills (WFM) in February 1960; Liberty Flour Mills ( April 1961), General Milling Corporation in Cebu ( June 1961), Philippine Flour Mills (PFM) in Quezon Province (July 1961),Pillsbuty-Mindanao Flour Milling Company Inc. ( Pilmico Foods Corporation) in Iligan City in 1962, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) in 1970 and Pacific Flour Mills (PaFM) in 1976. PaFM has since been bought out by another food company.

From the eight original flour mills, the industry has grown to to 22 companies with plants spread out all over the country.

The other flour mills are San Miguel Mills Inc., Philippine Foremost Flour Mills, Morning Star Milling Corporation, Delta Flour Mills, Monde Nissin, Atlantic Grains Inc.,Mabuhay Interflour Mills Inc., AgriPacific Flour Mills (Rebisco) , Asian Grains Inc., Great Earth Inc, California Flour Mills, New Hope Flour Mills , North Star Milling Company. Munchen/Big C Milling Company, Crown Asia Flour Milling Corporation. among others.

The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest consumers of milling wheat, purchasing an average of 3MMT of wheat annually mostly from the United States. Wheat is the raw material for the production of flour for baking and other food purposes.

The Philippines imports basically two types of wheat. The bulk of Philippine purchase is Hard Wheat, also known as Dark Northern Spring (DNS) Wheat due to the dark brown color of its

kernel. Flour from DNS wheat which has around 14 percent protein is used for bread production. Its high protein content enables the flour to hold air inside the dough making the bread expand and rise, producing a soft chewy crumb. Around 60 percent of Philippine milling wheat imports is DNS. The other 40 percent is Soft White Wheat (SWW) with protein content of 9-10.5 percent. Flour from SWW wheat is used for production of pastries, cakes, cookies among others.

More than 50 percent of local flour production goes to the bakery industry for pandesal, loaf bread, monay, Spanish bread and other traditional products one usually sees at the neighborhood bakeries

Competition in the wheat flour business is intense to say the least. With more flour mills vying for their share of the market, mills have come up with various strategies to get ahead of the competition.

It is no longer enough to just produce bread flour or cake flour which was how it was done in the early days of the industry. Now, each flour mill has to provide products customized to meet a particular product requirement of it’s customers. Thus, flour mills now produce Noodle flours, either for ramen, pancit canton, instant noodles, wet and dry noodles and many more just for the noodle market’s varying specified demand. There are also siopao flours, donut flours, pasta flours and many more.

The uninitiated may not know it, but wheat flour is also used for the production of lumpia wrappers, ice cream cones, shawarma wraps, tablets for medical sector and as extenders for hotdog production.

Through the wheat flour business is traditionally centered on the production of flour for consumption of bakeries, restaurants, food companies and hotels among others, the industry has began diversifying its product line taking advantage of the versatility of its raw material wheat and the market’s demand for delicious snacks and other goodies. Thus, a number of flour mills now produce pasta products, instant and wet noodles, cookies and biscuits.

Others have also put up their own bakery lines such San Miguel’s “Kambal Pandesal” and URC’s “Baker John”.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has caused a severe disruption in the supply of wheat worldwide and this has led world wheat prices to go up. Russia is the world’s biggest wheat exporter and along with Ukraine, and these two warring countries hold around 30 percent of exportable wheat. With this much wheat supply put on hold, the rest of the world have to get their wheat supply elsewhere and at a higher cost.

But the Philippine wheat wheat flour industry is confident of weathering out this situation. The US supplies 95 percent of the country’s wheat requirement, and it continues to be a reliable source of wheat despite strengthened demand from other importers. The other suppliers are Canada and Australia, two countries that have kept its wheat exports going despite the supply crunch due to the Russian-Ukrainian situation.

Make your sweet encounter with friends and coworkers more exciting at any of Bake My Day’s 27 branches nationwide, where you can enjoy some of the store’s baked goodies.

Take a bite of Chicken Teriyaki Roll, a butter roll bread filled with Chicken Teriyaki and topped with sesame seeds, or Chicken Curry Pie, bread with yummy chicken curry filling topped with black sesame seeds for additional texture.

Be more adventurous with Beef Curry Danish, Chicken Sausage Danish, or Spinach Pie.

For a snack or two, choose from Bake My Day’s new doughnut collections such as Berry Coconut, Ube Cake, Fruity-Loops, Ice Cream Cone, Dark Choco Feather, and Blueberry-filled doughnuts.

Indulge your cravings for dark and white chocolate with Choco Almond and Mango Graham doughnuts.

Visit Bake My Day’s branches at Evia Lifestyle Center, Vista Mall Dasmariñas, General Trias, Global South, Kawit, Las Piñas, Molino, Nomo, Silang, Sta. Rosa, Eastlake, Libis, Taguig, Bacolod, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Iloilo, Malolos, Naga, Pampanga, Sta. Maria, Santiago, and Sto. Tomas.

For more exciting flavors, please follow @ bakemydayphl on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

Some bread trivia you will surely love

By P.Y. Deligero

AS A GLOBAL food item, bread has earned a place on everyone’s dining tables. Nearly every country has a version of bread that highlights its culture, resources, and preferences. Several recipes made their way across the globe, allowing different communities to enjoy a particular country’s flavor preferences through bread.

Throughout the years, people also discovered new ingredients to make bread with. Aside from the usual flour, milk, and eggs, people began adding essential flavors or using corn, yeast, and grains in baking.

Filipinos have their pick from several bread varieties in the country. Pandesal, monay, and ensaymada are some options that take the cake, with some of them resulting from foreign influence. Yet there’s more to bread than just being food.

Here are some fun facts about bread: ONE CIVILIZATION USED BREAD AS CURRENCY

During ancient times, Egyptians had another use for bread and valued it significantly. Unlike modern times, early civilizations used bread as currency. In a society that didn’t use coins or paper currency, food rations became a form of payment for household staff.

Historical records show that Egyptian soldiers stationed at Nubian forts held inscribed, loafshaped wooden tokens that specified the bread rations they would receive within 10 days.

Ancient Egyptians often consumed bread with beer, making it their staple diet. Although an uncommon pairing, it’s relevant to note that earlier versions of the beverage are less alcoholic, thus enhancing the bread’s flavors.

THEY ALSO USED MOLDY BREAD AS MEDICINE

Modern medicinal professionals and private individuals might raise their eyebrows in skepticism with this trivia, but the ancient Egyptians utilized moldy bread for medicine, specifically for infected burn wounds.

Even though the early civilization wasn’t aware of microorganisms, they may have possibly implemented the antibiotic properties of mold millennia before Alexander Flemming, the founder of penicillin, did.

IT SYMBOLIZES PEACE

People across the globe have heard the phrase “breaking the bread” at least once in their lives. While some may view it as the mere act of sharing food with others, it symbolizes peace for many cultures.

Since bread is a global food item that’s a staple in nearly every cuisine, the act of “breaking bread” inspires a sense of community because it serves as a common ground among members of varying societies.

ARCHEOLOGISTS FOUND THE OLDEST BREAD IN JORDAN

Last 2018, experts discovered charred remains of a flatbread baked about 14,500 years ago in northeastern Jordan. It reinforces the idea that early humans learned how to bake bread years before they developed agriculture.

The flatbread consisted of wild cereals and ground tubers from an aquatic papyrus relative to the flour. It was found at an archeological site in the Black Desert that occupied the Natufians, an early group of people who embraced a permanent lifestyle instead of a nomadic one.

Bread is more than just a vital food item in every cuisine. Throughout the years, it underwent various roles, like currency and medicine, but experts repeatedly prove that bread is a relevant factor in keeping the world fed.

Let Bake My Day make your day with its new doughnut and pastry selection

Dedicating a day to highlight relevance of food

By Patricia Taculao

PSYCHOLOGIST

Abraham Maslow said that food is one of the most basic

physiological needs people require to boost their human motivation. Yet there’s more to food than providing sustenance, as others have a different perspective on what food is.

In some communities, food is their primary source of livelihood, especially those affiliated with the agriculture and food production industries. Meanwhile, people with rich cultures view food as a link to their heritage, often using it as an avenue to connect the past to the present.

Food brings people together across the globe and from all walks of life. Throughout the years, food has undeniably played a significant role in global development.

The United Nations has long since advocated food security among countries because of its value in human growth.

Every year, the organization dedicates a day to emphasize the significance of food. The celebration, known as World Food Day, always falls on October 16 and is one of the most anticipated events from the UN.

Countries included in the UN often participate in the activities during World Food Day to show solidarity in promoting food security and ensuring that there’s enough food for everyone in the present and future generations.

HOW IT CAME TO BE

Even though World Food Day has activities occurring worldwide, the event had humble beginnings due to the UN’s staunch dedication to preserving the world’s food. In 1945, the UN established its specialized agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Although the institution already felt it met its goal, it knew it would take considerable effort to encourage other

governments to follow in its footsteps.

It took another 34 years before World Food Day became a world holiday—at the 20th FAO conference in November, 1979.

Former Hungarian minister of agriculture and food Pal Romany suggested holding the celebration worldwide.

Since then, 150 countries have joined the UN in celebrating World Food Day.

The UN used the event’s popularity to promote the idea of keeping the world well-fed and eradicating poverty in rural nations.

World Food Day aims to further emphasize the message of food security across the globe, particularly during crises. UN’s launch of the FAO showed significant developments in taking the necessary steps toward achieving their lofty goal. The annual celebration marks the crucial part the FAO plays in raising awareness about implementing efficient agriculture policies, calling upon world governments to ensure food security and proper resource allocation.

However, finding sustainable solutions to ending world hunger and addressing

global poverty isn’t an appealing task.

As a result, the UN and FAO used World Food Day to focus on various aspects of food security and agriculture, including, but not limited to, fishing communities, climate change, and biodiversity.

The organizations also find new aspects to highlight each year, whether from conflicts, crises, or a call for action.

Additionally, World Food Day has used different themes over the years. Some previous themes revolved around climate change, social protection, food security, and others. Thanks to the creative efforts of the FAO and the UN in enticing others, several other global organizations now join in celebrating World Food Day.

Private businesses and individuals also participate in World Food Day by joining the FAO’s planned activities or taking other initiatives. Some schools also dedicate several other tasks that educate their students about the relevance of World Food Day.

Besides raising awareness and advocating for food security, World

Food Day is also a time for people to appreciate the food on their tables.

After all, not everyone shares the same privilege, so it pays to be grateful for what they have.

UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATING WORLD FOOD DAY

World Food Days follows the theme “Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow” this 2022.

Even though many people believe in the relevance of food, they are far from seeing it on a global scale, where they consider the welfare of others in the long run. By teaching others how to produce, preserve, and promote safe food in the present, concerned citizens and stakeholders become changemakers, who work towards providing a better future for all.

According to the FAO website, the world needs global solutions more than ever, especially in the face of global crises.

By aiming toward “better production, better nutrition, better environment, and a better life,” communities can

transform agriculture and food systems to implement holistic solutions that consider long-term development, inclusive economic growth, and greater resilience.

On this day, the FAO calls everyone to action, including governments, businesses, the academe, private or public organizations, and everyday individuals, to play a role in advocating food security for all.

Celebrating World Food Day doesn’t necessarily mean taking significant steps to fight world hunger and resource scarcity. Despite all these years, the goal remains challenging to everyone involved. Nonetheless, people shouldn’t feel discouraged as they can participate in World Food Day in other ways.

A simple yet effective way to celebrate World Food Day is by donating to the people who need it the most. The Philippines isn’t short of food banks or charitable organizations that initiate food drives within underserved communities. Many of these accept cash, but donations in kind, like food items, are well appreciated.

Visiting local food producers or farmers is also an ideal way to join the World Food Day festivities. It’s necessary to acknowledge their existence and efforts because they have the task of putting food on everyone’s plates.

There’s also always the option of attending a World Food Day event organized by local governments or organizations. Some of these also play into the public’s general interests because it involves food tastings, poster-making contests, video-making competitions, and more. Simply put, World Food Day is far from bland and uneventful.

Like the other resources on the planet, food isn’t infinite. Unless the world collectively takes a stand to end hunger and poverty, people will always suffer from the lack of resource allocation.

World Food Day is a reminder that everyone is crucial to achieving the worthy goal because food affects everyone, so it should be a general concern.

Access to healthy food for World Food Day ‘22

By Jhannah Gaad and Khrystyn Andaya

THIS year’s World Food Day is being celebrated with the theme “Safe Food for a Healthy Tomorrow”, stressing that the production and consumption of safe food have “immediate and longterm benefits for people, the planet, and the economy.”

Despite progress toward a better world, far too many people have been left behind as many individuals are still unable to reap the benefits of human development, innovation, or economic growth.

Supply is simply one aspect of ending hunger. Sustainability is a must. Access to the availability of nutritious meals is a problem that is being made more difficult by a number of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, war, climate change, inequality, rising food prices, and geopolitical tensions. Global challenges are having a cascading impact on people all across the world.

World Food Day promotes building a sustainable world in which everyone, everywhere has constant access to a sufficient supply of food.

In 2018, the Philippine Republic Act 11037, or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act” was enacted. This creates a national feeding activity for children, and also has programs on health and nutrition education and promoting sanitation and hygiene.

Aside from this, there are local and international organizations that helped address hunger in the Philippines. Some of them are:

REACH OUT AND FEED

PHILIPPINES

Feed, Nourish and Empower are the three main goals of Reach Out and Feed Philippines. More than addressing malnutrition in the country, they aim to help children

reach their full potential by providing nutritious food. One of their wellknown programs is #ProjectBaon.

Children whose families earn less than P200 per day are given a packed lunch.

The organization has fed over 22,000 children in 147 communities.

ACTIONS AGAINST HUNGER

Action Against Hunger is a global organization that had been working in the Philippines since 2000. Their goal is to address hunger from its core: The

lack of nutritious food, food security, water sanitation, and poverty. They are primarily active in disaster-stricken areas through emergency response programs. Recently, they distributed aid to victims of Typhoon Odette.

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY PHILIPPINES

Food for the Hungry started out by helping Vietnamese refugees until they branched on to different countries with the goal of ending poverty by

providing clean water, food, education, and spiritual counsel. Their approach is divided into these phases: Discovery, Growth, Support, and Flourish. In the Philippines, they have sponsored at least 10,000 children across 79 communities and had partnered with 41 Churches.

RISE AGAINST HUNGER PHILIPPINES

With the goal of eradicating hunger by 2030, Rise Against Hunger provides the most vulnerable individuals in the

world with food and other life-altering aid, 8.21 billion Worldwide individuals don’t get the nutrients they need to be active and healthy.

KABISIG NG KALAHI

A non-profit, non-governmental group called Kabisig ng Kalahi was founded in August 2001. It continues to expand nationwide and actively participates in multi-sectoral activities to reduce poverty and improve nutrition.

PH programs to fight malnutrition, hunger

By Chelsea Din and Lee Seril

AIMING to address the malnutrition of children in schools and those affected by the calamities, Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte launched recently the “Kalusugan Food Trucks” in a video report on her first 100 days in office.

The OVP’s “Kalusugan Food Trucks” is a stepping stone of the current administration to fight hunger among students in the Philippines, in partnership with DepEd and the Department of Health through the National Nutrition Council.

“The Kalusugan Food Trucks will be deployed in target areas for 120 days, completing the cycle in which a child’s nutrition is adequately addressed,” the Vice President said.

In 2020, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 101, or the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger, which aimed to achieve food security while also addressing the issue of hunger in the Philippines.

The Task Force Zero Hunger participated in the multi-sectoral movement “Pilipinas Kontra Gutom”, together with other groups, non-profit organizations, and private corporations as they eyed the eradication of hunger and malnutrition in the country by 2030.

The program also prioritized the giving of food assistance and security during times of disasters and pandemic.

Two years after the creation of the task force, it has implemented various programs including the “Gulayan sa Barangay at sa Pamayanan” project, and the “Kasapatan at Ugnayan ng Mamamayan sa Akmang Pagkain at Nutrisyon” (KUMAIN) webinar series.

“We’ve faced typhoons, natural disasters, and other calamities on top of the continuing scourge of COVID-19. Despite these, we were able to tackle the nutrition and food concerns of our countrymen, particularly in affected areas,” former cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles said during the secondanniversary event of the Zero Hunger Task Force in January.

Other organizations and companies in the private and non-governmental sectors such as the Century Pacific Group and the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation have also formed a coalition called the “Zero Hunger Alliance”, with the plan to provide 10 million meals to underserved communities nationwide.

Officially launched last month, the initiative was derived from Century’s “Kain Po” feeding program, which serves protein meals to school-age children from vulnerable communities across the country. It has delivered over 45 million servings since it was introduced in 2010.

“To make a dent in combating hunger and malnutrition, we recognize that we need more partners, who can lend a hand.

We need to craft holistic and sustainable solutions if we want to bring long-lasting change,” Century Pacific Group RSPo Foundation program director Kamille Corpuz said.

Senate Bill 30, or the “Right to Adequate Food Act”, was filed in July this year with the aim of ensuring zero hunger within 10 years by reducing hunger incidence by 25 percent every two and a half years. A similar measure was also pushed in the House of Representatives.

According to the latest Social Weather Stations survey, 11.6 percent of Filipino families, or an estimated 2.9 million experienced involuntary hunger in the second quarter of 2022 alone, with some 546,000 suffering from severe hunger.

The Philippines also ranked 68th out of 116 countries in the 2021 Global Hunger Index, which said the country is suffering from a “moderate” lack of access to food.