Manila Standard - 2022 December 25 - Sunday

‘Keep COVID out of X’mas’

MALACAÑANG on Saturday called on the public to continue following minimum public health standards to ensure safe Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Pasko Ng Pagkakaisa Natin

The story of Christ’s birth has become an integral part of our culture and, every year, we have become more accustomed to commemorating this day with gatherings, thanksgiving, and merrymaking. No matter the evolution of its observance, it is imperative that we emphasize the true essence of this holiday – love.

It is this pure and simple love that Christmas represents – the same one that we constantly desire and need –that allows it to be more than just a Christian tradition. Across beliefs, all the generosity and goodwill stirred in this season are

Isang Makabuluhang Pasko

Hangad ko na maging makabuluhan ang ating selebrasyon ng Pasko sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na dumarating sa ating buhay, at sana ay magpatuloy tayo sa pagiging matatag para sa ating mga sarili, para sa ating mga pamilya, at para sa ating bansa.

Magkakasama tayo sa pagdiriwang ng kapanganakan ni Hesus. Magkakaiba man ang ating prinsipyo, paniniwala, at pamumuhay, pinagkakaisa naman tayo ng pananampalataya, mithiin, pangarap at pagmamahal sa isa’t isa.

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat! Nawa magkaroon ang lahat ng mapayapa, masaya, maunlad at manigong bagong taon.

In a Facebook post, the Office of the Press Secretary warned COVID-19 remains a threat to public health.

This developed as the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) on Saturday said hospitals are prepared for the possible increase in COVID-19 cases following the detection of four Omicron subvariant BF.7 cases in the country.

“This Christmas, consider the safety of everyone, including our family and friends, amid our continuing fight against COVID-19,” the OPS said.

“While the restrictions on gatherings have been further eased, adhering to health protocols will still be a big help in ensuring our good health as we celebrate Christmas and New Year.”

Palace, hospital group remind public to celebrate with health protocols CONTINUED ON 3A

The OPS urged continuous wearing of face masks, regular washing of hands, social distancing, ensuring good air flow and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Peace And Goodwill Wishes

With my wife Yedda and my family, I offer to all our best wishes as we celebrate the Christmas holidays with our loved ones.

In our festivities, let us remember the real reason for our celebration: the birth of our Savior, born in a humble manger over 2000 years ago, who brought love and hope into the world with His simple message of peace on Earth and goodwill to all mankind.

Let us also give thanks that after three years of having to deal with the restrictions arising from the coronavirus pandemic, we can now celebrate and experience the joy of the Yuletide Season with a little more degree of freedom and openness.

I pray that we all share the blessing we receive this Christmas and offer a generous hand to those who need our help. Let us help brighten the lives of those whose Christmas may not be as glowing and as cheerful as ours.

PBBM receives YouTube’s Gold Play Button award

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has received his own Gold Play Button award from YouTube, which he described as “a wonderful Christmas present.”

In a Facebook post, Mr. Marcos thanked his followers for helping him reach a wider audience on his various social media accounts, including

YouTube.

The Gold Play Button is given to content creators surpassing the 1 million subscribers mark.

Mr. Marcos currently has more than 2.7 million subscribers on his official YouTube account.

"I have long been waiting for this," the President said. “This is why I am thankful to all of my followers.”

The President urged Filipinos to visit his social media accounts to keep them posted about his activities, programs, and accomplishments.

Gov’t sets off nationwide internet connectivity plan

internet connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the country.

to provide

In a surprise appearance in an "Online Kamustahan" organized by the Department of

THE “no work, no pay” policy will be implemented on Dec. 26, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023 – both declared as special non-working holidays – the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said those who will report for work on both days will receive an additional 30 percent of their daily salary.

“If they did not report for work, they have no pay unless there is a different company policy,” he said in a radio interview over the weekend.

On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. added Dec. 26 to the list of special nonworking holidays to give Filipinos more time to spend time with their families.

Dec. 24 and 31 have been “special working” days for two years now to allow the country to “recover from the adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic” and “to encourage economic productivity by, among others, minimizing work disruption and commemorating some special

WONDERFUL

X’MAS GIFT. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proudly displays his Gold Play Button award from YouTube.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the rollout of internet for students and teachers in remote areas on Christmas Eve as part of his administration's "BroadBand ng Masa Program" (BBMP), which aims

Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the chief executive talked to students and teachers from various parts of the country, including the remote Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. CONTINUED ON 3A

CONTINUED ON 3A

My warmest greetings to Filipinos all over the country and the world as we celebrate the blessed day of Christmas.

A CHILD IS BORN. A belen depicting the Nativity scene is on display at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila on Christmas Eve.

Norman Cruz

Sa lahat ng pagsubok na hinarap natin ngayong taon, ito na po ang panahon para buhaying muli ang ating pag-asa at pagkakaisa.

At dasal ko po na magkaroon tayong lahat ng isang maligayang Pasko kasama ang ating mga pamilya!

Merry Christmas, and God bless you all!

Lawmaker urges DBM, DILG to hike local officials’ RATA

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

increased local revenues from P107.98 billion to P256.21 billion last year. That’s a 137 percent growth rate. Around the same period, national government revenues only grew by 75 percent. So, they’re actually doing a better job at improving revenue collection,” Salceda noted.

“They also have more resources as a result of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. So, all in all, they are better placed to

help the domestic tourism sector. They also deserve the increase given their improved efforts in generating local revenues,” he added.

Given inflation during the period, Salceda said the RATA for LGUs should increase by at least 35 percent.

“The increase should be sourced from LGU revenues, so that it does not affect our limited NG fiscal space. But it should be done.”

Salceda suggested a review of the rates of the per diems allowed for travel of local officials.

He reminded the DBM that “EO 77 series of 2019 prescribed the rates of expenses and allowances for travel.

The same EO mandates a periodic review every three years based on a survey of lodging costs conducted by the DOT, and other economic indicators prescribed by the Philippine Statistics Authority.”

Depending on the cluster, the maximum daily travel expense (DTE) for local officials is P1,500 to P1,800.

DILG cautions vs. illegal use of vanity plates

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned erring motorists they will be penalized for using unauthorized commemorative car plates.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. tapped the Philippine National PoliceHighway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to arrest violators and work with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure that motorists strictly follow regulations concerning the use of commemorative plates.

The DILG issued the warning after a picture posted on social media about a vehicle with a commemorative plate bearing “PNPA,” alluding to the Philippine National Police Academy. The post went viral.

LTO officials said the agency neither allowed nor approved any commemorative license plate that bears the letters “PNPA” and no such plate was approved by the Transportation department and endorsed to the LTO.

Abalos said under Malacañang Memorandum Order 405, series of 1996, commemorative plates must not be changed or placed on the back of the vehicle or in the space where the regular license plate is placed. It should also not be used for more than six months.

“We also want to emphasize that having a commemorative plate is not a license to disobey traffic laws. If you violate traffic laws, you will still be arrested. We will continue to take the lead to ensure that important laws and regulations regarding commemorative plates are implemented,” Abalos stressed.

“We remind motorists and the public, even government employees to follow the correct use of commemorative plates as per the law,” he added.

PAL set to resume Manila-Xiamen flights

THE Philippine Airlines is set to resume next month its commercial flights between Manila and Xiamen.

PAL’s January 13, 2023 reopening scheduled service to the mainland China comes almost three years after the flight operation was paused due to border restrictions due to the pandemic.

“Starting with one flight per week, operating every Friday, the PAL route to Xiamen will build up frequencies over time, in line with the easing of restrictions and applicable government authorizations,” said PAL spokesperson

From January 13 onward, PAL will offer one flight per week between Manila and Xiamen.

PAL flight PR 330 will serve every Friday departing Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 7:30 a.m. and will arrive in Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 9:55 a.m.

The return flight to Manila will be leaving Xiamen Gaoqi at 11:55 a.m. and land at the NAIA at 2:30 p.m.

The flag carrier will deploy Airbus A330-300 aircraft on the Xiamen route.

Before the pandemic, PAL

During the pandemic, the airline operated a series of authorized regular charter flights to Nanjing (from July 2020 to September 2022), Hangzhou (August 2022 to September 2022), Tianjin (from July 2022 to August 2022) and Wuhan (from August 2022 to present), while scheduled services on the airline’s regular routes were suspended.

Solon lauds IC move to hold hike in catastrophe insurance premium

AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Saturday welcomed a decision of the Insurance Commission (IC) to suspend the increase of insurance premium rates for catastrophes like typhoons, floods and earthquakes that is expected to have detrimental effects on the prices of basic commodities.

“We welcome this positive development to suspend the implementation of the hike in catastrophe insurance premium rates, preventing a looming disaster on the welfare of the general public,” Lee said.

“Without prejudice to our continued efforts to probe the crux of this issue, we are grateful for the cooperation of all parties and stakeholders on this matter,” the lawmaker from Sorsogon added.

Last Dec. 22, the IC issued Circular

Bataan lawmaker eyes ‘coopetition’ among farmers

BATAAN Rep. Geraldine Roman on Saturday pushed for the passage of a measure that encourages cooperation among competing farmer associations and cooperatives to help them achieve scale and capture more of the value-added from their produce.

Roman, chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, filed House Bill 230 or Farmer Coopetition Act, providing for what she called “cooperative competition.”

She said the “coopetition” hubs opens up a venue for product sourcing by major buyers like the government and the retailers, cutting out the middleman in the process.

“We are an agricultural country with a population of over 100 million of which about 10 million – or 24 percent of the total national employment – are rice farmers. Sadly, over 34 percent of our rice farmers are poor. They struggle to make less than P200 a day,” Roman said.

“Low income prevents our rice farmers from supporting their families, accessing and paying farm loans, and growing rice production. It has dampened interest in farming, forcing rice farmers and their children to seek other employment and sell their farmlands to industrialists, threatening our rice industry and food security,” Roman added.

Roman explained the hubs open up the possibility of direct marketing for

HB 230 enjoins cooperation among associations in managing multi-purpose

The low farm gate price of unhusked rice is due to increased competition from cheaper rice imports resulting from the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) enacted to liberalize rice imports to fill the local rice shortage. Maricel V. Cruz

Letter (CL) No. 2022-54 which superseded its IC CL No. 2022-34 that imposed the increase on the said catastrophe risk premiums.

“There is a need to ventilate the concerns arising from the revised schedule of minimum catastrophe rates prescribed under IC CL No. 2022-34 considering the expected increase of insurance premiums and its possible impact to the policy holders,” the IC Circular read.

“In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the authority of the Insurance Commissioner under Section 437 of the Insurance Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10607, the IC CL No. 2022-34 dated 14 July 2022 is hereby SET ASIDE without prejudice to further appropriate action on the matter,” said the IC. Maricel V. Cruz

Group wants gov’t to act on ‘digital divide’ in the country

A CONSUMER advocacy group has batted for intensification of the telecommunications infrastructure development program “to address the prevailing digital divide in the country.

“Private telecommunication companies have been doing a commendable job of ramping up their investments by the billions every year,” said Orlando Oxales, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.

He said governments of other countries invest in their digital infrastructure heavily and strategically on a national scale, with a vision of becoming a globally competitive digital economy.

“Right now, we are not able to compete with that,” Oxales lamented.

Oxales said the Philippine Digital Economy Report 2020 of the World Bank and National Economic and Development Authority indicated that there was a “very significant digital divide” in the Philippines with majority of households lacking Internet access and low fixed and mobile Internet penetration.

The digital divide, according to the report, contributes to unequal opportunities to harness the benefits of online services that are delivered via the Internet.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a recent Telco meeting said the country’s current 70-percent connectivity rate is “not good enough,” and that “the government and its partners could do so much better.”

“It is the goal of this administration to build a truly digital Philippines,” Marcos said, adding that they are trying to reach the most remote parts of the country by providing access to mobile cellular services and wi-fi.

Oxales said it is good that digital transformation is now a priority of the government, pointing to boosting connectivity and the digitization of public services and bureaucratic processes is one of the key strategies of the recently approved five-year Philippine Development Plan.

“Our ability to quickly shift to online transactions during the height of the pandemic gave all of us experiential proof of the great value and utility of digital technologies,” he added.

Oxales noted that the five-year Philippine Development Plan will prioritize the boosting of connectivity and the digitization of public services and bureaucratic processes as one of the key strategies.

However, digital access and proficiency remain limited and uneven, with many geographic locations and socio-economic groups not being able to use technology to its full potential.

Bong wants all senior students to plant trees

ronment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The measure will support the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) and ensure that Filipino students will be socially responsible citizens.

The proposed law is akin to Presidential Decree No. 1153 of President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., issued in 1977, requiring the planting of one tree every month for five consecutive years by citizens aged at least 10 years old and who are physically able.

Under Revilla’s bill, trees shall be planted in any forestlands, mangrove forests, protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas under greening plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mine sites, and other suitable lands.

Private schools would also be encouraged to implement the same program.

The Department of Education’s Commission on Higher Education will monitor the implementation in coordination with the DENR, local government units, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform.

ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to update the rates of the daily travel allowance and the representation and transportation allowance (RATA) of local government officials, to boost domestic tourism as face-to-face engagements resume.

Cielo Villaluna.

served five cities in China -- Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou (Jinjiang).

Joel E. Zurbano

LA LOMA’S LECHON. Without doubt, La Loma, Quezon City has become Metro Manila’s hub of the crispy and succulent lechon, the centerpiece on the table during traditional feasts notably Noche Buena on Christmas Eve. Danny Pata

rice and related products to retailers and consumers; manufacturing of rice products by farmers; and shared rice processing and storage facilities.

hubs suitably equipped to help farmers capture more value from their harvest.

SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. wants every public school graduating student to plant at least 10 trees as a prerequisite to receiving his/her diploma. Revilla filed Senate Bill No. 1538, titled Graduation Legacy for the Environment Act that mandates all graduating public school students from elementary to college to plant at least 10 trees under the supervision of the Department of Envi

SHARING GIFTS AND BLESSINGS. Marty Romualdez, son of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, distributes gifts, mostly toys to more than 500 children at the Burayan Gym of Barangay 83-A, San Jose, Tacloban City, and to an equal number of kids at the Community Center in Barangay Sagkahan, plus another 100 tots at the Missionaries of Charity, also in Tacloban. Ver Noveno

CHRISTMAS EVE STRUCTURAL FIRE. Firefighters from Taguig City battle a blaze that razes a house on Atis St., South Signal Village on Christmas Eve. Fortunately, there is no report of injury while cost of damage is still unknown.

Manny Palmero

Bolsonaro pardon includes officers in prison massacre

The

The measure would, therefore,

Carandiru prison on October 2, 1992, when 111 detainees were killed in a military police intervention to control a riot, according to specialists.

While prosecutors said the prisoners were executed, the defense maintained that members of the military police were acting in self-defense.

Spain arrests man on most-wanted criminals list of FBI

AT LEAST 1 MILLION LEFT WITHOUT POWER

‘Epic’ winter storm wallops US

MORE than a million US power customers were in the dark as a “bomb cyclone” winter storm walloped the country Friday (Saturday, Manila time), closing highways, grounding flights, and causing misery for Christmas travelers.

Over 200 million Americans were under weather warnings, as wind chills sent temperatures down as low as -55 Fahrenheit (-48 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

In Hamburg, New York, 39-year-old Jennifer Orlando hunkered down with her husband.

“I can’t see across the street,” she told AFP. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Her power was out for four hours after a vehicle slid into a power line on the highway, she said.

The biting cold is an immediate concern for hundreds of thousands of electricity customers who were without power, according to tracker poweroutage.us.

In El Paso, Texas, desperate migrants who had crossed from Mexico huddled for warmth in churches, schools and a civic center, Rosa Falcon, a school teacher and volunteer told AFP.

But some still chose to stay outside in

China’s propaganda machine gropes in zero-COVID reversal

CHINA’S state media is struggling and censors are working overtime as Beijing gropes for a coherent narrative in the wake of the sudden reversal of its hallmark zero-COVID policy.

For years, the country’s propaganda apparatus hailed zero-COVID as proof of the superiority of the Communist Party’s authoritarian rule and the wisdom of powerful President Xi Jinping.

But now its usual mouthpieces have been left to spin the decision to scrap strict travel curbs, quarantines, and snap lockdowns as a victory even as cases soar.

“State media has not come up with a grand narrative to fully legitimize the sudden and radical change,” said Kecheng Fang, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s School of Journalism and Communication.

“They were caught by surprise.”

‘KEEP... PHAPI President Dr. Jose de Grano, for his part, echoed the call for the public to continue following health protocols to prevent the spread of the viral subvariants.

“We don’t lower the alert levels in the hospitals, we are always prepared for that and then maybe we should take extra precautions now because as you can see this is the cause (of the spike in cases) in China,” he said in a radio interview.

“Maybe that’s why COVID cases also increasing in Australia, Japan, and even in the United States. This caused the increase in the number of cases there. However, we don’t seem to feel the increase in cases because not everyone is being examined,” De Grano added.

The Department of Health said BF.7 is currently being reported under Omicron subvariant BA.5.

De Grano also advised those who have COVID-19 symptoms to avoid participating in gatherings to prevent other people from getting infected.

Daily COVID-19 infections may reach up to 5,000 in January due to the current holiday activities, an infectious diseases expert earlier warned.

Dr. Rontgene Solante said, however, that fresh infections may not exceed that figure amid the population’s immunity.

The Department of Health itself projected daily cases of COVID-19 to reach more than 4,100 by January 15.

According to the agency, BF.7 is said to be a sublineage of the globally dominant BA.5 – the one fueling the current COVID

The “inconsistent messaging” indicated that the propaganda apparatus may lack adequate directives from the party on how to frame the situation, he told AFP.

Some outlets have hinted that not all is well, with state news agency Xinhua and state broadcaster CCTV this week running reports urging people to use COVID medicines “rationally” and highlighting government efforts to guarantee supply.

But government-run publications have refrained from reporting the grimmer side of the exit wave, instead seeking to calm fears of the pathogen’s potency, and depicting the policy shift as a logical, controlled and triumphant withdrawal.

“Looking back on the last three years, we have waged a stirring battle against the pandemic and gone through an arduous historical test,” read an editorial in the party-run People’s Daily newspaper last week. AFP

surge in China -- and has been flagged by researchers “due to its potential to be more transmissible than the wild-type BA.5 and immune evading properties.”

But available evidence for the new sublineage does not seem to suggest worse disease severity compared to the original omicron subvariant.

“If I’m going to give my projection or possible estimate based on previous events and gatherings, I think we will not reach the 25,000 or 30,000 cases last January of this year because of the Omicron variant,” Solante said.

In a statement, the DOH said: “The Department of Health reiterates the need to put more emphasis on other factors such as wearing of best-fitting face masks, isolating when sick, doubling-up protection via vaccines and boosters, and ensuring good airflow because these are the measures that we can address and control, rather than focusing on the presence of a transmissible variant.”

Based on government records, at least 73.7 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Of that number, 21 million got a booster shot in addition to their primary doses.

According to DOH, COVID-19 cases have been on a plateau from Dec. 16 to 22 at 973 or 5 percent lower compared to the week prior.

Healthcare utilization remains to be low risk at 21.73 percent, while severe and critical admissions make up 10.57 percent of total COVID-19 related admissions.

IT’S ... holidays as special working days instead.”

An employee is entitled only to the daily wage on both days.

-15 Fahrenheit temperatures because they feared attention from immigration authorities, she added.

In Chicago, Burke Patten of Night Ministry, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless, said: “We’ve been handing out cold weather gear, including coats, hats, gloves, thermal underwear, blankets and sleeping bags, along with hand and foot warmers.”

Major Caleb Senn, Chicago area commander for the Salvation Army, said the organization had centers open for people to shelter from the fierce weather.

“Some of the people we’re seeing right now, they’ve just become homeless this year,” he said.

“Some of these people are actually frightened. This is the first time they’ve been in the elements without someplace to go.” Some, however, were taking the biting cold in their stride.

In Canada, stoic last-minute holiday

shoppers in downtown Toronto shrugged off the plunging temperatures.

Jennifer Campbell, of Caledon, Ontario, told AFP: “I think every few years we get some big storms and we just adjust. We are Canadians, that’s the way we do it.”

Transportation departments in North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, Iowa and elsewhere reported near-zero visibility whiteouts, ice-covered roads, and blizzard conditions, and strongly urged residents to stay home.

At least two traffic fatalities were reported in Oklahoma Thursday. Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky, confirmed three in his state.

In Ohio, a 50-vehicle pile-up left at least one person dead, according to local media, while in Michigan an accident involving nine tractor trailers snarled traffic.

Drivers were being warned not to take to the roads – even as the nation reached what is usually its busiest time of year for travel. AFP

The

Although

Information on his wanted poster on the FBI website – which now shows him as “captured” – said his pornography websites generated more than $17 million in revenue and offered a reward of $100,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Arrested in the US, he was sentenced to life behind bars for child pornography, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and illegal earnings but fled, with an international warrant for his

‘Rambo’ Rabuka returns as Fiji’s prime minister

FORMER military commander Sitiveni Rabuka was on Saturday confirmed as Fiji’s prime minister, after accusing the outgoing government of stoking “fear and chaos” to derail his return to power.

Rabuka replaces the imposing Frank Bainimarama, who toppled the government in a 2006 coup and became prime minister a year later.

The 74-year-old Rabuka said he felt “humbled” as he made his way out of parliament to be sworn in by the country’s president.

The two-time coup leader and former prime minister – nicknamed “Rambo” – narrowly triumphed over Bainimarama by 28 votes to 27 in a secret ballot held in parliament, speaker Naiqama Lalabalavu announced.

A smiling Bainimarama appeared to accept defeat as he told reporters after the vote: “This is democracy.”

A chorus of cars honked in celebration as they drove past the parliamentary building in the capital Suva.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated Rabuka in a statement.

“We strongly value Fiji as a close friend and partner as we progress our shared priorities for the region,” she said.

Fiji is one of the most populous and prosperous Pacific island nations, and has grown closer to China under Bainimarama. AFP

For regular holidays Christmas Day and New Year, an employee shall be paid a total of 200 percent of the daily wage for the first eight hours and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for overtime work.

Under Proclamation 90, Jan. 2, also a Monday like Dec. 26, will be an additional special non-working day “in consideration of the Filipino tradition of visiting relatives and spending time with their families.”

“A longer weekend will encourage families to get together and strengthen their relationship towards a more productive environment, and will promote tourism,” the President said.

A BLESSED... welcomed. Surely, embracing these will help us overcome the difficulties brought by the pandemic and other challenges.

Let our spirits not dwell on the adornments that we display, on the buzz and activities that we create, nor on the lack thereof. Instead, let us partake in this holiday with the same simplicity, sense and meaning that we get from it.

Let us freely offer our smiles, share a conversation, or impart wisdom to our peers, our loved ones, and even strangers. Let our affection be known and felt in the simplest of ways so that the eternal message of the Nativity of Christ may again spark hope for a brighter future in the hearts of all.

I wish everyone a Christmas full of love, compassion and hopeful beginnings.

PEACE... May we all find joy in our hearts this season, and may peace and prosperity finally reign in our land.

Merry Christmas, my friends, and Happy Holidays!

GOV’T ... Mr. Marcos vowed to cover all areas in the country under the BBMP, particularly those that have no access to mobile cellular services.

“The more remote areas need access the most. It is good we have all these new technologies that we can use and we are now taking full advantage of,” the President said.

The use of digital technologies will significantly improve government services and help the country improve interconnectivity, Mr. Marcos said.

“This will ensure that connectivity is felt wherever you are in the Philippines,” he added.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said the program seeks to build a "direct connection" between geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and the government.

According to the DICT, among the government's accomplishments toward enhancing the country's digital infrastructure are the Free Wi-Fi for All Program, which established an additional 628 operational free Wi-Fi sites – on top of the existing 4,129 sites – bringing the total live sites to 4,757 areas nationwide.

This government service has been accessed by at least 2.1 million unique users, which translates to 100,000 families provided with connectivity all over the country.

Among those who joined the "Online Kamustahan" event were students and school representatives from Pag-asa Island Elementary School in Kalayaan, Palawan; Armenia Elementary School in Uson, Masbate; Bandera Elementary School in the Island Garden City of Samal; Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School

in Marawi

Meanwhile, the Marcos administration has allocated a significant percentage of the country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) to infrastructure development and increased the budget on agriculture and healthcare for the benefit of the people, the Department of Budget and Management said in its accomplishment report.

The DBM said 5 to 6 percent of the GDP will be spent on infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” programs.

There was also a significant increase in the agriculture sector’s budget, including doubling the allocation for major agricultural and fishery programs.

To provide Filipinos with better health services, the DBM released over P44 million to fund the development of the Marawi City General Hospital.

Also listed in the DBM’s accomplishments this year is its aggressive digitalization in line with President Marcos’ agenda.

PBBM ... "Continue posting, commenting, and subscribing to my social media accounts… Please continue to support me," the President said.

Mr. Marcos has promised to continue vlogging so as not to limit the dissemination of government information to mainstream media.

SPANISH police said Friday they had arrested a man on the FBI’s 10 most-wanted list for a string of sex trafficking and pornography offences involving minors.

man, a 40-year-old New Zealander, was arrested after being spotted in a hotel in central Madrid where he was staying under a false name to avoid being caught, the police said.

they only identified him by his initials, MJP, a source confirmed it was Michael James Pratt who features on the FBI’s list of 10 most-wanted criminals.

arrest issued in November 2019. AFP

FromtheFRONTPAGE

RAMBO’S BACK. Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, a former military commander, takes the oath of office during a ceremony in Fiji’s capital city Suva on December 24, 2022. AFP

Heavy snow, howling winds and air so frigid it instantly turned boiling water into ice took hold of much of the nation, including normally temperate southern states.

OUTGOING Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has pardoned security forces convicted of crimes committed more than 30 years ago, which legal experts say applies to agents found guilty of an infamous prison massacre in 1992.

far-right leader’s decree, which is part of a traditional Christmas pardoning and comes nine days before he leaves office, gives a pass to officers whose crimes “were not considered extremely serious” and were committed in the line of duty more than three decades ago, an official document said.

pardon 74 police officers convicted in the massacre at Sao Paulo’s

City, Lanao del Sur; Dioryong Integrated School in Nagtipunan, Quirino Province; Villa Espina Elementary School in Lopez, Quezon and Landang Laum Elementary School in Zamboanga City.

JBT Agri-Farm is proud to be a pioneering enterprise. It is a resting place, a hobby destination, a weekend go-to place for families who prefer nature and open spaces.

The enterprise is an 800,000-square meter development in a 2-hectare 70’s farm situated in Sitio Pulunan, Dagatan, Amadeo, Cavite. The facade has huge sloping patch of vegetable garden which is said to have nurtured many frontliners during the pandemic and a restaurant that offers livelihood to the handicapped.

The farm is a popular destination to local tourists. It pays homage to family tradition of farming, dining together as a family and providing shelter, says Julius Tibayan, proprietor and one of the owners and founders of the enterprise.

“While JBT is the initial of my brothers, including myself, it actually stands for Jesus B. Tibayan which is my father’s name, the original founder and owner of the farm. Sadly my father passed last year and the upkeep of the agro-business is left to me and my brothers,” he said.

He noted that the years spent by his father as a local public servant and later on, as a political consultant, shaped the broad stroke plans for the enterprise.

“It was his desire to educate and provide our kababayans the means to support their family, that we decided to transform a big part of the landholding to a model farm. It is actually the first actual farm-to-table enterprise in this side of town. It supports the fresh food needs of our dining space, which we also considered another first. I believe we are the first to offer food fusion of Spanish-Italian cuisine in our town,” he explained.

Taniman ni Jesus, the farming unit of the enterprise, cultivates high value crops sold to roadside vegetable kiosks, wet markets and supermarkets using organic technology.

Salad greens like Romaine lettuce and Kale, and special crops such as sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes were only a few of the crops produced at the farm.

The farm’s output also sustains the fresh food needs of enterprise’s dining segment, Cocina Con El Corazon, which is named after Tibayan’s mother Ina Siony. Renditions of the favorite traditional Spanish and Italian food are served daily using produce offered by the farm.

Adding to the farm and restaurant, is a modern “bahay-kubo” for families who would rather stay the night and enjoy the cool climate. Equipped with the amenities of modern living, the hut offers solitude and quietude except for nocturnal sounds of the cicadas and small night prowlers like monitor lizards. The inspiration for the modern bahay-kubo was the clans’ very first structure, the home of the family’s abuela, Lola Naty. Bahay Kubo ni Lola Naty is the first and only accommodation for now, but there are plans to to add 2 or 3 more huts in the next 2 years. Not far from the Bahay Kubo is a refreshing , flowing pool open to day visitors and night settlers and an events place for intimate occasions.

Like many businesses that cowered during the pandemic, JBT Agri-Farm was not spared the struggles. But that did not deter the farm from continuing its mission to feed people. During the pandemic lockdowns,

A farm-to-table experience

simplicity of farm life. With the assistance of resident farmers and a mainstay chef, the activity allows children to plant and harvest crops which they cook and eat afterwards. The culminating part of the activity is an art representation of their experience through paint and canvas.

“Children learn the value of food as they themselves experience how food is produced and processed. They learn about plants, their nutritional values and how they are an important part of the ecosystem and the food chain,” Tibayan said.

He recalled that in the town of Amadeo, there is not a child who does not learn a thing or two about farming. Tibayan and his siblings are among the lucky children who know the value of hard work as they are required to help in the farm after school and during weekends.

It is the same experience that the enterprise wants to capture for the children, he added.

Another fun activity that the agri-farm is contemplating to offer on a regular basis is the overnight camping for families which is a really good way to commune with nature and spend quality time with family. Families may either bring their owns tents and camping gears or they may also rent from the farm.

Tibayan noted that many visitors from Manila and other nearby cities have been flocking to their place for some therapeutic relaxation.

“People who are sick find solace in this place. It has been found in many researches that one of the factors that help sick people cope with their ailment is the environment. JBT Agri-Farm is the perfect place for palliative care. Despite its proximity to major cities and greater metropolis in Manila, the farm is an unadulterated destination where the air is pure, the food is fresh and we have activities the relaxes the body and mind,” he said.

Being the “agripreneur” that he is and as a devoted academician, his ultimate dream is to establish a farming school that will equip farmers with the technological knowhow to manage their smallholdings.

The dream is to offer farmers short programs and certificate courses that will give them the knowledge to improve their farm lots and make farming a profitable career and for the farmhands to explore the bigger world with their newfound knowledge.

In coordination with the DA and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), JBT Agri-Farm has received its field validation an as ideal location for a training center. It may take a few more years to realize the dream, but it is already as source of hope to the farming community.

said.

He also started a fundraising campaign that allots a percentage of the enterprise’s sales to contribute to the endowment fund for the scholarship program at DLSUD. It may seem early for the enterprise to practice corporate social responsibility since the business is yet to recover its investment, but the inclination to provide for penniless students is a far greater cause, he said.

In the first 3 years of operating the business, Tibayan noted that while the business is struggling to return to normal operations due to the global challenges, the enterprise is still on track of its 5-year development plan.

The Tibayan family, JBT Agri-Farm owners and founders Taniman ni Jesus soldiered on to support medical frontliners and volunteers by cooking batch after batch of fresh vegetables delivered to municipal frontliners.

It also supported medical workers of a big hospital in a nearby city by bringing in freshly-picked vegetables and green salads, everyday for free throughout the crisis.

Tibayan said it been a part of the company’s effort to reach out and give back to the community. JBT Agri-Farm is a tax-exempt enterprise registered an an agro-enterprise at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We are simply returning the favor by continuously providing assistance to the

community,” he said.

Tibayan, the third among a brood of 4 sons, also works as a full-time professor at the Dela Salle University Dasmariñas (DLSUD). He has worked at the university for over 20 years, after finishing his degree in Agribusiness. He used to head the scholarship foundation and now heads marketing and research.

“Being an Agribusiness graduate, I am the voice of the business and my family. We plan and operate as one family, the way we are taught by our parents. Since we are not yet a corporation, we do business the family way, our ownn way. Whoever wants to put in investments for a project is welcome. For us, brothers, working in the enterprise is

Hirers obtain posting credits at JobStreet

To

In the next 3 years until 2025, the agrifarm aims to establish food security and stability, starting at farm and municipal level; support sustainable agriculture; transform the enterprise into an ecotourism destination; create space for health and wellness; and ultimately, put up an agricultural training school for smallholder farmers.

It is one of the ambitions of the enterprise to leverage its output with the sustainable development goals (SDG). The SDGs, introduced in 2015 through the United Nations General Assembly, aims to connect environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development by giving a premium to sustainability.

Consistent with the plan to transform the enterprise into an eco-tourism destination, the farm unit introduced pocket events designed to educate kids while enjoying the

New portal makes job application a breeze

JOBLU, the newest job matchmaking platform in the market, spares users from the time-consuming and conventional job application and recruiting processes.

According to Joblu founder and CEO Abhii Dabas, jobseekers now have the convenience of exploring global opportunities in the palm of their hands. With Joblu’s advanced features, everyone can find the match of their dreams whenever they want and wherever they are.

“During our interaction with thousands of students and young professionals over the years, we realized that job seekers couldn’t relate to the current recruitment process. The fact that we are still relying on resumes for the last 30 years or more was quite baffling.

Therefore, we wanted to build a platform that feels more like a fun digital interaction and less like a dreaded chore,” he said.

While there are many job search and recruitment platforms, Joblu is an app like no other. It solves the same problems as other apps. It gives the same convenience of finding jobs or talents online. It helps streamline the job application and hiring processes as other platforms do.

As part of Joblu’s commitment to helping fresh graduates and young professionals be career ready, the company has developed advanced features to fulfill its mission. One promising feature of the app is JobReels.

While providing an old fashion resume to recruiters is proven effective, there are plenty of innovative ways to boost the applicant’s odds of getting the job. JobReels enables applicants to creatively introduce themselves by recording a 30-second video. It makes the job application journey more enjoyable since the experience reminds you of using your favorite social media platforms. With this, job seekers gain a competitive edge over others because JobReels make their profiles more unique.

“We wanted to make the job search process more engaging and proactive where job seekers can create effective video profiles through JobReels to draw the attention of employers. Our candidatefirst approach allows job seekers to truly express themselves and makes it easier for employers to assess a candidate based on their skills, personality, and preferences. This multi-dimensional engagement leads to better culture-fits on both sides,” Dabas said.

Another feature Joblu takes pride in is the mock interview. This feature lets job seekers practice answering the most commonly asked interview questions, helping them prepare for the big day.

From an employer’s perspective, the JobReels feature allows companies to showcase their strengths, benefits, and work culture. Joblu also built the assessments feature so that recruiters can quickly evaluate applicants if they fit their needs.

Joblu is more than just a job search platform. It lets job seekers find careers they will love and a workplace where they feel comfortable, safe, supported and included.

Republic Cement receives PMIEA awards

The initiative is the company’s effort to assist employers in finding the right candidates while transitioning to post-pandemic setup and experiencing an economic downturn.

“Making hiring decisions and recruiting the right people have been a struggle for enterprises as they transition to the new normal. Things have changed since the pandemic and fresh talents have also entered the job market industry. We are looking to empower hirers to seek better, end the year with great hires and start the year with quality candidates in their companies,” said JobStreet Philippines marketing head Kim Viray.

As a dedicated business partner, JobStreet has made candidate hunting and hiring more efficient, especially for hirers trying out the platform for the first time.

JobStreet’s talent search feature allows hirers to filter through the candidates from the platform for any specific job position in the company.

REPUBLIC

“Throughout our 67 years of service towards building the nation, Republic Cement has always been deeply and wholly committed to responsible mining. It is through responsible mining and our daily commitment to safety and sustainability that we are able to support robust communities and a thriving environment, towards a greener and Stronger Republic,” said Republic Cement CEO Roman Menz.

Republic Cement dominated the Quarry Operations (non-metallic) Category, winning the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards for its Batangas, Iligan, and Teresa Plants. The Platinum Achievement Award for the same category was also awarded to Republic Cement Bulacan Plant. The Batangas Plant was also recognized for having the safest non-metallic

mine.

For Best Mining Forest (Non-metallic), Republic’s Bulacan Plant won the top prize with its Iligan plant winning second runnerup for the same category.

“The awards we have received this evening serve not only as recognition for our practices and commitments towards our communities and sustainable development, but also as a challenge to do even more in promoting the responsible

management of environmental and natural resources,” said Republic Cement & Building Materials president Lloyd Vicente.

Hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), the awards ceremony recognized companies that performed admirably in terms of environmental preservation and safety excellence. The theme “Resilience, Reset, Recovery”, highlighted the important role the mining industry plays in economic development and in safeguarding the environment through responsible mining.

Founded in 1955, Republic Cement celebrates 67 years of being a partner for Philippine transformation as a building materials company and key contributor to nation building. The cement firm supplies quality cement, with brands including REPUBLIC, FORTUNE, RapidSET, KapitBalay, MINDANAO, and wallMASTER, manufactured at 7 strategically located sites across the Philippines.

KFC opens opportunities to senior citizens

THERE’S a heartwarming sight at KFC stores nowadays. It’s like coming home to familiar surroundings with your tito or tita or lolo and lola serving your favorite comfort food.

True to its core values, the world-famous chicken restaurant is not just about providing the best-tasting chicken-and-gravy meals, it also believe in equal employment opportunities to all age groups.

KFC Philippines is now hiring qualified housewives, househusbands and elderly individuals as part of their store crew because they believe that their experience will be value-adding and to make them feel that they are welcome in KFC to serve quality food.

One excited recruit is Ester Decena, a 73-year-old widow with three married sons. “Enjoy na enjoy ako. Natuwa nga ako nung natanggap ako kasi matanda na ako. Akala ko hindi na pwede. Tsaka interesado ako eh. Gusto ko matuto pa kahit alam mo na ‘yung gagawin,” she shared.

“Hindi ako sanay nang hindi kumikilos. Sanay kasi ako nagtatrabaho. Bata pa lang ako nagtitinda na ako ng pagkain. Pagkain talaga ang hilig ko,” Decena said.

A retired food vendor, going back to work at a fast-food restaurant seemed second nature to her. “Ang KFC, sa akin pananaw, class talaga. Pero OK ang kanilang food so nakatatak sa isip ko na OK mag-trabaho sa kanila. Sila ang unang nag-handle sa akin, so para sa KFC talaga ako.”

Decena felt a new sense of purpose as well as enjoyment while working at a world-renowned restaurant. She is grateful for the livelihood opportunity as KFC embraces senior members of society like her.

With seniors like Ester Decena, KFC is wholeheartedly committed in the journey of making a more comfortable, safe dining experience for its community while providing additional income to qualified individuals.

KFC now employs 64 staff whose ages range from 41 to 77. They are part-timers who help assist the stores during peak hours. They work at least 2 hours a day or more based on how frantic a store’s busy hours can be.

The Colonel’s search for qualified candidates has started this year and will continue until 2023. Tapping LGUs, referrals, and the power of social media, the recruitment team will reach out to enthusiastic individuals who will undergo screening, interviews, and orientation before they get to be assigned to selected KFC branches.

The selected senior crew will undergo orientation and training before deployment. Their assigned duties are more on the front-of-the-house tasks. Besides giving respect and dignity to the new employees, KFC also provides them additional income with a work-life balance usually deprived of people of a certain age.

KFC Philippines takes pride in fried, freshly prepared meals, unrelenting quality control, and of course the hands and hearts behind making these all possible. We want to build a diverse and inclusive workplace, where a mix of generations are fired up to work together in serving the most finger-lickin’ good food.

n OTHEL V. CAMPOS, Issue Editor | email: extrastory2000@gmail.com

Solar-powered irrigation at Taniman ni Jesus

Attentive crew of deaf servers

not forced. We have our own professional careers and we contribute whatever we can to keep the business running,” he

LEADING online job portal JobStreet by SEEK empowers companies to seek better candidates in 2023 as it provides free job posting credits to

Cement bagged seven honors at the prestigious 68th Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards held in November at the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center in Baguio City.

JONAS Daniel Ocampo, one of the first student-athletes of the National Academy of Sport at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, made heads turn on his maiden splash in competitive swimming.

The 12-year-old Ocampo struck gold and bagged a silver medal in two of three events that he joined in the swimming competitions of the recentlyconcluded Philippine Sports Commission-organized Batang Pinoy national championships in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

On his first outing, Kevin Chan of Valenzuela and Daniel Ocampo settled for the silver and bronze behind Kristian Cabana of Lucena City, with the clockings of 2:13.40 and 2:35.30 in the 200m backstroke events at the Quirino Stadium pool.

Ocampo, who started attending virtual classes when the NAS’ first academic year officially started on Sept. 13, 2021, bounced back with his first-ever gold medal in the grassroots development meet, topping the 200-meter backstroke, with a time of 2:34.56.

Lucena City’s Julian de Kam joined Compuesto in claiming his fifth gold medal at the Quirino pool in the weeklong meet, when he and teammates Mikos Trinidad, Peter Cyrus Dean, and Sahjeed Sarmientos dominated the boys 13-15-year-old 4x50 meter freestyle relay.

“This was a great learning experience for me,” said Ocampo, one of the kids of former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) tennis champion Pius Jonas Ocampo and his wife Mitzi.

The Batang Pinoy is the third competition, and the first major one, for the young Ocampo this year, after he earlier competed in the FINIS and Philippine National Age Group meets.

HAVING FUN

Ocampo said his times are getting better, and he’s been having fun at the same time.

He shifted to swimming after he was asked by his parents about his choices when he was about to enter the NAS as a scholar.

“This year lang siya na nag-start mag-compete since everything opened after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Sunod-sunod na rin,” said Mitzi, who cheered Jonas on, along with his brother Jan, and her two other kids.

Jonas could have followed in the footsteps of his dad, who won medals for the University of Santo Tomas when he was competing in the UAAP from 2001 to 2005.

HOBBIES & COLLECTIONS

NAS scholar-athlete makes big splash at Batang Pinoy pool

After Pius and Mitzi graduated, they settled down in Pampanga. Pius is an ophthalmologist specializing in the cornea, while Mitzi is a dermatologist, both at the Angeles City Medical Center.

There was an opportunity for Jonas to compete in an international meet in Malaysia before the Batang Pinoy meet.

But his parents were not ready to deal with the resources needed to join such big events at that time.

With progress seen in the Batang

Pinoy, Jonas would most likely find himself seeing action internationally soon.

The National Academy of Sports system was established with the signing of Republic Act No. 11470 on June 9, 2020 by President Rodrigo Duterte, with plans for the main campus to be set up at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.

Josephine Joy Reyes was appointed as the NAS system’s first Executive Director

Djokovic hopes for warm welcome on Aussie Open return

dent on her performances on court.

According to Forbes, Swiatek has made $14.9 million over the past year, $9.9 million of which came from tournament prize money.

in October last year.

In July 2021, the NAS launched its first NAS Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable, and Talented Student-Athlete Scholars (NASCENT SAS), an annual scholarship program that would scout Filipino student-athletes from across the Philippines.

The NAS’ first academic year officially started on Sept. 13, 202. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will be initially and primarily done virtually.

The construction of a dedicated campus for the NAS in New Clark City began in early October 2021. It is scheduled to be completed by February 2022.

It is the intention of the NAS intends to provide a secondary education program with a curriculum intended to improve its students’ performance in sports.

The initial program will cover eight sports, and this includes aquatics, athletics, badminton, gymnastics, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and weightlifting

Boxing chiefs blast ‘persecution’ in Olympics

A nine-time champion at Melbourne Park, Djokovic

to compete in the opening Grand Slam of the season

2022 after he was deported from Australia over fears he would incite anti-vax sentiment.

As a result of his deportation, Djokovic was banned from entering Australia again but that decision has been reversed and the world number five is pleased he will get the chance to vie for a 10th title in Melbourne and a men’s record-equalling 22nd major crown overall.

“I always ask for best from myself so let’s see. Over the years I’ve been really fortunate to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there,” Djokovic told reporters at the World Tennis League in Dubai on Friday.

“After obviously what happened earlier this year, hopefully, I can have a decent reception there and hopefully that can help me play some good tennis.”

The 35-year-old Djokovic was unable to compete in two of the four majors this year as his vaccination stance meant he was also forced to sit out the US Open.

However, he finished his 2022 campaign with a bang, winning titles in Tel Aviv, Astana, and the ATP Finals in Turin, as well as reaching the final of the Paris Masters.

He also picked up trophies in Rome and Wimbledon and tallied up a 42-7 win-loss record throughout the season.

The Serb had mentioned in the past he would like to play into his 40s.

Asked if he still felt that way, Djokovic said: “I would like to play as long as I possibly can. I don’t have really any number in my head. Things are progressing so far pretty well for me. I can’t complain. So as long as I play at this level, as long as I have the fire, I’ll keep going.”

Meanwhile, world number one Iga Swiatek was happy to see herself land in the fifth spot on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes.

However, the 21-year-old Pole admits she hopes to expand her endorsement portfolio so her earnings aren’t just depen-

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams – who have spent significantly less time competing on tour in 2022 – are the top two athletes on the list, with the former reportedly earning $51.1 million and the latter making $41.3 million.

“It’s not my motivation. The most fun I have on court is when I actually don’t think about things like that,” assured Swiatek, who won eight titles in 2022, including two Grand Slams.

“I’m pretty happy that my life changed so much that I can compete at the highest level and earn so much money from it because this is also something that is really helping us appreciate the sport we have.” AFP

BOXING chiefs claimed on Friday they are victims of “persecution” and “extortion” as their sport faces being axed from the Olympic program.

Olympic bosses upheld a ban on the International Boxing Association (IBA) earlier this month, insisting that the “drastic change of culture” requested in order to lift a suspension had not been implemented.

The IBA was suspended by the International Olympic Committee in 2019 for multiple corruption scandals, meaning boxing risks disappearing as an Olympic sport from the Paris Games in 2024.

Boxing only went ahead in the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics after the IOC stepped in to ensure the qualification criteria.

However, the IBA, whose president is Umar Kremlev of Russia, blasted their critics on Friday.

“The Olympic Games are a global sporting asset that cannot be a tool of extortion of the International Sports Federations for purely politi -

cal reasons,” the IBA said in a statement.

The IBA has also come under fire for its governance, financial transparency and sustainability. Their major backer has been Russian energy giant Gazprom in a deal worth a reported $50 million.

“It is clear that the persecution of IBA athletes will continue until ultimate control of boxing and its leadership has been achieved,” added the IBA statement.

“The discrimination against you (the athletes) and IBA’s leadership and partners based on citizenship, directly contradicts the Olympic Charter, and only highlights the issue of athletes and sport being manipulated for geopolitical purposes.”

It added: “With that said, with the threat of boxing being removed from the Paris 2024 program, the IBA will continue to reach out to the senior leadership of the IOC to work towards a de-escalation of this current development and with a view to LA 2028.”

Paris Olympics turning to AI for crowd control

FRENCH authorities plan to use an AI-assisted crowd control system to monitor people during the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to a draft law seen by AFP on Thursday.

The system is intended to allow the security services to detect disturbances and potential problems more easily, but will not use facial recognition technology, the bill says.

The technology could be particularly useful during the highly ambitious open-air opening

ceremony with Olympians sailing down the river Seine in front of a crowd of 600,000 people.

French police and sports authorities faced severe criticism in May after shambolic scenes during the Champions League final in Paris when football fans were caught in a crowd crush and teargassed.

The draft law, which was presented to the cabinet on Thursday, proposes other security measures including the use of full-body scanners and increasing the sentences for hooliganism.

Organizers and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin have both argued in favor of using so-called “intelligent” security camera software that scans images for a suspect or dangerous behavior.

The use of such a system during the Olympics is an “experimentation”, the draft law says, but could be applied for future public events which face terrorism-related or crowd control risks.

“No biometric data is used, nor facial recognition technology and it does not enable any link

or interconnection or automatic flagging with any other personal data system,” the bill states.

The games’ organizing committee said on November 21 that it needed to lift its budget estimate by 10 percent from 3.98 billion euros to 4.48bn euros, partly as a result of inflation.

Rather than opening the games in an athletics stadium as is customary, organizers have planned a ceremony on July 26, 2024, with a flotilla of some 200 boats sailing down the river Seine.

NOVAK Djokovic is hoping he will receive a warm welcome from the public when he returns to the Australian Open next month, now that the drama surrounding his vaccination status and deportation is officially behind him.

was unable

in

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates defeating Austria’s Sebastian Ofner during the 2022 World Tennis League exhibition match at Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena in the United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 23, (AFP Photo)

Jonas Daniel Ocampo during the awarding ceremony in Batang Pinoy swimming competition and with mom Mitzi. (From Ocampo Swimmers page)

Holiday reads

Short stories, novels perfect for the holidays

ATENEO

Manila University Press

rocks the holidays with a whole slew of new releases, among them a couple of short story collections and two novels from its Bughaw imprint that are, in many aspects, ground-breaking.

One of them was recently launched, and all were mentioned at the publisher’s “Golden Harvest” event held last December 7, in celebration of AdMU Press’ 50th anniversary. Their books may be purchased online at their website and their Lazada and Shopee stores.

* * *

A rare talent comes our way in the person of Vida Cruz-Borja, who regales us with speculative fiction in her short story collection Song of the Mango and Other New Myths (352 pgs., pb), launched earlier this month.

There are 15 stories in this book, 10 of which have been previously published in foreign SF&F and spec-fic magazines, and one in Philippine Speculative Fiction Vol 9. Cruz-Borja digs deep into Philippine lower mythology to animate her stories: a diwata, kapre, mangkukulam, and Maria Makiling among them.

In “Song of the Mango,” Saha can’t prevent her beloved brother from falling in love with a girl way out of his reach. He presses his suit, but loses his life. Distraught, Saha appeals to a diwata for her brother’s resurrection. Her wish is granted – or is it?

“Ink: A Love Story” is one of my favorites. It starts interestingly enough: “Two hopeful writers enter a mangkukulam’s little shop in Divisoria at the same time.” This is the usual “magic curio shop” story of a place crammed with dusty jars and herbs and coins, and where the shop owner hands them “the

answer to your problems” – a bottle of ink each. The ink grants wishes, of course – but at what cost?

Each story is accompanied by a lavish illustration at the end. Cruz-Borja worked with 11 different artists, and the book is a feast for the eyes. Have I mentioned the gold foil accents on the covers and the vibrant cover art? Gorgeous.

Cruz-Borja’s work has been nominated, longlisted, and recommended for the Hugo Award, the British Science Fiction Award, and the James Tiptree Jr. (now known as the Otherwise) Award. Her writing is lyrical, lush, and layered, and her stories extend the reach of Philippine lore. Her. This book is a treat for the spec-fic fan.    * * *

John Bengan’s 13-story collection Armor (224 pgs., pb) is set firmly in the Philippines we know, where summary executions, strongmen, and death squads abound. Most of the action happens in Davao of the late ‘90s to the present and not-too-distant future.

In “Voice,” Keno, a young gay man, pretends to be his friend, Nikka, to engage in

phone sex with Mr_sPace_man, who turns out to be a dangerous man named Jonas. He learns he was tricked and is looking for revenge on Keno – and Nikka. What must Keno do to protect his friend that he put in harm’s way?

My favorite is “Manny Pacquiao Speaks to a Butterfly in California.” The greatest Filipino boxerist-cum-senator unburdens himself to a wee winged one, telling it how he dealt with his mother taking up with a dance instructor decades younger than herself. It’s written in dialect, and sounds exactly like MP.

Many of the stories were previously published in magazines and journals. Overall, it’s a strong collection and worthy of a place on any discerning reader’s shelf.

placid life is disrupted by terror in the city. But she has to reckon with a familial legacy that affects her life in terrible ways.

The story is an intimate look into the life of activists, the resisters, and how they are hunted by the powers that be. Words pop from the page, brutally honest in their description of a life of struggle – convoy of military trucks, taken, sedition, documents, body was found, morgue, corpse, forever a corpse. This is the Philippines, one seldom visible to the mainstream, but running as a red undercurrent to political life.

In a conversation with a friend, Yñiga has a line of dialogue that stuck with me: “We all just mouth half-rehearsed, half-spontaneous lines in life, don’t we?” and that’s acting –and literature – as a metaphor for life.

Yñiga was shortlisted for the inaugural Novel Prize in 2020 by Fitzcarraldo Editions, Giramondo, and New Directions.

* * *

In Kites in the Night (120 pgs. Pb), Blaise Campo Gacoscos writes an unflinchingly honest novel about the life of a man whose life brings him face to face with complex moral challenges, and how he deals with them.

Readers follow Victor Molina on his life’s journey, from his childhood in Ilocos to adulthood in Manila. The book is written as a composite novel, meaning each chapter can be read as a short story. Victor deals with crises, incidents of joy, and mundane

happenings as best he can, given his limited circumstances.

In “The Rat,” his mother comes to his house prior to entering the hospital to get treatment for a brain tumor. He cooks her favorite sinigang with malaga fish. Unfortunately, she chokes and Victor thumps her back hard until she vomits everything she has eaten. Behind the scenes, he is battling a huge rat he has found in his apartment. He cannot help that his mother is ill, but he can keep trying to kill the rat. That, he can control; the other, he cannot.

In this chapter, we see Victor’s contemplative side; it fastens on the quotidian for his understanding of the immense: “He lay back in bed and contemplated the aluminum slats of the upper deck above him, those that wove together to form small, perfect squares. He reached out for the slats with his forefinger, felt its rough surface and sharp edges. Maybe life came in a box. No return, no exchange. He couldn’t leap out of the box even if he wanted to. He couldn’t rip it apart if everything was a mess. He could only keep trying.”

As do we all – we can only keep trying.

* * *

Dr. Ortuoste is a board member of PEN Philippines, member of the Manila Critics Circle, and judge of the National Book Awards. You may reach the author on Facebook and Twitter: @DrJennyO

THE festive season is one of the best times to indulge in holiday culinary cravings, from lavish buffet spreads to sumptuous feasts. ‘Tis the season for Newport World Resorts to serve a world of festive fare for all kinds of celebrations from its line of signature restaurants and international hotel brands for The World of Christmas.  Casa Buenas is decking the halls for a family-style holiday feast featuring Filipino-Spanish favorites for P10,000 nett and serves up to six persons. Families can revel on hearty servings of smoked beef short ribs with herb salsa and roasted vegetables, grilled calamari relleno, arroz bringhe, and more. At Silogue, loved ones can enjoy the Noche Buena package at P3,188 nett and good for up to six persons. Highlights of the menu include classic Filipino Christmas dishes such as lechon manok, beef morcon, pork hamonado, fresh lumpia, salted egg bibingka, rice, and cucumber lemonade. Casa Buenas is located at

GF, Newport Grand Wing while Silogue is situated at GF, Newport Garden Wing.

Hilton Manila presents its patrons with a well-curated selection of festive feasts and fêtes for the holiday.

Its award-winning restaurants Kusina Sea Kitchens and Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise invite guests to bask in the holiday spirit while savoring special feasts. For a special rate of P3,400++ per person, celebrate Christmas Eve with a feast, holy mass, and a festive night market all in one place.

Head over to Holiday Inn Express Manila – Newport

City for the Holiday Feast buffet at the outdoor hang-out spot, Jardin, and the Great Room until December 31. The grand dinner buffet brings the festive offerings of Newport World Resorts’ signature restaurants, Casa Buenas, Garden Wing Cafe, Ginzadon, Silk Road, Silouge, and Victoria Harbour Cafe, all in one place for P2,500 ++.

THIS holiday season, most have begun to slowly step out from virtual meetings into a relatively normal celebration for the first time after almost three years.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Gene Beresin MD, MA, the Executive Director of The MGH Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds and a full professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, noted that amid the advent of vaccines and other treatments, many have already assumed a sense of normalcy.

“We are once again dining out, going to sporting events, commuting to work and school, and, yes, planning our upcoming holiday family travel schedules and gatherings,” he stated. “In many ways, the experience of the pandemic along with other national and global concerns have influenced how we may experience the season.”

Echoing Beresin, the Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC) of the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde encourages the general public to take time to celebrate learning and appreciate each other’s differences.

Here are some tips to help families have a brighter holiday celebration:

tain connections. Meet them in person or through digital media. Remember humans are pack animals –we need each other.

4. Remember you are more resilient now. With so much being taken away from us, we found ways of accepting loss. With a new perspective, let us remember the things we endured.

5. Have conversations about the pandemic. Have conversations about our experiences. Talk to family and friends about your challenges. Tell how you coped. Share your learnings.

6. Reflect on how we learned to live with less. The pandemic forced us to sacrifice. No going out for dinner. No shopping. Just getting by with basic meals. Given the serious economic downturn and the cost of products escalating, we can use these lessons to live within our means.

7. Reflect on the value of social emotional learning.

LACOSTE launches two standalone spaces for its underwear product category in Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-la. To celebrate this, shoppers will receive a special travel organizer with a minimum single receipt purchase of P10,000 at Lacoste Underwear stores until today, December 25.

Classic, timeless, iconic. All three are words often used to describe Lacoste. Each item of clothing on their shelves are unmistakably Lacoste, with its signature crocodile logo instantly recognizable and still highly covetable decades after its founding, from the quintessential polo shirt, down to the preppy accessories and even its underwear line, which was first introduced back in 1966 and is still an important touchpoint for the brand today.

Over the decades, Lacoste underwear has reinvented itself, readapting to more modern materials that are in tune with the times while retaining its main priorities of comfort and freedom of movement. Earlier in 2022, the brand announced actor and musician K.J. Apa as the new face of the Crocodile brand who will mainly front the Underwear product category for a two-year period.

1. Make the holidays collaborative

This season, assign tasks to share responsibilities. It could be cooking, decorating, or shopping. These will generate feelings of contribution and closeness.

2. Don’t forget self-care. Practice self-care. Exercise and diet. Meditate and take breaks. Spend time outside. These are activities that families can do together. It promotes health and well-being and helps bring holiday cheer.

3. Value of spending time with family and friends.

Loneliness skyrocketed during the pandemic. Don’t take your close social relationships for granted. Main-

Contemplate with your kids. Discuss what makes experiences important. Development of all skills – academic, social, emotional, or athletic – are not lost – they are simply delayed. We always have a second chance.

8. Engage in conflict resolution.

Conflicts invariably developed with much of our family in one place. Holidays are generally a time to put negative feelings aside. Post-pandemic holidays may be an excellent time to set things straight.

9. Immerse yourself in creative arts.

Christmas brings arts into our homes – music, decorations, and creative meals. It is time to bring it into communal experiences. Make music together. Share playlists. Create a collage that expresses your feelings.

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(AdMU Press)

Glenn Diaz, who won a Palanca, Philippine National Book Award, and Madrigal Gonzalez First Book Award for his novel The Quiet Ones returns with Yñiga: A Novel, a searing narrative of murder, terror, and resistance.

Yñiga Calinauan returns to her hometown, a quiet fishing village, after her

Vida Cruz Borja

Glenn Diaz

Hotel Okura Manila's Yamazato Christmas Kaiseki Marriott Manila's Oven-baked Glazed Leg Of Ham

A dose of laughter, action, and adventure this Christmas

SANTA isn’t the only one delivering gifts this season as SKYcable treats loyal subscribers and HBO fanatics with superhero action, a dose of laughter and adventure, and the reign of House Targaryen.

In addition to streaming the complete series of the highly talked about of the Dragon on HBO GO, kick off the festivities and schedule your marathon with blockbuster movies on HBO GO, starting off with the action-adventure Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson. In ancient Kahndaq, the slave Teth Adam was gifted the almighty powers of the gods. But he used those powers for vengeance and was imprisoned. Now, 5,000 years later, he is freed and once again wields his dark sense of justice onto the world. Refusing to surrender, Teth Adam is challenged by a team of modern-day heroes known as the Justice Society—Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone—who seek to return him to eternal captivity.

Go on an adventure with The Lost City with brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage who has spent her career writing about exotic places in her romance-adventure novels featuring handsome model Alan, who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on her book tour, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire and Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find an ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

Stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Brad Pitt

As an added treat this Christmas, SKY subscribers can get a chance to win any of these exciting prizes: 55” UHD TV, laptop, SecretLab gaming chair, mobile phone, and more, via its online raffle promo with HBO, A Fantastic Rockin’ Holiday Raffle Promo which started on December 16 and will run until January 15.

To join, participants must answer the question, “What is your top movie or series on HBO or HBO GO this 2022 and why?” via mysky.com.ph/hbopromo. SKY subscribers can only enter the promo once using their SKY account. Raffle entries will be raffled off randomly on January 19.

SINGER-SONGWRITER Stef Monce, makes her debut release under O/C Records with “Dahil Ikaw Pa Rin,” a romantic record carrying a plot that speaks of longing and hope that springs from a past relationship experience.

A love song that captures that feeling of being stuck in the past, reminiscing and romanticizing the glory days, musing on how the relationship came to an end, and where such emotions will eventually wind up.

“The song depicts how the relationship was physical and emotional, being young and naive, but only romanticizing the good parts of the relationship, not fully realizing why it actually ended. The song ends on a hopeful yet uncertain note. Staying in this fantasy mindset even though we know full well it’s going to crash and burn,” Stef shares.

The record’s narrative highlights reflection on hope, longing, and glory days of the past, and ends with a striking conclusion revolving around optimistic aims despite the visions of a wavering path.

“I don’t have any references in terms of my lyrics ‘cause it all came from what I’ve experienced personally and how I am as a person or as a lover. I think I feel and love too much, and when I love a person, sometimes I forget about the bigger picture. And in this song, it’s not really about the relationship, but

STEF MONCE speaks of ‘longingness’ and ‘hopefulness’ in debut record

rather how I viewed it personally. I think if there are any, it’s probably the vulnerability of the lines that border a bit too much of hopefulness,” Stef reckons, talking about her process in writing this record.

“Dahil Ikaw Pa Rin” renders a mixture of pop-alternative tunes, significantly influenced by 80s tunes —bringing forth a sanguine tenor through its “dreamy but funky edge” structure.

Other creatives who pitched in its

Five stories of love from rising heartthrobs

THERE are many ways to express feelings to make your significant other feel extra special and one of the best ways to do it is through songs that talk about thankfulness, assurance, and unconditional love. Let these music heartthrobs from ABS-CBN Music serenade you with their stories of love:

1. A track for someone who comes around and makes you feel brand new t’s Showtime Online

U host Wize Estabillo shares his excitement with his brand new love on “Mekaniko ng Puso.” The song talks about fi nding someone who will fi x you up and have the wheels turning again.

2. A love song for someone who was there for you in good and

JMKO’s “O Luna” is an ode to the moon that serves as a light every night. It’s the latest release from the Kapamilya artist who specializes in R&B, soul, and pop music which is evident in his debut album Prelude released last year.

3. A song of reassurance amid an LDR relationship Recio ’s latest self-penned track, “Herbal Tea,” is a soft hip-hop/ rap track that was inspired and dedicated to his partner as a way to reassure the person about their relationship despite the challenging distance between them.

5. A song that says that in the end, love always remains Duo KaixAaron steps into a different light by exploring a more OPM sound in “Love You All The Way,” which gives listeners a different perspective on relationships facing hardships and depicts that at the end of the day, love still remains.

creative production include Chen Pangan, Tim Sison , and Kean Cipriano.

“Working with sir Kean, Chen, and Tim was such an honor ‘cause they’ve been in the industry for years, and I’m a newbie in the industry. I feel like I’m a sponge ‘cause I wanna absorb everything that they’re teaching me. And to be able to learn from them while working with them, that in itself, was such an amazing experience. And I can’t wait for more,” Stef shares.

As the track marks her debut release under a record label, Stef remarks that this single offers a work that introduces her authentic and genuine tone as an artist. To kick off, “Dahil Ikaw Pa Rin” presents the artist in her “most vulnerable state”—a signifi cant picture of who Stef really is as an artist.

“Dahil Ikaw Pa Rin” is now available for streaming on digital music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

‘The Harder Than It Looks Tour’ coming to Manila and Davao

MULTI-PLATINUM rock band

Simple

Humanitarian Spirit Award.

4. A track depicting how much one painfully loves his SO

The Voice Teens season 1 contestant Archie Aguilar renders a heartbreaking narrative in his song “Sana Ikaw Naman,” where he chronicles the pain of not being loved by his apple of the eye in

Simple Plan boasts worldwide sales topping 10 million, with chart-topping hits in the Philippines like “Perfect”, “I’m Just A Kid”, “Welcome To My Life”, “Jet Lag”, “Addicted”, “I’d Do Anything”, “Shut Up!” and “Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?)”.

Accolades include a 2005 Teen

Choice Award, 2006 JUNO Fan

Choice Award, 2012 Allan Waters

Humanitarian Award, 2012 Yahoo!

Canadian Impact Award, 2012 NRJ award, and the 2013 Allan Slaight

The Montreal-based band has remained an international sensation for over 20 years with worldwide sales topping 10 million and over 1 billion streams across all streaming platforms! The #ImJustAKid trend on Tik Tok has over 4.3 billion views and the #ImJustAKidChallenge hashtag has over 590.9 million views and counting. Plus, they’ve received numerous awards and accolades the world over, and to date, they have performed for insatiable audiences in over 60 countries.

Tickets to Simple Plan’s ‘The Harder Than It Looks Tour’ in Manila will go on sale on January 15 via TicketNet.com. ph and TicketNet outlets nationwide. For Davao, it will also go on sale on the same day via SMTickets.com and SM Tickets outlets nationwide.

Plan is bringing its The Harder Than It Looks Tour in Southeast Asia 2023 to Manila and Davao. The Canadian band will be performing in Manila on March 11 at the New Frontier Theater and in Davao on March 13 at the SMX Convention Center Davao.

Stef is the newest artist under O/C Records

Singer-songwriter Stef Monce’s ‘Dahil Ikaw Pa Rin’ is a love song that captures the feeling of being stuck in the past

A scene from ‘The Lost City’

return. The up-and-coming artist was also a finalist of Your Moment.

Recio’s ‘Herbal Tea’ is a message of reassurance dedicated to his partner

Duo KaixAaron explores a more OPM sound in ‘Love You All The Way’

Manong Joe: The utility exec who urges humans to adopt stray dogs and cats

HOMELESS animals

only want to find food for the day, a source of water to hydrate their bodies, and a safe place to rest. They mean us humans no harm. Given a chance, if they will be adopted, they will love us, make us feel we are never alone, and protect us from persons who may want to harm us.

But there are cruel humans out there.

There are adults who throw hot water on dogs and cats, kids who throw stones at them and poke them with sticks, sick humans who rape dogs, and people who sell dogs for their meat and cats to be experimented on in school labs, among others.

Despite an existing law on animal welfare in the Philippines---the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines --- that punishes animal cruelty with imprisonment and a fine, we hear of many disgusting and distressing stories of abuse committed against helpless dogs and cats. Why can’t these people just leave homeless, hungry animals alone?

Sadder still is the fact animals can not communicate in the language that we can understand. They cannot tell us if they are in pain and how they suffer out there. But they express emotions like love and show loyalty to humans if we allow them.

Rescuing poor animals

Joe “Manong Joe” Zaldarriaga, vice president of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) vice president and corporate communication head, knows the plight of homeless animals too well as he has been helping, feeding and rescuing strays.

Manong Joe, a veteran and award-win-

ning communicator immersed in public service within and beyond the energy sector, is one of the many kind-hearted human beings who will go out of his way to save and rescue a stray from the harsh and dangerous environments of the city.

The world is not just for humans

Since a child, he has loved so many kinds of animals. He grew up taking care of their family’s dogs, cats, and rabbits because his parents taught him to be kind to animals. Their family had a farm in Masbate where he watched and observed his father carefully tend to animals, particularly the cattle.

Manong Joe shared, “It is really part of my DNA to have the love for animals. It’s an acknowledgement that the world is not just for us, humans. We have company here in our life’s journey, and a big part of that are our pets.”

An underdog understands a neglected dog

The proud animal lover grew up thinking and believing that he was an underdog. Having come from a not so affluent family, he experienced how it was to have little in life, or even nothing. When he was young, he just settled with and enjoyed the simplest things, the basic ones that come or are available. In a way, as an underdog, he associates himself with the helpless and vulnerable stray dogs and cats.

“I guess it is my own soul telling me that there was a point in time that I was just like them. It is affinity for them, for the situation that they are in. In my own little way, if I can help, I will do it,” said Manong Joe.

Manong Joe’s community cats

As Manong Joe entered his adult and professional years, his love and compassion for animals grew considerably. Part of his routine and advocacy is to feed their community cats and provide them shelter whenever needed.

There are several cats staying and residing in their building, and he is grateful that the management allows cats to roam freely around the area, as long as the cats do not create problems for residents.

Manong Joe and his wife always make sure that these cats are fed every day and will never go hungry again. The couple decided to take turns in feeding their feline friends.

“My wife feeds the cats during lunch time while I feed them after I arrive from the office in the evening. I know that we cannot help all of them since there are just too many cats in the city and across the country. My only plea is that those people who cannot or choose not to help the cats, that they will not harm the cats,” shared Manong Joe.

The Story of Tarsi

She was only two months old when Manong Joey and his wife found him wet and shivering outside their building. The couple immediately brought the poor kitten, one of the five babies of a community calico mama cat, to the nearest veterinarian to treat her. Due to constant care and medication, Tarsi got stronger and better.

Manong Joe and his wife decided to adopt her and even gave her a complete name, Maria Tarsiela y Hermoso aka Tarsi. Since then, their lives have never been the same. “My wife and I gave her a complete

name because we do not have a daughter. We nicknamed her Tarsi because her eyes are huge like those of a tarsier’s. Tarsi is now six months old, and she is now our one and only daughter. She has been a bundle of joy in our home, always super active, and never fails to bring out the creativity in me,” said Manong Joe.

Be kind to strays. Be kind to animals.

Manong Joe strongly urges humans to adopt stray dogs and community cats instead of buying pets from breeders and pet shops. All dogs and cats are good, loving companions as long as you do not spoil them, do not encourage aggressive behavior, and train them the proper ways to conduct themselves around other animals and humans.

He noted that there are too many abandoned and neglected dogs and cats who are yearning to be loved and have a forever home. He said it is not very expensive to care for a pet, and to treat him or her like a member of the family.

Manong Joe stressed the need to bring the adopted dog or cat to the vet right away to check for illnesses and then to have the dog or cat vaccinated against illnesses and rabies.

“We want to give our pets a good quality of life as responsible fur parents. Never be afraid to spend and invest for your fur babies. I believe that this will eventually be reciprocated. Our pets will give us unconditional and everlasting love. May FUR-EVER,” shared Manong Joe.

This executive will always be a rescuer For more than 30 years, Manong Joe

worked for the country's biggest electric distribution utility, the Meralco. He first served as its spokesperson in the 2000s. Despite his busy schedule, he is also involved in several public service functions as a member of various committees on public safety, power supply security, and electrification. He is a prominent figure in the Philippine communications industry as chairman and past president of the USbased International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC PH). But while he has many roles, he will never stop helping poor animals and being a rescuer. There are still a lot of sick, dirty, and starving dogs and cats in our streets who need our help. We need more animal welfare advocates like Manong Joe to save dogs and cats. It is always our hope that more humans will be kind to animals, and will adopt asong Pinoys (aspins) and pusang Piinoys (puspins). They too deserve a loving family.

About the author: Desiree Carlos was a reporter and later sub-editor of Ang Pahayagang Malaya, news editor of Manila Standard, and assistant managing director of DZRH. She was a lecturer at the College of Mass Communications in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, and head of the journalism department of Kalayaan College. She is now an animal welfare advocate, founder and president of Save ALL-Save Animals of Love and Light, a SEC-registered non-government organization that rescues sick and injured stray dogs and cats, and feeds animals on the streets through volunteers in several cities in Metro Manila, Morong in Bataan and Pampanga .

By Mariana Burgos

COUGH treatment may seem like the best remedy if your dog exhibits cold-like symptoms or a cough. However, a lot of the components in cough treatment can be harmful to your dog. Yes, there are some "dog-friendly" solutions that veterinarians could recommend, but even these can be dangerous if not administered to the letter. So always follow the vet’s instructions. And this is where natural solutions come to aid us with our furry babies.

Despite the fact that many pet owners can notice, or more precisely, hear a case of kennel cough from a mile away, treating the illness is a different matter. It is vital to keep in mind that while there are a number of secure at-home treatments you may use to treat kennel cough, these should never take the place of veterinary care.

Numerous viruses can make dogs cough and exhibit symptoms similar to the common cold, just like they can in people. It's crucial to keep in mind, though, that your dog may not actually have a cold if they only exhibit cold-like symptoms.

What is Kennel Cough and what causes it?

A healthy dog can contract kennel cough by breathing in aerosolized germs or viruses from an infected dog, according to Sara Bledsoe, DVM, CVA, CHPV's article "Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatments" (30 JUNE 2020).

Bledsoe claims that diseased dogs can spread the germs and/or virus to other dogs by sneezing or coughing, and infected objects (such as toys and food and water bowls) can also cause infection in dogs. This highly contagious respiratory condition known

Natural Treatment for Kennel Cough

as kennel cough in dogs is also referred to as canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) or infectious tracheobronchitis. A dry, hacking cough is the outcome of an infected bronchitis that inflames the trachea and bronchioles. There are instances when your dog will cough as though they have something in their throat, says Bledsoe.

Bordatella bronchiseptica bacterium, canine adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, mycoplasma, and many more bacteria and viruses are just a few of the microorganisms that can cause kennel cough. According to Bledsoe, it usually spreads when a healthy dog comes into contact with an infected dog's respiratory secretions.

Three to four days after being exposed, dogs can acquire kennel cough, says Bledsoe. Dogs are often at risk for contracting kennel cough when they are in crowded places with inadequate airflow and warm, damp air, such as animal shelters, boarding kennels, dog day care centers, grooming salons, and even dog parks.

What are the symptoms?

In some dogs, the symptoms of kennel cough may be moderate, but in others, the condition may worsen and turn into potentially fatal pneumonia. Because of this, it is crucial to identify the kennel cough symptoms and seek medical attention right away.

Bledsoe tells us of some of the signs and symptoms of kennel cough: a protracted dry cough at night

that keeps both you and your dog awake; white foam is produced when your dog retches, and they have tracheal sensitivity, it causes them to cough when you gently press on their trachea.

Lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, and hard breathing are among the worst symptoms, according to Bledsoe.

How is Kennel Cough treated?

The severity of the kennel cough and your dog will determine the course of treatment. In the event that your dog has kennel cough or is recovering, avoid using a collar and leash. Bledsoe advises switching from collars with leashes to harnesses for walks since collars with leashes put more strain on the trachea, which causes coughing.

According to Bledsoe, supportive care, which emphasizes rest, feeding, and hydration, may be the only form of treatment for mild cases of kennel cough. The frequency of the coughing in your dog may be decreased by the veterinarian prescribing a cough suppressor.

A dog suffering from a mild case of kennel cough should be able to recover in one to two weeks. Some canines can heal entirely on their own, with no medical intervention necessary.

The natural remedies you can do at home

Bledsoe suggests the following natural treatments:

1. You can put 1/2 to 1 spoonful of honey and some warm water in a bowl and offer it to your dog. Depending on how often your dog coughs, this can be given up to three times per day.

2. While your dog is sleeping, a tiny humidifier can be placed nearby. Your dog's respiratory tract discomfort may be lessened by the humidifier's ability to moisten the air that your dog breathes.

3. Allow your dog to remain in the enclosed bathroom with you while you take a hot shower or bath, but not in the water itself. In addition to offering steam treatment, a hot shower can help soothe discomfort.

4. Dimethylglycine (DMG), a holistic antioxidant for dogs, can be utilized to strengthen and modify the immune system to assist the dog fight the infection more quickly.

5. For your dog to fully recover from kennel cough, rest is crucial. While your dog is recovering from kennel cough, try to cut back on their daily exercise; this can aid in healing and lessen coughing fits. There are numerous natural substitute treatments. Additionally, they not only assist in symptom management but also infection prevention. Try one of these natural alternatives the next time you want to use cough medicine. You won't have to worry about them making your dog sicker because they will make him feel better.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 15 years now because she is wife to a desaparecido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.

Manong Joe and the office cats. There are a number of cats living within the Meralco headquarters in Ortigas, Pasig City. The employees take care of them, feed them and keep them safe. Two cats—two-toned Oscar a of Manong Joe’s corporate communications department.

A dog coughing. (Photo from royalty-free images of Dreamstine)

A vet giving a dog an intranasal medication. (Photo from toyalty-free images of Dreamstine)

A vet treats a dog with kennel cough. (Photo from royaltyfree images of Dreamstine)

Meet Tarsi. Manong Joe and his wife named the rescued kitten Maria Tarsiela y Hermoso because her eyes are like that of a tarsier’s huge doe eyes

Rescued from the rain and cold living in the streets, Tarsi now delights in the comforts of the Zaldarriaga home.

Manong Joe and his wife treat her as their one and only daughter and she has been a bundle of joy for the couple.

Tarsi enjoying her forever home.

These are some of the community cats who Manong Joe feeds every night while his wife feeds them during the day. Soft spot for the homeless. Manong Joe takes care of stray cats near his home and gives them food regularly.