Manila Standard - 2023 January 8 - Sunday

‘Pagpupugay’ ushers in Feast of Black Nazarene

THOUSANDS of devotees attended Holy Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila early Saturday ahead of today’s “Walk of Faith” as part of this year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene celebration—back after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the Mass, the “Pagpupugay” for the Black Nazarene officially started. Unlike in pre-pandemic years where the “pahalik” or kissing of

NO KISSING ALLOWED.

A believer touches the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park during the start of the ‘Pagpupugay’ on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Devotees are not allowed to kiss the image or the traditional ‘Pahalik’ amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFP, PNP: No destabilization

Military: Everything normal; Police: Heightened alert for ‘Walk of Faith’

n By JOYCE PAÑARES

BOTH the military and the police denied destabilization rumors yesterday following the change in command in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Friday and the Philippine National Police going on heightened alert status Saturday.

The PNP said the heightened alert was part of security protocols for today’s “Walk of Faith” for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

“We haven’t received any info relating to a destabilization plot,” said PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo in a press conference.

AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar also denied the rumored destabilization plot.

“Negative. Everything is normal [at Camp Aguinaldo],” Aguilar said.

Aguilar said the military respects the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to replace Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro as AFP chief of staff and appoint instead Gen. Andres Centino to his old post.

“As a professional organization, the AFP supports the decision of the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

First Lady: Don’t use my name to seek gov’t post

FIRST

In particular, Mrs. Marcos said she had no hand with the appointment of officials in the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

“I don’t know the people involved. I have nothing to do with the appointments, I leave that up to my husband,” Mrs. Marcos said in a video message released by Presidential Security Group Commander Col. Demy Zagala.

“I am sick and tired of people using my name.”

“And if I find out that somebody is using my name, I shall tell my husband not to appoint you, okay?” the First Lady added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier designated Brig. Gen. Marceliano Teofilo as ISAFP chief in July.

Teofilo was reportedly replaced in November last year. No new appointment as ISAFP head has been announced.

Remulla son’s ‘swift’ acquittal hit, Justice chief not bothered

FORMER Supreme Court spokesman Ted Te and Liberal Party president Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman have hit the “swift” acquittal of the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on charges of illegal drug possession.

“A Las Piñas trial court has acquitted an accused of drug charges in what is, by our standards, record time,” Te said in a twitter post.

This as the 39-year-old Juanito Jose Remulla III, who was arrested in October last year after receiving a parcel containing 893.91 grams of high-grade marijuana valued at P1.25 million, walked free on Friday.

“Perhaps the Muntinlupa trial court can consider doing the same for the falsely accused Leila de Lima sooner rather than later,” Te added.

Lagman also referenced the case of De Lima, who has been in prison since 2017 over alleged links to the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prisons, in reacting to Remulla’s acquittal.

“It is grossly unfortunate that the exoneration of a Remulla scion was swift but the liberation of former Sen. Leila de Lima is stranded in the dark tunnel of injustice,” Lagman said.

the image is allowed, this time devotees can only wipe their towels and touch the feet of the Black Nazarene during the CONTINUED ON 3A

FRESH 3-YEAR TERM.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office of Gen. Andres Centino as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Centino previously held the same post from Nov. 2021 to August 2022.

Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Saturday warned against people who were using her name to push their appointment to government positions.

Danny Pata

Party-list solon backs Congress’ anti-agri smuggling campaign

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

APARTY-LIST

“It’s

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the ways and means committee vowed earlier that Con-

Sandiganbayan junks forfeiture cases vs. former AFP comptroller

THE Sandiganbayan has dismissed the forfeiture cases against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

The fourth division approved the motion to withdraw filed by the Ombudsman following the implementation of a plea bargaining agreement.

The Ombudsman said “substantially all” of the properties of the retired major general and his family sought to be forfeited in the ongoing cases have already been recovered under the plea bargaining agreement.

The anti-graft body added it does not have enough evidence to support the forfeiture of the remaining properties listed in the petitions.

“Hence, it is withdrawing these cases to prevent further waste of the Court’s time, effort, and resources,” the resolution read.

Garcia was found guilty of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering by the Sandiganbayan in July 2022.

He was sentenced to four to eight years of imprisonment.

Garcia pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering instead of plunder and money laundering.

gress, through an independent panel, would wage a battle against agricultural smugglers “who for a long time now have contributed to the deterioration of local farm industries and manipulating market prices.”

“For this reason, I will be asking an independent panel such as the Institute for Solidarity in Asia to see

what changes we can further bring to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to tighten agricultural smuggling enforcement,” Salceda said.

Lee, who hails from Sorsogon, said he would fully support his fellow Bicolano in his efforts.

“This is an issue that transcends the divisions in Congress. Sa harap ng ganito kalaki at katalamak na problema, kailangang sama-sama tayong umaaksyon,” Lee said.

“Congress can make some headway in this regard to make these criminals accountable,” he added.

The lawmaker also underscored the need to capacitate offices tasked with combatting agricultural smuggling so they could fulfill their tasks properly.

PH envoy says situation of Filipinos in China ‘stable’

THE Philippine envoy to Beijing on Saturday allayed fears and anxieties over the welfare of Filipinos in China which has been experiencing a spike in COVID-19 infections.

In a news forum in Quezon City, Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz gave assurance that situation of Filipinos in China remained stable.

FlorCruz said he has not received reports of Filipinos getting severe coronavirus infections.

“Many of them have returned to their offices. The Filipinos in Shanghai, I heard, are in good condition, although many caught the virus, but have since recovered.)

On imposing stricter border curbs, the ambassador underscored the importance of mitigating the risk without being discriminatory.

The Department of Health (DOH) has voiced the same observation.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said there was no need yet to impose more restrictions on travelers from China.

Nonetheless, the DOH directed its units to maintain “heightened surveillance,” particularly on arrivals from China amid the spike in COVID-19 cases in that country.

China is experiencing a spike in infections after years of harsh COVID restrictions were loosened in December.

Based on current health protocols, foreign travelers not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to present a negative pre-departure antigen or RT-PCR test result before departure or upon arrival in the Philippines.

The DOH said those who are unable to present a negative test result are administered the test upon arrival in the country.

Solon urges BSP to retain abaca in PH bills

A LEGISLATOR has urged the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to retain the abaca fiber as a raw material in the production of the Philippine bank notes.

TGP party-list Rep. Jose Teves, Jr. filed Resolution 595 following reports that the BSP started its pilot-testing of the use of P1,000-polymer bank notes in the first half of 2022 in a bid to shift to polymer in place of the abaca fiber in producing Philippine peso bills.

Teves said the current standard bank notes produced by the BSP, notwithstanding the P1,000 polymer bank notes, is composed of 80 percent cotton and 20 percent abaca fiber.

“According to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (Phi] FIDA), the Philippines is the leading source of abaca fiber in the world for the past 50 years, supplying 85 percent of the world demand,” Teves said.

“Likewise, abaca fiber is one of the

strongest natural fibers in the world,” he added. According to the Association of Abaca Pulp Manufacturers, Inc., the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas uses 1,000 to 1,800 metric tons of abaca fiber valued at $10.8 million for the production of our current bank notes.

“As such, the shift to polymer bank notes will certainly affect the abaca industry in our country,” Teves stressed.

Boy, 19, cousin, fall in P700 drug buy-bust in Taguig City

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

THIS teenager might have lost his future for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. He was arrested in a police buy-bust operation on Friday night in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. .

Southern Police District (SPD) director Brig. Gen. Kirby Kraft said his men from the Taguig City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Hernan Gon-

Calabarzon police director supports PNP cleansing

n By ROY TOMANDAO

CAMP VICENTE LIM—Calabarzon police director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he fully supports the call of Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to cleanse the ranks of the police service. Nartatez hailed the move by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to submit his courtesy resignation following Abalos’ challenge to rid the PNP of “scala-

wags” involved in the illegal drug trade.

“We all believe that with these undertaking, the PNP will assure the Filipino people that only law abiding police officers will be chosen to remain in active service and continue to be vanguards of law and fight those who take advantage of their rank and power for the benefit of these drug syndicates,” Nartatez said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to build a strong case

against police officials found to be in cahoots with drug traffickers.

The President, in an interview with the press Friday, said it was part of his campaign pledge to carry out a different approach to the country’s drug problem, as he emphasized his government’s efforts to cleanse the ranks of the PNP.

Mr. Marcos said it was he who ordered Abalos to seek the courtesy resignation of police generals and full colonels as part of the campaign to cleanse the PNP’s ranks.

zales, 19, and his cousin Reggie Gonzales, 43.

Seized from the suspects were 40 plastic sachets containing 50 grams of shabu worth P340, 000, drug paraphernalia and the P700 cash used in the entrapment.

The pieces of evidence were turned over to the SPD Forensic Unit for chemical analysis as drug charges were being prepared against the suspects.

Police nab three Chinese nationals for ‘kidnapping’

POLICE

The suspects were identified as Jianbo Wang, Jun Huang, and Yupeng Zhang based on their passports.

They three were arrested on Thursday in Barangay Molino, Bacoor, after Roy Camrello and Bryan Sahido sought police assistance regarding the alleged kidnapping of a certain “Chenny” at Mary Homes Subdivision, also in Barangay Molino.

Police immediately conducted an operation that led to the apprehension of the suspects.

Seized from the suspects were one white van with plate no. LAC 5364, three firearms, one hand grenade, one jungle knife, six cellular phones, one laptop, duct tape and various cards.

The suspects are currently in the custody of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group, pending filing of criminal charges against them.

lawmaker on Saturday backed the planned involvement of Congress in the campaign against agricultural smuggling this year, saying all sectors of government should join it “and put a stop to the sordid practice.”

have arrested three Chinese nationals who allegedly abducted a compatriot in Bacoor City, Cavite.

A GATHERING OF HARVARDIANS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez poses with senior college students of Harvard University led by Harvard Club of the Philippines global president Carol Dominguez (seated, 2nd from left) during a lunch meeting at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City In 1988, Romualdez obtained a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from the renowned institution in Boston, Massachusetts. Ver Noveno

ON PH-CHINA RELATIONS. Bilateral relations between the Philippines and China take center stage during a press briefing in Quezon City with (from left) political science professor Froilan Calilung, Lily Lim of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jimmy FlorCruz sharing their knowledge and expertise on the issue. Robert Gines

KEEPING THE BLACK NAZARENE CLEAN AND SAFE. Members of EcoWaste Coalition clean up the premises of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, more popularly known as Quiapo Church, in Manila ahead of Monday’s celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday. Some 5,500 policemen, augmented by 730 traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have been deployed for the event. Norman Cruz

AFTER BITTER REPUBLICAN DISPUTE

McCarthy named US House speaker

REPUBLICAN favorite Kevin McCarthy was named speaker of the US House of Representatives on Saturday as he finally quelled a fierce rebellion among his party’s ranks that had paralyzed the lower chamber of Congress for days.

McCarthy was always the frontrunner to lead the Republican-led House, but his victory in the small hours of the morning was almost derailed by a right-wing revolt in his party that extended the contest to a historic 15 rounds of voting.

The speaker wields huge influence in Washington by presiding over House business and is second in line to the presidency, after the vice president.

McCarthy had been hoping to secure the gavel in the 14th round before midnight Friday but suffered a shock defeat amid astonishing scenes of Republican infighting as he came up short by just one vote out of more than 400 cast.

As Matt Gaetz voted “present” to deny McCarthy the gavel, the disappointed Republican leader went over to talk to the Florida lawmaker-elect face-to-face.

Gaetz pointed a finger at McCarthy, who began retreating as Alabama’s Mike Rogers lunged at Gaetz and had to be held back with a restraining arm across his face.

The Republicans, who hold a razor-thin majority, had been mired in internecine warfare as McCarthy failed

Prisoner killed, dozens wounded in Myanmar jail riot, says junta

A PRISONER was killed and more than 60 wounded after a riot broke out at a Myanmar prison west of Yangon, the junta said on Saturday.

Myanmar has been in chaos since Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government was toppled in a military coup in February 2021, ending the southeast Asian nation’s brief period of democracy.

The riot at the prison in Pathein started after guards confiscated a mobile phone from an inmate on Thursday night and took disciplinary action, the junta said in a statement.

About 70 prisoners escaped from their cells and damaged property on Friday morning.

Prisoners used sticks, bricks and pieces of cement to attack security forces, the junta said.

Authorities tried to bring the situation under control but negotiations failed and they

AFP,... The AFP will continue in its mission to defeat all armed threat groups for the security and safety of our people, for the defense of our territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” Aguilar said Philippine Army head Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they are fully behind Centino’s appointment.

“The army is a professional organization. We will always respect the decision of our Commander-inchief,” he said.

Fajardo, for her part, said the vehicles inside Camp Crame shown in some photos circulating on social media were part of their preparation for today’s “Walk of Faith” that will start at the Quirino Grandstand and end in Quiapo Church.

The Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) of Isabela province, on the other hand, confirmed setting up checkpoints on Saturday but said these were for a two-day Simultaneous AntiCriminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO).

Centino on Saturday urged the military to remain united as it is now at a “decisive moment” with no room for “squabbling.”

He said the military should not be divided in interpreting Republic Act No. 11709 which sets a fixed term of three years for the AFP chief of staff.

“As we strive to put this law into effect, we as an organization cannot afford to remain or to be divided

resorted to force.

“The authorities fired guns to break up the crowd and bring the riot under control,” the statement said.

The junta said one prisoner was killed “amid fighting” and 63 inmates were wounded along with two police and nine guards.

Local media described the dead inmate as a political prisoner and BBC Burmese said he was on terrorism charges.

The junta flagged the launch of an investigation into the incident.

Last week, the junta announced it would free more than 7,000 prisoners to mark the 75th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence from Britain.

More than 2,700 people have been killed since the military seized power and more than 13,000 people are detained as part of a crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. AFP

and squabbling on how its interpretation stands to benefit one over the other, and lose focus on what is best for the armed forces as a whole,” he said.

“Therefore, to implement this law, the Armed Forces of the Philippines needs strong and determined leaders capable of steering the organization in the direction of stabilizing unity in ushering a truly modern and professional armed forces,” Centino a Bacarro, for his part, thanked all who supported him in his five-month stint.

“To my fellow soldiers, thank you for your trust and support,” said Bacarro, a Medal of Valor awardee.

“It is my fervent wish that I can repay in whatever way that I can for all the support you have given me. I have felt the outpouring of support, especially last night [Friday night when Centino’s appointment was announced],” he added.

REMULLA... The Justice Secretary, for his part, said he hopes his eldest son can redeem himself now that he has been cleared of the drug charges.

“I did not interfere to the process,” the elder Remulla said, adding that “bashers” are “part of the life that we live as leaders of this country.”

“You can never make everybody happy. There are people who will always disagree, and there will always be critics no matter how much you do for the country or for the people,” he said.

Former Bayan Muna lawmaker

to win a majority in multiple ballots, with around 20 conservative hardliners blocking his path since Tuesday.

But the 57-year-old Californian was able to pick up more than a dozen votes among the defectors in two afternoon voting rounds Friday after offering major concessions.

Emboldened, McCarthy predicted he would win in the 14th round – but suffered a humiliation given wall-to-wall coverage on US news channels before finally bagging his victory in the 15th.

“Just reminds me of what my father always told me,” McCarthy had told reporters. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And now we have to finish for the American public.”

There were more rounds of voting in the fractious 2023 contest than in any speaker election since the Civil War.

McCarthy had projected confidence all week, even as he was bleeding votes

rather than adding to the base of around 200 Republicans who have backed him all along.

His party’s takeover of Congress is expected to herald the end of cross-party cooperation, with the legislative process gridlocked and Republicans promising an aggressive agenda of investigations into most aspects of President Joe Biden’s administration and his family.

Democrats and some of McCarthy’s own supporters, in private, are concerned that he has been offering his far-right critics radical policy commitments that will make the House ungovernable.

There were reports, which AFP has not verified, that he had agreed to propose keeping spending at 2022 levels, including a cap on military funding which would have the same effect as a $75 billion cut. AFP

Six-year-old boy held after shooting teacher in Virginia

“The individual is a six-year-old student. He is right now in police custody,” local police chief Steve Drew told a news conference, adding that “this was not an accidental shooting.”

Police said that the victim was a teacher in her 30s and her injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

“I’m in shock, and I’m disheartened,” said the city’s superintendent of schools, George Parker.

“We need the community’s support to make sure that guns are not available to youth.” AFP

“Unfortunately, while probably this ‘due process’ works for Remulla, it may also even reinforce the tragic reality that the Philippines has a dichothomized justice system: one that caters to the privileged and powerful and one that steps on the poor, vulnerable and underprivileged,” Zarate said.

GOV’T... Estoperez said the 22,000 metric tons must arrive before the peak harvest in March.

“The imported onions must arrive by the last week of January or first week of February for us to bring down the price of onions,” he added.

The Agriculture official said they have to balance consumer demand with the welfare of farmers.

“Based on the situation in Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, they have standing crops that will peak in February and March,” Estoperez said.

He said the imposition of a P250 per kilo suggested retail price did little to bring down the price of red onion.

“If the farm gate price is already at P350 to P420, the price at public markets will still be high [despite the SRP],” he said.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has secured business agreements with China to lower the prices of fertilizer, a vital part of his

administration’s bid to help farmers and ensure food security.

During a recent roundtable discussion with chief executive officers (CEOs) from the agribusiness sector in Beijing, the President expressed appreciation to two Chinese fertilizer manufacturing companies that have signed a cooperation agreement with the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to ensure sustainable supply of the muchneeded fertilizers at reasonable prices.

“We look forward to a steady supply of fertilizer inputs needed by our farmers through these agreements,” President Marcos said.

The President said the cost of agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers, has “become prohibitive and unaffordable for our local farmers.”

“Providing sustainable and affordable supply of inputs such as fertilizers and seedlings has become more difficult, given global economic challenges, as we have all seen in the supply chain problems that we have encountered,” he said.

One of the strategies to address this is to establish cooperative agreements with suppliers so the government can buy these inputs in bulk and to be able to sell them to farmers at a lower price, Mr. Marcos said.

‘PAGPUPUGAY’ ...“pagpupugay.”

In Cebu, the Sinulog Festival is also officially back with a series of

“No shareholder, alone or jointly with other parties, will have control over Ant Group (after the completion of the adjustment), the company said in a statement.

“The adjustment is being implemented to further enhance the stability of our corporate structure and sustainability of our long-term development.”

The statement laid out the previous complex structure of the company that showed Ma “indirectly” controlled 53.46 percent of Ant Group’s shares.

“As a result, Mr. Jack Ma (was) deemed to be the control person of Ant Group prior to the adjustment,” it said.

Beijing has targeted major technology firms in recent years, and in 2020 pulled Ant’s planned initial public offering in Hong Kong at the last minute. The listing would have been a world record at the time. AFP

Prince Harry faces growing criticism over leaked memoir

PRINCE Harry faced a backlash Friday over his memoir “Spare,” with criticism from the media, commentators, army veterans and even the Taliban, while Buckingham Palace kept silent on its widely leaked contents.

Days before the official publication on Tuesday, disclosures from the book dominated headlines and airwaves after a Spanish-language version of the memoir mistakenly went on sale in Spain.

Revelations, including an alleged physical attack on him by heir to the throne Prince William, how he lost his virginity, took drugs and killed 25 people in Afghanistan, have prompted both condemnation and derision.

Writer A.N. Wilson called the ghostwritten tome – the biggest royal book since Harry’s mother Princess Diana collaborated with Andrew Morton for a 1992 biography – “calculated and despicable” and a work of “malice.”

Describing his decision to go public “idiotic,” Wilson said the book had merely succeeded in making the public sympathise with the royal family, “not with him.” The book is the latest broadside from Harry and his American wife Meghan after they quit royal duties and moved to California in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are formally known, have since cashed in on their royal connections with several lucrative contracts for tell-all books and programs. AFP

physical activities for the week-long celebration.

A pre-Sinulog event, the”Sinulog sa Kabataan,” will be held today while the Sinulog Grand Parade is scheduled for Jan. 15 at the South Road Properties.

For its part the Department of Health reminded the public to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene in a safe manner.

“As regular festivities for Traslacion or the feast of the Black Nazarene commence this 2023, we remind everyone to be responsible devotees,” the DOH said in an advisory.

“The DOH reiterates the need to self-assess our risks as this will not only protect ourselves but as well as our loved ones and the community we belong in,” it added.

The DOH urged devotees to attend the different activities onlu if they are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.

It encouraged the vulnerable groups such as the senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women to just show their devotion at their respective homes.

“In case you are experiencing flulike symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, colds, and coughing, its best to stay at home and quarantine to be safe,” the DOH said.

CHINESE billionaire Jack Ma will cede control of fintech giant Ant Group as part of a restructure, the company announced Saturday.

Jack Ma to cede control of fintech giant Ant Group

FromtheFRONTPAGE

FOR GOOD LUCK. A daruma doll is seen burning during ‘Otakiage,’ a burning ceremony at Atago shrine in Tokyo on January 7, 2023. AFP

A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy opened fire in an elementary school classroom in the eastern US state of Virginia on Friday, seriously injuring a teacher, police said. No students were hurt in the incident at Richneck Elementary School in the coastal city of Newport News.

AT LAST. Newly elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy bangs the gavel in the first session of the 118th Congress after he was elected on the 15th ballot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2023. AFP

Carlos Isagani Zarate, a lawyer by profession, said Remulla’s acquittal showed the disparity between the poor and privileged Filipinos in terms of access to a fair justice system.

Online job platform shares tips to make jobseekers more employable

THE year 2023 is an interesting year for the job market, considering the evolving work environment and the growing demand for hybrid work setups.

As hirers and employees transition to their most optimal work arrangement, the pivot requires candidates to upgrade their skills to stay competitive in the coming year.

With this, leading online job platform JobStreet by SEEK shares skills that will enable candidates to become future-ready, seek better opportunities, and put themselves at an advantage over other talents.

“The world is so unpredictable, we learned that very well with the recent global pandemic that took us all by surprise. As industries evolve, it matters not who is the most skilled in the field, but more so, who can adapt quickly, since trends and demands from different careers change over time, candidates who are in for the challenge and can pivot immediately have a great advantage,” said JobStreet Philippines country manager Philip Gioca.

Hirers are more likely to look for jobseekers who are able to use and work with digital tools and devices.

Candidates are encouraged to upgrade their digital skills to unleash more opportunities. Taking free digital courses, increasing online presence, learning emerging digital platforms, and staying updated on tech trends will largely improve the skills of jobseekers.

As businesses adjust to the changes brought by the pandemic, employees are also expected to become more adaptable, which allows them to efficiently embrace and deal with different situations at work.

According to JobStreet, hirers value candidates who are able to adapt to changes in processes and operations, modify plans when necessary, learn new tools and technologies, and welcome new roles and responsibilities.

JobStreet advises candidates to start by embracing team assignments or projects, being active listeners with seniors and colleagues, and having empathy and support in every way possible to help them grow.

More often than not, performing several tasks simultaneously and successfully is a valuable skill sought by hirers. However, mastering how to multitask can be tricky when done the wrong way, especially for people who find it difficult to work in between tasks.

JobStreet suggests jobseekers to list down the tasks, identify the most urgent items, and focus on what’s most important at a time while keeping track of other tasks. Remember to not do multiple challenging tasks at once as it may lead to not accomplishing anything at all.

Time management is also a major skill that contributes to productivity and is desired by many employers. Especially for a hybrid work setup, companies are looking for candidates who can efficiently manage their tasks and deliver quality work according to timelines.

Local commissary breathes life to new food ventures

AFTER being duped by a partner in early 2020 after the first lockdown was imposed, Gail Sun decided to make the best of what was left in their business--an inventory of unsold food ingredients.

Sun says she refused to be jaded by her first taste of “commercial betrayal”. The only way to salvage what was left of their venture was to literally cook the remaining ingredients and peddle her products online.

“It was really difficult at first. I only have a storage of uncooked ingredients and a helper to assist me. But we managed. Probably because we are determined to make this venture work,” she said, refusing to let the business mishap get the better of her.

That was the start of her commissary kitchen. MNL Food Co. opened new doors of opportunities Sun may not realize if she sulked over and allowed her misfortune to shape her future. Instead, she got her hands dirtied and worked incessantly to rebuild her business.

Before MNL Food, Sun was an importer and distributor of frozen seafoods while her partner imports and sells frozen meat products. She also worked in a hotel after finishing her culinary arts degree from a notable culinary school.

Like any other cloud kitchens during the pandemic, MNL Food accepts orders for delivery to gatherings, parties, and events.

The food enterprise is a popular choice by the celebrity community and some political clients because of signature food choices that only MNL Food delivers, whether cooked or prepped for cooking.

“We’re like a restaurant without dining. We supply to restaurants ready to cook food preparations. But as the government slowly opens up the food business industry, we started to adapt and have our own brand of food offerings. So from our small commissary kitchen, we have set out to disrupt the food space,” Sun said.

She remembered her first food prep, the now famous MLA Food lechon belly, cooked in renowned Cebuano way of making savory lechon. This signature piece is one of the best-selling dishes in the menu and one of the best-tasting, if not the best, in the local food scene.

From there, MNL Food kept on adding more food choices with product offerings

Enderun

enough to set up a full-blown indoor diner. The enterprise offers the whole gamut of Chinese cuisine paired with popular Western food choices.

The commissary boasts of having all kinds of dimsums from siomai to hakaw, all Chinese and Chinese-inspired noodles, seafoods like the jumbo Hokkaido oysters and giant Hokkaido scallops, to a wide range of meat-based cuisine like Peking duck, fried pigeon, soy chicken, pork char siu, porchetta and cochinillo, among others. The kitchen also serves sumptuous signature dishes like roast goose, Angus roast beef, and prawn and lobster hot salad.

Apart from food deliveries, MNL Food is also serving packed foods curated specifically for discerning clients. While the food enterprise is yet to launch a fullcatering business, it is open to small crowd catering.

The business is currently serving food preps for 4 upscale restaurants and expect to attract more restaurant clients as it goes full speed ahead on its new ventures.

Sun hailed from the Queen City of the South, from a long line of pure-blooded Chinese family.

Despite being a graduate of culinary arts, and with a master’s degree in business management at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Sun is reluctant to be called a chef.

To her, a chef is somebody who does not only posses massive knowledge in culinary arts but somebody who is skilled in cooking and is not afraid to get her hands dirty.

“These times, people are quick to claim credit when there is none, or label themselves as such. I have nothing against them. I just thought, well, it will be nice to get real. As for me, I prefer to work in the background,’ she said.

She calls herself an “accidental” chef, for if not for the intervention of her aunt, she will not be where she is right now. Her aunt supported her studies and helped her become self-sustaining, offering her the chance to become her own person instead of working for other people.

She draws inspiration from her family.

Her dad, who is the cook of the family, gave her the primal knowledge she needs to become a culinary expert.

Sun manages not from her desk but optimizes her time from her office to her kitchen and gets easily absorbed in the daily routine except when there are complaints.

Complaints, she said, are her pet peeve. She finds its unacceptable to see people unhappy from unsatisfactory food. What she does is she attends to the complaints quite promptly and replaces the menu or food, asap. She cannot allow the clients’ dissatisfaction to tarnish the pristine image she built for MNL Food.

And as orders pile and thousands have been served, her crew of chefs have also expanded from only 1 helper to a crew of 10 chefs and a handful of office people managing daily affairs like orders, purchases and other administrative matters.

With enough people to back her, Sun is finally branching into a full-restaurant dining experience and will launch her first restaurant brand “Papa Yu’s Sugba” in Pampanga by end-January 2023.

Before the dine-in restaurant, Sun has tried retailing her products under the Butcher’s Lab brand, starting with an outlet in Cebu.The brand is still a popular ingredients and food prep store and may expand soon.

The third brand under MNL Food is “Sugba”, a take-out counter of freshlycooked barbecue with a branch in JC Mall in Kamuning, Quezon City.

What is admirable about Sun is her unbridled optimism. She has likened her brand to, and vowed to be the next Jollibee of the Philippines.

“I love the fact that Jollibee is a homegrown mega-enterprise and with so many brands under it. That’s the path I wanted to carve for MNL Food. That’s the future I want to achieve,” Sun said, adding that she never take day-offs and works every single day from Monday to Sunday.

Seeing her efforts pay off and her business expand is more than enough reward for all her sacrifices. By yearend, she hopes to have MNL Food brand established as a major player in the food space with plans to expand to 20 more multi-brand branches nationwide.

“I believe in the power of franchising. The expansion I envisioned for MNL Food is to expand through partnership and franchises. This year, I am hoping to see at least half of our planned 20 outlet expansion to be franchises,” she said.

In the next 5 or so years, Sun is actually looking forward to having a hundred outlets of combined Sugba, Papa Yu’s Sugba and Butcher’s Lab branches, mostly as franchises.

As Sun moves on with expanding her Manila Food enterprise, she calls on the government to carry out measures that will truly serve the interest of small enterprises.

“I would love to see a more responsive government. One that can easily attend to our permitting needs. We’re having a difficult time with the local government units (LGUs) for renewing permits. We need a government that can offer relief to food entrepreneurs particularly at this time when the price of onions are higher than the price of main ingredients. And a government that is attuned to the evolving needs of us, entrepreneurs, and the people, in general,” she said. Othel V. Campos

graduate now a luxury hotel executive

“I liked the idea of being creative, so marketing was perfect for me,” she says as she enrolled at Enderun Colleges for a BS Business Administration degree major in Marketing Management with a Certificate in Hospitality Operations.

Four years after her undergraduate course, Conwi gained creativity, business acumen, and customer-driven qualities befitting of a true hotelier. Enderun’s lead founder Jack Tuason recognized her potential and advised her to pursue a career in the hospitality industry, which has grown exponentially in the last few decades.

Conwi stays true to her profession as she works her way in providing hospitality excellence in the Middle East.

Conwi started her internship at The Miami Beach EDITION in 2015 as a guest experience agent. She was also offered to stay for another year for a new position in the VIP concierge team as a VIP supervisor.

“Being part of the opening teams for

EDITION is a big accomplishment for me. I got to travel around for work and really help people on a successful opening. When I got exposed to working for the hotel, I fell in love with it. There was so much to learn, and it was more peopleoriented—which I really wanted in a job! It was so interesting to me and really spoke to me,” she says.

Withe spotless professional profile, In 2018, Conwi moved to Abu Dhabi in 2018 to open The Abu Dhabi EDITION, the first EDITION hotel in the Middle East. As part of the pre-opening team, she ensured that standard operating procedures are created, implemented, and followed by the guest relations and front office teams.

She was also part of the pre-opening team for Times Square and West Hollywood and did a task force in New York EDITION as a team trainer.

At present, Conwi heads Spa for Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai, a gleaming gem perched on a seahorse-shaped island in Jumeira Bay. Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai brings Mediterranean style to the Middle East. It is the only Forbes Five-Star rated spa in the UAE.

Filipino designers join German lifestyle trade fair

“We

Ph.D.

CITEM has been supporting FAME as its premier platform to showcasing ingenious and expertly-crafted Philippine products.

The sourcing event is slated on February 3 to 7, 2023 with 30 local exhibitors in the HFL industries to be showcased under the DesignPhilippines Brand. About 4,700 global exhibitors have announced their participation, ensuring Ambiente to be the world’s biggest trade fair platform of its kind. With the theme “Moving the future,” the

The Philippine pavilion continues the

“The strong presence of our homegrown products empower the Filipino craft and lets us cater to more markets, therefore allowing our MSMEs to have a wider reach. Our team at CITEM is committed to offering the world a global range of export-ready products,” Fereira said.

Out of the 30 participating exhibitors, 10 are from Tarlac, the country’s Partner Artisan Community. The province, known for its craftsmanship and design prowess, highlights their design expertise to capture the European market in the upcoming global trade fair.

The Philippine participation is also geared to complement signature trade show Manila FAME’s return to the physical floor at the World Trade Center in Pasay City in October 2023. The Philippine pavilion at Ambiente 2023 is spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through CITEM.

The

“This shows how we truly value not only our clients but our employees as well. We consider our people our greatest asset. That is why, we invest in opportunities that develop a culture that is not only engaging, but also nurturing, empowering, and inclusive and in which our people get to grow with our business,” said Sun Life Grepa president Richard S. Lim.

According to the survey, 92 percent

of respondents said that Sun Life Grepa is a physically safe place to work in while 89 percent said that the company makes them feel welcome. Some 87 percent believed that their work has a special meaning and is not just a job.

Moreover, 88 percent of respondents said that they are proud to tell others that they work in Sun Life Grepa and they feel a “sense of pride” over what they have accomplished.

“These results tell us that creating healthy work-life boundaries brings out the best in our employees. This milestone will be a great opportunity for us to work towards making Sun Life Grepa an even greater place to work in the future,” Lim said.

FILIPINA hotelier Nikita Conwi had never considered working in the hospitality industry before. She grew up seeing her father travel extensively for business, which exposed her to the world of sales and marketing.

SUN Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), one of the major life insurers in the country, recently received the Great Place to Work® certification after its employees affirmed the company’s positive work culture in a survey.

employee survey was conducted independently by Great Place to Work®, the global standard of workplace excellence and culture.

Financial advisor receives ‘great place to work’ certification

FAME, the Philippines’ longest-running export promotions program for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and artisan communities in the home, fashion, and lifestyle (HFL) sectors brings the Philippine flag to the global map in its participation at Ambiente 2023, a trade fair to be held in Frankfurt Messe, Germany.

are excited for the competitive roster of exhibitors featured in the 2023 edition of Ambiente. A mix of returning and neophyte exporters are set to make a mark on the international stage where our local designs can be appreciated by attendees from different parts of the globe,” said Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) executive director Dr. Edward L. Fereira

2023 edition of Ambiente aims to showcase a unique mix of ideas and products and provide a major platform for global trends.

The first comeback of the show after its three-year break is simultaneously staged at three venues for the first time. Ambiente is set to be joined by Christmasworld and Creativeworld in order to maximize the visitors’ sourcing experience. The show prioritizes four product areas - dining, living, gving, and working. These segments consider sustainability, material innovation, and design breakthroughs and trends.

narrative “Hands that work” from its previous participation in 2020. The theme is inspired by the fine workmanship and creative use of natural materials by the local communities that cultivate homegrown crafts. The participating MSMEs have sustainability and social development in mind, and are given labor opportunities brought by the continuously strengthened export industry.

COLLEGE students who are esports enthusiasts are given more opportunities as the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE) is planning to expand to a bigger cast as early as the next edition after the roaring success of its first two seasons.

The country’s fastest-growing collegiate Esports league has received a slew of inquiries and interests from more colleges and universities on the possibility of joining Season 3, which will fire off midway through this year.

“We’re grateful, thrilled, and honored to have gained traction from more schools that are seeing the noble cause of helping us advance the Esports movement, especially in the collegiate ranks. That’s a welcome development and definitely, a possibility moving forward,” said CCE president Stanley Lao.

CCE introduced itself in September 2021 featuring 10 pioneer member schools in Lyceum of the Philippines University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Mapua University, San Beda University, Arellano University, Jose Rizal University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, College of St. Benilde and University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA.

For now, the founding members have been slugging it out in the prominent Mobile Legends: Bang

HOBBIES & COLLECTIONS

Collegiate esports getting bigger, better

Huawei AppGallery as sponsors, and MPL-Philippines serving as an official partner.

Moreover, the CCE also helped the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) in organizing the Friendship Games which had Esports for the first time ever on top of an overseas event by staging the MPS SEA Campus Invitational that included teams from Vietnam.

SEASON

3

Approaching Season 3, the CCE might open gates for more competition as it eyes to leave no stone unturned in promoting the sport and developing student-athletes who desire to push through professionally with the discipline way beyond the virtual arenas.

“Our ultimate goal ever since has been to champion the Esports scene at the collegiate level, including unwavering support to schools in enriching their Esports programs. We are open and willing to lend that hand,” added CCE commissioner Waiyip Chong.

Details, including the number of additional schools desiring to join CCE, are still fluid for now with CCE yet to convene with its founding members regarding the said possibility as it plots the 2023 calendar after a banner campaign last year.

Meanwhile, the league in partnership with Smart had launched a CCE Immersion before the New Year with trips around the member schools for seminars, workshops, and events on the booming Esports industry – in and out of the virtual arenas – with its relevance and acceptance now as an official course in the academe.

Ginebra, Bay Area in crucial Game 5

THIS series has lived up to expectations—a blast of a finale getting down to a climactic ending.

After four games with exciting twists and turns, the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Bay Area Dragons engage in a big Sunday clash, disputing the pivotal 3-2 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven title playoff at the MOA Arena.

Tip-off is at 5:45 p.m.

The series has turned out to be a war of attrition with Ginebra coming through with the first blow, Bay Area striking back, the Kings pulling off an incredible come-from-behind win in Game 3, and the Dragons fighting back with their own epic triumph in Game 4.

The war is back to square one, remaining too close to call, especially after the Dragons’ 89-82 victory on Friday carved out even with Andrew Nicholson confined on the bench with an injured left ankle.

Sponsored content: And the Dragons are determined to

Durant leads Nets; Lavine powers Bulls

KEVIN

The Nets, who had seen their 12-game NBA winning streak end at Chicago on Wednesday, trailed 64-53 at half-time but got a grip on the contest in the third quarter.

Durant also grabbed 10 rebounds, the 111th time in his career he has combined 30-plus points with double-figure rebounds.

The Pelicans were without their two star performers with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram both still sidelined with injuries, but they delivered an aggressive performance in what was an intense encounter.

“It was a tale of two halves, even though we didn’t get our shots to fire early on, or throughout the whole game, we just kept on pushing, it was a solid win for us,” said Durant.

Brooklyn improve to 26-13 while the Pelicans are 24-15 after their fifth loss on home court this season.

Chicago 126, Phila 112

The Philadelphia 76ers’ streak of 11 straight home wins came to an end with a 126-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls, who were powered by the three-point shooting of Zach LaVine.

LaVine made 11 of 13

three-pointers and scored 41 points while Nikola Vucevic had a 19-point, 18-rebound, 10-assist, triple-double.

The 76ers were without key man Joel Embiid, who missed his second consecutive game with a sore left foot as their 12-game winning streak against the Bulls ended.

The New York Knicks won their fourth straight game with a 112108 win at the Toronto Raptors with Julius Randle producing 32 points and 11 rebounds.

The Charlotte Hornets equalled the NBA record for the most point in

quarter of game

they put up 51 against the

Milwaukee Bucks.

The Los Angeles Lakers have their first four-game winning streak of the season thanks to a 130-114 victory home victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

LeBron James scored 25 points, pulled down seven rebounds and handed out 10 assists.

get going, with or without an import. Myles Powell is out for the rest of the tourney while Nicholson is a gametime decision for coach Brian Goorjian.

“(Now) We’ve got something to come with and we have a responsibility to make it a great series,” said Goorjian.

They’re motivated but are not to get carried away by their great Game 4 victory.

“A long way to go. Winning a game means nothing. This is a series and you got to win four.” Goorjian said. “But it keeps this thing interesting for everybody. There wouldn’t have been anything worse than being down 1-3 and beaten by 30 then going into the next one and the series is over.”

The goal for the Dragons now is to break the trend in the series, eyeing back-to-back wins to seize the series upper hand.

For the Kings, it’s about redemption from their Friday letdown that ruined

their bid for a commanding 3-1 lead on the night Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson were crowned the Best Import and the Best Player of the Conference.

“Good thing, nangyari sa amin nang hindi pa Game 7,” Thompson said as he also rued how they were “outworked” in that setback. “We still have time to adjust and figure out kung ano dapat naming gawin next game.”

“It was disappointing. We had a chance to really gain some traction on the series and put Bay Area on the brink. But you have to tip off your cap to them. Despite missing their import, they came into the game with great spirit and played with a great motor all game long,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“We’ve seen games like that before when the import is out and you can catch a team sleeping. We have no excuses. Like we said at the beginning, this is going to be a tough series. Nothing ever comes easy in the Finals.” (pba.ph)

Malixi struggles to 12th place finish in Florida golf

In Denver, Nikola Jokic put together his league-leading 10th triple-double of the season, scoring 28 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Western Conference-leading Nuggets have won nine of their last 10 games. AFP

RIANNE Malixi waged an early charge but hobbled at the finish, ending up with a 70 for a share of 12th in the Women’s Orlando International Amateur topped by Hong Kong’s Virginie Ding at the Orange Country National Golf Center and Lodge in Florida Friday (Saturday PH time).

Ding birdied the closing par-5 hole of the Panther course for the second straight day to salvage a 71 and nip second day leader Megan Schofill by one with a 206 for her biggest win since ruling the Hong Kong Ladies Closed Amateur and Mid Amateur Championship in 2018.

From 10 shots down at 20th after 36 holes, Malixi mounted her own rally with three birdies against a bogey after seven holes, gained another stroke on the 10th but missed a four-footer for birdie on the par-5 14th.

She, however, yielded a shot on the 16th to finish with a 34-36 and a 214, which included a 71 and 73, for a share of 12th with American Megan Propeck, who fumbled with a 75.

The ICTSI-backed shotmaker, who finished runner-up in the Malaysian Amateur Open and Citrus Golf Trail to move to No. 153 in the world amateur rankings, wound up eight strokes behind Ding, who led by one after 18 holes, fell by a shot in the second day but battled back with two birdies in the first three holes in the final round.

Malixi, winner of the Thailand Junior World Championship last October, takes a week-long rest to re-calibrate and toughen up for the Annika Invitational on Jan. 15-17 at the Eagle Creek Golf Club, also in Orlando.

Durant scored 33 points and Kyrie Irving turned it on late in the game as the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 108-102 on Friday.

Bang game with Lyceum of the Philippines University reigning supreme as the back-to-back champions. Lyceum also won the Varsity

Cup that featured basketball players from respective squads while Perpetual’s Jasper Cuevas won the 1v1 Exhibition that served as the

launching events of CCE with Galaxy Racer and Smart, with SM Mall of Asia, Cyberzone, Legion by Lenovo, Mountain Dew, Hawk Bags, Fantech,

Members of the Lyceum squad at work en route to back-to-back championships in the ML:Bang Bang game.

Center for Collegiate Esports (CCE) president Stanley Lao with the LPU Pirates

Expect action without let-up as Barangay Ginebra and Bay Area Dragons battle in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup final series at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Kevin Durant (No. 7) of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

the opening

when

The Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. celebrated the talents and skills of professional and promising Filipino cartoonists and creators at the recently-concluded 16th Animahenasyon Philippine Animation Festival.

Motivated to provide a venue for Filipino creatives to showcase ideas and meet established industry experts, the annual competition included a series of plenary sessions and classes, technical workshops and exhibitions. The Student Division of Animahenasyon competition was dominated by the homegrown talents from the Animation Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of New Media Arts (SNMA).

Benildean Mikayla Elise Lariosa swept the Grand Prize and the Best in Storytelling titles for her threeminute short Dear Friend . Revolving around the bond between a semicircle toy and a piece of clay, it shed light on the importance of social support system.

“As a person who still struggles with accepting the way I look, I wanted to inspire people to start opening up to each other about the way they feel about themselves,” Lariosa shared. “If we share the experience together, we can help each other feel less alone in dealing with our own pressures – creating safe spaces for people to process the irrational thoughts they may have about themselves.”

Frankie Aldana took home the Best Non-narrative Animation and Best Production Design recognitions for It’s Just a Cupcake, a commentary and an awareness film about eating disorders. It starred Bo, whose anxieties around food took shape into a spiky little shadow monster.

“I wanted to focus on sharing the feeling over anything else because I wanted my film to encourage understanding through empathy,” Aldana explained. It’s Just a Cupcake likewise clinched The John Martin Award, an annual recognition given to a professional or a student participant per year.

Mitzi Lim earned the Jury’s Special Citation for Binhi, which circulates about the journey of a lumberjack, a forest spirit, and the implications of excessive logging.

“I wanted to show the consequences of our choices,” she declared. “I think it is important to relay this message given the current environmental crisis our country is going through.”

Benildean artists dominate Animahenasyon Festival

To complete the roster of winners, Dionisio Bacudio III from Jose Rizal University won the Best Technical Award for Guhit

The Collector by his schoolmates Gerry Garcia, Austine Leigh Abedejos, Elvin Matthew Nido, Creshane Zaslove Pausal, and Jong Won Teves bagged the First Place for

the Audience Choice Award. Meanwhile, Mitolohiya by Seth Floreven Evangelista Biagtan, Carlos Dikker Adelantar, Carl Andre del Mundo, and Owen Ualat of the FEU Institute of Technology finished Second Place.

Under the Professional Division, Klikbot Guardian: Kalamity by

Reignite the magic at the Happiest Place on Earth

as Royal Jeweler for all of the kingdom’s magnificent keepsakes and treasures.

First-of-its-kind live outdoor musical party: “Follow Your Dreams”

The 20-minute live outdoor musical is filled with high-energy music and live singing. A brand-new song debuted in the show, called “Follow Your Dreams,” which is not only infused with the trademark uplifting spirit of a Disney tune, but also reminds guests how fulfilling it is to pursue dreams and to never give up. Several well-known songs have also been rearranged and produced to give guests a never-before-heard experience, featuring a wide range of music from electronic dance music and K-Pop, to everything in between.

The Most Magical Show on Earth: “Momentous”

Carlyn Ceniza of Fizzbuzz, Inc. secured the Grand Prize and Best Storytelling Awards while Grow by Marvin Paracuelles of Grow Studio bagged the Best Technical Award.

Meanwhile, Mark Mendoza of Friendly Foes Creative Studio, an alumnus of the De La Salle-College

of Saint Benilde Multimedia Arts, nabbed the Best Non-narrative and Best Production Design honors.

Entitled Bad Tourism, his work is a tourism ad gone haywire in telling some hard truths. ‘‘It is a short sarcastic skit,” he clarified. “The film hopes to close some gaps between how we perceive things and facts.”

Look the most dapper in these local ‘fits

Tourists can now visit Hong Kong quarantine-free and are allowed to explore attractions and restaurants as soon as they arrive, including Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL). For the latest travel information about Hong Kong, guests may visit here: https://www. coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html

Brand-new Disney magic awaits Be enchanted by the reimagined Castle of Magical Dreams – home to a fully refreshed “Follow Your Dreams” daytime musical stage show and the all-new nighttime spectacular “Momentous.”

The Castle of Magical Dreams

In celebration of the resort’s 15th year, the reimagined centerpiece, named the Castle of Magical Dreams, was launched in 2020. Sparked by those that dare to dream and believe, it shines as a beacon of courage, hope, and possibility.

Draw inspiration from 13 stories of Disney princesses and queens, the architectural design embraces each one of their unique characteristics through the interpretation of color, icons, symbols, patterns and cultural features.

Never in Disney history has an existing castle undergone a transformation as grand as this, and guests who have witnessed the change from a distance can now walk through the iconic structure. From meeting their favorite princesses and queens at “The Royal Reception Hall,” with its regally appointed interiors that feature intricately carved details, tapestries, and small bronze statues depicting the beloved heroines who inspired the castle’s design, to visiting “Enchanted Treasures,” the first-ever Castle of Magical Dreams Chow Tai Fook Jewelry store where artisans from the popular jeweler Chow Tai Fook have been appointed

Newly launched in June this year, the all-new nighttime spectacular, “Momentous”, has arrived – and it is Hong Kong’s greatest evening experience! This much-anticipated show—filled with magic and light – illuminates the night sky with nearly 20 minutes of music and memorable moments, all wrapped up in one monumental journey.

Meet and greet with Disney Friends once more Our Disney pals could not be more excited to see all of our wonderful guests again! Everyone from Mickey Mouse, and the Marvel Super Heroes to Duffy and Friends – including their newest pal, the lovable fox LinaBell – have prepared brand-new surprises to celebrate special occasions while creating precious memories along the way.

Exciting product line-up in 2023 2023 is bound to be a magical and memorable year with a rich line-up of immersive activities and seasonal events at the resort, from celebrating the 100th anniversary of Disney to the long-awaited opening of the first-ever Frozen-themed land in the world, World of Frozen, in the second half of 2023. What’s more, a brand-new Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue will be unveiled the same year.

WHEN it comes to formalwear, the tendency is to go for the classic suit and tie. While this is a classic look that can be pulled off in different styles, why go the same route when you can spice up your wardrobe with homegrown Filipino pieces? Break out from the monochromatic rut with unique outfits from the freshest Barong brands at Rustan’s.

Without sacrificing quality or style, the designers behind these brands ensure that each of their crafts flaunts their artistic flair while still embodying the Filipino culture – making a perfect piece fit for the modern man to wear every day.

Kelvin Morales Through his creative and premium garments, Kelvin Morales breaks barriers by contesting society’s idealized standards of beauty, focusing on artistic narratives and highlighting peculiar forms in clothing. The Manila-based designer supports local tailors and craftsmen by constantly experimenting with local fabrics and materials in his collections while maintaining an interesting balance between modern and traditional techniques through his eponymous brand.

Inspired by quaint pieces from everyday life, his collections boast hand-embroidered designs and unconventional silhouettes made from silk cocoons that allow the wearer to stand out from the crowd.

Randolf

For a cheeky ensemble, Randolf pokes fun at the obsessive pop culture through clothing. With its bold colors and witty designs, designer RJ Santos draws inspiration from 90’s music videos and humor surrounding local pop culture – creating a truly unique identity for each collection. Thought-provoking and humorous at the same time, the contemporary designer’s bold and creative pieces are perfect for the man who likes to make a statement while looking stylishly cool.

The brand has also been aiming to reduce waste since its conception by recycling scrap fabrics from different designers and turning their white fabrics into graphic bespoke fabrics, which in turn are then used to produce the collections.

Viña Romero

Sometimes, to create an eye-catching piece, you have to think outside the box. With her designs rooted in structured femininity and masculinity, Designer Viña Romero is doing just that as she redefines her pieces to suit any age, body type, and market.

Taking apart existing social constructs, the designer combines the clean lines and bold characteristics of menswear with the graceful and delicate features of womenswear to create a refreshing new

You can never go wrong with a classic. With the versatile nature of the soft and diaphanous piña fiber, queen of the Philippine textiles, Aklan-based piña weaver Raquel utilizes the material to create luxuriant pieces that are as easy to wear as they are beautiful to look at. The crucial and intricate processes are what make each piece uniquely exquisite – from the weaving process to the meticulous hand embroidery, every process and step is done with utmost care and precision to preserve the rich texture and delicate quality of the cloth.

Barong II Filipino clothing brand Barong II, which has been in the embroidery industry for over 43 years, continues to make waves in the market today. Committed to drawing more ideas and styles from the Philippine heritage, the brand continues to push the boundaries of traditional fashion without sacrificing its distinct brand of elegance and timelessness. Each piece is crafted with precision and timeless beauty in mind, ensuring that every look is just as stylish as it is unique.

Men from all walks of life will surely love the elegant silhouettes and rich colors of the newest barong brands in Rustan’s that will bring out the fine Filipino gentleman within themselves.

‘Binhi’ tackles the implications of excessive logging

‘It’s Just A Cupcake’ commentary and an awareness film about eating disorders

A scene from Mikayla Elise Lariosa’s ‘Dear Friend’

Mark Mendoza’s ‘Bad Tourism’

FOLLOWING the easing of pandemic curbs in Hong Kong, guests and fans from the Philippines can finally hop on a flight to reignite the magic at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Rediscover familiar rides, relive moments of pure joy with beloved Disney friends, and reconnect with all-new surprises throughout the Happiest Place on Earth.

Break out from the monochromatic rut with unique outfits from the freshest Barong brands at Rustan’s

Designer Kelvin Morales

perspective on gender norms in the sartorial world. Tailored for quietly confident individuals, her pieces can be worn on any occasion with a classic timeless look.

Raquel’s Piña Cloth

Designer Viña Romero A striking barong from Raquel's Piña Cloth

Designer RJ Santos

Fall in love with restored films on Romance Central

Miley Cyrus teases fans with new single during live special

MILEY Cyrus and Dolly Parton’s medley of “Wrecking Ball” and “I Will Always Love You” was probably the most talked about performance after New Year’s Eve. The video, which is now on NBC YouTube channel has now been viewed 3.5 million times.

The duo also sang “Jolene” and Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight.” The clip, on the other hand, has amassed more than 2.5 million views on the popular video streaming site.

In the same show, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, the multi-platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, and trailblazer announced that her new single “Flowers” will be available globally on January 13.

After welcoming the New Year with his film with Judy Ann Santos, Till There Was You, last January 1, Piolo continues to make hearts flutter in Milan with Claudine Barretto (January 8), Starting Over Again with Toni Gonzaga (January 15), Love Me Again with Angel Locsin (January 22), and The Breakup Playlist with Sarah Geronimo (January 29) on Romance Central, which airs every Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

Relive some of the greatest films of Megastar Sharon Cuneta in Restored Cinema with Minsan, Minahal Kita (January 8), Caregiver (January 15), Madrasta (January 22), and Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (January 29) airing every Sunday, 9:00 p.m.

From horror, comedy, or romance, the Iron Heart lead star Richard Gutierrez has it all. Catch some of his captivating movies like Sigaw (January 16), Fantastica (January 17), For The First Time (January 18), Unbreakable (January 19), and Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di (January 20) airing Monday to Friday, 5:00 p.m.

Feel a rollercoaster of emotions with Liza Soberano’s hit movies.

The week-long movie marathon includes Alone/Together (January 16), She’s The One (January 17), Everyday I Love You (January 18), Just The Way You Are (January 19), and My Ex and Whys (January 20) which airs Monday to Friday, 7:00 p.m.

Cinema One, the home of Filipino blockbuster movies, is available on Cignal ch. 45, SKYcable ch. 56, and other local cable service providers.

In true superstar fashion, between her performances and hosting duties, Miley blessed fans’ final hours of 2022 with special clips of “Flowers.”

Fans had kicked up the chatter of new music when Miley signaled she had a big year coming with New Year New Miley posters appearing all around the world in December.

It was then discovered that mileycyrus.com had launched a countdown to a forthcoming announcement, which has been revealed to be the release of “Flowers” on January 13. Astute fans will notice a new countdown has launched and are heavily encouraged to continue to follow mileycryus.com for further announcements this week.

Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, which Miley co-hosted with global superstar Dolly, was a major success. In addition to the announcement of “Flowers,’’ the live special featured an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests including Sia, Latto, Rae Sremmurd, David Byrne, Liily, and Fletcher as well as Paris Hilton, SNL’s Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman, and comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy

Miley Cyrus is one of the most influential humans in pop culture with over 190 million Instagram followers. She has six #1 albums including her 2013 GRAMMY-nominated album Bangerz, which is also certified 3x platinum in the U.S. In addition, she has had an impressive five sold-out world tours throughout her career.

In November 2020, Miley dropped her highly anticipated seventh studio album, Plastic Hearts. The critically acclaimed album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart and is her sixth #1 album, giving Miley the most top 10 album debuts on the chart for female artists this century.

Tracks on Plastic Hearts have been streamed over 3 billion times. In 2021

Miley joined The Kid Laroi on a remix of his song “Without You”. The remix debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Rock Chart. Miley was also part of Me-

Recent collaboration and brand partners include NBC/Peacock, Gucci, and T-Mobile amongst others. Miley spent

Music, costume design of ‘Babylon’ take spotlight in new featurettes

PARAMOUNT Pictures has just shared behind-the-scenes featurettes about the costume design and original score of the eagerly anticipated Babylon, in theaters across the Philippines starting February 1.

Step into the wardrobe of Babylon with costume designer Mary Zophres, and listen to a score for the ages from Academy Award winner Justin Hurwitz, composer of the original soundtrack.

The job of creating a wardrobe that was both reminiscent of a bygone era but also timeless fell to award-winning costume designer, Mary Zophres, who reunited for the third time with director Damien Chazelle after working with him on First Man and La La Land, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.

“This is the kind of movie where the characters largely define themselves through what they’re wearing,” says Chazelle, “so that meant a lot of work for Mary, who was trying to carve out moments for these iconic outfits to give the characters their due at various junctures in the story.”

Meanwhile, years before any cameras rolled on Babylon, Chazelle

turned to his longtime collaborator, Justin Hurwitz, who has composed the scores for all of Chazelle’s films, including Whiplash, La La Land and First Man

“We wanted to give Babylon a musical universe of its own, a sound that wouldn’t be so anachronistic as to take anybody out of the 1920s, but also a far cry from the usual depiction of quaint 20s jazz,” says Hurwitz. “It’s a lot wilder and more ag-

gressive. Something to keep in mind is that the music which was recorded and survived from the 20s is just a tiny sliver of the music that was actually being played in Los Angeles at the time. There was underground music that was never recorded. We wanted to imagine the depth and variety and wild range of sounds that could have been, though we’ll never know. Music that we felt hadn’t been depicted on film before.”

KAPAMILYA’S favorite leading man Piolo Pascual makes his way to Cinema One’s Romance Central featuring his well-loved films that will surely melt hearts.

tallica’s The Metallica Blacklist Album, offering a blistering cover of “Nothing Else Matters.”

most of 2021 touring with multiple headlining slots at festivals including a massive run across LATAM which saw her perform to a cumulative crowd of over 1 million.

A tireless advocate for the

LGBTQ+ community, Miley devotes much of her time to her non-profit The Happy Hippie Foundation, which supports youth homelessness, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable populations.

From Damien Chazelle, Babylon is an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Diego Calva, with an ensemble cast including Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li . A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

‘Love Me Again’ starring Angel Locsin (left) and Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual (right) with Sarah Geronimo in a scene from ‘The Breakup Playlist’

A scene from ‘Everyday I Love You’ starring real-life sweethearts Liza (left) and Enrique

Liza Soberano (left) and Enrique Gil in ‘Alone/Together’

‘Babylon’ is an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles

The wardrobe helps define the character’s personalities throughout the film

Miley’s new single will be globally available on January 13

The teaser for ‘Flowers’

Miley Cyrus during her New Year’s Eve performance

Dolly Parton (left) and Miley Cyrus during a live special for New Year’s Eve

Editor: Nickie Wang; Editorial Assistant: Patricia Taculao E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com ,

Why Campus Cats Are Good For Students

By Rowena David

THEY stroll along the school corridors, hang out in the cafeteria, take naps on empty benches, and observe the people entering the building like self-appointed security guards. These cats somehow managed to find their way inside the campus, looked around, and decided to stay. They are called campus cats and almost every campus has them.

The University of Augsburg in Germany has a daily visitor known simply as Campus Cat. The friendly feline helps students relax by giving them cuddles. He has become very popular on campus that a Facebook page dedicated to him was created. “Caring about the students is the main goal of the Campus Cat besides sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. A lot of students say Campus Cat helps to relax or chill before tests, papers, exams,” the campus cat secretary told boredpanda.com.

Benefits of Having Cats on Campus

They help keep the rodent population under control. Campus felines help keep pests out of campus by keeping rodents away from buildings and other areas where food is stored.

They are great stress relievers. Campus cats are a great way to reduce stress, promote well-being and help curb the rise of mental health issues on campus. It has been proven that pets can reduce stress and anxiety, help lower blood pressure, improve immune function and increase happiness. Samira Istfan Dabbous, a psychology professor at the Lebanese American University, says students' mental health benefits greatly from having cats on campus. “Animals reduce anxiety and stress because they release a chemical that works on reducing the stress,” says professor Dabbous.

They provide entertainment. With their curious nature, cats can create a friendly atmosphere while students are studying. Additionally, students who are not allowed to keep a pet cat at home can have the joy of being with cats while they’re on campus grounds.

They encourage community activities. A shared love for cats can encourage students to organize group activities such as stray TNR, stray cat feeding, bring-your-cat-to-campus day, and promoting animal welfare awareness on social media, among others.

They provide a sense of purpose. Caring for campus cats promotes a sense of community and gives those who care for them a feeling of purpose.

While there are several benefits to letting cats stay on campus grounds, their population should also be held in check. Pet and stray animal overpopulation are one of the major problems that face animal welfare advocates today. To prevent cat overpopulation on campus, some universities have partnered with Non-Government Organizations to help them with TNR programs. De La Salle, Ateneo de Manila, and

Adamson are just some of the universities that have a TNR program in place.

TNR, which stands for Trap-Neuter-Return, is the best solution to curb the rising number of stray animals. In TNR, stray cats are humanely trapped or captured, taken to a vet clinic to be neutered (male cats) or spayed (female cats), and returned to their place of origin after a few days. This way, no female cat on the campus will ever get pregnant again. It’s easy to identify spayed or neutered campus cats – they have clipped ear tips.

Benefits of TNR

TNR carries with it several benefits not only for the cats but for the university as well. TNR can effectively manage the campus cat population. In an 11-year TNR study at the University of Florida, it was observed that the number of cats on campus decreased by 66%, and after the first four years of operation, no new kittens were produced. Additionally, a TNR-supported cat colony will help keep unfixed stray cats away.

TNR enhances the health of the cats and eliminates unpleasant cat behaviors such as fighting with others cats and constant meowing. Neutering or spaying helps cats gain weight and enhances the condition of their coats. Leading cat biologists and TNR pioneers Dr. Jenny Remfry and Peter Neville studied a feral cat colony in London and discovered that after neutering, the cats were more loving toward one another, spent more time in groups, and engaged in less fighting.

Tips for students, faculty, and university personnel who are interested in organizing a TNR for their campus cats:

1. Form a group of like-minded individuals. Organizing a TNR program is a huge undertaking and you need all the help you can get.

2. Reach out to an animal welfare group that provides TNR. These groups will additional information on how to start the process, as well as information on how to maintain a cat colony. TNR is just the first step in caring for and maintaining a cat colony.

3. Coordinate with your university officials.

About the author: Rowena David is faculty member at College of Computer Science in the University of Makati, is a freelance writer (Tagalog short novels), admin of Philippine Pet Lovers Society Facebook page, an animal rescuer and animal welfare advocate.

Dog Nail Clipping: When and How to Do It

By Mariana Burgos

TRIM nails are one obvious indication of your dog's good health and hygiene, and nail cutting is a crucial component of dog care. Professional groomers will handle the work for petrified owners. But if done correctly, clipping a dog's nails is a straightforward procedure that owners can do too. With our dog Milky and our other dogs in the farm, we do the clipping of their nails ourselves. We wish to have it done by professional pet groomers instead but, unfortunately, we do not have the budget for such. And so, we do not get to do it as regularly as we should because it is quite difficult with our dogs---- they hate it when it is time for it and they tend to do all the acrobatics they can to get away from us every time.

However, I have noticed that since our dogs are roaming freely around the farm, they often do a lot of running, jumping, digging and many more activities that naturally keep their nails short. So, nail clipping is not needed as often for dogs who stay inside the house all day.

How to begin clipping your dog’s nails?

Start handling your puppy's feet and clipping their nails while they are young, so they will get used to it, as nail trimming may be an anxiety-provoking experience for many dogs. While you are trimming a dog's nails, some will sit on your lap or on a table, while others may require some type of restraint.

Fortunately, you can make the procedure more entertaining for your dog by allowing them to lick peanut butter off a silicone wall pad while you take care of the nails.

When should you start clipping your dog’s nails?

In accordance with Andrew Spanner's article "When Do Dogs Need Their Nails Clipped?" in the Walkerville Vet website, a dog's nails that are too long will have their tips in constant touch with the ground. The digit frequently rotates backwards and up or twists sideways in response to pressure. Similar to wearing shoes that squeak, this is probably uncomfortable.

When you see your dog have all these char-

acteristics, he says that is the time to do clip the nails. Some of the toe deviation in the dog's feet will become permanent if his nails are not trimmed. This is especially true when the digit is rotated in the opposite direction.

Spanner says there are two simple ways to determine whether the nails on your dog are the appropriate length. He says that when a dog's nails are the proper length, they do not touch the ground when it is standing normally.

Typically, each nail will be 1mm above the surface and only makes contact while moving. Get your dog to stand on a flat surface while you either stoop down or take a photo to witness this.

He goes on to say that the second "rule of thumb" is to imagine a line extending forward from the pad's base. The nail must stay within the boundaries. The dog has kindly turned his digit over so that we can see it, although it's simpler to accomplish if you pick up the paw. For both measurements, he advises adding an extra 1 to 2 mm in the case of a nervous dog to be safe.

How dangerous is it when nail clipping is not done properly?

Spanner says the quick is normally 1mm or less from the end of the nail in a normal dog. This is the area where the nerves and blood vessels of the nail are located. One must make sure not to trim too short because it will surely make a bloody mess bleeding if it happens.

A slip-up now and again is acceptable in dogs who are resilient and joyful. Any dog will begin to connect foot handling or nail clippers with pain if their nails are frequently over-clipped, though. Even one negative event could teach an anxious dog this lesson.

These dogs experience extreme stress when it comes time to have their nails trimmed because they develop a dread of having their feet handled. Any attempt to clip results in (at best) continuous foot pulling, which raises the possibility of further injury. A sedative is necessary for their own safety if they are, at worst, truly panicked.

Just touching the ground or hooking, though, isn't enough proof for certain dogs since they have what Andrew and his colleagues refer to as "long quicks." Older dogs frequently exhibit this.

The biggest hurdle, as Andrew claims, is presented by canines with black nails. He says, you should always get professional assistance before trimming these for the first time. Keep 2 mm below where you believe it finishes even if there are obvious quicks.

How true is it that some dogs don’t need any nail trimming?

Spanner claims a dog in its natural state doesn't require nail cutting. A dog is considered "natural" if it resembles its wild ancestors sufficiently for the nails to continue to work as they were meant to.

The following characteristics are therefore indicative of a dog that rarely need nail trimming:

over 10 kg in weight ;daily jogging and walking; and using ground other than grass but also hard surfaces to walk on.

I suppose that is why our dogs in the farm have short nails and don’t seem to need any trimming. Based on our experience, I suggest you have your pet dogs have as much time as the said activities above so you won’t need to wrestle with them for nail clipping time just like us.

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

of animals as well.

human rights but the rights

Ateneo de Manila's campus cat. (Photo by Cats of Ateneo Facebook page)

A college student wiping the dirt off a kitten's eyes.

University of Augsburg's Campus Cat. (Photo by CampusCat Augsburg Facebook page.)

A clipped ear means the cat is already spayed or neutered.

A poodle dog’s nails are being clipped. (Photo taken from Royalty-free images of Dreamstine.)

Trimming a dog’s nails is easy for some, but can be a fearful experience for a dog who was injured during nail clipping when she was a pup. (Photo from Royalty-free images of Dreamstine.)

To prevent a dog’s nails from growing too long, regular clipping is necessary. But if they walk or run on hard surfaces that naturally “trim” their nails, they will require less clipping or none at all. (Photo from Royalty-free images of Dreamstine.)