Manila Standard - 2023 January 15 - Sunday

PBBM hits rampant smuggling

Calls for systems overhaul in bureaucracy, asks private sector for help

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has asked the private sector for help amid his plan to intensify the fight against rampant smuggling in the country, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Mr. Marcos, in a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) at Malacañang in Manila on Thursday, lamented that the present system is “not working,” despite efforts to curb smuggling.

“To be brutally frank about it, we have a system, but they are not working. The smuggling here in this country is absolutely rampant. So, it does not matter to me how many systems we have in place, they do not work,” he told PSAC, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“So, we really have to find something else. We cannot continue to depend on these systems, which have already proven themselves to be quite ineffective.”

Mr. Marcos said concerned government agencies must step up and be

Contraband of onions, shabu, sugar seized in attempts at separate ports

n By JOEL ZURBANO, VITO BARCELO AND MARICEL CRUZ

EVEN as the government tries to escalate its campaign against smuggling of all forms, authorities on Saturday declared seizing sizable shipments of sugar and shabu worth hundreds of millions of pesos through seaports and postal services.

The country’s main airport also proved porous in letting goods in, as authorities intercepted some crew members of

going for as much as P600 a kilo locally -- after their flights from Dubai and Riyadh.

The Bureau of Customs said it apprehended in Batangas seaport a vessel carrying 80,000 bags, or 4,000 metric tons (MT), of smuggled refined sugar worth P240 million from Thailand.

Authorities assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) also seized another smuggled shipment of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride worth more than P1.3 million in a controlled delivery operation in Cavite.

This was after government agents on Wednesday

Cebu Sinulog goes on amid dispute over venue

Gov’t to calibrate onion import to shield farmers

has been taken into consideration by both the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on the high-value crop... it’s a bureau, and our unit [is] in charge of that certain commodity,” Evangelista told reporters.

“When it comes to what you were mentioning about the onion importation, the harvest our farmers are expecting, that

A calibrated importation “was something they had to look into,” she added, as the DA was waiting for reports on how many importers had applied to bring in onions.

This week, the DA approved the

importation of 21,060 metric tons of onions to tame the rising price of the commodity.

“At the same time, I don’t know if you noticed, our importation has a cut-off unlike before,” Evangelista said, adding that the BPI put the parameters in place to safeguard the local onion harvest.

During the briefing, she noted that the farmgate price of onions has already gone

Price hikes on goods loom, fuel cost increases set

FILIPINOS must brace for more price increases this month as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it has received a notice of price adjustment from manufacturers of canned sardines, meatloaf, and corned beef, coffee, and soap.

Bread prices are also seen to rise by about P2 to P4 pesos depending on the size of the bread item owing to higher prices of eggs, which in turn is caused by recent cases of avian influenza or bird flu, a local

bakers’

Residents of San Juan City led by Mayor Francis Zamora (left) pick fresh produce and low-price onions for P170 per kilo at the Kadiwa On Wheels at the city’s Barangay St. Joseph.

Manny Palmero

The DTI said it is studying the price adjustment requests but will strive to make the items still reasonably priced for the benefit of consumers, according to a GMA News report.

President taps Ano as new security adviser, Carlos shifts to House side

n By VINCE LOPEZ

The 61-year-old Año replaces Carlos, who assumed the NSA post in June 2022 and will “continue her pursuit of scholastic endeavors” by joining the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives, Garafil said.

Año, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, is a veteran

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former general Eduardo Año as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) replacing Clarita Carlos, Malacañang announced on Saturday.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil confirmed Año’s appointment after the oath-taking at the Palace on Saturday Pictures showed the former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of

staff and Interior Secretary under the Duterte administration with his family being sworn in by the President.

THE administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will implement a calibrated importation of onions in a bid to safeguard farmers during the harvest season, Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said in a briefing on Saturday.

NEW NSA. Eduardo Año (center) takes his oath before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the new National Security Adviser, with his wife Jean Joselyn beside him. PCO Photo

CEBU CITY—Mayor Michael Rama said all is ready for the celebration of Sinulog 2023 today despite the bad weather caused by the low-pressure area and the shear line – and despite a conflict

with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, who followed through on her word to withdraw 10 contingents of performers from across the province for the event.

FOR THE SANTO NINO. Hundreds of sea vessels join the fluvial procession for the feast of Sto. Niño de Cebu or Sinulog at the Mactan Channel on Saturday. The Santo Niño was placed onboard Coast Guard District Central Visayas BRP CABRA (center). Meanwhile, devotees join the Sto. Niño de Tondo motorcade in Manila as part of the religious activities for the upcoming fiesta honoring the Child Jesus. CCLEX/Island Nomad photo with Norman Cruz

Philippine Airlines who arrived in Manila carrying more than 20 kilos of onions – currently

P88m aid sent to flood-hit areas, as deaths rise to 20

RESPONDING to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide immediate aid to flood-stricken areas, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed a total of P88 million in assistance to communities affected by flash floods in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

from the persistent low-pressure area and the shear line, authorities added.

Despite the challenging situation, he said the DSWD still has P1.2 billion available stockpiles and quick response funds (QRF) ready for disposal.

The DSWD, he said, recorded 1.8 million individuals affected by flood and heavy rains in Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Northern Mindanao, suffering from more than three weeks of flooding since Christmas Day President Marcos flew to Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental on Wednesday to assess the situation there and extend assistance to affected families.

DSWD cuts 4Ps beneficiaries list from 1.3m to only 500,000

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reduced the number of its targeted beneficiaries under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by 800,000, from 1.3 million to 500,000.

This was disclosed by DSWD officer-in-charge Undersecretary Edu Punay during Saturday’s News Forum at Dapo Restobar in Quezon City.

Punay said that the original 1.3 million beneficiaries were revalidated following observations that it was already “outdated” and the COVID-19 pandemic not taken into account.

Edu said only 500,000 out of the 1.3 million were tagged as “poor” and therefore, eligible for the 4Ps subsidies.

This was as the number of people who died across the country because of recent floods rose to 20, the state disaster monitoring agency said on Saturday.

Thousands of families in Eastern Visayas have evacuated due to the flooding and landslides brought by rains

128 new Omicron subvariant cases detected—DOH

n By WILLIE CASAS

HEALTH authorities have detected 128 new Omicron subvariant cases.

The Department of Health (DOH) cited reports by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) showing 137 samples were tested last January 3 to 9, and 52 of the samples were classified as Omicron BA.2.3.20, 28 were XBB, 13 were XBC, 10 were BA.5, and one sample was BN.1.

The DOH said the remaining 24 cases detected were considered “other Omicron subvariants.”

Of the 52 additional BA.2.3.20 cases, 51 were local cases from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5, 6, 7, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and National Capital Region (NCR); while the remaining case was a returning overseas Filipino (ROF).

The DOH said the recently detected BN.1 case, reported under BA.2.75, was a local case from Region 6. Meanwhile, of the 10 new BA.5 cases, six were local cases from Region 6 and 11, while the remaining four cases were ROFs.

The DOH said all additional XBB and XBC cases were local cases from Regions 1, 3, 4A, 6, 7, 11, CAR, and NCR.

The one local case of the Delta variant was from Region 3, with the collection date in mid-December 2022.

The DOH, however, said it was continuously monitoring, both at local and global levels, the prevalent Omicron subvariants with higher transmissibility.

DOH-Epidemiology Bureau Director IV Dr. Alethea De Guzman said Omicron and its subvariants had become the global prevalent sequence.

Over a hundred people were affected by waist-deep floods in Matalam, Cotabato, with some locals needing to be rescued by boat while others choosing to wait for the waters to recede.

“At this point po, we now have 378 evacuation centers still existing in those regions with 102,500 individuals there,” Punay pointed out.

Authorities said the convergence of three weather systems in the same areas— Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao resulted in the incessant rains.

A shear line weather on Christmas Day, followed by the northeast monsoon and several low pressure areas, which brought heavy rains, drenched those regions.

He said those removed from the 4Ps list would be accommodated in the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and receive P15,000 in livelihood assistance to start a business.

The 4Ps was institutionalized under the Republic Act No. 11310 signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.

The program has a target of 4.4 million beneficiaries every year.

Meanwhile, the DSWD sought assistance from the anti-cybercrime divisions of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to investigate the spread of “wrong information,” which drove people to the DSWD National Capital Region (NCR) office to apply for the SLP.

On Friday, senior citizens, solo parents, and students trooped to the DSWD-NCR office after receiving information that application for the SLP was scheduled on that day, officials told them there was no such activity for the day.

Nonetheless, Edu said they distributed SLP forms to obtain the applicants’ basic information.

He explained that the SLP was designed as an “exit program” for 4Ps graduates to allow them to have a sustainable livelihood once their monthly subsidies were stopped.

Meanwhile, Edu said the DSWD’s Facebook account was possibly hacked.

“Ito ang dahilan kung bakit may mga hindi pangkaraniwang post doon na hindi nauugnay sa Ahensiya. Humihingi kami ng paumanhin para sa anumang abala na maaaring naidulot nito,” the DSWD said.

“Patuloy ngayon ang imbestigasyon at pagsasaayos para muling mabawi ang Facebook page ng FO NCR. Nakikipag-ugnayan na rin ang DSWD sa kaukulang mga Ahensya ng gobyerno para sa imbestigasyon sa insidente.

Pamalakaya nixes China bid on joint fishing

AN ORGANIZATION of Filipino fishermen has rejected China’s proposal for joint fishing expeditions in Philippine waters.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the possibility of a joint oil exploration between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) would only materialize if the China recognizes the Philippine Constitution “Even without the benefit of our scrutiny, we know that nothing beneficial for Filipino fishers could come out from China’s proposed partnership with local

fishing villages,” the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a statement.

National Security adviser Clarita Carlos has disclosed that China offered partnership with Filipino fishermen.

Carlos said China raised the possibility of a partnership with the Philippines’ fishing groups, adding this was among the things proposed to resolve the WPS territorial dispute following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s visit to Beijing earlier this month.

Pamalakaya said “any agreement with

China won’t be accepted by Filipino fishers who were the direct victims of China’s aggression in the WPS.

Filipino fishermen have LONG been enduring China’s harassment in the West Philippine Sea.

In 2019, a Chinese vessel smashed into a Filipino fishing boat, endangering the lives of 22 fishermen onboard.

“We are witnesses how China abuses and plunders the resources in the West Philippine Sea, and how we are being harassed in our own fishing grounds,” Pamalakaya said.

CHR cites pledges on delivery of ‘swift and fair justice for all’

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday welcomed the assurance of the Supreme Court, the Justice Department, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government Department to dispense swift and fair justice for all.

At the same time, the CHR lauded the reaffirmed commitment of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), composed of the Judiciary, law enforcement, and prosecution agencies primarily responsible for the country’s criminal justice system, to deliver speedy justice.

“The Commission expects that these justice-oriented mechanisms will be of service to the most marginalised in the country. How effective they will be could

Parts of Caloocan, QC to have no water Jan. 17-23

SOME parts of Caloocan City and Quezon City will experience water supply interruption on Jan. 17 to 23 due to continuing maintenance works on pipelines in the affected areas.

The Maynilad Water Services said the maintenance activities were part of its continuous effort to improve water services in the West Zone.

From 11 p.m. of Jan. 17 to 4 a.m. of Jan. 18, the affected areas are Barangays 8, 12, 14, 16 and 18, specifically in Dagat-Dagatan corner Langaray; and Barangays 33 and 34, particularly in Estanislao; Barangay 151, specifically in Progreso corner Pangako; all in Caloocan City.

Also affected are Barangay Mariblo from 10 p.m. of Jan. 17 to 6 a.m. of Jan. 18, particularly in De Vera corner Roosevelt; and Barangay Manresa, specifically in Banawe corner Del Monte; both in Quezon City.

From 10 p.m. of Jan. 18 to 6 a.m. of Jan. 19, Barangay Gulod, particularly in Forest Hills; and Barangay Sta. Monica, specifically in Santiago; both in Quezon City.

- From 11 p.m. of Jan. 19 to 4 a.m. of Jan. 20, Barangay 148 in Caloocan City, particularly in Katarungan corner Reparo.

- From 10 p.m. of Jan. 19 to 6 a.m. of Jan. 20, Barangay Baesa,

specifically in Howmart corner EDSA; and Barangays Balingasa, Damayan, Katipunan and Pag-ibig sa Nayon; particularly in A. Bonifacio corner Old Balingasa; all in Quezon City.

- Barangay 162 in Caloocan City from 11 p.m. of Jan. 21 to 4 a.m. of Jan. 22, specifically in Tullahan corner Petron.

- From 10 p.m. of Jan. 20 to 6 a.m. of Jan. 21, Barangays Dona Imelda Marcos, Dona Josefa Marcos and Maharlika, particularly in Quezon Avenue corner D. Tuazon (West/East); and Barangay Tatalon, specifically in Quezon Avenue corner Tuayan; all in Quezon City.

also inform the pursuit of justice not only in the civil and political realm, but also the economic, social, and cultural rights of all Filipinos,” the CHR said in a statement.

During a joint dialogue in partnership with the European Union Governance in Justice Programme (GOJUST Programme) on 11 January 2022, Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla discussed their strategic plans and concerns with regards to improving the country’s criminal justice processes,” the CHR said. Maricel Cruz

Solon urges DICT to rethink April deadline on SIM

V. CRUZ

Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said that the DICT’s decision was “premature since we don’t know how quickly most Filipinos will be able to register.”

“Absent any effort to make the registration more inclusive and accessible, moving the deadline earlier is not the right way to go,” Salceda said.

“It’s highly unusual to make that decision. Whatever the merits, let’s just stick to what the law says,” Salceda said, referring to the 180-day registration period prescribed by the implementing rules and regulations of the act.

The DICT’s decision would cut short the registration period to just 120 days, a “unilateral decision that the DICT is not within its bounds to make,” Salceda said.

Salceda, who asserted that the SIM card registration law is a net positive overall, “especially for cybersecurity and for fighting text and call scams,” said he still believes “the DICT should have made the decision much closer to the actual date.”

“Remember that the registration is mostly online, and you have some 3 million Filipino mobile users who are not using smartphones. So, let’s be fair to them.”

EGGS DEBATE. A consumer goes about buying the family’s supply of eggs at a Marikina market, unmindful that the commodity has stirred quite a debate between the Department of Agriculture which says bird flu has raised the retail prices while the Philippine Egg Board Association which asserts that the market prices are “too much” considering that the farmgate rates range only between P6.20 to P7.20. Manny Palmero

n By MARICEL

ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda on Saturday urged the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) to reconsider its decision to move the SIM registration deadline to April from the original June deadline.

NAVOTAS CLEANUP. Mayor John Rey Tiangco whoops it up with a group of constituents who take part in simultaneous clean-up activities across the city as part of their observance of the117th anniversary of Navotas. Andrew Rabulan

SMUGGLED SUGAR. Bureau of Customs examiners take pictures of P23,847,000 worth of smuggled imported refined sugar from Hong Kong at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), amid the agency’s crackdown against the smuggling of agricultural products. BOC photo

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Russia claims control of Soledar; Ukraine says fighting is ongoing

KRAMATORSK—

Russia said late Friday its forces had wrested control of the war-scarred town of Soledar in east Ukraine, its first claim of victory in months of battlefield setbacks, but Ukraine said fierce fighting was still under way.

win back —ground.

The Russian defence ministry announced it had “completed the liberation” of Soledar late the previous day and that the victory would pave the way for more “successful offensive operations” in the Donetsk region.

In a separate statement, it praised the “courageous and selfless” forces of mercenary group Wagner for storming Soledar.

The nod was an unusual recognition of the controversial force following talk of infighting and rivalry between Wagner and the official military.

The founder of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, insists that his force spearheaded the offensive for Soledar.

‘Where should we go?’

Kyiv dismissed Russia’s announcement and said “severe fighting” was ongoing in Soledar, an industrial town with a pre-war population of about

10,000 now reduced to rubble.

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said earlier that Russia had moved most of its forces around Donetsk to capture Soledar. “This is a difficult phase of the war,” she said.

In Siversk, a town north of Soledar that could be next in line for the Russian advance, artillery echoed around the battered buildings dotted with a few remaining residents and Ukrainian military personnel braving light snow and freezing wind.

Oleksandr Sirenko, who was chopping window frames and floors from destroyed flats into smaller pieces for firewood, said he did not want Kyiv’s troops to retreat.

“You know, I’ve been afraid of many things in my life,” he told AFP. “We only hope they don’t retreat. We hope, we hope. We are afraid, but where should we go?”

Stepping stone to Bakhmut?

Capturing Soledar could improve the position of Russian forces as they push toward what has been their main target since October, the nearby transport crossroads of Bakhmut.

The Russian defence ministry said Friday that Soledar’s capture “makes it possible to cut off supply routes of Ukrainian troops” there and surround them.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Russian information operations have “overexaggerated” the importance of Soledar.

“But this small-scale victory is unlikely to presage an imminent encirclement of Bakhmut,” it cautioned.

It said the fight for Soledar had likely heavily taxed Russian battlefield resources, constraining its ability to quickly move on to larger Bakhmut to the south. AFP

Iran executes British-Iranian dual national spying for UK

PARIS—Iran said Saturday it executed British-Iranian dual national Alireza Akbari after he was sentenced to death for spying for the United Kingdom, drawing sharp condemnation from the British government.

Akbari, 61, was hanged after being convicted of “corruption on earth and harming the country’s internal and external security by passing on intelligence”, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said. It did not say when or where the execution took place.

Mizan Online said Akbari, who had been arrested more than two years ago, had been a spy for Britain’s MI6 security agency and had received around $2 million for his services.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “appalled” by the execution of the British-Iranian citizen.

“This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people,”

UK

Akbari was hanged only hours after the United States had joined its ally Britain in calling for Iran not to go ahead with the execution.

US diplomat Vedant Patel said on Friday that Washington had been “greatly concerned” by reports that Akbari had been “drugged, tortured while in custody, interrogated for thousands of hours and forced to make false confessions”.

‘Forced confession’

Media outlets in Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality for its citizens, had broadcast a video this week in which Akbari appears to speak of his contacts with Britain. AFP

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Peru leader Boluarte insists she won’t quit

“Some

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“I will not resign. My commitment is with Peru.”

Boluarte lamented that the protests have at times turned violent, as at least 42 people have been killed in clashes with security forces, including a police officer burned alive in a vehicle. Hundreds more have been injured.

“I cannot stop reiterating my regret for the deaths of Peruvians in these protests,” she said. “I apologize for this situation.” But she rejected the possibility of calling a constitutional assembly as demanded by protestors, pointing to the difficulties Peru’s neighbor Chile has had in drafting and approving a new constitution.

“That cannot happen overnight,” Boluarte added. AFP

PBBM... Garafil said Mr. Marcos emphasized the need to delineate the government’s functions or establish new agencies, if needed, to become effective.

The Chief Executive, she said, particularly wants reform in the bureaucracy to curb smuggling, reduce logistics costs and ensure ease of doing business as his government works to prop up investments and business activity in the country.

Mr. Marcos acknowledged that issues on the ease of doing business and the inefficiency of the country’s airports and seaports are the “major complaints” he is receiving from the business sector, Garafil added.

“Whether the systems are ineffective or whether it’s the way they’re being operated or the result of side deals by the people, the end result is that the systems currently in place are not working,” she said quoting the President.

“The government cannot continue to sweep the issue under the rug because the cost to the state and private businesses is enormous, the President pointed out.”

Garafil noted that opening the database to the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture was one of the recommendations made during Marcos’ meeting with the PSAC to ensure the “efficient sharing of information.”

“Officials said it is a way of correlating information to fight smuggling. Even enforcers, they said, have a problem going after smugglers because of the

documentary requirements or the paper chase,” she said.

Meanwhile, five months since their initial meeting last August, in another discussion with President Marcos on Thursday, the PSAC Digital Infrastructure group already showed fruitful results of their collaborations with government agencies.

PSAC Digital Infrastructure lead and Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry Aguda reported to the President that since the July 2020 implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) Joint Memorandum Circulars (JMC) to streamline guidelines on telco towers and Internet infrastructure, there has been great improvement in the efficiency of telco permit processing.

For shared telco tower infrastructures, processing time has dropped from eight months to a mere 16 days, permit requirements dropped from 13 permits to eight, and documentary requirements dropped from 86 to 35.

Additionally, for the building of poles, construction of underground fiber ducts, and installation of aerial and underground cable and facilities to support Internet infrastructure, processing time was immensely shortened from two and a half years to just two and a half months.

This translated to an over 300 percent increase in tower construction or 7,000 built towers. Vince

CONTRABAND... intercepted a shipment declared as “snacks” from Nigeria containing shabu with an estimated street value of P89.590 million.

The meth shipment, stored in self-sealing foil pouches used for snack food, prompted

The sugar shipment,

Upon physical examination, the BOC examiners found refined sugar, which lacked importation permits from the government, as Cruz lamented the continuous attempts by smugglers to bring undeclared agricultural products into the country.

GOV’T... down to P250 per kilo. In December, onion prices spiked to as high as P720 per kilo.

“But this is something that we have to validate because it might just be in one area, but so far, from the reports I am receiving from the farmers themselves, and even some institutional buyers, there has been already a decline in farmgate prices,” Evangelista said.

Retail prices of onions, based on DA’s daily monitoring of 13 markets in Metro Manila, stood at P400 to P550 per kilo.

“That is high considering the cost structure of the onions, this is the production cost because we also talk to our farmers to find out how much it costs to produce onions,” she said.

Another DA official, spokesman Rex Estoperez, earlier admitted in a television interview that the department – currently led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as concurrent Agriculture Secretary – “committed errors in its resource mobilization” and the supply chain that caused the skyrocketing onion prices. Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT... intelligence officer who served as AFP chief from December 2016 to October 2017, then was tapped to head the Department of Interior and Local Governments by Mr. Marcos’ predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

He is the second ex-Duterte Cabinet official to be tapped by the President this week after fellow ex-general Carlito Galvez, who Mr. Marcos converted from presidential peace adviser to Defense Secretary after he served as COVID-19 czar in the previous administration.

Meantime, Carlos will join the CPBRD, which provides the House with technical service in the formulation of national economic, fiscal and social policies.

“I have realized that it is no longer politic (sensible or judicious under the circumstances) to continue as NSA to the President and so, I have decided to migrate to another agency where my expertise on foreign, defense and security policy will be of use and I shall continue to help build a better Philippines,” Carlos said in a separate statement.

CEBU... Rama also announced that the final venue for the One Cebu Island Sinulog 2023 grand parade will be held at South Road Properties, the capital city’s new business district.

“All is set, and we will celebrate One Cebu Island Sinulog 2023 at SRP, with the grand parade in a carousel to move between City de Mare and SM Seaside City,” Rama said in a statement.

The grounds, he said, are ready and everything is set for this year’s celebration whether the city will have rain or fair weather.

But Garcia said the contingents from Carmen, Carcar City, Mandaue City, Moalboal, Naga City, Talisay City, Tuburan,

The new festival site at the SRP had been described as “woefully unready”

A total of 22 groups had been slated to perform at the culminatingactivity of the One Cebu Island Sinulog Festival 2023, with the governor saying Lapu-Lapu City would also pull out of the competition if the SRP were to remain the site of the event. Jimbo Gulle

PRICE...In another television interview, Princess Lunar, vice president of the Asosasyon ng Panaderong Pilipino, told ABS-CBN bakers have also raised their prices for cakes by as much as 25 percent, to about P400 for a standard-sized cake.

The Trade Department last issued a suggested retail price (SRP) guide for some items in August 2022.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) explained that the rising prices of eggs – an essential ingredient for all bread goods – was due to bird flu, particularly for poultry farms in Central Luzon.

Group president Rosendo So also explained it wasn’t feasible for local bakers to import eggs as it would take up to eight days to reach local users when egg stocks were usually sold within three days.

The government’s Egg Board Association previously said local egg production had dwindled owing to high operating costs for breeders—again due to rising prices of chicks and feeds.

Sunak tweeted, adding his thoughts were with “Alireza’s friends and family”.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned on Twitter that his execution “will not stand unchallenged”, without elaborating further.

ST. BASIL’S CLOWNS. Revelers in disguise take part in a carnival procession through southwestern Macedonia’s village of Vevcani on January 13. The Vevcani carnival is 1,400 years old and is held every year on the eve of the feast of Saint Basil (January 14), which also marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Julian calendar, observed by the Macedonian Orthodox Church. AFP

NEW YORK—A once-powerful Mexican government minister who oversaw his country’s war on drug trafficking goes on trial in New York on Tuesday, himself charged with facilitating the smuggling of narcotics.

Garcia Luna is accused of taking huge bribes to allow the notorious Sinaloa cartel to smuggle cocaine when he was public security minister during Felipe Calderon’s 2006-2012 presidency.

54-year-old is the highest-ranking Mexican official to be charged in New York federal prosecutors’ extensive pursuit of alleged drug traffickers from Central and South America and their ministerial accomplices.

drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who headed Sinaloa, is currently serving a life sentence in the United States after being convicted by a jury in Brooklyn in 2019.

Colombian drug lord Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as “Otoniel,” is awaiting trial in the same district, while former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez has denied drug trafficking charges filed by prosecutors in Manhattan.AFP

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Both sides have conceded heavy losses in the battle for the salt mining outpost, with Moscow desperate to sell any win back home after repeated humiliations and Ukraine determined to hold—and

KONG -- A beloved Hong Kong radio host dubbed the “world’s most durable DJ” by Guinness World Records has died aged 98 after more than seven decades on the air.

Maria Cordeiro, known to fans as “Uncle Ray”, was hailed as an industry powerhouse who jump-started the careers of numerous local musicians and introduced pop trends to generations of Hong Kong fans on his long-running radio shows.

interviewed scores of pop icons over the years including the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

died on Friday in Hong Kong surrounded by family and friends, who sang

funeral said.

veteran DJ was “a prominent figure in Hong Kong popular culture” who made “considerable contributions to the Hong Kong music scene”, the city’s culture minister Kevin Yeung said Saturday. AFP

LIMA—Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has insisted she will not step down, after another day of protests and roadblocks across the country saw calls for her resignation and the arrest of a trade union leader with alleged links to Maoist rebels. Supporters of ousted president Pedro Castillo have marched and barricaded streets throughout the South American country since December, demanding new elections and the removal of Boluarte.

voices

have come from the violent and radical factions are asking for my resignation, provoking the population into chaos, disorder and destruction,” Boluarte said in an address on state TV Friday night.

COLD SHOWER. Shinto believers take a bath in cold water to purify their souls and bodies during a New Year ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo on January 14. AFP

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Saturday to advise drug enforcement authorities and the public to be wary of all parcels coming from abroad.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said, was initially declared to contain insulators, surge arresters, slipper outsoles, and Styrene Butadiene rubber from Hong Kong, consigned to Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading.

Jimbo Gulle

Toledo City and the Consolacion guest contingent—which the governor had been slated to dance with—would still perform at the Sinulog’s traditional venue, the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

by the performers, according to local reports.

An artist and her handpainted bags

WHEN the BPO company she was working for closed at the peak of the pandemic in 2020, Lesley Ann Pino had nothing else to do.

Apart from her full-time, work-fromhome (WFH) job, her world revolved around her family - her husband and a two-year old kid.

Months before the Telstra main site in Cebu closed shop, Pino decided to return to painting to ward off boredom. Painting has been a big part of her life since childhood, albeit without professional training. But despite that, her works were marvelous, claimed her Mom, she said.

“I stopped painting when I stepped into college. I’m a nursing graduate and I have a master’s degree that I wasn’t really able to take advantage of. Nevertheless, I believe everything has a

purpose. And mine, I realized, came at just at the perfect timing,” she said.

From the plain, durable, woven canvass, Pino transitioned to using woven mats of Pandan leaves as her canvass, the very material she used for her handcrafted, hand painted native bags.

That was not long before she posted a photo of a hand painted bag she gifted to the former dean at the College of Nursing from where she graduated. That post rained orders from very interested clients, she recalled.

To formalize her entry into the world of entrepreneurs, she registered her business as sole proprietorship and organized her crafts under the Casa de Pinta brand. Since February 2021, her day was not complete without new queries, more orders and increasing interest for customized painted bags.

“At first, I thought I can handle all by myself. I was expecting about 30 orders a week but it became 40 and more. And given how a bag is painstakingly crafted, I created a team of 7, including me and my driver as my core designers and artists. I have 5 artists who does

the draft and I do the polishing. But for difficult and customized It’s interesting how I came to meet and allow them to be part of my crew,” she said.

Her motley crew of artists include a cancer survivor who does the letters of Casa de Pinta’s best selling bag - the ‘Dior-inspired bayong” - a well-loved woven bag preferred by older buyers. Another is an artist who just came out from a drug rehabilitation facility, a 14-year old student, and 2 of the most accessible talents she found in Cebu.

She also supports a community of weavers up the mountains of Negros Occidental and a group of skilled sewers. The weavers gather and dry the leaves, then weave the leaves through a process called matting. The sewers cut the matted leaves and put the parts together following a designated frame for every style. The final act is the painting of the chosen design where a replicate or customized design th owner.

“Seventy percent of my customers have no idea what they like. The just go for what they see in my (FB) page. But some have their own ideas they want

me to capture for them. I remember a client who insisted I draw a moment in her life when she first met her husband back in her college days. The scene is a set of lovers in the Sunken Garden in UP Diliman. I’ve never been there.

But when I finished the commissioned piece, she was teary-eyed. Apparently her husband died the year before. That moved me and made me want to create more unique and touching pieces,” Pino said.

There are several commemorative pieces that Casa de Pinta have worked on, including a batch of bags commissioned by the family of President BongBong Marcos, Jr. as tokens during the campaign.

She admits that her bags are a bit pricey compared to other brands. The long process from the which the product is crafted and the ingenuity that comes with every piece makes for an exquisite piece of art that is priceless, she said.

As orders poured and Casa de Pinta gained more popularity, Pino said she was struck by the thought of having to

care for his workers like an extended family, given their dire circumstances.

“I’ve never been responsible for anybody except my self and my family. But having my team onboard and the differing circumstance of their existence boosted my faith. Before all of this, I have never had this much faith in God. I don’t know for certain if this is because I was abandoned by my father as a child. I never knew him and there was not an iota of longing for him.I grew up not expecting anything from anybody. I learned to be self-sustaining and independent,” she said. Pino still does some commissioned paintings but her focus right now is her bag, from which she gained popularity among the political circles in Cebu. Governor Gwen Garcia of Cebu has been her most active and loyal supporter, who introduced her to many local and well-known politicians from Manila. She’s dealt with many commissioned pieces from Congressmen and Senators and did a couple of pieces for celebrities like Jinky Pacquiao and Andie Eigenman. Othel V. Campos

BCDA flagship project recognized at 2022 Singapore Awards

RECOGNIZED for its sustainable and inclusive design, the proposed 44.8-hectare New Clark City Central Park bagged the SEMEC Gold Award for the Analysis and Planning Category at the 2022 Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards.

Global architectural firm Broadway Malyan Asia Pte. Ltd., received the award on behalf of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO) tapped Malyan to design the park as part of its assistance to the BCDA under the Global Future Cities Programme (GFCP).

Virtual platform identifies best destination for Filipino nurses

AN END-TO-END online platform offers better job opportunities to Filipino medical professionals who want to work abroad.

TrueProfile.io, a platform that provides Filipino healthcare professionals around the world with tools they need to secure a lucrative career abroad, lists down 3 of the best countries that are known for their superior healthcare system, and for providing the most attractive compensation and benefit packages for Filipino healthcare professionals.

The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom is one of the best in the world. To date, there are around 25,000 Filipino nurses and healthcare professionals who are enjoying the NHS’s impressive benefits.

These include great market-rate salaries that are well above their expected salary in their home country.

They also receive excellent professional development and career opportunities, free healthcare, well-equipped hospitals and advanced facilities, and an opportunity to relocate their families in the UK, especially for Filipino healthcare workers who plan to stay in the UK long-term or permanently.

Ireland is known for their progressive training, advanced standards and facilities in the medical industry. This might particularly be appealing for Filipino nurses who are looking to further their careers.

On top of this great opportunity, Filipino nurses who work in Ireland enjoy a salary range of P136,000 to P195,000, depending on experience; paid leaves, 39 working hours with additional pay for shift differentials; and permanent, full-time pensionable contracts, among others.

Many Filipino nurses also dream of working in many countries under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) because of the great job opportunities available in these locations.

GCC include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates provide better compensation to Filipino nurses and medical professionals. On the TrueProfile.io job listings, nurses are particularly in high demand in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Lucky nursing job applicants can expect to work in a progressive country with competitive salaries and an opportunity to advance in their careers.

“We are very honored to have received this award for the Central Park at New Clark City, particularly as it is judged by professionals, academics and experts in their field. The final design for the park is the result of a lot of hard work and ideas from a team based in the Philippines, Singapore and UK, and included extensive consultation and workshops,” said Broadway Malyan main board director Ed Baker.

Judges commended New Clark City Central Park for its “exciting design with the potential to integrate the various stakeholding communities.”

They also gave the project credits for the efforts taken in carrying out extensive workshops and engagements with the community.

“With the FCDO and BCDA as inspirational and ambitious clients,

ENDEAVOR

Philippines, the local representation of Endeavor, a community of successful start-ups helping similar enterprises move up, has identified 33 entrepreneurs from 27 companies who have jointly generated $513 million in revenue in 2022, creating over 29,000 jobs over the course of 8 years.

“The Philippine entrepreneurial ecosystem is at an inflection point, with more companies

Holcim relies on technology to improve plant maintenance

LEADING cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines has started to harness advance technology as part of its regular maintenance program in plants and manufacturing sites.

The sight of a drone hovering inside a 31foot silo of Holcim plant in Bacnotan, La Union is a regular activity at the facility. The drone inspects the facility allowing the operator to take notes of maintenance actions to be taken.

“Digitalization is a key part of our innovation and sustainability direction to further make operations safer, more efficient and respectful of the environment. We have already realized a number of gains from these initiatives and excited to accelerate our transition to digitalizing our plants to better serve customers and ultimately deliver excellent

business results,” said Holcim Philippines president and CEO Horia Adrian.

Using drones for regular and periodic maintenance has eliminated health and safety risks from having people conduct visual inspections in remote spaces. The drone also allows for higher frequency of checks and reduces equipment downtimes required for such inspections.

The use of drones is one of several digitalization initiatives that leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines has undertaken. The company has accelerated these efforts as part of its innovation drive to raise business, safety and environmental performance to further improve efficiency and safety of manufacturing operations.

In 2022, Holcim Philippines implemented over 70 projects to raise manufacturing performance through automation technologies under the Holcim Group’s Plants of Tomorrow program. Focused on automating production processes and predictive maintenance, the Philippine projects are designed to generate optimization gains and savings.

A key initiative is the use of artificial intelligence for data-driven decision-making in operations. Already, sensors have been installed in key equipment to provide operators real-time data to guide them in keeping these running within parameters. Stable operations in turn improves plant production and ability to utilize low-carbon alternative while also reducing equipment wear and tear.

the team wanted to deliver a special park that was appropriate to New Clark City as a green and inclusive metropolis and a place unique to the local culture. We are very proud of the results of the final design and this award is a recognition of that,” Baker said.

British Deputy Ambassador to the Philippines Alistair White also welcomed the recognition given by the award-giving body for the New Clark City Central Park project.

“We are very proud of the recognition given to the Global Future Cities New Clark City Programme by the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects for the design of the New Clark City Central Park. The award is a testament to the UK’s commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive development. We will continue to work in the Philippines to bring in the best of UK expertise to support ongoing and future infrastructure projects,” he said.

BCDA president and CEO Aileen R. Zosa also said the recognition showed how BCDA is in the right direction towards the development of a sustainable and green metropolis that Filipinos can be proud of.

“We at the BCDA congratulate our partners in UK FCDO and Broadway Malyan for this feat. We thank them for going above and beyond at their job to help us achieve our mission,” she said.

launching than ever before, more venture capital firms setting up and more capital flowing into the Philippines. With the growth of the ecosystem, we’ve also witnessed the emergence of high impact entrepreneurs, those who inspire, mentor, and invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs, thereby unleashing a far- reaching multiplier effect,” said Endeavor Philippines managing director Manny Ayala.

Endeavor defines high-impact entrepreneurs as those with the biggest ideas; the greatest potential to achieve meaningful scale; and the ability to inspire, mentor, and reinvest in the next generation.”

Driven by the belief that high-impact entrepreneurs transform economies, Endeavor supports thriving entrepreneurial

ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world.

“In the Philippines, Endeavor entrepreneurs (EE) and staff reflect the 3Ms–Magaling, Matino, and Mapagbigay. They’re the cream of the crop; they operate with a high level of integrity, and they are generous,” Ayala said.

Endeavor entrepreneurs, whose ventures have emerged as big bubbles, companies that have had a measurably large multiplier effect in the ecosystem, now serve as key mentors, investors, and advisers for earlystage companies locally and internationally.

Among them are Nix Nolledo; Ron Hose, CEO of Coins.ph; Richard Eldridge, cofounder of Lenddo; and Paul Rivera, cofounder and CEO of Kalibrr.

Start-up group supports thriving business ventures

IT ALL started with the recruitment of former Juan Gomez de Liano by the Lithuanian professional basketball team BC Wolves to make the former University of the Philippines standout as the first Filipino male import in a European league.

Gomez de Liano is actually the second Filipino to play in Europe after Gilas Pilipinas women stalwart Jack Animam played and made a big impression with Radnicki Kragujevac in Serbia back in 2021.

The BC Wolves now have a 4 win-1 loss record in the Lietuvos Krepsinio Lyga and recently joined the European North Basketball League (ENBL) and are just beginning to grow their fans outside of Europe, beginning with the Philippines in Asia.

Gomez de Liano, known for his acronym JGDL, had a breakout game by tallying 22 points on 5-on-9 three-point shooting, 4 assists, 5 steals, and a blockshot to lead the Wolves to their second straight win in the ENBL at the expense of the Valmiera Glass Via Basketbols.

Along with JGDL’s impressive showing is the growing popularity of the Wolves on social media. They now have 94K followers with Filipinos making significant contributions to the figures, according to a team official.

This helped Wolves team officials, led by CEO Andrius Žiauberis and Head of Communications Jokūbas Kudaba, to focus more on the Filipino market by hiring brand and marketing specialist Glenmarc Antonio to become the team’s regional manager in the Philippines.

The growth of the social media following is just one of the milestones achieved by the team in just a short period.

“Rest assured that we are working very hard behind-the-scenes para masuklian namin ang inyong mainit na pagsuporta. Marami kaming hinahanda at pinaplano para sa mga Pinoy fans na patuloy na sumusubaybay sa paglalakbay ni Juan at ng Wolves sa aming mga sinalihang European basketball tournaments,” Antonio promised.

Shortly after Antonio was appointed to oversee the growth of the BC Wolves brand in the Philippines, veteran Filipino commentator, Bill Velasco, to do the English commentary for the team’s live streaming of its ENBL games on its social media page, BC Wolves (BC Wolves).

BC Wolves

“It is an honor to be part of another

HOBBIES & COLLECTIONS

BC Wolves reach out to Pinoy cage fans

ground-breaking basketball broadcast,” said Velasco, who has done countless commentating works for local and international sports coverages, including the Philippine Basketball Association, Olympics, and FIBA games.

And just recently, the BC Wolves announced that announced a local merchandising partnership with Jersey Haven, a Philippine-based sports manufacturer specializing in high-quality sports apparel.

This officially marks the availability of BC Wolves licensed merchandise for on-

court and off-court products exclusively for the Philippines, making Jersey Haven their trusted apparel partner in the club’s inaugural seasons with the Betsafe-LKL and the ENBL.

These are now available for purchase in Jersey Haven’s official website with a special section devoted to all things BC Wolves – https://jerseyhaven.com.ph/ bc-wolves/

“We are delighted with the partnership with Jersey Haven. We have a lot of fans and followers in the Philippines, who now will be able to get Wolves merchandise.

The Philippines is and will continue to be one of our main markets outside of Lithuania”, said Ziauberis.

Basketball is big in Lithuania, which is currently ranked 8th in FIBA global standings and remains a powerhouse in the hoops landscape, and of course in the Philippines.

The first collection will feature the game jerseys of Juan Gomez de Liano in the club’s official colors for home and away games, plus t-shirts with the club logo, and mugs as gift items.

Succeeding collections will be announced online very soon and are expected to be highly anticipated items for on-court and off-court use by athletes and basketball fans alike.

“We’re excited to become the first-ever Philippine sports apparel company

Kings, Dragons clash in blockbuster Game 7

Nicholas Stoodley of the United States in the 1980 Invitationals.

For the Kings, there is the opportunity to nail a 15th crown that will make them the league’s second-winningest team, breaking off a tie with Magnolia and Alaska Milk.

A mammoth crowd is expected for this match, many may well be licking their lips in anticipation of an explosive showdown between Justin Brownlee and Myles Powell.

But there’s also the supporting cast. The question is which side could chip in to the cause and help their team achieve ultimate glory.

It’s been a nip-and-tuck affair with Ginebra winning Games 1, 3 and 5 and Bay Area striking back in Games 2, 4 and 6.

The Kings had a chance to wrap up the series Wednesday, but Powell came to the Dragons’ rescue and was at his deadliest at the finish, keying their 87-84 escape.

AFTER almost four months of basketball action, it is down to one blockbuster of a final game: Barangay Ginebra versus Bay Area at the cavernous Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

History is beckoning for coach Brian Goorjian and his troops. But PBA

The Dragons could become the first guest team to win a PBA crown since

NOT to be outdone by their juniors and seniors counterparts in Team Philippines, the cadet fencers booked two golds, a silver, and bronze medals on the final day of the Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championship late Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Taking the gilts for Team PH were Meagan Elizabeth Co Say, who bagged the gold medal in women’s saber, and Alexa Larrazabal who topped the women’s cadet epee.

The compelling storyline is right there: Brownlee is hoping to keep his perfect card in PBA finals while leading Ginebra’s bid to repel a foreign invasion. And he’s targeting championship No. 6, just two nights after formally becoming a Philippine local with President Marcos signing into law his naturalization.

Then there’s Powell who could be on his way to the PBA championship with a perfect 10-for-10 (10 wins in 10 games) showing.

Both could pull a moment of magic to decide the series.

And that set the stage for this winnertake-all which could boil down to a duel of courage, desire and determination.

The Kings have been there and done that. And that could be a little edge for veteran warriors like LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and Japeth Aguilar.

But there’s the Dragons’ excitement and enthusiasm for an experience they’ve never had before.

“That’s a dream come true for all of us,” said Bay Area playmaker Glen Yang, on playing before an expected huge crowd

PH cadet fencers shine

Say

Interestingly, Larrazabal won earlier competed and bagged a bronze medal each in the senior and juniors divisions before finally taking the gold in the cadet event with a 15-10 win over fellow Filipina Ashley Mae Michelle Harrison. Larrazabal, who is being considered

that may even surpass the five-year league record of 54,084.

“We always say it in the locker room. None of us have played in front of that many people, so we’re all excited. One game to win it all, you can’t ask for more than that.”

The Kings look forward to that, tooa big cheering crowd from which they could draw extra energy, extra punch and extra kick.

And all point to this game being an epic face-off. (From pba.com)

for the Cambodia-SEA Games bound squad, won all her 10 games—six in the elimination round, three in the knockout round, and the final.

Taking the bronze was Hannah Belarmino in women’s foil and Joseph Anthony Godbout bagging the silver men’s epee on Thursday night.

The Philippine juniors and seniors squads brought home multiple medals from the competition.

Hidilyn leads PH sports’ top achievers in December

PROVING she is far from over the hill, Tokyo

to partner with a European basketball club and provide top-notch products to our Filipino basketball fans,” said Jersey Haven owner & CEO Andrew Kentson Tan.

“With Jersey Haven, we look forward to building on this partnership and showcase our manufacturing expertise in various product offerings that will help grow the BC Wolves following in the Philippines as they expand their presence outside of Lithuania and towards global visibility.”

As the Wolves seek to expand their presence in the Philippines, it’s not impossible that they are on the lookout for another Filipino basketball player that can join them in their quest for honors in the Europe cage circuit.

Up next for the Wolves are games against Estonia, Poland, Israel, and more.

Warriors rout Spurs in front of record NBA crowd

THE Golden State Warriors were the stars of the party in San Antonio on Saturday (PH time), cruising to a 144113 NBA victory over the Spurs before a record crowd at the Alamodome.

Jordan Poole led the defending champion Warriors with 25 points off the bench, and Donte DiVincenzo added 22 as Golden State’s reserves came up big.

They weren’t the names that attracted a raucous crowd of 68,323 to the Alamodome -- the Spurs’ home from 1993 to 2002 before their move to the AT&T Center arena.

But that hardly mattered as fans celebrated both teams and the sheer size of the crowd -- which shattered the previous record attendance for a regular-season NBA game of 62,046 for a showdown between Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.

The Spurs played the game at their old home as part of the celebrations of the franchise’s 50th anniversary season.

Old-school Spurs fans relished a chance to return to the ‘Dome, but plenty of those in the crowd were drawn by Warriors star Stephen Curry and his teammates.

Curry scored 15 points on six-of-12 shooting. Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins had 16 apiece as eight Warriors players scored in double figures.

Diaz-Naranjo achieved another milestone in her storied career at the 88th IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia in early December.

gold

After failing to capture gold in her five previous appearances in the world meet, Diaz, no longer a spring chicken at 31, hoisted herself and the country to a golden treble in sweeping the women’s 55-kilogram class at the Gran Carpa Americas Corferias Convention Center in the Colombian capital.

In an early Christmas gift, the Zamboanga City pride ruled the weight division with a lift of 93 kilos in the snatch and 114 kg. in the clean-and-jerk for a total lift of 207 kg. in her victorious breakthrough at the worlds that also served as the first qualifying meet for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

It marked the last time competing in the weight class for Diaz, who will shift and train in the heavier 59-kg division that will be contested in the Summer Games barely a year from now after the

55-kg category was dropped from the Olympic roster of events.

On the collegiate side, Ateneo regained the UAAP men’s basketball championship by dethroning tormentor University of the Philippines, 75-68, in a winner-take-all Game 3 played before 21,814 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Naturalized player Ange Kouame was named Finals MVP.

Over at the NCAA, Letran made history by winning its third straight men’s basketball title by blowing away College of St. Benilde, 81-67, in the do-or-die Game 3 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. King Caralipio was the Finals MVP as he helped the Knights duplicate the same three-peat pulled off by the Samboy Lim-led Letran team from 1982-84.

Behind the heroics of power-hitting American import Lindsey Van Derweide, the underdog Petro Gazz Angels captured the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced crown in sweeping the Cignal HD Spikers in their best-of-3 title playoffs.

The charges of coach Raid Ricafort took Game 1 in straight sets 25-21, 27-

25, 37-36, then clinched their second PVL championship in subduing the wards of coach Shaq delos Santos in four hard-fought sets 25-17, 22-25, 1225, 25-21 in Game 2 in front of a lively crowd at the Philsports Arena.

Van Derweide bagged both MVP Finals and Best Foreign Guest Player honors, while teammate Mar-Jana Philips was cited as Best Middle Blocker of the tournament.

Still in volleyball, the NU Bulldogs took down the UST Tiger Spikers 25-23, 25-23, 25-21 in the championship match to capture the V-League Collegiate Men’s title at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards sustained their winning ways under coach Jerson Cabiltes, securing the Season 4 title of the Maharlika Basketball League by beating the Zamboanga Family Brand Sardines 69-65 in Game 4 of their best-of-5 title series at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.

Byron Villarias paced the Vanguards with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals, sweeping both Best Player of

the Game and Most Valuable Player Finals honors, as they bagged their fifth straight crown under Cabiltes.

Back in the limelight was Pinoy ring icon Manny Pacquiao, who figured in a goodwill exhibition match for a cause with South Korean mixed martial arts fighter DK Woo at the Korea Interna tional Exhibition Center in Seoul.

In a battle between two 41-year-old southpaws, Pacman, still exuding his popular appeal, showed flashes of his vintage form in playing around with his South Korean rival on the way to an expected unanimous decision victory.

Youth sports also made its mark again with the return of the hybrid Batang Pinoy National Championships held online and face-to-face at the Ilocos Sur provincial capital of Vigan.

It was the last project under former Philippine Sports Commission chair man Jose Emmanuel ‘Noli’ Eala, who was replaced by former pro player and Alaska team manager Richard ‘Dickie’ Bachmann, who received his appointment papers from Malacanang on Dec. 23.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played

lore is also waiting to be written as coach Tim Cone and the Gin Kings take the floor for the 5:45 p.m. setto.

Olympic

medalist Hidilyn

Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. AFP

Juan Gomez de Liano is the first Filipino male basketball player to see action in the European basketball league.

Glenmarc Antonio (right), BC Wolves Regional Manager for the Philippines, and Andrew Kentson Tan, President of Jersey Haven Int’l Inc, display prototypes of the Wolves jersey that will be sold in the local market.

JGDL (left) was the Most Valuable Player of the Night in the Wolves’ victory against Valmiera Glass Via Basketbols in Latvia.

defeated second seed Perada Limsakul of Thailand in the final. She racked up four victories on the way to the battle for gold, including against two Thai opponents to get the top seeding in the knockout round and against Filipina Ivana Cordelea in the semifinal.

Skechers woos top South Korean pop idol

SKECHERS, one of the global leaders in lifestyle and performance footwear, has announced top K-pop idol Cha Eun-woo as its regional brand ambassador. This partnership covers seven key Asia-Pacific markets for Skechers including Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“I am honored and delighted to be named the new Skechers regional brand ambassador. Shoes are an important part of my life, not only as a fashion statement, but also because I enjoy dancing and working out,” said Eun-woo

“Skechers’ innovative and versatile designs are comfortable and reflect my true style. I can’t wait to share my favorite Skechers looks with everyone, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do,” the celebrated K-pop star and actor carried on.

“Skechers believes in investing in our business to reach new consumers, maximize our business and further establish the brand as a leader in comfort technology footwear. Having the well-known and much-liked Cha Eun-Woo as our brand ambassador across many of our key Asian markets is a testament to our belief in ongoing growth opportunities in this region,” said David Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer of Skechers.

“With K-Pop fever in the Philippines showing no signs of abating,  we

are excited to have Cha Eun-Woo as Skechers’ regional brand ambassador. We are confident that this strategic partnership with one of Korea’s top stars will resonate successfully with Filipino consumers who also have a long history of affinity for Skechers. We are looking forward to Cha Eun-Woo being featured in our advertising materials, social media channels, and retail windows,”  said Suzette Pasustento, Country Manager of Skechers USA Philippines.

As part of the partnership, Eun-Woo will appear in several marketing campaigns, including Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins, Skechers Sport Court, Skechers Foamies, Skechers Workout Walker, and Skechers Apparel (Lifestyle & Performance).

In the Philippines, Skechers is available at four stores in Metro Manila and six total retail destinations across the Philippines, as well as at key retailers.

This season’s new campaign focuses on celebrating authenticity –being yourself and always feeling confident and comfortable with who you are and what you have. It also exemplifies Skechers’ values and commitment to offering the best quality, all-inclusive and comfortable shoes to consumers.

Interior Design students champion Filipino values in sustainable and locally made furniture

YOUNG Filipino Interior Design students

encapsulated diverse Filipino values in sustainable furniture and fittings that champion Filipino art and tradition.

Entitled Value+Able, the project challenged the promising innovators from the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Environment and Design (SED) to conceptualize and create a series of furnishings that evoke and remind the Filipinos of what are important to them at the present time.

The budding artists revisited A Study on Filipino Values, a scholarly research conducted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) as part of the government’s Filipino

Values Formation Program.

The list includes self, family, basic needs, education, work and livelihood, faith, health and wellness. Also included are life and purpose, creative excellence, honesty, integrity, resilience, human rights, kapuwa and happiness. Completing the roster are love for country, governance, peace and development, culture, arts and sciences.

The students utilized sustainable and locallyavailable materials such rattan and bamboo. Details that speak of the Filipino heritage, to include abaca, capiz shells and indigenous weaves and fabrics, were likewise spotlighted. Artificial rattan and metal were also incorporated in the design.

The finished 31-piece assemblage ranges from

armchairs, lounges, stools, accent chairs, swings and têtê-à-têtê, to end tables, coffee tables and dining tables.

The team was comprised of Interior Design students Patty Malihan, Reayenne Hernandez, Kesey Ang, Fahd Atienza, Anne Santos, Julianne Pajarillo, Carmela Frongoso, Myca Lobendino, Ginelle Poblete, Paolo Madarang, Alexander Vega, Faye de Leon, and Reshvick Luna

They were mentored by industry experts and educators IDr. Romulo Suyom , IDr. Chelsea Rimando , IDr. Regina Cello , and IDr. Randy Pabona

The project concluded with an exhibition at the 3rd Floor Atrium of SM Aura Premier in Taguig.

Richard Juan rediscovers Hong Kong after years of being away from home

AFTER almost three years, Richard Juan is back to the place he calls home to see his loved ones again. The actor-host shared how going back to Hong Kong brought back memories and a sense of familiarity.

“It was a reminder of how much can change in a short period of time,” he said. “But at the same time, there were so many changes too.”

For this particular trip, Richard ventured outside the usual locations he would frequent and explored new attractions that Hong Kong had developed in recent years.

A+ Artworks at M+ Museum

Adorned with thousands of beautifully curated pieces, Juan describes this place as a haven for people who love to take Instagram-worthy photos. With such an immense offering, Richard recommends making multiple trips to consume the sections in bite-size pieces.

Despite his limited time, he made the most of the opportunity to see the museum’s first international artist exhibition, Yayoi Kusama (1945 to now). He saw hundreds of her works spanning Kusama’s art

and life over the past five decades. Suffice to say, it’s one of the must-see items to tick off your list to cool art spaces in Hong Kong you never knew existed!

On Revisiting the Revitalized Central Market

Richard also spent a lot of time exploring the Central Market, which had recently been renovated. It was once a wet market but has now been converted into a spot for local businesses to set up shop. Juan admits that he used to walk by it frequently when he was younger, so he was very excited to see how it looked now.

While the interiors of the building appear modernized, he is pleased that the facade retains its nostalgic character. “The old structure, with the grand staircases and old Chinese signs on the wall, is still kept at the market,” Richard added. He also mentioned that the market is well maintained and air-conditioned, making it a pleasant experience.

Richard at the Happiest Place on Earth

Richard’s trip to Hong Kong was

even more special for him because he got to visit Hong Kong Disneyland for the first time.

“Disneyland opened in 2005, and yet it’s my first time. I even went on Mickey Mouse’s birthday! I was completely blown away by the magical and immersive atmosphere of the park. From the moment I walked through the gates and down Main Street, I felt transported to a world of wonder and brought back a sense of nostalgia.

Juan on this Hong Kong restaurant you’ll want to fly for The Hongkonger also did not miss the chance to chow down on his favorite comfort food. He made it a point to fill up on bowls of wonton noodles at the city’s shady Chinese eateries. “There’s always just something different with these Hong Kong wonton noodles,” he continued on with his gastronomic exploration of the city by finding a new restaurant called Food Art Museum (FAM), where he sampled Chinese fusion food. The eatery prepares traditional dim sum with a unique touch. After almost a week of wandering, he

Richard

city’s

As

admits he barely scraped the surface of what the city has to offer. If time permits, he wishes to return to Dragon’s Back trail. The views from the peak, he says, are breathtaking, and it’s a great place to unwind. To add, he noticed that many people are only familiar with the

concrete jungle. Hong Kong is truly packed with both new and natural attractions and this other side is something he wishes more Filipinos could see and experience.

of December, travelers are welcome to visit Hong Kong without quarantine.

Cha EunWoo is Skechers’ newest regional brand ambassador

The K-pop idol considers shoes as a relevant part of his life because of his passions and daily activities

Actor-host Richard Juan posing in front of Hong Kong Disneyland

Richard in a Hong Kong destination that’s a haven for people who love to take Instagram-worthy photos

An innovative design makes the Bu-Ko Swing Chair eye-catching

The Tiwala chair uses

indigenous products The sleek yet comfortable Alpas Chair

Darna spawns Tiktok content with 2.3 billion views

Celeste Cortesi reflects on her Miss Universe journey

Miss Universe celebrates what makes each queen “uniquely beautiful.” This includes being their best and most beautiful selves by proudly representing their roots and culture and supporting meaningful advocacies with hopes to impact the world. With this campaign, Miss Universe seeks to empower women from all over the world to exemplify their charitable hearts and reveal their better and stronger versions.

Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi easily embodies a beautiful queen inside and out. The Filipino-Italian model and PLDT Home ambassador strongly advocates women’s education, alongside protecting and preserving the country’s indigenous people and culture.

A family woman, Cortesi has spoken about her deep care and love for her family – who has been extra supportive of her entire beauty pageant journey.

“My mom always expressed her desire for me to join and become Miss Universe. She’s always been very supportive of me. She would always encourage and motivate me during challenging times in my competitions. She is my strength,” Cortesi told the press months before the Miss Universe pageant.

Cortesi, who represented Pasay City, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines last April succeeding Beatrice Luigi Gomez. She also bagged that night’s Miss Photogenic and Best in Swimsuit among her other special awards.

tions with her support group – made much stronger courtesy of PLDT Home – that only shaped her to be more ready than ever.

“I connect with my mother in Italy through the many social platforms available. She is constantly updated with my daily activities and whereabouts,” the 25-year-old model said. “We are so thankful for good internet connectivity because I can video-call my mother, my sister, and my best friend all the way from Italy with no interruptions. We get to catch up and see how much we’ve grown since the last time we saw each other physically.”

Ahead of Miss Universe, Cortesi is now in New Orleans, Louisiana making waves with her gorgeous looks she has since been posting on social media. She will be witness to another star-studded event, with Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and Emmy award-winning TV personality Jeannie Mai Jenkins as hosts and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and entertainment host Zuri Hall as backstage commentators.

After

When

Meanwhile,

Following her win and as part of her journey to the bigger stage, Cortesi has since been exposed to more workshops and training sessions. She has also participated in more publicity events and charity works – big and small – that altogether primed her on her way to the Miss Universe crown.

Celeste, however, admitted that her road to the big stage naturally came across challenges. But it’s the connec-

With family, friends, fellow queens, and the rest of Filipinos behind this young, determined queen, Cortesi looks to succeed India’s Harnaaz Sandhu and take home the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown. She has come prepared, but for now, she said, it all boils down to faith.

“My life story is still being written. Every day is a new page on the scripts. I expect to make my story more inspiring.”

Catch Cortesi, concurrently crowned Miss PLDT Home, at the world’s most prestigious and anticipated pageant as it returns for its 2022 edition today, 9:00 a.m. (Philippine time).

Rising R&B singer teams up with Chris Brown for long-awaited collab

who have been creating choreography to the fun and flirty track since its midnight release.

Vedo has been on an undeniable yet monumental rise over the last few years that has ultimately led to this moment. When asked about how this collaboration came about, he shares; “Do You Mind” was actually written a while ago and is just now being released. The collaboration happened because I stayed persistent. I had asked CB on separate occasions to do a verse on a song and his reply would be I don’t think it’s time.”

“His reasoning was that he didn’t want to overshadow me on the song, he wanted me to keep building a presence so that the song wouldn’t become a ‘Chris Brown’ feat Vedo record. I had to respect that,” he added.

The R&B duo are no strangers to penning hits together as Vedo shared in Chris’ recent Grammy nomination for “Warm Embrace” on Breezy. He also wrote on “Freaky Friday” and contributed to a number of hits for Usher, Ella Mai, and Ari Lennox, to name a few.

R&B game.

As far as what to expect from Mood Swings, Vedo braces fans for a roller-coaster of emotions ranging from “Love to Passion” to “Vulnerability” and “Growth,” and more.

“This project is probably my most versatile project to date,” he said anticipating a big year ahead. “More plaques, more certifications, more Grammy nominations, and more wins”.

With a group of super soldiers and her arch-nemesis Valentina plotting to cause even more danger, Darna is pushed to her limit as the stone’s protector who must save the people of Nueva Esperanza.

Darna airs weeknights at 8:00 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, CineMo, A2Z, and TV5.

With credits under his belt like Usher and Ella Mai’s “Don’t Waste My Time,” Chris Brown’s “Warm Embrace” and his own dou ble platinum single “You Got It,” Vedo’s con tributions to the R&B Charts are undeniable. Devoted fans who have watched his career evolve from ABC’s The Voice to his viral Desk appearance with longtime mentor Usher are excited to see him claim his space in the

Celeste Cortesi is also the concurrent Miss PLDT Home

SINGER Vedo has teamed up with megastar Chris Brown to kick off the year with one of R&B’s biggest releases.

“Do You Mind” is the second single from the Platinum R&B singer-songwriter’s 6th studio album entitled, Mood Swings, which was released on January 13.

Produced by Spiff Sinatra (Drake, 21 Savage, Future, Cordae, Latto) and Hero the Producer (Dreamville, Tee Grizzley), the catchy upbeat record has already caught the attention of dancers

FILIPINOS from all over the world are cheering for our very Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi as she takes on the biggest competition of her life.

MORE explosive battles await viewers with the rise of the super soldiers who are set to be unified to beat the iconic superhero Darna (Jane De Leon) in Mars Ravelo’s Darna. The most talked-about Kapamilya series stirred conversations and spawned Darna-related content generating 2.3 billion combined views on TikTok in 2022.

Under the command of General Borgo (Richard Quan) are Narda’s former suitor Noah Vallesteros (Paolo Gumabao), her co-worker Andrei Abesamis (Young JV), Borgo’s aide Xandra (Kim Rodriguez), police officer Arthur Pineda (Eric Fructuoso), journalist Sigfried Cruz (Joshua Colet), Mayor Zaldy Vallesteros (Simon Ibarra), and his assistant Maisha Rodriguez (Dawn Chang), who all transformed as Extras and earned their superpowers. Also about to become a super soldier in the coming days is Regina’s (Janella Salvador) assistant Ali Corpuz (Mark Manicad) based on the series’ teaser.

Noah and Andrei first paired up to use their fiery and explosive powers to wreak havoc during a charity ball event, while Sigfried was given a serum to transform into an Extra after proving his loyalty to Borgo.

revealing his connections to drug syndicates and Brian Robles’ (Joshua Garcia) dead father, police officer Arthur escaped from a hospital with Sigfried’s help to become Borgo’s ally.

Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi easily embodies a beautiful queen inside and out

Celeste’s mom joins her in America as she vies for the Miss Universe crown

The Filipino-Italian beauty queen has a strong bond with her mother

Kim Rodriguez as Xandra

Simon Ibarra as Mayor Zaldy Vallesteros

Paolo Gumabao as Noah Vallesteros

Joshua Colet as the journalist Sigfried Cruz

Jane De Leon continues to capture the hearts and minds of viewers as Darna

Mr. X, the mastermind behind the drug syndicates was unveiled to be Mayor Zaldy, he desperately attempted to escape Darna and the cops by injecting a serum on himself that turned him into a giant Extra with astounding muscular strength.

his assistant Maisha frantically sought the help of businesswoman Victoria Villaceran (Carla Martinez) who turned out to be another Borgo’s identity. Maisha accepted the serum from Borgo and joined his soldiers of Extras.

Dawn Chang as Maisha Rodriguez

R&B singer Vedo has been on an undeniable yet monumental rise over the last few years

The cover art for ‘Do You Mind’

Keeping Your Cat’s Coat Healthy & Shiny

By Mariana Burgos

IAM a cat person. I particularly love petting and cuddling them. And I love it most when I touch their fur and it is as soft as cotton, and smooth and shiny as silk.

How a cat's coat and skin look has a lot more to do with general health than just external aesthetics, according to VetMed in "How to Improve Your Cat's Coat and Skin?.” It is essential to have a strong foundation that includes a good diet, adequate grooming, and efficient flea prevention in order to achieve healthy skin and a lustrous coat.

The majority of the proteins in your cat's fur make up its coat. The hair of a cat may fall out or turn dry, brittle, and weak if the diet does not include enough high-quality protein.

Flat cells that are closely spaced out make up their skin. Tough membranes made of proteins and lipids surround each cell in the body.

VetMed tells us that insufficient nutrient intake can cause cell membranes to deteriorate, which

makes it easier for germs and viruses to enter and for water to leak out.

Some tips to help your cat achieve a healthy coat

Cats are renowned for their meticulous grooming practices. But most of the time, they require a little assistance from us. The majority of the time, a simple combing will do the trick, but occasionally bathing and cutting may also be necessary. While bathing and trimming should only be done as often as necessary, you should make a commitment to brushing your cat several times per week (or every day if it has long hair).

Danny MacDonald offers some advice on how to maintain the silky sheen of your cat's coat. He

provides us with eight (8) significant elements to remember in his post, "8 Tips To Restore Shine and Softness To Your Cat’s Coat.”

MacDonald reminds us that nutritional health comes first and foremost. Because cats are carnivores and get their protein from meat, providing them a diet high in protein will help them maintain a healthy, glossy coat. Also, make sure your cat has access to plenty of fresh, clean water at all times.

Although a healthy diet will be sufficient to restore the shine to your cat's hair, there are several supplements that can make the coat even more glossy. To give your cat's coat more health and sheen, MacDonald advises incorporating fish oil or cod liver oil into its daily diet.

Your cat's coat can be cleaned by brushing to remove dirt, dander, dead hair, extra oil, and other debris. This lessens the friction that frequently develops between shedding hairs, which causes breaking. In order to prevent oily residues from appearing on a cat's coat, brushing also helps distribute oil from the skin.

For cats with short coats, brushing should occur at least twice per week; for cats with lengthy coats, brushing should occur once per day. According to MacDonald, older and overweight cats in particular might benefit from routine grooming to prevent dull coats or dry skin.

The sheen of your cat's coat can be greatly improved by massage. MacDonald advises us to use a brush to get rid of tangles after softly rak-

ing our hands down our cat's back and distributing their fur with one hand. Every cat, needs massages to encourage healthy hair development and to assist the blood flow in their skin. Additionally, use a soft brush or grooming mitt to massage away any stray fur.

You require a high-quality brush to ensure that your cat's fur is lustrous. A soft bristle brush or comb made especially for cats with long hair should be chosen based on your cat's coat type. According to MacDonald, when you brush your cat, they must never experience any pain. Use a brush or comb to gently remove dead hair by moving it in the opposite direction of the direction of hair development, working your way down your cat's body from head to tail. After that, brush your hair growing direction.

It is advised to refrain from bathing your cat more frequently than once per month because frequent bathing removes natural oils from their skin. Even while it might not be necessary to bathe your cat as frequently, you should still be cautious about the soap or shampoo you use. The incorrect shampoo can remove the natural oils from your cat's hair, causing extra harm and making it even more challenging for the fur to grow healthily. Choosing a shampoo with natural ingredients like aloe vera that is of high veterinary grade is what MacDonald advises us to do.

Quality counts, even if it is more expensive than mainstream brands. When in doubt about a shampoo choice, always ask your veterinarian.

Your cat may have parasites if they have dry skin and a dull coat. Ticks and fleas can aggravate your cat's skin, resulting in flaky or itchy skin from excessive scratching, biting, and grooming. As you practice parasite care and prevention for cats, make sure you frequently examine your cat for parasites, advises MacDonald.

Finally, MacDonald brings up important medical conditions including kidney, liver, thyroid, etc. He claims that these ailments may have an impact on your cat's skin condition. Furthermore, unhealthy coats can also be brought on by stress and anxiety. He reminds us to always consult your veterinarian right away for emergency treatment if you see recurrent skin and coat problems.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 16 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.

How to deal with hairball in cats

What are the symptoms of hairball?

A cat may begin gagging, retching, or acting as though they are dry heaving and trying to vomit when they are trying to bring up a hairball. They occasionally emit a noise known as a "cough-gagretch." This is due to the fact that your cat might seem to be retching from their stomach, gagging in their throat, and coughing from the lungs.

A vomited hairball is frequently the only indication that your pet has a trichobezoar. Most cat owners can quickly recognize these tubularshaped moist hair accumulations. The pressures that compress the mass of hair as it ascends the esophagus are what give them their tubular shape.

Do cats typically have hairball?

When their cats gag and retch, many cat owners find it quite upsetting and worrisome, and they begin to wonder whether there is anything they should be worrying about. It's very normal for cats to groom themselves in this way, and it helps to maintain the health of their fur.

OCCASIONALLY, your furry companion may develop trichobezoar or what is usually known as “hairball.” This occurs more often with cats because they naturally know how to self-groom, and rarely need bathing.

Your generally meticulous cat will every so often act in a startling and somewhat filthy manner. When she wakes up from a nice snooze, she will stand up on her paws, retch violently for a short while, and then spit up what may initially appear to be a moist clump. The animal has thrown up what is known as a trichobezoar, sometimes known as a hairball, in the center of your kitchen floor or, worse yet, in the middle of your precious Persian rug.

The term "trichobezoar" is used in medicine or science to refer to a hairball, according to Catherine Barnette, DVM, in her article, "Trichobezoars (Hairballs) in Cats." A "bezoar" is any foreign object that blocks the stomach or intestines, while the word "trich" refers to hair. A trichobezoar is a digestive obstruction brought on by hair, so to speak.

Hairballs can be problematic for dogs as well as cats, despite the common association between the two. Any dog or cat that grooms itself or consumes other people's hair runs the danger of developing a trichobezoar.

The cause of hairball

Cats continually consume minute amounts of hair when grooming. Due to the presence of keratin, a fibrous, structural protein, this hair cannot be

digested and must instead pass through the intestines and exit the body in the feces. However, there are instances where hair can tangle within the stomach or intestines, either on other objects or on itself. Barnette says this can lead to a hairball, or trichobezoar, if the tangled clump of hair becomes too enormous to pass in the stool.

There are two probable outcomes after a hairball forms. Many cats may simply vomit up the hairball, leaving it on the floor for you to find, and carry on with their daily routine. However, in some circumstances, this hairball could end up stuck in the digestive system and can cause an obstruction, says Barnette.

The majority of individual hairs will pass normally through the cat's digestive tract, but occasionally they may clump together and start to build up in the stomach. To stop them from entering the intestine and causing a blockage, cats try to vomit them up. If you watch your cat stretch its neck, dry retch (mouth opening wide) and throw up a hairball before calmly strolling away, don't be alarmed. Watching this can be upsetting, but don't be alarmed. It's natural.

How often do cats get hairball?

Some cat owners believe that their pet passes hairballs on a daily basis, but this is not true. Our local veterinarian says cats should not frequently develop hairballs, typically no more than once per month. The majority of groom-

ing-related hair eaten will easily pass through the digestive system and exit into the litter box.

It's worth visiting a veterinarian if your cat frequently passes hairballs, though. It is advisable to check for gastrointestinal issues as soon as possible if your cat has a lot of hairballs because this could be a sign of a larger issue.

How should a hairball that is obstructing be treated?

Barnette says a trichobezoar-related blockage in your cat needs to be removed. In exceptional circumstances, your vet might advise removal using an endoscope that can be inserted into the stomach and down your cat's throat. However, surgical removal is more frequently carried out. Your cat's whole digestive system can be accessed during surgery, allowing your vet to check for any potential obstructions and, if necessary, remove trichobezoars from various locations.

It's normal for cats to "upchuck" a hairball once every two to three weeks, and it's nothing to be concerned about. I have witnessed our cats performing such feats often, and they are still in excellent health. Nevertheless, Barnette advises that you see your veterinarian right away if your cat is lethargic, refuses to eat for longer than a day, or has experienced a number of instances of ineffective retching. Mariana Burgos

A cat grooming itself. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images)

A cat is being groomed in a pet salon. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images) A cat seems to enjoy being given a bath. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images)

An outdoor cat vomiting a hairball with the grass that it just ate. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images.)

An indoor tabby cat vomiting a hairball. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.)

A cat vomits out a hairball with food. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images.)