Manila Standard - 2023 March 19 - Sunday

SAILBOAT RACE. Participants from Boracay prepare their sails on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in preparation for the Paraw Regatta Festival 2023 today at the Arevalo Bay region of Iloilo City. Norman Cruz

DOJ to seek Interpol help

To track down Degamo murder suspects, including Rep. Teves

n ByVince Lopez

THE Department of Justice is looking at placing the suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo under Interpol lookout, including Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. who the DOJ said is “one of those...suspected to be the mastermind.”

“We are not closing the doors to anybody. He is among those we are looking at because as the President has said, the assassination was political. In no uncertain terms, the President said this is political so obviously the political rival of Governor Degamo –Congressman Arnie Teves – and he is one of those that we are suspecting to be the mastermind behind the Degamo slay,” DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said.

“Although we have to be careful because everyone has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We cannot condemn and we have to let the wheels of justice turn. We cannot convict through the media,” he added.

He said there are still five suspects at

large and 12 John Does in the case.

“We have taken concrete steps to come up with an international lookout bulletin. We are also discussing about putting them under the Interpol’s Blue Notice,” Clavano said.

A Blue Notice under Interpol allows Philippine authorities to place the suspects under monitoring and collect information on their whereabouts and activities when they travel abroad. Teves has yet to return from an overseas trip. He earlier asked House Speaker Martin Romualdez for a two-month leave of absence starting March 9, citing a grave security threat to his life and that of his family. The request was denied.

Remote deep-sea vehicle to detect spot of oil tanker

THE owner of the sunken MT Princess Empress said a remote operated underwater vehicle and its mother vessel will arrive on Monday to help locate the tanker.

In a statement, the RDC Reield Marine Services said their oil spill response is growing and evolving after getting advice from independent international oil spill expert International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF).

The company said ROV “Hakuyo” is now en route from Japan onboard the workboat Shin Nichi Maru. French oil spill response company

Le Floch Depollution (LFD) and local oil spill response contractors have also established operation bases in both Pola, Oriental Mindoro and Semirara Island.

The sunken vessel is thought to be at a depth of 400 meters in an area approximately 15 kilometers northeast of Oriental Mindoro.

“We remain committed to the oil spill response and will continue to work closely with the Philippine government, the Philippine Coast Guard, local government representatives, international oil spill experts and contracted responders to ensure a unified approach,” RDC Reield Marine Services

said.

For his part, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Bonz Dolor said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has extended the implementation of its cash assistance program to affected municipalities in the province to one month.

“Our cash-for-work program will now last 45 days instead of just 15 days,” Dolor said.

WINNING TEAM. Minxie Romualdez (center) of the Blue team battle for ball possession against Alfie Araneta (left) and Fin Cue of the White team during the Manila Standard Cup at the Enrique Zobel Field in Makati City Saturday afternoon.The Blue team emerged victorious. Inset photo shows Polo and Equestrian Directorate Chairman Anthony Filamor (right) and Vice Chairman Polo and Equestrian Directorate Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (2nd from right) together with (from left) Gregorio Gelosi, Carla Flores, Isabela Albert and Minxie. Ver Noveno

Over 7k security forces out in NCR during Holy Week

n ByJoel E. Zurbano

THE National Capital Region Police Office is taking extra measures to ensure public safety in Metro Manila during the observance of Holy Week, including the deployment of over 7,000 security personnel.

Metro Manila police director Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo said he is sending 4,690 of his men to streets and vital installations in the capital to

conduct anti-criminality operations, traffic management, direction and control, and other related police public safety services. The NCRPO is also in close coordination with other government agencies for additional support personnel.

“Deployment has been set to a total of 7,738 security forces including those coming from Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Special Action Force, Regional Highway Patrol Unit (RHPU), Regional Maritime Unit (RMU), and Aviation Security Group,” Okubo said.

The NCRPO and concerned agencies will increase patrols of crime hotspots, including places of convergence like malls, churches, recreational areas, tourist destinations and areas of transport services.

Marawi City set to have two new villages after plebiscite

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that Marawi City is set to have two new barangays after 16,000 voters agreed, in a plebiscite, to create the new villages.

Several families have resettled in the new barangays after being displaced by the Marawi siege, ABS-CBN News also reported. Comelec chair George Garcia, quoted by the ABS-CBN News, said that the Marawi plebiscite results were as follows: For the creation of Barangay Datu Dalidigan: turnout was 98.5%,

vote at 97.9%; and “no” vote:

0.6% For the creation of Barangay Boganga II, turnout is at 95.7%, “yes” vote: 95.4% and “no” vote at 0.3% Garcia also said there were no untoward incidents during the polls. Garcia flew to Marawi City to monitor the plebiscite.

“Nakakatuwa dahil kahit plebisito lang ito sa pag-create ng barangay subalit lahat ng mga taga barangay ay pumunta rito (This is somewhat remarkable because this is just a plebiscite to create a barangay, yet all the villagers came),” Garcia said. Garcia said if the residents are in favor of splitting their respective barangays, two new villages would be formed: Barangay Boganga II, to be created from the existing Barangay Boganga; and Barangay Datu Dadiligan, to be formed from the existing Barangay Sagonsongan.

Peace agency vows to get rid of fake news

n By VINCE LOPEZ

Solon: Re-classify tobacco products law

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

DEPUTY Majority Leader and Rep.

Margarita Nograles of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list group on Saturday said the series of seizures of hundreds of millions worth of cigarettes should prompt the re-classification of tobacco products as an agricultural commodity subject to the maximum penalty under Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

DSWD, Aussie envoy meet on ‘SHIELD’ plan

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary

Rex Gatchalian has met with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu PSM and the Australian Embassy delegation to discuss ways to further improve the Department’s disaster response mechanisms, community development initiatives, and social protection efforts.

During the meeting, Gatchalian said one of his priorities is “to strengthen the disaster response system of the DSWD.”

The Australian Embassy representatives shared the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Program, a disaster preparedness program supported and funded by the Australian government.

The SHIELD program is being implemented with 11 local government units in the country. The embassy delegation committed to share with the Department their disaster response framework and best practices.

The House of Representatives has already approved House Bill 3917 co-authored by Nograles and presidential son Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos. The bill seeks to classify cigarette smuggling as economic sabotage as provided under RA 10845 but its counterpart version remains pending in the Senate.

Nograles said the government is losing billions in potential revenues because of the massive smuggling of tobacco products, especially in

Mindanao.

Just a few days ago, police operatives intercepted P2.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes as they are being unloaded in an apartment in Brgy. Tetuan, Zambaoanga City. Nograles said this is obviously part of a bigger shipment of cigarettes that was successfully smuggled into the country.

Very recently, sine 19,000 master cases of smuggled cigarettes were also confiscated by the Bureau of Customs at a warehouse in Indanan, Sulu.

About 1,400 voters took part in the referendum.

Barangay Boganga has 992 registered voters out of its population of 6,320 while Barangay Sagonsongan has 480 registered voters out of its population of 7,137.

Garcia noted that so far, they have not received any report of an untoward incident during the poll.

The manual voting started at 7 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m.

The split of the two barangays was proposed to better facilitate the delivery of services to residents displaced by the May 2017 Marawi siege.

CEB to begin Taiwan flights in April

CEBU Pacific Air (CEB) on Saturday announced it will start operating its Taiwan commercial flight service to and from Clark in Pampanga next month.

“The Philippines’ leading carrier, continues to strengthen its Clark hub by adding flights to Taiwan, allowing more Juans to experience its bustling night markets and delicious street food,” the CEB management said in a statement.

Beginning April 29, CEB will fly directly from Clark to Taipei four times weekly --- every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Return flights from Taiwan will begin on April 30 and

discounts will not affect drivers’ income’

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

Rep. Claudine Diana Bautista-Lim of DUMPER PTDA party-list legislator representing the transport sector on Saturday said public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers will not incur losses from their usual daily income once the nationwide fare discount takes effect next month.

Bautista-Lim clarified that the implementation of the Service Contracting Program (SCP) will not affect the drivers’ income because of the discount on fares.

“Our PUV drivers will never incur losses because the government will shoulder the fare discount that it will be implemented. While it may be true that there will be lower fares in favor of commuters, this does not mean drivers will be at a disadvantage because the SCP will fill in the discounts,” Bautista-Lim said.

She added the program will be implemented nationwide and drivers have nothing to worry about.

Bautista-Lim added that the move by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is very timely as PUVs and the riding public transition to the old normal before the pandemic. More and more PUVs are now plying the country’s major thoroughfares.

FRESH

THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said it is one with the thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to rid and prevent the spread of fake news including on social media.

This after the OPAPRU on Saturday urged women’s group Gabriela to follow existing procedures in filing complaints against government personnel allegedly involved in abducting and harassing one of the organization’s leaders recently.

“We urge organizations like Gabriela to follow procedures that have long existed in making complaints against our personnel or any official of the government,” OPAPRU Undersecretary Wilben Mayor said in a media briefing in Quezon City.

“This goes a long way in preventing issues from taking on the character of gathered material devoid of any grain of truth. One cannot truly win the hearts and minds of our people by propagating misinformation,” Mayor said.

In a social media post on Friday, Gabriela Women’s Party accused some members of OPAPRU of abducting and coercing Gabriela Party-list Marikina chapter president Elizabeth Maynigo.

PAL will work with NBI on extortion raps

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) on Saturday stated it will cooperate with the probe of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the case of a former PAL consultant and a former Customs official who were arrested for alleged extortion.

NBI agents on Thursday arrested Benjamin Sebastian and John Tan in an entrapment operation at a restaurant in Century Park Hotel in Manila. The authorities accosted Sebastian, who was a PAL consultant, and Tan, a former district collector in the Bureau of Customs, after receiving P11 million from PAL officials.

The arrest came after PAL legal counsel Lucio Espinoza sought NBI assistance against Sebastian who he claimed demanded money from the airline management in exchange for facilitating the release of imported jet fuel.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna clarified that Tan is not the “John Tan” who was the director of the airline.

On Saturday, Villaluna issued PAL’s statement, saying “We are cooperating extensively with the National Bureau of Investigation on the case related to the former PAL consultant who was apprehended on March 16 for an extortion attempt.”

The airline also stated that “We wish to clarify, however, that we have not discovered any prior suspicious payments made by PAL to this individual, as alleged in the media report citing external counsel who assisted in the apprehension.”

“This case is now the subject of an ongoing active investigation, and we are unable to provide further comments beyond this statement,” it added.

will operate four times a week --- every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, the company said.

Taiwan is home to the famous Shilin Night Market which hosts a wide variety of souvenir shops and food stalls. The country is also popular for its vibrant city life and towering skyscrapers, including the 1,667 feet-tall Taipei 101.

Taipei is the latest destination to be included in Cebu Pacific’s growing Clark hub. Previously, the airline announced that it would start operating direct flights from Clark to Incheon, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau, Narita, and Singapore, and to seven destinations across the Philippines.

VEGGIES. A visitor buys fresh and low-priced vegetables from Bicol and Pangasinan during the one-day Farmers’ Market at Burnham Green in Luneta Park in Manila. Danny Pata

‘Fare

SUNSET WATCHING.

People from all walks of life spend the afternoon along the bay walk in Bacolod City to catch a beautiful sunset. Manny Marcelo

n ByJOEL E. ZURBANO

COUNT ME IN. Virginia Lorenzo, 55, born without hands and feet walks toward the entertainment hall of a mall in Paranaque to attend the “Women Summit 2023” to get more knowledge in entrepreneurship on Saturday. Danny Pata

War crimes court issues arrest warrant vs. Putin

THE International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

The Hague-based ICC said it had also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, on similar charges. Moscow dismissed the orders as “void.” Russia is not a party to the ICC so it was unclear if or how Putin could ever end up in the dock.

War-battered Ukraine welcomed the ICC announcement, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hailing the “historic decision.”

The court’s shock notice came hours after other news with the potential to significantly impact Russia’s war on Ukraine, including a Moscow visit from Chinese leader Xi Jinping and more

Sokor moves to ‘normalize’ military pact with Japan

SOUTH Korea will fully implement a key military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, a defense ministry official told AFP on Saturday, as the two countries move to thaw long-frozen relations and renew diplomacy to counter Pyongyang.

At a fence-mending summit on Thursday, the neighbors agreed to turn the page on a bitter dispute over Japan’s use of war-time forced labor.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been keen to end the spat and present a united front against the nuclear-armed North, had flown to Japan to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first such summit in 12 years.

According to a pool report, Yoon told Kishida he wanted a “complete normalization” of a 2016 military agreement called the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), which enables the two US allies to share military secrets, particularly over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile capacity.

Following the summit, South Korea’s foreign ministry was asked “to proceed with the needed measures to normalise the agreement,” said a defence ministry official, who declined to be named.

The foreign ministry is expected to send a formal letter to its Japanese counterpart soon, the official added.

Seoul had threatened to scrap GSOMIA in 2019 as relations with Tokyo soured over trade disputes and a historical row stemming from Japan’s 35-year colonial rule over the peninsula.

In response, an alarmed United States said that calling off the pact would only benefit North Korea and China. AFP

Millions of dead rotting fish clog Australian river

MILLIONS of dead and rotting fish have clogged a vast stretch of river near a remote town in the Australian outback as a searing heatwave sweeps through the region.

Videos posted to social media showed boats ploughing through a blanket of dead fish smothering the water, with the surface barely visible underneath.

The New South Wales government said on Friday that “millions” of fish had died in the Darling River near the small town of Menindee, in the third mass kill to hit the area since 2018.

“It’s horrific really, there’s dead fish as far as you can see,” Menindee local Graeme McCrabb told AFP.

“It’s surreal to comprehend,” he said, adding this year’s fish kill appeared to be worse than previous ones.

“The environmental impact is unfathomable.”

Populations of fish such as bony herring and carp had boomed in the river following recent floods, according to the state government, but were now dying off in huge numbers as floodwaters receded.

“These fish deaths are related to low oxygen levels in the water (hypoxia) as flood waters recede,” the government said in a statement. AFP

INBRIEF

Wyoming: 1st state to ban abortion pills

fighter jets for Kyiv’s forces.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the February 24, 2022 invasion, according to Kyiv, with many allegedly placed in institutions and foster homes.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan told AFP that Putin was now liable for arrest if he set foot in any of the court’s more than 120 member states. He said the arrest warrants were “based upon forensic evidence, scrutiny and what’s been said by those two individuals.”

“The evidence we presented focused on crimes against children. Children are the most vulnerable part of our society,”

said Khan.

The ICC said judges found there were “reasonable grounds” to suspect Putin’s criminal responsibility and grant Khan’s application for the warrants, which were made back on February 22.

ICC President Piotr Hofmanski said the execution of the warrants “depends on international cooperation.”

During a meeting with Putin in mid-February, Lvova-Belova said she adopted a 15-year-old child from the devastated Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

“Now I know what it means to be a mother of a child from Donbas – it is a difficult job but we love each other, that is for sure,” she told Putin.

She added that “we evacuated children’s homes into safe areas, arranged rehabilitation and prosthetics for them and provided them with targeted humanitarian assistance.”

The arrest warrant for Putin, a sitting

head of state of a UN Security Council member, is an unprecedented step for the ICC.

Set up in 2002, the ICC is a court of last resort for the world’s worst crimes, when countries cannot or will not prosecute suspects.

Prosecutor Khan launched an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine just days after Russia’s invasion. Khan recently posted pictures from a visit to Ukraine alongside empty cots in an empty children’s care home, and said that investigating alleged child abduction was a “priority.”

“It’s poignant,” he said. “One sees empty cribs and empty beds juxtaposed with paintings by those children on the walls.” Zelensky, who met Khan on his visit, welcomed the arrest warrants for his nemesis in Moscow. AFP

High-profile targets of ICC arrest orders

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin on Friday became the latest high-profile figure against whom the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant.

AFP looks at the biggest names to be targeted by the court of last resort for the world’s worst crimes, when countries cannot or will not prosecute suspects, although not all of them have been detained.

Joseph Kony

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and other commanders of Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in 2005 for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of child soldiers and sex slaves. But Kony has never been arrested and remains on the run.

Thomas Lubanga

In its first-ever verdict after taking

up its role in 2003, the Hague-based court in 2012 sentenced Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga to 14 years in prison for conscripting children into his rebel army in 2002-2003. It upheld the decision on appeal in 2014. Lubanga was transferred in 2015 to Kinshasa to serve the rest of his sentence and was freed in 2020.

Jean-Pierre Bemba

Former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba was jailed in 2008 after the ICC convicted him over crimes committed by rebels under his command in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. But the court overturned his sentence on appeal in 2018.

Omar al-Bashir

In 2009, Sudan’s ex-president Omar al-Bashir became the first serving head of state to be targeted by

an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western Darfur region.

Fighting erupted in Darfur in 2003 between ethnic minority rebels and Bashir’s Arab-dominated government. Two years after his fall from power, Sudan in 2021 announced it would hand over Bashir to the ICC, but the pledge has not been followed through. Bashir has been held in Khartoum’s Kober prison since his ouster.

Laurent Gbagbo

Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo was the first former head of state to be tried by the ICC in 2016. He was sought by the ICC over violence that rocked Ivory Coast in 2010-2011, after Gbagbo refused to recognise the result of an election where his rival Alassane Ouattara claimed victory. AFP

WYOMING on Friday became the first US state to ban the use of abortion pills, the latest salvo in a campaign by conservative-led states to roll back access to abortion.

After signing the ban on abortion pills, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon appealed to legislators to act further by proposing a total ban on abortion be added to the state constitution and then putting it before voters for approval.

“I believe this question needs to be decided as soon as possible so that the issue of abortion in Wyoming can be finally resolved, and that is best done with a vote of the people,” the Republican governor said in a statement.

The Wyoming action comes amid a flurry of activity across the country by anti-abortion groups seeking to win a total ban on abortions following a landmark Supreme Court ruling last year. AFP

Turkey hopeful grain deal will be extended

TURKEY is hoping that a grain export deal between Kyiv and Moscow key to alleviating a global food crisis can be extended for another 120 days – but time is running out.

The current deal expires just before midnight on Saturday, Istanbul time.

“The deadline is approaching,” Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Friday.

“We are in touch with both Ukraine and Russia about extending the agreement under its original terms.”

Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 saw Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocked by warships.

But a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 – and signed by Kyiv and Moscow – has allowed for the safe passage of exports of critical grain supplies. AFP

In US, ‘tip fatigue’ raises questions about sacrosanct habit

TO TIP, or not to tip? That is the question many Americans are grappling with in a country where the tip is king – but even at a grocery store? Or for a bunch of flowers?

“Either way, you feel guilty,” said Matt Schottland, 41, in downtown Washington, a salad and a fruit juice in hand.

In the United States, tipping is not a matter of debate in restaurants. A gratuity of around 15 to 20 percent of the value of a meal is a must, as it often makes up the bulk of the waiter’s salary.

But for a sandwich to go? For Schottland, outside of restaurants, the answer is generally no. Unless the employees are “super nice”, or he is feeling particularly generous.

But no solution is perfect. If he tips, he may feel “guilty in some way or annoyed or resentful” for spending more money. AFP

DEAD FISH AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. This image grab from a video courtesy of Graeme McCrabb shows dead fish clogging a river near the town of Menindee in New South Wales. Millions of dead and rotting fish have clogged a vast stretch of river near a remote town in the Australian Outback as a searing heat wave sweeps through the region. AFP

‘Jesus says Trans Rights are Human Rights’ is seen as LGBTQ activists protest in front of the US

in Montreal, Canada, calling for transgender and non-binary people to be admitted into the country. AFP

Solutions provider addresses cloud challenges for SMBs

the potential of digitization for small and medium businesses is the hallmark of Amazon Web Services’ mission in the Philippines.

At the core of this mission is the Lift program, designed to help SMBs kickstart their digitization journey with AWS. AWS launched the program five months back in the Philippines and Singapore and extended the program to include four more countries in the region.

“It’s been five months since we launched this in the Philippines, and we see really good traction and very diverse industry players. When we launched this, what we wanted to do was make it really easy for SMBs to experiment. What this program does is it gives essentially a startup pack of cloud credits for one year. There is no login, there are no hidden fees. Essentially, as soon as SMB is billing $1, they can start accessing our credits. It’s tiered over one year depending on the usage. They can unlock up to $83,500 in promotional credits, which is a significant amount for SMBs,” said AWS managing director of mid-market and SMB in ASEAN Gunish Chawla.

“SMBs are looking to adapt their business models given the current macroeconomic environment, and this is where technology can help. AWS is enabling SMBs to be more innovative and resilient as they accelerate transformation in the face of ambiguity and change. Through programs such as AWS Lift, we are demonstrating our commitment to invest in and power SMBs of every size and every industry in Philippines to digitize their business and unlock their economic potential,” he said.

As of February 2023, the AWS Lift program was running in Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Japan, India and New Zealand.

In collaboration with AWS partners, the solutions provider wants to make cloud accessible for all SMBs and being a unique segment, to tailor-fit the programs and ensure that, as a cloud solutions provider, it is accurately serving the needs of Philippine SMBs.

AWS is committed to supporting the digitization of SMBs with the power of cloud computing. With the majority of countries across Asia Pacific and Japan predicting a recession or slower economic growth in 2023, SMBs are under pressure to cut costs, in particular, to manage IT budget cuts. At the same time, SMBs recognize the importance of technology and the need to make IT investments.

As cloud computing is rapidly becoming the new norm in business operations, AWS is aware of the struggle SMBs face in pivoting to the cloud and the need to enhance technical expertise and skills of the workforce.

AWS noted that many SMBs may not feel confident to drive cloud implementations on their own as typically they either have very small IT teams or they might be using external vendors for managing IT premises. AWS is offering a global community of 100,000 partners that can leverage on AWS technology to build solution and services for SMB customers, working across a wide variety of use cases.

“We are deeply invested in helping the Philippines address this digital skill shortage and the way we do it, it’s through digital education and training support. So we’ve actually made digital training built by AWS experts available through qualified AWS instructor-led classes. If we want to build a strong future for our business in Philippines, this goes very much hand in hand with providing skills and training locally,” Chawla said.

AWS collaborated with the Department of Trade and Industry and the ASEAN Business Council in the establishment of the ASEAN SME Academy 2.0 which was launched in April 2022. The academy offers online training to SMBs to upskill the workforce following a DTI-AWS memorandum of understanding to extend AWS upskilling programs to SMEs and startups starting February 2023.

The technology firm also teamed up with several government agencies to deliver workshops and trainings raising awareness on disruptive innovations and emerging technologies.

The Philippines is undergoing rapid digital transformation and is heavily reliant on a digital workforce equipped to meet the rising demand for cloud computing. Unlocking the country’s digital potential requires a strong digital workforce and tech professionals with relevant and current digital skills to keep up with the pace of change.

The AWS Training and Certification team launched the AWS re/Start program in the Philippines in February 2022. As of today, AWS re/Start is working with two collaborating organizations to help close the country’s skills gap and inspire unemployed, underemployed, and transitioning Filipino learners to consider a career in cloud computing..

The firm is committed to nurturing the talent pool of the future through education programs –AWS Educate and AWS Academy – and making digital education accessible to everyone. It brings industry in-demand skills into academic institutions, and collaborate with them to nurture the next generation of cloud talent.

Iconic fashion platform marks anniversary with new leadership

ASIA’S leading lifestyle and fashion destination, Zalora celebrates its 11th year in the Philippines with new milestones set to revolutionize the digital ecosystem.

New Zalora CEO

Aashish Midha

leadership of ZALORA Philippines CEO, Aashish Midha. Midha took over the post previously held by former CEO and co-founder Paulo Campos III.

An alumnus of Duke University, Fuqua School of Business, with a Masters in Quantitative Management as well as an MBA graduate in Marketing and Operations from the Indian School of Business, Midha acquired a professional insight on entrepreneurship. Prior to being the CEO of ZALORA PH, Midha held the position of revenue director, a testament to his capabilities in strategizing growth and measuring success.

As ZALORA enters its second decade, Midha aims to strengthen the brand’s presence by becoming the strategic wholesale digital distributing partner of more fashion and lifestyle brands across South East Asia.

With the best interest of the consumers and brand partners in mind, Midha brought in new milestones for ZALORA such as the overall growth for the MCX Warehouse, as well as capitalizing on the Fulfilled by ZALORA (FBZ) and One Stock Solution (1SS) marketplace models.

As a platform, ZALORA’s exponential growth spans the entire region and is now home to thousands of brands in 8 countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, the Philippines and Indonesia. With brand offerings that provide a full spectrum of price ranges and styles, ZALORA remains to be the ultimate place to shop for the most desirable international and local brands.

As AWS extends its clout over Philippine SMBs, it also seeks to address affordability barriers and demystify perceptions of how costly it is to ride the cloud. Chawla noted that most SMBs understand what technology can do for them, but they also talk about budgetary constraints. At AWS, SMBs are not required to pay upfront capital so they don’t lock in investment. They have a very much variable expense model for what they consume.

“So that’s a really important factor for SMBs. And we’re able to pass on economies of scale to them. We are, on a constant basis, working to optimize the costs and use various levers ensuring

that we are right sizing the infrastructure. So depending on the consumer demands, we can scale up and down and that elasticity is very important to the business. Despite this, SMBs are actually quite unique as a segment. Cashflow is often a key concern,’ he said.

AWS Cloud enables users to gain approximately 30 percent operational cost savings on the cloud compared to running on-site infrastructure themselves. Cost savings and operational efficiencies from the cloud will help SMBs do more with less. AWS has recomputed and reduced the price of cloud computing a hundred over to respond to affordability concerns of SMBs.

Othel V. Campos

Aboitiz Group offers solution to lessen crop wastage while improving output

THE Aboitiz Group recently launched Fresh Depot, an integrated storage solution for farm produce that aims to help farmers reduce their post-harvest losses and maximize crop yield.

“Fresh Depot aims to transform the lives of our farmers by offering a platform that optimizes their yield and income while reducing waste, making a significant contribution to our country’s food security,” said Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin Aboitiz.

“Uplifting the agricultural sector and our farmers is crucial to strengthening

our food supply chain and reducing our reliance on imports. We see various opportunities to make an impact in this sector and this is just one of the many projects we’re working on,” he added.

The first phase of the project involves piloting a modular and sustainable cold storage unit in Mankayan, Benguet, with the vision of helping farmers reduce their postharvest losses and maximize crop yield.

Fresh Depot’s second phase will involve digitizing farmers’ land, and planting practices, pre-harvest, harvest, and market information. Digitization

Samsung champions diversity, equity and inclusion

AS A global leader in technology and innovation, Samsung aims to lead by example and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of all women in the workplace. What’s more, research shows that workplaces that excel in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) drive better outcomes for businesses, including better employee engagement talent retention and higher financial achievements.

About 5,000 Samsung worldwide executives and employees worldwide interested in DEI actively participate in Samsung’s 33 employee resource groups (ERGs), which offer everything from networking and mentoring to education.

These groups work hard not only to improve the experience of Samsung employees but also to volunteer and give back to the local community. Among them, these large-scale women’s ERGs operate programs for networking and career development of female executives and employees, striving to strengthen women’s capabilities at work.

will allow Fresh Depot to offer advisory services, explore market linkage opportunities and financial inclusion programs, as well as build a database of information that the government can utilize for their agricultural programs.

The pilot, which will run for 3 to 6 months, will become a case study for this new type of enterprise, which Aboitiz hopes to scale up across other farm locations in the Philippines if proven viable. Ultimately, Fresh Depot is envisioned to assist the government in enabling millions of farmers.

During the week of International Women’s Day, overseas regional head offices held meetings with female employees, DEI webinars with external instructors and panel discussions, in addition to offering vacations for female employees, gift delivery events and more.

Samsung continues to work toward creating a space that goes beyond being just a workplace and fosters employees’ growth by letting them unleash their potential. Samsung’s move toward making an organization where employees and the company can grow together is accelerating the steps toward a better future.

AWS managing directorof mid-market and SMB in ASEAN Gunish Chawla

email: lifeandshow.manilastandard.gmail.com

By Patricia Taculao

AS THE eldest daughter of celebrity couple Chesca and Doug Kramer 13-year-old Kendra Kramer is no stranger to the spotlight. She grew up with the public gaze directed at her as they awaited her next move. With a mother as an actress and a father as a professional basketball player, people expected Kendra to follow in their footsteps. But in this modern world, she chooses to pave her career path without holding back on her dreams.

“I have lots of interests, such as being a model, a doctor, and even a businesswoman. But I do love fashion so much. It’s always been an interest of mine ever since I was young, and I really want to pursue this when I’m older,” Kendra said in an interview.

Kendra’s Instagram shows her passion for

sets an example of how young women like her can achieve their dreams if they put their minds and some effort into it.

If there’s one thing that people can learn from Kendra, it’s how proper time management allows her to do everything she loves.

According to Kendra, she prioritizes the

Kendra ramer

embraces her strengths as a passionate young woman

most important task first, which for her is her school and homework, before moving on to doing her sports. Then, when she’s finished, she turns her attention and energy to her passion, including spending quality time to protect her well-being and strengthening her relationship with her family.

Kendra also applies time management in her work, often with the help of her parents. Although she finds it hard sometimes, it all becomes worth it at the end of the day.

The 13-year-old also credits her mother for teaching her other significant lessons besides time management and creating wellcurated looks.

“My mom has taught me so many

Kendra names her mother Chesca (right) as one of the most influential women in her life

dressing up through OOTDs (outfit of the day) that she and her mother put together.

“Fashion is something that I want to work on in the future. Fashion is changing, [fashion is] ever-evolving, and I love that old trends are coming back in fashion. Clothing is also a necessity of ours, and that’s why I love fashion so much,” Kendra explained.

Yet besides Kendra’s fondness for fashion, she has other hobbies, like swimming and modeling, and her studies to keep her occupied and productive. She

Fashion has always been a passion for Kendra since she was young

Graphic design platform launches subscription for colleges and universities

CANVA announces the launch of Canva for Campus, its new college and tertiary education offering, bringing the power of visual communication to colleges and universities across the globe.

“As visual communication becomes a part of everyday life, there has never been a more important time for classrooms around the world to embrace the power of digital and design literacy. Not only is visual communication an essential skill for today’s workplace.

It’s also an enabler for creativity and collaboration,” said Cameron Adams, Canva cofounder, and chief product officer.

“Creativity and collaboration are skills that become even more crucial for university students. With Canva for Campus now becoming available in the Philippines, too, we are excited to see how it will empower Filipino college students as they step into their future careers,” said Yani Hornilla-Donato, Canva Philippines country manager. With Canva for Campus, Canva brings the power of its complete visual communication platform to colleges and universities through a new subscription. From team management and collaboration to brainstorming and its entire Visual Worksuite, Canva for Campus brings all the magic from its fully-fledged Canva for Teams product, designed with schools and universities in mind.

All college and university institutions across the globe can now unlock unrestricted access to Canva for their students when they begin purchasing Canva for Campus licenses for staff. Depending on the size of the student population, colleges and universities with a certain number of staff licenses graduate into a complete Canva Campus, unlocking free access to the platform for entire student cohorts. You’ll only ever need to pay for staff accounts.

Game-changing learning just got easier

Canva makes it easier than ever to facilitate collaborative, interactive, and exciting learning experiences with the added advantage of helping students develop digital literacy skills.

With Canva for Campus, students can create compelling assignments, eye-catching resumes, and visually engaging portfolios. Whether for a school assignment or a personal project, Canva’s visual

FROM the top collection of must-know spreadsheet shortcuts to the most effective workouts or the latest baked oats recipe, the diverse range of valuable and entertaining content on TikTok has quickly become a part of a billion people’s lives around the world. TikTok is introducing Series, a new way for creators to share their stories, talents, and creativity as premium content while further deepening their connection with the TikTok community.

Connecting communities through quality content

Developed with the community’s love of sharing authentic stories, expertise, and experiences in mind, Series enables eligible creators to post Collections of premium content behind a paywall, which viewers can purchase for access. One Series can include

Canva for Campus allows students to brainstorm and collaborate to create compelling visual reports and more

communication suite has it covered. Canva for Campus includes access to rich data visualization tools, making creating stunning and informative graphic research reports easier. Whether students learn on campus or at home, Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor applies to every device. With access to millions of educational templates and more than 100 million different design assets, Canva for Campus makes it easy for students to create engaging content while also effortlessly collaborating with peers, brainstorming ideas, leaving feedback, and assigning tasks for group projects.

new

things in my life, but I think one of the main ones that she’s really taught me is to [always] be hygienic and to work on my spiritual walk with the Lord—she always reminds me to do that. She never fails to teach me new lessons, and she always comforts me whenever I’m going through a hard time,” Kendra shared.

She added that Chesca teaches her

WHILE some people find art as an escape or medium of expression, others use their talent for a more lucrative purpose. Such is the case of Kenneth Galindo, 22. Early in his life, Galindo recognized his passion and skill for drawing. He eventually began to draw various pieces to enhance his abilities and become a famous artist.

He shares that his fame would help him gain an audience and clientele who can commission him for artwork, allowing him to support his family financially. Galindo also hones his art style continuously to understand and adapt to the ever-evolving art industry.

Canva for Campus brings all the magic from Canva for Teams product to a new platform designed with schools and universities in mind

Supercharging collaboration and communication for faculties

Canva for Campus design aims to empower teachers and faculty staff through integrating popular learning tools, including Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Blackboard, and Brightspace. Every team and faculty department can reduce overhead and maximize collaboration. Its collaboration and media library tools make it easy to seamlessly design across groups and departments with 1TB of storage to organize files, graphics, and videos.

Canva for Campus also takes the guesswork out of maintaining a great brand. Simply upload the brand fonts, colors, and logos to create Brand Kits that can be used across faculty departments or share premade templates that allow everyone to create their own content while maintaining brand consistency. For college and university marketing teams, Canva makes streamlining communications with templates for newsletters, social media posts, and student enrollment materials easier.

To sign up or learn about Canva for Campus, check out https://www.canva.com/for-campus/.

“I have an art style, but it is a combination of different art styles of diverse artists that I am inspired by. I observe how they draw it and mix it with other artists to achieve what I really want in my style,” he said. The young artist shared that he doesn’t have a permanent approach to his art because he practices various styles to meet client’s requirements for their commissioned art. However, a dominant sight in his creations is detailed images that draw inspiration from cartoons, comic books, or anime.

to be kind and patient with everyone. The mother of three also tells her to “treat others the way you want to be treated.”

As the new face of Lactacyd and the voice of the youth, Kendra recognizes how good role models have influenced how she views the world. During a video played for the #IAmWoman event by Lactacyd and Buscopan Venus to celebrate International Women’s Day, Kendra named her three prominent women role models, namely her grandmothers and mother, and how they influenced her growth.

“If there’s one thing that’s common between the three of them is that they like spending time with me a lot, and I feel like that has impacted me so much because I don’t think I’d be the person who I am today if they did not spend as much time with me as they are right now,” she said in the video.

Through the #IAmWoman celebration, Lactacyd and Buscopan uplift and help women become the best version of themselves inside and out. They also established the Femme Council to inspire powerful women to motivate aspiring Filipinas to achieve their goals.

By giving Kendra a platform to speak her truth and embrace her strengths, she shows young Filipinas that they, too, can pursue their passions and enjoy the world without limitations.

Venom vs. Carnage

A piece that took Galindo three nights to finish. It’s his way of practicing the coloring and art style of David Finch, a renowned comic book artist. He made it because he wanted to learn more about the Marvel fighting scenes, anatomy line art, and shading.

Character heads and bust practice, including Omni Man, Wolverine,

way for creators to share premium content

up to 80 videos, each up to 20 minutes long, giving people a new, longer format to watch their favorite creators and content.

Creators can set how much their Series should cost, selecting an amount that best reflects the value of their exclusive content, which they can purchase for access via direct in-video links or through a creator’s profile. Through Series, creators can build even stronger relationships with their viewers while also giving viewers another way to support creators.

Prioritizing a safe and welcoming environment

TikTok prioritizes the safety of its community when introducing new features and continue working to maintain a safe and welcoming environment where creativity and

expression can thrive. As with all content on TikTok, Series content must abide by the established Community Guidelines. Series joins TikTok’s growing range of monetization solutions as it continues to build new ways for creators to feel valued and rewarded as they inspire and engage our community. Series is only available to select creators with applications to join opening in the coming months. As TikTok is in the early stages of developing Series, the short-form video hosting platform continues to listen closely to our community for feedback. Learn about several ways creators can get paid or collect rewards on TikTok, including the recently announced Creativity Program Beta, by visiting the Creator Portal (https:// www.tiktok.com/creators/creator-portal/ en-us/category/getting-paid-to-create/).

A

Hulk, and Kratos.

n By PETER ATENCIO

FILIPINO gymnastics star Carlos Yulo is taking on a mix of small and big battles as he looks forward to redeeming himself in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Yulo will have a chance to sharpen his skills further before competing in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia when he joins the fourth and last edition of the World Cup in Cairo, Egypt on April 27.

Yulo said he will pursue more ways to execute better movements in the floor exercise, the pommel horse, the vault and the beams.

“Ang preparations ko ay katulad din sa ibang competitions ko. Pero mas mahirap,” said the Manila-native gymnast who returned on Tuesday to the country for a short vacation and to be with his family.

He also got to test the new facilities that the Japanese government turned over to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines in simple ceremonies on Friday.

The 4’11” Yulo is coming off splendid performances that had him finishing his campaign in the Baku leg of the 2023 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series with two gold medals on Sunday in Azerbaijan.

While in Baku, Yulo said his routine in the floor exercises were getting better, along with the things that he does in pommel horse.

He admitted that he needs to improve on the quality of his exercises in the rings and the vault.

Hunt

continues for Yulo

But it is in the difficulty levels of

parallel

With Yulo still fine-tuning his movements while in Azerbaijan, he just won by fractions of a point. And this was evident when he

took the men’s vault gold, with an average of 14.933 points for the championship trophy.

Yulo was ahead of Harry Hep-

Adamson halts NUNS streak, forces winner-take-all

ADAMSON University ended National University Nazareth School’s 23-match winning streak and forced a winner-take-all in the UAAP Season 85 High School Girls’ Volleyball Finals with a thrilling 21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13 win on Saturday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Lady Bullpups’ streak dated back to Season 82 when they swept the tournament 14-0, including the championship series sweep of the Baby Falcons.

The deciding Game 3 is scheduled Monday at 9 a.m at the same Manila venue.

Back-to-back errors from the Lady Bullpups extended the lead for the Baby Falcons to 12-9, and they eventually won the match and the series equalizer with a back-row kill from First Best Outside Hitter Shaina Nitura, followed by Felicity Sagaysay sending the ball over that NUNS could not return.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, kailangan nilang maging matapang. Hindi natin pwedeng idaan lang sa skills natin ang NU, dapat matibay rin ang loob natin,” said first-year coach JP Yude on the Baby Falcons’ mindset head-

ing into their no-tomorrow match. Both teams started the match well, but NUNS took advantage of Adamson’s errors to pull off comfortable margins in the first set and win 25-21.

The Baby Falcons, however, cleaned up their passing lanes to set up their

offense well, and with Shaina Nitura doing the damage, Adamson equalized the match at one set apiece with a score of 25-20. The Lady Bullpups then won the third set, leaning on Season Most Valuable Player Olango and Second

Best Outside Hitter Celine Marsh.

Leading by just two at 22-20 after a timeout, Olango fired back-toback kills before Marsh took care of business at the net to send NUNS one set away from the championship. Adamson, though, would take advantage of its foes’ errors late in the fourth set, before a Nitura ace sent them to set point and fuelled yet another leveler for the challengers.

“Same pa rin, kumbaga yung mga kulang lang yung dapat naming ayusin. So, same thing, rest and maybe later or tomorrow training, tapos laban ulit sa Monday,” said Yude. The best student-athletes of the tournament were feted earlier before the match, and joining MVP and Best Opposite Hitter Olango, Marsh, and Nitura are Best Setter Abegail Pono of NUNS, Best Libero Juris Manuel of Adamson, and Best Middle Blockers Klarisse Loresco of Far Eastern University-Diliman, and Margarette Althea of University of Santo Tomas. Janessa Buhay of the Lady Bullpups was named the Rookie of the Year.

Ilagan meet kicks off Masters’ athletics series

THREE throwing events will kick off a series of competitions that will be organized by the National Masters and Seniors Athletics Association of the Philippines this year.

Among them is the 2023 NMSAAP Masters Athletics Meet on March 21 in Ilagan, Isabela.

It will be followed by the 5Throws For All Philippine Championships at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City from April 14 to 16.

Next up is the Asian Masters Athletics Championships set from Nov. 8 to 12 at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

The series aims to highlight the beauty of competition in shot put, discus throw, hammer throw and the weight events.

“These events promote the five

basic events of throwing. This is from everyone, the elite thrower, to the seniors and masters, and the para (disabled) athletes,” said NMSAAP executive Alberto Agra.

Agra and officials of the NMSAAP talked about their event series during a launch held on Saturday at the To Ho Antigua Restaurant in Binondo, Manila.

The 2023 NMSAAP Masters Athletics Meet in Isabela will serve as the pre-opening event of the 2023 ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships, which take place from March 21 to 26.

More than 100 athletes aged 30 years old and above have signed up to join in around 24 age group events.

Competitions will be played in the age categories of 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, and 50-54. Peter

Atencio

NUNS boys outlast FEU-D, near UAAP volley three-peat

NATIONAL University Nazareth School moved to the cusp of winning its third consecutive UAAP High School Boys’ Volleyball championship, outlasting Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-22, 14-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-13, Saturday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Bullpups will go for the jugular on Monday at 9 a.m. after the Individual Awards Ceremony.

Staring at a 5-11 disadvantage in the fifth set, the Baby Tamaraws strung five consecutive points to cut it to just one at 10-11, ending with

an Andrei Rebusquillo drop from the middle.

From there, NUNS regained control and, despite FEU-Diliman’s fight back, the Bustillos-based squad eventually closed the match with a kill from Jeffe Gallego Jr.

“Nung una, kanya-kanyang diskarte. Pero nung huli, pina-realize ko na hindi naman kailangang individual yung diskarte, kailangan as a team,” Bullpups coach Edgar Barroga said.

“Kaya nawala kami nung second at third. Bumalik lang kami nung narealize nila yung resulta ng nangyari,” he added.

The Bullpups also defeated the Baby Tamaraws in the elimination round, 25-18, 2025, 25-18, 21-25, and 15-17 last February 21 and 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20 last March 11.

As what transpired in their first two meetings in the elimination round, NUNS took advantage of its strong start to bag the opening set at 25-22.

FEU-D, though, got the better of the reigning back-to-back champion in the next two sets, fashioning out stunning routs at 25-14 and 25-15.

worth of Great Britain, who settled for silver with a score of 14.816, which was just a fraction adrift when it ended.

Ajinomoto’s Victory Project picks Yulo

CARLOS “Caloy” Yulo is one of the top Filipino prospects to deliver a medal--hopefully the golden one-in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

To help Yulo achieve his full potential, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC Group) will support him through the Victory Project started by Ajinomoto in 2003. The Victory Project aims to support the conditioning of top-level athletes in Japan and conduct nutritional support activities1 utilizing the power of amino acids, including providing products such as aminoVITAL and promoting the Winning Meals Kachimeshi.

Ajinomoto’s Kachimeshi (“Winning Meals”) concept is shared to support elite athletes in building winning physiques for optimum performance.

Yulo, the First Filipino and male South-East Asian to win at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, thus joins world karate champion Junna Tsukii as the elite endorser for APC.

“We are extremely happy to welcome Carlos Yulo into the Ajinomoto family. We are inspired by his many victories and we promise to support him in achieving more success in the future,” says Hironori Aoki, APC’s Board of Director for Marketing, Sales and Public Relations.

The 23-year-old athlete will compete at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this May 2023 and is set to put up a strong display at the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Belgium which will be his first opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Young enthusiasts tries the gymnastics equipment at the Rizal Memorial Gymnastics Training Center donated by the Japanese government to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

the

bars where he struggled, according to Yulo. But he is getting there.

The Adamson girls celebrate the win that forced Game 3 in the finals.

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation Board of Director for Sales, Marketing & Public Relations, Hironori Aoki, and Filipino gymnastics wonder Carlos Yulo.

National Masters and Seniors Athletics Assocation of the Philippines officials invite former elite athletes and business executives to continue to be fit and perform in competitive level.

The‘Queen of Century’ is back

SHE may have taken home the crown a few years back but Pia Wurtzbach has proven that she is still our Queen looking sexier than ever as she joins again Century Tuna, the leading canned tuna brand in the Philippines, and returns as the brand’s ambassador.

Her secret? It’s surprisingly simple because Pia believes that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated—and the key to her sexy fitness regimen is an active lifestyle and healthy eating.

Having a healthier 2023 is one of Pia’s biggest resolutions for the new year, especially with her much-awaited wedding happening soon.

“Even years after her reign, Pia continues to be an inspiration to many and that is why we couldn’t be happier to have her back as part of the Century Tuna family to help us share with Filipinos that eating healthy can be easy and simple,” said Century Pacific Food Inc. (CPFI) VP and GM for Tuna Division Carlo Endaya

When it comes to healthy eating, the choice is easy for Pia— Century Tuna, a classic all-time healthy meat option that makes eating well a snap.

Century Tuna combines the best of both worlds – a healthy indulgence that’s easy to prepare and goes well with a variety of dishes. Tuna is a good source of protein and Omega 3 DHA, which comes with a host of health benefits like better heart health and lower blood pressure. Century Tuna is also low in cholesterol and has no preservatives.

And the best part—tuna is a versatile protein that’s super easy to mix and match. Tuna for brekkie? A scrambled egg with tuna and toast makes for a tasty start to your day.

Netflix and chilling and need a snack? Prep a healthy snack with Century Tuna spread on crackers or on bread.

Look who’s making your mornings action-packed

MIGS Bustos puts the spotlight on different athletes every Thursday in the new sports segment of TeleRadyo’s Sakto called “Tara, Game!”

In the segment, Migs chats with various Filipino athletes as he envisions the segment to be a platform not just for the sports stars, but more importantly for ‘athletes or teams that need more recognit ion.’ “Hindi natin alam, merong sobrang galing na atleta from Visayas or Mindanao. ‘Yung the next James Yap or Hidilyn Diaz na nagsimula from humble beginnings. Tayo ‘yung may platform para ikwento ang storya nila,” Migs explained, adding that he hopes more viewers realize that a lot of good values in sports can be applied in real life.

The TeleRadyo Sakto trio of Amy Perez, Johnson Manabat, and Jeff Canoy are also thrilled to have Migs on the show every Thursday.

Napakahalaga ng espasyong binibigay ni Migs para sa sports, lalo na sa panahon na maraming atleta ang nagtataas ng bandila natin sa buong mundo,” Jeff shared.

“This is a collaboration between Sakto and ABS-CBN Sports Digital and we are happy na makapag-work together ang dalawang platform para mapalakas ang sports sa ABS-CBN at Pilipinas,” Migs said.

Catch Migs Bustos every Thursday morning in “Tara, Game!” in TeleRadyo’s Sakto at 6:00 a.m.

BGYO marks 2nd year with new album, concert showcase

GELO, Akira, JL, Mikki, and are getting ready to set the stage on fire for their upcoming fan con – the Be Us second anniversary album showcase happening at SM City North Edsa Skydome on May 12.

HIPHOP-RNB artist Jade Ivy makes a comeback with his newest single, “Jelly,” which thumps the music scene with a fresh offering that echoes a smashing narrative daintily composed to express an imaginative take on a lady’s physical appearance.

Released on March 10, under O/C Records, this new release came over a year since his last single, “3AM.”

Jelly frames a vibing record that describes a patent rendition of comparing the “peach emoji” or pictogram used in one of today’s modern communication modes to a lady’s behind.

P-pop group BGYO’s ‘Be Us’ shows its success through millions of streams from their fans

Make way for Jade Ivy

“Jelly is something that I came up with out of a fantasy and I just wanted to describe a specific girl,” Jade Ivy states.

Chiefly inspired by the music video of the song “Taste,” performed by American rapper artists Tyga and Offset, “Jelly” was crafted to fervidly describe the artist’s whimsical image of a “dream girl fantasy” displaying a “freaky, bouncy, sexy, and clingy” features.

The track delivers a tune echoing a combination of Hiphop and RnB records – projecting a mixture of “sexy” and “fierce” sonic flavors for everyone to consume.

Produced alongside GFAB who also mixed and mastered the track, “Jelly” exhibits Jade Ivy’s motion in telling ravishing records.

Jade Ivy’s songwriting techniques highlight a rough and assertive vibe which was captured through his previous romantic releases, “3AM,” “Puyat,” and “With Benefits.” While it took a little time to render new art pieces to share, the artist asserts that the year-long break from sharing his music with his listeners was filled with preparations to reintroduce more of Jade Ivy—one that has a “new vibe” to offer.

“Listeners and fans will hear new

The group’s sophomore album showed great success as it has racked up over 4.3 million streams, while its tracks “Magnet” reached 1 million streams and “Tumitigil Ang Mundo” reached 1.5 million streams on Spotify. It also topped the iTunes’ album chart in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. The Be Us second anniversary album showcase tickets will be available at SM Tickets priced at P2,500 (VVIP), P2,000 (VIP), and P1,000 (regular).

BGYO’s fans called ACEs are in for an-

other surprise because the Be Us album box set is available for pre-order for only P1,999. The album box set contains a CD, lyric booklet, random mini standee, photocard set, pop grip, and ACEs pin. The pre-order would also serve as a ticket to a fan meet and greet with BGYO. Meanwhile, those who pre-ordered “The Light” last year can enjoy a P200 discount voucher when they purchase the Be Us album box set.

Recently, BGYO became a trending topic after their leader Gelo went viral after a fan posted his 2x2 ID picture on Twitter which earned him praise for his stunning visuals, while the group’s main dancer Nate caught the attention of the K-pop group BTS who liked his dance cover of J-Hope and J. Cole’s “on the street” on TikTok.

Dubbed as the “Aces of P-Pop,” the group recently spread fun and excitement at Marquee Mall, Pampanga, and The District Imus, Cavite last March 4 and 5 for their mall tour. They will be gathering the hearts of “ACEs” once again on March 26 at Ayala Malls Feliz, Pasig.

sounds from Jade Ivy wherein I’m not just some simple party guy. Because this year, I have new stories to tell and new adventures in store,” Jade Ivy states.

Starting off with this new single carrying noteworthy characteristics of style and plot. “The style that I used in the track Jelly was different because I mixed English and Tagalog language to tell the story, wherein more people can vibe to and mas pinalawak ko ang sakop ng taong makakapag vibe ng song.”

“Jelly” is available now on digital streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more.

Migs Bustos will feature different athletes in the new sports segment ‘Tara, Game!’

PETS

A Tribute to Female Hero Dogs This International Women’s Month

By Mariana Burgos

IHAVE written about hero dogs before and only one of the dogs mentioned was a female. But there are many female hero dogs. This Women’s Month, we will share some of their stories to pay tribute to some awesome bitches in history!

Forto says Smoky was skilled at learning tricks and worked with Special Services to amuse soldiers in field hospitals. She continued to do so after being detained in an oxygen mask case during the journey back to the United States. Smoky appeared on television and in public while continuing to console warriors in veterans' hospitals. In fact, some believe Smoky to be America's first therapy dog due to her work with veterinarians. There are tributes honoring her all around the country and in Australia, including the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York City.

Sallie

Sallie, a bull-type terrier, served with troops in a separate conflict far earlier than World War II. Forto states that Sallie was handed to First Lieutenant William Terry of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Sallie, who was only four weeks old at the time, grew up with the regiment, and became its mascot. She trained with them, marched with them, and even fought alongside them.

Laika

I chose Laika for my first hero bitch because I think her sacrifice was most noteworthy even though some don’t give her any credit just because she was a stray dog.

Laika was a stray dog who became a space dog, according to the article "5 Famous Female Dogs in History" on the Yappy website. She was a female terrier mix that made history in 1957 after being plucked from the streets of Moscow and chosen to be the first animal to circle the Earth. Although her story was a sad one because she died in space, her sacrifice, however, opened the door for human spaceflight as scientists gained a greater grasp of the survival circumstances in space.

Strelka and Belka

On August 19, 1960, two mixed-breed dogs were on board the Sputnik 5 capsule which completed six orbits and returned safely. Due to the mission's success, the Russians were able to launch a man into space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, shortly after. According to Robert Forto's article, "Important Female Dogs in History," Strelka and Belka became immediate heroes in the Soviet Union. Their corpses were preserved after death. Strelka and Belka are on exhibit at the Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow.

The owner of Strelka, Nikita Khrushchev, donated one of her puppies, Pushinka, to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Pushinka became one of the Kennedy family's multiple presidential pups.

Pawsbook

WE HAVE been encountering posts on dogs, cats, and other animals on Facebook that are eye-openers, or inspiring, or enlightening, or educational, or can make one feel good during a stressful day, or make one encouraged to help the poor souls among us. Sunday Pets would like to share these notable posts of netizens and groups through this space called Pawsbook.

Lucca, a mixed-breed dog trained to detect explosives, served with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Forto. She accomplished 400 sorties and saved the lives of numerous soldiers throughout her six years of duty.

Lucca tragically lost her leg in an IED blast during her last deployment in 2012, therefore ending her military career. According to Forto, she is the first US Marine Corps dog to be given the PDSA Dickin Medal (the canine counterpart of the British Victoria Cross) for her meritorious service.

Philly

According to Wikipedia, Philly was a stray female dog that served on the front lines of World War One with Company A of the 315 Infantry, 79th Division. She was smuggled into France and served in Montfaucon, Nantillois, Troyon, and LaGrande Montagne before returning to America. Her effectiveness as a guard dog made her a hero among the troops, earning the Germans a bounty of 50 deutsche marks on her head. She participated in the victory parade and lived until 1932. She was mounted after her death and remained in the 315th's headquarters until its disbandment in 1995. Philly was bequeathed to the Philadelphia History Museum and has periodically been on exhibit for the viewing public.

Bretagne

Bretagne (pronounced brit-nee), a Golden Retriever, was one of several hero female dogs in the days following 9/11. Forto informs us that Bretagne and her handler, Denise Corliss, flew from Texas, where Corliss was a volunteer fireman, to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts following the assault. That was the pair's first attempt at rescue and recovery. Bretagne performed 12-hour shifts for 10 days, looking for survivors, sleeping outside with her handler, and providing consolation to other rescue personnel.

We are dog lovers

TODAY I ADOPTED A HUMAN~

It broke my heart to see him so alone and confused. And suddenly I managed to make his teary eyes meet mine. I don't like the smell of sad. I wanted so badly to jump on him. He spoke to me tenderly and I knew, I had to rescue him! That human needed me. So I barked with all my might, followed him for blocks and blocks. I got closer, I could smell his hands. The human smiled for an instant and when he took me in his arms, I began to feel his cold heart warm. I got close to his cheeks and felt a tear roll down them. I looked deeply at him and his response was a bright smile. I jumped excitedly into his arms, I promised to behave myself, love him forever and never leave his side.

How lucky he was to pass through that block, down that street and I also feel lucky. There were so many people walking by and no one was looking at me. All worried, all involved in his problems. I'm glad no one else chose me! Today I saved a life. Today I adopted a human. �

Smoky

German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Malinois, and other intimidating breeds come to mind when we think about military dogs. Smoky, a little Yorkshire Terrier, was a World War Two hero. Smoky was discovered in a foxhole in New Guinea by American soldiers, and she became Corporal Bill Wynne's full-time companion. She ate the same food he did and slept in the same bed. Smoky also joined rescue and surveillance flights and even barked to alert Corporal Wynne of oncoming rounds, according to Forto.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, Sallie slipped and was separated from the army and was recovered three days later, unharmed, protecting injured men and the remains of the fallen. Sallie, however, was shot and died at the fight of Hatcher's Run in 1865. Even as the combat raged around them, soldiers buried her in the battlefield. The 11th Pennsylvania Monument at Gettysburg depicts a representation of Sallie at the troop's feet.

Buddy

Dorothy Eustis, an American lady, was inspired by the work of the first-ever guide dog school in Oldenburg, Germany in the late 1920s.

Eustis was no stranger to canine training, having previously trained dogs for the police and the military. Therefore, after six months of training at the guide dog school, she trained her first dog, Buddy. She teamed with a blind American man called Morris Frank, according to Forto.

Dorothy went on to create her own guide dog school, The Seeing Eye, after Buddy's success. She established her first school in Switzerland in 1928, followed by another in New Jersey in 1929. According to Forto, Frank was essential in advocating for regulations that would allow service dogs access to public settings, laying the path for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Roselle

Roselle, a Labrador Retriever guide dog, was with her owner, Michael Higson, when his office in the World Trade Center was attacked on September 11, 2001.

Forto adds that the brave canine took her owner down 78 flights, despite the pandemonium surrounding her. Roselle maintained her descent even after Tower Two fell, guiding Higson through the rubble and smoke until they were out of the structure. She then continued to walk her owner 40 streets to a friend's apartment!

Lucca

While many female dogs have served in the military to help troops during times of conflict, one brave canine in particular stands out for their service - Lucca.

Bretagne returned to Texas and worked as a search dog with Texas Task Force 1 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She and Corliss visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York in 2014 and 2016. In 2016, Bretagne died at the age of 16. Members of the Texas Task Force and the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department said their goodbyes on the sidewalk outside the veterinarian's office.

Kabang (the best for last)

Kabang was a shepherd mix-aspin from Zamboanga City, Philippines, that rose to international fame and was dubbed a "hero dog" after saving two children from a fatal motorbike accident.

According to Wikipedia, Kabang was a stray puppy that was adopted by Rudy Bunggal. Bunggal's nineyear-old daughter Dina and a three-year-old cousin, Princess Diansing, attempted to cross a busy roadway in the path of a motorbike in December 2011. Kabang, seeing the danger, jumped at the motorbike, knocking it down. According to eyewitnesses, the girls did not notice the motorbike approaching and would have been gravely harmed if Kabang had not intervened. The motorbike driver and the youngsters were just slightly injured in the crash.

Kabang, on the other hand, became entangled between the motorcycle's front wheel. "The bones holding her top snout were shattered, and we couldn't salvage it," Bunggal explained. "We just took her off the wheel". Kabang fled but two weeks later, she returned to the family home.

Karen Kenngott, a nurse from upstate New York, discovered Kabang's story on the Internet and wanted to assist. The campaign also significantly improved Kabang's international prominence.

Kabang was sent to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Center at UC Davis in the United States for specialist treatment in October 2012.

Kabang returned to the Philippines on June 8, 2013, and was greeted as a hero in her birthplace of Zamboanga City.

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.

Doggos and Puppers

I can't take him to the beach for a walk because it bothers you on your vacation, you don't allow me to rent a house if I have a dog, nor can I put it on urban public transport.

However, I can take him to the rubble to look for you after an earthquake, in the forest after you got lost in the mountain and you had no map or GPS; under the snow, because you did a forbidden off-piste; in the water, because despite the red flag, you went swimming when the posted signs said not to. You welcome him when you need him but not when it’s not convenient for you. After all….”it is just a dog”….

Think again people. Dogs are better than most humans, they’re kinder, more loyal, love unconditionally and they appreciate you no matter whether you deserve it or not.

I saw a dog on the side of the road. As soon as he saw the car he got up and started barking... I stopped and saw those eyes.. I saw pain, despair but also hope... As if they were telling me take me from here... And that's how it happened!!! We are starting our new life!

From a mom who feels lucky today �

Compiled by DC

Swarna Ranjani Manike

Kabang, the Filipina hero dog!" (Photo taken from the article, Hero Dog, Kabang, Gets New Nose of the CBS News website)

A monument was put up in honor of Buddy and his owner Frank. (Photo taken from the article, Important Female Dogs in History of the American Kennel Club website)

Laika is the first dog to go into space. (Photo taken from the article, Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero of the New York Times website)

Smoky, the war-dog hero, slept inside a helmet of a soldier. (Photo taken from the article, Important Female Dogs in History of the American Kennel Club website)

Lucca with Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham. (Photo taken from the article, Important Female Dogs in History of the American Kennel Club website)