Manila Standard - 2023 July 2 - Sunday

PBBM VOWS TO PROVIDE ‘BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE’

CABINET EXECS: MARCOS ADMIN’S 1ST YEAR A CRITICAL PIVOT TOWARD FULL ECONOMIC RECOVERY

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the start of his second year in office on Saturday, said the government will do its best to give everyone a “better quality of life” so that no one is left hungry.

“With the local government focusing on all aspects of your daily life that we have identi fied in the national agenda, we can look for ward to a boost in local businesses, improved daily transactions and an overall better quality of life,” the president said at the 56th founding anniversary of the province of Davao del Sur.

Marcos tasked the National Anti-Poverty Commission during its en banc meeting to lo cate “depressed and remote communities” and address long-standing issues with poverty. He also ordered other government agencies to “synchronize” their efforts to efficiently use re sources in combating poverty.

Marcos also reiterated his call for unity to re solve the country’s issues.

Meanwhile, an economist said the presi dent’s “biggest achievement” in his initial year is the opening of the economy.

“Iyon po ‘yung prinayoritize [prioritize] kasi po iyong ibig sabihin noon galing po tayo sa isa pinakamatagal na nag lockdown sa buong mundo, so may hesitancy. So, isa po iyon kasi sa missing elements ng recovery po ng ating ekonomiya. So iyon po ‘yung una,” said Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Mi chael Ricafort.

Ricafort said the country’s population would be a huge asset in turning the Philippines into an economic powerhouse. He said the Philip pines has around 115 million people in 2023, with more than 50 million belonging to the working age.

Ricafort said the average age in the country is less than 25 years old, which makes the econ omy productive.

of San Juan City participate in the street dance competition as part of the celebration of the city’s Wattah! Wattah! San Juan Festival and the Feast of St. John the Baptist at the historic Pinaglabanan Shrine on July 1, 2023. The city government prepared an array of activities, including street dance and float competitions, in collaboration with all barangays for the vibrant celebration.

POLICE ARREST 1,000 IN FRENCH RIOTS

MUDJASAN SEEKS PRESIDENT’S HELP, DENIES CRIMES

FORMER Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan, who led his group to fight government troops last week, on Saturday sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he was wrongly accused for his alleged crimes.

“I am asking help from Mr. President Bongbong Marcos. You have to help me because I do not want to suffer from my rights being trampled upon. I am wrongfully accused,”

Mudjasan said in a video message, while being surrounded by armed supporters who proclaimed to be part of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Mudjasan and his men figured in a gunfight with government troops last week which left five dead, including a policeman, as authorities continued to pursue him, the Philippine National Police said.

PNP Public Information Office

chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said Mudjasan was reportedly employing armed civilians and keeping loose firearms and explosives in his possession.

The former vice mayor has standing warrants of arrest for double murder, multiple murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regular Act.

The Area Police Command-West-

NUEVA ECIJA BETTOR WINS OVER P366-M LOTTO PRIZE

AN INDIVIDUAL who bought a ticket in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija province won the P366-million jackpot of the Ultra Lotto 6/58 draw Friday night.

ern Mindanao said Mudjasan’s group is a potential private armed group that may be utilized in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Oct. 30.

Brigadier General Eugenio Boquio, commander of the 1101st Infantry Brigade, said six Special Action Force members, four PNP personnel, one 41st Infantry Battalion member, two civilians, and two people from Mudjasan’s side were wounded last week.

INSURGENCY-FREE.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

(front row, center) pays tribute in a speech to Davao del Sur province’s insurgency-free status and celebration of its 56th anniversary on July 1. The president also thanked the people of the province for the love they have given him since his election and asked for their continued support for the Marcos-Duterte administration.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said in an advisory Saturday the ticket with the winning combination of 43-58-37-4727-17 was purchased in Barangay San Roque, Cabiao. It won an exact prize of P366,687,465.20.

The winner will take home about P293 million from the total prize as lottery winnings exceeding P10,000 are subject to a 20-percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. This means the winner will pay about P73.33 million in taxes to the government.

The winner has one year from the date of the draw to claim the prize from the PCSO main office along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.

Winners are advised to write their names and signature on the back of the winning tickets and present two government-issued identification cards or documents.

The PCSO said 92 other bettors won P120,000 each for guessing five of the six winning digits, and another 3,793 ticket holders will get P2,000 each for four correct digits. About 44,780 will settle for P100 each for three correct digits.

Manny Palmero

MANILA

DFA LOWERS ALERT IN MYANMAR

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday announced the lowering of the alert level status imposed on Myanmar, enabling overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to go back to the country swept by a military coup in February 2021.

“Filipinos working here in Myanmar illegally will finally be able to come home, be officially registered, and come back to work in Myanmar,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega told the ANC network.

De Vega said DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo has approved the lowering of the alert status following considerations on stability and the human trafficking situation at Myanmar’s borders.

Filipino workers who have valid working visas for Myanmar may be allowed to return once the alert level is downgraded, De Vega said earlier.

“If it is lowered, we can do balik-manggagawa: those who have valid working visas there can return. They won’t be banned from flying into Myanmar,” he said.

Over 400 Filipinos continue to work in Myanmar even after a military junta deposed an elected civilian government in 2021.

PHIVOLCS OBSERVES SLOW FLOW OF LAVA FROM MAYON’S CRATER

MAYON Volcano caused more rockfall events in Albay province, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Saturday.

PHIVOLCS said in its 8 a.m. bulletin it recorded 254 rockfall events, although this was lower than 284 observed a day earlier.

It said a very slow effusion of lava from the crater continued, reaching 2.23 kilometers along Mi-isi Gully and 1.3 km. at Bonga Gully.

The agency said it also recorded 65 volcanic earthquakes and 17 domecollapse pyroclastic density current events or PDC.

By Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

PBBM OKAYS 10-YR. NIASD TO ENHANCE GOVERNANCE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also chairs the National Innovation Council (NIC), has approved the 2022-2023 National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD), a 10-year plan to improve the country’s innovation governance, Malacañang said.

Under the NIASD, the government aims to make Filipinos proactive, smart, and innovative by improving the country’s education and healthcare system, the Palace said.

“It also plans to secure proper and affordable nutrition while providing income to local producers, and further improve financial and digital literacy as well as manufacturing and trade.”

The NIC said by 2032, Filipinos will have accessible energy resources; efficient, inclusive and safe land, water and air transportation, as well as reliable government institutions.

“Chapter 8 of the PDP (Philippine Development Plan) elaborates on this strategy by situating it within the continuum of research and development, innovation, technology adoption, then commercialization,” Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan Balisacan, vice chair of the NIC, said Saturday in a statement.

23 AFP SENIOR OFFICERS GET PROMOTIONS

COTABATO CITY—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promoted a Philippine Air Force one-star general to Major General, along with 22 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

On recommendation of AFP chief of staff General Andres Centino and the chairman of the Board of Generals Brig. General Roldan, Philippine Air Force has been promoted to one-star general.

Two Philippine Navy Captains were also promoted to the rank of commodore, and one PN member to brigadier general—Colonel Antonio G Mangoroban Jr.

The rest were senior officers of the Philippine Army. Most of those promoted were alumni of either Master’s Graduate Program in National Security Administration (MNSA) or of the General Staff Course (GSC) or both.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., the President said he has approved the promotion of 18 officers with the rank of full colonel to brigadier general. Among them are 15 members of the Philippine Army (PA), two from the ranks of the Philippine Air Force, a Philippine Navy (Marines) colonel to brigadier general, and two PN (M) captains to the rank of commodore. Nash B.

Maulana

CONGRESS APPROVES

PEDP BILL

Plume reached as high as 2,000 meters.

It said that based on ground deformation, “the volcano is swelling”.

The volcano spewed hot volcanic particles and gases Friday night, with ash fall reaching Tabaco City. The PDC lasted four minutes and traveled around 3 to 4 kilometers downslope, according to PHIVOLCS.

“Ashfall from the PDCs has been reported by residents of Tabaco City and recorded by the Mayon Resthouse IP camera,” it said.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte

Salceda thanked Department of Social

Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian for additional food packs to be distributed in the province.

“It was announced that the DSWD has ordered that more food packs be delivered to Albay to support Mayon evacuation efforts and prepare for likely additional evacuations,” Salceda said.

“I thank Secretary Gatchalian, for once again being very proactive about Albay’s needs, especially as the rainy season could complicate our evacuation efforts and increase the population at risk due to lahar,” Salceda said. Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means, said Gatchalian

and the DSWD’s proactive efforts help Albayeños keep evacuees in place. “That keeps them safe,” Salceda said.

“Over the past few weeks he has shown himself to be a true friend of Albay. We will always remember his efforts with gratitude,” he said.

The 9th Civil Military Operation Battalion of the Philippine Army 9th Infantry Division, headed by Lt. Col. Genevee Dañas and volunteers from the Alpha Phi Omega Bicol Administrative Region on Saturday helped repack relief goods at the DSWD Regional Office Bogtong Warehouse in Legazpi City.

Maricel V. Cruz

GILAS FILIPINAS PLACES 6TH IN FIBA

THE Gilas Pilipinas Women’s National Team played catch up until the last four minutes before taking a 71-80 loss to South Korea on Saturday to settle for sixth place in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 in at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Center.

A split free throw from Vanessa de Jesus in the last 3:08 saw the Filipinas

still in the thick of the fight with the Koreans leading by just five, 71-76.

But after missing three big attempts in the waning minutes, the Koreans went on to claim fifth place, their worst finish since 1965.

Ji Jyun Park topscored for the Koreans with 24 points while Danbi shot 14 points.

Afril Bernardino unloaded 16 points and nine rebounds for the Filipinas, who

refused to let Korea take a double-digit lead in the final period.

Jack Animam and Khate Castillo knocked 12 points for the Filipinas, who claimed one of their best finishes since 1984 when they finished in the fourth spot that year.

Coach Patrick Aquino commended the team for managing Korea’s lead, and not letting it go beyond 10 points.

“We fell short. But, still, I’m proud

of the girls. They never gave up. I think the gaps are really closing for us. And I hope they continue doing this in the future when we come back,” Aquino said.

After the Filipinas rallied to within five points, Park scored on a layup, while Jisu Park also penetrated to put the Koreans ahead, 80-71, with 1:21 left.

Jisu and Jihyun Shin made 11 points apiece for the Koreans.

BOTH houses of Congress have ratified a bill institutionalizing the Philippine Export Development Program (PEDP) that President Marcos recently approved to make local products more competitive overseas.

With a vibrant export program, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuete said the economy will be “more resilient and inclusive by energizing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

One of the measures ratified by the House of Representatives and the Senate before they adjourned sine die was the bill institutionalizing the nearly decade-old “One Town, One Product (OTOP)” initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to prop up small entrepreneurs and stimulate economic activity, especially in the countryside, said Villafuerte, who had co-authored this measure.

He said the 19th Congress’ approval of the OTOP bill was “timely as the President had just approved the DTI-drafted PEDP amid a weakening export sector resulting from a looming recession in the US (United States) and a global economic slowdown.” Villafuerte said approval of the OTOP bill was also well-timed as the Philippines has just joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Chinaled biggest free-trade pact that could benefit Filipino exporters by way of possibly higher sales of their lowertaxed goods to other RCEP membereconomies. Maricel V. Cruz

ATA MANOBO LASSES. Comely girls from the Ata Manobo tribe in colourful attires wait for their turn to present their ethnic dance before foreign visitors from embassies in Asia and Israel to highlight the launch of the Department of Tourism’s culture, heritage and arts caravan dubbed “Philippine Experience” in Davao province. The presentation featured traditional attires, along with a showcase of local artifacts and icons that don’t fail to capture the visitors’ admiration. Danny Pata

CEREMONIAL DRIVE THROUGH. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accompanied by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and other government officials, conduct a drive through signalling the opening of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road (DCCBR) Segment A. The President announced that his administration will continue to build infrastructures to bolster the country’s economic growth.

IN BRIEF

BOC-CLARK CONFISCATES P1.79-B SHABU BOUND TO SOUTH KOREA

By Joel Zurbano

Inspection Project (XIP) personnel, the shipment

subjected to K9 sniffing by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 Unit, giving positive indications on the

DAVAO SOLON’S INITIATIVES HELP 163,000 INDIVIDUALS

presence of dangerous drugs.

A physical examination was conducted by a trade control examiner led to the discovery of a speaker containing plastic pouch of crystalline substances.

Samples were turned over to the PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis, which identified the substances as shabu prohibited under the Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“We commend our people in the Export Unit, XIP, and Customs Anti-illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF), for strictly implementing our border security controls for outbound shipments. This is a testament that we are firm in intensifying our anti-illegal drugs campaign for both imports and exports”, Morales said.

PBBM VOWS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPO

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday assured the public of improved transportation systems across the country.

The President made the assurance during the ceremonial signing of loan agreement for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP).

The Chief Executive stressed the much-needed modernization of the transport system in the country alluding to the administration’s “whole-of-nation and whole-ofsociety approach” in addressing the persistent problems on mass transportation.

“We need to work together to pursue the much-needed modernization of our transport system in vital parts of the country, whether through better roads, highways, and even railways,” Marcos said.

The modernization of the transport system in Davao City will create an integrated network of 29 routes that will connect major commercial centers in metropolitan Davao.

The government looked at the DPTMP with an eye on building socioeconomic opportunities for local residents in the region.

“As it opens its doors to visitors and investors, the city will be rewarded with increased business opportunities. Evidently, increased commercial

activities necessarily bring more people which means more vehicles on the streets, busier roads, and hence, heavier traffic,” Marcos said.

Marcos also assured residents and families that might be displaced by development of financial and nonmonetary assistance.

“Lest we forget, coupled with this grand vision of building an efficient mode of transportation are the unavoidable issues that also need our immediate attention, such as the families who will be displaced by the implementation of the program,” the President said.

He also thanked the Asian Development Bank for supporting the project.

The ADB has been part of the modernization project as early as 2010 when it was envisioned.

On May 23, Marcos and ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa met at ADB headquarters in Pasig City as the Philippines received $4 billion worth of funding from the bank as part of the administration’s socio-economic and infrastructure development plans for 2023.

The projects covered by the funding were the DPTMP, Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, and the Integrated Floor Resilience and Adaptation Project.

From 2010 to 2022, ADB’s annual loan financing for the Philippines averaged at $1.4 billion.

WORKERS in the informal sector and senior citizens comprise almost half of the 163,000 individuals who directly benefited from the various initiatives of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte in his first year in the 19th Congress. Congressional records showed that as of June 2023, Duterte authored 169 national and local bills, many of which aim to safeguard the welfare of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, seafarers, security guards, freelance workers, public school teachers, overseas Filipino workers, farmers and fisherfolk, media workers, calamity victims and other marginalized sectors.

“We will sustain and expand further our projects in Davao City so that we can assist more Dabawenyos in need. We will also continue to propose legislative measures that will help create more jobs, bring in more investments and reenergize the economy while protecting the welfare of society’s underprivileged sectors,” Duterte said.

“My commitment has always been to help build a stable, comfortable and secure future for our countrymen. This resolve, backed by concrete actions, is an unwritten qualification one must have upon entering public service,” he said.

Maricel V. Cruz

NPC INAUGURATES

1.2-MW GEN SETS IN TAWI-TAWI

STATE-RUN National Power Corp. is moving forward with its electrification efforts in missionary or far-flung areas in the country with the switch-on ceremony of the 1.2-megawatt generating sets in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.

NPC president Fernando Martin Roxas inaugurated the gen sets that were meant to cater to the growing electricity needs of the population in the area.

NPC first brought electricity to the island in 2000, with an initial peak load of 105 kilowatts, servicing six hours in two barangays.

NPC now provides 24/7 electricity to the municipality with a population of 34,000 and covers all 15 barangays with its West Simunul and Manuk Mangkaw diesel power plants. Simunul is home to the first and oldest mosque in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.

Small Power Utilities Group vice president Larry Sabellina, Simunul Mayor Wasilah Abdurahman, SPUG Mindanao department manager Yahcob Darayan and Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio of the Philippine Marines also attended the inauguration ceremony. Alena Mae S. Flores

EXPORTERS ASKED TO PREPARE FOR ELECTRONIC INVOICE

TAXPAYERS engaged in exports and e-commerce should start preparing to comply with the electronic invoicing requirements as the Bureau of Internal Revenue expands the coverage of its electronic invoicing system implementation, a tax expert said over the weekend.

Lawyer Rule Oporto, senior director for business tax services at SGV & Co., said the BIR was poised to roll out the project to other covered taxpayers following the pilot EIS implementation among 100 large taxpayers in July 2022.

TRUMP TO RALLY AT SITE OF DEADLY

SEC RESETS AMNESTY DEADLINE

By

Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended anew the deadline for amnesty applications for late and non-filing of annual financial statements, general information sheets and official contact details.

The deadline for all amnesty applications was reset to Sept. 30, as provided by SEC Memorandum Circular No. 9 issued on June 30. SECchairmanEmilioAquinosaidtheagency was overwhelmed with amnesty applications. He said they were giving eligible companies two more months to comply with the requirements before higher penalties are imposed by Oct. 1.   Aquino said of the 600,000 SEC registered companies, only 240,000 were complying with the reportorial requirements while 360,000 were tagged as erring companies. The extension of amnesty program was also

meant to provide opportunity for small and medium enterprises that were suspended for not filing regulatory requirements to comply.

Meanwhile, the SEC said it was also streamlining amnesty applications by adopting a Unified Amnesty Application Form, a web-based form available on the Electronic Filing and Submission Tool that will allow eligible companies to express their concurrence and/or consent to certain conditions of the amnesty process. The modified application form replaces the notarized Expression of Interest Form and Amnesty Application Form previously required by the SEC.

The SEC launched the grant of amnesty program for non-compliant and suspended or revoked corporations last March as part of its initiative to encourage regulated entities to comply with the reportorial requirements set under Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code.

The BIR identified an additional 100 taxpayers for this year’s roll-out, which would cover not just the large taxpayers but also those engaged in the export of goods and services as well as e-commerce.

The agency identified an additional 500 taxpayers for inclusion in the pilot by the fourth quarter, Oporto said in a webinar held by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

EIS is an electronic platform developed by the BIR with the capability to receive, process and store data from taxpayers.

The legal bases for EIS implementation are Section 237 (issuance of receipts or sales or commercial invoices) and Section 237-A (electronic sales reporting system) of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law or Republic Act No. 10963. The BIR issued last year Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 8-2022 on the policies and guidelines for the use of EIS and RR 9-2022 on the admissibility of sales documents in electronic format. Julito G. Rada

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Port of Clark, under district collector Ricardo Uy Morales II has seized P1.794-million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as shabu bound to South, Korea. LOAN AGREEMENTS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (second row, third from left) witnesses the signing of three loan agreements by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno (front row, left) and Asian Development Bank country director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project

the Acacia Hotel in Davao City. The project, supported by the ADB loan, aims to deliver

transport system to provide an attractive, efficient and affordable mode of transport in Davao City.

The Customs agents discovered the contraband in a package falsely declared as “used MI Smart Speaker” shipped from Pasig City. Initially tagged as suspicious by the X-ray

was

A fisherman shows his fresh catch at the Coastal Road in Taguig City on July 1, 2023. The new harvest from a fish pen in Laguna Lake is to be sold at a nearby wet market in the city. Manny Palmero

IN BRIEF

HOLLYWOOD ACTORS EXTEND CONTRACT TALKS

LOS ANGELES—The union representing 160,000 actors and performers on Friday agreed to extend contract negotiations with Hollywood studios, staving off a potentially crippling strike until at least July 12.

The Screen Actors Guild has been locked in lengthy negotiations with the likes of Netflix and Disney, but as a midnight deadline loomed, both sides announced they would continue to negotiate.

The current contract has been extended until July 12 at midnight Los Angeles time, SAG-AFTRA said in a statement, adding that a media blackout on the negotiations would remain in effect.

Fears had mounted that the actors would join writers on the picket line, a “double strike” not seen in more than 60 years, and which would bring nearly all US film and television productions to a halt.

SAG-AFTRA’s members— from A-listers to extras—have pre-approved industrial action if negotiators cannot reach a deal. AFP

POLICE ARREST 1,000 IN FRENCH RIOTS; TOURISM SECTOR FACES CANCELLATION

NANTERRE, FRANCE— Violence and looting hit France in a fourth night of protests as massively deployed police made nearly 1,000 arrests and the country braced for more riots ahead of the funeral Saturday of the teenager who was killed by an officer during a traffic stop.

The government said the violence had “lessened” compared to previous nights, but

DUTCH KING WIDELY EXPECTED TO ISSUE APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS—King

Willem-Alexander is widely expected to make a royal apology for the Netherlands’ involvement in slavery on Saturday at an event marking 150 years since slaves were freed in former colonies.

Thousands of descendants of slaves from the South American nation of Suriname and the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao will attend the celebrations in Amsterdam for “Keti Koti” (“breaking the chains” in Surinamese).

Dutch media reported that the king is expected to make some form of apology on behalf of the royal family, to follow on from an official government apology in December.

However Willem-Alexander has stopped short of confirming that he will say sorry for a trade that researchers say brought vast riches to his ancestors in the House of Orange.

“I think we will have to wait until July 1,” the Dutch monarch told journalists when asked on a recent state visit to Belgium whether he would apologize at the ceremony. AFP

the interior ministry still reported 994 arrests nationwide overnight, and 79 injuries among police and gendarmes.

This is more than on any night since the protests began Tuesday, sparked by the death of 17-yearold Nahel by a police bullet.

Provisional ministry numbers released early Saturday also included 1,350 vehicles and 234 buildings torched, and 2,560 incidents of fire set in public spaces.

The clashes continued despite France deploying 45,000 officers, the highest number of any night since the start of the protests, backed by light armored vehicles and elite police units.

They were unable to stop looting in the cities of Marseille, Lyon and Grenoble, with bands of often-hooded rioters pillaging shops.

Despite rain pouring down on Paris and

its suburbs since the small hours of Saturday, rioting also flared up there, with close to half the nationwide arrests, 406, made in and around the capital, a police source told AFP.

But during a visit to Mantes-la-Jolie west of Paris on Saturday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin maintained that the night’s violence had been of “much less intensity”.

Darmanin had announced an “exceptional” deployment of police and gendarmes to deal with the riots over the death of Nahel, who will be buried on Saturday in the Paris suburb of Nanterre where he lived and died.

Dozens of police vans were positioned not far from the entrance to the Vieux Pont district of Nanterre, which was the epicentre of the unrest, and nine people had been arrested for carrying Molotov cocktails and petrol canisters. AFP

CHINA’S ANTI-ESPIONAGE LAW COMES INTO EFFECT

BEIJING, CHIN—A revised law dramatically expanding China’s definition of espionage came into force on Saturday, giving Beijing more power than ever to punish what it deems threats to national security.

The United States government, analysts, and lawyers say that the revisions to Beijing’s antiespionage law are vague and will give authorities more leeway in implementing already opaque national security legislation.

Originally released for public comment in December 2022, the revisions were formally approved by China’s top legislative body in April.

Chinese law already meted out harsh punishment for those involved in alleged espionage, from life in prison to execution in extreme cases.

In May, a 78-year-old US citizen was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges.

Under the revised law, “relying on espionage organizations and their agents” as well as the unauthorized obtaining of “documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests” can constitute a spying offence. AFP

BIDEN’S NEW MEASURES TO EASE STUDENT LOANS

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES— President Joe Biden said Friday that millions of Americans are “angry” after the Supreme Court brought down his student loan forgiveness program but he announced new measures to ease the financial burden.

“I know there are millions of Americans in this country who feel disappointed and discouraged or even a little bit angry,” Biden said. “I must admit I do too.”

Biden announced measures to “provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible.”

One measure is a 12-month pause on penalties for missing debt repayments on federal loans used by many students to finance their time in the notoriously expensive US higher education system. This will “protect the most vulnerable borrowers,” the White House said. AFP

25 PEOPLE DEAD AFTER BUS CATCHES FIRE IN INDIA

MUMBAI, India—At least 25 people were killed and eight others injured after a bus caught fire overnight on an expressway in western India on Saturday, police said.

The bus was travelling to the city of Pune when it hit a pole and overturned after midnight, causing its diesel tank to catch fire, senior police officer Baburao Mahamuni told AFP.

“There were about 30-35 people in the bus. Twenty-five people have died and eight others are injured,” he said.

The injured, including the bus driver, have been admitted to a hospital near the site of the crash in Maharashtra state, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of India’s financial capital Mumbai.

Police said they had launched an inquiry into the crash.

“The priority at this moment is to

identify the bodies and hand them over to their family members,” local media quoted police superintendent Sunil Kadasane as saying.

Images showed the bus engulfed in flames and later the charred remains of the vehicle overturned on the highway.

Three children were among the dead, a police officer told reporters.

“Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he felt “deep grief” over the accident and pledged compensation of 500,000 rupees ($6,100) to the families of those killed.

Accidents are common on India’s vast network of roads, which are poorly maintained and notoriously dangerous.

The main causes are excessive speed, not wearing helmets—sales of two-wheelers far outstrip those of cars—and not using seatbelts.

India accounts for 11 percent of the global road death toll despite having just one percent of the world’s vehicles, according to a World Bank report released in 2021.

The same report estimated 150,000 car crash fatalities in India annually, or one person every four minutes.

It added that road crashes cost the Indian economy around $75 billion each year, with medical expenses and loss of income driving many accident survivors into poverty. AFP

HANDOVER CEREMONY. People wave the flags of Hong Kong and China on the Tsim Sha Tsui water front in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, as they celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China. AFP

A protester walks by a burning car during clashes with police in Le Port, French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, on June 30, 2023, three days after a 17-year-old boy was shot in the chest by police at point-blank range in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris. AFP

TOP AUDITING FIRM NAMES NEW SET OF EXECUTIVES

AGRO-TECH FIRM OFFERS GREEN SOLUTION TO FRUIT SPOILAGE

FILIPINO scientists

Dr. Hidelisa Hernandez and Dr. Veronica Sabularse have never ceased to come up with propositions to help uplift and improve the lives of local farmers.

Already in their retirement years, both are not yet willing to hang up their hats as they feel a strong sense of responsibility to continue finding ways to help farmers improve their livelihood.

Using food waste, Hernandez and Sabularse developed a formulation to help prolong the shelf life of fruits. The product, a lifelong research by the two scientists, took more than 10 years in research and numerous discussions on how to democratize access to this product.

“The product is actually a fruit coating made from mango peels and other substances that are all organic. The idea of fruit coatings started as a proposal for student researchers. We came up with the idea that probably we could extract some material from waste products and come with a product that will create value to the waste,” Sabularse said.

Fruitect is an organic plant-based fruit coating that delays the ripening process of fruits. The product is manufactured in a plant located inside the UP Los Baños (UPLB) compound in Los Baños, Laguna.

The research, which spanned a very long and arduous journey, started two years after an official proposal was submitted to the Department of Science and Technology in 2010. Experiments on different plant wastes were conducted using mango peel, sugarcane bagasse, pineapple crown leaves and several plant residual wastes with potential for maximizing their functionality.

From among the plant wastes, the experiments arrived at one particular polymer which was used as base coating material, with a few other compounds added to the mixture. Nata de coco is also one of the natural materials added to the formulation as well cellulose non-whiskers.

The formulation has been tested on different fruits, but the differing physiology of fruits requires a different formulation that will work on each kind of fruit.

“We have to tweak the product to create a formulation that will work for each fruit type. We have tried on so many fruits and what we have, so far, is a formulation that works on mangoes. It is the first to be commercialized among other products,” Hernandez said.

Fruitect delays the ripening process of mangoes by another 6 to 10 days at room temperature and longer on cooler storage temperatures, prolonging the process for 20 days or more.

She said that while the process of experimentations and product development is strenuous and complicated, marketing the product is totally a whole different ball game which is not easy for scientists to venture into.

“Basically what we want is to improve the situation of farmers. But we also know how they are so averse into spending more. Added cost may lower their profitability, they say. But

the benefit of using Fruitect®l will outweigh their concerns since this product will protect the fruits. Instead of bringing the fruits twice in a week to Manila or the destination is, they can transport big batches of fruits, say once in a week, and save on logistics costs,” Hernandez said.

“Hindi malalamog ang prutas even during long travel and the fruits will be safe from diseases and pests that are the usual cause of spoilage,” she said It is best to apply Fruitect on fruits that are already mature and ripe for picking, to get the optimum results, Sabularse said who is a food technology graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman and holds a Master’s degree on food technology from UPLB and a PhD on food science with specialization in food chemistry and biochemistry from the Louisiana State University. Hernandez and Sabularse are coincorporators in a spin-off company created to market Fruitect.

While UPLB owns the technology to make Fruitect, HS InnoTech,l Inc. manufactures and markets the product independently. It is not owned by UPLB and operates distinctly from the university.

With the grants for research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture supported HS InnoTech to start the operation of its pilot plant in UPLB. Awarded in 2022, the SEARCA grant funded the fabrication of support structures and test runs to produce up to 300 liters of Fruitect.

The spin-off firm is in talks with a few exporting companies for possible supply agreement that

could provide economies of scale for small farmers who are interested to try the product.

In fact, a foreign company has recently placed query about Fruitect and looks like it is keen on technology.

“Sometimes, it is better to let foreign clients try the product first, because when Filipinos got wind that a foreign company is using this or that product, they easily get convinced to try the product for themselves. They have high regard for products that are used by companies from other countries,”

Hernandez siad

She said the entire process of developing the product was pretty much taxing, as it requires extensive amount of time and effort, “but what is more challenging is the resistance to cost of farmers or any other entities that have been accustomed to the traditional way of transporting their produce.”

“Coating the fruits will be an added step to the process. Farmers are not used to it. And the added expense is another hurdle for them,” she said.

Hernandez is a retired UPLB professor and a thesis adviser to many UPLB students.

She is a natural products chemist from UPLB and has a Master’s degree in Agricultural Chemistry also at the UPLB and a doctorate degree in Chemistry from the Louisiana State University.

Fruitect has been market-tested in carabao mango exports shipped to South Korea and China by a Davao-based trading company. The shipment arrived safely to their destinations with the fruits intact and in prime condition.

Othel V. Campos

B2B PLATFORM INFLUENCES SMALL RETAILERS IN MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS

PACKWORKS, a local startup that provides a business-to-business (B2B) open platform to sari-sari stores, is riding the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help sari-sari stores across the Philippines make informed decisions in stocking their shelves.

“With access to Packworks, extensive and reliable dataset of sari-sari store transactions, we hope to equip our saripreneurs with the means to optimize their operations and drive growth in the highly competitive retail market,” said Packworks Advanced Analytics and Insights Manager Arch Tesorero.

The company is using time series forecasting to capitalize on Packworks,’ large and robust data on sari-sari store transactions to analyze and predict future trends in grassroots sales volumes across different locations in the country.

Using Sari.PH Pro application, Packworks

provide predictions across all product categories sold in over 200,000 sari-sari stores nationwide and can run up to five years’ worth of daily

transaction data. The model utilizes various machine learning algorithms to identify the most accurate and reliable predictions based on its ability to anticipate and align with real-time and current data trends.

The system tracks down information from its broad network of sari-sari stores that use the which provides store owners access to pricing tools, inventory management, sales and revenue tracking, and working capital loans.

By leveraging AI and machine learning, Packworks, aims to provide stores with additional information that can enhance their inventory planning processes. Retailers can gain a better understanding of consumer preferences and purchasing patterns through the model, leading to optimized product assortments, reduced stockouts, improved customer satisfaction, and increased profitability for the stores.

LEADING audit and tax advisory firm P&A Grant Thornton, welcomes the appointment of new company chairman and managing partner, Romualdo “Boyet” V. Murcia III, and vice chairman and deputy managing partner Olivier “Vier” D. Aznar. Outgoing chairperson and CEO Maria Victoria “Marivic” C. Españo and retiring managing partner and COO Leonardo “Jun” D. Cuaresma Jr., turned over the leadership to a competent set of partners after serving the firm for 26 and 35 years, respectively.

Murcia has risen through the ranks, showcasing exceptional leadership skills and extensive experience in public accounting. He joined P&A Grant Thornton because he resonated with the firm’s humble beginnings and commitment to excellence. He worked his way up from the Audit Junior position to where he is today.

He is currently the national president of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice and held prominent positions in other professional organizations including the national association of CPAs, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where he served as president of the Southern Metro Manila Chapter from 2016 to 2017. Meanwhile Aznar has a unique blend of expertise as both a certified public accountant and a lawyer. With over two decades of experience in the auditing and professional services field, his hard work and determination led him to pursue both accountancy and law. His deep understanding of taxrelated matters and comprehensive experience in auditing will further enhance P&A Grant Thornton’s position as a leader in the industry.

FAMOUS DINER HELPS MANGO FARMERS IN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

TO HELP uplift the livelihood of farmers, Kenny Rogers Roasters has initiated the Farmvocacy program where every purchase of a selected menu offering provides support to local farmers. This campaign strengthens the brand’s goal of offering delicious and healthy meals while recognizing the importance of farmers in the food industry.

Now on its second year, Kenny Rogers Roasters’ Farmvocacy is supporting local mango farmers in Zambales – the main provider of mangoes in the country – through Kenny Rogers Roasters’ Mango Habanero initiative.

For every purchase of Mango Habanero Solo Plate, Kenny Roger’s will donate P1 to local mango farmers, providing support to Samahang Magmamanga ng Zambales (SMZ) to help the group achieve its goals of promoting and producing high quality mangoes. The fast-food chain also assisted SMZ to create a common label and packaging for its local mangoes.

Through this initiative, the SMZ will be equipped to manage the supply of their mangoes better, and continually improve mango production by sharing best practices among its members and affiliates.

Chairman and managing partner, Romualdo ‘Boyet’ V. Murcia III (left) and vice chairman and deputy managing partner Olivier ‘Vier’ D. Aznar

Dr. Hidelisa Hernandez and Dr. Veronica Sabularse

THE WOMAN BEHIND A FORWARD-THINKING MAKATI

By Patricia Taculao

HAILING from a political family, Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail Sombillo Binay

Campos, popularly known as Abby Binay, has heard the call for public service for quite some time. But Binay isn’t one to shy away from the limelight and worry about paving her path in politics. Since 2016, she has led Makati to become a progressive city and innovation pioneer.

As the world transitioned toward a digital age, Binay wanted to leave a legacy that transformed Makati into a smart city by initiating a digital economy and connecting Makat citizens, or Makatizens, via free WiFi. Yet her plans don’t stop there.

Binay is also eyeing converting Makati into a green city powered by renewable energy and retro tted with sustainable transport systems.

In 2020, the Makati mayor gained global recognition for her initiatives as the sole nalist in the World Smart Cities Award for the same year. This 2023, Binay has kept busy with new opportunities that continue to improve lives and benefit her Makatizens.

“Over the past six and a half years, Makati has gained prominence in the international community for our future-ready plans, programs, and groundbreaking innovations that have propelled the city into the digital age. These are the types of projects that will have a lasting impact on the quality of life for Makati residents, and I am very proud to be leading the e ort,” she said during the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Event last

May 18 at Ra es Hotel.

Earlier this month, Binay helped address the country’s unemployment crisis and boost the city’s economic growth by holding a Mega Job Fair that o ered more than 7,400 vacancies from 53 reputable companies across various industries.

The initiative is only some of the many ways Binay empowers her constituents. Another of her recent undertakings includes launching the Makati Mobile Library at Makati Elementary School. The library aims to provide accessible learning materials and services to all Makatizen students.

Binay isn’t one to forget the many communities within Makati and strives to promote inclusivity within her city. She recognizes the efforts and contributions of the elderly community within Makati. On the

Makati, known as the fi nancial capital of the Philippines, has long been celebrated for its towering skyscrapers, bustling commercial centers, and vibrant nightlife.

—Mayor Binay

rst day of June, she brought back the highly-anticipated benefit that provides free movies to some 82,617 senior citizens in Makati. These citizens

are Blu card members and Makatizen Virtual Card holders, further amplifying Binay’s bid for a smarter Makati. Aside from the people, Binay also pays close attention to the various industries contributing to Makati’s growing economy.

Among them is the tourism industry, which highlights the city’s numerous unique tourist destinations, like luxury shopping experiences, museums, parks, and infrastructures, among other tourist-favorite spots.

Recently, the Makati Mayor partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to launch the first-ever “Hone On, Hop Off” (HOHO) bus tours to promote the city’s heritage sites, museums, and lifestyle centers, which are what tourists seek whenever they visit Makati.

“Makati, known as the financial capital of the Philippines, has long been celebrated for its towering skyscrapers, bustling commercial centers, and vibrant nightlife. But beneath the surface of this thriving urban landscape lies a treasure trove of cultural heritage and emerging tourist destinations waiting to be explored,” Binay said during the HOHO launch.

Many Filipinos view Makati as a pioneer city in the metro that embraces modernity wholeheartedly and finds a way to incorporate the past, present, and future for e ciency and productivity. So when Binay shared that the DOT chose Makati as the pilot site for the HOHO bus tour, it was no surprise. Binay has been at the forefront of innovation and leads her city with a bright outlook for the future.

From implementing innovations to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic to highlighting Makati’s economic and tourism prowess, Binay has led her city with grace and idealism that propelled Makati to become a powerhouse in the Philippines.

MAYOR ABBY BINAY REMINDS MAKATIZENS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

DURING the first-ever Gawad Kalikasan held last June 27 at the Makati City Hall, Makati Mayor Abby Binay delivered an inspiring speech during her State of the Environment Address, reminding her constituents of their responsibility to empower communities toward the collective journey of achieving sustainable climate goals.

“It is incumbent upon us to serve as a role model to other localities and to share our knowledge, experiences, and best practices to help them attain their climate goals. Such a huge responsibility calls for every Makatizen to do their part in sustaining the health of the environment,” she said.

Binay also called upon the Makatizen’s cooperation and unity, which have brought significant efforts in championing sustainability in the city as a vital part of their present and future success.

The Gawad Kalikasan recognizes the stakeholders’ efforts in rehabilitating, conserving, and preserving the city’s environment while documenting conducive approaches and increasing the community’s compliance with environment-related ordinances.

It also coincides with June as the Philippine Environment Month.

IN

MAKATI SOLON BACKS PBBM‘S BID TO REUSE METRO MANILA FLOODWATER FOR IRRIGATION

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to collect, impound, and recycle Metro Manila’s stormwater for agricultural irrigation in surrounding provinces has drawn the support of a senior member of Congress.

“We are all for it. Assuming the government can establish new large stormwater reservoirs for farm irrigation, then all of Angat Dam’s water reserve may be freed up and devoted exclusively to supplying Metro Manila’s demand for potable water,” Makati City Second District Representative Luis Campos Jr. said

in a statement last Sunday.

“At present, besides supplying 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirement, Angat also provides water to irrigate some 28,000 hectares of farmland in Central Luzon,” Campos pointed out.

Campos’s remarks came as Angat’s water level continued to drop due to abnormally low rainfall amid a looming El Niño event.

By 6:00 am last June 25, Angat’s water level fell to 184 meters or just four meters above the dam’s 180-meter critically low water mark.

Several barangays, private sectors, departments, offices, and other stakeholders took home the recognition for their outstanding efforts toward environmental protection within Makati.

Patricia Taculao

Initially, President Marcos said the government plans to tap the multibillion-peso annual budget for ood control projects to create large stormwater impounding areas for farm irrigation purposes.

Stormwater refers to excess groundwater from heavy rains, which causes flooding until it’s drained into natural waterways such as rivers and lakes.

Campos had previously led House Resolution No. 906, which pressed for a congressional inquiry into the “unsuccessful implementation” of the Rainwater Collection and Springs Development Law 1989.

The 34-year-old law requires the Department of Public Works and Highways to construct rainwater collectors in all barangays.

The Makati mayor bravely blazes her own path as a public leader

Angat Dam supplies Metro Manila and nearby provinces with water

PRIDE

MAKATI. Various LGBTQ organizations participated in the Metro Manila Pride March in Makati last Saturday, June 24, 2023, to celebrate Pride Month. The groups call on the government to pass the SOGIE bill. Danny Pata

The dam’s standard high water level is 210 meters. In previous dry spells, Angat, which

is in Norzagaray, Bulacan, had stopped releasing farm irrigation water to conserve water supply for Metro Manila. Read the full story on manilastandard.net.

ON THE ROAD

MANILA TRAFFIC = HORRENDOUS

METRO Manila experiences high traffic throughout the day, especially during the rush hour - making visiting Manila these days a nerve-wracking experience.

We got stuck in the horrendous traffic up north two Fridays ago on our way to Valenzuela from the SM Megamall in EDSA, Mandaluyong. Since it took us about two hours to get there, it was a truly horrible experience. We discovered that a worldwide singing star was in town and doing a two-day performance at Bulacan’s biggest venue.

2023 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING VIOS CUP HOLDS SUCCESSFUL KICKOFF LEG

THE Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Vios Cup has returned for another thrilling season. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP)’s longestrunning premier one-make-race series, debuted its first out of three rounds for the 2023 season yesterday, July 1, 2023, at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga. Gates opened at nine in the morning and admission was free to give public access to the exciting racing action and TGR activities all throughout the day.

The event was also streamed live online via the official Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Facebook page.

This year, the TGR Vios Cup returned with the Circuit Championship, but with a big season twist. The Toyota Vios racers will race their way to a test of durability as endurance racing will be featured in the third leg—a

first since Vios Cup started in 2014. This season is set to level up the excitement of the races among leading racers and racing teams from all over the country.

More up-and-coming racers have joined Vios Cup veterans for fresh hands on the steering wheel. The newest addition to Team Toyota Gazoo Racing PH roster of Circuit Championship racers

this year is actor Enzo Pineda, a Toyota Vios Cup Autocross alum who is now elevated to the Circuit Promotional Class. Meanwhile, Vios Cup veteran, Troy Montero, is back in the speedway as one of the Super Sporting Class racers. Completing the trio of celebrity circuit racers is new addition and former drifter Ryan Agoncillo.

The racing event also marked another edition of the popular Autocross Challenge featuring social media personalities of diverse backgrounds. Online stars Macoy Dubs and Genesis Redido joins this year’s class, along with cyclist Ezra Domingo, and sportscaster Apple David. This season, TGR Vios Cup also welcomed back past Vios Cup Autocross racers, Reph Bangsil and model Arianne Bautista along with beauty queens—returnee Carla Lizardo and newcomer Megan Young. Completing the Season 2023

Autocross racers lineup are previous season Autocross champ Migy Romulo, and fellow 2022 crowd favorites Benedict Cua, Bianca Yao and Lexi Mendiola.

With the second leg happening on September 7-9, race fans can get the full Toyota Gazoo Racing experience all season long not just by watching the races by the grandstand, but also by seeing a display of various Toyota GR cars, trying out the TGR GT Cup racing rigs, and participating in activities and getting chances to win prizes from TMP and TGR Vios Cup sponsors.

Official results of the recently held races are to follow.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup is organized in cooperation with Bridgestone and Petron. Other sponsors are Denso, 3M, AVT, ROTA, OMP, Tuason Racing, myTOYOTA Wallet and Kinto One.

JETOUR AUTO PH TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER AFTERSALES EXPERIENCE

JETOUR Auto Philippines, Inc.

(JAPI) focuses on ensuring a fulfilling aftersales experience for its customers.

JAPI sees the aftersales experience as essential to car ownership. This is why JAPI invested in comprehensive training for its after-sales management team, which will then cascade the technical processes and servicing standards to the brand’s 16 dealerships.

From May 31 to June 8, 2023, JAPI technical delegates, led by Aftersales Director Eryx Guiang, underwent in-depth training and brand inculcation activities at the JETOUR head office in Wuhu, China.

The JAPI Aftersales team went through seven days of intensive technical training courses and practical exercises in China. JETOUR International hosted the training covering air conditioning and transmission systems and engine and electronic management systems for JETOUR models sold in

the Philippines. They were also trained in the Battery Electric Vehicle technologies and systems used in the Ice Cream EV. JETOUR International also gave the

technical team a tour of the advanced manufacturing facilities of JETOUR and the Chery Auto Plant.

The delegates were also introduced to the parts ordering and inventory

systems that Jetusese of in its global operations. At Wuhu, the team also did a walkthrough of the dealership and training center operations standards which they will implement in all JETOUR dealerships and service centers in the Philippines.

By applying JETOUR’s technical standards and systems in its Philippine operations, JAPI aligns itself with global procedures and practices. JETOUR utilizes in more than 30 countries and regions across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, AsiaPacific, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

JETOUR Auto Philippines may be new in the market. Still, the combined automotive industry experience of the men and women behind the brand is an assurance that owning a JETOUR will be a gratifying experience allowing JETOUR owners to create more meaningful memories from every journey.

CHANGAN STILL HIGHEST RANKING DOMESTIC BRAND

SINCE 2018, Changan has continuously been rated as the top-ranked domestic Chinese brand according to the JD Power China IQS.

The JD Power IQS has been tracking new car owner concerns for 23 years, looking at 218 issues in 9 categories: features/controls/displays, exterior, interior, infotainment system, seats, driving experience, driving assistance, powertrain, and climate. Every 100 automobiles have a citation for the first quality overall. The lower the number of problems, the higher the quality score.

In addition to the JD Power IQS results, Changan was listed by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) in May 2023 as one of the top five best-selling brands in the nation, with

domestic sales of more than 510,000 units between January and May 2023.

Changan was also listed as one of China’s top 10 best-selling new energy vehicle (NEV) brands, with total sales of 24,346 units during that period.

“Once again, Changan Auto provides concrete proof of its vision for future-forward mobility. We at CMPI, together with our growing base of happy Changan owners, have products and service offerings that

we are truly proud of. Expect more excellent product offerings from us before the year ends,” said Changan Motor Philippines, Inc. president and chief executive officer Maria Fe PerezAgudo.

But wait till you encounter the level of traffic that currently plagues Manila. It happens every day, yet the local officials appear to do nothing and pay no attention to what is going on in and around their enormous city. Chaos began to spread over the streets of Manila a few months after the new government took office.

With a vengeance, public utility vehicles started to take over the streets as they established pick-up stations for commuters at various locations throughout Manila. In Manila now, there are more tricycles than jeepneys, and they rule the streets. They are free to leave even on Manila’s busiest streets and park wherever they like for the duration of the day. And where are the infamous Manila traffic cops that the previous mayor of Manila employed to increase the amount of money collected for the city’s coffers?

In any case, they are perceived to be highly busy catching drivers who would break the law because of those complicated stop lights that the city had installed all around, as opposed to patrolling the street corners where heavy traffic is a daily occurrence. To add, the free flow of vehicles and pedestrians is completely blocked by the return of illegal sellers, who are once again operating openly on the streets. Roadwork is ongoing everywhere. In Manila, numerous streets are either closed for construction or being dug up for various reasons. There are excavations for a variety of purposes, including water supply, flood control, and cementing. Consider the impact on traffic if just one street were closed. Additionally, the majority of them are shut down for several days at a time with little to no employee activity. Most of them have 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. employment hours. The following 16 hours are being squandered on that foundation.

The closure of the Lagusnilad, which is just in front of the Manila city hall, has made the already terrible traffic situation in Manila even worse. If you don’t want to spend the entire day stuck in horrendous traffic, never, ever attempt to pass this road when traveling south. I guess my point is… Are we doing anything about this?

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) has teamed up with premier logistics company Lalamove - through its auto brand, Lalamove Automotive - and introduced the commercial vehicle Toyota Lite Ace as a transport partner. Through this collaboration, prospective and current Lalamove operators will be able to acquire the Lite Ace Panel Van model through Lalamove Automotive’s Vehicle Ownership Program.

With micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs’ mobility needs continuously increasing, TMP, through one of its dealerships Toyota Taytay, Rizal (TTR), together with Toyota Financial Services Philippines (TFS), moved to answer the demand by creating an affordable pricing scheme for the Lite Ace. TTR and TFS then collaborated with Lalamove to provide this lite-on-thepocket pricing as an option for partner operators, giving them the convenience to grow their transport and delivery services.

TOYOTA LITE ACE IS LALAMOVE AUTOMOTIVE’S CHOICE FOR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

MAXINE ESTEBAN VOWS TO REMAIN A FILIPINO AT HEART

By Peter Atencio

FILIPINO-IVORIAN fencer Maxine

Esteban said her beloved Philippines will always be in her heart whenever she trains and competes in numerous tournaments and until she seeks quali cation for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the coming months even under a di erent ag.

“The environment of respect, honor, and equal opportunities I am currently experiencing is a much-needed comfort for me. If through my efforts, God rewards me with success, know that whatever triumphs I gain is a triumph of the Philippines as it is of the Ivory Coast,” said the 22-yearold Esteban now that she is getting comfortable training with her new teammates with the Ivorian women’s national team.

Last week Esteban nished third and won a bronze medal in the individual women’s foil category of the 2023 African championships in Cairo, Egypt.

This was her second tournament under the Cote D’Ivoire banner.

Esteban, who has been coached by Italian master Andrea Magro since they rst met back in 2020, took a 14-15 setback to two-time Olympian Nora Mohammed of

Egypt, and her effort to reach the semi nals allowed her to achieve two milestones in her career.

After reaching her highest world ranking last year, at no. 62, Esteban has gone even high to end up at a new career high of world no. 46.

She reached the semis after beating Youssra Sakarani of Egypt, 15-8. Her latest international sortie came a month after she switched

nationalities, opting to play under a different country, after years of competing for the Philippines.

“Because no matter what stage I will compete in, be it in a small tournament or—God willing—in the Olympics, the flag I represent only tells half the story. In my heart, I will always carry two inspirations: The land of my birth and the country I now call home,” said Esteban in a

I FOUGHT LONG AND HARD FOR PH FLAG, SAYS FIL-IVORIAN FENCER

FIL-IVORIAN fencer Maxine Esteban

won’t forget the time when she was winning medals for the Philippines before she decided to pursue a different path.

“I guess sometimes, life just takes you on a di erent path than you had initially planned. I will tell my story someday, that much I can guarantee. There is so much to learn from my experience, every heartache and frustration I had to endure so that the things I went through

10-BOUT CARD FEATURED AT PFL PLAYOFF

THE Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league in the world, announced the finalized ten-fight card for the first Playoff event of 2023 featuring semi nalists in the Featherweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. The event will be hosted at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, TX on Friday (August 4 US Time) and aired over ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

The PFL’s debut in San Antonio will be headlined by top-seeded Featherweight Bubba “Bad Man” Jenkins, who will take on Jesus Pinedo. Jenkins is looking to advance to the PFL Featherweight Championship nals and capture his rst title and milliondollar purse. Standing across the PFL SmartCage will be Pinedo, who shocked the MMA world after stopping 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane to advance to the win-or-gohome PFL Playo s.

The co-main event will feature topseeded Light Heavyweight Josh Silveira, son of legendary MMA coach Conan Silveira, in a matchup against Ty Flores. Silveira was a 2022 PFL Challenger Series competitor who brings an impressive 11-1 record into his second PFL Playo appearance.

“We are excited to kick o the 2023 PFL Playo s in San Antonio at the Boeing Center at Tech Port,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo. “This is what that the PFL athletes have worked for all season, a Playo opportunity and the chance to advance to the PFL World Championship.”

In a battle of undefeated Featherweights, Gabriel Braga will face

statement.

After she got accepted by her new teammates, Esteban is now the no. 1 ranked bet of Cote d’Ivoire, with Jennifer Danielle Ko and Bintou Samira Soro joining her. She and her teammates are now getting ready for the World Championships in Milan from July 23 to 26.

again—especially those who dream of ying the Philippine ag on sports’ grandest stage,” said Esteban.

Esteban won’t forget her contributions as a Filipina fencer, having been a bronze medalist in the FIE Junior World Cup 2018 and in the Senior Satellite World Cup 2018 and her silver medal nish in the Senior Satellite World Cup, 2021. She also got a bronze medal in European U23 in 2022, aside from being an eight-time national

University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion while a studentathlete with Ateneo de Manila.

“I have fought long and hard for our country, encountering failures along the way. But I have also savored the thrill of winning for our ag. I remember being the only Filipino to win a medal in the Junior World Cup, back when I also was ranked 16th among juniors in the world, and also being the only Filipino to medal twice in the Senior Satellite World Cup,” said Esteban.

Early this year, Esteban was cut from the Philippine national team to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games while she was recovering from the injury she sustained while competing in Egypt last year.

The decision may not have gone well with Esteban, who went on with the process of switching nationalities while recovering from her injury.

“Sometimes, we must give ourselves enough respect to walk away from something that doesn’t value our worth. I want everyone to know that I did everything humanely possible to ful ll this long-time dream with the Filipino ag sewn on my uniform. But a series of unfortunate events—very little of which I had any control over— forced me to chase my dream in a distant, yet familiar land,” wrote Esteban. Peter Atencio

2 PINOY KICKBOXERS COP GOLDS IN WKA CHAMPIONSHIPS

TWO Filipino kickboxers won gold medals in the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) World Championships held recently at the Mira Boxing Stadium in Bali, Indonesia.

Jethro Saba, fighting in the 61 to 63 kilograms class, bagged two gold medals after beating Indonesian Joydi Sigarlaki and American Dean Rosenwald both by unanimous decision.

Saba used a vicious combination of straight punches and back kicks to conquer his opponents.

Andrei Amerkhan, competing in the 63.5 kg class, defeated Australian Rahullah Sarwari via unanimous decision.

Amerkhan thrilled the crowd by unleashing two flying knee strikes and a

straight punch to his opponent’s jaw en route to his win.

“Every time I fight I utter a short prayer that says: All my heart all for God’s glory,” said Amerkhan who also secured an international professional contract with the WKA.

Founded in 1976, the WKA also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association is one of the oldest and largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and karate.

The WKA is now led by its president Dave Sawyer with headquarters based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Eddy Lee is the regional director of WKA East Asia while Ramil Serit is the president of WKA Philippines.

BASKETBALL CAMP WITH PBA LEGEND VINCE HIZON

THE Point Guard Academy Dasmarinas City Cavite and Vince Hizon will hold a basketball camp at The Orchard Golf and Country Club, Dasmariñas City Cavite starts July 10 and will run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Beginners class will place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. while Advance/ Shooters Camp is scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The enrollment Fee is P6,000.00 (Members) and P7,000.00 (NonMembers/Guests). There will be eight sessions.

Movlid Khaybulaev. Khaybulaev, 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion, is seeking his 22nd career victory and a return trip to the PFL World Championship, while Braga is looking for his rst $1 million opportunity. Rounding out the Playo matchups will be a Light Heavyweight matchup between Marthin Hamlet and Impa Kasanganay. It’s a win-or-go-home scenario as both athletes will be looking to make their rst PFL World Championship appearances.

Maxine Esteban (extreme right) during her bronze medal nish at the Senior African Championships. From Maxine Esteban FB

Jethro Saba (left) and Andrei Amerkhan (right) won gold medals for the Philippines in the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) World Championships in Bali, Indonesia Contributed Photos

Maxine Esteban in action

A PRO TRAVELER’S PATH TO MEMORABLE JOURNEYS

By Nickie Wang

INa world filled with limitless possibilities, where uncharted territories await, every great expedition starts with a solitary stride. Such is the profound essence encapsulated by the remarkable tale of audacious travelers who dare to embrace the entire globe as their destined haven.

Speaking to Manila Standard Lif e , TV personality Drew Arellano shares some secrets that transform fledgling explorers into seasoned “connoisseurs of the travel realm.”

“You just have to have an open mind to try out new stuff and experience. It could be food, it could be meeting new people that would probably make your trip more memorable,” the affable TV host imparts his travel philosophy.

True to his words, Drew is naturally always game for everything. He has tried all sorts of thrilling and extreme adventures including skydiving, free diving, scuba diving, rock climbing,

canyoneering, e-foiling, surfing, paragliding, and climbing a vertical bivouac. He has also communed with nature in so many ways — swimming with sharks, whale sharks, sea turtles, and millions of sardines, as well as dolphin watching, and bat watching, to name a few.

As he talks about his insatiable appetite for the unfamiliar and a sense of boundless adventure, the once novice traveler, Drew reacts to being called the “Ultimate Biyahero” – a moniker he has gained for hosting the GTV show aptly called Byahe ni Drew

“I feel proud [being regarded as the “ultimate biyahero”] because it’s not just me – it’s mostly my team. It’s such an honor to host a travel show for this long, to experience so many beautiful places, to eat so much good food, and to meet interesting people along the way. If I could do this for another 10 years, that would be awesome,” he says.

A line-up of thrilling surprises awaits all budget-conscious and adventure-seeking travelers as Biyahe ni Drew celebrates its 10th anniversary with back-to-back specials in South Korea airing today and July 9 on GTV. The two-part anniversary episode is made more special as Drew’s wife, Iya Villania-Arellano , joins him in exploring and discovering the wonders and hidden gems of South Korea.

“Viewers will see us try the most sumptuous Korean dishes, explore Korean beauty, and visit the most talked-about places including a popular BTS bus stop and a film location of the hit K-drama series Goblin,” ends Drew.

SWIM IN SUSTAINABLE FASHION

ON Swim a Lap Day on June 24, a renowned swimwear brand, celebrated the passion for swimming and the pleasure of water activities.

Mabi Swimwear, known for its sustainable fashion solutions and high-quality swimwear, commends the health and fitness benefits of swimming.

Swim a Lap Day has been celebrated since 2012, and people worldwide participate in this initiative every year. This year, Mabi Swimwear has decided to join the celebrations.

Swimming is an excellent exercise for maintaining cardiovascular health and is one of the best forms of exercise which tones the body without harming the joints. Mabi Swimwear, through Swim a Lap Day, encourages people to take the initiative to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Mabi Swimwear has garnered a reputation in the industry for its unique designs catering to women of all sizes and shapes, providing comfortable and sustainable swimwear. The brand ensures the usage of eco-friendly materials by incorporating alternative materials such as recycled polyamide, organic cotton, organic linen, and organic hemp fabrics –forging the swimwear industry towards a natural, sustainable fashion.

HOW FAST FASHION DESTROYS THE ENVIRONMENT

By Roxoanne Bagano-Dizon

THE fashion industry has seen an unprecedented boom in recent decades, and the fast fashion phenomenon has gained traction.

Fast fashion pertains to massproduced clothing manufactured in a short period and are designed to be disposable. The industry is known for its low-cost, trendy clothing items that are constructed at a high volume.

It likewise involves the use of synthetic, low-quality materials that are manufactured rapidly with little attention to sustainability. They use synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon are used extensively because they are cheaper and have a longer lifespan than natural fibers. This results

in environmental and social damage.

The artificial materials take hundreds of years to decompose and release microplastics into the ocean, thereby polluting the water and harming marine life. With clothes that are worn only a few times before being discarded, fast fashion produces a significant amount of waste.

The field is the second most polluting industry globally, with 10 percent of global carbon emissions. This consumption culture contributes to landfills and generates greenhouse gas emissions that affect the environment.

It consumes more energy than aviation and shipping combined.

This model of production exploits human labor, degrades local economies, and pollutes the environment. In contrast, the traditional model involves

clothing production from raw materials to finished products.

In conclusion, the fast fashion industry is damaging the environment at an unprecedented rate, and it’s crucial we start making sustainable fashion choices.

Sustainable fashion is a growing trend in today’s world, and it involves designing, producing, and distributing clothing sustainably with the environment, society, and business ethics in mind.

Adopting a sustainable approach to clothing production and consumption can assist to reduce our environmental footprint and lessen our impact on society. By shopping smarter, embracing minimalism, thrift shopping, renting clothes, and caring for our clothing, we can create a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.

use

Award-winning host Drew Arellano

Drew is joined by his wife, Iya, in the two-part anniversary episode of ‘Biyahe ni Drew’

Drew and Iya visit the most talkedabout places in South Korea including a film location of the hit K-drama series ‘Goblin’

During their trip to South Korea, Drew and Iya try the most sumptuous Korean dishes, explore Korean beauty, and visit the most talked-about places such as the popular BTS bus stop

Mabi Swimwear celebrates the benefits of swimming in ‘Swim a Lap Day’ event

HOW THE ‘SOUL SUPREME’ REINVENTS HERSELF

By Nickie Wang

IN the early years of her career, KZ Tandingan rarely ventured into writing happy love songs, fearing that it would compromise her “edgy persona.” Furthermore, during the initial decade of her career as a musician, she hadn’t experienced the profound love that surpasses all others.

The song “Dito Ka Lang” marks a significant shift for her as an artist, embracing her current emotions and revealing her true self. KZ firmly believes that staying true to who you are doesn’t mean sacrificing your authenticity and uniqueness.

She believes that personal style and demeanor naturally shine through in your music and expressions.

“I’ve never felt that loving someone more than anybody else in the world.

So, this song is the first song that embraces me and the kind of emotions I have at the moment. Being who you are doesn’t have to suffer because ayaw mong mawala ang pagiging astig mo. Your swag is who you are, whatever you talk about or sing about will just naturally come out,” KZ said during the single’s launch and listening party.

The brand new soul-

ful love song was writ ten when her husband Monterde went overseas for a concert tour while she remained in the country.

TAYLOR SWIFT TEASES FANS WITH ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY’ OFFICIAL TRAILER

By Angelica Villanueva

THIS is not a drill!

“Dito Ka Lang” beau tifully portrays the over whelming love that she has unexpectedly received. KZ expresses her gratitude and humility, wondering, “What have I done to de serve this kind of love?” She hopes that everyone gets to experience such deep affection.

for a concert tour while she er Grammy winner,

American pop star Taylor Swift has dropped the official trailer of the second season of the teen series The Summer I Turned Pretty and the reason why she’s the one releasing it is because it uses her re-recorded “Back To December (Taylor’s Version)” as its official soundtrack.

Jackie

Jett

Blending soul, R&B, and rap elements, the song underwent mixing by Grammy winner Boom in the United States and mastering by anoth er Grammy winner, Galindo of The Bakery LA. The arrangement was skillfully handled by Theo Martel, with production by ABS-CBN Music’s creative director, Jonathan Manalo.

The music video for “Dito Ka Lang,” now avail able on the ABS-CBN Star

The music video for “Dito Ka Lang,” now avail

Music YouTube channel, features performances by Kobie Brown and Andi Abaya. KZ Tandingan’s reinvention as the ‘Soul Supreme’ shines through this soulful and heartfelt composition.

“Dito Ka Lang,” which consistently trended online after it was announced, will be the first track featured in KZ’s upcoming fulllength album called Soul Supremacy II. It follows her hit Soul Supremacy album released under Star Music in 2017.

The project also comes after the X Factor Philippines first season grand winner released two songs for the global audience, “11:59” and “Winning.” She likewise graced the cover of a New York Times Square billboard in 2021 for Spotify’s EQUAL playlist. Recently, she served as one of the coaches for The Voice Kids Philippines season 5.

ADIE, UNIQUE HIT 100M STREAMS ON SPOTIFY, RECEIVE PLATINUM RECORD AWARDS

O/C Records honored its current headliners at the kick-off celebration of the music label’s 5th anniversary. Held at 19 East last weekend, O/C— led by celebrity couple, musician Kean Cipriano and actress Chynna Ortaleza —awarded three platinum record awards to singer-songwriter Adie as his singles such as “Tahanan,”“Mahika,” and “Paraluman” have amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify, respectively.

A platinum award was also given to singer-songwriter Unique Salonga as his album Grandma reached over 100 million streams on the same digital music platform. The album includes the massive hit tracks “Midnight Sky” and “Sino.”

A week before the official release date of Speak Now ( Taylor’s Version ), the singer surprised fans on Friday as she posted on her social media platforms the trailer of the Prime Video show.

“Crying (Taylor’s Version),” she wrote. Swifties also expressed their excitement and now looking forward to hearing the full song while fans of the TV series are contemplating whether to be on Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad. Written by Jenny Han, the series will premiere on July 14 on Prime Video. On the other hand, the Grammy-award winner is set to release Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on July 7.

Rising singer-songwriters Kenaniah were also recognized for hitting the 50-million- stream mark for their music. mrld got two Gold awards for her hit tracks “An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You” and “Ligaya,” while Kenaniah got one for his viral hit “Bahala Na.”

The awarding ceremony was part of O/C’s sold-out anniversary show which mainly featured performances from Cipriano, Adie, Unique, Kenaniah, singer-songwriters Pappel, Eugene Layug, Cean. Jr, Chrstn, and bands Healy After Dark, Crash, bird.

mrld and and

Adie’s hit songs ‘Tahanan,’ ‘Mahika,’ and ‘Paraluman’ receive overwhelming support from Spotify users

KZ’s new song is dedicated to her husband, singer-songwriter TJ Monterde

latest single, ‘Dito Ka Lang’

The ‘Dito Ka Lang’ music video features Kapamilya young artists Kobie Brown and Andi Abaya

MultiGrammy award winner Taylor Swift

debut studio album ‘Grandma’

KUSIN NI ATO’S SHOWSTOPPERS WITH FREE LEGAL AID ON THE SIDE

ALL the dishes at Kusin Ni Ato are affordable – the most expensive items are the dinakdakan at P100 and beef bulalo at P90 – perhaps in keeping with Atty. Juman Paa’s belief that justice should be just as accessible. But it is the free legal aid that he offers – and he is sometimes joined by lawyer friends who share his advocacy – that is truly priceless, especially for the less fortunate who eat at his carinderia.

A TASTE OF JUSTICE

By Joyce Babe Pañares

AT THE busy corner of Cabrera St. and EDSA in Pasay City, a hole-in-thewall carinderia, Kusin Ni Ato, has a curious Friday Special item on its menu: free legal assistance from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For one year now, indigent people seeking legal aid and VIP clients in need of topnotch lawyers have crossed paths at this two-table eatery which opened on June 15, 2022.

And regardless of financial stature, all customers get to enjoy a warm bowl of goto filled with tendon and tripe, the classic Ilocano dish dinakdakan, or the Tagalog version of dinuguan (soupy version), among others, with legal advice on the side.

“I wanted to get rich,” said 44-year-old Juman Paa, the youngest son of a jueteng kubradorturned-kabo father and a public school teacher mother, as he explained how he decided to take up law after retiring early as a corporate treasurer of a big mining firm.

“It was a hand-to-mouth existence growing up. We knew the value of hard work because we saw it in our parents,” he said.

As a young boy from Cabanatuan, he initially wanted to dabble in fine arts but found himself tinkering with ledgers and worksheets instead when his elder brother died while taking up accountancy in college.

And after his early retirement, armed with his savings and backed by an understanding wife who is also a lawyer, he pursued a law degree and passed the Bar exams in 2015.

“Looking back, I really thought I was going to get rich as a lawyer. But after I passed the Bar, I didn’t have any clients. A friend told me to go and look for clients inside our jails. So, I went to Camp Karingal in Quezon City,” he said.

But instead of finding wealthy clients, he found prisoners languishing in jail because they could not afford private lawyers to handle their cases. Lawyers from the Public

Attorney's Office, after all, handle multiple cases, making it impossible for them to give the same attention as a private lawyer hired by a rich defendant.

“I served as pro bono lawyer of inmates at the female dormitory at the Quezon City jail. I helped about 30 women inmates – almost all of them got acquitted. They only needed a lawyer to follow up on their cases,” he said.

“If I get a paying client, I would automatically save a portion of my earnings to bring food to the inmates. I’d order goto for them to warm their tummies, and sometimes Jollibee chicken. It’s heartbreaking how some of them would only eat half of their chicken to save the rest for dinner,” he added.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, jail visitations were stopped. Paa thought it was the end of his personal advocacy. Fate, however, had other more delicious plans.

“During the pandemic, I started a cooking blog with a friend. That’s how Kusin Ni Ato was born,” he said. Kusin was a Filipino take on the word cuisine, while Ato was Paa’s nickname among the inmates he served – attorney for short.

Last year, he decided to open his

eatery in Pasay City, offering the same goto that comforted him as a hardworking lawyer, and comforted the prisoners whose lives he touched. Aside from dinakdakan and dinuguan, there is also mami ng Cabanatuan, tinumis ng Nueva Ecija, paksiw na pata ng Legaspi, papaitang baka, and adobong bahay guya ng Bulacan.

Paa’s former inmate-clients whom he got acquitted were among the first employees of the carinderia.

“A portion of the money we earn from the carinderia, about P15,000 a month – we use this to fund our monthly feeding program inside jails,” he said.

The jail visitations were organized and sponsored by Kusin ni Ato and donors in collaboration with the Knowledge Advocate of Volunteer Lawyers and Paralegals, a group of lawyers created by Paa which has recently been designated as a member of the technical working group of GOJUST (Governance in Justice) for jail and court decongestion funded by the European Union in partnership with the Philippine government.

“Everything we cook has a purpose,” Paa said. “This goto means so much more to me and to my clients. In a way, it is the taste of justice.”

TINAPAYAN FESTIVAL OPENS 3 NEW BRANCHES

TINAPAYAN Festival, a local bakeshop in Manila known for its soft and sweet bread, pastries, and cakes, has opened three new branches since the start of the year.

This expansion marks a significant milestone for the company, especially in the wake of the challenges faced during the pandemic.

“Small businesses like ours are now starting to slowly go back to normal operations.

It is the right time to expand our operations, fulfill our promise to our customers of making sure that we are present where they are in the community. With the opening of our new branches, we are hoping to put more smiles on the faces of our fellow kababayans and become part of their daily lives,” said Potenciano Clarito Chavez, Tinapayan Festival’s COO for Sales and Marketing.

Beginning February this year, Tinapayan Festival has successfully opened three new branches in strategic locations: one in SM North EDSA - North Towers in Quezon City; one in Shoppesville Center in Greenhills, San Juan; and another in Riverbanks Mall in Marikina.

This brought their total number of branches to five, with the main headquarters in Dapitan St. and a kiosk in Manila Zoo.

An absolute treat for customers is Tinapayan Festival’s exclusive Manila Savoury products that are available in only two branches – at SM North and in Greenhills.

Manila Savoury products include Chicken Floss, Pork Floss, Cheese Tuna Mayo Bun, Cheesy Vegan Roll, Ham and Cheese Loaf, Salad Roll, and Corn and Mushroom Bread.

“We are incredibly excited to embark

on this expansion journey and continue our commitment to the Filipino community. We have remained true to our word to deliver the same quality and taste that our customers have come to love. These new branches will allow us to reach more people and continue spreading the joy through our delicious bakeshop creations,” Chavez said.

(Visit Tinapayan Festival at its main branch at 1650 Dapitan St. corner Don Quijote, Sampaloc, Manila or call (02) +8 732 2188 or (63) 0961 715 2714 to place your advance bulk orders or drop by their other branches located at Manila Zoo, SM North EDSA - North Towers, Shoppesville Center, Greenhills, and Riverbanks Mall, Marikina. Send them an email at sales@ tinapayan@gmail.com)

‘‘ Everything we cook has a purpose. This goto means so much more to me and to my clients. In a way, it is the taste of justice.

— Atty. Juman Paa

A WARM BOWL OF GOTO. A comfort food not only for Atty. Juman Paa but also for the detainees and indigent clients he serves.

DAILY BREAD. Tinapayan Festival customers drop by the SM City North EDSA - North Towers branch to get their Tinapayan favorites and Manila Savoury products.

Lawyer, advocate and carinderia owner Atty. Juman Paa

Dinakdakan

Dinuguan

Paksiw na Pata

Lechon Kawali

THE SHOT THAT COUNTS: KNOWING THE VACCINES YOUR PET CAN'T DO WITHOUT

By Rowena David

AS PET parents, we want our fur kids to live a long, happy, and healthy life. We feed them healthy foods, give them vitamins, and ensure that their resting area is comfortable. But there is one crucial factor that some fur parents tend to disregard when it comes to the health of their pets—vaccinations!

What are vaccines and why are they important?

According to avma.org, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website, “Vaccines are products designed to trigger protective immune responses and prepare the immune system to fight future infections from disease-causing agents. Vaccines stimulate the immune system's production of antibodies that identify and destroy disease-causing organisms that enter the body.” Like people, our pets are prone to several illnesses, some of which can be fatal. Vaccinations are important because they shield our pets from these dangerous diseases. For pet parents who have multiple pets, vaccinating their pets is highly recommended to prevent dangerous diseases from spreading in the house.

Core Vaccines: The Must-Haves for Pet Protection

Core vaccines are vaccines that every pet should have, regardless of their age, breed, lifestyle, or environment. These vaccines protect against contagious and potentially life-threatening diseases that might put the lives of pets at risk.

For dogs, veterinarians typically recommend core vaccines to protect against canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, and rabies. These diseases can cause severe health issues and can be fatal if not treated.

When it comes to cats, core vaccines include protection against panleukopenia (feline distemper), feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type I (rhinotracheitis), and rabies. These vaccinations are critical in preventing the spread of these highly contagious diseases within the feline community.

By giving your pets core vaccinations, pet parents are taking important steps to create a healthier environment for their pets.

Non-core vaccines: Personalized Protection Tailored to Your Pet’s Needs Non-core vaccines provide supplemental protection depending on several factors, such as your pet's lifestyle and environment. Consult with your licensed veterinarian if you feel that your pet needs non-core vaccines.

When to Kickstart Your Pet's Vaccination Journey

Immunizing your pet is an important step in stabilizing their health and well-being for the rest of their life. The timing of vaccinations can vary depending on several factors, such as the age

ME SOME LOVE!

By Mariana Burgos

CURLING up with your beloved ball of fur while she purrs is fairly close to heaven, at least for cat-loving people. Yet, concealed amid those vibrations, that most seductive of home noises remains shrouded in mystery, and even a little enchantment.

Many of us are taught from a young age that when cats purr, it means they are content. While purring is assumed to be partly deliberate and partly innate, research reveals that cats can purr for a variety of reasons, including communication, self-soothing, and even healing. This is why cats will frequently purr after being harmed or experiencing a traumatic incident.

Cats frequently purr when humans pet them, resulting in a link between purring and enjoyment. Cat behavior implies that cats are also attempting to urge greater interaction, as if to say "please continue to stroke me."

Why Do Cats Purr?

Kittens are born blind and deaf, and they stay that way until they are about two weeks old.

They begin purring after only a few days, mostly to alert their mothers to their whereabouts and to seek their attention during feeding time. This behavior persists until maturity, and cat owners who are subjected to a forceful exhibition of purring at mealtime will be familiar with it. However, this is only one of various ways to employ the purr. This sort of purring has been dubbed the 'solicitation purr' by scientists. The 'solicitation purr' is a combination between a meow and a purr, with a frequency similar to that of a wailing infant — a sound to which we are naturally wired to respond.

Danielle Venton, in her article "Why Do Cats Purr? It's Not Just Because They're Happy,” said that if it is a kind of communication, it is intended for individuals close to the cat, because cats purr at a frequency and loudness too low to go far. Purring, like many other low-frequency vocalizations in mammals, is generally connected with pleasant social situations like breastfeeding, grooming, resting, and being sociable.

of your pet, species, and general health. Always consult with a licensed veterinarian who can provide you with personalized guidance tailored to your pet's specific needs.

Typically, vaccinations begin around 6 to 8 weeks of age, both for puppies and kittens. Additional vaccinations will be administered by your veterinarian as your pet grows. Your veterinarian will guide you through the vaccination schedule to ensure that each vaccine is given at the right interval.

It is important to keep in mind that vaccines are not a one-size-fits-all approach, so it's important to follow the recommended vaccination schedule provided by your veterinarian to ensure your pet gets the necessary shots at the right time.

Post-Vaccination: What to Anticipate After Your Pet's Vaccination

Vaccines are generally safe, and it's not unusual for pets to experience minor discomfort as their immune systems react to the vaccine. These reactions are often temporary and don't pose a serious risk to their general health.

Some common post-vaccination reactions in pets may include mild fatigue, slight tenderness or swelling at the injection site, and a decrease in appetite. These reactions are typically mild and should disappear within a day or two.

While mild reactions are expected, it's essential to be vigilant for any signs of more severe or persistent reactions. Should your pets develop any unusual or severe reactions after vaccination, contact your veterinarian right away. They can offer guidance and address any concerns that may arise.

Vaccinations are vital to our pet’s health and wellbeing. By immunizing our pets against dangerous diseases, we can ensure that they live their lives to the fullest, free from preventable illnesses.

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

LIKE DOGS, WOLVES RECOGNIZE FAMILIAR HUMAN VOICES

HERE, wolfie, wolfie, wolfie!

Like dogs, wolves recognize and respond to the voices of familiar humans more than strangers, according to a study that has implications both for the story of canine domestication and our broader understanding of the natural world.

Holly Root-Gutteridge of the University of Lincoln, a coauthor of the paper that appeared in Animal Cognition this week, told AFP a longstanding theory held that dogs' ability to distinguish human voices was a consequence of generations of selective breeding.

"So we wanted to look at wolves, because obviously nobody has been selecting so that wolves can recognize human voices," she said.

Root-Gutteridge and colleagues carried out experiments across five zoos and wildlife parks in Spain, involving a total of 24 gray wolves, both male and female, aged between one and 13.

The team set up speakers and first played the animals the voice of a number of strangers that they would "habituate" to, in other words, get bored of, because they decided it was not salient to them.

Then, they played the wolves the voice of their keeper who would say familiar things to them in Spanish, such as "Hey, what's up wolves?" or "Hello little ones, good morning, how's it going?"

In gestures that would be instantly recognizable to any dog owner, the wolves raised their heads, pricked their ears up, and turned towards the speaker.

To test the effect wasn't random, the researchers went back to playing the wolves recordings of strangers, and found they once more lost interest.

Finally, to make sure the wolves genuinely knew their keepers' voices, rather than just knowing words that the familiar humans would normally say to them, the team mixed things up and had the keepers utter a stream of unfamiliar phrases.

Once more the results held up.

The fact that the wolves engaged with disembodied voices played through speakers echoes what's been seen in dogs from the era of gramophones – as captured in a famous painting entitled "His Master's Voice" – to today's video doorbells, though it's not yet known whether our

While it is true that cats purr when they are really relaxed, animal scientists think that cats also purr when they are extremely stressed or in pain, such as when they go to the vet or dealing with something they are being bothered with. Venton said purring is more likely to be simply comforting or selfsoothing, as cats may purr in stressful conditions. She also believes that if that is the case, purring would be similar to how humans relieve stress by weeping, laughing, amusing themselves, doing untimely chores or even displaying obsessivecompulsive actions. Although scholarly research on the issue is limited, veterinarians and cat aficionados have witnessed cats sleeping near one another and purring when one is wounded. This is referred to as "purr therapy" conduct.

Professor Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D., a cat expert and the main investigator at the Feline Genetics Laboratory, which is part of the Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, said “cats also purr when they are stressed or severely injured; when they are recovering from an illness or injury; and while giving birth or even while they are dying.”

It appears that cats' purrs, in addition to comforting those around them, allow cats to cure themselves.

Veterinar-

How do cats purr?

ian Barbara Sherman, the director of the N.C. State Veterinary Health Complex, in her article, “Feline Purring, Explained,” said that purring is caused by a central nervous system signal. The vocal fold muscles in the cat's larynx vibrate to create sound bursts when it inhales and exhales. These sound bursts occur every 30 to 40 milliseconds (or around 25 times per second) and provide the distinctive purring sound. She further states that purr frequency is independent of cat age, size, weight, or sex, and is easily audible to a close person or cat.

This frequency is similar to the frequency used by scientists in vibrational therapy to stimulate tissue regeneration.

How exactly does vibrational therapy work?

In his article, "What Is Vibration Therapy?" Summer Fanous said that when vibrations are transferred to your body, they force your muscles to contract and relax. Certain forms of vibrations may also stimulate the production of osteoblasts in your body. These are the cells that make bone.

The direction and strength of vibrations may influence how effective vibration treatment is.

Vibrational treatment achieves the same level of healing and reinforcement by utilizing low frequency vibrations rather than strong high impact activities. So, in theory, a cat's purr can aid in healing.

The benefits humans get from cats’ purrs

Cat purring reduces tension – caressing a purring cat has a relaxing effect. According to Professor Lyons, it reduces the symptoms of dyspnoea (breathing problems) in both cats and people. She said it also lowers blood pressure and lowers the risk of heart disease, and cat owners are 40% less likely to have a heart attack.

She added that cat purrs are said to assist with infections, swelling, and discomfort, muscle development and repair, tendon repair, and joint mobility. So, it appears that a cat's purr is truly amazing. Cats are capable of healing themselves as well as comforting and mending those around them. An enchanting animal making a magical sound!

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She has been 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.

File photo shows a wolf standing inside its enclosure at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center (CWWC) on March 28, 2023. Like dogs, wolves recognize and respond to the voices of familiar humans more than strangers, according to

A cat gets a free rabies vaccine. (Photo by the Bacoor City Veterinary Services Office Facebook Page) Lucky, rescued by the author, was vaccinated with the 5-in-1 vaccine which protects him from distemper and Parvo, among others.

A man with his cat relaxing on his arm.(Photo from iStock royalty-free images.)

Yellow, rescued dog of animal welfare group Save Animals of Love and Light-Save ALL, was vaccinated immediately after she was cleared of illnesses by the vet. (Photo by Save ALL in their Facebook page)