Manila Standard - 2023 October 1 - Sunday

MARCOS SETS P12.7B AID FOR 2.3M RICE FARMERS

DSWD ALSO SAYS P15,000 EL NINO SUBSIDY STILL IN PLAY

By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of P12.7 billion worth of assistance to rice farmers to help keep their productivity despite the ongoing agricultural challenges in the country.

Under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program, the government selected 2.3 million small rice farmers beneficiaries who are in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also said Saturday the Marcos administration has not ruled out granting P15,000 in cash subsidy to farmers who will be severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

RFFA recipients are those listed in the farm cooperatives associations, irrigators associations, agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations, small water impounding systems associations, and other farm groups.

“This would help them cope with the increasing cost of production and sustain their productivity even in the face of challenges like the coming El Niño [phenomenon],” said Mr. Marcos, who is also the concurrent Agricultural chief.

According to the Palace, beneficiaries would receive P5,000 worth of financial assistance, which was

OBIENA CLAIMS FIRST PH GOLD IN ASIAN GAMES

sourced from the excess tariff collection from rice importations in 2022.

Moreover, the President approved the use of P700 million in collected excess tariff for the “Palayaman Plus,” a conditional cash transfer under the Household Crop Diversification Program.

Around 78,0000 beneficiaries of Palayaman Plus are expected to receive P10,000 each in cash assistance from the program.

These proposed cash aid packages support the Masagana Rice Industry Development Programs (MRIDP), the Palace said.

‘CHINESE ACTIVITIES DESTROYED 500 HECTARES OF WPS CORALS’

SATELLITE imagery shows that between 2012 to 2016, more than 500 hectares of the Scarborough Shoal had been destroyed by Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea, a state university professor said in a forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute.

“Massive coral destruction in the West Philippine Sea has been ongoing for quite some time,” University

time Affairs and Law of the Sea Di -

rector Dr. Jay Batongbacal said.

“The thing is, due to the arbitration having come out under a ‘friendly’ administration in 2016, China has never really been called to account for the destruction it caused with this massive islandbuilding spree and then all subsequent destructive fishing activities that it allowed to continue thereaf-

Batongbacal said there is a need to quantify and valuate the total amount of losses due to these coral destructions.

Meanwhile, working with other countries on “calibrated” economic sanctions on China could be a better option than realigning confidential and intelligence funds to agencies focused on the West Philippine Sea, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said on Saturday.

Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard vowed to “do whatever it takes” to remove any more floating barriers installed by China at disputed reefs in the West Philippine Sea.

“Another reason for coral destruction is the maritime militia anchoring on pristine reefs. You do not anchor on coral reefs in massive numbers without causing some kind of destruction,” Batongbacal added. AFP

GIBO PLANS RESERVE FORCES REVAMP

DEFENSE Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Saturday expressed his intention to revise the current reserve forces paradigm structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In a radio dzBB report, Teodoro said the AFP’s current design might not be able to withstand the looming threats against the country. With the ongoing tension in the Philippines’ territorial waters, citizens might need to take up arms to protect the country from unknown incoming threats, Teodoro added.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. welcomed Teodoro’s plan to revise the armed forces’ structure.

“Well, we welcome that revision because we see that the problems our country is facing now are really different from the problems we faced before,” said Brawner at the sidelines of the 44th National Reservist Week Culminating Activity in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Brawner explained that the country’s current challenges are more “global in nature” compared to what it faced before. Charles Dantes

HANGZHOU, China—Ernest John Obiena claimed the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 19th Asian Games on Saturday, clearing 5.90 meters to set a new event record in the pole vault and bringing life back to the Filipinos’ faltering campaign so far.

Elsewhere, boxer Carlo Paalam remained on track for an Olympic return and a gold medal as he outclassed a game Uulu Munarbek Seiitbek of Kyrgyzstan.

Paalam, the Tokyo Olympic silver medal winner, hacked out a 4-1 decision against Seiitbek in an action-packed bout at 57kg to book a berth in the quarterfinals.

In basketball, Gilas Pilipinas lost to Jordan, 87-62, no thanks to Philippine Basketball Association import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who ironically will return to the country to don the colors of TNT.

The loss has Gilas playing an extra game to clinch a quarterfinal berth, instead of a direct ticket to the Final 8 had it won against the Hollis-Jefferson-led Jordanians (see full story on manilastandard.net)

PETRON RAISING LPG TANK PRICE BY P3.75/KL ON OCT. 1

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PETRON Corp. is raising the price of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P3.75 per kilo, equivalent to P41.25 per 11-kilo tank, effective October 1. “Petron will implement a P3.75/kg (VAT-inclusive) increase in LPG prices effective 0001H Oct 1,” the company said Saturday.

AutoLPG prices will likewise increase by P2.09 per liter to reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of October, the oil refiner said.

An 11-kilo tank of LPG currently sells from P841 to P985 in the National Capital Region, government data showed. Prices vary depending on the brand, location of the station, and market forces.

Meanwhile, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said in its price forecast that gasoline should go down by P1.80 to P2 per liter but diesel will increase by P0.20 to P0.40 per liter.

This developed after the Department of Energy said oil prices may have a “mixed movement” next week with a possible rollback in gasoline while diesel prices may increase by up to P0.20 per liter or will not have any movement.

“Prices are still volatile and we need to manage our expectations,” DOE director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero said. Romero said world oil prices softened in the first few days of the week due to the elevated interest rates, higher US Dollar, and the relaxation of Russia’s fuel import ban.

GOLDEN LEAP. Ernest John Obiena wins the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China by clearing 5.90 meters on his second attempt to set a new event record. AFP

Malabon Zoo owner Manny Tangco (with snake, center)

by Father Seelan

they

UAAP SEASON 86 OPENS. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines celebrated its return to a pre-pandemic setup with a glamorous Season 86 live opening ceremony at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Dancers from season host University of the East interpret the league’s theme for this year, ‘Fueling the Future.’ UAAP Photo

MARCOS LEGACY: HIKING PH

POULTRY OUTPUT

bust, and profitable for farmers.”

The same assurance of consultative governance was given by Savellano during an earlier convention of the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.

‘JENNY’ SEEN BECOMING TYPHOON BY MONDAY

As a marching order from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as concurrent Agriculture Secretary, the government will pursue all means to raise livestock and poultry production to achieve food security, according to DA Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano.

This will go along with raising farmers’ profit and lowering farm product prices while ensuring the availability of sources of protein for consumers.

At the Poultry Forum 2023, Savellano said that as food security is national security, raising local agricul-

tural production will be prioritized. It will be realized through a consultative approach to governance.

“Recommendations from various sectors of our agriculture are currently being heard and studied on what, where, and how government actions are to be applied to boost our poultry sector,” he said.

“We have started to meet with stakeholders to strategize a common direction and priorities in order to significantly increase our local food production, making it efficient, ro-

“We will find ways to produce more to lessen importations. By consulting with livestock associations on how much each sector can produce, (we will know) the actual demand. It will be the consideration in determining the minimal quantity of imports.” Importation in previous years has brought huge opportunity losses for the local poultry industry. DA aims to reverse these losses into gains.

Chicken meat importation has been consistently rising from 45.772 million kilos in 2008 to 67.264 million in 2009, 101.957 million in 2010, 127.227 million in 2011, and 411.069 million in 2022.

United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) Chairman Gregorio San Diego said during the same poultry

forum that the direct impact of this importation is displaced local production totaling a whopping P58.286 billion (299.366 million broilers).

Displaced too are 315.122 million day-old broilers amounting to P9.138 billion and 2.52 million broiler breeders valued at P756.294 million. Lost sales from byproducts (head, feet, intestine, blood) total P5.987 billion.

Importation brings lost direct labor totaling 31,512 at one caretaker per 10,000 broilers and lost jobs in feed milling, trucking, and dressing plants.

Lost feed sales total P4.877 billion. Lost feeds ingredient sales totals P11.89 billion (corn); P8.154 billion (soya); P4.478 billion (coconut oil); and P1.132 billion (rice bran).

There is also opportunity loss for veterinary products (disinfectants, vaccines vitamins, antibiotics), P3.623 billion. Dressing plants have lost business of P2.993 billion.

ROMUALDEZ LEADS ‘ALAGANG TINGOG CENTER’ CAMIGUIN OPENING

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin — Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on Saturday led the distribution of cash aid to persons with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens here.

The lawmaker led in handing out P5,000 to each of the 2,000 qualified beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

At the same time, Rep. Romualdez and Camiguin Lone District Rep. Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo inaugurated the first Alagang Tingog Center (ATC) here.

Romualdez assured Camuiginons that the center would bring as many services as it could to the province through the help of their local government leaders.

Individuals also won raffle items such as grocery bags, sacks of rice, cellphone units, smart TVs, rice cookers, gas stoves, refrigerators, bicycles, and two brand-new motorcycles.

The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to Tingog Party-list for opening a satellite office on the island.

Tingog, led by Rep. Romualdez and Rep. Jude A. Acidre, aims to open more ATCs in the country to bring cash, medical, burial, and education assistance closer to people.

Also present at the event were Camiguin Rep. Romualdo, Camiguin Gov. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo, Vice Gov. Rodin Romualdo, and Mambajao Mayor Ynigo Jesus D. Romualdo, among others.

DENR AXES PROTECTED-AREA PACT WITH SOCORRO

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday suspended the protected area management agreement with the Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI) in Surigao del Norte for gross violation of the pact.

In a news release, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said the Department will further investigate SBSI’s violation of the terms and conditions of the Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement (PACBRMA).

PACBRMA is a legal instrument between the DENR and tenured migrant groups to develop and conserve a portion of a protected area for a 25-year period.

DENR said SBSI was awarded a PACBRMA in 2004, by virtue of the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, aimed to protect ecological processes and life support system and to preserve general diversity of an area.

The agreement covers 353 hectares

of land located in the northeast part of Barangay Sering, overlooking the northeast portion of Bucas Grande Island.

Under the provisions of the PACBRMA, SBSI was granted certain rights and privileges over the awarded area within its established Multiple-Use Zone.

Together with the DENR, SBSI developed its Community-Based Resources Management Project (CBRMP), which was affirmed in 2013.

By Maricel V. Cruz

TROPICAL Storm “Jenny” is forecast to steadily intensify and become a severe tropical storm by today and a typhoon by Monday or Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Saturday.

In its 5 p.m. weather update, PAGASA said Jenny has maintained its strength as it accelerates west-southwestward over the Philippine Sea.

The state weather bureau said it is monitoring Jenny’s movement but added the tropical cyclone is not yet directly affecting the country.

Heavy rainfall may be experienced in Batanes and Babuyan Islands on Tuesday or Wednesday due to the proximity of the track forecast to Extreme Northern Luzon, PAGASA said.

“The current forecast scenario shows that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals may be hoisted over Extreme Northern Luzon tomorrow or on Monday in anticipation of the onset of tropical cyclone severe winds. However, the hoisting may happen earlier should there be changes in the forecast scenario,” it added.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or “habagat” may be enhanced by Jenny, resulting in possible occasional rains over the western portions of Southern Luzon and Visayas on Sunday.

TRADERS HAIL PASS-THROUGH FEES SUSPENSION

THE suspension of “pass-through fees” collected by local government units for vehicles transporting goods through their areas received a warm welcome from the manufacturing and transportation sector, a Trade official said on Saturday.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Kim Lokin said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City that Executive Order No. 41 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently would help local businesses lower their transportation costs.

“We are very grateful to the President because he has at least acted on this. This has been a longstanding issue (raised) not just from the truckers, but even the manufacturers, and local businesses,” Lokin said. She said the unauthorized collection of pass-through fees has been going on since 2006 and was only addressed this year.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organization (ACTOO) Vice President Rina Papa said they are looking forward to being part of the technical working group that will craft the EO’s implementing rules and regulations.

Charles Dantes

HALAL FOOD AMBASSADORS.

Miss Universe Bahrain Lujane Yacoub (left) and Miss Universe Pakistan Erica Robin explain why they are campaigning for the halal food tourism campaign of the Philippine Department of Tourism as they arrive in Makati City in

preparation for the 72nd Miss Universe beauty pageant to be held in El Salvador on November 18. Danny Pata

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to raise by five times in five years the local production of livestock and poultry, which will be a legacy of the Marcos Jr. administration that reverses any record of excessive importation in order to benefit Filipino farmers.

ATC OPENING. Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (second from right) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Alagang Tingog Center (ATC) in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on Friday. Also in photo are Cabadbaran City Mayor Judy Chin Amante (second left) and Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Dale B. Corvera (right). Miko Noveno

CANADIAN SHIP, PINOY CREW. His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver docks at Pier 15 in Manila South Harbor for a port call on Saturday. Inset shows Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Thwaites introducing three of the 11 crew members of the ship with Filipino roots to underscore their goodwill visit to the country. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

MARCOS WANTS TO REBUILD DINAGAT TOURISM INDUSTRY

By Charles Dantes

SOLON: NO HIKE IN CATASTROPHE INSURANCE FEES

By Maricel V. Cruz

CONSUMERS and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will not have to bear the additional burden of increased catastrophe insurance costs.

This was after Rep. Wilbert T. Lee of AGRI party-list group blasted the Insurance Commission (IC) for issuing IC Circular Letter No. 2022-34 dated July 14, 2022, which would have imposed as much as 400 percent increase in minimum catastrophe insurance rates.

Lee was able to secure a commitment from the IC to revoke the implementation of the said circular after he moved to defer the budget of the Department of Finance (DOF) and its attached agencies during plenary budget deliberations recently.

The Bicolano lawmaker only agreed to withdraw the motion when IC Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado finally committed to him and other House Members that the IC will revoke the increase in insurance premium rates, as well as nullify a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the IC and insurance companies involving the establishment of the Philippine Catastrophe lnsurance Facility (PCIF) if the MOU is found to be illegal. IC Commissioner Regalado said that they will review the legality of the said MOU within 15 days.

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to bolster Dinagat Islands’ tourism industry as part of the government’s efforts to rebuild the province and transform the country’s interisland connectivity.

In his speech during the rice distribution in San Jose, Dinagat, Mr. Marcos reiterated the administration’s com-

mitment to rebuild the area from the damages wrought by Typhoon Odette.

“So it’s not just about the recovery

PAW PATROL: SECURITY GUARDS AT PH OFFICES ADOPT STRAY CATS

A CAT wearing a black-and-yellow security vest strolls nonchalantly past security guards lined outside a Philippine office building waiting to receive instructions for their shift.

Conan, a six-month-old stray, joined the security team of the Worldwide Corporate Center in the capital Manila several months ago.

He is one of the lucky moggies unofficially adopted by security guards across the city, where thousands of cats live on the street.

While the cats lack the security skills of dogs -- and have a tendency to sleep on the job -- their cuteness and company have endeared them to bored security guards working 12-hour shifts.

Conan was rescued when he was a few weeks old by a housekeeper who found him wailing in the building’s car park.

He accidentally landed the role of security cat after his predecessor, Mingming, died -- reportedly from gum disease, not in the line of duty.

Grieving guards wanting another furry friend to liven up their shifts decided to appoint Conan as Mingming’s replacement.

“If Conan isn’t around then I’m not motivated,” security guard Aljon Aquino, 30, told AFP.

“He takes away my stress.”

Photos of Conan wearing his vest emblazoned with “security” and lying on a desk next to a lifesize cardboard picture of Mingming have been shared thousands of times on Facebook.

He is among more than a dozen strays living in the commercial and corporate building, where they are allowed to roam. Employees pitch in to buy food for them. AFP

of the damaged buildings like this one and those we see that were damaged during Typhoon Odette, but we also have a plan for Dinagat’s tourism industry,” said Mr. Marcos.

The province was battered by Odette back in 2021 and incurred around P3.9 billion worth of agricultural and infrastructure damages, affecting more than 34,000 families.

The President vowed to improve the area’s connectivity, such as putting up an airport and maximing the use of sea-

ports to allow easier access for tourist.

“Dinagat is somewhat isolated, so we need to find a way to make the airport beautiful first, that’s the easiest,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Secondly, all Ro-Ro-equipped vehicles have been fully utilized. So it’s a big deal, it’s easier to go to Surigao now, you’re not having a hard time anymore,” he added.

Dinagat Islands has been known for its pristine beaches and is home to one of the largest bonsai forests in the country.

Lee questioned the IC Circular increasing the minimum catastrophe premium rates, which he said was unnecessary as the House was able to determine that insurance companies were profitable.

PROTESTERS HOLD CLIMATE RALLIES VS. US

By Ronald O. Reyes

CLIMATE campaigners in the Philip-

pines held lightning rallies near the US Embassy in Manila to demand accountability from President Joe Biden’s administration, saying the US government fails to fulfill its climate finance obligations to the peoples of the Global South.

“The United States is the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses. A report on the world’s key emitters found that the US has cumulatively produced more CO2 than any other nation, contributing more to human-caused climate change than any other nation over the course of history,” said Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD). “Countries in the Global South that have the least emissions contribution face the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Communities in Asia are suffering massive losses and damages.”

“These countries have been demanding the US government to urgently deliver adequate, nondebt-creating, unconditional, and predictable climate finance through the financial mechanisms under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),”she said.

DAVAO FIRM: ALL GOV’T PROJECTS ABOVE BOARD

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

DAVAO-based P.L. Sebastian Construction has vehemently denied it is involved in “ghost projects” particularly involving the National Irrigation Authority (NIA).

Mary Mae Sebastian, one of the registered owners of the firm, said in a statement her family’s firm has long been a partner of the government in development and as such, they have participated in biddings and subsequently were awarded nine projects.

Sebastian made this clarification amid a pending Senate investigation into allegedly anomalous NIA projects recently exposed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

Sebastian also reiterated all their projects with the government have been transparent and completed on time. Moreover, the materials they used

were in compliance with standards and the terms of reference, she added.

P.L. Construction, Inc. was established in 1981 by Petronilo L. Sebastian Sr. or more popularly known as “Sir Nilo” and is now being managed by his son, Engr. Petronilo Sebastian Jr.

The company is rated AAA—the highest ranking—in the General Engineering and Building Contractor of the Philippine Contractors Accreditations Board (PCAB) of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The contractor is also known as a “Large B” in the General Engineering and Building Category under the Contractor Registration Certificate (CRC) of the DPWH.

Among the projects awarded to PL Sebastian was the Construction / Im-

provement of Maguinadanao-Sultan Kudarat Bdry. Lebak-Kalamansi Road under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from May 2009 to December 2011;

Construction/ Improvement of Malabang-Sultan Gumander Road under the DPWH from September to December 2007, Contract Package 3 CompostelaNew Bataan-Liboton Road, Compostela Valley under the DPWH from December 2000 to November 2003;

Construction of River Protection/ Flood Control Project under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from December 2005 to December 2006, Parang-Barira Road Upgrading Project in the Municipality of Parang and Barira, Maguinadanao under the GEM2/USAID from February 2006 to March 2007.

CONAN THE GUARDIAN. This picture taken on September 27 shows Conan the cat walking past security guards in formation outside an office building in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. AFP

POTTERY MAKING. A worker shows the process of making pots at the RG Pottery Factory in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur as part of the May-Kan Festival, a journey to explore the cuisines of the North through gastronomic experiences. Joey Razon

IN BRIEF

ISRAEL, SAUDI MOVING TOWARD DEAL, SAYS US

WASHINGTON—Israel and Saudi Arabia are moving towards the outline of a historic US-brokered deal to normalize relations after decades of hostility, the White House said on Friday.

President Joe Biden is hoping to transform the Middle East—and score an election-year diplomatic victory—by securing recognition of the Jewish state by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites.

“All sides have hammered out, I think, a basic framework for what, you know, what we might be able to drive at,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“But, as in any complex arrangement, as this will inevitably be, everybody is going to have to do something. And everybody is going to have to compromise on some things.”

The United States has urged its Middle East allies Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize diplomatic relations, following on from similar deals involving the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. AFP

UK TO PUSH BACK ON ‘ANTI-CAR MEASURES’

US GOVERNMENT HOURS FROM SHUTDOWN, FUNDING CHAOS

WASHINGTON—The US government on Saturday was hours from shutting down after the far right of the Republican Party scuppered final attempts at a temporary budget agreement, throwing into doubt everything from access to national parks to Washington’s massive support for Ukraine.

The closure of all but critical government services, set to start after midnight Saturday (0400 GMT Sunday) if lawmakers fail to reach a deal, would be the first since 2019 -- immediately delaying salaries for millions of federal employees and military personnel.

The two chambers of Congress are deadlocked, with a small group of Republicans in the House of Representatives pushing back against stopgap measures that would at least keep the lights on.

On Friday, House Republicans defeated a plan proposed by their own leader, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to keep funds flowing, deepening the sense of growing chaos within the party ahead of 2024 elections where hard-right former president Donald Trump hopes to return to the White House.

The White House Office of Management and

Budget’s director Shalanda Young said there was “still a chance” of avoiding a shutdown if Republicans could end internal divisions.

And White House Press Secretary Karine JeanPierre made clear that President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in 2024, did not intend to wade in.

“The conversation needs to happen between Speaker McCarthy and his caucus. That’s the fix, that’s the chaos that we’re seeing,” she said.

Speaking to the news outlet ProPublica on Friday, Biden said McCarthy has made “a terrible bargain. In order to keep the speakership, he’s willing to do things that he, I think, he knows are inconsistent with the constitutional processes.”

McCarthy, however, blamed Democrats, saying they are the ones blocking a solution. AFP

NEW YORK FLOODED BY HEAVY RAINS, SUBWAY PARTLY PARALYZED

NEW YORK, United States—Heavy rains overnight in the northeastern United States left parts of New York under water on Friday, partially paralyzing subways and airports in America’s financial capital.

LaGuardia airport closed down one of its terminals, with social media images showing passengers walking through water well above the tops of their shoes.

Mayor Eric Adams urged people not to venture out because the streets were blocked and subway stations flooded.

“If you are home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now, some of our subways are flooded and it’s extremely difficult to move around the city,” he said.

Images from around New York showed cars half-submerged and traffic snarled, with some major roads completely blocked.

Shopkeepers in flooded stores were trying to protect merchandise and push the water back into the streets.

The sprawling New York subway

system was also hit, with several lines closed in Brooklyn. Cab driver Ahmed Abdou, 50, originally from Egypt, blasted officials for struggling to cope with what he said was a regular phenomenon.

“The subway in the city is terrible,” he said. “All the storms, they come every year at the same time. We should anticipate it better.”

But Rohit Aggarwala Overall, the city’s Environmental Protection Commissioner, said global warming had advanced faster than the city could act.

“This changing weather pattern is the result of climate change. And the sad reality is our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond,” Overall said.

State of emergency

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared an official state of emergency for the city of 8.5 million and its densely-populated suburbs, including Long Island to the east and the Hudson river valley to the north. The National Weather Service

INUNDATED. A general view shows cars stranded in floodwater on the FDR highway in Manhattan, New York on September 29. AFP warned of flooding through late Friday with as much as two inches (5.1 centimeters) of rain falling per hour. It said total accumulation on Friday could hit seven inches (18 centimeters), warning of flash flooding

in urban and poor drainage areas. At Grand Central Terminal, in the heart of Manhattan, Sue Evangelista, a 63-year-old retiree, waited five hours for a train to take her and her husband to Connecticut. AFP;

KOSOVO ON EDGE AS DEADLY CLASHES STIR UNEASE

PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Nearly a week after deadly clashes in Kosovo triggered one of the gravest escalations in the former breakaway province in years, the opportunity for reconciliation between ethnic Albanians and Serbs seemed as distant as ever.

The killing of a Kosovo police officer and an ensuing gun battle at a monastery brought years of distrust and bitterness to the surface -- as a war of words between Serbia and Pristina’s governments, competing days of mourning, and calls for sanctions marred already fractious relations.

On Sunday, three Serb gunmen were killed in an hours-long shootout with Kosovo police, after they ambushed a patrol and later barricaded themselves at an Orthodox monastery near the northern border with Serbia.

In the wake of the clashes, Kosovo police have rounded up suspects, remanded three alleged gunmen in custody, and seized an arsenal of weapons that authorities said could have armed hundreds.

On Friday morning, Kosovo police fanned out again across the north as they conducted an operation that saw the special units raid properties linked to the suspected mastermind of the attack on the police.

The move triggered immediate condemnation from Belgrade, with Serbia’s Office for Kosovo calling the operation a “brutal and excessive demonstration of force” with special police units “armed to the teeth”.

Later on Friday the United States called on Belgrade to pull its forces back from the border with Kosovo

after detecting what it called an unprecedented Serbian military buildup.

Serbia had deployed sophisticated tanks and artillery on the frontier, the White House warned.

NATO meanwhile said it was ready to increase its peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

‘A normal life’

In the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica in the north, Serb residents said they feared an increased presence of Kosovo police and ensuing crackdowns in the already restive community.

“I’m afraid of repression, which we’ve had before. A policeman was killed and that’s terrible... now I can only imagine what will happen next,” said a 38-yearold Serb resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. AFP

LONDON—Britain’s Conservative government on Friday announced new plans to “support drivers” and push back on “anti-car measures” as some opposition-led areas move to impose restrictions on the use of motor vehicles in the name of environmental protection.

“The clamp down on drivers is an attack on the day to day lives of most people across the UK who rely on cars to get to work or see their families,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement announcing the new plans.

“This week the UK government will set out a long-term plan to back drivers, slamming the brakes on anti-car measures across England. We are taking the necessary decision to back the motorists who keep our country moving.”

Among the measures announced Friday -- two days ahead of the annual Conservative Party conference -- were plans to review guidance on 20-mileper-hour (32kph) speed limits and “prevent their blanket use in areas where it’s not appropriate”, according to the statement. AFP

LULA UNDERGOES HIP SURGERY OKAY

BRASÍLIA, Brazil—Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was awake and recovering from hip surgery on Friday, which his doctor said went off without a hitch.

“The surgery went without complications, the president is awake, going to post-anesthesia recovery,” the doctor Roberto Kalil Filho told a news conference.

Lula had said prior to the operation that he had been reluctant to interrupt his global diplomatic travels and undergo the surgery, but hoped the operation would put a spring in his step -- and boost his mood.

His doctor said the surgery lasted about an hour, and that the president would be able to leave the hospital “Monday, or the latest Tuesday.”

After the hip replacement, the doctors “took advantage of Lula’s good response to anesthesia” to perform a cosmetic surgery on his eyelids. AFP

MESKEL HOLIDAY. Orthodox deacons look on during the celebrations of the Ethiopian Orthodox holiday of Meskel in Addis Ababa on September 27. The Ethiopian Meskel celebration is an annual religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox church that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross in the fourth century by the Roman Empress Helena. AFP

By Alena Mae

NEXT-GENERATION HORTALEZAS SUSTAIN BUSINESS EXPANSION

Alfonso is the president and chief operating officer of Prime Global Finance Corp. (PGFC), the group’s lending arm, while Alexone is the president of Prime Global Corp. (PGC) whose major business is in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).

The brothers are now ready to take on the challenge of running the business from their father Rolando, bringing it to new levels.

“He still stands as chairman and CEO, and he is still there in terms of strategic directions, and he is still involved in terms of the product portfolio--more on the creative side of the business such as launching new products. But in terms of operations, it is now me and my brother who manage our respective businesses,” Alexone said.

The brothers were given bigger roles after their trademark company Splash Corp. was sold in 2019.

“He is semi-retired, trying to enjoy life. He sits on the board of the group, but it is very rare for him to come to the office,” Alfonso said, referring to his father.

Alfonso aims for a bigger and stronger PGFC, with the company investing heavily in digitalization.

PGFC is an end-to-end financing company established in 1997 that caters to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“When I took over in 2019, we had been innovating and investing heavily on digital platforms for the past four years,” he said.

PGFC has shown tremendous growth in the middle of 2022, the time

SOLAR-POWERED VESSEL RAISES AWARENESS ON MARINE CONSERVATION

THE Circular Explorer continues to make progress in its mission as an ambassador vessel for circular living and to support the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

A partnership between the Holcim Group and One Earth – One Ocean (OEOO), the solar-powered Circular Explorer is raising awareness on the importance of a circular economy, which includes reusing materials for as long as possible to prevent wastage and conserve natural resources.

“We are proud to see the Circular Explorer in action and responding to the enormous challenge of marine pollution. The vessel also plays a key role in amplifying our message on the importance of circularity to preserve natural resources and minimize wastes. Already, we are advancing circularity, having recycled around 600,000 tons of waste in our operations in the first half of 2023 while also advocating for policies on the use of construction and demolition wastes in new structures,” said Holcim Philippines president and CEO Horia Adrian.

The Circular Explorer is also advancing research on marine plastic pollution while collecting wastes to support Manila Bay’s cleanup.

In September 2023, the vessel has collected 18,415 kilograms of wastes including 7,965 kilograms of plastics covering an area close to 3.84 million square meters.

The Philippine Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection Command helps in the daily cleanup. A partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is also in the works to align the Circular Explorer’s activities with the agency’s initiatives for Manila Bay rehabilitation.

The vessel is spreading awareness on the importance of a circular economy against marine wastes through an education campaign with advocacy organization Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation.

when SMEs started to realize how the company benefits users. It is the only financing institution that offers diminishing loan rates compared to other financing solution providers who impose add-on rates where interest is based on the total loan value.

“With us, it is diminishing interest. Whatever is the outstanding balance, we base the interest from there,” Alfonso said.

He said the company is the largest SME fintech, with end-to-end digital functions compared to other companies. The company continues to grow its loan portfolio in the billionpeso mark.

Unlike other financing firms, PGFC has a dedicated portal for borrowers to log-in and check the status of their loans. The process from loan application to processing is purely digital. The only time there is physical contact is during appraisal for signing of documents and releasing of loan.

PGFC offers a suite of financing options to SMEs from as low as P1 million to as high as P25 million.

“Fifteen percent of our clients graduate to bank financing. We are helping the SMEs, and we know that the cost of capital is very expensive. The ultimate goal for us is for our customers to have a bank loan,” Alfonso said.

While PGFC’s core function is lending, it is embarking on an aggressive expansion to launch an insurance platform, solely for its main clients—the SMEs.

Alfonso is optimistic that the new insurance platform will be one of the

company’s major products, seeing that insuretech could be the next big thing in the Philippines.

He is bullish about the prospects for PGFC. “At the end of the day, because of the restrictive banking laws, there is always room for financing. In the Philippines, SMEs don’t have access to capital. I think the business will continue to grow. It’s just finding the right clients,” he said.

For Alexone, the focus for PGC rests heavily on investing in research, development and innovation, to create exciting new products that will buttress the company’s future growth.

PGC is also re-entering the personal care industry, five years after selling Splash Corp.

“Starting next year, we are planning to launch innovative products that will address the gaps we see in the market,” Alexone said.

PGC is poised to raise the necessary investments to back its re-entry into the personal care space, but the need for a dedicated facility can wait, he said.

“If we establish the volume, we can always plan to have a manufacturing facility, potentially within the next three to four years,” Alexone said.

Meanwhile, PGC is expanding its food manufacturing operations by investing in a P600-million plant in Bulacan, set to be completed by June 2024. The Hortalezas’ food business accounts for 75 percent of the company’s revenues, mainly from its popular Barrio Fiesta product line that includes the bestseller shrimp paste or the local “bagoong.”

The expansion will easily increase production capacity by 50 percent. Right now, the company’s current output barely meets demand, necessitating the need to move to a new facility.

PGC is looking at penetrating mainstream markets overseas in the near term to gain substantial foothold of the global market for food products. The company is actively exploring various options to achieve this goal.

“We anticipate initiating these efforts in 2025. Once our new facility is operational, we can ramp up production capacity, enabling us to engage with these foreign markets effectively. We aim to market beyond just Filipinos in the future. We plan to be more than just a Filipino brand for Filipinos, but become a global brand,” Alexone said.

Hortaleza Corp.’s strategic moves in both personal care and food manufacturing underscore its commitment to innovation, growth and a vision for expanding its reach in the global market.

FILIPINO PR EXECUTIVE NAMED DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

ARDENT Communications (ArdentComm) founder and CEO Ana Pista became the first Filipino ever elected as a director of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management (GA), the leading international body for the public relations and communications profession.

As a prominent industry expert, Pista also served as a panel speaker at the prestigious World Public Relations Forum 2023, held last September 21 to 22 in Chennai, India.

The World Public Relations Forum is an annual gathering that focuses on the best practices in reputation management, drawing insights from diverse corners of the globe.

Under Pista’s leadership, ArdentComm has emerged as a pioneering integrated communications and public relations firm with over

two

P&A FOUNDATION, ACCOUNTING INDUSTRY GROUPS SET THE STAGE FOR THE 25TH SOASP

P&A Foundation Inc., (P&A Foundation), the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), and the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry (ACPACI), recently signed an agreement to collectively engage on activities that will highlight the achievements of outstanding accounting students.

Officials from P&A Foundation, PICPA and ACPACII sign the SOASP MOA.

The Search for Outstanding Accounting Students of the Philippines (SOASP) is another momentous milestone for P&A Foundation as it celebrates its 25th year of supporting accounting students, recognizing their potential as future leaders of the country.

SOASP has always been consistent with its core values to recognize excellent accounting students with exceptional skills who can become the new pillars in the profession..

For 25 years, SOASP’s main goal is to showcase the competence of students across the Philippines through a battle of knowledge and wit that also helped many accounting students level up their skills and capacities.

Signatories to the partnership were P&A Foundation chairperson Romualdo V. Murcia III, PICPA national president Randy B. Blanza, PICPA national sectoral director for education Vicente C. Gudani, ACPACI national president Anna Lissa Chua-Dycaico, ACPACI-SOASP chair Marc John M. Guiab, P&A Foundation trustees Olivier D. Aznar and Michael C. Gallego, P&A SOASP project-in-charge Elano C. Marcelo, and SOASP adviser Edward D. Roguel.

Headquartered

Hortaleza brothers Alfonso (left) and Alexone (right), with father Rolando (center).

The recent World PR Forum 2023 in Chennai, India, brought together top PR and communications experts from around the globe. Among the distinguished speakers was Ana Pista from the Philippines (9th from left), the founder of ArdentComm, a renowned PR agency with over 25 years of experience, who shared insights on best practices in reputation management.

S. Flores

BROTHERS Alfonso Iñigo and Alexone Rolando, sons of Dr. Rolando Hortaleza, are now at the helm of Hortaleza Corp.’s financial technology and food businesses.

decades of experience, dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the Philippines.

in Makati City,

ArdentComm provides consultancy services, customized PR campaigns, social investment initiatives, and cutting-edge digital marketing

solutions to clients in the automotive, energy, cybersecurity, cloud computing, consumer electronics, and lifestyle industries.

ON THE ROAD

JETOUR’S AGGRESSIVE ENTRY TO PH MARKET PAYING OFF

LEXUS PREMIUM: ELEVATING THE ‘LEXUS EXPERIENCE’ EVEN MORE

By Alexander Cardenas

LEXUS, renowned for its commitment to providing an exceptional driving experience, has unveiled its latest endeavor, aptly named “Lexus Premium.”

This new service is a testament to the brand’s unwavering dedication to offering its vehicle owners the utmost in luxury, convenience, and hospitality.

Lexus Premium encompasses three distinct components: Lexus Financial Services, Lexus Insure, and Lexus Certified Pre-Owned, each tailored to enhance the ownership experience for Lexus enthusiasts.

Lexus Financial Services: This facet of Lexus Premium is designed to provide Lexus owners with a tailored and premium financial experience. With a focus on customization, Lexus Financial Services offers a variety of options that cater to individual needs and preferences.

The objective is to simplify the often complex world of financial services, making it a seamless and stress-free experience for Lexus customers. This means easier access to assistance and smoother communication regarding a range of services, ensuring that Lexus owners can make informed decisions with confidence.

Lexus Insure: Protecting both the vehicle and its owner is paramount to Lexus. The Lexus Insure service goes beyond traditional insurance offerings, providing exclusive benefits and coverage tailored to Lexus owners. This service guarantees maximum coverage and utilizes only high-quality parts for repairs, assuring Lexus owners of the utmost quality and protection for their prized vehicles. With Lexus Insure,

peace of mind comes standard.

Lexus Certified Pre-Owned (Lexus CPO): Under the umbrella of the Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP), Lexus CPO is a program that not only facilitates vehicle upgrades for current owners but also enables aspiring Lexus owners to enter the world of luxury automobiles. This program accepts trade-ins of vehicles from any brand, allowing individuals to transition to a Lexus seamlessly. The Lexus CPO program ensures that preowned vehicles meet Lexus’ stringent quality standards by subjecting them to refurbishing and necessary repairs, effectively making each pre-owned Lexus feel brand new.

Lexus Premium encapsulates the high-quality services that discerning

Lexus customers expect from the brand. These services are a testament to Lexus’ commitment to continuous improvement and delivering unparalleled experiences. For those interested in the Lexus CPO service, simply contact your nearest Lexus branch to explore the possibility of upgrading to a Lexus vehicle (subject to inspection and qualification).

In a world where customer experience reigns supreme, Lexus Premium ensures that the ownership journey is as exceptional as the vehicles themselves. Lexus owners can now enjoy peace of mind, convenience, and luxury that extend far beyond the driver’s seat, further solidifying Lexus as a benchmark of excellence in the automotive industry.

EVAP PRESIDENT PROMISES ELECTRIFYING LINEUP AT EV SUMMIT 2023

THE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is thrilled to announce the upcoming EV Summit 2023, set to take place from October 19th to 21st at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia (MOA) complex. Under the leadership of EVAP President Edmund Araga, this year’s summit promises to be an electrifying showcase of electric vehicles (EVs) and cutting-edge technologies.

President Araga and his team have meticulously curated an impressive lineup of EVs for the event. Attendees can look forward to more than just electric cars; the summit will feature e-buses, e-trucks, and e-motorcycles, all under the L3 category. This diverse range of vehicles exemplifies the rapid evolution of electric mobility in the Philippines. suppliers and innovators. Attendees will have the chance to explore the latest advancements in EV

components, batteries, charging infrastructure, and more. This exhibition promises to be a hub of innovation, fostering connections and collaborations within the electric vehicle industry.

President Araga stated, “Our objective is not only to showcase EV diversity but also to foster partnerships that drive electric mobility adoption in the Philippines. By bringing together suppliers, manufacturers, and stakeholders, we aim to create a sustainable and eco-friendly future for our nation.”

With the surge in electric vehicles nationwide, the EV Summit 2023 is poised to be the Philippines’ most thrilling exhibit this year. It offers a unique opportunity for businesses, government agencies, and the public to engage, learn, and contribute to the electrifying future of Philippine transportation.

A NEW ADDITION TO THE TRADITION. Volkswagen Philippines launches all-new Tharu

IN THE realm of local automotive expertise, Miguelito “Lito” Jose stands as a seasoned veteran, witnessing the ever-evolving landscape of the thriving auto industry. As the Managing Director of Jetour Auto Philippines, Inc. (JAPI), he has surpassed formidable rivals in the local market, even when faced with the challenge of unfamiliar Chinese car brands.

During the 100 Days Celebration of JAPI in San Juan City, Jose emphasized the brand’s commitment to inspire, grow, and advance in tandem with the Filipino people. While Jetour cars have been on Philippine roads for over five years, it was only earlier this year that JAPI, jointly owned by The Gateway Group of the Goho Family and AutoSpeedyGo of the Licup Family, took over the country’s main distributorship.

The collaboration between The Gateway Group and AutoSpeedyGo, known for their extensive car distributorship network, birthed JAPI to further promote Jetour cars in the Philippines. Yves Licup leads JAPI as President, with Michael Goho as Vice President.

After an extravagant introduction of Jetour and its car lineup at a grand hotel party, where Asia & Pacific director of Chery Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. also made an appearance, Jose wasted no time rolling out various sales and marketing initiatives. These included the gasoline-fed Dashing, X70, X70 Plus, and the fully electric Ice Cream.

Jose expressed his optimism, revealing that over 500 Jetour cars now traverse Philippine roads, with a bold target of 50,000 Jetour vehicles within the next five years. He highlighted JAPI’s innovative approach in addressing customer needs and its commitment to deliver value.

The ‘Drive and Save Program’ continues to offer affordable down payment schemes, with an opportunity for customers to recover the amount after two years. A new initiative offers a 0% interest monthly amortization for Jetour X70 models, and the ‘Equity Match’ framework ensures customers’ down payments match their monthly amortization.

Jose acknowledged the pivotal role of Jetour’s expanding dealer network, with 26 dealerships slated to open this year. Currently, six operational dealerships grace locations in Alabang, Fairview, Pasay, Edsa Centris, Las Piñas, and Cubao. Seven more are under construction in various cities, and applications are in progress for nine additional locations.

EVAP President Edmund Araga

BREAKAWAY RIDERS

ALL-FILIPINO CREW OF 7-ELEVEN-CLIQQ-AIR21 MAKES MARK IN LANGKAWI TOUR

Living up to the gameplan of director Ric Rodriguez, the Pinoys put the rest of the 100plus pro riders from around the globe always on their toes in the eight-stage odyssey on wheels.

“I told my boys that always go for opportunities. And the most realistic at hand here at Langkawi tour are the Sprint or KOM honors or the best Asian stage nisher,” said Rodriguez.

Two of his men, national riders Ryan Tugawin and Nichol Pareja responded in stage 5 and found resounding success.

With Pareja playing able support, Tugawin grabbed Sprint honor in the 126.4km stage that ended at the summit of the Genting Highlands in Pahang.

He may have finished at the lower rung of the classification ranking after the stage, but not after a daring act that had the rest of the field looking dazed.

Sprint king Arvid De Kleijn of Tudor has recognized the e orts of the Asian riders, especially from the Philippine’s 7-Eleven team, who have become known for repeatedly trying to break away from the peloton.

“I can only appreciate them. They really make the race faster because the group had to catch up with them.”

The other members of the 7-Eleven-Ciqq-Air21-

1ST NAT’L FREEDIVING TILT SLATED IN NEW CLARK CITY

THE New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac is serving as the stage for the country’s rst-ever nationallevel freediving competition from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnee (AIDA) Philippines, the national governing body for freediving, has partnered with the the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 3 to host the AIDA Philippines National Freediving Pool Championship in the world-class facility.

As the rst competition of its kind held at a national scale, the event aims to raise the pro le of competitive freediving in the country and present an opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills on a larger stage.

MPL-KH AUTUMN SPLIT 2023 PLAYOFFS SET AT BIGGER VENUE

MPL Cambodia Autumn Split 2023 moves to AEON Mall 2 Sen Sok City for its playoffs scheduled from 5-8 October 2023. The league will welcome 800 fans daily on the ground and will have exciting activations for offline spectators.

See You Soon and Pro Esports are set to have a best-of-five (Bo5) face-off in an opener on Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. This will be followed by the match between D-Roar Legends and Team Max. The winner of the second match will duke it out against CFU Gaming the following day.

Matches start at 11:00 (GMT +7) on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, matches on Saturday and Sunday, including the Grand Finals, will be scheduled at 13:00 (GMT +7).

The top Khmer team to fight for the kingdom will represent the country in the upcoming M5 World Championship. MPL Cambodia has consistently represented.

Endorsed by the Esports Federation of Cambodia (EFC), the MPL-KH Autumn Split 2023 is presented by popular energy drink Sting and sponsored by lifestyle service platforms WOWNOW and Legend Cinema. Indonesia-based instant noodle producer Indomie joins TikTok as the esports partner.

Get to know more about Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League - Cambodia (MPL-KH) and follow its o cial platforms: Website: https://kh.mpl. mobilelegends.com

Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/MPL-Cambodia

Instagram: https://instagram. com/mplkh.official?igshid=MzRlO DBiNWFlZA==

“AIDA Philippines has a clear objective to elevate the landscape of freediving competitions in the Philippines and take full advantage of the diverse freediving spots available, be it in open water or pool settings. We believe that this goal can only be achieved through a collaborative e ort involving the freediving community, government agencies, and the private sector,” AIDA Philippines President Ramar A. Acuna said.

Over 30 competitive freedivers from here and abroad will be participating in the competition, driven by their hopes of becoming a national freediving champion and national record holder in four freediving disciplines, namely, static apnea, dynamic apnea with bins, dynamic apnea with mono n, and

RoadbikePhilippines are Ismael Gorospe, Junreck Carcueva, Rench Michael Bondoc, and Joshua Pascual.

Joshua Pascual went back to Manila after stage 8 to rejoin the national team that will compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games while Junreck Carcueva was disqualified due to technicality.

But it didn’t dampen the team’s spirit as the remaining four continued to threaten the eld in the sprint portions.

“Basta yan ang gameplan naming palagi, atake pag may tsansa. Mas mahirap ang naghahabol,” added Rodrigues who revealed plan to hire foreign players to beef up the team.

“We will see kung papaano, iba pa rin talaga kumuha ng world-class caliber para mas tumaas pa ang con dence ng mga bata especially during karera.

Department of Tourism Region 3 Director Richard G. Daenos stresses a point at the opening ceremony of the 1st AIDA Philippines National Freediving Pool Championship. Others in the photo are Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnee (AIDA) Philippines President Ramar A. Acuna, Bases Conversion and Development Authority O cer-in-Charge for Investment Promotions and Marketing Michelle San Juan-De Vera, and freediving athlete Belle Brillantes BCDA photo

dynamic apnea without ns.

This landmark event is part of DOT Region 3’s “Travel Breathe Dive” Program, which aims to promote Central Luzon as a choice destination for diving professionals and enthusiasts.

“The Travel Breathe Dive Program

aims to equally promote scuba and freediving in the region through the unique combination of diving and wellness as part of its holistic, sustainable, and inclusive tourism product offerings,” DOT Region 3 Director Richard G. Daenos said.

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. With more than 1500 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Latin America, Hong Kong, and mainland China. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena(MOBA)game worldwide.

Established in 2017, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within the international esports ecosystem.MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

ALIBABA CLOUD’S POWER TOOLS MAKE ASIAN GAMES GREEN, INCLUSIVE

IN an effort to promote the sustainability and inclusiveness of the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has launched a sustainability web to drive low-carbon behavior, as well as a virtual sign language interpreter to ensure individuals with hearing impairments could better participate in the Games. “Cloud-based technology helps drive the sustainable and inclusive development of the Asian Games. We want to leverage the power of technology, in collaboration with our partners, to drive more individuals to participate in our e orts to make the Games greener and more accessible to all,” said Jingren Zhou, CTO of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

To help the Hangzhou Asian Games honor its green mission, Alibaba Cloud has launched a sustainable lifestyle web application that helps participants of the Asian Games adopt lowcarbon behaviors and reduce their carbon footprint through digital engagement.

The interactive web application rewards athletes, journalists, and sta members of the Asian Games with carbon points for making eco-friendly lifestyle choices, such as taking public transport, waste recycling and reducing food waste. Across the Asian Games villages, participants can scan a QR code to record their low-carbon activities in the web application, ranging from opting out of using plastic bags at the supermarkets to taking a photo of their clean plates at the

dining hall in an e ort to reduce food waste.

Behind the web application is a system that translates individual low-carbon activities into carbon points. Participants can accumulate the points and redeem for limitededition Asian Games-themed pins and low-carbon products. The web application has attracted over 310,000 visits to participate in lowcarbon activities across the Asian Games villages, and it has recorded over 7 tons of carbon reduction through the activities since the opening of the Asian Games villages on September 16.

“Alibaba Cloud has proven expertise in supporting organizations and sports events’ sustainability initiatives with digital technology. Through the innovative sustainable lifestyle web application, we want to

encourage participants of the Asian Games to be more sustainable by recording their daily eco-friendly choices and helping them see the tangible impact of their choices,” said William Xiong, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence and General Manager of Enterprise Service Cloud.

Alibaba Cloud tapped its AIpowered carbon management tool Energy Expert to measure and optimize the carbon footprint for the manufacturing of the Hangzhou Asian Games’ mascots. For example, according to the assessment from Energy Expert, one of the three mascots, Congcong, has a cradleto-gate carbon footprint of 1.59 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), with thºe emission from three major sources, including electricity use, packaging and raw materials.

THEY may be going home without a trophy, but the All-Filipino riders of the 7-Eleven-CiqqAir21-RoadbikePhilippines made their mark in the justended PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.

Team director Ric Rodriguez gives instructions to his riders

Ryan Tugawin in the peloton.

TOP performers among the municipal councils in the 13 towns of Zambales received recognition last September 24 for their crucial role in community development and good governance.

They received notable acclaim as the provincial government launched its local legislative awards, the Zambales’ Exemplary Achievements as Legislators (ZEAL), with some P2 million in total cash prizes.

In a ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. handed out the awards and praised local legislators for demonstrating good practices, enhancing service delivery, shaping communities through economic development, and creating an enabling environment for business and job creation.

“All these contribute to achieving our long-term vision for our province and the nation,” he added.

A total of 16 awards were given to outstanding town councils after an assessment of their performance from 2019 to 2022. The review was conducted from August 7 to 24 by Zambales provincial o ce of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) personnel.

The best performers among the 13 town councils in the province include Subic, Iba, Castillejos, and Masinloc as the top four Best Performing Local Sanggunian, respectively, in the 1st-3rd Class Municipalities Category. Each received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize. Meanwhile, San Felipe won the Most Outstanding Local Sanggunian for the 4th-6th Class Municipalities Category.

The awards committee, headed by DILG provincial director Martin Porres Moral, also gave special awards to town councils with speci c exemplary performances.

The town councils of Castillejos, San Marcelino, Subic, Iba, Palauig, and Masinloc received awards for their outstanding work in gender and development, legislative processes, records management, legislative o ce set-up, responsive legislative agenda, timely submission of ordinances and resolu-

ZAMBALES LAUDS TOP-PERFORMING MUNICIPAL COUNCILS

by inclusive growth, sustainable development, and practical good governance, resulting in community empowerment and self-reliance among Zambaleños.

“We need to see more forwardthinking, responsive, and competent local legislators as our staunch partners in e ecting developmental and transformational change in our province,” the governor also reminded the Sanggunian members.

COMMISSION ON POPULATION HONORS OMAYA POPULATION WORKER

REVILLA Angelo, Barangay Population Worker (BPW) of Barangay Omaya, won first place at the Commission on Population’s Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award (RMSKPA) 2023 on September 27 at the SACOP Ephatha Development Center, Maimpis, San Fernando Pampanga.

She was awarded this honor by showing dedication, active support, and implementation of programs and strategies consistent with the objectives of the Philippine Population and Development Program (PPDP) and the collaboration of the local government, led by Mayor La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento, Barangay Head Onofre Soler, and Population O cer Ralen Dolor.

tions, e ciency, and empowerment of legislative sta . These awards are a testament to the dedication and commitment of the town councils in Zambales to

serving their constituents and promoting good governance. With the awards, Ebdane said his administration hopes to achieve his vision for a rst-class province driven

Among those who helped Ebdane hand out the awards were DILG Provincial Director Martin Porres Moral; Iba Vice Mayor Joan D. Ballesteros, president of the Zambales Vice Mayors’ League; San Narciso Councilor Peter Lim, president of the Zambales Councilors’ League; Vice Governor Jacqueline Khonghun; Mayor Je rey Khonghun, president of the Zambales Mayors’ League; and members of the Zambales provincial board.

DILG, ZAMBALES LGU FINALIZE MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY, SANITATION MASTER PLANS

TO continuously assist the local government units (LGUs) in identifying innovative solutions and ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene practices, DILG Zambales, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Zambales, held a two-day Writeshop on the finalization of Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plans (MWSSMP) of the 11 MLGUs in Zambales on September 18-19, 2023 at Balin Sambali, Iba.

The Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators, Municipal Engineers, Municipal Health

SAN MARCELINO BSKE CANDIDATES JOIN UNITY WALK, PEACE COVENANT SIGNING

THE candidates for the Barangay and SK elections in San Marcelino came together today, September 25, 2023, to join in the unity walk and peace covenant signing.

Leading the events are representatives from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) San Marcelino, PNP San Marcelino, BFP San Marcelino, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Municipal Local Governance and Operations O ce (MLGOO), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the local the government of San Marcelino under the leadership Mayor Elmer Soria.

Section Chief, gave a discussion that focused on the stages of preparation of the plan as well as its linkages to various local development plans. Engr. Jelly Mae T. Ebalobo, Engr. Princess Ivy Coloma and LGOO II Alled Aron C. Delacruz facilitated the administration of utilized tools to assess baseline data, identify gaps and problems, and develop investment plans.

Such activity started with a unity walk attended by candidates, o cials, and agency sta towards the Municipal Covered Court for a program.

Meanwhile, the prayer was led by Saint William Parish Rev. Father Eric Dela Cruz and Imam Salic Arcraman of the Muslim Community.

two-day activity.

LGOO V Rose Ann D. Agostosa, Capacity Development

The two-day activity aims to guide the LGUs in finalizing their MWSSMPs Officers, Staff, and Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOOs) attended the

The activity served as an avenue to guide the LGUs in finalizing their MWSSMPs and set forth their commitments on the packaging and submission of their final plans.

ZAMBALES CITIES UNDERGO SGLG NATIONAL VALIDATION

panied by the DILG Zambales team, headed by Provincial Director Martin Porres B. Moral, Cluster Team Leader LGOO VII Melissa D. Nipal, and SGLG Focal Person LGOO II Paulin Johanne L. Reyes. Part of the national validation is the interview with the Punong Barangays and implementing heads of o ces in the municipalities to further assess the processes and protocols being implemented in various SGLG governance areas. From two national awardees in 2022, Zambales now has four potential SGLG passers. The results of the national validation will then be presented to the National Quality Committee for vetting before its endorsement to the DILG Secretary for its conferment.

MLGOO Sheryln Ann Dungca, Josephine Raguine of DepEd San Marcelino, PMAJ. Marvin Domacena, Capt. Gener Panganiban of the Philippine Army – 69IB, FINSP. Charlie Fantone, MDRRMO Head Arsenio Edar Mauricio III, Catherine Joyce Vitug of BIR Olongapo City, and Jocelyn Udan of PPCRV also gave their messages during the event.

The COMELEC also held a briefing and orientation for the candidates. According to COMELEC O cer Mary Ann Salinas, they must follow the “lawful election propaganda” to avoid disquali cation and for a peaceful election. The BIR added that they must also comply with their civic duty regarding their taxes and submission of documents before and after the election.

THE local government units (LGUs) of Botolan, Iba, San Antonio, and San Marcelino, Zambales, underwent the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) National Validation from September 26 to 27. Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO)

V Vincent Albert Aaron S. Andaya of DILG Region 6-Province of Guimaras and LGOO III Ruth T. Geronda of DILG Region 6-Province of Negros Occidental led the conduct of the SGLG national validation. The national validators were accom-

Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (second from right) unveils the ZEAL Awards with DILG Region 3 Director Anthony C. Nuyda (rightmost), Zambales Vice Mayors League president Joan D. Ballesteros, and Zambales Councilors League president Peter T. Lim (second from left and leftmost, respectively)

Masinloc Vice Mayor Pedro Enciso (center) receiving the ‘Maagap’ Award from Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (second from right)

Revilla Angelo posing with her award

LIFEYoung

STUDENT-INNOVATORS HAILED FOR SUSTAINABLE ERGONOMIC DESIGN

THE Ergoneering: GAIA Economics Product Design Competition challenged the most promising talents  to  conceptualize and create novel and sustainable design solutions that may revolutionize ergonomics in diverse industries.

Organized by the Industrial Management Engineering Society (IMES) of the De La Salle University (DLSU), innovators from Mapúa University, Adamson University, DLSU, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), embarked on a joint journey of econovations to showcase their visions for a greener future.

The proposals were screened based on originality, content, and feasibility of the product design; logical flow of the submitted infographic; and social media engagement.

Glenn Hernandez, Ralph Sales,  and  Justin Osorio  of Team Benilde’t Different were hailed as the Top Winner for  Cooltivate, a wall-mounted miniature vertical hydroponics system that allows home-scale plant cultivation without soil.

“Air conditioners typically drain around five to 20 gallons of water daily in humid weather,” the students explained. “Cooltivate  allows reuse of wastewater and introduces greenery in the home through hydroponics.”

With the help of sprinklers, water collected in the reservoir will continuously drip downwards to the foldable plant pockets. It likewise features an air-purifying curtain ideal for tiny living spaces as well as sensors to prevent overflow.

Team Ideation Catalysts, comprised of  Paolo Aquino, Aurmalouise Matriano, Joey Manalansan, Ma. Czjenn Bustamante,  and  Kaitlyn Rae Ong, landed as First Runner-Up for their revolutionary tumbler cover dubbed as  ClinCap “Say goodbye to plastic bottles and embrace sustainability,” they beamed. “ClinCap  filters out impurities and disinfects water using UV-C light, ensuring clean and safe drinking water.”

The rechargeable device is powered by a built-in filtration with absorbent and fine filter layers made from micro- cellulosic plant-based fibers. It was developed with comfort and convenience in mind and comes with an antileak silicon.

Al-nair Zambrano, Bhea Mallari, John Dence Flores, Viven Dazo,  and  Alex Estorque  of Team Golden Ratio finished as the Second Runner-Up with  Jupiter, a mobile composting unit that  produces  biogas through digestion of food wastage.

“About 1,717 metric tons of food are wasted daily in the Philippines, releasing significant methane emissions that trap heat in the atmosphere,” they expounded. “To divert food waste from landfills and slow down climate change, methane can be harnessed as an alternative energy source to produce biogas.”

The unit comes with biomass bags, a methane tank, and a stove unit. It can be used for two to three hours of cooking both indoors and outdoors.

The trailblazers from the Industrial Design Program of Benilde School of Environment and Design (SED) nabbed the top three spots.

PAVING THE WAY FOR ULTIMATE MOBILE CONVENIENCE

EMBEDDED SIMs, or eSIMs, are revolutionizing

CALVIN Klein has unveiled its new jeans campaign in Asia starring Thai actor, singer, and model  Bright Vachirawit  alongside Japanese model  Maryel Uchida  and Chinese actor  Kuan Chen Lensed by  Park Jong Ha, the campaign sees our stars embodying the sensuality and confidence at the heart of the brand. Dressed in some of our most emblematic styles, the campaign’s bold portraits highlight the refined casual styles that define our latest Jeans collection.

Featured in the campaign, the Fall 2023 Calvin Klein Jeans collection features ‘90s-inspired silhouettes updated for now with elevated fits and bold new washes. The Hyper Real Boxy Denim Jacket features a relaxed, gender-inclusive fit and a dimensional violet wash, perfect to pair with men’s or women’s 90s Straight Jeans in the same vibrant shade for a bold take on denim.

The 37.5 Jeans styles, available in a selection of slim, wide and flare silhouettes, are crafted with patented thermo-regulating technology for all-season comfort. Made from rigid cotton denim, Authentic Bootcut Jeans sit on the waist with slim legs and a flared hem for a look that is simultaneously retro and modern. High Rise Wide Leg Jeans sit high on the waist with a wide leg fit for a considered, casual look. The Classic Tapered Jeans sit below the way and feature an easy fit

ClinCap by Benilde Industrial Design students Paolo Aquino, Aurmalouise Matriano, Joey Manalansan,

Benilde Industrial Design students (from left) Glenn Hernandez, Ralph Sales, and Justin Osorio of Team Benilde’t Different are hailed as the Top Winner of this year’s The Ergoneering:

GAIA Economics Product Design Competition

Japanese model Maryel Uchida

Cooltivate by Benilde Industrial Design students Glenn Hernandez, Ralph Dylan, and Justin Osorio

Jupiter by Benilde Industrial Design students Al-nair Zambrano, Bhea Mallari, John Dence Flores, Viven Dazo, and Alex Estorque

REIGNING MISS WORLD BRINGS SMILES TO TONDO

IT’S rare to see a Miss World winner walk a narrow street in the slum of Tondo, Manila. Stunning blue-eyed, blonde Karolina Bielawski, the second Polish woman to win Miss World in 2022, took Manila by storm during her recent four-day visit to the country, in connection with the Miss World Organization’s “Beauty with a Purpose” charity program.

HAMILTON IN MANILA

A TIMELESS MASTERPIECE COMES TO LIFE

By Nickie Wang

MANILA is witnessing the extraordinary as the much-celebrated musical Hamilton takes center stage. The timeless masterpiece created by Lin-Manuel Miranda premiered on Broadway to widespread critical acclaim and has since become a cultural phenomenon.

With book, music, and lyrics by Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography.

The musical tells the captivating story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, through a

unique blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway. It’s a revolutionary work of art that has garnered numerous accolades, including Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Awards, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The impact of Hamilton extends far beyond the stage, influencing culture, politics, and education in profound ways.

The Hamilton creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In the Heights

Scenic design is by David Korins , costume design by Paul Tazewell , lighting design by Howell Binkley , sound design by Nevin Steinberg , and hair and wig design by Charles G.

LaPointe

The international tour of Hamilton is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater, and Michael Cassel. The Manila season is presented by GMG Productions. Filipino theatergoers can now

MYSTERIOUS J-POP SENSATION YAMA EMBARKS ON ASIAN TOUR

YAMA, the mysterious J-pop sensation known, who has maintained a shroud of secrecy around their gender, age, hometown, and true identity, is embarking on their inaugural Asia tour, aptly named the yama 1st Asia Tour - thanks for waiting The tour will kick off on November 28 in Kuala Lumpur, serving as the starting point of this musical journey. Subsequent performances are scheduled in Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, and Taipei. The Manila show will happen on December 1 at The Podium Hall.

For dedicated fans, an exclusive presale event is available to Live Nation members on October 6, from 10 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. To gain access to the pre-sale, fans can register at livenation.

ph. General ticket sales will commence on Saturday, October 7, at 12:00 p.m. (local time) on livenation.ph and smtickets.com, as well as at various outlets.

The yama 1st Asia Tour - thanks for waiting promises to be a remarkable journey. Singapore will experience yama’s musical magic on November 29, followed by a Manila. Bangkok is next in line to host yama’s talent on December 3 at The Portal Ballroom. Finally, on December 5, Taipei will bear witness to the tour’s culmination at Zepp New Taipei. “Each stop guarantees a unique and unforgettable musical experience,” Live nation said in a statement.

For a comprehensive list of tour dates and ticket information, visit livenation.

be part of this extraordinary experience. Smart Infinity members, for instance, have the exclusive opportunity to secure VIP tickets to the Manila staging of the acclaimed musical. Upgrade, renew, or switch to Smart Infinity services and embark on a theatrical journey that promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

The Manila season of Hamilton premiered at The Theatre at Solaire on September 17 and will run until November 26.

Bielawski was greeted with cheers and smiles from the local residents as she arrived at the Baseco Compound, in Tondo, Manila to grace the ribboncutting and turn-over ceremonies of the ERDA (Educational Research and Development Assistance) Foundation Learning Hub, held on Saturday. Bielawska was joined by Miss World Organization CEO/ chairman Julia Morley and Miss World Philippines national director Arnold Vegafria

The ERDA Foundation research hub is a pet project of Miss World Philippines 2022 Gwendolyne Fourniol. Morley personally handed to the Miss World Philippines Organization a donation $20,000 as support assistance to Fourniol’s ERDA project, which aims to ensure some 500 children will be benefited with free education and the opportunity to see a bright future. Fourniol intends to represent her pet project in the “Beauty with a Purpose” competition of Miss World 2023, to be held in New Delhi, India on December 16.

“This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter for the ERDA Foundation BASECO Learning Hub, a place where dreams will be nurtured and futures will be shaped. We are beyond grateful for the support and dedication of these remarkable individuals who are using their platform to make a positive impact in our community. Let’s celebrate this incredible milestone and the power of education to transform lives,” the Miss World Philippines organization said in a statement.

* * * Beauty Queen triathlete completes run in Sydney Marathon

For Alexandra Faith Garcia, running is a journey of self-discovery, growth, and accomplishment, pushing oneself to the limit.

Garcia, the winner of Miss Aura International in 2021, is a sports enthusiast who participates in triathlon competitions both locally and internationally.

The 30-year-old from Olongapo City recently completed the Sydney Marathon, her second international marathon, which took place on September 17.

Filipino theatergoers can catch ‘Hamilton’ shows until November 26.

Filipina singer Rachelle Ann Go (right most) reprises her role as Eliza in ‘Hamilton’

Miss World 2022 Karolina Bielawski (center) visits Manila to personally support Miss World Philippines 2022 Gwendolyne Fourniol’s ERDA project

OLIVE GARDEN OPENS THIRD BRANCH IN BGC

NEW DISHES 'MODIFIED' FOR FILIPINO PALATE

By Angelica Villanueva

Olive Garden opened its third branch at The Verve in Taguig City that features four new dishes on its menu.

The event likewise coincided with Olive Garden’s first anniversary in the country after it first opened the doors of its SM Mall of Asia branch to Filipinos in September 2022.

“It has the same menu in the US. However, in the Philippines’ menu, we try to modify it a bit,” said RC Tiongson, chief operating officer of Olive Garden.

“We introduced entrees with rice. We introduced four items for the Philippines to adapt also with the Filipino taste palate where our comfort food is rice,” she added.

The new dishes –Mediterranean Chicken, Chicken Tuscany, Roasted Herb Chicken, and Italian Braised Short Ribs – can be paired with either rice or mashed potato.

“For those who don’t like eating pasta, we have some rice and mashed potato to offer as well,”

JOLLIBEE FOODS CORPORATION TO TRANSITION TO ONLY CAGE-FREE EGGS

JOLLIBEE Foods Corporation, Asia’s largest restaurant group and owner/ operator of 18 brands across 6,300 restaurant, café and bakery locations worldwide, has pledged to shift to using only cage-free eggs across its global operations.

“Through responsible sourcing, which includes animal welfare efforts, we strive to provide our customers the highest quality and safest food offerings,” the company said.

“In this direction, we commit to transition to 100% cage-free eggs in the US by 2025. Globally, we aim for 100% cage-free eggs by 2035 and we will collaborate with suppliers, partners, and industry leaders to achieve this goal.”

In addition to its namesake restaurant chain Jollibee, which has over 1,600 locations globally, the company also owns global café chain Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (over 1,000 global locations), bakery brand Red Ribbon (over 550 global locations), and restaurant and café chains Chowking (over 600 global locations), Yonghe King (over 420 locations), Mang Inasal (over 570 locations), Highlands Coffee (over 600 locations), Milksha (over 280 locations), and Greenwich (over 270 locations).

“With its new policy goal of shifting to use only cage-free eggs globally, Jollibee Foods Corporation and its numerous restaurant and café brands join a growing list of Asia-based food companies that have set timelines to end the use of cruel caged eggs,” said Robyn del Rosario, Philippines Sustainability Program Manager at the non-profit Lever Foundation.

Lever Foundation worked on the issue with JFC and several of its iconic food brands over the past 18 months.

Tiongson said.

Zachary Reams, Learning and Development Partner of Darden International that owns the Olive Garden franchise, said each dish on the menu is delivered with a consistent quality of service across locations.

“Our menu is the same and our service standard is the same with that consistent level throughout each location,” Reams said.

Asked how The Verve branch is distinct from Olive Garden’s other two branches in the country, Tiongson said each store is connected but different in terms of design and concept.

“Like for this one [at The Verve], the wallpapers and the special lighting are different, but you won’t recognize it unless you've been to the second restaurant. Common across our designs is the inviting ambience that feels just like at home,” she said.

Tiongson also revealed to Manila Standard Cravings the locations where Filipinos can spot the next branches of the Italian-Ameri can restaurant.

“For Olive Garden, we have two in our pipeline – in Opus Mall and in Shangri-La EDSA that will open next year,” she said.

Tiongson also disclosed that Olive Garden is now in the process of developing new offerings for the holidays.

“And even if it’s not yet Christmas, we already have some exciting offers because we have credit card tie-ups which offer you a 50% discount for Olive Garden from Friday to Sunday,” she said.

“And we’re developing some new dishes for the holiday season with the help of our international partner as well,” Tiongson added.

PRANZO & CENA: CHEF ANDREA BURZIO'S ITALIAN FAMILY FEASTS

SHERATON Manila Hotel is rolling out Pranzo & Cena: Italian Family Feasts, a culinary experience that celebrates the rich flavors of Italy and aims to elevate communal moments – fostering stronger ties among family and friends.

Pranzo & Cena is the brainchild of Chef Andrea Burzio, who brings his 15 years of international culinary expertise to Sheraton Manila Hotel.

Drawing from his passion for authentic Italian cuisine, Chef Burzio’s Pranzo & Cena will be available from Monday to Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting October 2, 2023.

Weekday dining is priced at P3,200 net per person, while weekend dining is offered at P3,500 net per person.

Chef Burzio's culinary journey is a captivating narrative, beginning with his role as Executive Sous Chef at Sandy Lane Barbados, an iconic luxury resort in the Caribbean. He not only oversaw the fine dining restaurant Acajou but elevated it to receive a prestigious 5-Star Forbes inspection rating. His adventures then took him to Shangri-la Kowloon Hong Kong, where he started as the Chef de Cuisine at Angelini, a fine dining haven in the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui district. His dedication and leadership played a pivotal role in earning Angelini a place among the Top 100 city restaurants in Hong Kong for two consecutive years.

From Hong Kong, Chef Burzio con-

tinued at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Mactan where he managed Acqua Restaurant and the VIP Ocean Club Lounge, before moving to France to take charge of a 45-seater restaurant and worked as an executive consultant for a new tapas bistro project in Aix En Provence. After stints in Thailand and Myanmar, his journey then led him to the prestigious Michelin-starred La Barrique restaurant in Italy, where he worked closely with Michelin-starred Chef Stefano Gallo. This chapter of his career involved mastering the art of slow cooking, mousses, espuma, and advanced food preparation techniques.

intimate experience, reservations are highly

The Philippines-based group commits to end its use of caged eggs at over 6,300 locations globally across 18 brands, including Jollibee, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Chowking and Red Ribbon.

Andrea Burzio

(From left) Zachary Reams of Darden Int’l; Marc Buencamino, operations director of Fort Bonifacio Development Corp.; RC Tiongson, COO of The Bistro Group that manages Olive Garden in the Philippines; Lourdes Reyes, chief finance officer of FBDC; and Lisa Ronquillo-Along, chief marketing officer of The Bistro Group

Herb roasted chicken

Italian braised short ribs

PETS THE SWIMMER PUPPY SYNDROME

By Niko Gabriel Salgado

SWIMMER puppy syndrome is a rare condition primarily observed in newborn puppies, where their weak rear limb muscles hinder their ability to stand. If not addressed, it can result in breathing and circulation problems, difficulties in feeding, and an increased risk of mortality. Without improvement over time, the chances of survival for these puppies decrease significantly.

What is a Swimmer Puppy Syndrome?

“Swimmer puppy syndrome, also referred to as twisted legs or turtle pups, is a deformity found in newborn puppies that causes their front and hind legs to spread out to the sides, impairing their ability to stand and walk correctly. Affected puppies typically have limited mobility and must use a sideways paddling motion to move forward,” said Emma Williams in “Swimmer Puppy Syndrome: Everything You Need To Know,” an article published in The Dogington Post.

It is a rare condition with very limited research on its origins. Some veterinarians and experts suggest it might be hereditary, while others attribute it to environmental factors that hinder muscle development in puppies. Thankfully, there are treatments available that can greatly improve the prospects of swimmer puppies leading normal lives.

Symptoms of Swimmer Puppy Syndrome

According to Williams, apart from the obvious signs, here are a few other signs of this condition:

1. The puppy struggles to paddle its legs to the sides while lying on its belly.

2. It appears lethargic when compared to its littermates.

3. The chest is flattened instead of having a normal rounded shape.

4. The puppy experiences difficulty in breathing.

5. It has trouble eating properly.

6. Lesions can develop due to urine and fecal scalding.

7. The puppy frequently regurgitates milk.

8. After one week, the puppy's legs remain splayed to the sides.

9. After three weeks, the puppy still cannot walk or stand properly.

10. By four weeks, swimmer puppies cannot engage in normal dog activities like running, walking, and playing.

If you observe any of these signs, or a combination of them, your puppy may have swimmer puppy syndrome, and it is crucial to consult a veterinarian promptly. Early intervention increases the pup's chances of survival. Documenting the puppy's condition

through photos or videos can aid the vet in making a quicker diagnosis.

Treatment

Most interventions for this condition focus on:

· Physiotherapy

· Nutritional assistance

· Environmental adjustments

Physiotherapy

“Veterinarians can offer physiotherapy sessions that encompass a full-body massage, including seconds of stroking from head to limbs, gentle thorax compressions and kneading massages for the hips and digits. Following the massages, range-of-motion exercises are performed on the hind limbs, involving flexion and extension of the digits, hind-leg joints (stifle), hips, and hip joints,” Williams said.

“To promote leg muscle strength and normal development, the puppy is placed in a standing position for one minute. Additionally, stimulating the paw pads is recommended for proper nerve development,” Williams added.

As for home care, it is important that you do not allow swimmer puppies to lie flat on the floor. This can be done by arranging towels and blankets around them to encourage movement. During sleep time, avoid positions that make them lie flat on their bellies. Instead, position them on their side to improve leg positioning and breathing.

Nutritional Assistance

Managing the diet and nutrition of swimmer puppies is another way to treat the syndrome. It is important to prevent these puppies from becoming

overweight or obese because excessive weight can strain their joints. Avoid overfeeding.

Environmental Modifications

Ensure that swimmer puppies avoid slippery surfaces. Let them walk instead on rough, textured surfaces to provide better traction. This will help prevent injuries and complications related to their condition.

“It’s important to maintain cleanliness in the area where your puppy rests. Because of their limited mobility, these puppies may urinate and defecate in their resting area, which can lead to urine and fecal scalding. Moreover, the presence of waste can create a breeding ground for harmful germs and bacteria that can negatively impact the pup's health,” Williams noted.

Taking Care of Affected Dogs

Although swimmer puppy syndrome poses challenges for dog owners, it is a condition that can be overcome. It is essential to recognize the early signs for timely treatment. Following diagnosis, it is crucial to approach interventions with care. Avoid excessive force during massages, be gentle with range-of-motion exercises, and monitor the puppy's food intake to prevent excessive weight gain. Furthermore, maintain cleanliness in the area where the swimmer puppies rest to ensure their hygiene and prevent infection.

About the Author: Niko Gabriel Salgado is a graduate of consular and diplomatic affairs from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, and worked at the House of Representatives. He is now an entrepreneur and a volunteer of the animal welfare group Save Animals of Love and Light- Save ALL.

Pawsbook

Compiled by Desiree Carlos

WE HAVE been encountering posts on dogs, cats, and other animals on Facebook that are eye-openers, or inspiring, or enlightening, or educational, or can make one feel good during a stressful day, or make one encouraged to help the poor souls among us.

Sunday Pets would like to share these notable posts of netizens through this space called Pawsbook.

INTRODUCING A NEW KITTEN TO YOUR HOME

WHEN bringing your new kitten home, it is important to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. Always transport the kitten in a pet carrier while in the car. This not only ensures his safety but also establishes a routine for future trips. Upon reaching home, create a small, quiet space for the kitten, complete with food and a litter box.

Kitten Proofing the Home

“Create a secure space for your kitten when you can't supervise them. This area should include essentials like food, water, a litter box, toys, a scratching post, and a resting spot,” said vet Debra Horwitz in “Bringing Home Your New Cat,” an article published in the VCA Hospitals website. “Kittens need time to get familiar with

their new environment, but be vigilant for any hiding spots or tight spaces where a kitten could get stuck. Initially, it's best to limit their access to a smaller area. Make sure the entire space where your kitten can roam is cat-proofed, including areas where they can jump or climb,” Horwitz added. Hazardous items like electrical cords, and small objects that could be chewed or swallowed, should be secured or kept out of reach. After the kitten has had some quiet time in this restricted area, gradually introduce him to other parts of the house while supervising him.

Introducing the New Kitten to Your Dog

When introducing your new kitten to a dog, it is crucial to take a controlled,

gradual, and positive approach. Begin this by placing the kitten in a carrier or on a leash and harness to ensure he will not provoke the dog. Use a leash to manage your dog, using rewards and training commands to encourage calm behavior in the presence of the cat. If your dog is not trained to settle on command, it is wise to review and improve the dog’s training before introducing the dog to a new pet.

“A dog leash can provide immediate control and safety. If there's still a risk of aggression or injury after these cautious initial introductions, seeking a behavior consultation is advisable,” Horwitz noted.

Introducing the New Kitten to Your Cat

Many adult cats tend to be quite accept-

Nagui and Lian are bonded brothers. They were seen on the side of the street going down Naguillan road in La Union where vehicles could have hit them and crushed them to death. Save Animals of Love and Light-Save ALL rescued them. (Save ALL file photo)

ing of kittens. To reduce initial anxiety, it is helpful to keep the kitten in a separate area and introduce him to the adult cats during mealtimes or playtime. You can use a cat crate, leash, or harness to control one or both cats during these initial meetings.

This was posted by Sky Turner

“PLEASE!!!! Bang on your hood and sound the horn before starting your car this winter....you may have a passenger under the hood trying to keep warm, and they can be seriously injured or killed when the car starts up....”

Hernandez Alcaraz Ronald posted this.

“Take some time to read:

Just a dog.

From time to time people tell me “chill out, it’s just a dog” or “it’s a lot of money just for a dog.” They don't understand the distance traveled, the time invested, or the costs incurred by "just a dog".

Some of my proudest moments have occurred with “just a dog.”

Many hours have passed being my only company "just a dog", but not for one moment did I feel despised. Some of my saddest moments have been because of “just a dog,” and on those gray days, the gentle touch of “just a Dog” gave me comfort and the reason to get through the day.

If you also think “it’s just a dog”, then you’ll probably understand phrases like “just a friend”, “just a sunrise” or “just a promise.”

“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. For "just a dog" I will get up early, take long walks and look forward to the future.

So for me and people like me, it’s not “just a dog,” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the memories of the past, and the absolute joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out the good in me and takes my thoughts away from myself and daily worries.

I hope one day they can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but the one that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile because they “just don’t get it”.

“Just A Dog,” by Richard A. Animals. "Master bedroom," (1965) Andrew Wyeth

These days-old kitten were dumped near a public market in Quezon City. Three of the five kittens survived. Borhap, Mia and Gali are now five (5) years old. Dumping kittens is a despicable act by irresponsible owners. To prevent unwanted pregnancies, please have your cats spayed or neutered. (Save ALL file photo)

In most cases, cats and kittens will establish their relationship without harm. But if there is a risk of aggression, it is important to follow a gradual introduction plan.

This funny photo was posted by Jennifer Michelle in Dog Lover group.

Onyok and Nathaniel, rescued asong pinoy (aspin) puppies of Save Animals of Love and Light-Save ALL, were born with splayed legs. They were given calcium phosporous (vitamin), good food, and a massage every day. They are now seven (7) years old. (Save ALL file photo)

Nathaniel can now walk and run, lives a normal life and even smells the... soil! (Save ALL file photo)

Butter , a rescued Corgi rescue, was also born with swimmer puppy syndrome.