Manila Standard - 2017 November 12 - Sunday

2 ASEAN HEADS ARRIVE IN PH FOR SUMMIT VOL. XXXI • NO. 271 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

POSE FOR POSTERITY. (front, from left) China’s President Xi Jinping, Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo; (back, from left) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and US President Donald Trump wave to the unseen crowd in this 'family photo' during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in Da Nang Saturday. AFP

AS-PAC OKAYS FREE TRADE WITHOUT U.S. D A NANG, Vietnam—Ministers from 11 Asia-Pacific countries agreed Saturday to press ahead with a major trade deal without the United States, as the world’s largest economy seeks to go it alone under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.

Trump pulled his country from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) at the start of the year, dismaying allies and casting into doubt an agreement heralded for tying lower tariffs to strong environmental and labor protections.

He has been something of a lone protectionist voice at the Apec summit in this city where world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, have been keen to promote the virtues of free trade and multilateral deals.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo

Duterte said the Southeast-Asian region could turn as a “hub” for greater economic trade between member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

“The common interests of Apec and Asean means that we can take ideas one step further to give birth to collaborative models using hard infrastructure,” Duterte said in milestone informal dialogues between leaders of the Apec and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“Similar to the Manila-Acapulco

Galleon Trade that leveraged the central position of the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific region, Asean can be a hub for the Asia-Pacific region in relevant areas,” he added.

Asean builds a political, economic, and social community through negotiated norms and binding agreements, while Apec is an incubator of ideas and acts through voluntary commitments and initiatives.

Duterte noted that Asean and Apec have different methods when it came to trade.

“I see two initial ways that Asean strengthens Apec. Inspired by Apec’s model of open regionalism, Asean has opened the door wider to the eventual achievement of liberalized trade in Asia and the Pacific.”

He said: “Collaborating with Apec on common areas of interest,

Asean can potentially play the role of a regional pathfinder for Apec’s initiatives.

“Asean can also serve as Apec’s institutional memory and provide consistency to Apec’s role as an incubator of ideas and driver of regional economic growth and integration.”

Apec’s pioneering success in securing voluntary commitment to the Environmental Goods List prior to any binding agreement in the World Trade Organization “demonstrates a way forward for effective international decision-making,” Duterte added.

Among areas of cooperation between Asean and Apec includes digital and maritime connectivity, efficient logistics, disaster preparedness and management, technology, MSMEs and inclusive growth, Duterte said.

Turn to A2

PH, CHINA AGREE TO PURSUE TALKS

DU30-TRUMP MEET: 'SHORT, CORDIAL'

By John Paolo Bencito

By John Paolo Bencito

DA NANG, Vietnam—President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday told Chinese President Xi Jinping that many Filipinos were increasingly becoming concerned over Beijing’s actions even while he thanked China for helping the Philippines beat the terrorists in the Marawi siege.

“There’s a bit of misunderstanding.

Actually, what I was trying to say is that a lot of businessmen, and the Filipinos, have been asking me what is your position with China?”

Duterte then reiterated “there will always be a time to look into the issue,” after which, members of the Chinese security already asked members of the press to leave the venue of the bilateral meetings, held at the Da Nang Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque described the talks as “frank” and Xi, Turn to A2

DA NANG, Vietnam—President Rodrigo Duterte has finally met firebrand United States President Donald Trump, both known for their acerbic language—on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit here.

A government source, who was with Duterte during the meeting, said Trump was some sort of waving at Duterte during the first session of the Apec Economic Leaders’ Retreat.

In a brief discussion, Trump told Duterte, “see you tomorrow.”

The government source said they had an “exchange of good words once again.”

Earlier this month, the White House said Trump was looking forward to his first meeting with Duterte on the sidelines of the summit.

The White House highlighted the Turn to A2

SUMMIT VENUE. Filipino workers put up flags en route to the bayside Philippine International Convention Center, venue of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits from Nov. 12 to 14. The summit brings together not just the 10 leaders of the Asean nations, but also the leaders of its closest partners, such as the United States and China. It also coincides with the grand celebration of the regional bloc’s 50th anniversary. AFP

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By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan CLARK, Pampanga—Two leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi—arrived here Saturday for the Nov. 12 to 14 Asean Summit and Related Summits.

Other heads of state and government expected to attend and scheduled to arrive Sunday are: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam; President Joko Widodo of Indonesia; Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos; Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia; Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong of Singapore; Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand; and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam.

Aside from US President Donald Trump, dialogue partners who will attend the Asean Summit are: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada; Premiere Li Keqiang of the People’s Republic of China; President of the European Council Donald Tusk of the European Union; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan; Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India; Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand; Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of Russia: President Moon Jae-in of South Turn to A2

SHOW OF FORCE: US, S. KOREA START DRILL SEOUL, South Korea—Three US aircraft carriers, accompanied by South Korean warships, launched a joint naval drill Saturday in a fresh show of force aimed at North Korea, whose nuclear ambitions have dominated US President Donald Trump’s ongoing tour of Asia.

The four-day exercise in the western Pacific involves three flattops—USS Ronald Reagan, USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt—and seven South Korean vessels including three destroyers.

It is the first such triple-carrier drill in the region for a decade.

“The exercise is aimed at enhancing deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and showing off preparedness to fend off any provocative acts by the North,” a South Korean defense ministry spokesman said.

Nuclear-armed North Korea regularly denounces such military drills as rehearsals for invasion and sometimes conducts its own military maneuvers or missile tests in Turn to A2 response.

MOST FILIPINOS BACK DUTERTE'S MARTIAL LAW DA NANG, Vietnam—The Third Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey, fielded on Sept. 23-27, found that more than half of the adult population of 106 million Filipinos agree with President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to Congress for the extension of the proclamation of martial law in the whole of Mindanao until the end of the year.

It had sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages.

There are no official figures on how many constitute the adult population.

The latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed that the survey, fielded among 1,500 respondents, showed 54 percent of adult Filipinos agreed with Duterte’s decision to ask Congress for the extension of martial law.

Of this number, 31 percent strongly agree, while 22 percent somewhat agree, correctly rounded.

Another 30 percent said they disagreed with the proposal to Congress to extend martial law in the whole of Mindanao until Dec. 31.

This gives a net agreement score of +24, classified by SWS as moderately strong.

The September 2017 survey also found another 54 percent agreed Turn to A2

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

AS-PAC...

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“An integrated region like Asean, which has developed the tools to achieve this, is a good place to start.”

This year, Asean celebrates 50 years of its establishment while Apec is gearing up for its 30th anniversary in 2019 and is preparing to undertake a visioning exercise towards 2020 and beyond.

Seven Asean members—Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—are part of the Apec, alongside some of the world’s largest economies such as the United States, China, Japan, Russia and Canada.

With the informal dialogues, it will be the first time that Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar join discussions in the Apec.

In a joint statement Saturday morning, the remaining countries—dubbed the TPP-11—said they had “agreed on the core elements” of a deal at the sidelines of the Apec summit in the Vietnamese city of Danang, after days of stalled talks raised fears it could collapse altogether.

The ministers said further talks would be needed to reach a full consensus before inking the deal, which now carries an even longer official name—the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Japan’s lead negotiator Toshimitsu Motegi said the remaining members would still welcome the United States back into their pact.

“This time all the 11 countries are on board and this would send out a very strong positive message to the United States and other Asia Pacific countries in the region,” he said.

Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s trade minister, described the breakthrough in a tweet as “big progress.”

Canada had held out to maintain environmental and labor protections linked to freer markets in the deal.

Those elements were thrown into jeopardy by America’s sudden withdrawal from the deal earlier this year.

Canada had dug in over those progressive clauses. But they are much less attractive to countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Chile and Peru now that the carrot of access to the huge US market has been pulled.

Upended consensus Trump’s election has upended years of American-led moves to open up global trade.

The US president is among leaders attending the Apec summit in Da Nang and on Friday he ladled out more of his trademark “America First” rhetoric.

In a strident address he said his country will “no longer tolerate” unfair trade, closed markets and intellectual property theft.

“We are not going to let the United States be taken advantage of any more,” he added, taking a swipe at multilateral trade deals. AFP, John Paolo Bencito

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The US warships will carry out air defense drills, sea surveillance, defensive air combat training and other operations, the US Navy said.

The exercises come on the heels of Trump’s visits to Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing this week, which were dominated by the question of how to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons threat.

At a summit in Seoul, Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-In agreed to increase the deployment of US military assets around the Korean peninsula to step up pressure on the North.

And in a speech to the South Korean parliament, Trump warned North Korea not to underestimate the United States, while offering leader Kim Jong-Un a better future if he gives up his nuclear ambitions.

The North, which this year carried out its sixth nuclear test, generating by far the largest yield to date, has fired dozens of missiles in recent months—all in defiance of multiple UN sanctions.

Two have overflown key US ally Japan, and the regime has claimed that it now has the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile that can travel as far as the US mainland.

There has been speculation that Kim would order another missile test to coincide with the US president’s marathon visit to the region which ends on Tuesday.

Time running out’ Since becoming president, Trump has engaged in an escalating war of words with Kim, trading personal insults and threats of military strikes and raising concerns about an outbreak of hostilities. AFP

PH WANTS TO BE RUSSIA'S SHIP REPAIR HUB IN ASIA

By John Paolo Bencito

D

A NANG, VIETNAM—The Philippines is ready to be one of the newest hubs for the Russian Navy in the region, President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday.

Russia, meanwhile, has agreed to sign agreements on the sectors of education, transport and energy, when Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visits the country to attend the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings, to be hosted

by Manila next week.

During the bilateral talks between President Duterte and Russian Pres-

ident Vladimir Putin, the Philippine President expressed openness to Russia’s suggestion to establish a ship repair facility in Manila.

“Our ports are ready to welcome more Russian vessels. And we want to buy Russian weapons. He welcomes the proposal to establish a ship repair facility in the Philippines to serve his Russian ships,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said,

following the bilateral meeting of President Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin here.

Aside from these, the Philippines is ready to purchase military hardware from Russia, including helicopters and even a submarine for the Philippine armed forces, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

Roque likewise said that the President has expressed that he will appoint a special envoy for military side and to improve trade relations with Russia.

For Putin’s part, Roque said that Russians would like to explore greater economic ties with the Philippines.

When Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visits Manila next week, a number of agreements will

be signed between the two countries, relating to education, transport, and energy, Duterte’s spokesman said.

Quoting Putin, Roque said that a Russian company promoting nuclear energy would like to have business dealings with the Philippines.

Other investment opportunities

by Russian companies included transportation, in particular mention of the interest to build a light metro rail for Baguio and La Trinidad.

Russians are also very interested in civil aviation, selling aircrafts, and helicopters, Roque said.

In return, Moscow is very interested in importing fish, fruit, and other seafoods while they want to export grain and meat to the Philippines.

HR SITUATION DETERIORATING—WATCHDOG RIGHTS group Amnesty International Philippines called on United States President Donald Trump to raise alleged human rights violations and extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drug when he meets him this week. As this developed, four UN human rights experts expressed concerns about the “deterioration” of human rights in the region when he called on members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations to address pressing human rights concerns during the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit being hosted in Manila.

Amnesty International Philippines Director Butch Olano said Trump should push Duterte to investigate the unlawful killing of thousands around the country.

“President Trump has spoken about his ability to talk tough with foreign leaders, and this week’s Asean summit presents a renewed

PH, ...

From A1 replying to Duterte’s inquiry, said there had been an agreement on the Code of Conduct and the talks would be continuing.

They also tackled the issue on the freedom of navigation since everyone would be sailing from the Indian Ocean through the West Philippine Sea and there was need for unhampered navigation.

On the North Korean issue, Roque said China had expressed no interest in a conflict on the Korean peninsula.

According to the Chinese leader, China, which is a member of the UN Security Council, was encouraging both Washington and Pyongyang to hold talks on issues of security concerns.

On Thursday night, Duterte said he would raise the supposed militarization in the South China Sea, as chairman of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Duterte also said he would not be asking for any military assistance from Washington to help wage a war against Beijing.

The regional bloc, which will hold its 31st Summit in Manila, is expected to discuss Beijing’s continued militarization of the disputed waters, amid

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and 28 percent disagreed with Congress’ July 22 decision to approve PRRD’s proposal to extend martial law in Mindanao.

Net satisfaction with Duterte’s performance, meanwhile, was a moderate +12 among those who opposed his proposal to extend Martial Law in Mindanao, lower compared to those who supported his proposal (very good +68) and those who were undecided (good +46).

Net satisfaction with the overall National Administration was a good +34 among those who opposed President Duterte’s proposal, lower compared to those who supported it (excellent +72) and those who were undecided (very good +57).

The Third Quarter 2017 Social

opportunity to raise the horrifying human rights abuses that the region is facing,” Olano said.

“When he comes face to face with President Duterte, he’ll be meeting a man whose policies are responsible for thousands of unlawful killings, including dozens of children and the extrajudicial execution of many others, which may constitute crimes against humanity.''

The group likewise stressed that Trump must not keep ignoring the grave human rights situation in the Philippines, asking him to demand Duterte for the halt of extrajudicial executions in the county, and that all allegations of extrajudicial executions be investigated and those responsible brought to justice, including officers from the PNP. President Trump must also make clear that any future US assistance will be linked to clear progress in reforming the PNP and ending impunity in the police.

the proposed start of negotiations for the actual code of conduct in the South China Sea between Asean and Beijing.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which more than $3 trillion of seaborne trade passes each year.

Duterte told Xi the Philippines values highly its friendship with China, as he thanked them for the ‘crucial help’ it gave during the war against extremist forces which laid siege in Marawi last May. “First of all, let me thank you for your crucial help in our fight in Marawi a few weeks ago. We badly needed help, and it was China who first came to our aid; for that we are very very thankful,” Duterte said.

Duterte stressed he already gave word to Xi that Philippines and China “can be true friends.”

“Your arms that you provided are very crucial and one of our … sharp shooters killed Hapilon using a Chinese-made sniper rifle,” the President added, as he remarked that Beijingmade firearms were “very good” and “very accurate.”

Duterte, in one of his speeches last week, credited the sniper rifles donated by China as the weapons used to kill the top leaders of Marawi siege.

With Sara Susanne Fabunan Weather Report findings on public satisfaction with the performance of Duterte and the overall National Administration were reported on Oct. 8, 2017 and Oct. 19, 2017, respectively.

In a news briefing at Da Nang, Vietnam, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said they were thankful that many Filipinos still supported the extension of the Martial Law as shown in the latest survey.

“We’re certainly thankful that the majority of the Filipino people have shown support for the declaration of martial law,” Roque told reporters.

“So it could be that the number of individuals supporting could still increase,” he added.

Roque said the declaration of martial law “was very much justified” and that the Palace appreciated “the support of the people for such a declaration.” John Paolo Bencito

The US President’s willingness to challenge the appalling record of President Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ since it is a crucial test of his administration’s commitment to upholding and defending human rights.”

Since taking office in 2016, President Duterte and his administration has waged a lethal anti-drugs campaign that has resulted in widespread extrajudicial executions.

Between July 1, 2016 and January 21, 2017—more than 7,000 people were killed—an average of 34 per day—exceeding 1,000 people per month.

Human Rights Watch has expressed alarm and disappointment that Trump and most others are likely to endorse or stay silent over Duterte’s violent rule, which has seen thousands of people killed.

“Duterte will enjoy the gift of tacit silence from East Asian leaders on his murderous drug war during the upcoming summit,” Human Rights Watch

deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said.

“We can expect East Asian leaders to exercise a diplomatic blind eye to the killings of thousands of Filipinos over the past 16 months as part of Duterte’s drug war,” Kine added.

Meanwhile, human rights experts and UN rapporteurs Annalisa Ciampi, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial and summary killings, Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar said they observed rising numbers of cases of serious human rights violations in the region, affecting among others, people working on women’s rights, environmental and land issues and lawyers dealing with drug cases.

John Paolo Bencito, Sara Fabunan with AFP

DU30-TRUMP...

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Rights groups, including the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have urged Trump and other world leaders attending the summit to raise the alleged human rights violations associated with the drug war in the country during their meetings with Duterte.

In a press briefing following the Apec Summit, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the bilateral meeting was “short but warm and cordial.”

“It shows I think that the two leaders were genuinely pleased to have finally met each other in person,” Roque told reporters.

Trump, on an Asian tour since the start of the month, is expected to raise concerns before Duterte several issues concerning the region—including the rising tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and arrest

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In Manila, security authorities said they did not see any imminent threat to the safety of heads of state and government and other foreign dignitaries attending summit.

But they urged Filipinos to be extra watchful on suspicious individuals with wicked motives to disrupt and sow violence during the international event.

On the eve of the opening of the Summit, the Asean Security Task Force said it had not detected any looming threat from terror groups and criminal syndicates for potential attacks, but had mapped out response mechanism to any possible shooting incidents during the two-day summit.

The task force, composed of members of the Presidential Security Group, the AFP, the PNP, Philippine Coast Guard, has deployed elite units in key areas of the summit venue to safeguard the delegates from any potential harm.

“We need to be able to respond to

Beijing’s growing influence in the region worsened by territorial sovereignty issues involving the South China Sea. Prior to their meeting here, the two presidents have shared at least two phone calls—the first when Duterte congratulated Trump for his victory in the US presidential polls last year.

Last Thursday, Duterte said he expected to have an “interesting time” with the US leader, whom he vowed to give a “good handshake.”

Saying he was excited to meet Trump, Duterte said he felt “that we share so many ideas along the same line of problems of governance.”

“I know that I’d have an interesting time with him,” he said in a media interview.

The US leader is likewise expected to reaffirm Washington’s unwavering commitment and friendship with the Philippines, which got badly strained

by Duterte’s frequent cursing of Trump’s predecessor.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration on Saturday said its personnel would bar two US congressmen from entering the country if ordered by Duterte. threats of active shooting within the first two minutes and contain the incident right away so it will not spread and cause more trouble,” said Chief Supt. William Macavinta, leader of the Red Team, during a simulation exercise on responding to an active shooting incident.

“Shooting incidents like those that happened in Las Vegas, San Francisco in California, and Resorts World are classic examples of active shooting incidents which could happen anywhere, even during the summit. This is why we are doing all these exercises to test our skills and alertness so that we will be ready just in case a similar incident happens here,” Macavinta added.

Hun Sen was welcomed by Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The welcoming party also included former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Hun Sen was last in the Philippines in April for the Asean Leaders’ Summit.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to Cambodia in December 2016 was considered the first stand alone bilateral visit of a Philippine president in two decades. With Francisco Tuyay, Joel Zurbano, and John Paolo Bencito

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PH FORCES RESCUE 4 VIETNAMESE SAILORS

By John Paolo Bencito

D

A NANG, VIETNAM—Philippine authorities were able to recover four Vietnamese sailors who were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf on Friday but only three of them are alive, Malacañang said Saturday.

“I am able to confirm that alive,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Philippine authorities were able Roque said in a news briefing here. to recover four kidnapped victims.

“Unfortunately, the fourth one Three of them were recovered was already lifeless when he was

recovered,” he added.

Roque denied that there was ransom given for the sailors’ release.

Roque said that Manila is saddened by the incident.

“The Philippine government expresses their condolences and sympathies to the family of the fourth Vietnamese fisherman who has been found dead,” he said.

The President, who skipped the gala dinner for Apec leaders, wasn’t able to attend the event

last night due to the recovery efforts for the Vietnamese sailors, Roque said.

“It was impor tant for the Philippine President in fact to super vise the recover y effor ts. I can confirm that the fishermen are currently in the custody of the Philippine Navy,” he added.

Roque said that the rescued sailors are already being debriefed and will soon be seen by Vietnamese authorities.

SMUGGLED TURTLES INTERCEPTED AT NAIA

By Joel E. Zurbano GOVERNMENT agents on Saturday intercepted a shipment of Chinese softshell turtles at a cargo warehouse in Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Naia Customs collector Ramon Anquilan said his men from the Export Division led by Rey Gatchalian discovered the cargo containing 123 live turtles and some live eels slated to leave Manila on Friday afternoon.

He said that the shipment bound for Taiwan was discovered when it went through manual examination.

Authorities said the cargo, consigned to Jan Birt Co. Ltd. with office address at 1F-1, No. 178. Sec. 1 Zhengxiao E. Rd. Zhongsheng District, Taipei City, was shipped by 3H enterprises Limited Inc. of 97 Panginay, Guiguinto, Bulacan.

They added that the shipment of turtles originated from the province of Pampanga and have no Department of Environment and Natural Resources permits, a government requirement to the owners prior to exportation of animals.

“These turtles aside from being endemic to China and Taiwan can also be farmed. They are usually harvested for food and folk remedy tonics. However, the continuous consumption and exploitation may cause its extinction,” Anquilan said.

The Chinese softshell turtles can be found on rice fields in Bulacan and Pampanga preying on rats, snakes, insects, and other living things considered as endangered species. Rice plants and other plant life were also included to the reptiles’ diet.

The creatures is one of the delicacies in Taiwan and China, and the market price ranges from US$39 to US$40 each.

Just recently, Customs agents also seized a package bound for Sweden declared as sweet pastries but was found to contain a pit viper, four Philippine Cobra and 10 sailfin lizards, which are considered endangered species.

A HOUSE leader on Saturday pushed for mandatory Philippine Health Insurance Corp. coverage plus other benefits, such as 20 percent discounts on selected goods and services and VAT-free privileges for kids up to the age of 12 of families who earn P250,000 per year, to complement the personal income tax exemptions under the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN).

In filing House Bill 6041, CamSur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the government must support its young citizens, especially during their formative years, in order for them to grow up into fullyequipped adult citizens.

“This bill aims to ease the financial burden of the parents whose annual income is below P250,000. It is especially important to children from disadvantaged areas, where access to healthcare services is low or limited to private institutions,” Villafuerte, a House deputy ma-

CASES FILED VS PNOY ‘TOO LIGHT’—VACC THE cases filed against former President Benigno Aquino III over the Mamasapano fiasco were too light.

This was the contention of the anti-crime group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, which vowed to conduct a reinvestigation into the bloody, which claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force commandos.

According to VACC chairman Dante Jimenez, their lawyer would seek a reinvestigation of the case and take their concern to the Department of Justice.

“Nag-usap na kami ng aming mga abogado at pag-aaralan naming mabuti ang pag-imbestiga muli sa kaso. Masyadong mababaw ang kasong inihain ng Office of the Ombudsman laban kay Noynoy Aquino,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez was referring to the case filed by the Ombudsman against the former president over his alleged role in the anti-terrorist operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

Aquino faces charges for graft and usurpation of official function, charges that the VACC said were too light.

The families of the 44 slain elite police officials, with the help of the VACC, said they will not join in the proceedings of the Ombudsman’s cases against Aquino.

GOVT ALLOTS P563M TO EXPAND DRUG REHAB FACILITIES

GRIDLOCK. Motorists are stuck in a gridlock for hours along the Pasay City portion of Edsa on Saturday, Nov. 11, after traffic enforcers opened the Asean lanes for delegates of the 2017 summit. Ey Acasio

MWSS NOW VETTING 3 CHINESE CONTRACTORS FOR KALIWA DAM PROJECT THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System has started its own due diligence and vetting on three Chinese contractors submitted by the People’s Republic of China to the Department of Finance for the P18.75-billion Kaliwa Dam project which is part of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s flagship water security projects.

This was announced by MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco in compliance with the directive of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez for “MWSS to conduct its own due diligence in vetting the said Chinese companies/contractors subject applicable laws, rules and regulations.”

In a letter to the DoF secretary last September, Ambassador Extrordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua submitted the shortlisted three Chinese contractors and companies namely China Engineering Co., Ltd., Power China Limited, and Consortium of Guandung Foreign Construction, Co., Ltd. and Guandong Yuantian Engineering Co., Ltd. Velasco met earlier this week with Chinese Commercial Counsellor Jin Yuan who accompanied the officials

representatives of the three Chinese companies to present their credentials to the MWSS Technical Working Group.

In a letter to the MWSS chief, the finance secretary underscored the need for the water agency to follow “pertinent provisions of the GPH Note Verbale and Chinese Reply executed on March 3 and 8, 2017 respectively, and ClarificatoryLetter on the Procedures and Arrangements dated June 29, 2017, requesting MWSS to immediately commence the procurement process and undertake limited Competitive Bidding among said Chinese companies and contractors following applicable procedures and documents under Republic Act. No. 9184 orGovernment Procurement Reform Act.” The dam project is situated at Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar andBarangay Magsaysay, Infanta, in Quezon province.

The project involves the construction of a dam with a discharge capacity of 600 million liters per day and a 27.7-kilometer raw water conveyance tunnel with adesign capacity of 2.4 million liters per day.

According to Velasco, the Kaliwa dam funding is pursuant to the bilateral arrangements between the Gov-

ernment of the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China wherein the Chinese government committed P10.2-billion ODA to help fund the Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon province.

Velasco said the financing for the project would now be in the form of official development assistance loan, instead of a public-private partnership scheme.

The Kaliwa Dam project, which has a total cost of P18.75 billion, is located at Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar and Barangay Magsaysay, Infanta, in Quezon province.

The project involves the construction of a dam with a discharge capacity of 600 million liters per day and a 27.7-kilometer raw water conveyance tunnel with a design capacity of 2.4 million liters per day.

Meanwhile, Velasco is also vigorously pursuing the Laiban Dam project, which is three times bigger than the Kaliwa dam, for the overall water security of Metro Manila since 95.6 percent of potable water source comes from Angat and Ipo dams.

Laiban Dam is a bulk water supply project that has been approved, deferred, canceled and re-approved since it was first proposed in the late 1970s.

SOLON SEEKS PHILHEALTH COVERAGE FOR ‘JR CITIZENS’

By Maricel V. Cruz

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

jority leader, said.

Villafuerte’s proposed “Junior Citizens Act” is the counterpart version of Senator Grace Poe’s Junior Citizen bill in the Senate.

“All junior citizens shall be covered by the national health insurance program of PhilHealth and shall therefore be automatic PhilHealth members until they reach the age of twelve (12), regardless of the family income,” Villafuerte said in his bill.

The benefits accorded to “junior citizens” under the bill extends to professional fees of physicians and dentists in private hospitals and of home health care service providers, as well as funeral and burial services in case of death.

Villafuerte said the 20 percent discount covers the purchase of medicines, vaccines, and other essential medical supplies; milk supplements for children aged 4-12 years; medical and dental services such as X-rays, diagnostics and laboratory fees.

TALAYAN WRF. Officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System

Board of Directors, led by chairman Franklin J. Demonteverde (3rd from left), and administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco (6th from left), trustee Merly M. Cruz (7th from left), and regulators led by chief regulator Patrick Lester N. Ty (9th, right), visited the Maynilad Talayan Water Reclamation Facility in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Maynilad officials, led by president and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez (8th from left), facilitated the tour at the 15,500-cubic meter Talayan WRF—one of the company’s 15 wastewater facilities in the San Juan River Basin—a major tributary that leads to Pasig River.

A HOUSE leader on Saturday said the national government has earmarked another P563 million to upgrade public drug treatment and rehabilitation centers in 2018.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House appropriations committee, said that “the fresh funding will be spent to expand the capacity of 14 residential drug TRCs across the country to enable them to accommodate additional admissions.”

“The new money is specifically for the ‘health facilities enhancement’ of 14 TRCs, and not for their maintenance and operations, which have a separate budget,” he said.

Pimentel, also the chairman of the House committee on good government, said the P563 million for next year is on top of the P570 million available this year to improve the facilities of 16 government-run TRCs. He added that the P563 million for next year has been set aside to develop the facilities of public TRCs in: Bicutan, Taguig City (P172.14 million); San Fernando City, La Union (P25.96 million); Dagupan City (P25.00 million); Ilagan, Isabela (P34.70 million); Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (P20.00 million); San Fernando, Camarines Sur (P50.60 million); Malinao, Albay (P29.77 million); Pototan, Iloilo (P57.06 million); Argao, Cebu (P24.20 million); Cebu City south district (P25.00 million); Cebu (P13.00 million); Dulag, Leyte (P11.73 million); Cagayan de Oro City (P17.91 million); and Surigao City (P55.50 million).

Maricel V. Cruz

MARCOS LAMBASTS TRIBUNAL OVER ‘SLOW PROGRESS’ OF PROTEST

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday aired his frustration over the snail-paced progress of his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo last year.

“It’s ongoing, but we find it very slow. We‘re just in the beginning to recover the ballot boxes and start the recount of the ballots,” Marcos told reporters in Tacloban.

“The Supreme Court and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal should prioritize this. Hindi pwede ibitin ang taong bayan. It is important an issue to be left deferred,” he said.

Marcos added that they are waiting for the Tribunal for them to present evidence, and when that time comes his camp will show what the weaknesses are in the country’s electoral system.

Meanwhile, the senator hit Smartmatic as it joined another bidding for the 2019 elections.

“Dapat ikulong yan dahil puro pandaraya ang kanilang ginagawa,” he said.

Aside from hitting Smartmatic, Marcos also criticized Robredo’s camp for allegedly doing many things to hinder the recount.

“Bakit ang kalaban ko ang ginagawa ay pagharang. If she believes that she won she should be the one rushing for us,” he said.

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Opinion

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

EVERYMAN

IN A CHANGING WORLD, ASIA AND EUROPE NEED TO DEEPEN TIES

ON FULL DISPLAY

I

T’S a security and logistics challenge but the Philippines, as this year’s head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, embraces the task of hosting heads of state and other representatives for the dayslong summit.

For many Filipinos in and around the capital, this simply means a pleasant break from work or school, heavy traffic and punishing public transport system.

In an ideal world, anybody can host an international event and life would go on as usual for its citizens. Not here—intracity travel itself is an ordeal, so do we dare show our esteemed guests that we are this way in the Philippines? Of course we won’t, even if it comes at the cost of low productivity and missed school days.

But it appears this is the only thing we are bent on playing down. At least we have not gone to the extreme of herding street

children away to some resort, or putting up facades over depressed communities just so our visitors could not see them.

No, we can only afford to be true to ourselves. Put up tarpaulins with embarrassing typographical errors, allow underserving officials to brandish their power and decide who are and who are not legitimate members of the media, and own up to the fact that our President is one who says and does exactly as he pleases—damn the consequences.

We know that the high-level meetings are supposed to bring us and our neighbors closer to solutions to our common problems.

Beyond the personalities who would come here and their sound bytes, discussions, commitments, agreements and their details would be more consequential.

This is a series of meetings that are supposed to affect the way we —and others in our region—live. It would be ridiculous for most of us to equate the Asean summit with holidays or traffic.

While it is tempting to do just that, let us not fall into the trap.

By Donald Tusk IN THE end, it is simple. Europe needs Asia, and Asia needs Europe.

Not only as trading partners, but as friends and allies in a world where the geo-political realities are changing fast, and where global threats and challenges endanger Asians and Europeans alike. This is what is on my mind as I prepare for the EU-Asean Summit and the East Asia Summit in Manila.

After Britain’s referendum last year, rumors of the demise of the European Union were greatly exaggerated.

Paradoxically, EU public approval ratings have sharply increased since. Brexit shows the benefits of EU membership more clearly than any public relations campaign ever could. The EU27 are conducting exit negotiations in a unified and well-organized manner, in a spirit of fairness towards Britain.

Whatever the outcome, the EU economy will continue expanding strongly, as it already is. A raft of ambitious new trade deals are being concluded with key partners, including with Singapore, Vietnam and Japan. In December, EU countries will cross the Rubicon in defense with a major new initiative on capabilities, security research and force projection.

And we already have brought under control a migration crisis far greater in scale than the Vietnamese Boat Crisis over 30 years ago. The European Union now looks outward and to the future with a renewed sense of confidence and optimism.

Central to this is our desire for a strategic partnership with Asia, in particular with Asean, a sister organization committed—like us— to peace and regional integration and with which we are proudly celebrating 40 years of relations. The EU is Asean’s second largest trading partner and largest foreign investor.

We seek to further open up trade and investment, year-by-year, eventually agreeing an ambitious inter-regional framework that can set trading standards globally.

Few emerging economies are growing so fast as those of Asean.

Europeans want to do what we can to ensure this impressive achievement is sustained long into the future and helps as many people as possible.

That is why the EU is doubling development cooperation funds to support Asean integration and also devotes over €2 billion in bilateral cooperation with all Asean countries.

EU countries also want to widen and deepen our relationship with Asean, based on mutual respect, common interests and shared values. Unfortunately, the world has become a more dangerous and unpredictable place in recent years. Rapidly evolving international realities require us to take counsel Turn to A5

STRANGER THINGS AND STEPHEN KING

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA—Stephen King had this to say about Stranger Things 2: “Ladies and gentlemen, that’s how you do it: no bullshit, balls to the wall entertainment. Straight up. Feel free to disagree, but… you would be wrong.”

Coming from someone who is on the receiving end of tons of homage from The Duffer Brothers, creators and directors of the show, this is indeed high praise.

Set in the 1980s, Stranger Things is filled with references to pop culture touch-points of the era, including King’s writing. The basic plot structure mirrors that of King works such as “Stand by Me” and “It” where a group of misfit preteens encounter a vast non-human evil that they eventually defeat with friendship,

loyalty, and makeshift weapons.

Good wins over evil in all King books, always the most satisfying of endings.

The contrast of the innocence of young people against the murderous depravity of supernatural creatures wins the reader over. In the end, we know that the dark side will be defeated, but for how long? And the victories are never without tremendous cost.

Stranger Things applies the King formula to perfection in this show. The shadowy government lab dabbling

in arcane experiments and overall bad decision-making (The Mist), the unknown and murderous evil released from another dimension (The Mist again), and the ragtag bag of geeky children (Stand By Me, It) who somehow know just what to do and what’s going on because they play Dungeons and Dragons, are all elements employed effectively over the past two seasons.

The show’s title also recalls that of King’s novel Needful Things, which is set in a small town in Maine, like most

of his works. Stranger Things, likewise, is set in a small town in Indiana.

It also helps that the show visually resurrects the ‘80s, the era of King’s most popular novels, with the clothes, interior decor, and the use of thentechnology such as camcorders, tape recorders, and walkie-talkies. The show’s soundtrack is also consistent to the era, with songs by Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, and Icicle Works, among many others. All these elements establish the setting effectively, making suspension Turn to A5

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IN...

From A4

together and cooperate. Our leaders should talk more, and more frankly, and meet more often. A credible rules-based international order is vital for us both, whether we talk about trade, regional security or issues like climate change. Asean and the EU are rightly expanding our security cooperation already from preventive diplomacy to conflict mediation and crisis management, from maritime security to transnational crime and counter-terrorism. This is sorely needed.

For t y years ago, Asian and European leaders took the prescient decision to establish the Asean-EU friendship. At the time, very few people understood that the EU would become the world’s largest market, or Asean its fastest-growing group of economies. And almost no-one foresaw threats like climate change, today’s brand of violent extremism, hybrid war or cybercrime. Yet the maturing Asean-EU relationship can now be used as a tool to help us tackle such challenges together. It can also help us both reap the huge opportunities that are also there in our rapidly changing world.

To that end, I am confident we will be celebrating soon the benefits of a working strategic partnership that fulfils the potential of our already rich political, security and economic relations and people-to-people contacts between our societies. I look forward to discussing this ambition in depth in Manila and to marking the significant milestone of four decades of productive and positive relations.

Long may it continue.

Donald Tusk is president of the European Council, the highest decision-making body of the European Union.

STRANGER...

From A4

of belief, so necessary to enjoying a story, all that easier.

What makes Stranger Things work as a horror story?

At some point or other, particularly as children, we’ve all felt the irrational fear of monsters under the bed, likely fed by stories told by our elders to keep us in line—“’Wag kang lumabas diyan, may mumu!” “Kung hindi ka magpakabait, kukunin ka ng aswang!”

This is one of the fears that perhaps never leaves us, that makes up the stuff of our most horrible nightmares.

To watch the Stranger Things gang facing the unfathomable evil from the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer, is a hearkening back to that fear we experienced as kids ourselves, and that we tried to banish by cowering under the blanket and feverishly reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

Dustin, Lucas, Mike, Will, Eleven, and the rest of them confront their worst nightmare with nothing more than bravery and flashlights, and in the end, triumph. They do this with the help of adults who believe in them, Will’s mom Joyce and chief of police Hopper.

This speaks to the desire of children to have adults believe in them unconditionally, keep them safe, and love them and not hurt them.

Because this show is, like I said, a riff off Stephen King’s tunes, well played by the Duffer Brothers, worthy successors of the master of the macabre. (Although King is not the only pop culture icon referred to in this show – there are many others, such as that other great Steve Spielberg.) King also wrote about dismal childhoods, and how a kind adult—a substitute for the parent figure—could turn things around for the protagonists.

As King says, Stranger Things is straight up entertainment. It’s got the essentials that make a riveting tale— conflict, heroism, redemption, big hair, a slow dance at the prom, saving the world. It’s a horror story, a coming-ofage story, a story about friendship.

And this is the secret of its success— that it speaks to us on so many levels.

It reminds us of what it was like to be children on the cusp of adulthood and of what it was like to believe in six impossible things before breakfast.

It also reminds us that love is all we need to defeat the darkest evils ever conjured.

Facebook and Twitter: @jennyortuoste

Finger-wagging policy.

WHAT TRUMP’S ODD COMMENT ON CHINA TRADE REVEALS

By Noah Feldman NO DONALD Trump trip would be complete without a shocking quote, and this week in Beijing, at the Great Hall of the People, the president obliged. After declaring the economic playing field between China and the US “one-sided” and “unfair,” he continued with a big “but”: “I don’t blame China,”Trump told the audience of business leaders from both countries. “After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for benefit of their citizens? I give China great credit.”

According to reports, his comments were met by gasps and nervous laughter. The initial reaction makes sense: It violates diplomatic protocol to confront your host so directly with an allegation of unfairness.

But the laughter is equally understandable.

It’s bizarre and self-contradictory to say that you don’t blame your opponent for taking advantage of you, because that’s what countries do. After all, how can the trade balance be unfair if it is just the result of ordinary bilateral negotiations between two self-interested economic actors?

Many of Trump’s outrageous statements don’t deserve careful parsing; their intent is obvious.

And it’s tempting to think that Trump contradicted himself in this case simply because he wanted to give his domestic constituents a soundbite about how China is unfair while in the same breath giving his Chinese hosts a conciliatory quote.

But in this instance, there is something more to Trump’s statement. The internal contradiction of attacking China for its unfairness while simultaneously purporting to show it respect for pursuing its own interests reveals the very

essence of what a populist, nationalist foreign policy looks like. This kind of populist nationalism is actually harmful to the possibility of productive international negotiation.

Consider Trump’s view of how nations ought to behave. In his picture, the leaders of every country should promote the interests of their own citizens ahead of the interests of other countries. They should say so openly. And leaders who do a good job of promoting their citizens’ interests at the expense of others are worthy of respect.

Trump first made this clear in his speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Refer ring to his “America first ” rhetoric, featured in his inauguration speech, he told the foreign leaders at the UN that he expected t h e y wo u l d a l w ay s p r i o r i t i ze t h e i r ow n countries’ interests. “I will always put America first,” he said, “just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first.”

From the standpoint of foreign policy realism, there’s nothing wrong with this statement, which simply asserts a deep truth of international relations. Foreign policy realists are committed precisely to the idea that countries act in their own interests, and that they are right to do so.

The problem for Trump is that he ordinarily rejects the key adjunct to realism, which is that fairness has nothing to do with international relations, a realm where the weak will inevitably unnecessarily oppress the strong. To argue that an imbalance of trade is unfair, you have to insist that you are in a game where fairness counts.

Yet as a populist, Trump needs to claim not that China is more economically clever or more powerful than the US, but that China is cheating,

gaming the system to its own advantage. And that populism is incompatible with the amorality of ordinary foreign policy realism.

This contradiction isn’t just incoherent—it’s wrong and dangerous.

It’s wrong because economics, especially trade, is not a zero-sum game. If it were, it would be logically impossible to negotiate any deals that leave both sides better off than they would be absent those agreements.

Realists can acknowledge that countries will negotiate according to their own self-interest. But they also need to acknowledge that both sides can improve their positions by crafting mutually advantageous deals. Otherwise we would be reduced to a war of all against all.

And the contradiction is dangerous because it undercuts the idea of fairness in international trade. That ideal of fairness depends on there being rules of the game. Those rules are derived not from populism, but from classical liberalism: the notion, going back to Adam Smith, that reducing barriers to trade will make everyone better off in the long run.

A populist who complains about unfairness while saying that it’s reasonable for all countries to pursue only their own interests is thus putting all countries on a collision course to trade war. Every country will try to pursue its own advantages— and every country will insist that nobody else is playing fair.

Trump’s foreign policy may well turn out to be a combination of populism and realism. If that’s true, expect lots more self-righteous whining from all sides—which can lead to hardened positions, stalled negotiations and the breakdown of international cooperation. Bloomberg

CALL OFF THE CHOCOLATE WARS!

By Megan McArdle THE Halloween loot, the Hanukkah gelt, the Chr istmas stock ings brimming with candy: No wonder the fourth quarter of each year erupts in bitter fights between the partisans of dark and milk. Yes, sadly, we’ve reopened the chocolate wars.

This year’s opening salvo was fired by Megan Garber, who wrote a jeremiad against dark chocolate at the Atlantic. Dark chocolate, she complains, is bitter. And also unpleasing of texture, for it is, (she quotes About.com) “more prone to a dry, chalky texture and a bitter after taste.” These qualities are perversely celebrated by chocolate snobs who adopt a pitying tone when they tell you that they can’t possibly enjoy anything with less than 70 percent cacao.

Aficionados of dark chocolate fired back in a ritualized display seen every year. People who like milk chocolate, they say, have had their palates dulled by oversweetened American foods. If they were not ruining their tongues and their waistlines, they would awaken to the joys of dark chocolate.

If they did, they would know that dark chocolate can be made less crumbly by manipulating the amount of cocoa solids, and that Madagascar beans are markedly less bitter than most of the dark chocolate that ordinary mortals

may have encountered. Also, why are you calling us snobs?

Ahem.

Take it from this foodie: There’s no accounting for taste.

We get into real trouble when folks confuse their own personal taste, and their culturally conditioned habits, with metaphysical truth.

Woe to anyone who occasionally or usually values anything different— convenience, say, or the warm comfort of long familiarity.

The reverse snobs’ response is no more healthy than their taste in things deep fried and slathered with Cheez Whiz. I don’t accuse Garber, who was clearly writing with tongue firmly in cheek. But I have had extraordinary conversations with folks who accuse me of eating certain foods only to show off. From the observation that many people take unwarranted pride in their eating habits, which is true, they extrapolate it to the conclusion that those people are only pretending to like those foods, which probably isn’t true.

Nowhere is this divide more apparent than in the consumption of bitter things. It’s not just dark chocolate. I n cocktail culture, aficionados clamor for the amari and the exotic bitters, and rather look down on the rubes who just like a nice strawberry daiquiri. Beer hobbyists became obsessed with

hoppier and hoppier beers. Coffee snobs take it black, black, black, and make denigrating remarks about sweet, milky Starbucks beverages.

Those on the other side of the bitter divide—those of us who can’t or don’t appreciate that sensation— make bitter jokes about the kind of people who choose their beverages to impress their friends.

At this point I should put my cards on the table: Geographically and demographically, I belong in bitter country. But I am an exile-inresidence, because bitter foods make me wince.

I mean that literally. Really bitter things—a Negroni, say—produce in me a physical aversion that is close to pain. Black coffee I find merely extraordinarily unpleasant, and hoppy beer is just barely endurable.

For over years of learning about food—and living with a bitter-loving craft cocktail enthusiast—I’ve come to realize that my aversion to bitter foods is almost certainly genetic. Science now tells us that there is indeed no sense arguing over taste, because you’re not going to change someone’s genome. Many seemingly mystifying divides over foods like cilantro come from the fact that some people have taste receptors that others don’t. If you have no receptors for the “soapy” compound in cilantro, this herb adds a marvelously tangy note to a dish. If

you have those receptors, anything cooked with it tastes like Irish Spring en cocotte.

In my case, I probably have more bitter receptors than most people, so that a drink my husband finds intriguingly astringent would hit me like a punch to the tongue. I can no more get over my instinct to spit out bitter foods than he could get over his instinct to take his hand off a hot stove.

Some tastes, it’s true, can be acquired. But many simply can’t be, because nature has not given all of us the tools to enjoy them. My husband, bless him, understands this, and carefully protects me from bitter beverages. But too many other people seem to believe that whatever they are capable of appreciating, others should aspire to appreciate.

And consequently they walk around sounding like fools.

So do those who accuse bitter aficionados of snobbishly faking their enjoyment.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying bitter things. Nor is there anything right about it. The fate of nations does not hinge on whether we drink daiquiris or Negronis. So, much as I enjoy the periodic spectacle of the battles, perhaps it’s time that we called a cease-fire and dug deeper into that haul for some Twizzlers or Nerds or Starburst—you know, something we can all agree on. Bloomberg

World

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Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

TOP THAI ROYAL AIDE SACKED FOR ‘EVIL ACTS’ A SENIOR Thai royal official has been sacked for “evil acts” including having an extramarital affair and forcing his alleged mistress to get an abortion, the palace said, the latest top aide to be axed under King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Vajiralongkorn, 65, took the throne one year ago following the death of his widely revered father King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for seven decades.

He has yet to attain his father’s widespread popularity but remains insulated from any criticism by one of the world’s harshest royal defamation laws.

Since ascending the throne the new monarch has axed a number of powerful palace officials from his father’s era.

The latest aide to fall from grace is Distorn Vajarodaya, a senior official in the Royal Household Bureau who served as Grand Chamberlain under the late King Bhumibol and was often seen by the ailing monarch’s side during the final years of his reign. AFP

BRITAIN’S PRINCE CHARLES STEPS UP, QUEEN STEPS BACK LONDON, United Kingdom‚—On Remembrance Sunday, Prince Charles will lay Queen Elizabeth II’s wreath honouring Britain’s war dead as she watches on – a rare public symbol of the 91-year-old gradually scaling back her duties.

It will be a milestone moment in the otherwise imperceptibly slow-motion process, as her eldest son, now 69, increasingly steps up on her behalf.

Experts said Britain’s oldest-ever monarch would never consider abdication or even a regency by her son, having sworn to serve her people for life.

But Charles, the heir to the throne, will steadily take on more duties outside the core constitutional obligations of her job.

“A very great deal can be done to scale back her public roles progressively and informally,” Bob Morris of the Constitution Unit at University College London told AFP. “There are ways of handling a lot of the public functions which don’t necessarily require the queen personally to undertake them,” he said. “Remembrance Sunday is a very good example.” AFP

AIR STRIKES HIT YEMEN’S DEFENSE MINISTRY SANAA, Yemen—The Saudi-led coalition carried out air strikes on the defense ministry in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa late Friday, witnesses and rebel media said, leaving at least three civilians wounded.

The Huthi rebel media outlet Al-Masirah reported two air strikes targeting the defense ministry. One of the strikes hit a residential area near the ministry, witnesses said.

“I was sitting at home and heard the first strike hit the ministry of defense.

Everyone was afraid. Minutes later, another strike hit my neighbor’s house,” resident Mohammed Aatif said.

“My entire house shook,” said Aatif, who fled with his family from the neighborhood.

He said the strike destroyed his neighbor’s house, leaving an enormous crater, and damaged others. Witnesses said the number of casualties may rise as wounded are pulled from the rubble. AFP

A man peers through the window of his damaged house in the aftermath of an air strike that targeted a nearby building in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on November 11, 2017. AFP

LEND ME YOUR EAR. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump talk as they attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on November 11, 2017. AFP

AUSTRALIAN PM LOSES GRIP ON PARLIAMENT

S

YDNEY, Australia—Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lost his grip on parliament when another of his coalition’s MPs resigned Saturday, the latest victim of a constitutional crisis over politicians who hold dual citizenship.

Former tennis star John Alexander, who represents a Sydney district for Turnbull’s Liberal Party, announced he was resigning after being unable to determine if he had inherited UK citizenship from his immigrant father.

His resignation followed an October 27 ruling by Australia’s High Court that forced five other politicians to quit parliament because they had fallen afoul of a previously obscure constitutional rule that bars dual citizens from sitting in the Senate or lower house.

The five included deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, leader of the rural-based National Party, which rules in a coalition with the Liberals.

When parliament convenes on Monday without Alexander, Turnbull will control only 74 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, with the opposition Labor Party holding 69. Minor parties and independents fill the remaining seats.

Labor front bencher Tony Burke vowed Saturday to heap pressure

on the government by pushing legislation opposed by Turnbull’s coalition but supported by independents.

“As of today, no matter which way you look at it on the floor of parliament, this is now government without a majority. It’s a prime minister without authority,” he said.

Turnbull brushed aside the likelihood of a no-confidence vote or setback on key legislation. “There is no question of that happening,” he said in Danang, Vietnam, where he was attending a regional summit.

In announcing his resignation, Alexander said the High Court ruling had forced him to examine his own citizenship status, even though he was born in Australia.

“I have always believed that I am Australian and solely Australian,” he said at a press conference.

“I can no longer, with sufficient

certainty, maintain the belief that I have held through my 66 years,” added Alexander, who played tennis professionally in the 1970s and 80s, at one point rising to world number 8. “It is my obligation that I must resign and that’s what I will do.”

Alexander will now have to run in a by-election in Sydney’s Bennelong district to return to parliament, and that race is expected to be competitive.

Joyce similarly needs to run for re-election in his Queensland constituency next month, though he is heavily favored to retain his seat.

Turnbull, anxious to recover his parliamentary majority, challenged Labor on Saturday to come clean over its members who might hold dual citizenship through their spouses, parents or grandparents.

AFP

BILLIONS SPENT IN ‘SINGLES DAY’ SHOPPING BINGE SHANGHAI, China—China’s smartphone-wielding masses unleashed billions of dollars in e-commerce spending Saturday as they rushed to snap up bargains on “Singles Day,” billed as the world’s biggest one-day online shopping festival.

Also known as “Double 11” for the November 11 date, the event launched in 2009 by e-commerce giant Alibaba kicked off at midnight and ended up shattering the previous year’s sales mark, as it does every year.

Alibaba said that by midday Saturday the gross value of sales processed

by Alipay, its online payment system, had equalled the $17.8 billion logged over the full 24 hours last year.

The 2016 amount was itself a 32 percent increase over the previous year and equal to the annual economic output of Mozambique.

The yearly display of rising Chinese consumer spending power has become a key date for manufacturers and retailers in the country, accounting for a significant share of annual orders for many businesses.

Alibaba rivals such as JD.com and a range of retailers have joined in,

with merchants slashing prices to move goods.

Five minutes after midnight, Alipay was processing 256,000 payment transactions per second, doubling last year’s high-water mark, Alibaba said.

“At 12:07:23 am, the number of payment transactions processed

by Alipay surpassed 100 million, equivalent to the total number of payment transactions processed during 2012,” it said.

More than 90 percent of orders were placed via mobile, the major-

ity on Alibaba’s main e-commerce platform Taobao.com.

More than half of China’s 1.3 billion people use smartphones, which have become central to daily life, used for messaging, shopping, news and entertainment, ordering taxis and meals, and serving as digital wallets for a range of point-ofsale purchases.

The day’s transaction volumes are pumped up by many Chinese delaying purchases of mundane items like rice and toilet paper to take advantage of cut-rate prices. AFP

US COMEDIAN ADMITS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT NEW YORK, United States—An award-winning US comedian over the weekend became the latest entertainment industry heavyweight to watch his career unravel over accusations of sexual misconduct, as he was forced to admit to masturbating in front of women.

Father of two Louis C.K. was dumped by Netflix, his publicist, the television networks FX and HBO, and his upcoming movie, which had showcased a relationship between an aging filmmaker and a teenage girl, was scrapped.

An extraordinary statement of guilt from the 50-year-old did nothing to limit the fallout as the entertainment industry grapples with scandals that have already sunk the careers of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey.

“These stories are true,” said the writer, actor and stand-up comedian in a statement released to US media a day after America’s most

prestigious newspaper published accusations from the women saying that he masturbated or asked to masturbate in front of them or on the telephone in separate incidents dating from the late 1990s to 2005.

“At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my dick without asking first, which is also true,” he said.

“But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your dick isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly,” he said.

While the comedian did not explicitly apologize, he said in his statement: “I have been remorseful of my actions.”

It was the most frank public admission of guilt from an accused man since a spate of sexual harassment and abuse scandals broke in

early October, disgracing not just Weinstein and Spacey but also implicating directors such as James Toback and 1980s action star Steven Seagal.

Louis C.K. said there was “nothing about this that I forgive myself for” and claimed he could “hardly wrap my head around the scope of hurt I brought” on the women and colleagues with whom he has worked, now impacted by the scandal.

But it was not enough to stop his career spinning out of control.

The distributor of his new movie “I Love You, Daddy” said it would not go ahead with its release and HBO dropped him from a comedy benefit concert due to air next week, US media reported.

Netflix announced that it was abandoning a second stand-up special featuring the star in the wake of what it called his “unprofessional and inappropriate behavior with female colleagues.” The first had debuted in April. AFP

This file photo taken on September 8 shows Louis C.K. attending the ‘I Love You Daddy’ premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson Theatre in Toronto, Canada. The US comedian admitted sexual misconduct and expressed remorse after a New York Times expose accused him of masturbating in front of women amid Hollywood’s burgeoning sexual harassment scandal. AFP

Sports

A7

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 randyproject@yahoo.com

DONDON HONTIVEROS

FROM PLAYING HOOPS TO PAYING IT FORWARD

Members of Team Villamor receive their trophy from WGAP president Anna Lacson-Haurie after edging Forest Hills to win the 2017 WGAP (Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines) Cup recently.

VILLAMOR CAPTURES WGAP CUP

Dondon Hontiveros owes his rich basketball career to the break he was given at Cebuana Gems.

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FTER almost two decades of showcasing his talent and passion on the hard court, the “Cebuano Hotshot” Dondon Hontiveros can’t ask for more.

He barged into the prestigious Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) via the unusual route as he had to work hard in another inter-region league, the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) to get noticed.

True enough, in just a couple years wearing the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Cebu Gems, he became toast of the town.

For the next 17 years, hotshooting Dondon would ply his trade in the PBA , carrying the banners of the Tanduay Rhum for two years, San Miguel (10 years) and Alaska Aces (five).

At 40, Dondon finally hanged his jersey and what’s next?

He just refuses to completely bid goodbye to the sport and now plans to focus on honing the skills of young players through summer weekend basketball camps he has launched with the sponsorship of Cebuana Lhuillier, the owner of the team that nurtured his pro basketball career.

Since August 2015, the project has successfully organized camps in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Ormoc City and has not stopped honing young talents to become the next cage superstars.

“I want to encourage the youth to go into sports because it teaches values and discipline that would help them become better persons. As for me, basketball has really helped develop my character so

if there’s a chance, I hope young Filipinos would try to go into sports, too,” he said.

Just like the man who saw a great potential in him, invested in his talent, and supported his career, Hontiveros now pays it forward by providing opportunities to young players to achieve the same basketball dream he had when he was just a small town boy.

Childhood Dream

A 13-time PBA All-Star player with a career total of 7,598 points, Dondon’s’ love for the sport runs deep and started early in his childhood.

“My father would always buy basketball rings and build basketball posts in our home. Since then, I became a PBA fan. I would always read stories of PBA players in sports magazines,” he shared.

Dondon eventually became a varsity high school basketball player for Don Bosco Technology Center and continued playing for the University of Cebu in college. He was a regular school athlete, until someone took notice and offered him the opportunity of a lifetime.

“During the Philippine National Games in Cebu, Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier, the owner of Cebu Gems, was there watching. Fortunately, I played a good game that day and I think that was the turning point when they decided to finally sign me for Cebu Gems,” he said.

He now focuses his energy spending more time with children and inspiring their basketball dreams.

Dondon was one of the pioneer players of Cebu Gems, a Cebuana Lhuilliersponsored team formed to represent Cebu and compete in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) in 1998.

“In Grade 6, we were told to write down what we wanted to be by the year 2000. I wrote that I would be a PBA player, and it came true. Towards the end of 1999, I was still signed under the Cebu Gems when the opportunity to play in the PBA came. I talked to my mentors, teammates, and to Sir Jean Henri about my plans,” he said.

“I really owe a lot to Sir Jean Henri and Cebuana Lhuillier for giving me the opportunity to play in the

MBA and for allowing me to cut my contract short so I could play in the PBA,” he added.

Dondon had an impressive basketball career in the MBA and PBA, considering the recognitions he has garnered: MBA All-Star MVP award, MBA Discovery of the Year award, a member of the Philippine National Men’s Basketball team and the PBA AllStar, PBA Sportsmanship award, PBA Mythical Second Team award, PBA AllStar Three-Point Shootout champion, and three-time PBA champion.

He is a team player, who rises to the occasion when needed most with his outside sniping. That’s why his services were vital in the Philippine national teams

of 2002 and 2007.

In 2015 while carrying the colors of Team Gilas Pilipinas, he played a major part in the team’s victory over Japan in the semifinals of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China.

He saw action for total of 744 games with four franchises in a 17-year career in the league wearing uniforms of Tanduay, San Miguel , Magnolia, Air 21 Express, Petron and Alaska. He averaged 26.1 minutes per game, 1.8 assists and 9.8 points per game.

Dondon was a blessed man and his story should as an inspiration to aspiring hoop stars to always have faith in the old adage that nothing is impossible.

With reports from Clarisse Ramirez.

FURIES, HEALTH ACHIEVERS EYE 2ND WIN IN UNTV CUP

BFP’s Rob Wainwright blocks the attempt of DOH’s Leonardo Nidoy during their teams’ elimination-round match in the UNTV Cup Season 6.

THE GSIS Furies battle the DOH Health Achievers at 2 p.m. in the UNTV Cup Season 6 at the Pasig City Sports Center on Sunday.

The Furies and the Health Achievers, who both have 1-2 records, must win their two remaining games in order to advance to the second-round of eliminations, which begin on December 14.

Meanwhile, the DOJ Justice Boosters are adamant to bounce back and claim their second win when they play the PDEA Drug Busters at 3:30 p.m. after losing to two-time champion Judiciary Magis in a double overtime classic on Oct. 29.

Despite the loss, DOJ head coach John Agbayani Jr. is satisfied with his team’s performance.

“Maganda ang laro. Happy kami sa ipinakita ng DOJ team kasi lumaban kami hanggang dulo,” Agbayani said.

The DOJ team plans to intensify

Games Today

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. - DOH vs GSIS 3:30 p.m. - PDEA vs DOJ 5 p.m. - BFP vs AFP

its training for future games, with an eye on the quarterfinals.

“Every team naman ngayon sobrang hirap kalaban. So every practice namin, we consider it talagang importante kasi ang hirap ng mga schedule ng players ko. So every time na nagpa-practice kami, isinusulit talaga namin ‘yung practice,” Agbayani said. “Mahaba pa naman yung season so, hopefully makapag-adjust yung team… maka abot kami sa quarter finals.”

DoJ has a 1-2 mark, while PDEA has yet to win after three games.

In the third game, the BFP Firefighters take on the AFP Cavaliers at 5 p.m.

VILLAMOR pulled off two late victories in the Greensome format for Classes A and C and came away with three points as it crowned itself the new WGAP Cup champion at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay recently.

Harmie Constantino and Bernadette Zamora routed Forest Hills’ Jonah Ilagan and Evelyn Alcantara, 5&3, then Jeun Hae Baek and Grace Banas edged Tagaytay Highlands’ Becky Albert and Cathy Borja, 1-up, to deliver the title-clinching points for the Pasay Citybased squad.

Villamor took control of the first two legs of the three-stage championship at Riviera and Summit Point courses with 5.5 points but needed a late burst from the Constantino-Zamora and Baek-Banas pairs to secure the victory at 8.5 points, two points over Forest Hills.

Earlier, Shiela Ward and MJ Hernandez nipped Sta. Elena’s Therese Dabao and Gia Suarez, 2-up, for Villamor’s first point in the final leg of the event sponsored by Champion Infinity and organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Ladies Open Meanwhile, WGAP and Champion Infinity gear up for the 56th Philippine Ladies Amateur Open on Jan. 10-12, 2018 at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

For details, email maisa_catindig@yahoo. com or secretariat@wgap-golf.com or visit www.wgap-golf.com.

Forest Hills banked on victories by the Grace Cho-Imelda Yu and Grace AtienzaSohan Uy tandems over Alabang’s Lan Fen Hsieh-Shirley Plaza, 2-up, and Sta. Elena’s Rio Co-Tetchie Leonio, 2&1, to claim runner-up honors with 6.5 points as last year’s winner Tagaytay Highlands reeled from the loss of Albert and Borja in the final match and settled for third.

The Highlanders actually made one big charge and racked up three victories behind the Sophia Blanco-Dionne Cu, Rosalie HeoJessalyn Tan, and Sandy Romualdez-Mayenne Varua pairs but lost their momentum in the final duel and wound up with six points.

Sta. Elena and Alabang won one match each through Mina Attwood-Marilen Bantug and Christine Naidoo-Lolit Arguelles tandems, respectively, and wound up with five and four points for fourth and fifth places in the event which featured the top five teams in the recent WGAP Circuit.

PSI HOLDS SPORTS SCIENCE TALKS IN BP DUMAGUETE THE Philippine Sports Institute will hold a series of sports science talks coinciding with the Batang Pinoy Games Visayas regionals at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center and nearby venues in Dumaguete.

To be held at the Foundation University campus beginning on Sunday, the series will cover five subjects, according to PSI deputy director for grassroots Salvador Marlon Malbog IV, a former basketball coach at the Ateneo de Davao.

“We will have courses in first aid, sports nutrition, performance analysis among children, maximizing performance using movement efficiency screening and sports nutrition,” Malbog said of the four-day course open for free to coaches and participants of the weeklong Batang Pinoy Visayas regionals.

He added that they have invited speakers who are experts in these respective areas that play an important role in enhancing the performance of athletes, whether beginners or at the elite level.

“At the end of these series of sports science talks, we hope that these coaches will be able to impart what they learned to their young athletes so they can perform even better,” said Malbog, adding that the talks would be repeated for those who cannot attend them while their athletes are competing.

On the other hand, hostilities in the youth sportsfest organized by Philippine Sports Commission start today with the centerpiece sports track and field at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium and swimming at the Lorenzo G. Teves Memorial Aqua Center.

Aside from athletics and swimming, other sports in the meet are archery, a favorite discipline in this scenic seaport city, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dancesport, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencaksilat, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and beach volleyball.

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Sports

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

INIONG, BELINGON, PACIO SALVAGE CARD Shane Larkin (8) of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets on November 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston. AFP

BOSTON CELTICS REFUSE TO LOSE Filipino veteran Kevin Belingon (right) lashes out at Kevin Chung with a sweeping kick to the head. ONE Championship

By Reuel Vidal

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ESPITE the devastating loss of ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang, Team Lakay fighters Gina Iniong, Joshua Pacio and Kevin Belingon salvaged some measure of regional pride by winning their respective bouts at ONE: Legends of the World at the Mall of Asia Arena last Friday.

Iniong relied on her superior grappling to beat Pricilla Gaol. Pacio knocked out countryman Roy Doliguez with a single blow. Belingon carved out a decisive unanimous decision victory over South KoreanAmerican dynamo Kevin Chung.

After trading strikes early in the fight Iniong brought the fight to the ground in the second round. She took down Gaol at the center of the cage then established side control.

Iniong then trapped Gaol’s left arm between her thighs and then held Gaol’s right hand with her left hand establishing a sturdy crucifix hold.

Iniong then used her free right hand to pound Gaol on the face forcing the referee to stop the contest.

Iniong improved to six wins (which included a split decision victory over top ranked Mei Yamaguchi) and two losses to climb into title contention at women’s Atomweight.

The 21-year-old Pacio knocked out veteran Doliguez with a single spinning backfist to the face 38 seconds into the second round.

At the center of the cage Pacio swung his right leg for a sweeping kick which missed Doliguez completely. The kick however was a feint.

Pacio continued his forward motion, swung his whole body around then caught the left-handed Doliguez on the head with a left-handed backfist.

Doliguez’s his limp body—propelled by the force of the punch—fell

Filipina veteran Gina Iniong (left) trades strikes against Pricilla Gaol inside the cage. ONE Championship

Joshua Pacio climbs atop the cage and celebrates after posting a second round stoppage over veteran Roy Doliguez. ONE Championship

backward as he landed almost face first into the canvas.

Pacio jumped forward to administer ground and pound but never got the chance after the referee halted the fight.

“He’s a southpaw and I just tried to connect. It’s up to One (officials) who I fight next, but this win proves that I’m still on top of the division,” Pacio said.

ONE title contender Belingon established his place among the elite bantamweight fighters of ONE Championship with a clear unanimous decision victory over Chung.

A member of Team Lakay’s elite strikers Belingon dictated the pace of the fight as the two fighters tried to take each other’s measure.

The Baguio City native frequently caught Chung with right hooks and crosses and lashing kicks to the body.

Chung tried to change the complexion of the match by taking the fight to the ground and relying to his superb grappling skills. Belingon’s defense against submission

attempts stymied Chung’s every attempt as Belingon went on to gain a unanimous decision triumph.

In other fights Japanese prospect Hayato Suzuki lost for the first time in his career as he bowed to Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion black belt Alex Silva.

Reece McLaren successfully moved down to flyweight as he defeated Anatpong Bunrad. With eight seconds left in the first round McLaren trapped Bunrad in an anaconda choke which he then transitioned into a D’arce choke to force the tap.

In other fights Chinese martial arts superstar Zhao Zhi Kang submitted Cambodian Thai Rithy in the first round.

Xie Chao picked up a second win in ONE Championship against Malaysia’s Kelvin Ong. Xie took down Ong and then established full mount which allowed him to land sharp elbows and punches to force the stoppage in the opening round of their featherweight showdown.

LOS ANGELES—The Boston Celtics juggernaut continues to steamroll its way through the NBA, extending their winning streak to 11 games on Friday despite a rash of injuries that now includes all-star Kyrie Irving.

With Gordon Hayward out for the season and Al Horford sitting out a second straight game with a concussion, Irving suffered a possible concussion less than two minutes into the game after taking an elbow from teammate Aron Baynes.

No matter—despite the revolving door on the infirmary—the Celtics just keep on winning without their Big Three, rallying from an 18-point deficit then hanging on for a 90-87 victory on Friday night over the Charlotte Hornets.

“We’re just going to do what we do no matter who we got,” Celtics Terry Rozier said. “No matter who we’re going to play with, we’re going to play hard.”

Boston scored a season-low 11 points in the first quarter and was down 18 early in the third before sending the Hornets to their fourth straight loss.

With unheralded guard Shane Larkin leading the way, the Celtics went on a 14-2 fourth-quarter surge to take control of the game and held the Hornets to 11 points in the fourth quarter. But Boston still had to survive a scramble at the end to survive.

Larkin finished with a seasonhigh 16 points, while rookie Jayson Tatum, who is playing with a sore ankle, scored 16 points.

“There’s no funner place to play than in Boston in comeback games,” Larkin said. “We went out there.

Crowd got behind us. We pulled out a victory.”

Rozier had 15 points seven rebounds and four assists, Marcus Morris had 14 and seven rebounds and Jaylen Brown scored 10 points and had 13 rebounds.

Kemba Walker led all scorers with 20 points despite missing all six of his three-point shot attempts, while Frank Kaminsky scored all 14 of his points in the first half. AFP

NGUYEN GAINS SECOND ONE CHAMPIONSHIP IT happens to the best of them.

Former ONE Lightweight World titleholder Eduard Folayang was at the receiving end of a perfectly timed right hand which knocked him out allowing ONE Featherweight World champion Martin Nguyen to earn his second world crown.

Another Filipino suffered an equally devastating loss as Danny Kingad lost his bid for a ONE Championship title after champion Adriano Moraes retained his title by

submitting his Filipino opponent with a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Folayang was actually winning before the devastating finish. He relied on his wushu strikes to keep a safe distance between himself and Nguyen as he gradually softened up his opponent with well-placed leg kicks.

Nguyen waited patiently and when the opening came he struck with deadly precision.

As Folayang swung around with another beautiful heel kick Nguyen

jumped forward to land a powerhouse right which knocked out Folayang.

Nguyen established ONE Championship history as he became the first fighter to win a second belt in another division after claiming the Featherweight title last August.

While Folayang may have fallen victim to a well-timed strategy which he could have avoided with caution Kingad was clearly overmatched.

Right from the start you

could feel the air of inevitability as Moraes stalked his skittish foe.

Kingad kept his foe at bay with his powerful striking. But it was all over when Moraes finally brought his foe to the ground. Kingad clearly did not know what to do on the ground. After some high level grappling Moraes wrapped his hand underneath Kingad’s neck to force a submission by rear naked choke to retain his ONE Flyweight World Championship. Reuel Vidal

Eduard Folayang (right) keeps Martin Nguyen at bay with another kick. ONE Championship

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

BISTRO GROUP NOW OPEN FOR FRANCHISING

HARM REDUCTION. Electronic cigarettes are on display during the First Asia Harm Reduction Forum in Jakarta.

ASIANS SEEK LESS HARMFUL ALTERNATIVES TO SMOKING

V

apers and vaping advocates from different Asian countries have gathered for the first time in Jakarta, Indonesia to call on their governments to allow and regulate the use of electronic cigarettes and the so-called ‘heat-not-burn’ tobacco products which are considered less harmful alternatives to smoking.

“Vaping or choosing a better product [than cigarette] is a human right. But we still have to fight for it,” Dimas Jeremia, chairman of MOVI or Indonesian Vape Retailers, says in a panel discussion during the First Asia Harm Reduction Forum at Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta. Vaping or the use of e-cigarette is considered as a harm reduction tool, according to experts.

Vaping is an act of inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette—a battery-operated device which vaporizes a flavored liquid made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine and flavorings. Vaping is considered as a significantly less harmful practice compared to the traditional burning of cigarettes, according to studies.

While there are no specific data on the population of Asian vapers, it is estimated that millions in the region now use e-cigarettes and heat sticks which advocates also classify as harm reduction products. Harm reduction is a strategy in public health science to reduce the negative impact of a product or practice.

The World Health Organization says that in 2015, over 1.1 billion people smoked tobacco and tobacco smoking would kill up to half of its users. It is believed that smoking kills more than 7 million people each year, making the tobacco epidemic one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. WHO also does not endorse vaping.

Prof. Achmad Syawqie Yazid, chief of YPKP Indonesia (Public Health Observer Foundation), which organized the forum, says almost half of the world’s 1.1 billion smokers live in Asia, with India and Indonesia having among the biggest populations of smokers globally. Thousands die each day in these countries due to complications related to smoking such as heart disease and cancer.

“One of the major health problems in Indonesia is caused by its extremely high cigarette consumption. In fact, smoking rate in Indonesia is one of the highest in the world today, reaching

Vapers, experts and members of the academe lead the discussion during the First Asia Harm Reduction Forum in Jakarta.

more than 57 million Indonesians. Today, Asia has the largest number of cigarette smokers anywhere in the world. Despite best efforts and various approaches by public health policies in fighting the cigarette smoking epidemic in the region, smoking rates have stopped declining,” Yazid says.

“This condition motivates us, public health observers in Asia, to immediately seek for the most efficient solutions to mitigate the risks of burning tobacco. Countries in Asia need to take actions,” says Yazid.

Yazid says one of the most efficient solutions is by introducing alternative tobacco products with lower health risks such as nicotine patch, Swedish snus, e-cigarettes or vape and heat-not-burn tobacco products, referring to heat sticks.

“In countries that promote the use of electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products such as Japan and the UK, smoking prevalence has been declining at a record speed. In the UK for example, 2.2 million smokers have quit smoking within five years.

Japan has the world’s fastest decline in cigarette use since two years ago. The US FDA just announced this year that its anti-tobacco regulation will be fully geared towards harm reduction while New Zealand Ministry of Health just endorsed this month the use of electronic cigarettes,” says Yazid.

Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, a Greek cardiologist and a top researcher on harm reduction tool, says people die from tar, or the byproduct of burning cigarettes, and not from nicotine. “Nicotine has not killed a single smoker. Nicotine is not a carcinogen. It is combustion that releases harmful toxins,” he says.

Farsalinos says based on voluminous studies, the use of e-cigarettes is substantially less harmful than burning tobacco. He says switching to e-cigarettes from smoking results in more than 95-percent reduction in the release of carcinogens like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein.

“I think e-cigarettes, without any doubt at all, from all the literature, are by far, by a very large margin, less harmful than smoking. There is absolutely no doubt,

The Vapers Philippines president Tom Pinlac and there is no discussion about it,” he says.

Rajesh Sharan, a professor of Molecular Biology at North Eastern Hill University in India, agrees, saying vaping releases much less or insignificant cancer-causing agents.

“Vaping has minimum health and safety concerns compared to high risk associated with cigarette,” he says in the same forum.

“It is a potentially effective avenue for Turn to B2

THE Bistro Group of Restaurants, a company behind some of the most successful international and local restaurant brands, is now offering entrepreneurs and businessmen an opportunity to share in its success with the sub-franchising of four of its concepts.

The move is a part of the company’s growth strategy as it continues to show a strong performance in the local food industry with over 70 restaurants nationwide.

From its diverse portfolio of 17 lucrative global and homegrown dining concepts, which include TGI Fridays, Italiannis, Fish & Co., Denny’s, Texas Roadhouse, Baker & Cook, Plank Sourdough Pizza and Village Tavern, The Bistro Group is now opening Bulgogi Brothers, Baker & Cook, Ka Tunying’s Café and Fish & Co to those who are looking to foray into food business.

The unique opportunity comes with the company ’s extensive experience and expertise in running and managing restaurants.

“Franchising is an ideal business model to grow a business and expand its reach,” said Jean Paul Manuud, president and chief operating officer of The Bistro Group. “When we open the above concepts to franchisees, we share with them our proven formula or recipe for success. We advise them and guide them through the different areas of restaurant operations – from site and design, marketing and menu, culinary and beverage, operations, accounting, supply chain, systems, procedures and best practices,” he said.

“Franchising is also one of the best ways for aspiring entrepreneurs to become business owners,” said Manuud.

The Bistro Group will open locations in key cities in Metro Manila, as well as other parts of Luzon for the four concepts.

Bulgogi Brothers is a South Korean restaurant that teamed up with The Bistro Group to open its first international branch in Manila in 2011. It offers traditional and classic Korean cuisine like barbecued meats and steaks.

Baker & Cook, meanwhile, is Singapore’s only true artisan bakery and food store chain. It is the brainchild of Global Baker Dean Brettschneider who has had more than 25 years of experience, and has authored 12 best-selling baking books. It is ripe for expansion, showing tremendous growth since opening its very first branch in the country early this year.

Home of the best fish and chips in town, Fish & Co. is one of the earlier brands introduced by The Bistro Group in the local food scene. A concept that originated in Singapore, its solid reputation hinges on really good food made with fresh ingredients.

Ka Tunying’s Café is a concept hatched by veteran broadcast journalist and TV host Anthony Taberna. The place offers an innovative spin to traditional Filipino dishes. It traces its roots from the Taberna family’s humble and runof-the-mill ‘panaderya’ in Nueva Ecija. This bakery, located inside the restaurant, remains an integral part of the café.

SHOPBACK RAISES CLOSE TO $40M IN FUNDING

ShopBack Philippines co-founder and country head Kristina Ay-ay

SHOPBACK, a one-stop lifestyle portal that powers smarter purchase decisions, raised $25 million in its latest funding round, bringing the company’s total funding raised to nearly $40 million.

The round was led by Credit Saison, the largest credit card and retail finance company in Japan. More than 10 institutional investors participated in the round, including new investors Blue Sky and Intouch Holdings PLC, as well as existing investors SoftBank Ventures Korea, Singtel Innov8, Qualgro, and East Ventures.

“Cashback served as the cornerstone for ShopBack’s establishment in the Philippines and laid the foundation for us to build smarter shopping solutions,” said Kristina Ay-ay, co-founder and country head of ShopBack Philippines. “Living up to our value proposition as The Smarter Way, we have recently added a service aggregation feature for Grab and Uber rides to simplify purchase decisions for our users as well as partnering with honestbee for grocery & food delivery

and FlytPack for the rental of Travel Wifis abroad. We strive to become the one-stop portal for every Filipino’s shopping and lifestyle needs.”

ShopBack powers close to 1,000 orders per hour, with an annualized sales figure of over $300 million for more than 1,300 partner merchants across the online retail, travel and lifestyle verticals. Over three and half million consumers across six countries in the Asia Pacific have signed up with ShopBack since the company’s inception in 2014.

“ShopBack’s business model builds on the explosive growth of e-commerce in the Asia Pacific to drive tangible value for its users and cost-efficient sales generation for its partner merchants,” said Sean Lee, partner of SoftBank Ventures Korea, “The model enables ShopBack to leverage user insights across shopping categories and develop smarter shopping solutions such as cross-category recommendations.”

“The ShopBack team has demonstrated the ability to build a pool of loyal users in a

sustainable and scalable manner, which is the backbone of all successful businesses.

We have high confidence that the team is able to deliver on their vision in the region, hence the follow-on 18 months after our initial investment,” said Sean.

The three-year-old start-up previously disclosed two seed funding rounds totaling over $1 million. This latest round of funding will be used to drive three key areas of development - acquiring world-class talent, launching new product features and establishing market leadership.

According to Heang Chhor, managing partner of Qualgro: “ShopBack consistently meets our high bar for delivering very strong growth. It has demonstrated exceptional ability to adapt and execute fast in very different markets across Southeast Asia. This rests on an innovative and fast-moving talent pool, that ShopBack has been able to attract, grow and motivate.”

“Speed and results-orientation are key in

the region, and ShopBack’s mantra of “Fail fast, learn fast and iterate faster”, has seen them rapidly become a regional platform for ‘The Smarter Way’ to shop online.”

ShopBack’s presence in six countries is driven by a team of more than 130 people. The management team hails from ecommerce and technology background with experience in scaling companies across the region.

ShopBack’s core business model is built on a strong foundation of multiple experimentations and iterations. It transformed from a one-day flash sale site to a perennial Cashback platform which enables it to deliver value to customers and partner merchants all year round.

“We have witnessed ShopBack’s growth journey and the founders’ dedication to the business from the early days,” said Edgar Hardless, chief executive of Singtel Innov8. “With the flourishing e-commerce market in the region, we believe ShopBack is strongly positioned to realize their regional growth aspirations.”

Business

B2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 business@manilastandard.net

MOBILE APP LENDS TO UNDERBANKED CONSUMERS IN PH ASIAKREDIT, a digital consumer lender focused on Southeast Asia, announced the launch of pera247 in the Philippines—an innovative, data-driven consumer lending platform delivered through a mobile application.

Pera247 is a digital lending solution that aims to provide unsecured small-ticket, shortterm consumer loans for up to 90 days to the country’s underbanked population with no existing credit or collateral history.

Designed to provide the shortest realtime credit decision by any platform on the market, the pera247 platform uses big data to optimize the credit assessment process to make fast and reliable credit decisions. As a part of its credit assessment process, pera247 will extract a selection of data points from both traditional and alternative sources of data, such as behavioral mobile data from an applicant’s smartphone.

Using the AsiaKredit team’s proprietary digital technology and technical knowhow, pera247 is able to incorporate highly predictive digital credit assessment into its underwriting algorithm to improve both the availability of credit to those with limited or no banking history as well as increase their approval rate, whilst reducing its cost of risk.

At the end of the credit decision journey, the pera247 app also acts as a mobile wallet for the successful applicant, where funds will be disbursed to and linked to thousands of physical payment centers, within hours of the application.

AsiaKredit has raised $675,000 to date from combined Pre-Series A and seed funding to date, part of which will be utilized as its funding facility for its customer loans. After its initial launch, it will seek to bring on board additional capital to expand its loan capital and operational balance sheets.

THE BIG SHOP READIES FOR HOLIDAY RUSH

The Big Shop is now on pre-Christmas sales with new designs.

THE Big Shop, a plus-size sophisticated clothing for women, has recently celebrated its tenth year and now prepares for busy holiday sales.

A part of the Sabella Fashion Group, The Big Shop distributes high-fashion ladies apparel to plus-size women.

The Big Shop marketing consultant Jojo Gamboa says TBS collection offers versatility and freedom to women in terms of choosing the right and comfortable sizes for their clothing.

“It’s our way of showing long time and new clients our appreciation as we continuously give big discounts for readyto-wear line that fits the likeness of women, who want a loose or plus-size dresses that give exquisite fashion statements,” says Gamboa.

The Big Shop started with an idea of giving plus-size women a chance to explore and be inspired by stylish clothing.

As most Filipinos are getting bigger due to changing diet, special delicacies, food promotions, stress-related or medical conditions, TBS provides fashionable apparel that properly fit their sizes, he says.

“TBS products are also more affordable, while providing high-quality fashion,” says Gamboa.

The Big Shop is located at the 3rd floor of SM Manila and SM San Lazaro.

ASIANS...

From B1 quitting smoking or smoking cessation,” says Sharan. It has become an effective tool to quit smoking, because it mimics the experience of smoking and still provides nicotine.

“In 2014, 6.1 million Europeans quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes. An additional 9.2 million reduced smoking with e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes promote smoking cessation,” says Farsalinos.

“Millions of lives can be saved in Indonesia, Asia and worldwide at no cost to the economy and the state,” he says.

Farsalinos, however, says there is a need to regulate vaping particularly in Asia, where many countries impose an outright ban or restrictions on e-cigarettes, while allowing tobacco smoking to flourish. In Southeast Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam impose a ban or restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes. Authorities in Malaysia and the Philippines also look at restricting the vaping industry.

“There are countries in the world, some of them in Southeast Asia which have banned these products, but tobacco cigarettes have not been banned. That is an entire paradox and it does not make sense,” says Farsalinos.

Donald Low, an associate dean of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at

UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS BAR TOPNOTCHERS SHARE WINNING FORMULA

T

HE year 2016 was a great year of triumph for Cebu’s top academic institution, the University of San Carlos. All 68 examinees successfully passed the bar exams, with four Carolinians emerging as topnotchers, the same period that Manila-based schools did not make the elite ranking.

A 59.06 percent passing rate, considered the highest passing percentage in the history of bar exams, was achieved in 2016.

Setting new records and being able to produce topnotchers in the bar exams is but one of the many important milestones that reinforced USC’s status as a top-performing law school. Among these impressive feats is winning the world title in the 20th SEARR-Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition – the first Asian school to get the recognition; the Best New Team award in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the oldest and largest moot court competition in the world; and the Championship plum in the Asia Pacific Regional Round of the Price Media Law Moot Court competition, with the USC students named as sixth best oralists in the world

by Oxford University in England.

Encouraged by the stellar performance of USC students, College of Law Dean Joan Largo commended the supportive efforts of the entire Carolinian community.

“I am proud of the important work of our faculty, students and alumni. Our unified community spirit and university pride are at their highest.

It has always been an interplay of the quality of learning and research in the college, as well as the unrelenting drive for excellence to be pursued by all, in an atmosphere that feels like home, then it doesn’t feel stressful,” she said.

Enhanced learning outcomes Apart from collective contributions, also central to USC’s brand of quality legal education is investing in the latest, most comprehensive educational materials. According to Largo, USC has acquired new learning aids, in particular textbooks in full preparation for the bar examinations.

The topnotchers recommend books from Rex Bookstore, such as Dean Willard Riano’s Remedial Law Bar Lecture Series, which includes “Civil Procedure” Vols. I and II, “Criminal Procedure”, and “Evidence”; Dean Alex Monterclar’s “Compendium on the Law on Persons and Family Relations” and Dean Mel Sta. Maria’s “Persons and Family Relations Law.” This move, she said, was done to facilitate maximum student learning as they navigate through law school and to cultivate the inquiring minds of law students by injecting “fresh” perspectives – for them to gain better appreciation and understanding of their legal education.

“While we have been amply preparing our students since Day 1, we find it especially important to purchase the latest learning toolkits, like textbooks. Of course the printed copies are always provided by Rex Bookstore, and we thank them for making these books available to us. In the past, we would have problems getting hold of those materials because sometimes we would have them when the semester has already started or halfway through but the past years, we have seen some changes, we were able to get hold of the materials way ahead of time, which is very important.

Another thing is that we have ventured into digital format so a lot of our materials can be sourced online by our students,” Largo said.

In taking the law students through each step of their journey, Rex Bookstore has been an active partner and supporter of USC’s ongoing purpose and advocacy on quality education. As the leading publisher of textbooks and educational materials, Rex remains at the forefront of reforming the

the National University of Singapore, says despite the compelling benefits that harm reduction products bring, there are still authorities that decide on outright ban.

Andrew Da Roza, an addiction psycho therapist, says Singapore is one of the world’s leaders in tobacco control, but it has rejected tobacco harm reduction.

Dr. Drg. Amaliya, a dentist at Padjajaran University of Indonesia, says while vaping is not legal in Indonesia, “I could not say it is illegal, because it is not currently regulated or monitored.

“There are plenty of vape shops or cafes in Indonesia. Marketing, awareness and use of e-cigarettes is growing rapidly in Indonesia, despite the lack of regulation,” Amaliya says.

Farsalinos says e-cigarettes have the potential to save thousands of smokers in Indonesia from premature death. In Indonesia alone, some 300,000 people die due to smoking (annually), he says. “There are 57 million smokers in Indonesia. Tobacco is the most lethal product containing nicotine.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines has recently excluded vaping from a nationwide ban on smoking in public places. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that in 2015, 16.6 million adults or 23.8 percent of the Philippine population were smokers.

Of the total, 76.7 percent planned or were thinking about quitting, but only 4 percent were able to successfully quit.

Many Filipinos switched to vaping

University of San Carlos College of Law Dean Joan Largo (left) with 2016 bar topnotchers Karen Mae Calam (1st place), Fiona Cristy Lao (3rd place) and Anne Margaret Momongan (7th place).

country’s educational landscape, recognizing and providing the crucial learning needs of 21st century learners.

Rex Bookstore has a network of 24 stand-alone branches and two showrooms to serve clients’ requirements nationwide. It has published over 8,000 titles from pre-elementary, elementary, secondary, tertiary and post collegiate including law titles.

Dream big, aim high Bar top-passers Karen Mae Calam, Fiona Cristy Lao, and Anne Margaret Momongan may have prepared for the 2016 exams using different reviewing styles, but they ultimately share similar denominators for success – hard work, focus, prayers and reliable learning materials.

While topping the exams gave a big head-start and indeed opened up a world of opportunities, Calam counts being able to practice the profession that you are passionate as the most fulfilling perk.

Calam, who scored 89.05, has dreamt of becoming a CPA lawyer since she was six years old.

“Though I still don’t know what a CPA is or what a lawyer does then, I was greatly influenced by my Mom, as well as friends and officemates who encouraged me to take up law. I was already working at SGV, but I’m determined to finish law school in four years,” she said.

During her bar review, Calam attributed consistency as a vital factor in her success.

“When people ask me ‘how did you do it?’

I simply reply, ‘I just trusted in myself, in my abilities.’ I don’t think there’s something special with me, or the way I do things, but maybe because I was just consistent, I genuinely love what I do. I wasn’t really preparing to top the bar exams. Of course there are sacrifices made.

I studied well, but then I still kept my balance; I don’t overthink. That despite setbacks and challenges, I continued on. I rose above them. I just enjoyed the ride, the entire process,” she said.

Following in the footsteps of her grandfather who is a former litigator and politician, Lao bears immense pride in forging her own path as a lawyer at the Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu.

But her success story is not without a challenge,

when the government issued an executive order prohibiting smoking in public places, according to Tom Pinlac, president of The Vapers Philippines.

In the Philippines, about 4 million or 4 percent of the population are vapers, he says. There are more than 2,000 e-cigarette juice manufacturers in the country, mostly individuals, which makes the market basically informal.

“A lot of juice manufacturers are individuals. It is still in the early stages, but it has been growing rapidly over the past two or three years,” Pinlac says.

In Malaysia, vaping is also not entirely prohibited. A local research shows that 75 percent of respondents choose e-cigarettes because of health concerns over smoking. Azrul Hafriz of the Malaysian Organization of Vape Entity says the country has many vape shops and even exports e-cigarette juices with different flavors to the UK, Europe and Thailand. Recent news, however, have alarmed the vaping community.

“News of enforcing a ban has triggered fears within the vaping community in Malaysia. Everyone including brewers, retailers and consumers were afraid that their rights to vape would be taken away from them. We are not against the government. Regulation is important so that we are assured of quality and safety of products as alternative to smoking,” says Hafriz.

In Thailand, it is illegal to import, manufacture, advertise or give services related to vaping, according to Asa

as Lao suffered an academic setback when she got a failing grade midway of her studies.

“It was hard as I was used to doing well on things; I was an achiever and a consistent dean’s lister. But looking back, the good thing about my failure is that it really gave me an opportunity to re-examine myself where I went wrong. It gave me the ample time to review, because I was supposed to take the 2015 bar,” she said.

With persistence and keeping her faith in God’s plan, Lao’s hard-earned achievement came at a most perfect moment.

“I remembered when I received the news about being one of the topnotchers in the 2016 bar exams, a friend told me, ‘Fiona, now I know why you did not graduate with your original batch and why you were not able to take the bar examinations in 2015. Because the third spot was destined for you.’ It’s then that I realized that everything happens for a reason, that God’s plan is indeed greater than mine,” she recalls.

Just like Calam, being a lawyer was a childhood dream for Momongan, who is also a CPA and who ranked seventh in last year’s bar. She recalled her first year in law school as “baptism of fire” as she had a terror professor then.

“I’m just so thankful that I came to know that he likes the book of Sta. Maria for Persons and Family Relations. I liked that book very much because it is updated and I liked how Atty. Sta. Maria presents it. So come bar review, I still referred to his book,” Momongan said.

“We are one with Rex Bookstore in this advocacy. From our end, it’s made front and center in the discussions with our students that is legally and morally wrong to infringe upon the IP rights of authors, that’s one. Apart from an orientation, USC offers a separate subject in that one for our students’ awareness. As reinforcement mechanism, our librarian has been successful in this regard. Our students themselves have a strong sense of ownership of the book. It’s important to them as they find fulfillment in knowing that the books are not procured illegally,” said Dean Largo.

Saligupta of Ends Cigarette Smoke Thailand. “But it is not illegal to vape,” he says.

“The amount of users is estimated at least 400,000 people using vaporizers.

Almost everything is underground at the moment,” Saligupta says.

Saligupta says as a result of the ban, the 11 million smokers in Thailand have no choice. “We have started an online petition to lift the ban on e-cigarettes. We have 10,000 signatures and counting. We need your support,” he says.

Shakrit Rimpanit, a cessation clinic doctor of Saint Mary Hospital of Thailand, says more clinical studies are needed to convince authorities on the merits of vaping.

Meanwhile, I ndia has several territories that also restrict the use of e-cigarettes, says Nilesh Jain, the founder and managing director if ivape.in. “Over the last two and a half years, we have been pushing products or technology for harm reduction. We have reached over a million users. The focus is a lot about what vaping means and on education,” Jain says.

Jain wants more people to consider harm reduction tool, because of the serious problem in India, where smoking kills 1 million people and costs $16 billion in economic losses each year.

Farsalinos challenged the vaping industry to come up with more studies or solid evidence to convince authorities on the merits of vaping. “Many countries don’t have data. One of the biggest

problems is the lack of knowledge on the situation on the ground. You must also show that you are a responsible industry. You have to create a good image for the product,” he says.

A study is currently being undertaken in the Philippines. Researchers Ron Christian Sison and Jay Jazul from the University of Santo Tomas began a study analyzing the urine samples of smokers, non-smokers and vapers.

In Indonesia, YPKP as an organization carried out a research to evaluate e-liquid ingredients and observe the oral condition of smokers and vapers. These studies are expected to add to the current literature on harm reduction products and provide local evidence needed by authorities in making policy decisions.

Jeannie Cameron, the founder and managing director of JCIC International in Australia believes that harm reduction products have the potential to overtake tobacco cigarettes over time. “There is a huge potential in this area. It is the biggest disruption in the tobacco industry,” she says.

Yazid, the organizer of the forum, says if governments in Asia would embrace new technologies such as e-cigarettes, more Asian smokers could switch to less harmful alternatives.

“If new policies encourage harm reduced alternatives, the public health benefits can be unprecedented and even more so in Asian countries where smoking rates are high,” he says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Gadgets & Games

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ASIA PACIFIC IS MOST TARGETED REGION FOR CYBER THREATS

VLOG LIKE A PRO WITH THE NOKIA 8

LOGGING or video blogging is redefining how users relate to their smartphones.

With Filipinos now spending an average of 6.35 hours a week watching online videos, the fourth-highest average online viewing time per week next to India (7.12 hours), Singapore (6.62 hours) and the US (6.58 hours) according to a recent Limelight Networks report, videos are definitely a primary online content.

YouTube currently ranks fourth among the online content consumed by Filipinos, and monthly active YouTube users in the country are forecast to hit 33.55 million by 2020.

Some local vloggers have created a following in the different fields such as beauty and fashion, music, lifestyle, travel, and entertainment.

Several even earn money from their video blogs.

Vlogging is not only about sharing personal experiences or ideas about an issue or topic through an online video but is also about engaging a target viewer base. But what exactly are the secrets to a good and engaging vlog? Besides relatable content and creative inspiration, it pays to have the right video equipment, post-production software and online platforms.

Choose to be more Unique content does not always sell—unique content with a wellestablished style does. The video storytelling style can be naturally based on one’s personality, humorous such as when poking fun at current trends or straightforward, even brutally honest as when discussing issues or providing tips. Video bloggers can experiment in the videography, video editing and music.

Having the right equipment is particularly crucial in delivering great video content. Nokia smartphones can now be used to create outstanding videos and post these

Take storytelling to a new level with Nokia 8’s Dual-Sight camera technology for even better vlogs

immediately for sharing with family and friends.

Nokia 8’s Dual-Sight camera technology uses two 13MP cameras with ZEISS optics for high-quality imaging and video. The cameras have dualtone flash and f/2.0 aperture for better photos in low-light conditions. The video resolutions supported are 4K and 1080p at 30fps. Complement videos with strong audio using the Nokia 8’s OZO AUDIO technology.

Capture moments with spatial 360° recording, the same technology used

by Hollywood film experts. Vloggers can highlight certain sounds while reducing background noise using the Audio Focus mode.

The smartphone runs on a Li-ion 3090mAh battery, which promises long battery life for non-stop video recording. Wi-Fi smartphone allows vloggers to post videos as and when or where they please.

Share both sides of the story for great storytelling Nokia’s latest flagship Androidpowered smartphone, the Nokia 8, delivers a new exciting way of story-

telling. With its Dual-Sight technology, vloggers can capture both sides of every story using the front and back cameras simultaneously.

This technology, a first in mobile phones, is perfect for vloggers who would like to show their viewers what is happening while sharing their opinion or ideas at the same time.

For travel, document fun activities with family or friends on the beach while watching the sunset. Chronicle the challenges of mountain climbing, even show sweat trickling down the face, while capturing the scenery to make the experience more relatable to viewers.

For beauty and fashion, cooking and other lifestyle features, share how to’s and tips by recording live demos.

For sports or any coverage, record an action-packed game while capturing one’s own reaction and that of the crowd in real-time.

Nokia 8 allows broadcasting live directly to Facebook and YouTube with just one touch within the camera app.

Extended moments in HD Relive exciting adventures at

any time by storing and organizing photos without compromising the phone memory. With Google Photos, captured moments are now easier to search and share.

Nokia 8’s 13MP cameras use a color sensor combined with optical image stabilization for clearer image quality, a monochrome sensor for low light, and dedicated black and white photography.

To complete the perfect vlogger experience package, the Nokia 8 is designed to work harder and longer with its full-length copper cooling pipe with graphite shield dissipates system heat across its full body.

All these features come in a stylish smartphone slim enough to allow new generation of content creators to capture and create video content with just one hand.

The Nokia 8 is officially available in the Philippines in both steel and polished blue at P29,990. You can visit the official Nokia website https://www.nokia.com/en_ph/ phones/store-locator for a list of the top stores near you.

EXCITING FREEBIES FROM MOTOROLA EVERYONE’S favorite time of the year is just around the corner.

Treat yourself and your loved ones this Christmas with quality gift items and get more from Moto.

From Nov. 11 through Dec. 31, visit Motorola Experience Stores and authorized dealers near you to enjoy these exciting freebies: Explore unlimited possibilities with the Moto Z Family Christmas is everyone’s favorite season for parties, reunions and almost all other activities and reasons to gather together.

Give the gift of tech that can outlast the day. With the Moto Z’s all-day battery, worry no more about the phone running out of juice. The unit’s TurboPower charging injects up to 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. The ultra-thin phone uses aircraft-grade aluminum chassis for extra durability. The phone lists at only P29,999, with a FREE Incipio PowerPack mod.

Besides getting 30 hours of battery on just one charge for

truly unlimited possibilities, the Moto Z2 Play makes selfie moments even more fun with its camera’s dual autofocus pixels and laser autofocus technology. It comes with a FREE Moto Gift Box and Over-the-Ear Bluetooth Headphones for only P24,999.

For even less, enjoy up to 50 hours of smartphone battery life with the Moto Z Play.

Complete Christmas shopping, run other errands and meet with friends on a single battery charge. There will still be power left for some gaming.

The Moto Z Play is available for only P19,999, with a FREE Incipio PowerPack mod.

Capture precious memories with the Moto G5s range Christmas is about sharing our blessings with our loved ones. The Moto G5s Plus is the ideal present at only P14,999.

With its 13MP+13MP dual rear cameras and 8MP wide-angle front camera, snapping get-togethers and reunions becomes a lot easier. This Christmas, the Moto G5s Plus comes with a FREE water and dust-resistant and shock-proof Bluetooth speaker for anywhere entertainment.

It’s smaller sibling, the Moto G5s, features a rapid-focus 16MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera. Crystal clear images of Christmas bonding moments

can be stored in the phone’s 32GB memory. For just P10,999, the Moto G5S comes with a pair of FREE In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones.

Level up Christmas gaming with the Moto E4 Plus Maximize vacation time this coming holiday season. Raise the chill vibe with a powerpacked gaming experience through the Moto E4 Plus.

Designed to power you through multiple game levels, the Moto E4 Plus features a 5000mAh battery, a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 3GB RAM. Store up to 32GB worth of games and enjoy nonstop action for only P8,999. A FREE Bluetooth

Gamepad makes gaming even more fun.

Complement Christmas outfits with the stylish Moto C Why compromise style for performance when you can have both?ForonlyP3,699fortheMoto C and P5,999 for the Moto C Plus, get both style and performance for an affordable price. The Moto C Family’s heavy-duty quad-core processor and Android Nougat OS ensure quality smartphone experience without any lags. The Moto C and Moto C Plus feature a micro-textured back cover for added grip. They offer added flexibility with two SIM slots and a microSD support for extra storage for more apps, photos and other files.

The Moto C comes bundled with a FREE tempered glass screen protector and jelly case.

The Moto C Plus has a FREE tempered glass screen protector, jelly case, and Bluetooth mono earphones.

Visit nearby Motorola Experience Stores and authorized resellers to avail of these exclusive promos!

THE Asia Pacific is now the most targeted region in cyber-attacks.

The region accounted for 35.7% of all ransomware detections for the first half of the year alone.

EMEA came at a far second with 25.24%, followed by Latin America (22.66%) and North America (15.71%).

According to cloud security solutions leader Trend Micro, the Asia Pacific region has consistently ranked as the most targeted across multiple threat categories.

From ransomware to malware to online banking attacks, the region has claimed the highest vulnerability.

Trend Micro attributes APAC’s standing to a number of factors, including unpatched or un-updated legacy systems, as well as computing habits that allow the transfer of malware. The region is also a major hub of transnational enterprises, and is often used as a stepping stone to other targets.

Global businesses batted as much as $4 billion in financial and economic losses from WannaCry alone, a ransomware attack that infected over 300,000 machines worldwide. Petya, another ransomware, had businesses and organizations reeling just a month later making estimated financial losses much higher.

Trend Micro detected and blocked 82 million ransomware threats for the first half of 2017. The company also noted 436 million malware detections, which were notably high in Japan, Australia and Taiwan.

APAC also took the lead in online banking malware detected and blocked at 118,193, and 47 million malicious online mobile apps were downloaded by APAC users.

“APAC was targeted by threats and cyberattacks disproportionately in the first half of the year.

Companies in the region need to better understand cyberattacks and prioritize funds accordingly for effective security,” said Richard Sheng, Senior Director, Alliances and Strategic Channels, Trend Micro Asia Pacific & Middle East Africa.

Other cyber-attacks from the first half of the year came from Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, where emails may be infected with malware or used by cybercriminals to dupe recipients into a con.

Cyberpropaganda, where the internet is used to sway perception and public opinion, has also become prevalent. Trend Micro noted in their research on Chinese, Russian, Middle Eastern, and English-based underground markets that these now offer tools for creating content, boosting social media reach or even influencing online polls with vote buying. Fake news is one of the glaring examples of cyberpropaganda.

To know more about Trend Micro’s 2017 Midyear Security Roundup: The Cost of Compromise, visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/ us/security/research-and-analysis/ threat-reports/roundup.

SMART HELPS BRING SMILE TO NEGROS CLEFT PATIENTS CLEFT patients in Dumaguete City recently received assistance from Operation Smile Philippines and employees of Smart Communications Inc., the wireless unit of PLDT. At the medical mission conducted by Operation Smile in Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital to treat cleft patients for free, sales and engineering employees of Smart helped out in gathering patient information by using the OSP patient mapper app.

Developed through the initiative of Smart, the OSP mapper app enables the user to securely store patient data, which is used by Operation Smile to generate a heat map of patients and efficiently plan succeeding missions.

The app is available as a free download

for Android and iOS devices.

Joining the mission were Smart sales managers Art Lamayo Jr. and Steve John Nacua, together with engineer Anthony Sherwin Cal. For Lamayo, area development manager, and Nacua, consumer development manager, volunteering for a worthy cause is part of being a Smart employee.

“It’s good to be able to help other people, especially children,” Lamayo said, adding it’s also a good opportunity to get to know subscribers better. “It’s also connected to our work since some of the patients are also our subscibers,” he added.

Anthony Sherwin L. Cal, senior wireless access and transport engineer at

technical operations center, has been with Smart for 15 years now. He says the Operation Smile app is easy to use and he is encouraging co-employees to download it and join succeeding missions as well.

Lamayo likewise expressed appreciation for the app and encouraged other people to help Operation Smile get more patients by volunteering and using the program. “Volunteers may use it; for instance, if they’re at a mall and spot someone with cleft, they can encode the patient information immediately and let the patient know how Operation Smile can help them,” he said.

Cal, senior wireless access and transport engineer at technical opera-

tions center, also lauded the app for its offline capabilities. “It’s a powerful tool because it can be used even if there’s no internet,” he said, adding it’s good especially for patients in areas with limited connectivity.

Since the organization’s launch in 1982, more than 31,000 lives have been changed by Operation Smile in the Philippines. This year alone, around 900 beneficiaries have been treated, while more than 600 patients have been encoded in the app.

With its 35th anniversary campaign #UntilWeHeal, Operation Smile hopes to eradicate the backlog of cleft incidents in the Philippines. Smart, for its part, seeks to advance healthcare by collaborating with institutions and enhancing pro-

Steve John S. Nacua, consumer development manager for Dumaguete, Negros Occidental North and Siquijor, is no stranger to volunteer work. He has been with Smart for almost 17 years, and has joined several relief, bloodletting and tree-planting activities with the company.

grams using technology.

Smart subscribers may donate to Operation Smile Philippines by texting SMILE (space) (amount) to 4483.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games

TWITTER LAUNCHES 280-CHARACTER LIMIT

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will still see about the same amount of Tweets in their timeline.

“People in the test got very excited about the extra space in the beginning and many Tweets went way beyond 140,” said Aliza Rozen, Product Manager, Twitter. “People did silly (creative!) things like writing 1 character per line to make their Tweets extra large. It was a temporary effect, and didn’t last long. We’ll definitely see some of this novelty effect spike again with this week’s launch and expect it to resume to normal behavior soon after.”

FTER successfully piloting a test that expanded the 140-character limit in September, Twitter announced that it is rolling out the 280-character limit to languages where cramming was an issue so that every person around the world could express themselves easily in a Tweet.

Engagement

During the first few days of the test many people Tweeted the full 280 limit because it was new and novel, but soon after behavior normalized, Twitter data confirms that users Tweeted more easily and more often, especially when they needed to use more than 140 characters. But importantly, people Tweeted below 140 most of the time and the brevity of Twitter remained. Detailed information about this can also be read at the Twitter blog.

Easier to Tweet

Historically, 9% of Tweets in English hit the character limit. This reflects the challenge of fitting a thought into a Tweet, often resulting in lots of time spent editing and even at times abandoning Tweets before sending. With the expanded character count, this problem was massively reduced – that number dropped to only 1% of Tweets running up against the limit. Since Tweets hit the character limit less often, Twitter observed that people spent less time editing their Tweets in the composer. This shows that more space makes it easier for people to fit thoughts in a Tweet, so

they could say what they want to say, and send Tweets faster than before.

Keeping Twitter’s brevity

In the timeline, Tweets with an image or poll usually take up more space than a 190 character Tweet. Many Twitter users were concerned that timelines may fill up with 280 charac-

ter Tweets, and people with the new limit would always use up the whole space. This was not the case, however, as only 5% of Tweets sent were longer than 140 characters and only 2% were over 190 characters. As a result, Twitter timeline reading experience will not substantially change, and Twitter users

In addition to more Tweeting, people who had more room to Tweet received more engagement (Likes, Retweets, @mentions), got more followers, and spent more time on Twitter. People in the experiment noted that a higher character limit made them feel more satisfied with how they expressed themselves on Twitter, their ability to find good content, and Twitter overall.

“We are making this change after listening and observing a problem our global community was having (it wasn’t easy enough to Tweet!), studying data to understand how we could improve, trying it out, and listening to your feedback,” said Rozen. “We’ll continue listening and work to make Twitter easier for everyone, while making sure we keep what you love.”

Japanese, Korean, and Chinese will continue to have 140 characters because cramming is not an issue in these languages. In fact, these languages have always been able to say more with their Tweets because of the density of their writing systems. We shared more about this thinking and our research here.

XPERIA XZ PREMIUM IN ROSSO SONY announced that starting today, the Xperia XZ Premium will be available in a new, limited edition colorway.

Aptly called Rosso, its red hues add a bold touch to the brand’s flagship phone. Whether from afar or up close, it adds a stunning, stylish, and strong appeal on top of the reasons why the XZ Premium was named the Best New Smartphone in the 2017 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Its Predictive Capture meanwhile, stays one step ahead and automatically starts buffering images when it detects motion even before you click. You’ll always have the best photo of moving subject possible. Low light situations are also not a problem for the XZ Premium. Thanks to its 19% larger pixels, it captures more light which results in clear and detailed photographs.

The XZ Premium’s rear camera is a showcase of Sony’s renowned imaging expertise. Using technical know-how from its Sony Alpha and Cyber-shot™ cameras, it’s equipped with Motion Eye™ camera technology which captures movement the human eye can’t see. It can record video at 960 frames per second.

The result: you can turn everyday moments into super slow motion videos—the playback is four times slower than other smartphones.

Sharing Sony’s Bravia TV technology, the XZ Premium features a 5.5-inch, 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) display. Watching any type of video on this phone will always be a pleasurable experience.

High-tech features aside, the XZ Premium is built to be sophisticated yet tough. It has an exquisite glass loop surface with a luxurious mirrored effect on the back. It’s also rated IP65/68 water-resistant and dust proof and reinforced with

Premium Pocket Camera

Great Display, Sturdy Exterior

Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 on the front and back.

Stylish and Strong New Colorway

After being available initially in Deep Sea Black, Luminous Chrome, and Bronze Pink, the XZ Premium now comes in Rosso. With red hues being described by color experts as emotionally intense, the XZ Premium’s limited edition colorway makes it even more desirable. Add to that its tech and build features and it’s certainly a mobile package to love.

The Rosso edition of the XZ Premium is now available while stocks last at Sony Centres and mobile retailers nationwide starting today at P45,490.

Get the latest updates and promos from Sony by visiting them on their official website, www.sony. com.ph, and following them on social media by following facebook. com/SonyPhilippines, twitter.com/ SonyPHinc and instagram.com/ sonyPHInc.

RCBC ENHANCES SECURITY WITH CARD LOCK FEATURE RIZAL Commercial Banking Corporation puts customer safety at the forefront with the latest feature from RCBC Online Banking that allows customers to protect their cards from cyber threats.

The past months have been rife with the recent trend of banking threats.

From fraud to online glitches, it is clear that security is a chief concern when it comes to banking. Given this climate, RCBC, through their Online Banking portal, have taken extra measures to ensure the protection of their customers’ accounts.

With RCBC Online Banking’s newest Card Lock-and-Unlock Feature, RCBC customers are guaranteed that their debit or prepaid cards are protected from security threats.

The Card Lock-and-Unlock feature can be used in any given scenario, from protecting the card from online hackers, to securing the account should the card be stolen or misplaced. RCBC clients can now rest easy with the knowledge that once they lock their cards, all transactions like ATM transactions, point-of-sale purchases, and online payment are temporarily suspended at their own discretion.

With this feature, cardholders do not have to worry anymore in case they lose or misplace their card by accident. One just needs to log-in to their RCBC Online Banking account, select the‘Lock/Unlock Card’ option and choose the Debit or Prepaid card they wish to secure. By doing this, their card is instantly protected from being used by anyone else while they try to find their card. No need to call their bank immediately to have their card blocked which can be a hassle for the account holder. In case they find their card, all they have to do is to unlock it through the same manner that they locked it and they can use the card again.

By locking their cards, they are also protected from online threats and cyber hackers. Now that online shopping is gaining popularity, there is also an increased risk of having your card details exposed and used by hackers to make fraudulent purchases online using one’s card. With the Lock- Unlock feature, cardholders can choose to keep their cards locked and unlock it only when they intend to use it for online shopping. After making a purchase, they can lock it again right away to avoid getting their cards hacked.

“Our primary concern has always been the safety of our customers’ accounts and their confidence that their funds are protected.” Says RCBC Digital Banking Group Head, Margarita B. Lopez, “Given the recent increase in cyber threats and ATM skimming in the country, we wanted to provide our customers with a feature that will allow them the option of protecting their Debit or Prepaid cards in the quickest way possible.”

ePLDT, PLDT ENTERPRISE COLLABORATE TO HOLD TECH CARAVAN '17

ePLDT, Inc., the industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines, recently collaborated with PLDT’s Corporate business arm PLDT Enterprise to hold its first annual Tech Caravan 2017: Enabling Success in the Hyperconnected World in different locations in the Philippines.

Today’s technology offers infinite possibilities for businesses and the failure to integrate digital strategies into their core business plans will impede their growth in the long run. This is why ePLDT and PLDT Enterprise initiated a series of customer-focused tech fora that showcases how enterprises can boost their efficiency and collaboration, business continuity, customer engagement and IT management through business tools and services such as cloud, data center, analytics, cyber security, managed IT and digital

Angel Redoble, ePLDT Group Chief Information Security Officer, talks about Cyber Security during the 3rd leg of Tech Caravan 2017 in Cebu.

engagement solutions.

Representatives from ePLDT and PLDT Enterprise engaged with customers in Manila, North and South Luzon, and Visayas to introduce cutting-edge business technolo-

gies that are built to reshape their digital transformation journey.

During its tech invasion in Manila, ePLDT and PLDT Enterprise made industry-focused tech sessions that benefited its customers in the retail

and manufacturing, banking, financial and insurance (BFSI), IT-BPO and government sectors.

According to Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer, local enterprises are positioned to win in the Experience Age if their growth strategies are supported with digital tools and industry best practices.

“Some organizations are already riding the wave when it comes to digital adoption. For many others, there’s still a long way to go. Adopting a dynamic approach now to automate core functions, improve workflow, attract and retain customers and redefine corporate culture are key transformation elements that will drive the competitive sustainability of companies,” Ramos said.

A recent Deloitte study found that tech adoption among small- and medium-sized enterprises is linked

to their revenue growth. In fact, it pointed out that SMEs that are not integrating the right business technologies in their core functions are at risk of falling behind those that do.

Ramos said,“We strongly believe that all businesses have the capability of reinventing themselves to win in the competitive market; they just have to start with the right technologies and strategies. This is where we come in—at ePLDT, we help companies of all sizes reap the benefits of today’s technology by offering solutions that are designed to solve pain points and achieve business outcomes.”

Jovy Hernandez, SVP and Head of PLDT Enterprise, noted that ePLDT and the whole PLDT Group are working in unison to deliver unmatched customer value by interlocking connectivity with digital

business solutions, industry best practices and expertise.

“Enterprises need a trusted partner and expert advisor in competing in the Experience Age. This is why at ePLDT and PLDT Enterprise, we synergize our efforts to empower our customers with tools that enable their growth aspirations and assure competitive advantage,” Hernandez said.

“Our mission is to offer market-attuned and expertise-driven enterprise solutions to customers, ensuring that they achieve the objectives of their digital transformation. We are amidst a tectonic shift in the digital environment and we are here to help clients successfully lead change in their own organizations,” he added.

Learn more about ePLDT and its product and service roster. Visit www.epldt.com.

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sunday, november 12, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor /

Young Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph

Miss Earth 2017

KarEn ibasco’s advocacY

Go placEs in MElissa

By Bernadette Lunas

T

heRe are only a few footwear options much more ideal than jelly shoes when traveling. They’re compact and lightweight (more luggage space), they’re water- and dust-resistant (versatile and hassle-free), and they’re, above all, comfortable (walk in them all day!).

To celebrate our love for traveling, Brazilian jelly shoe brand Melissa launched its holiday 2017 collection, dubbed Melissa Mapping, featuring designs inspired by stylish locations in the world where Melissa shoes can be found or worn.

Dubrovka, P3,895

Kasakova, P2,895

Colder destinations, like those rural and urban localities in Russia, call for Oxford shoes with heels. Its minimalist style and neutral colors make it a versatile option that can take you to formal and casual events.

If you prefer to explore the city in flats, this T-strap Mary Jane is your stylish bet. Its preppy and eclectic style complements your knee-length velvet dress and puts a punch to your T-shirt and jeans combo.

Koenji, P2,895

Newly-crowned Miss earth 2017 Karen Ibasco believes that small thoughtful acts can effect a big change in the environment. In fact, it was her answer during the pageant’s question and answer portion, wherein she said that “as a global community, our microefforts will have a macro-effect to help save our home,” that sealed the deal.

The medical physicist campaigns for the use of reusable, sustainable energy to reduce emissions in the atmosphere.

“I believe that the real problem in this world is not climate change. The real problem is us because of our ignorance and apathy. what we have to do is to start changing our ways, to start recalibrating our minds and redirecting our steps,” Ibasco said in response to the question of who or what she thinks is the biggest enemy of Mother earth.

In support of her primary advocacy, Ibasco also promotes walking and cycling as eco-friendly modes of getting around the city. “we can walk if the distance is near or just use bikes.”

As Miss Philippines earth partner, Merrell offers its latest lifestyle collection to make walking more enjoyable and comfortable. The ISIX8 AC+ features innovative materials and premium fabrics with open-air mesh for breathability, a FIT. eCO blended eVA contoured footbed with organic odor control, and an eVA midsole for stability and comfort.

This 1SIX8 line is made more comfortable with the addition Turn to C2 Miss earth 2017 Karen Ibasco

Melrose, P2,995

wear an edgy pair, such as this, when visiting a hip neighborhood, such as Koenji. This platform sandal looks best on their own or when worn with socks.

The no-fuss but architectural design of this style makes it an ideal footwear when exploring any shopping and entertainment district.

Turn to E2

My Diamond offers a wide selection of wedding rings

Ring shopping: how to find the one wheN the ceremony is done and the party is over, there is only one Do it together thing that will remind you and your spouse of your promise to love you and your partner may have different styles. Talk about your prefeach other till death do you part—your wedding ring. So before you erences and find a common ground. The key to finding something you spend all your time and money looking for the perfect venue, bouquet, will both love is to choose a ring that reflects your individual tastes. or outfit, make sure you have already found your wedding band.

Concept jewelry boutique My Diamond shares some important tips Narrow the options in choosing your wedding ring.

Decide whether you and your partner want 18K or 14K gold in yellow, white, or rose color, in plain metal or with diamonds.

Set a budget

Setting a budget helps you identify the options available and find the perfect wedding ring at the right price.

Search early

Give yourself time to browse, research prices, and revisit rings that you like. If you want a custom-made ring you’ll probably need even more time.

Think long term

Since you will be wearing your wedding ring every day for the rest of your life, make sure that it fits your lifestyle, and will remain in fashion no matter the season.

Turn to E2

young Life

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sunday, november 12, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

go places...

From c1

Shibuya, P2,995

This platform slip-on quite literally represents the famous shibuya crossing. but if you look at it closely, its sleek, minimalist design stands in contrast to the upbeat vibe of this busy Tokyo district.

camila cabello

e

Soho, P3,250

Comfort meets chic in this trendy platform sandal that lets you walk on cobblestone streets and check out designer boutiques and fancy chain stores in artsy destinations like the one in Lower manhattan.

Visit www.melissaphilippines.com to know where you can score a pair from this collection.

miss earth...

From c1

of the air Cushion + technology that secures heel-to-toe comfort for effortless walking around town.

This collection comes in various colors and styles such as laces, moccasins, and mary Janes.

To know more about 1SIX8 and Merrell’s partnership with Miss Philippines Earth, visit Merrell Philippines on Facebook and follow @merrell_ph on Twitter and Instagram.

merrell's 1sIX8 heathered moc aC+

ring shopping:...

From c1

Choose quality

your wedding ring is the symbol of your love and commitment to your partner and it should be the best. It doesn’t matter whether you choose a simple wedding band or an extravagant one. buy from a trusted jeweler that gives the best price for the best quality. my diamond offers a wide selection of wedding ring designs. each piece is made by internationally-trained craftsmen using diamonds of top-tier cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. as an option, you get an assured authenticity certificate from the Gemological Institute of america.

sizzles in guess Jeans

ver since she parted ways with the girl group Fifth harmony, Camila Cabello’s star continues to shine— brighter, in fact.

With chart-topping singles (“I Know What You Did Last Summer” with Shawn Mendes, “Bad Things” with Machine Gun Kelly, and her single “Havana” from her upcoming debut album ) and several products endorsements, the 20-year-old Cuban-mexican-american singer and songwriter proves that she’s a force to be reckoned with. and just recently, Cabello has been introduced as a new Guess Girl.

“Camila’s confidence, strength, and beauty reflect the qualities I look for in a Guess Girl and am so excited to welcome her into the Guess family,” says Guess?, Inc. chief creative officer Paul Marciano.

Cabello is the face of Guess Jeans Fall 2017 advertising campaign alongside model Alex Dellisola. art directed by marciano and shot by fashion photographer Tatiana Gerusova in the desert of Palmdale, California, the campaign captures an amorous couple on the road looking for passion and excitement, which serves as the backdrop featuring Guess’s heritage through 90s logo mania tees and oversized denim jackets.

The dominance of denim evokes the free-spirited era of quintessential Guess ad campaigns.

“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Guess on this incredible campaign,” enthuses Cabello, adding, “I’ve grown up loving their aesthetic and not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d be lucky enough to be a part of it.”

Cabello wears some of Guess Fall 2017 women’s wear collection composed of oversized jackets, high-waist skinny jeans, cut-off shorts, and pushup bustier tops. her sizzling aura adds to the statement these denim pieces evoke.

“Choosing Camila to be the face of Guess this fall celebrates that Guess Girls are multi-talented, dynamic, and accomplished women,” shares marciano.

GUESS GIRL. singer/songwriter Camila Cabello is the face of Guess Jeans Fall 2017 collection.

How to keep your family safe on rainy days The rainy season may mean cooler days, but the “bed weather” also brings thunderstorms, floods, and strong winds that can cause accidents or lead to calamities.

LPG brand solane aims to help its clients remain safe and secure though its "dapat Lang" advocacy campaign, which emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing for the family, for others, and for the society. solane suggests these four precautionary steps families can take to protect lives and properties during inclement weather.

event of severe weather conditions. It should have essential items, including potable water, first aid kit, medicines, food that doesn’t require cooking or refrigeration, portable and battery-operated radio, flashlights, and extra batteries that will last for at least three days.

Observe safety measures during thunderstorms

stay indoors during thunderstorms. unplug electronic devices, including Tv, computers, home entertainment systems, and corded Be informed and stay alert phones inside the homes as they may cause be informed to avoid flashfloods, lightning, electrocution or fires. and other dangerous conditions during the rainy season. monitor your surroundings and Be prepared to evacuate keep track of the weather forecast through discuss evacuation plans with family and the internet, Tv, or radio. specify a meeting place when separated. set the safe places to go to during strong rains Prepare a disaster kit and flood. Know the alternative routes to take Pack a disaster kit to sustain the family in the to avoid flooded areas.

It is better and safer to stay indoors during inclement weather

Showbiz

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017

HIMIG HANDOG ENTRY CAPTURES HEARTS OF MILLENNIAL LISTENERS

By Nickie Wang

M

OIRA dela Torre’s interpretation of Liber’s unique love ditty,“Titibo tine Amistoso’s Tibo,” is making rounds on the Internet producing numerous cover versions after its release a month ago along with the other nine entries at this year’s Himig Handog songwriting competition.

The LSS inducing song, which gets very specific in its intension to tell a love story about a lesbian who finds herself acting more ladylike after falling in love with a guy, debuted at No. 3 on Billboard Philippines Top 20 Charts this week.

The top spot is also pretty secured for this Amistoso composition since Moira dela Torre is the same singer who sang “Malaya” (Camp Sawi soundtrack), which sits comfortably at No. 1 on Billboard Chart for two consecutive weeks toppling Iñigo Pascual’s “Dahil Sa’yo.”

The song is also performing better among all the Himig Handog entries on YouTube. As of this writing, the track’s official music video has amassed almost half a million views since it was uploaded by Star Music last week. Meanwhile, Dela Torre’s performance in ASAP for the song festival’s pre-finals has garnered 2 million views, and the official lyric video and the official recording of the entry both have 1 million views each.

Even with just the song title, “Titibo Tibo” already captured the hearts of the LGBT community as it is a big hit among young listeners for its usage of millennial language including reverse slang, a popular way of twisting words in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

It’s good to note that “Titibo Tibo” being interpreted by Dela Torre also helped boost the popularity of the song. The young singer, who after joining the first season of ABS-CBN’s The Voice of the Philippines, has kept her music career in traction by lending her fetching voice to TV commercials and radio ads for big brands. She’s the voice behind popular movie soundtrack like “Huling Gabi” (Last Night) and to viral music clips on YouTube recorded live for a leading radio station.

“Titibo Tibo,” as part of the 10 songs that made it to this year’s competition, was chosen out of al-

most 7,000 entries across the world.

Joining Dela Torre in Himig Handog roster of interpreters are Jake Zyrus for Agatha Morallos’s song entry “Bagyo,” Migz Haleco for Eric de Leon’s “Bes,” Iñigo Pascual feat. Aikee for Michael “Aikee” Aplacador’s “Extensyon,” Morissette for LJ Manzano and Joan Da’s “Naririnig Mo Ba?,” and Jona for Raizo Chabeldin and Biv De Vera’s “Sampu.”

Also doing their unique song rendition are Unit 406 for Gabriel Tagadtad’s “Tanghaling Tapat,” Kyla and Jason Dy for Soc Villanueva’s “Tayo na Lang K a s i ,”

Kaye Cal for Karl Gaurano and Teodoro Katigbak’s “The Labo Song,” and Janella Salvador for Karlo Zabala’s “Wow na Feelings.”

Now on its eighth year, H i -

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Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com

mig Handog is a songwriting competition led by ABS-CBN and Star Music.

It began in early 2000s and was later revived in 2013. Many entries from this songwriting challenge have become huge hits and have been picked as theme songs for several TV shows and movies. Previous songwriters and interpreters have gradually made their mark in the OPM scene.

Digital copies of this year’s Himig Handog song finalists are now available for download and streaming online, and lyric videos may be viewed via the StarMusic channel in YouTube. The album is available in record stores nationwide.

The Himig Handog 2017 grand finals in ASAP will be on Nov. 26.

Singer Moira dela Torre during her performance in Himig Handog pre-finals in "ASAP"

Scenes from "Titibo Tibo" official music video released by Star Music

K-POP PHENOMENON BTS TO DEBUT ON US TV SOUTH Korean pop band, BTS, is set to member. “All the members are honored New Artist at the 2015 Japan Gold Disc Group at the 2017 Nickelodeon Mexico make its highly anticipated U.S. televi- to be on the show with other amazing Awards – to becoming full-fledged Ko- Kids’ Choice Awards. BTS also won the sion performance debut at the 2017 artists, and we’re proud to share this rean super idols.

Top Social Artist award at the 2017 BillAmerican Music Awards.

Most recently, BTS has been recog- board Music Awards, ultimately provgreat news with our fans, ARMY.” Comprised of band members Rap Within four years of their 2013 debut, nized with awards including Best Ko- ing K-pop can compete and thrive on a Monster, V, JungKook, Jin, Suga, J- BTS went from winning several new- rean Act at the 2015 MTV Europe Music global scale.

Hope and Jimin, BTS has quickly risen comer awards – including the Newcom- A w a r d s , Choice InternaAs previously announced, music legfrom the ranks as K-pop newcomers er Award at the 2014 G o l d e n tional Artist at the end, Diana Ross, will take the stage for and are poised for immense growth. Disc Awards, N e w 2017 Teen Choice a rare performance at the 2017 American With their popularity thriving in markets Artist Award at Awards, and Music Awards and will be honored with across all of Asia and mounting tremen- the 2014 Seoul Favorite Inter- the “American Music Award for Lifetime dously in the Americas, the boy band’s Music Awards, national Achievement.” Christina Aguilera will super-stardom has garnered a sky-rock- and Best Artist pay tribute to Whitney Houston and eting trajectory of success in just a few o r music from The Bodyguard with a pershort years. formance in honor of the film’s 25th anBTS has notched more than 40 niversary, which falls on the same week as weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Sothe awards ceremony. Additionally, multicial 50 chart, which ranks the most platinum pop superstar, Selena Gomez, popular artists across social netwill treat fans to the world television preworks. Most recently, BTS became miere of her brand new single “Wolves.” the first ever K-pop act to break The 2017 American Music Awards, into the Top 10 of the Billboard the world’s largest fan-voted 200. Their fifth and latest EP, Love awards show where music enthuYourself: Her, debuted at No. 7, siasts watch their favorite artists the highest-ever for a K-pop act and pop culture icons come on the chart. BTS will treat fans together to honor idols, to the premiere of their brand newcomers and recordnew single, “DNA,” live at the breakers in the contemAmerican Music Awards for porary music scene, their first ever U.S. televiwill celebrate 45 years sion performance. of music live from the “We are so excited to Microsoft Theater in be invited to the AmeriLos Angeles on Moncan Music Awards and to day, Nov. 20 at 9:00 perform on the stage for a.m. on RTL CBS Enthe first time,” said a BTS In the past few days, members of the group have been expressing their excitement about their upcoming appearance in the AMA tertainment.

CAST OF NEW ‘METEOR GARDEN’ REVEALED

Harper's Bazaar Taiwan revealed the cast of "Meteor Garden" TV reboot: (from left) Dylan Wang (Daoming Si), Connor Leong (Meizuo), Caesar Wu (Ximen), and Darren Chen (Huazelei)

AFTER months of holding auditions in universities in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Los Angeles, and China, the official members of the Flower 4 or F4 for the 2018 remake of the hit Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden has finally been revealed.

Sixteen years after it originally premiered, Angie Chai, the show’s creator, announced that the show’s new version will be a “fuller—and flashier—adaptation of the books.” It would also stick closer to the storyline in the manga.

The new members of F4 introduced on Tuesday were Taipei native Darren Cheng, Cheng 22, and Chinese actors Dylan Wang, 19, Connor Leong Leong, 23, and Caesar Wu, 21.

The photos of them also graced Bazaar Taiwan early this week billing them as the “youngest and tallest” of all the F4 groups.

According to a statement, they were cast for their “likeable personalities,” described as a mix of “warm and bright persona with hints of playfulness, stylish appearance, and versatile individuality.”

Meanwhile, in a press conference held on Thursday, the producer of the series also introduced up-and-coming Chinese actress Shen Yue to play the iconic role Shan Cai. The remake is reportedly going to have a budget of over 720 million New Taiwan Dollars ($23.74 million) and the series would be larger than the original.

Based on the Japanese Manga Hana Yori Dango, the first Meteor Garden series was first aired in the Philippines by ABS-CBN in 2003.

Jerry Yan, Vic Zhou, Vanness Wu and Ken Chu were the actors who played F4 back then. Meanwhile, the Korean version, titled Boys Over Flowers, launched the international career of actor Lee Min Ho. ABS-CBN has earned the rights for the remake of Meteor Garden, the Taiwanese drama that took Asia by storm during the 2000s.

Meteor Garden, which tells the story of a girl who finds herself the apple of the eyes of four rich, handsome students at her university, collectively called the F4, after standing up to their rampant bullying, huge popularity in Taiwan and across Asia, spawning remakes in Japan and South Korea. It was first aired in the Philippines on ABS-CBN in 2003.

Nickie Wang

Young Chinese actress Shen Yue as Shan Cai

C4

sunday, november 12, 2017

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Georgy, now 10-12 years old, is a cancer survivor. she was rescued by admin Joanne Zamora of save Animals of Love and Light (save ALL) more than three years ago and was treated for TVT cancer.

save your dog,

My Furry Bestie

This corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features.

We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals.

For contributions, please email to daycarlos28@yahoo.com and put My Furry Bestie as subject.

detect cancer early

“…L

OVE knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” – Kabil Gibran

This is one great lesson a dog or cat teaches a human when his/her pet crosses the rainbow bridge.

A pet’s life span is so short compared to humans, thus, it is when a pet dies that we learn yet again how every moment counts. A pet’s death wraps one up in overwhelming sadness and loss, and reminds one to love everyone –human or pet—more.

Knowing that death is inevitable, it is imperative to lengthen the time we can spend with our pets.

For this reason, it is recommended that we follow the advice vets and experts have been reminding us again and again: • give appropriate healthy food depending on his age, • give vitamins or supplements, • provide vaccination against illnesses, • have your pet checked every year • exercise your pet • provide mental stimulation, • and most importantly, make your pet feel loved always by hugging and kissing your pet and telling your pet you love him/her. it pays to also read up more on how to take better care of pets.

Be alert too, for warning signs of any illness, specially cancer. Detecting a certain illness early can save your pet or buy you more time with your pet. The cancer, in particular, may stop from spreading if medical intervention is immediately given.

When you observe some of the signs of a critical illness, please bring your pet to the vet immediately.

Justine Palmer, author of A Veterinarian shares 10 Critical Warning signs Of Cancer in Dogs, provides the following signs from Dr. Kelly Ryan, DVM of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America and humane society of Missouri:

Unusual Odors

“Dog breath” is common but watch out for unusually foul odors from the mouth, nose or rectal area. This may be due to a tumor.

Bumps or Lumps On or Under the Skin

TOBY is so adorable, says owner Dinky O. Magno, specially when he poses in front of the camera. “he is our bundle of joy,” adds Dinky.

Chelsea, a 5-year-old rescue, survived cancer too. she underwent several chemotherapy sessions.

You would know the difference because you know your dog better than anyone. “if he doesn’t seem like himself and is spending more and more time sleeping, talk to your veterinarian. Dogs can get lung cancer, and some indicators could be coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath after very little exercise, “Palmer warns.

Respiratory Problems

The symptoms of lung cancer in dogs are coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath after very little exercise.

Behavior Changes

“has your normally mellow dog been snapping? is she spending more time away from you? she could be in pain. Also pay attention to how she is walking, eating and playing. if you notice any limping or struggling—it’s time to see the vet, “Palmer says.

Open Sores

Please ask a vet to assess you dog if he/she has an open sore or other wounds that are not healing properly.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Check your pet’s skin always. Check behind the ears and around the face.

Do not ignore even a very tiny lump or bump because cancer can grow fast.

Also check for a new lump or bump every now and then. When you feel or see a lump or bump, please bring your dog to the vet for assessment. “if the bumps are bleeding or there is discharge, see a veterinarian immediately,” says Palmer.

it is not normal for a dog to vomit frequently, and/or have diarrhea. Please bring him/her to a vet immediately, specially if this is accompanied by any of the other symptoms listed here.

“Also check your dog’s abdomen for bloating and distension (stomach swelling),” Palmer says.

Unusual Weight Loss

Gums that are very pale could mean blood loss, and cancer may be the cause.

Appetite Changes

Again, when you see one of these symptoms, please bring your dog to the vet immediately. it is better to be sure your dog is is okay. The effort and even the cost can not compare to the pain of losing your pet.

Bring your dog to the vet for a check-up if there is a sudden loss of weight.

Loss of appetite is never normal. There are many causes and cancer may be the culprit.

Lethargy

There are lazy dogs and there are lethargic dogs. Learn to tell the difference.

ChEETAh, adopted by Dr. Celeste Gruezo from an animal shelter, loves to eat fish and meat, and loves to play with a small ball.

Cheetah also “stretches and purrs a lot and is good at hunting mice,” says Celeste.

Celeste adds,” Cheetah is a very sweet and gentle cat. Perfect for cuddling!”

Pale Gums

May all your pets be safe from cancer and all life-threatening illness. May you have more love-filled, fun-filled years with your pet. –DC

COLOssUs, CALEEsi , CAiERA, AND CARLisLE (left to right) are referred to as Familia Pomeranians. “i am proud and lucky to be their furmomma. They are so adorable and smart,” says Camille Madriñal.

3-day Bike-For-rescued animals kicks oFF today pet tales

By desiree carlos ThEY were rescued from the streets, sick or dying or hit by a vehicle.

They were “prisoners” in pounds, locked in very small cages where they can hardly move and where they have been infected with several illnesses. They were slowly dying as no medical treatment is given to dogs in pounds.

They were to be put to sleep in a kill pound because their former owners neglected them or “niligaw” (dumped intentionally on vacant lots by cruel owners) and they were forced to look for food on the streets.

As young as 10 days old, they were to be put to sleep too because their owner wanted to get rid of their mother who was reported as “aggressive.” The truth was she always got pregnant and their owner apparently saw them as additional expense, so he surrendered them to the pound.

These are just some of the sad, horrible stories of the 67 rescued dogs

The bikers on one of their previous road runs.

and cats in the custody of save Animals of Love and Light (save ALL).

While waiting for adopters for these beautiful furbabies, save ALL needs funds to provide for their food, vitamins, yearly vaccination, and to continue maintaining the rehabilitation home.

Virgilio “Gil” Bugaoisan, 47, former journalist and now media specialist, wants to help these poor souls and thus urged his friends to do something to help.

Today, Gil and his six friends seven kicked off a three-day ManilaMasbate-Cebu-Bohol bike-for-a-

cause from the Mall of Asia in Pasay City in a bid to raise funds for the rescued animals.

Dubbed Padyak Para kay Bantay at Muning, Gil and friends Renando Mallare sy, 37, Lito Guardaquivil, 42, and Max Ternora, Ryan Christopher Macalong, Patrick Duruin and Jonathan Olfato of Team harkor/ifit Pro Unlimited Cyclists left at12 a.m. for the Manila-Masbate leg.

A send-off was prepared by Jane hughes, Gino Garbanzos and Beth Victor of Anytime Fitness, scape Macapagal at 10:30 p.m. last night.

Anytime Fitness also donated bottles of apple cider vinegar for the rescued dogs to keep their heart healthy and to keep away ticks and fleas.

Tomorrow, Gil and his friends are expected to reach Masbate.

On Nov. 14, they will arrive in Cebu and bike to Bohol.

They will fly back to Manila after the charity ride, thanks to Congressman Karlo Nograles.

To donate, please contact Maricel Mondejar of save ALL. have a great sunday, everyone.

Namaste!

Rida and Cassie love to chill out at the care home. Rida was a two-month-old pup when a motorcycle hit her.

The impact cost her one eye. Cassie, a four-year-old beagle, has sagging breasts which means she was bred. she had ear mites and demodectic mange (galis) when save ALL took her in.

Princess, about 7 months old, is now safe playing at the care home for rescues. she was almost hit by a vehicle on busy san Mateo road when admins Nicole Benedito and Ruby Bautista saw her. They pulled over and got her. she was born blind in one eye.