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Refund eyed to fight dengue By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon wants to turn the Philippines into the world’s “Dengue Fortress” by establishing the most advanced research and development program for dengue with funds from the P1.2-billion refund for the unused Dengvaxia vials.

He said the country can be the “beacon of hope” amid the dark moment posed by the dengue epidemic that has taken the Philippines and other countries in its grip. He said testing facilities for dengue specialists can also be built in anticipation of the next dengue epidemic, Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 194 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rody skips Heroes’ rites: ‘He needs rest’ By MJ Blancaﬂor

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE.

President Rodrigo Duterte skips Monday’s National Heroes’ Day celebration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani—a former aide says he was indisposed—but has called on Filipinos “to reflect on our history and honor the brave souls who courageously fought for our freedom and the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded.”

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte skipped the National Heroes’ Day celebration that he was supposed to lead at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Monday because he was not feeling well. Senator Christopher Go, Duterte’s former aide, said the President was “indisposed” and “needs to rest.” He said Duterte stayed up until 4:30 a.m. so he had to skip the event at Taguig City. Go also said the Chief Executive met with Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari over the weekend. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano led the 8 a.m. rites in Taguig City on Duterte’s behalf. Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo allayed fears that the President is sick after he was not seen in public for a week. Duterte was just busy with paperwork and private meetings, Panelo said. Go also assured the public that there is nothing to worry about the President’s health. Next page

Du30 stops Sanchez release Swine flu impact minimal—Sagip; Villar: Don’t panic

‘Rapist-killer doesn’t qualify for jail-term cut’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By MJ Blancaﬂor and Macon Ramos-Araneta

ONLY a small part of the hog industry has been hit by a still unidentified sickness that some fear is African Swine Flu or ASF, an industry association said Monday. In an interview with GMA News, Rosendo so, chairman of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikutura (Sinag) said only 0.002 percent of the stock of the hog industry has been affected. As more hog deaths were reported in several areas across the country, three barangays have been declared as quarantine zones after some 100 pigs died in the area. While the Department of Agriculture (DA) has said nothing of the suspected diseases, Taiwan has already placed the Philippines on its list of areas with high risk of ASF. The DA has sent blood samples from Next page

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) to block the release of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez.

CONTRACTUALIZATION CRY. Protesters belonging to the Kilusang Mayo Uno stage a protest rally at Mendiola in Manila in celebration of National Heroes Day while urging the government to stop contractualization and urging it to give more jobs to workers. Norman Cruz

PH eases up on ships’ crossings By MJ Blancaﬂor ONLY foreign warships passing through the Philippines’ territorial waters are required to seek permission from the government, the Palace said Monday. Commercial ships are excluded from President Rodrigo Duterte’s Aug. 20 order, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said. “The President said the merchant ships don’t need to inform us, only the warships, the gray ships, Panelo said in a television interview. And days before Duterte’s scheduled trip to Beijing, Panelo said the Philippines had a better relationship with China than during the previous administration.

WEATHER

From LPA to TD

By Rio N. Araja A LOW-PRESSURE area east of Virac, Catanduanes, developed into a tropical depression named “Jenny” on Monday, and as of 4 p.m. its center was estimated 670 kilometers east of Virac. Next page

“It’s much better than previously because we used to have a cold war with them. The previous administration didn’t want to deal with them,” Panelo said. “At least, now we’re dealing with them,” he said. Duterte’s order on the warships came after the military reported several unannounced passage of Chinese vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone, including in the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the Spratlys and in Sibutu Islands near Tawi-Tawi. The government has fired off diplomatic protests against China for its maritime conduct, which defense officials see as a threat to national security. Next page

Duterte reviewed Republic Act 10592 and found that Sanchez was not covered by the law reducing jail terms on the basis of good behavior since it excludes those who were convicted of heinous crimes, Senator Christopher Go said Monday. “He told BuCor chief (Nicanor) Faeldo Next page

Comfort women’s marker unveiled

HISTORICAL REMINDER. Women’s groups—Lila Pilipina, Gabriela Women’s Party, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran—unveil Sunday a new marker at the Baclaran Church in the metropolis to honor Filipino comfort women described as “the victims of military sexual slavery and violence during World War II. Contributed Photo

WOMEN’S groups have unveiled a new marker dedicated to Filipino comfort women on Sunday at Baclaran Church to honor “the victims of military sexual slavery and violence during the Second World War.” The ceremony, according to Kyodo News, was led by Lila Pilipina and the Gabriela Women’s Party as well as the non-government organization Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran. A 2-meter high bronze statue of a

Otter: Silky mammal on endangered list

Indonesia picks new capital

OVER 100 countries voted Sunday to ban the trade in the smooth-coated otter and placed it on the CITES most endangered list. The proposal was adopted by 102 votes in favour, 15 against and 11

THE proposed location near the regional cities of Balikpapan and Samarinda—is in the geographical center of the Southeast Asian archipelago and an area where the government already owns some 180,000 hectares (445,000 acres) of land, he added. Next page

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte, Misuari hold 4th talks; details under wraps By MJ Blancaflor

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte met with Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari in Davao City on Friday, and the two were planning to meet again, Senator Christopher Go said Monday.

President Duterte and MNLF leader Nur Misuari met Fiday.

From A1 at (Justice) Secretary (Menardo) Guevarra that Sanchez cannot be freed,” Go told reporters at the sidelines of National Heroes Day rites in Taguig City. “He ordered [them] not to release Sanchez,” Go added. The senator, a former aide to the President, said Duterte was furious when he learned Sanchez, who has shown no remorse for his crimes, might be released early. The President’s spokesman, Salvador Panelo, at first said the government would have no choice but to free Sanchez if he was qualified under the law. He later insisted that the former mayor was not qualified under Republic Act 10592 after all. Guevarra first announced that Sanchez “may actually be released” under RA 10592 along with 11,000 other inmates. Following a strong public outcry, Guevarra said Sanchez was ineligible for early release. Section 1 of RA 10592 states that “recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and persons charged with heinous crimes are excluded from the coverage of this Act.” “The problem is, whether he deserves [to be released] or not, under the law he is not eligible,” Panelo said in an interview over CNN Philippines. Sanchez was convicted for the 1993 rapeslay of Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez, both University of the Philippines LosBaños students.

Panelo was one of Sanchez’s seven defense lawyers. His former client was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua in 1995. Court records showed that Sanchez raped Sarmenta inside his rest house and handed her to his henchmen to be raped again the following day. Meanwhile, Gomez was beaten outside Sanchez’s rest house before he was killed. While in prison, Sanchez was also found in possession of shabu and marijuana leaves in his cell in 2006. In 2010, prison guards confiscated P1.5 million worth of shabu stashed in one of his Virgin Mary statues. Meanwhile, retired judge Harriet Demetriou, who convicted Sanchez, denounced as “a mockery of justice” and “a cruel joke” the planned release of the former Calauan, Laguna mayor. Demetriou said Sanchez, whom she sentenced to seven life imprisonment terms, said Sanchez did not deserve to be released under RA10592. “I will question first what is their interpretation of the law… Are people convicted of heinous crimes included or excluded? They should not insult the intelligence of the Filipino public,” the retired judge said in an interview on ABS-CBN. She slammed Panelo, Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Faeldon over their earlier statements that Sanchez deserved to be released. Demetriou said Panelo, who served as lead counsel of Sanchez during the trial, has been defending his former client’s good

Rody... From A1

Swine ﬂu... From A1

Du30...

His most recent public engagement was on Aug. 21, the inauguration of a solar power project in Romblon. Duterte is scheduled on Aug. 27 to lead the 31st year of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. The following day, he will leave the country for a five-day visit in China. Despite his absence during Monday’s event, Duterte sent a message to commemorate the holiday in honor of the country’s heroes. He urged Filipinos to become everyday heroes and reach out to those who are in need and neglected by society in honor of those who fought for thecountry’s freedom and democratic ideals. “We recognize their heroism not only by erecting statues in their honor, but by uplifting the welfare of the poor and marginalized for it is through our small deeds that their spirit of valor can live on,” he said in a statement. “I truly believe that every Filipino is a hero who can build on our vibrant legacy of fortitude and resilience,” he added. Vice President Leni Robredo also reminded Filipinos that no one hero is above another. She also said the solutions to the country’s problems are not in the hands of one leader. Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday questioned if National Heroes’ Day is not actually a misnomer since in reality, and officially, the country has no heroes. “Little do most Filipinos know that ever since the Philippines gained independence, the government has never officially proclaimed who our national heroes really are, even if it has been taught as early as grade school that the likes of Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are among them,” said Marcos, She said the Philippine National Heroes Committee officially recommended several people for the designation in 1995, including Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino, and Gabriela Silang. However, she said the issue deteriorated into a debate involving regional interests that never was resolved, Marcos said. The only bill that sought to proclaim Rizal a national hero was filed by Bohol congressman Rene Relampagos back in 2014, she said. As of January 2017, the bill has remained pending with the committee on revision of laws, Marcos said. House leaders, meanwhile, calld on the people to show their care for the downtrodden and to obey the law as their way of showing patriotism. In a national heroes day message, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said the people should express gratitude to those who fought for the country’s freedom. “We can all be heroes in our own lives, every one of us, if we can only rise above personal interests by simply obeying the laws of the land and Constitution, such as fighting corruption, exercising defensive driving, proper disposal of garbage, and showing compassion to the needy,” Romualdez said. With Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz

affected hogs to Europe to be tested, but the results will take at least two weeks. Senator Cythia Villar urged the public not to panic. “This is just one separate incident in Rizal and it was not yet proven that it’s ASF. So we must relax,” Villar said. “And we just [have to] observe the proper practices to make sure our hog farms are sanitary… let us not panic,” she said. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the Philippine government should have a contigency plan to help people in the P280 billion a year hog industry if tests prove that the deadly African Swine Flu is already in the country. “I think that a study group should be convened to assess the financial fallout in the event of a worst-case scenario,” Recto said. Next to rice, the hog industry is the biggest sector in agriculture in terms of value. He also said the Philippines’ hog industry is 8th biggest in the world. “We must be ahead of curve. We must be ready for every imaginable scenario. If there will be mass culling, what help can we give to the hog raisers? At this time, there should be a quiet pencil-pushing on the expenses,” Recto said. “While Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Health protocols to contain the diseases “are in place and have been rehearsed, how to mitigate the financial disaster is, I think, an unexplored area, “ Recto said. In a separate interview, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said they have yet to make any announcement on the matter since confirmatory tests have not yet been completed. Last week, the Department of Agriculture sent abroad blood samples from hogs for testing of various animal diseases, including ASF. Dar said the tests will take two weeks to three months, but the Bureau of Animal Industry has already quarantined the affected areas.

Otter: Silky... From A1

abstentions at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Geneva. Ecologists say this is vital for the survival of the species which has seen numbers in the wild plummet by at least 30 percent in the past 30 years, a decline which has accelerated with the fad in Japan of keeping otters as pets. Otter cafes have sprung up in Japan offering baby otters for up to $10,000. Popular Instagrammers posting selfies with their pet otter may simply be seeking to warm the hearts of their sometimes hundreds of thousands of followers, but animal protection groups say the trend is posing an existential threat to the silky mammal. “The illegal trade in otters has suddenly increased exponentially,” Nicole Duplaix, who co-chairs the Otter Specialist Group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, told AFP this month.

That meeting marked their fourth meeting this year. “They talked about maybe having followup meetings, but between bigger groups.

Maybe the panel will talk on both sides,” Go said during the sidelines of the National Heroes Day rites in Taguig City. Duterte’s peace adviser Carlito Galvez was present in the meeting as shown by the pictures Go shared with reporters. Duterte and Misuari had previously met on Feb. 25, March 19, and July 10 this year in Malacañang. Malacañang has yet to release the details of their recent meeting. Galvez had previously said President Duterte was open to the possibility of creating a regional government for the areas under the influence of MNLF. He said Sulu, Misuari’s turf, had been a challenge for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the majority

conduct. But Panelo denied that he had a hand in the plan to free his former client. She also criticized Dela Rosa over his statement that Sanchez deserved a “second chance” despite being convicted of rape and homicide, saying the drug suspects killed in the government anti-drug campaign did not get a second chance. “For the senator, it seems he has two concepts of justice—justice for the poor and justice for the rich. That should not be done in this country,” Demetriou said. After drawing heavy fire for his remark, Dela Rosa later said Sanchez should have been executed. Demetriou also hit Faeldon for saying that Sanchez was qualified for release due to good conduct. “He (Sanchez) was treated like a king in his cell. How can Faeldon say Sanchez was qualified for early release for good conduct when he (the Bucor chief) tolerated all this?” Demetriou said in a mix of English and Filipino. The former judge said she had more respect for the young people who are protesting plans to free Sanchez. Guevarra on Monday said the Palace asked him to put on hold the processing of Sanchez’s case until all factual and legal issues have been reviewed. “The request that I received from Malacañang was to hold the processing of Mayor Sanchez’s case until all the factual and legal issues have been fully threshed out.”

Guevarra also said the interpretation of the law on who may qualify for early release could be resolved by Congress or by the Supreme Court. On Sunday, the Justice Department said it would suspend the processing of GCTAs until the implementing rules and regulations governing the law are reviewed and finalized. He said such a review could be completed in 10 days. “We will give this top priority,” he said. “We don’t want to keep inmates who have a right to be released on good behavior. That law is for them.” Though he said the BuCor already has a manual on the processing of GCTA that was printed two years ago, it was not yet updated to take into consideration the recent decision of the Supreme Court which ordered the retroactive application of RA 10592. In a message to reporters, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate will work this week on possible amendments to RA 10592 to clearly exclude from the program inmates convicted of heinous crimes. GCTA is earned as a reward for an inmate’s good behavior and deducted from his jail term. But Zubiri said inmates convicted of heinous crimes are too dangerous to release back in the streets. “Imagine, the families and individuals who testified against them will be in extreme danger,” Zubiri said.

Comfort women’s... From A1

women who were forced into sexual slavery during the Second World War. “It has created somehow a bad (impression). You can place it somewhere else… But do not use (public spaces) because that issue, insofar as I’m concerned, that issue is already finished.” “The Japanese had paid dearly for that. The reparation started many years ago. Let us not insult them…If it is erected in a private property, fine, we will honor it and the Japanese government and people would understand that there is a democracy here and freedom of expression is very important. But do not use (public spaces)…It is not the policy of government to antagonize another nation,” the President said. Duterte said it is difficult to continuously reminisce how Japanese soldiers treated at least 1,000 Filipino comfort women during the 1941 to 1945 wartime occupation. In January, Japan’s Minister for Internal Affairs Seiko Noda expressed regret over the construction of the 2-meter-high bronze statue that was unveiled by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on December 8 last year.

blindfolded woman that was to serve as centerpiece of the monument, however, went missing days before the unveiling, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran founding president Teresita Ang-See said. “Suddenly, when it was supposed to be put up, he (artist Jonas Roces) suddenly said that it is gone,” she said. It was the same statue that was removed by public works officials in April from the Manila baywalk area, supposedly to give way to a drainage improvement project. Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, for her part, said she hopes the new marker would serve as a reminder of the history of Filipino comfort women. “Ever since our grandmothers opened up about their problem, the government has never given them a proper response,” Brosas said. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said the comfort woman statue along Roxas Boulevard that was removed was an insult to the Japanese government that had already made reparations to the Filipino

Indonesia... From A1

The site in the province of East Kalimantan is at “minimal” risk of natural disasters, he added. “As a large nation that has been independent for 74 years, Indonesia has never chosen its own capital,” Widodo said in a televised speech. “The burden Jakarta is holding right now is too heavy as the center of governance, business, finance, trade and services,” he added. The government would draft a bill for the move which would be sent to parliament, Widodo said. He said the estimated cost of the project was around 466 trillion rupiah (US$33 billion). The move comes as concerns about Jakarta’s future soar. The megacity-first established by Dutch colonists nearly 500 years ago-of is one of the fastest-sinking cities on earth, with environmental experts warning that one third of it could be submerged by 2050 if current rates continue.

Refund... From A1

which occurs in a cycle of three- to fiveyear intervals. Funds for this could be sourced from the money returned by Sanofi Pasteur, French manufacturer of the vaccine. With dengue fever being endemic to the country, he said the epidemic should be taken as an opportunity for the Philippines to become the dengue research capital, just like Singapore and Hong Kong in response to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic in 2013. “Let the government in this dark moment be a beacon of hope for dengue, for ourselves, for the world,” said Gordon. “Let us be a beacon of hope for the close to 800,000 children who received the first dengue vaccine in the world and who now need our help,” he added.

From LPA... From A1

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It was moving northwest at 25 kph. The weather bureau raised storm signal no. 1 in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the eastern portion of Pangasinan and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Island and Catanduanes. Meanwhile, the inclement weather caused by severe tropical storm “Ineng” had killed one person and injured two people in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, and had so far affected 8,008 families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Monday. The agency said those families were in 156 villages in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and and Central Luzon and consisted of a total of 33,333 people. Of the total affected families, 193 or about 601 people were being served inside the evacuation centers while 16 families were being served outside. A total of 43 houses were damaged in three municipalities in Ilocos Norte. With PNA

PH eases... From A1

After the repeated incidents, Malacañang warned it will drive away foreign vessels but did not say which agency would implement the order. Malacañang has not released any written document regarding the directive as it did not specify if merchant vessels were included in the order. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea allows the innocent passage of ships through the territorial sea of a coastal state provided it is “continuous and expeditious.” Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the UNCLOS.

of whose leaders were from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The MILF is a breakaway faction of the MNLF led by Misuari. The President earlier said he was planning to offer Misuari the same concession that the government gave to the MILF to achieve long-lasting peace in Mindanao, which has suffered from decades-long insurgency. Duterte has repeatedly said he hopes to reach an agreement with Misuari, whom he earlier said had warned him of war should the government fail to pursue a shift to federalism. Misuari is a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the entity superseded by the Bangsamoro.

Sandra Cam delivers on update on 'corruption' at the PCSO during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel Aug. 26, 2019. Norman Cruz

PCSO director vows to drop ‘bombshell’

PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam said Monday she will release “shocking” documents on the alleged corruption in small-town lottery operations. She made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted last week the suspension on STL operations, but subject to the compliance of franchise holders with a number of conditions. “I have shocking documents about the STL. The public will be shocked and this will be an eye-opener for everyone, that you can’t have everything that you want,” Cam said. The former whistle blower made the revelation during the breakfast forum at the Manila Hotel, saying “ I love the military, I love the police, but I don’t like the mistah system inside.” But Cam deferred naming the PCSO officials supposedly involved in corruption pending a congressional inquiry and the Presidential AntiCorruption Commission’s investigation. “I want to address this to the PCSO board of directors and officials there. The STL has returned but Sandra Cam will not stop,” Cam said. She also claimed that she knew several lawmakers who were “protectors” of the corrupt practices in the STL. “Many congressmen are angry with me because they are protectors, but there are no sacred cows for Sandra Cam,” she said. Malacañang earlier asked Cam to file charges against the STL operators allegedly involved in corruption after she alleged that some of them, including the supposed friends of President Rodrigo Duterte, were not remitting the revenues that should go to the PCSO. The STL and other gaming schemes like Peryahan ng Bayan and Keno were suspended for nearly a month after Duterte decried the “massive corruption” at the PCSO. Cam herself was accused of corruption before the Office of the Ombudsman, with a private citizen claiming earlier this year that she failed to disclose P500 million worth of real estate properties. Cam said she was open to a lifestyle check by the PACC to belie the allegations about her supposed hidden wealth. “Include me in the lifestyle check and investigate my person,” she said. Cam said she was ready to give up her position at PCSO if nothing significant happened in the investigation. “If nothing happens, I will ask the President to another post instead of me dying at the wrong time,” she said. Vito Barcelo Duterte will fly to China for a five-day visit on Aug. 28 to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. He will raise the Chinese incursions with Xi, Panelo said. “When they enter our territorial waters, they drive away our fishermen. They enter our exclusive economic zone. Too many. So he told me the other day, he will raise it,” Panelo said. Duterte will also invoke the 2016 arbitral victory of Manila against Beijing,which rejected the sweeping maritime claims of China in almost the entire South China Sea. The Philippines and China are claimants in the disputed areas in South China Sea, along with other countries.

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Romualdez says House backs Health Care Law By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said the chamber will ensure the full implementation of the Universal Health Care Law by providing enough funds for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and increasing the budget allocation of the Department of Health. Romualdez said the proposed P4.1 trillion national government for 2020 has allocated P67.4 billion for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and P92.2 billion for the Department of Health to strengthen the implementation of the Universal Health Care. He noted that P9.4 billion was earmarked for hospitalization and assistance to indigent patients, making health services available even to low income individuals. “With these initiatives, we are inching closer to the President’s target of lowering the poverty incidence to 20 percent three years from now from 30 percent in 2015, and for the Philippines to become an upper-middle income country by 2022,” Romualdez said. Last February, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law that will “guarantee equitable access to quality and affordable health care services for all Filipinos.” Under the Universal Health Care Law Filipinos will be automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program. Membership in the NHIP will be classified as “direct contributor,” or those who can pay health premiums, and “indirect contributor,” or those sponsored by the government such as indigents, senior citizens and people with disability. The law also aims to expand the coverage of PhilHealth benefits, which included free consultation tests and other diagnostic services. Filipinos can also avail themselves of primary health care services even if they don’t have PhilHealth identification cards.

QUARANTINE. The Quezon City Veterinary Department conducted an Animal Quarantine checkpoint from the boundary of Quezon City along San Mateo road to prevent the possible entry of meat pork affected by African swine Fever (ASF) coming from the Rizal province which is believed to have beenaffected by the decease due to the continuing death of their pigs. Manny Palmero

SC starts trial hearings via video conferencing in Davao By Rey E. Requejo

Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, chairman of the SC’s committee on revision of rules, said hearings and trials via video conferencing will apply to pending and newly filed high-profile criminal cases. Considered high-profile cases are those involving violations of the Human Security Act such as terrorism, crimes against humanity, and those whose detained suspects are considered “highvalue targets” because of the threats they may pose to the security of the jail facilities, the court, and the community. The SC said that detained persons who are seriously ill or those diagnosed with serious or grave medical conditions or with highly contagious

disease or those detained in national penitentiaries may also be heard through video conferencing. Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said that there are about 4,000 detainees in three Davao City jails that are managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology where hundreds of Maute, Abu Sayaff and New People’s Army (NPA) members are detained in these jail facilities. The system on video conferencing will be tested for not more than two years between the Davao City Hall of Justice and the Davao City jails. Marquez said that video conferencing is “the holding of a conference among people at remote locations by means of

transmitted audio and video signals and where individuals meet one another in a real-time virtual manner ‘as if they were in the same room’ without the hassle and expense of traveling.” The guidelines for video conferencing have been approved by the SC as a full court on recommendations made by Peralta, The SC said the guidelines “aim to guarantee and preserve the constitutional rights of the accused in court proceedings who are persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) being detained in a district, city or provincial jail or a national inmate committed in a national penitentiary.” According to the tribunal, the use of the system is designed “to eliminate the safety, security and health risks posed by the personal appearance of PDLs who are ‘considered to be high-risk or afﬂicted with highly contagious diseases.” “Such risk is not only posed on the accused but also to judges, court personnel, and the public in general. This will also guarantee the accused’s rights to be present and confront witnesses against them and to ensure the continuity of proceedings in criminal cases,” the high court said.

THE Philippine Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) project will be acquired via the so-called government-togovernment procurement approach. “Yes, because we are availing of Australian government ﬁnancing (for the project),” Defense Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana said over the weekend. Government-to-government is an advantage as it does not require a large capital outlay and has sovereign guarantee aside from the equipment being acquired much easier and faster. The OPV project aims to acquire six brand-new ships for P30 billion, a project that Australia-based global shipbuilder and defense contractor Austal has expressed interest to participate in. OPVs are large classes of patrol vessels capable of long-distance patrolling.

Austal is offering a larger version of its 80-meter Cape-class patrol vessels being used by the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force. Earlier, Lorenzana said the PN is preferring a government-to-government approach in acquiring the vessels. “Government-to-government is (the procurement process being favored) by the PN,” the DND chief said. The OPVs are part of Horizon Two of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program and expected to replace the World War II corvettes and minesweepers still in PN service as of this time. On Friday, Lorenzana said the South Korean government expressed interest to fund the PN’s corvette acquisition project, which aims to acquire two antisubmarine ships to boost up the PN ﬂeet.

He said a government-to-government approach would be an advantage for the Philippines. The budget for the CAP, he said, is placed between P28 to P30 billion. Lorenzana said while the country is yet to sign a contract with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the two corvettes, the PN is ecommending the company construct these ships for commonality and interoperability. The two Jose Rizal-missile frigates, which is also being constructed by HHI for P18 billion, including its weapon systems and munition, is expected to be delivered by next year, with the lead ship, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), expected by April 2020 and the second ship, BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), by September of the same year. PNA

HE Supreme Court has permitted courts in Davao City to kick off on September 2 the conduct of trials and hearings on high-proﬁle criminal cases through video conferencing, a new procedure that would enable detained persons to testify and be cross-examined inside their detention cells.

MIAA vows to stop flooding at NAIA 4; Navy to get patrol vessels via govt-to-govt deal catch basin to be fixed, Monreal says By Joel E. Zurbano THE Manila International Airport Authority on Monday assured the public the flooding at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 4 during heavy rains last Saturday will not happen again. MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal said it will not happen again “because we will do everything to make it fixed.” Monreal said the flash flood happened at the terminal because the facility was the lowest point of the ramp from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and appeared to be like a catch basin. He said the pumping stations installed at the terminal were not able to handle the capacity or volume of the rain waters came which resulted in the overflow. All five high-capacity pumps in the area were working at the time of the downpour. However, the volume of rainwater which collected in the area was just too much for the pumps to pump-out towards the canals leading to the river, according to Monreal. In spite of the flooded tarmac, flight operations at the terminal went in a normal status with buses being used to shuttle the passengers to and from the ramp where parked aircrafts located just a few meters away from the terminal. The engineering department of MIAA is now in its final stage of implementation to get away the rain water straight to canal within seconds.

SAVING SIERRA MADRE. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the help of the local government unit of

General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Rotary Club and various stakeholders plant narra and mahogany seedlings in Upper Tabuating Reservoir Irrigation Project in Bgy Nazareth, General Tinio in their effforts to save Sierra Madre. Joining DENR personnel in the tree planting activity held on August 16 was DENR Muñoz City Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Jimmy Aberin (back, 2nd from right) of DENR-SCIS.

Leni questions sudden hike in Duterte’s Intel funds By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo has hit the Office of the President for its request of a P2.5-billion confidential and intelligence fund for 2020. She questioned the “substantial” increase of President Rodrigo Duterte’s confidential and intelligence fund from P500 million in 2016. “After reading it (request), I looked into its progression. I studied the progression from 2012 until 2016. The (amount of the) intelligence and confidential fund was just P500 million. Then now, is it P2.5 billion?” she asked. “That was just three years ago. The increase is too much. So it would be better if... to erase any doubts, it is best that that we understand it more,” she said. The public must understand why there was an increase, she added. The fund is discretionary, “no receipt no receipt,” she said.

Rehabilitate, expand railway system—Angara By Macon Ramos-Araneta EXPANDING and rehabilitating the railway systems should be the first step taken by the government to decongest traffic in Metro Manila, Senator Sonny Angara said on Monday. Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, underscored the need to find ways to address the monstrous traffic in the National Capital Region. He vowed to look for ways to support the programs of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to decongest Metro Manila, not only for the longterm, but also in the short and medium term for the sake of the commuters, motorists and the economy as a whole. “It pains us to see commuters lining up for hours every day to ride the MRT or buses to work and school,” said Angara. He said motorists waste so much time stuck on the roads when they could be productive in their offices. “Something has to be done about this right now,” Angara said. The DOTr has several projects aimed at decongesting the roads in Metro Manila, some of which are already being implemented while the others are still in the pipeline. These include the rehabilitation of the MRT-3, the revival of the Philippine National Rail (PNR) trains and the development of a subway system. During a briefing on the proposed P147 billion budget of the DOTr for 2020, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade acknowledged that increasing the number of “trains” within and outside of Metro Manila is key to reducing the volume of vehicles on the Metro roads.

Opinion

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Biggest fake news of the century years ago. It presented so-called historic maps to show its claim, especially the nine-dash lines. This was rejected by the arbitral tribunal in The Hague. Carpio said Filipinos must educate themselves lest we believe China’s claim. Their distorted narrative is taught in IN MY almost 70 years as a journalist, I have always thought that the fabled China’s grade schools. Yamashita Treasure was the biggest President Duterte should take this piece of fake news peddled among up when he meets with Chinese PresiFilipinos. The commander of the Japanese dent Xi Jinping. But is Mr. Duterte Imperial Forces that occupied the listening? *** Philippines was said to have Malay, Another fake news was what was Cambodian, Thai and Burmese temples and stole treasures, especially a called the Jabidah Massacre where Golden Buddha brought to the Philip- some 400 Muslins were massacred pines when the Tiger of Malaya came because news leaked that they were training on Corregidor Island so that as commander. The news item became so popular Muslims could take over Sabah. Ninoy Aquino claimed that the masthat movies were even made of it. Even the strongman Ferdinand Marcos be- sacre was to him by a lone survivor. lieved it so much so that he commis- He exposed it at the Senate. The trainsioned an expedition led by my brother ing was reportedly headed by Col. Eddie Marcelino, a friend of Marcos. Desi. The expedition failed. But if the massacre indeed took Hundreds of hunters from all over the world came to the Philippines to place, won’t the families have cried out for the head of Marcos? look for the treasure. And now a legislator from Mindanao says claims that the Jabidah Massa Massacre triggered the creation of the Moro National Liberation Front. But Nur This is what the best Misuari formed the MILF as part of chief justice we never had the secessionist movement. The truth is that this alleged masreally thinks. sacre was only exploited by Marcos’ political opponents. *** Philippine Offshore Gaming Op OpBut now, Associate Justice Antonio Carpio—the best chief justice we nev nev- erators, now numbering 60, is a multier had—says that China’s claim in the fold problem for us. If indeed China claims that it such South China Sea is the biggest piece of operations are illegal there and sugfake news of this century. I can believe him when he says that gested that the Philippines should ban China’s claim is a gigantic fraud of the them, why are there service providers human race that should not be allowed as outlets of the industry in China? The POGO industry reportedly reto pass. Carpio in fact called on Filipinos mits some P8 billion to the governand others in in Southeast Asia to ment in the form of taxes. But if we spread the truth and debunk China’s confine the Chinese workers to their narrative about the disputed territory. hubs, what will happen to all those According to Carpio, the Chinese condominium floor the Chinese are people have been fed disinformation now occupying? And can the Duterte administration that China established its presence in the South China Sea as early as 2,000 Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Do you love your country?

HE heroes whom the nation commemorated and honored on Monday, National Heroes’ Day, certainly loved their country. While they came from diverse backgrounds, contexts and situations, all of them put national interests above their own. They made great sacrifices not to bask in glory but to serve the common good. As a result of those sacrifices, Filipinos are where they are today. We are no longer under any colonizer. People can say what’s on their mind, show dissent, criticize their government and offer suggestions on how their affairs can better be run. Everybody is able to participate, if not as public officials, then as part of civil society or their communities. Through technology, they can also make their voices heard through social media. Systems are in place— and, at least according to theory, a citizen can find recourse if he or she is aggrieved. Laws govern our way of life, and they are enforced, ideally. Nobody will say however that

the times we live in these days are perfect, or ideal. We are still plagued by many problems that seem insurmountable, just because they have always been there. Corruption, incompetence, double standards, criminality and drugs are just a few of these ills. We still cannot seem to take off, despite the great potential from our natural resources and human capital. Despite having pockets of governance gems, we keep electing clowns to public office, and their pronouncements anger and divide us such that it is easy to lose sight of the things we need to do. Does this mean that we do not love our country? An unhinged senator recently

posed this question to a student whom he browbeat during a congressional hearing. Fortunately, the student responded with grace and maturity, saying that people can show their love of country in different ways. Most certainly, disagreeing with our leaders does not mean we are less patriotic. No need for grand sweeping gestures or dramatic professions of patriotism. It’s easy to say we love our country if it gives us the things it is supposed to give us: competent and upright leaders, good infrastructure, social justice and equitable opportunities for all. But in a scenario where none, or just some, of these are present, the fact that people keep themselves aware of what is going on, participate in the way know how, plod through despite their personal everyday struggles, and hope for the best outcomes nonetheless is a sign that we all love our country— and nobody has the right to tell us that we don’t.

Free Leila de Lima! YESTERDAY, the Committee for the Freedom of Leila M. De Lima (“Free Leila Committee”), was launched at Club Filipino, San Juan City. The committee is a non- government and non-partisan group of independent-minded individuals who have come together to work for the unconditional release from detention of Senator Leila De Lima. Composed of human rights and former senator Rene Saguisag, columnist and professor Winnie Monsod, civil society leader and former presidential peace adviser Ging Deles, and educator and former education secretary Armin Luistro, and myself, we believe collectively that Senator De Lima is a political prisoner, detained illegally by the Duterte administration as declared by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. We echo the conclusion of that international body that Senator De Lima’s deprivation of liberty is a consequence of her personal conviction and public statements regarding extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. According to the Working Group, De Lima’s statements on the widespread and systematic campaign of extrajudicial killings in the context of the war on drugs have triggered measures of reprisals against her that included a criminal investigation conducted by the Department of Justice and her detention. Moreover, she has been subjected to detention as a result of the exercise of her right to take part in government and the conduct of public affairs, rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 25 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This is why the Free Leila Committee strongly emphasizes that De Lima is a political prisoner and acknowledged as such by the UN Working Group who observed that her political views and convictions are clearly at the center of the case and that the authorities have displayed an attitude toward her that can only be characterized as targeted and discriminatory. Indeed, she has been the target of partisan persecution and there is no explanation for this other than her exercise of the right to express such views and convictions as a human rights defender. The Working Group also expressed its grave concerns about the unfavorable remarks made publicly by the President and his allies against her after she expressed her intention to investigate the extrajudicial killings under the so-called war on drugs. The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), has also concluded that Senator De Lima is being politically persecuted. Meeting on the

occasion of the 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Bangkok, Thailand on 25-30 August 2019, the parliamentarians emphasized the worsening state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the Asian region and worldwide, and acknowledged that one facet of this ongoing democratic recession, and the corresponding rise in authoritarianism and populism, is the continuing and intensifying repression of democratically elected political opposition. According to them, we have seen the rise of many cases where the political opposition is harassed and restricted solely for carrying out its legitimate work. This harassment of the political opposition is most evident in countries like Cambodia and the Philippines. For the latter, APHR and CALD point out how, several lawmakers who have opposed the President’s campaign against illegal drugs and other key government policies, have faced politically-motivated criminal charges, harassment, threats and intimidation. Foremost among them is Senator De Lima and the parliamentarians unequivocally call for her release. The Free Leila Committee will be ex-

Our committee will be expanding its ranks domestically and internationally. panding its ranks domestically and interna internationally. We will explore all avenues for this advocacy. While we are for the unconditional release of Senator De Lima, we also support the bipartisan effort of Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson to allow the detained senator to participate in plenary sessions electronically, with the use of telecommunication technologies. In the same spirit, we are with former senators who have collectively signed a statement to support to the Drilon-Lacson proposed Senate resolution. Currently, Senator De Lima is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, and a member of 23 other committees. During the last Congress, despite her detention, she was able to author 138 resolutions and 116 bills, some of which have even become significant laws. The fact of her detention however prevents her from being personally present in the sessions, meetings and hearings at the Senate. De Lima is a Senator of the Republic of the Philippines and a member of the 17th and 18th Congress. Despite her detention for more than Turn to A5

All is not quiet on the southern front IT MAY be peaceful and quiet in our southern shores for now after decades of violence and bloodshed since the 1970s, but it could well be the calm before the storm. That’s because the national government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines still face a big challenge in fighting homegrown terrorism. The terrorist groups identified with the Islamic State that pose a distinct and grave threat to national security include a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group that gained notoriety since the late 1990s by kidnapping foreign tourists and keeping them captive only until hefty ransom was paid. The days when the Abu Sayyaf could undertake kidnapping for ransom both inland and in the high seas, as well as deadly bombings with impunity, may be over for now, but they remain a serious threat so the military needs to hunt them down and bring them to justice. The Maute Group that laid siege on Marawi City for five months in 2017 may have been largely decimated as a result of their defeat in the hands of the AFP two years ago. But we should not discount the

possibility that remnants of this group could be reorganizing their forces, linking up with like-minded groups and beefing up their arsenal as we speak in preparation for another attack.

It isn’t unreasonable to conclude that peace in Mindanao will remain as elusive as ever, unless the jihadist threat is addressed. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is composed of an es estimated 3,000 fighters who broke away

from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The latter, which also broke away from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the late 1970s, waged war against the government for nearly two decades but agreed to peace talks with the government. Besides these, there are other small groups believed to have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State and its goal of establishing a Southeast Asian caliphate based in Mindanao. What’s really disturbing about the Marawi siege in 2017 was the reported presence of foreign terrorists among the Maute group as confirmed by the military. Among those from the terrorist group killed were Malaysians, Singaporeans, and Indonesians who had been aiding locals in bomb-making. The AFP confirmed that dozens of foreign jihadis fought alongside the Maute Group in Marawi. Of the estimated 400-500 terrorists who attacked the Muslim city, as many as 40 had recently come from overseas. They included In Indonesians, Malaysians, at least one Pa Pakistani, a Saudi, a Chechen, a Yemeni, Turn to A5

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Opinion Slaying monsters Others have pointed out instances of Sanchez’ misbehavior behind bars, such as the discovery in 2010 of shabu hidden inside—of all things—a statue of the Blessed Mother. Unfortunately, Section Three of the same law, which covers allowances for good conduct, is THE attempted early release of con- silent about whether—and if so, how— victed murderer and rapist Antonio to deduct bad-conduct penalties against Sanchez, a former Laguna mayor, has good-conduct credits. run into all sorts of flak that reveal a lot about what kind of people we are and are still trying to be. Sanchez, with his bouffant hairdo The true extent of and snarling outbursts post-trial, is a poster boy for the death penalty. This blackness in Sanchez’s fact only aggravated public incredulity heart today is beyond at the recommendation of his early release for good behavior. After all, he any human judgment. was convicted to seven life sentences, so what about the other six? If the sentences weren’t specified to be served simultaneously, what is he doing out on Presumably such penalties are cov covthe streets again? ered in other statutes. If so, we will The extent of public outrage is also a hopefully be getting an opinion soon product of ingrained public disappoint- from government lawyers, together ment with the shortcomings of our legal with a recalculation of Sanchez’ allowprocedures. We all have far more than ances. Some people are even questionour rightful share of horror stories about ing the math in counting up his credFilipino justice delayed and denied. its. Given the care we may reasonably Thus, when a certifiable animal whom presume the authorities took with such we all thought was safely locked up for a high-profile case, those questions are good is suddenly given a good-conduct likely to be just wishful thinking. pass, our indignation boils over. *** It’s important to parse out the imThe second issue is how quickly the portant issues and lessons here for any yellow camp pounced on this issue to good to come out of this issue. Not sur- unleash yet another barrage against the prisingly, the CPP-NPA has already President and his men. What could be threatened to mete out its “revolution- more ghoulish than trying to convert ary justice” on the mayor. For his own the tragedy of the murder of those two good, he may thus wish to stay behind UP students into an opportunity for bars for a while—say, until he drops partisan gain? dead voluntarily. First they latched onto the Presiden*** tial spokesman, Atty Sal Panelo, who The first lesson here is that the law had lawyered for Sanchez during the must be applied impartially but with trial. With no shred of evidence whatcare. If we actually read the law that soever, the yellows whispered that this was invoked to grant Sanchez early lawyering meant Panelo was somehow release for good conduct (R.A. 10592, behind his erstwhile client’s early repassed by the 15th Congress), Section lease. One at the very top states that “…reAgain it is widespread disappointcidivists, habitual delinquents, escap- ment and cynicism over our justice sysees and persons charged with heinous tem that feeds this mistaken demonizacrimes are excluded from the coverage tion of a lawyer together with his client. of this Act.” Trial defense lawyers might arguably This seems straightforward, but law- be faulted for seeking publicity and the yers can still quibble. Section One, it fat legal fees. But much more importurns out, only talks about deducting tant, what their work does is to keep due time spent in preventive detention from process in play for people who would the total term of imprisonment that not otherwise be legally represented— should be served. Clearly, Sanchez’ re- because they are poor, or they are sublease on grounds of good conduct isn’t versives, or they are monsters. covered by this section. If the excepAfter hitting Panelo, the yellows tion carved out for heinous criminals took newly minted Senator and former were intended for general application, it PNP chief Bato de la Rosa to task for should have merited a separate section saying that Sanchez “deserves a secat the end. ond chance.” However, every verbatim

All is... an Indian, a Moroccan and another man with a Turkish passport. Why the influx of foreign jihadists to Mindanao? According to Rohan Gunaratna, a security expert at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, because the Islamic state has been losing territory in Iraq and Syria, jihadists are turning their attention to Muslim Mindanao as a possible wilayat or province of IS in Southeast Asia. Another disturbing development is the recent case of suicide bombing by a Filipino in Mindanao. This is a first as previous incidents involved only foreigners. This underscores the need for the military and the police to step up target hardening and to encourage soft

targets such as shopping malls to be aware of security threats and draw up the corresponding security plans. The revelation that foreign jihadists have been operating in southern Philippines alongside locals confirms fears that indeed, the Islamic State has made inroads in Muslim Mindanao. We’ve known in the past that some foreigners had managed to slip into the country and join rebel groups as trainers in bomb-making and other covert activities. But the actual participation of foreigners in combat against government troops shows that ISIS may have fielded more of their savage followers to southern Philippines, complicating what is already a volatile situation. President Duterte had already warned as early as 2017 that IS would be a big headache for the Philippine government if they are able to unite the

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From A4

really ban POGOs? Which should be the priority—the need for security, or the need for money? I don’t believe he can, or will, ban POGOs. *** The Department of Justice must now have an idea how outraged the people are over the potential early release of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez. Actually, a review is not necessary since the law is clear that those convicted of heinous crimes cannot take advantage of the law. It would be a travesty of justice to have somebody like Sanchez be a free man again. *** Here we go again. I am referring to a bill filed at the House of Representatives which seeks to change the name of Camp Aguinaldo to General Antonio Luna who headed the armed revolution under the Americans. If we keep changing the names of places, there will never be an end to this malarkey. Please just leave things as they are. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

From A4 two years and five months now, she is able to introduce a good number of resolutions and bills, some of which have become significant laws, including pieces of social legislation on Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Magna Carta of the Poor, and the National Commission of Senior Citizens. Our former senators point out in their collective statement: “While Senator De Lima is a mere detention prisoner enjoying the Constitutional presumption of innocence, as well as all civil and political rights, the fact of her incarceration has unfortunately prevented her from fully performing her duties to participate in the legislative process, including attendance in the plenary sessions, voting on bills and resolutions, presence in important meetings and caucuses with her colleagues, and conduct of hearings of the committees that she chairs. As former Senators, we know the importance of taking part in all these vital aspects of lawmaking.” The former senators support all initiatives to enable Senator De Lima to vote on key bills and resolutions tabled in the plenary sessions, to participate in important meetings and caucuses with her fellow Senators, and to personally conduct public hearings of her committee within Camp Crame in Quezon City. According to them:

transcript of his comments that I’ve seen online clearly has him complaining that the same people who object to giving the mayor a second chance are the same people who’ve been opposing the death penalty as well. Which is of course is nothing but the truth, no matter how rough: You want to irrevocably put someone away for good, you put him to death. On the other hand, some people have been pointing out that the law releasing the mayor was passed under PNoy. I’m no fan of the former president, but it’s a stretch to claim that PNoy had the wellbeing of the mayor in mind when he affixed his signature. *** The third issue that’s come up is a renewed clamor again for bringing back the death penalty. There are all sorts of jurisprudential and public policy argu arguments for and against it. For this piece, however, let me focus on what the Church says. If we’ll be talking about literally life and death issues, we ought to be looking for guidance from an institution that claims to exercise authority on both sides of the Great Divide. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§ 2265-2267) does allow for the death penalty in principle: “Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty.” However, “if non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety…authority will limit itself to such means”. Given the availability of such non-lethal means today, the Church concludes that “the cases in which the execution of an offender is an absolute necessity are” [to quote St Pope John Paul the Great] “very rare, if not practically nonexistent.” In addition to the expected justifications for punishment—punishing the guilty and protecting public order—the Church adds a third consideration: do not “definitively take away from the offender the possibility of redeeming himself.” So, if we’ll be second-guessing the life sentences that were meted out on Sanchez, in lieu of the death penalty, we ought to ask ourselves: Were his offenses redeemable? Before God’s infinite mercy, yes they were. But did he seek redemption? His good conduct behind bars—net of any misbehavior—might indicate that. But the true extent of blackness in his heart today is beyond any human judgment. Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

various terror groups in Mindanao with their vision of a caliphate in southern Philippines. The Marawi siege appears to have been part of a plot to occupy territory that they can later convert or consolidate into an IS province. That unwelcome possibility makes it necessary for the government to move decisively and dismantle the jihadist apparatus in the country with all the resources at its command. It is imperative for the military to relentlessly pursue terrorist groups so that they can be brought to justice for heinous crimes. Given all this, it isn’t unreasonable to conclude that peace in Mindanao will remain as elusive as ever, unless the jihadist threat is addressed with a combination of military and political measures, as well as socio-economic initiatives. ernhil@yahoo.com

“We hope that relevant authorities will take the necessary steps, including possible adjustments in parliamentary rules and the regulations in the custodial center, with provision for necessary facilities and other appropriate arrangements, to address these matters for as long as Senator De Lima remains in detention while a member of the Philippine Senate. If needed, measures should likewise be taken to secure permission from the courts to allow her to personally participate during important sessions, meetings and hearings at the Senate. To allow Senator De Lima the full discharge of her role and duty as a parliamentarian is to pay respect to the mandate of more than 14 million Filipinos who voted her into office in keeping with the spirit and tradition of the Philippine Senate as a collegial and deliberative body.” We launched the committee yesterday because it was National Heroes Day. And we believe Leila De Lima is a heroine of democracy and human rights. Today, August 27, is her 60th birthday. We want to tell her that she is not forgotten, that she will be free soon, to see her beloved mother and family anytime she wishes, and to do her work for the country without impediment. When that happens, I will be at the gates of Crame to greet and welcome her: “Senadora Leila, malaya ka na!” (“Senator Leila , you are free!) Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Landbank not operating as a farmer’s bank vides a reminder that LBP loan resources were intended primarily for loans to farmers; 22. 17 percent of total loans does not connote lending to farmers primarily. And where did the remainder of LBP’s loans go? TOWARD the end of July President The full-page newspaper suppleRodrigo Duterte launched an attack ments taken out by LBP management against Land Bank of the Philippines provided the answer. Almost 78 per(LBP), the only remaining govern- cent of total LBP lending as of June ment-owned commercial bank. The 30, 2019 went to other government Chief Executive threatened LBP with priority projects: farm-to-market abolition, alleging that is had failed roads (2,949 kilometers), education to perform the obligation placed (5,791 classrooms and 758 school upon in by the Land Reform Act of building) power (5.7 million meg1963 and the Comprehensive Agrari- awatt-hours per annum) and water an Reform Program (CARP) of 1988, (2 million households connected to namely, to provide financial assis- potable water). LBP today does not, tance to the farmers of this country, and never has operated as, a banking with emphasis on the beneficiaries of institution focused on lending to the those two landmark pieces of legisla- agricultural sector. Nor, practically tion (LRBs). If it cannot provide ade- speaking, can it be expected to so quate financial assistance to Filipino operate in the coming days. farmers, LBP might as well cease to The fact, simply stated, is that LBP exist, Mr. Duterte declared. is, and operate as, a regular comSomeone in the mercial bank; LBP hierarchy it is not what was expected to it was envienvi speak up in desioned to be, to Loans extended to fense of the perbe a bank for formance of the farmers only account financing agbank, which is riculture. For for 22 percent of the now the fourth LBP to cease largest domes- total loan portfolio. operating as a tic commercial regular combank. Not altomercial bank gether surprisand to begin ingly, that someone turned out of to return to its original statutory the ex officio chairman of the bank’s mandate, things will have to happen. Board of Directors, Secretary of Fi- First, LBP will have to raise the ratio nance Carlos Dominguez III. The of agricultural lending to total lend1963 law vested the LBP’s chair- ing to a level sharply higher that the manship in the Secretary of Finance present 22. 17 percent. Second, LBP supposedly the interest of policy will have to reduce its non-agriculcoordination; what has never been tural lending—for both government satisfactorily explained is why there and private-sector projects—to a has to be coordination between the level sharply lower than 77.83 of toDepartment of Finance and an insti- tal loans. It is highly unlikely that the tution whose supervision falls within government will want LBP to stop the domain of the Bangko Sentral ng making loans to sectors other than Pilpinas (BSP). agriculture; the most realistic expecMr. Dominguez should have de- tation, of Mr. Duterte is determined fended LBP by saying (1) that it is not to have the country’s farmers get a correct to say that LBP has been al- better deal from the above-named locating only a small part of its total and have ceased to be our lawful resources and (2) that in the future is Attorneys in Fact for any purposes will alter its lending pattern, raising whatsoever. the ratio of loans to the agricultural More specifically, as a consesector—especially the LRBs—to to- quence of this joint revocation and tal loans. That probably would have are DISAUTHORIZED and DISsatisfied his boss. Unfortunately, the EMPOWERED from performing Secretary of Finance ended up dem- the following functions and doing onstrating that LBP is a commercial the following acts, to wit: LBP, is a bank, not a bank for farmers. sharp increase in agricultural lendFor starters, Carlos Dominguez III ing’s share of LBP’s loan portfolio. said that as of June 30, 2019 loans to Raising that share to, say, 40 percent LRBs and other Filipino farmers ac- would make a lot more credit availcounted for 22. 17 percent of LBP’s able to the agricultural sector. loan portfolios. Stated differently, LBP is a commercial bank, Sec77. 83 percent of LBP loans went to retary Dominguez. Like an ocean borrowers in section other than ag- liner, it cannot be turned around and riculture. A re-reading of the Land made into a farmer’s bank without Reform Act of 1963 and CARP pro- great difficulty.

‘Malasakit’ is beyond partisanship OPPOSITIONIST Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman just cannot help demonstrate what how desperate he is as he criticized the establishment and operation of Malasakit Centers all over the country. What I first described as a “one-stop shop” for public assistance is neophyte Senator Bong Go’s brainchild, and that being so really freaks the hell out of Lagman. The Yellow attack dog complains that part of Malasakit Center’s funding comes from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which he said may be unlawful as it continues to be championed by the former Special Assistant to the President who is now a full-fledged politician. “Why is the PCSO supporting Malasakit Centers which are a partisan tool?” says Lagman, who all these years has championed nothing but the congressional pork barrel, otherwise known as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). So, what is the difference between the PDAF and Malasakit Centers as tools for an efficient and effective delivery of public services to the poor, particularly medical assistance for which the PCSO is mandated for? The PCSO General Manager scoffs at the Albay congressman's fake news as she clarifies that PCSO does not funnel any “singkong-duling” to the Malasakit Centers program, except that PCSO's on-site help desks called ASAP (At Source and Processing) desks are integrated into the Malasakit Centers. Lagman should hear himself harp-

ing on the same string against Senator Go about “partisan politics” when his statements themselves comprise nothing but partisan politics or lowly politicking. I mean no disrespect but I have to ask: Is such an action a sign of senility? Certainly it’s an exercise in futility. What could we expect from someone who would not take a moment to look at himself in the mirror before maligning the vision of the Duterte administration’s Malasakit Center Program that facilitates various forms of public assistance. Senator Go continues to support the Malasakit Center Program to help ensure its expansion and success in assisting our fellow Filipinos throughout the archipelago by closely coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, PCSO, as well as other frontline agencies. It's a holistic approach and a team effort! Inspired by his longtime boss, President Mayor Duterte, the softspoken senator guarantees that Malasakit Centers are a genuine, no-nonsense public service program for all Filipinos in dire need regardless of political affiliation, age and sexual orientation. "Pera ng taumbayan po yan kaya walang pinipili, walang tinatanggihan, at kahit ano pa ang kulay niya," said the lawmaker from Davao. It make sense for Senator Go to actively support his own pro-Filipino and pro-poor initiative, so Lagman ought to have the common sense to appreciate that. It’s beyond politics, Mr. Lagman. It’s what you call public service. Why don’t you try it for once? It’s good for the heart and soul.

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Don’t harass teenagers, solon says

DoH sets P19b drugs spending THE Department of Health (DoH) is set to spend another P19.1 billion to procure new drugs and medicines in 2020. That, despite getting flagged by the Commission on Audit (CoA) for keeping a large stockpile of unused supplies, some of which have either expired or are nearing expiry due to delayed distribution. “We’ve gone over the DoH’s proposed budget for 2020, and the department is asking for another P19.1 billion to purchase drugs, medicines and vaccines,” Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan) said on Monday. “The amount is P3.7 billion or 24 percent higher than the department’s P15.4-billion allocation this year for the same purpose,” Defensor said in a statement. Last year, the DoH received a P15.6-billion allocation to purchase drugs and medicines, including medical and dental supplies, according to Defensor. “We are all for the DOH’s purchase of new drugs and medicines, as long as these benefit disadvantaged Filipinos, and do not just go to waste because of bad inventory management and logistical issues in getting the supplies to the provinces,” Defensor said. A provision in the annual budget for the procurement of drugs and medicines requires that 80 percent of the entire amount allocated should go to the provinces where the incidence of diseases is high, Defensor pointed out. Defensor said the DOH should consider engaging the services of private logistics service providers to seamlessly handle the warehousing and distribution of the new supplies.

American ordered deported By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has ordered the deportation of an American fugitive wanted by US federal authorities for drug possession and human trafficking. The fugitive, identified as Corey West Glenn, was arrested last Sunday in Makati City by operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit. Commissioner Jaime Morente said the 43-year-old American fugitive would be deported “for being an undesirable alien whose presence here poses a risk to public safety and security.” Glenn’s passport was revoked by the US government, thus making him an undocumented and illegally staying alien in the country. Morente said that Glenn was wanted by authorities in Missouri and Arkansas where he is the subject of outstanding arrest warrants issued by the US courts. According to BI intelligence officer and FSU chief Bobby Raquepo, a warrant was issued against Glenn by the Judicial Circuit Court in Benton County, Arkansas on 18 July 2018. Glenn allegedly failed to appear in the hearing for the charges of trafficking in persons and delivery of controlled substance that were filed against him.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

MISHANDLED BYPRODUCTS. Representatives from the Manila Police District and the Manila City Hall Veterinary Inspection Board seized mishandled seafood and poultry byproducts from China during a raid at apartments in Tondo, Manila on Monday. Norman Cruz

Cops to undergo training in Chinese

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) plans to send some police officers to foreign language schools to expedite processing gambling-related kidnapping cases involving foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals. “Currently, we have to ask for the assistance of some groups to send interpreters in the conduct of our investigation, especially in getting the statements from the victims, suspects and witnesses who could not speak and understand Filipino and English,” said PNP AntiKidnapping Group director, Col. Jonnel Estomo. At present, the AKG is seeking help from non-government organizations like the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order and the Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. for interpreters.

Since 2017, the AKG recorded 53 cases of casino-related kidnappings, which victimized 57 tourists, almost all of them are Chinese, and arrested 119 Chinese kidnappers. The AKG attributed the rise of casinorelated kidnappings to the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which are now employing more than 200,000 Chinese. Estomo said there was a need for them to have a team of organic personnel who could understand and speak Chinese languages like Mandarin and Cantonese. He said this would not only help in the

post-operation investigation and filing of cases but also in intelligence-gathering and case build-up against Chinese suspects. The AKG is yet to draft the guideline on how it would implement the policy of training some of its personnel to learn Chinese languages. Estomo said the Chinese government earlier promised to assist the AKG on this project. Earlier, the AKG will deploy police officers near hotels and casinos, in the wake of the surge in gambling-related kidnapping cases in the country. AKG spokesperson, Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno said the AKG satellite office will be set up in a strategic area in the southern part of Metro Manila, where most of the hotels and casinos with a history of gambling-related kidnappings occurred since 2017. PNA

PCUP wants urban group By Rio N. Araja THE Presidential Commission on Urban Poor on Monday vowed to establish a federation of all urban poor communities, mostly informal settlers, toward a more meaningful engagement. Alvin Feliciano, PCUP and chief executive officer president, said the creation of the federation would enable the agency fast track its delivery of public service and would further empower the poor so that they could be able to transform their own lives. “PCUP wishes to bring our programs and projects and reach out to the urban poor in the provinces,” he said. He lamented over complaints that those in the provinces find it hard to avail themselves of the assistance from the PCUP. “These complaints have pushed us to create an urban poor federation, wherein we could easily communicate with one another and bring our services,” he said. According to the PCUP chief, he would closely coordinate with different organizations and local government units to have an open dialogue, and hear various concerns and problems of the poor not only in Metro Manila but also in the countryside, and to respond to their needs.

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros said teenagers should not be harassed or humiliated to avoid teenage pregnancy, considered by socio-economic planners a “national social emergency.” Instead, the Akbayan senator said a teenager should be afforded understanding, education and medical help. Hontiveros has been pushing for the passage of the ‘teenage pregnancy prevention bill’ to address the rise in adolescent birth rates around the country. In the House, two lawmakers have asked Congress to craft a national policy against teenage pregnancies. Reps. Sol Aragones of Laguna and Edcel Lagman of Albay filed House Bill 2297 or the “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy” in response to the worrying increase in teenage pregnancies. The bill declares it is the policy of the State to recognize, promote and strengthen the role of adolescents and young people in the overall human and socio-economic development of the country not only in the future, but also in the present. It is also the policy of the State to recognize and promote the responsibility of the State to create and sustain an enabling environment for adolescents to enable them to achieve their development aspirations and potentials as well as mobilize them to positively contribute to the nation’s development.

ROAD TRAGEDY. Manila Police carry the body of 6-year-old Kyle Carlos after a speeding Toyota Innova hit him while crossing the road going to Museo Pambata in Roxas Blvd. Manila Monday. Norman Cruz

Lawmaker wants Sports Academy for studes A LEADER of the House of Representatives has proposed the establishment of a specialized educational institution designed to hone both the academic and athletic skills of high school students with exceptional talent in this field of endeavor. Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said his House Bill 2545 is in support of grassroots sports development. Villafuerte said his proposed National Academy of Sports for High School aimed to be a “premier training center” that will offer full or partial scholarships for secondary education, with special emphasis on developing the athletic skills of students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports development. “The goal is to educate students who have shown their early potential of excelling in sports for a sports-related career while undergoing quality secondary education,” said Villafuerte, who is a member of the LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Senator Christopher Go has filed a counterpart bill in the Senate seeking the establishment of the NASHS, which President Duterte urged the Congress to pass in his 4th Stateof-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July 22. Villafuerte, who represents Camarines Sur’s Second district, said setting up the NASHS will also maximize the use of the world-class sports complex in New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac that is now being established in preparation for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November. Maricel V. Cruz

Laguna’s Hernandez told to address potential health problems THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez to address potential public health problems presented by inadequate waste storage/disposal system at the Laguna Medical Center. In an audit report, the medical center was non-compliant with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 segregation of trash in properly marked receptacles to identify them as “compostable, recyclable, non-recyclable or special wastes. Section 5.2 of the Health Care Waste Management Manual required sorting of waste in color-coded bags and containers to promote safe handling and disposal of hospital waste.

“Bags and containers for infectious waste should be marked with the international infectious substance symbol,” the report. The manual provides that hospitals must have a proper storage area in a designated off-site treatment facility until the biodegradable and hazardous waste can be properly removed by designated transport contractor. Under the rules, hospital waste that could present health hazards may be stored for no longer than two days. This is to minimize microbial growth, putrefaction (decay) and unpleasant odors. If there are hospital wastes that are held for longer than two days, the Manual recommends application of chemical disin-

fectants or refrigeration at 4°C or lower. Banned was the accumulation of waste within the point of production or within the hospital premises hence a program for regular collection and transportation is made mandatory as part of the health care management program. “Ocular inspection made by the Audit Team together with the Waste Management Officer of the Medical Center disclosed that the hospital did not strictly observe the proper management of their wastes,” CoA said. “Proper handling and storage of medical waste was not observed by the Laguna Medical Center…thereby posing serious threat to human health and environment,” it said.

Among the violations noted were: failure to sort radioactive, sharp and pressurized waste in color-coded containers; waste containers have no covers making them susceptible to animals rummaging by animals and insect infestation; containers of infectious waste were not marked with the international infectious substance symbol; and the Sewage treatment Plant and waste storage areas had no proper signage. “We recommended that the Provincial Governor direct the Provincial Administrator to require the Laguna Medical Center to comply strictly with the provisions of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” COA said. Rio N. Araja

Sports

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

1st Asian Soft Tennis tournament opens today SAN JOSE DEL MONTE—Host Philippine Soft Tennis Association holds two international tournaments here before the 30th Southeast Asian Games this year. Some 300 athletes from 12 nations will pit skills against each other at the spacious Colegio San Agustin Tennis Court to compete in the 1st Asian Junior Soft Tennis Championship from Aug. 26 to 30 and the 1st Asian University Soft Tennis Championship on Sept. 1 to 3. The best soft netters players from China, Japan, South Korea, Democratic People’s of Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Laos are set to compete here to test their strengths in the nine-day events. PSTA President Jeff Tamayo thanked the Asian Soft Tennis Federation for awarding to the Philippines the hosting these two major international tournaments. Tamayo also thanked the Department of Education, Philippine Olympic Committee, NCAA, PSTA ofﬁcers and the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta. Perpetual Help’s Performing Arts Group and Singing Ensembles will perform to entertain the guest athletes and sports ofﬁcials of other countries.

Altas take on Tams, eye win no. 2; CEU faces EasyTrip tossers Games today

(Tuesday) 1 p.m. — EasyTrip vs CEU 3 p.m. — Perpetual Help vs FEU 5 p.m. — Mapua vs UST

PERPETUAL Help tries to come out strong from a week-long break as it shoots for a second straight win against Far Eastern U even as EasyTrip makes its debut against Centro Escolar U in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila today (Tuesday). The Altas toppled the Coast Guard side in four last Aug. 20 to launch their title campaign in Pool C of the four-division tournament of the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision with Kennry Malinis, Louie Ramirez and Joebert Almodiel expected to lead the Las Piñas-based squad’s charge again. Gametime is at 3 p.m. after CEU tests EasyTrip’s mettle at 1 p.m. with the Scorpions out to bounce back from a shutout loss to the Eco Oil last week. Mapua and UST, meanwhile, seek to rebound from their opening game setbacks as they face off at 5 p.m. Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College and PLDT posted a pair of straightset wins over their respective rivals while Arellano rallied from a set down to frustrate UST in ﬁve in last Sunday’s matches. The EAC Generals drew 14 points from Joshua Mina as they blasted the NCBA Wildcats, 25-15, 25-18, 25-17, in Pool A, while Mark Gil Alfafara unloaded 11 points to power PLDT to a 25-15, 25-21, 25-21 victory over San Sebastian in Pool C. The Arellano Chiefs, on the other hand, bucked the Tigers’ power game with gutsy plays in the decider as they hacked out a 20-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-22, 16-14 decision in another Pool D match. UST ﬁred 57 attack points, 13 more than Arellano’s but the Chiefs cashed in on their Tigers’ miscues to steal the win. Arellano scored 50 points off UST’s errors with the Chiefs’ yielding 36 points off miscues.

PH reaches Asean tilt semifinals

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with the FedExCup trophy after winning during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

Rory secures PGA Tour title to claim FedEx Cup

OS ANGELES—Rory McIlroy ﬁred a four-under-par 66 to win the PGA Tour Championship and claim the $15 million FedEx Cup jackpot on Sunday.

Northern Ireland star McIlroy won the two titles for the second time following his win in 2016 after world number one Brooks Koepka suffered a final round collapse at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Course. McIlroy finished the tournament on 18 under, four shots clear of Xander Schauffele, who posted a closing 70 to finish on 14 under. McIlroy joins Tiger Woods as the only player to win the FedEx Cup playoff series twice. For McIlroy it was sweet redemption following a disappointing showing in last year’s Tour Championship, when he faded from contention with an errorstrewn four-over-par 74 in the final round as Woods clinched a memorable victory. “I didn’t enjoy the walk up 18 last year. I played terribly, got myself into the final group, but I never took the fight to Tiger,” McIlroy said. “Going up against the No. 1 player in the world today (Koepka), he got one over on me in Memphis and I wanted to get some revenge today.

“To play like that alongside Brooks and get the win and win the FedEx Cup, it’s awesome. It’s amazing how different things can be in a year.” McIlroy, playing alongside Koepka in the final pairing, had started the final round one shot behind his partner. Koepka had taken the lead earlier Sunday after the players returned to the course to complete the third round, which had been abandoned on Saturday after an electrical storm that injured six spectators. Koepka finished the third round with a closing birdie for a two-under-par 68, edging one shot clear of McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at 15 under. But Koepka’s third round momentum didn’t extend to the final. After matching McIlroy with an early birdie on the sixth, the American’s form deserted him with a double-bogey on the seventh while McIlroy snared his second birdie. Although Koepka picked up a shot with a birdie on the eighth, a trio of bogeys on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes ef-

fectively ended his challenge. McIlroy, who had birdied the 12th and 13th holes to move to four under for the day, gave the chasing pack hope after wobbling with bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes. However McIlroy gathered himself brilliantly on the 17th, rolling in a 15ft birdie putt before going on to reach the greenside bunker in two on the par-five 18th. He made no mistake with his birdie putt to finish with a flourish. Koepka meanwhile had to settle for a share of third place, his two-over-par 72 leaving him alongside Justin Thomas on 13 under. England’s Paul Casey was fifth on nine under after his final round 72, while Australia’s Adam Scott took sixth place on eight under after his four-under-par 66. This year’s PGA Tour Championship was played under a revamped “staggered start” format in which players had been spotted strokes based on their position in the playoff standings. Thomas had started the tournament with a score of 10 under, two ahead of Patrick Cantlay on eight under and three clear of Koepka, who began on seven under. McIlroy meanwhile started five shots off the lead on five under. AFP

Hachimura Japan’s poster boy in Olympics TOKYO—Rui Hachimura says he gets his height from his Beninese father and his work ethic from his Japanese mother—a combination that has propelled him to basketball stardom. The 21-year-old made history in June when he became the first Japanese to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft, picked up by the Washington Wizards. And like tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, Hachimura’s fast-growing fame is raising the profile of biracial sportspeople in a homogeneous country where mixedrace children still face prejudice. Hachimura, who is six feet, eight inches tall (203 cm), will lead Japan’s challenge at the basketball World Cup in China, which begins on Saturday. He is also poised to be a poster boy the hosts at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Big pressure for one so young. As a child Hachimura stood out in Japan—and not just because of his height. “I inherited my body from my father and my diligence from my mother,” he said in a recent interview with the Mainichi Shimbun daily. He now feels a sense of pride at being biracial but admits to feeling self-conscious about it when he was a child. “I even tried to hide from the rest of the world,” he told the newspaper, highlighting the problems often experienced by so-called ‘haafus’—mixed-race people in Japan—although attitudes are changing among younger generations.

Like millions of young boys in baseball-mad Japan, the young Hachimura ﬁrst tried his hand as a pitcher but he switched to basketball at junior high school after one of his friends insisted he should try. “I was like, no, I’m not gonna play basketball,” he told reporters in June in New York. “But for two weeks every morning, (my friend) came up to me, ‘Let’s go play basketball.’ Then I was like, ok.” It was an auspicious switch and Hachimura proved a rare talent, leading his high school to three straight All-Japan tournament wins and representing Japan at junior level. ‘Black, but totally Japanese’ Hachimura’s talents were recognised by Gonzaga University in the western United States, where he enjoyed an awardwinning college basketball career. He admitted that the transition from Japan to the college in Washington state, not far from the Canadian border, was not easy. “My ﬁrst year in college was very hard,” he has said, adding that he spoke little English before he moved to the US. “The culture is different. I’m black, but I’m totally Japanese. It was hard to adjust,” he said. He told the Mainichi he realised “the time to feel embarrassed about being different is over” and that he wanted to inspire fellow ‘haafus’. “I think there are many athletes of

Rui Hachimura

mixed heritage now playing basketball after watching me play. I want them to take on a bunch of different challenges,” he said. Like Osaka, the country’s ﬁrst tennis number one, Hachimura attracts huge media attention in Japan. If Japan are to make an impact at the upcoming World Cup, where they are in the same group as the mighty USA, Hachimura will need to justify the hype. With the media attention has come the endorsements. Like Osaka, Hachimura has landed a lucrative tie-up with Japanese noodlemaker Nissin. He also endorses mobile company SoftBank Corp and Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, and was on the cover of the May edition of GQ Japan. AFP

ESPN5, Youtube Live to air SMB, TNT, Blackwater games in Macao WHEN San Miguel Beer, TNT Katropa and Blackwater Elite compete against other top pro teams from Japan, China and Korea in the East Asia Super League’s Terriﬁc 12 this September, Pinoy basketball fans can cheer them on via broadcast and online platforms in the comfort of their own homes. ESPN5 and ESPN YouTube Live will bring the action of this FIBA-recognized premier tournament live from Macao’s Tap Seac Multi-Sport Pavilion from Sept. 17 to 22 on primetime. This best-of-thebest Asian basketball competition—now

making waves in Asian basketball—will also be covered by 22 networks on major global broadcast and streaming networks. The three year-old East Asia Super League was born in Macao in 2017 with just eight teams participating in “Super 8.” In 2018 the country was represented for the ﬁrst time by a PBA D-League selection called the iECO Green Warriors in a 12-team competition which renamed the tournament as “Terriﬁc 12”. Growing bigger by the year, the much awaited toeto-toe of the top ball clubs in the region

has now succeeded at luring top-calibre PBA teams into its orbit. The three PBA squads will compete in a tournament against four Japanese, three Chinese and two Korean ball clubs: Liaoning Flying Leopards, Shenzhen Aviators, and Zhejiang Guangsha Lions from China; Chiba Jets, Niigata Albirex, Ryukyu Golden Kings and Utsunomiya Brex from Japan; and Jeonju KCC Egis and Seoul SK Knights from Korea. The ball clubs will be grouped into four brackets with the top team from each group advancing to the semi-ﬁnals

scheduled on Sept. 21. The ﬁnals will be played on Sept. 22 with the champion going home with a $150,000 prize. The runner-up will receive $100,000 while second runner-up gets $50,000. Fans may also tune into live streams of press conferences, including the TipOff press conference (local time 12 noon on Sept. 17) and the Final Four press conference (local time 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 20) on the various digital platforms to learn more about the competition and the stars of the show.

THE Philippine women’s national team made it to the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship 2019 semifinals. But their bid to reach their finals ended when the Filipinas absorbed a 1-2 setback at the hands of Vietnam in the semifinals last Sunday at the Institute of Physical Education in Chonburi, Thailand. An errant back pass by the Vietnamese defense in the 35th minute looped over the goalkeeper for an own goal. But, Vietnam made up for this when they found the equalizer six minutes later for a 1-all halftime score. The game was tied at the end of regulation and Vietnam frustrated the Philippines’ final hopes with the marginal goal in the 57th minute. Head coach Marnelli Dimzon praised her team in their effort to reach the semis. “This group of players have a lot of potential in them. Our campaign here bids well for the upcoming tournaments that this team will compete in,” said Dimzon. The Philippines will still have a chance for a podium finish when they face Myanmar in the playoffs for 3rd and 4th places on Tuesday. The Filipinas reached the semis following a 4-0 win over Singapore in the final Group A match last Friday. Peter Atencio

Pampanga nails playoff top spot PAMPANGA clinched the top spot in the playoffs with a 95-80 win over Zambales Converge last Saturday in the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 2 at the Botolan Peoples’ Plaza in Botolan, Zambales. CJ Gania had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Delta to the first-seed in the playoffs as they will have a homecourt advantage until the finals. Pampanga and reigning champion Paranaque are tied with an 11-3 record but the Delta got the top seed due to the winnerover-the-other rule. The Delta and the Aces have also clinched the two outright semifinal berths by finishing in the top two. Zambales Converge, meanwhile, completed the cast in the playoffs after beating Imus, 95-79, last Sunday in front of its home fans also at the Botolan Peoples’ Plaza. Allen Fomera had 30 points, as Lyndon Del Rosario added 24 points and 17 rebounds for the Fiber X Men, who improved their record to 9-5. The Fiber X Men clinched the sixth seed in the playoffs where they will meet Iriga City Oragons in a knockout game for a quarterfinal berth on Sunday. Iriga City clinched the seventh seed after winning over the Zamboanga Valientes, 97-68, with Paul Guiruela scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the win.

Gilas 5, girls’ team at PSA

THE Gilas Pilipinas team bound for the FIBA World Cup and a whole lot of other basketball stuff make up for an interesting session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Amelie Hotel-Manila. Coach Yeng Guiao, team captain Gabe Norwood, and newly reinstated Kiefer Ravena will be discussing about the national team’s tough campaign in the world meet that officially kicks off this Friday in China. Team manager Gabby Cui and liaison officer Yvette Ruiz will join the team in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Also making up the guests’ list are MILO officials and Gilas Pilipinas girls’ team member Ella Fajardo, who will talk about the bronze-medal feat of the Filipinas in the recent FIBA 3x3 U-18 Asia Cup in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Fajardo, a BEST Center graduate, will be accompanied by MILO Sports Executives Lester Castillo and Luigi Pumaren, and BEST Center founder and chairman Nic Jorge. Gilas Pilipinas girls’ team coach Patrick Aquino has also been invited in the 10 a.m. session. PSA members are enjoined to attend the session.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

Arjan dela Cruz of San Sebastian College drives to the basket against a Perpetual Help defender in an NCAA game won by the Stags, 107-90.

F2 tries to reclaim lost PSL title today Game Today

(Mall of Asia Arena) 7 p.m. — F2 Logistics vs Cignal

RECLAIMING a lost title will be its ultimate objective when F2 Logistics battles Cignal in Game 2 of their Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference best-of-three finals series today at the Mall of Asia Arena. Game time is at 7 p.m. with the Cargo Movers looking to finally capture the title that it lost when Petron dethroned them in a thrilling finale in 2017 before winning again in 2018. Since acquiring the services of Filipino-American spiker Kalei Mau, the F2 Logistics has been invincible. It finished the eliminations with a 12-2 mark before creaming Sta. Lucia in the quarterfinals and Foton in the semifinals to book a finals duel with Cignal, which shocked powerhouse Petron in a pair of thrilling semifinal encounters last week. But overcoming the HD Spikers wasn’t easy. In Game 1, the Cargo Movers raced to a two-set lead until Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Alohi Robins-Hardy and the HD Spikers launched a furious comeback to drag the match to a deciding fifth set. Fortunately for the Cargo Movers, the championship experience of Aby Marano, Ara Galang and Kim Fajardo as well as the volleyball prowess of Mau came through in the fifth, allowing them to escape with a nailbiting 25-22, 26-24, 18-25, 17-25 victory, much to the delight of a banner crowd that trooped to the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Saturday. F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus said Game 2 would be much harder than Game 1. “We’re not expecting an easy fight. In fact, we were looking forward and prepared for a hard battle in Game 1,” said de Jesus following their escape act in Game 1 of this series that has Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport as sponsors. Skipper Marano added that they would show up prepared to show that they deserve to regain the title that has eluded them for the past two years. “Cignal pushed us to our limits so it is only fitting to double—or even triple—our performance in the next game,” said Marano, who also skippers the national women’s team that will campaign in the 30th Southeast Asian Games this November. True enough, the HD Spikers are just getting warmed up. Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga said they may have lost Game 1, but they would still be marching Game 2 with high morale after realizing that they can also play volleyball at an elite level, especially after they masterfully crawled back from a two-set down to forge a decider. And if not for some untimely errors down the stretch, the outcome could have been different. “Our confidence definitely soared after Game 1,” said Barroga, who have inside information on F2 Logistics’ system after former Cargo Movers Norielle Ipac and May Luna joined them in the off-season.

Rising tanker, trackster steal Batang Pinoy show By Peter Atencio

UERTO PRINCESA—Rising swimmer Aubrey Tom picked up three gold medals on the ﬁrst day of the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships here.

The 12-year-old Tom, who celebrated her first crown two months ago, came up with better times in ruling the 200-meter individual medley, the 100-meter freestyle and the 50-meter backstroke of the 12-under action of the swimming competitions as the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex pool here. She clocked two minutes, 32.3 seconds in the 200-m IM, with Tom’s time almost five seconds faster than the 2:37.95 which she submitted during the Luzon qualifiers. Her time of 1:03.57 in the 100-m freestyle was also 27 seconds better than her 1:04.24 five months ago, and so was her feat of 33.53 seconds int the 50-m backstroke, which surpassed the 34.20 seconds she recorded in the March qualifiers. “It was great. It was great. It’s just my hard training. It all went out, along with my sacrifices,” said Tom, as she bested Lian Amoguis of Davao City, who took

the silver in 2:35.53. Winning two more medals in the coming days could make Tom the most bemedalled athlete of the games, since she is also competing in the 50-meter butterﬂy and the 50-meter freestyle. Interestingly, Tom was also a running champ after winning the girls’ 3-kilometer run of the Metro Manila leg of the 43rd Milo Marathon last July 28. Tom, a sixth grader from the International Learning Academy in Cainta, Rizal, has started expanding her interests this year to also include biking, aquathlon, and triathlon, according to her mom Shirley. Tom’s feat came as barefoot runner Lheslie de Lima of Camarines Sur claimed the meet’s ﬁrst gold medal and Marc Angelo Daroy of Aklan emerged the fastest kid in taking the boys’ 100-meter dash honors. De Lima came up with a slow time in the girls’ 800m with 2:22.5, to top Lagu-

na’s Magvrylle Matchino (2:25.0) and Pangasinan’s Ana Eugenio (2:28.3). T h e 14-year-old de Lima hurt her leg after coming into the games without having done some training for a whole Marc Angelo Daroy month after she decided to focus more on her studies. She missed classes to join the ASEAN School Games. Daroy, who is from Washington, Aklan, ruled the century dash in 11.4 seconds and he was ahead of Pasig City’s John Dave Magtangov and Pangasinan’s Justine Angelo Munoz, who took the silver and bronze in 11.6 and 11.7. His clocking matched that of Veruel Verdadero’s time when he won it in 2015. Krisha Aguillon of Negros Occidental, for her part, became the fastest girl after copping the 100m gold in 12.7.

Milo gets back at Estefano as Riveras dominate national slalom’s 7th stage THE 2019 Phoenix National Slalom Series returned to the Robinsons Novaliches Sports Complex last Aug. 25 for its 7th Leg and at the end of the race, a Rivera once again finished on the top step. But this time, it wasn’t current championship leader Estefano, but rather, it was the five-time reigning champion, his elder brother Milo of Petron Motorsports-Federal Tyres, who came out on top in the series organized by Race Motorsports. Ever since focusing on his circuitracing stint this year, Milo has been absent in several slalom races, but made a surprise visit last Sunday and stamped his authority with a 52.50-second winning time using Estefano’s car. His younger brother finished second with a 53.80, while 2018 Novice Slalom Champion Powee Base completed the Top 3 with a 54.70 result. The result further extended Estefano’s overall championship lead over Base with only five legs remaining, with the Obengers Racing ace aiming to keep the slalom crown within the family. Milo Rivera flashes the no. 1 sign after his victory in the 7th Leg of the Phoenix National It will also serve as a good warm up Slalom. Inset shows Rivera making his winning move inside the slalom track. race for Estefano as he leaves for Korea this week to represent the Philippines Auto Gymkhana Championship. AutoPerformance PH - Brembo, Aguila for the second leg of the 2019 Asian Milo is backed by United Auctioneers, Auto Glass, Coilover Specialists and Rota.

John Barba

Junior Pirates nearing Final 4

THE Lyceum Junior Pirates are close to a Final Four stint in the junior division of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament. Two veterans, John Barba and Mac Guadana, led the Junior Pirates to a 81-64 beating of the Arellano Braves last Friday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center. Barba and Guadana fired 19 and 16 points, respectively, for the Junior Pirates as they finished the first round with a 6-3 win-loss record. This put the Junior Pirates in second spot, a feat that the team has not done in the past. “This is the first time in the history of the league that the Junior Pirates are in second. Kailangan pa ng team na nito na mag-work hard,” said Junior Pirates’ coach JC Docto. The Junior Pirates went to work early in grabbing the upperhand. Rookie Gyle Montano banged in 12 points, with his steal, driving shot and two charities in the closing minutes of the first period allowing Lyceum to take control with their 18-9 edge. For the Braves, Adrian Rellama showed the way with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Chris Recto also added 11 markers and six boards. The San Beda Red Cubs are in the solo lead at 7-1. On the other hand, the Braves fell to a share of third with the La Salle Greenhills Greenies at 5-3. Peter Atencio

St. Benilde solidifies hold on chess lead COLLEGE of Saint Benilde scored a 3-1 win over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta to solidify its hold on the top spot in the seniors’ division of the 95th NCAA chess tournament Sunday at the San Beda campus. The back-to-back title-seeking Blazers now have a ﬁve-round total of 16.5 points. San Beda, for its part, blanked Emilio Aguinaldo College, 4-0, to seize solo second with 12.5 points, four off St. Benilde. The Altas dropped to third place with 10.5 points. In other results, Mapua stunned Letran, 3-1, while Arellano University fashioned out a 2.5-1.5 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University. The Knights slipped to fourth with 9.5 points, while the Chiefs improved to 9 points in ﬁfth. The Cardinals rose to 6.5 points, while the Pirates settled for 8.5. In the juniors’ division, titleholder Perpetual Help overpowered CSB-LSGH, 3.5-.5 to remain in the lead with 18 points. Arellano still sits in second with 17 points despite battling to 2-2 draw with LPU, while San Beda downed EAC, 3-1, to improve at 16 points in third place. Meanwhile, San Sebastian bested JRU, 3-1, while Mapua nosed out Letran, 3-1.

Chemistry plays key role in selection of Gilas Pilipinas roster

TEAM chemistry played a key role in the selection of the players for Gilas Pilipinas. Coach Yeng Guiao said this as the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas announced late Sunday the composition of the 12-man Gilas Pilipinas team that will take part in the 2019 FIBA World Cup starting Friday in China. Guiao said the blending of the team when JuneMar Fajardo, Roger Pogoy, and Troy Rosario returned to practice is impor-

tant after the recent Philippine Basketball Association finals has ended. “Nakita nating kung gaano ka-effective ang team na nandoon sila,” said Guiao. Meanwhile, Kiefer Ravena has made it back to the Gilas Pilipinas roster. Guiao decided to put Ravena back following his first official appearance during the national team’s tuneup game wity the the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday evening at the Meralco Gym. It was the 25-year-old’s first-ever com-

petitive basketball game following his 18-month suspension. The sanction coming from FIBA as punishment when Ravena he tested positive for banned substances due to a preworkout drink. The 6-foot guard Ravena played a total of 17 minutes and 12 seconds against the Australians. He ﬁnished with 11 points, two rebounds and a steal in the game where the 36ers prevailed in their second scrimmage, 85-75.

With the 12-man lineup complete, Gilas will now be gearing for action in the coming 2019 FIBA World Cup. Skipper Gabe Norwood is the lone holdover from the 2007 squad. PBA rookies Robert Bolick and CJ Perez have been added to Gilas Pilipinas, which hopes to have a decent ﬁnish in the 32-team ﬁeld. Andray Blatche is included, along with veterans Fajardo, Norwood, Japeth Aguilar and Paul Lee. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

Dominguez thanks ADB for support

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III cited the continued support of multilateral lender Asian Development Bank to the country’s development projects, especially the unprecedented “Build, Build, Build” program and other initiatives of the Duterte administration. Dominguez thanked ADB president Takehiko Nakao for exploring ways of forging closer coordination with the World Bank to better respond to the needs of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. “We are accomplishing a lot because ADB is 100-percent behind us, especially with this assistance for the Malolos-Clark Railway Project and the secondary education support program. It is proof that the institution is very supportive of our growth,” he said. The ADB’s $2.75-billion financing for the construction of a 53.1-kilometer passenger railway connecting Malolos in Bulacan to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga is the bank’s single largest infrastructure investment in the region. Dominguez and ADB vice president Ahmed Saeed on July 11 signed a $1.3-billion loan agreement representing the first tranche of the bank’s loan for the Malolos-Clark Railway Project. Julito G. Rada

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Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

DPWH eyes more projects beyond 2022

THE Department of Public Works and Highways is drawing up a list of pipeline infrastructure projects that will be implemented beyond the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. “Right now we have a facility from the ADB called the IPIF [ Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility ] to make feasibility studies that are worth tens of billions of pesos,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said. The ADB approved a $100-million loan in October 2017 under the IPIF to support the Philippine government in accelerating the delivery of high-quality public infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program. The DPWH tapped Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd. to use ADB’s procurement standards. Arup will help the agency prepare feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for new inter-island bridges, tunnels and highways worth over $11 billion. “The feasibility study is the most difﬁcult part of any big-ticket projects as it takes one year. If there’s feasibility study the project implementation is faster,” Villar said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Economic managers at EJAP Forum today

MEMBERS of President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team will speak at the 3rd economic forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines today at the Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila. With the theme, “Mid-Term Economic Review of the Duterte Administration: Prospects and Challenges,” key public officials and private sector reactors will discuss the impact of policies implemented by the current administration and the promises that are yet to be fulfilled. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia will open the forum, tackling the country’s economic growth prospects. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Dioknois expected to speak about the country’s declining inflation and its benefit to the country and the banking reforms that the BSP is instituting. Bank of the Philippine Islands lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. and ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Mapa will serve as reactors.

AGRICULTURE MEETING. Newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary William Dar (fifth from right) meets with farm sector leaders who recommend reforms to raise local food production, create rural jobs and regulate excessive imports. Attending the meeting with Dar are (from left) Ernesto Ordoñez of Alyansa Agrikultura, Francisco Buencamino of the meat processing sector, Salvador Salacup, Gregorio San Diego of the poultry industry; Danilo Fausto of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Noel Reyes of the Department of Agriculture and Edwin Chen of the piggery sector.

Govt selling Mile Long property in four blocks T By Julito G. Rada

he Privatization and Management Office, an attached agency of the Finance Department, plans to sell the 2.2-hectare Mile Long property in Makati City in four blocks before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office in 2022. Chief privatization officer Gerard Chan said in a news briefing the PMO― an agency tasked to dispose of the government’s idle assets―divided the controversial property into four blocks. “We divided it into four blocks. The initial plan is to bid it out in phases: phase one, phase two, phase three, and phase four to get a better price. We will not bid it out in one phase. We may chop

it into four developments, four phases,” Chan said. Chan said the sale could be done before 2022. He said the plan was already presented to President Rodrigo Duterte. Chan did not rule out the possibility of doing an outright sale of the property but said the policy direction of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III was more of a joint venture.

AUTOMATED PARKING.

Park Solutions Inc. will formally open the first two towers of the Automated Parking System in the Philippines with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday at the SM Mega Mall Building A. The APS is expected to revolutionize the parking industry in many ways. Park Solutions plans to complete 23 APS towers by the first quarter of 2020.

Regulator stops LDT Agro from soliciting money By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday it stopped LDT Agro Industrial Hub Corp., an entity known online as The BNP Client Project, from soliciting investments from the public without the necessary permits. The regulator said it issued the cease-and-desist order to the company after the investigation showed there was substantial evidence that LDT Agro was selling or offering securities in the form of investment contacts without the necessary license from the commission. It said the continued public offering and sale of investment contracts by LDT Agro and The BNP Client Project “without the required license from the commission makes the public offering and selling continuing illegal act, thereby making it imperative and necessary that the CDO be immediately issued.” The SEC also directed all directors, ofﬁcers, representatives, agents and salesmen of LDT Agro, which does business online under the name The BNP Client Project to stop engaging in illegal investment activities. It also ordered LDT Agro to cease its internet presence regarding the alleged illegal investment activities. The SEC said to prevent grave damage and prejudice to all concerned parties and to ensure the preservation of assets for the beneﬁts of investors, it ordered the company to stop from transferring and disposing of any asset and bank deposit.

“What will happen is joint development. The government will contribute the land, then the developer will develop the buildings there and later on they will share the income,” Chan said. He said Dominguez wanted to tap the services of state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority which has the mandate and experience in bidding out assets via joint venture or privatepublic partnership. “So we’re trying to look at the possibility of the BCDA entering the picture and the disposition in conjunction with PMO,” Chan said. Chan said that as a part of the preparation for Mile Long’s eventual disposition, the PMO hired world-class architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. to prepare the masterplan for the whole complex.

Tiwi-Makban geothermal complex undergoes rehabilitation By Alena Mae S. Flores AP Renewables Inc. and partner Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. started rehabilitating the geothermal wells of the Tiwi-MakBan geothermal complex to increase steam production. “We have started looking at rehabilitating some wells in Tiwi. I think we’re already seeing some of the output,” Aboitiz Power Corp. chief operating ofﬁcer Manny Rubio said. He said while some of the rehabilitated wells had started producing additional steam, there was no signiﬁcant

increase in power generation to date. Rubio said AP Renewables and PGPC signed the contact to drill 12 new production wells over a six-year period. “It’s 12 wells, 50 MW. We signed that contract,” Rubio said. The parties signed a geothermal resources supply and services agreement in August 2018 for the supply of steam and drilling of new production wells in the geothermal complex to ensure the long-term operations of the two renewable power plant facilities. Under the agreement, PGPC will drill 12 new production wells within six

years to increase steam availability for the facilities by about 20 percent. The agreement also ensures a more competitive fuel pricing in the long term. AP Renewables, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, operates the 458-MW MakBan geothermal power plants that straddle the provinces of Batangas and Laguna and the 289-MW Tiwi geothermal power plants in Albay. PGPC, the pioneer in the commercial development of geothermal energy in Southeast Asia, is the steam ﬁeld operator and geothermal resource provider of the power plants.

Smart taps Aboitiz unit to build common telecom towers By Darwin G. Amojelar SMART Communications Inc. said it tapped Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. and partner Frontier Tower Associates Philippines Inc. to increase nationwide connectivity through the construction of “common” network towers. Smart signed a memorandum of understanding on August 19 with Aboitiz InfraCapital and FTAP to discuss and negotiate the lease of build-to-suit sites, towers and passive telecommunications infrastructure and facilities for Smart’s installation of telecommunications facilities and equipment nationwide, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao. Smart, a subsidiary of PLDT, covers over 90 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities with its 2G, 3G and 4G LTE (long-term evolution) network, serving over 67.5 million customers. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with Aboitiz InfraCapital and FTAP and to accelerate the delivery of wireless services to more areas nationwide,” Smart president Alfredo Panlilio said. “By supporting a faster and more efficient roll-out of our LTE and LTE-Advanced network, and eventually, our 5G base stations, this collaboration will enable Smart to serve the public even better with faster internet and innovative digital solutions,” Panlilio said. Aboitiz InfraCapital said the partnership with Smart would benefit the country as a whole. “This latest collaboration with Smart is in step with Aboitiz InfraCapital’s goal to ramp up the country’s connectivity through infrastructure. Through these new common towers, Aboitiz InfraCapital, in partnership with FTAP, aims to build the right infrastructure that will advance business and communities,” Aboitiz InfraCapital chief operating officer Cosette Canilao said. Aboitiz InfraCapital will leverage its parent firm’s extensive experience in building and operating provincial utility networks like Visayan Electric, Davao Light and Cotabato Light. Meanwhile, FTAP, a member of established international tower firm Frontier Tower Associates Group, will bring experience gained from rolling out and operating thousands of towers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region and the Philippines.

First Gen building pumped-storage to boost capacity of Pantabangan plant FIRST Gen Corp. is developing a pumped-storage facility to increase the capacity of the 132-megawatt Pantabangan-Masiway hydro plant in Nueva Ecija by another 100 MW. “The facility is expected to store and generate electricity by moving water between the Pantabangan reservoir and the Masiway reservoir which are situated at different elevations,” First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. It said the project would allow the full-year operations of the power plant.

First Gen and Energy Development Corp. own 40 percent and 60 percent of First Gen Hydro Power Corp., the owner and operator of the existing Pantabangan-Masiway hydro plant. First Gen is a subsidiary of First Philippine Holdings Corp., a conglomerate controlled by the Lopez family. The Pantabangan pumped-hydro storage project is one of First Gen’s projects in the pipeline. The company will also start the construction of the 32-MW Bubunawan

run-of-river hydro project in Mindanao, “subject to clarity in the Philippine market and regulatory regime.” First Gen has licenses to develop three other run-of-river projects in Mindanao including the 33-MW Tagoloan, the 30MW Puyo and the Cagayan 1N. The company is also pursuing its liqueﬁed natural gas terminal project in Batangas and the expansion opportunities in geothermal, wind and solar. First Gen posted $156 million in recurring attributable net income of the

parent company in the first half, up 36 percent from $115 million a year ago, driven by the strong performance of its clean energy platforms. “First Gen’s focus on clean, lowcarbon and renewable energy continues to pay off as our first-semester results overtake last year’s. For the remainder of the year, we expect all the platforms to continue to deliver stable earnings,” First Gen president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno said earlier. Alena Mae S. Flores

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‘Floating Island’ lures Ivory Coast tourists By Patrick Fort ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast―The seaside resort offers visitors a cool drink or tasty meal, a dip in a pool, a karaoke session or an overnight stay, all with a view. Nothing much new there, you may say―creature comforts like this are pretty much standard in tropical hotels. The big difference, though, is that this mini resort is also a moveable island that floats on plastic bottles. Riding on the laguna in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s economic hub, the unusual complex floats on a platform made from 700,000 discarded bottles and other buoyant debris. Its inventor, Frenchman Eric Becker, says his creation can help greener, more mobile tourism―something less harmful to seas and coastlines than traditional fixed, concrete resorts. His “Ile Flottante”―French for “Floating Island”―comprises two thatched bungalows and a restaurant with a bar, two small pools, trees and shrubs and a circular walkway, spread out over 1,000 square meters (10,700 square feet). Visitors are brought to the moored island by a boat. Water is provided by a pipe from the shore. Electricity is supplied by solar panels, backed by a generator. The island is bigger than a moored boat and handier than a jetty as it can also be taken to other locations, Becker told AFP. “It really is an artificial island that floats―you can move it.” Becker, a former computer entrepreneur, first toyed with the idea of building a catamaran. But it was when he came to Abidjan and saw the lagoon that the vision of a floating, moveable island came into his mind―and he sold everything he owned to achieve it. The first step was to forage for everything floatable―“plastic bottles, bits of polystyrene, even beach sandals.” Bemused locals gave him the nickname of “Eric Bidon”―a word that has a subtle dual meaning of jerrycan and phoney. “We bought disused bottles off people, we foraged for them in the lagoon. After a while, we learned to follow the wind and find the places where floating rubbish accumulates,” he said.

WORKING BREAKFAST. US President Donald Trump (second from left) and Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (second from right) attend a working breakfast in Biarritz, south-west France on August 25, 2019, on the second day of the annual G7 Summit attended by the leaders of the world’s seven richest democracies, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Related story below. AFP

Asian stocks, yuan sink as trade feud escalates By Danny McCord

ONG KONG— Asian equity markets tanked and the yuan hit an 11-year low Monday after US President Donald Trump ramped up his trade war with China by hiking tariffs on more than half-a-trillion dollars worth of imports.

File photo taken on August 6, 2019. View of the resort on an artificial island made with around 700 000 recycled plastic waste collected in the surrounding area, on the Ebrie Lagoon in Abidjan. AFP

Eco-break After living on his island for a number of years, Becker turned it into a hotel last year. He has around 100 customers a week, mostly curious Ivorians or ecologicallyfriendly tourists. Others want a relaxing break from the bustling city and to use its swimming pools―taking a dip in the lagoon, fouled by industrial pollution and sewage outflows is an act for the foolhardy. “When you’re competing with major hotels, you need an original idea like a floating island. It’s become a tourist attraction,” said Mathurin Yao Saky, a friend who has been advising Becker on the scheme. Charles Moliere, a 28-year-old Frenchman who works in Ivory Coast for a large corporation, read about the resort in a guidebook. “It’s very original, it’s a very untypical place―I’ve seen nothing like it elsewhere,” he said. “I think it’s a neat idea to give a second life to plastic like this and to make a kind of small technical breakthrough. I like this place a lot.” The island charges 15,000 CFA francs ($25, 23 euros) per person per day, which includes a meal and the ferry, and 60,000 CFA francs for a night. Hamed Kone, a computer engineer, said he was visiting the complex after discovering it online. “It’s the ecological qualities which impress me most―these days, people are talking more and more about the environment,” he said. Becker “has transformed city rubbish into a pleasant place,” said Kone. “It’s an idea whose time has come. I hope it inspires other people.” Becker says his 200-ton island could be a prototype for all sorts of projects. It is ideal for the sheltered waters of lagoons―shallow bodies of water separated from the ocean by narrow reefs or barrier islands. “People could live (on floating islands) in lagoons that are pollution-free, and live from fish farming,” he said. Green and greener Anything that involves human activity always carries an environmental cost, and Becker readily acknowledged that his idea was not totally green, but greener. One concern is that the scheme also adds to the lagoon’s chronic pollution problem. The city of Abidjan releases untreated effluent into the lagoon―the mini resort does the same right now, although Becker is testing technology intended to turn human waste into compost. AFP

The decision on Friday stunned investors, who ran for the hills, hammering European and Wall Street stocks, while safe havens such as the yen and gold— go-to assets in times of turmoil and uncertainty—surged. The move, which also came with an outburst against China by the American president and a call for US ﬁrms to leave the country, overshadowed a broadly dovish speech by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell but one that fell short of Trump’s demand for deep interest-rate cuts. Friday’s tariff hike was in response to

Beijing’s decision to raise levies on $75 billion of US goods. US tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods will rise to 30 percent and those planned on $300 billion in Chinese products will go to 15 percent from October 1. White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham added that the president regretted not raising levies more. On Monday, China’s yuan currency fell briefly to 7.1487 to the dollar—its weakest level since early 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis. The drop is likely to ire Trump, who has labelled Beijing a currency manipulator. “The gloves are coming off on both sides and as such yuan depreciation is an obvious cushion against US tariffs,” Mitul Kotecha, a senior emerging markets economist at Toronto-Dominion Bank, told Bloomberg News. “As long as China can ensure that yuan weakness is well controlled i.e. it does not provoke strong outflows, expect to see further depreciation in the currency.” On equity markets, Hong Kong led losses, slumping 2.9 percent, with investors also spooked by fresh violent protests in the city that saw police use water

US, China officials to resume negotiations shortly—Trump BIARRITZ, France—President Donald Trump said Monday that US and Chinese trade negotiators would “very shortly” resume talks in what he described as a breakthrough in the two economic superpowers’ trade war. “China called last night..., said let’s get back to the table. So we’ll be getting back to the table,” Trump told reporters at the G7 summit in Biarritz. Trump said that Chinese ofﬁcials had made two “very, very good calls” and that “they want to make a deal.” The president’s tone was in marked contrast to the steady hardening of positions in the number one and two economies. Just last Friday, Trump sharply raised tariffs on all Chinese imports after Beijing hiked its own levies. The United States is trying to force China into deep reforms of its trading model to end decades of practices, in-

cluding rampant intellectual property theft, that US companies say prevents a level playing ﬁeld. However, US allies have pressured Trump at the G7 summit in France, saying that the trade war puts the world economy at risk. Trump said that his pressure had paid off, bringing the Chinese back to the table after talks had appeared to have gone off the rails. “They hurt very badly, but they understand this is the right thing to do,” Trump said. “One of the reasons he’s a great leader, President Xi... , is they understand how life works.” “It’s going to be great for China, it’s going to be great for the US, it’s going to be great for the world,” he said. “We’re going to start very shortly to negotiate..., but I think we’re going to make a deal.” AFP

G7 leaders wrestle with Iran, Amazon fires, but own unity shaky BIARRITZ, France―G7 leaders close their summit Monday with discussion of world problems including the ﬁres ravaging the Amazon rainforest, but overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s trade wars and questions over the group’s unity. The summit in Biarritz, a highend surfers’ paradise in southwestern France, saw a dramatic shift of focus Sunday when Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ﬂew in to discuss the diplomatic deadlock on Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. Zarif’s presence had not been expected and it represented a gamble by French host Emmanuel Macron who is seeking to soothe spiraling tensions between Iran and the United States. The Iranian top diplomat didn’t meet Trump, French diplomats said, but the

presence of the two men in the same place at least sparked hopes of a detente. Just this July, the US government imposed heavy sanctions seeking to hamper Zarif’s travel, and effectively banning him from the United States. “Road ahead is difﬁcult. But worth trying,” the US-educated Zarif tweeted after meeting Macron and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, as well as British and German representatives. French ofﬁcials said Trump, who has imposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy over its nuclear program, had been aware of the arrival. The sources suggested that the secretive visit had also been discussed during an impromptu two-hour lunch between the US president and Macron on Saturday. “We work with full transparency

with the Americans,” one diplomat told reporters on condition of anonymity, despite US media reports that the White House had been taken by surprise. Trump, who will give a press conference before returning to Washington on Monday, proclaimed that the G7 summit was going “beautifully” on Sunday. Leaders of the G7 countries―Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States―ended their second day with another sumptuous dinner of the finest French cuisine. They also posed for a group photo with the ocean and Biarritz’s tall lighthouse as a backdrop. On the final day, the agenda included discussions of the fires destroying chunks of the Amazon, a scenario that European leaders have described as an

assault on the so-called green lungs of the world. Trump has been less vocal on the issue. He also stands out from the rest of the G7 in his budding friendship with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a former army ofﬁcer who has given freer rein to industrial farmers and loggers who have made the country an agribusiness power―at huge cost to the environment. An even bigger issue dividing Trump from the rest of the G7 throughout the summit was trade and the US president’s effort to force even close allies into hard negotiations on market access and tariffs. Trump arrived in Biarritz fresh from having upped the ante with increased tariffs in the escalating trade struggle with China. AFP

cannon for the first time. Shanghai lost 1.2 percent and Tokyo ended 2.2 percent down with investors unmoved by news that Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had reached an agreement in principle on a major trade deal. Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Jakarta and Taipei all sank more than one percent, while Bangkok was off more than two percent. However, Mumbai rose more than one percent thanks to economy-boosting measures by officials. There was some sign of hope later in the day after Trump said at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, that a fresh round of talks between US and Chinese negotiators would “start very shortly.” Earlier China’s point man on the talks looked to reduce tensions by saying “we are willing to solve the problem through consultation and cooperation with a calm attitude.” The flight to safer havens saw gold jump to a six-year high around $1,550 per ounce, while the Japanese yen was at its strongest level since the end of 2016. Fears about the trade war’s impact on demand also hit oil prices with both main contracts extending Friday’s selloff. AFP

US, Japan reach significant bilateral trade agreement BIARRITZ, France―US President Donald Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday announced a deal in principle on a major bilateral trade deal. “It’s a very big transaction,” Trump said after talks with Abe on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the French resort town of Biarritz. “Billions and billions of dollars,” he said. “It involves agriculture, it involves e-commerce. It involves many things. We’ve agreed in principle.” Abe confirmed the two nations had “successfully reached consensus” after “intense” negotiations. Both leaders said they hoped for a formal signing during the UN General Assembly in New York next month. However, Abe cautioned: “We still have some remaining work that has to be done... mainly finalizing the wording.” US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the agreement will especially benefit US farmers―a politically important group for Trump in his uphill push for reelection in 2020. Asked whether US tariffs already imposed on Japanese cars would be scrapped as a result of the deal, Lighthizer said some tariffs would be removed “but not those.” Trump also said the tariffs were “staying the same” but would not go up. Trump and Abe enjoy close ties but the US president has frequently claimed that Tokyo has an unfair advantage in bilateral trade. Negotiators have agreed Japan will place tariffs on US agricultural products up to levels that apply to members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pact, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK and major Japanese dailies reported. AFP

World IN BRIEF UK pledges $12.3M for the Amazon

BIARRITZ, France―British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday pledged £10 million ($12.3 million) to help restore the Amazon rain forest which has been ravaged by fires, sparking a wave of global concern. The money would be made available immediately to help restore the habitat, including areas that have been hit by the fires, the British government said in a statement released at the G7 summit in the French resort of Biarritz. The pledge came after French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the summit, said Sunday that world leaders had agreed to help the countries affected by the wildfires as soon as possible. “In a week where we have all watched, horrified, as the Amazon rain forest burns before our eyes, we cannot escape the reality of the damage we are inflicting on the natural world,” Johnson said in a statement. Although about 60 percent of the Amazon is in Brazil, the vast forest also takes in parts Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. Macron’s bid to put the Amazon crisis high on the agenda at the G7 angered Brazil’s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who lashed out over what he sees as outside interference, denouncing the French leader’s “colonialist mentality”. Johnson also said it was essential for the international community to tackle the key environmental issues of climate change and biodiversity loss. “These are two sides of the same coin―it is impossible to solve one challenge without fixing the other,” he said. AFP

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Army battles fires in Amazon

ORTO VELHO, Brazil-Brazil on Sunday deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft to douse fires devouring parts of the Amazon rain forest, as hundreds of new blazes flared up and thousands protested over the destruction. Heavy smoke covered the city of Porto Velho in the northwestern state of Rondonia where the defense ministry said the planes have started dumping thousands of liters of water, amid a global uproar over the worst fires in years. Swathes of the remote region bordering Bolivia have been scorched by the blazes, sending thick smoke billowing

into the sky and increasing air pollution across the world’s largest rain forest, which is seen as crucial to mitigating climate change. Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem this year. “It gets worse every year―this year the smoke has been really serious,”

Deliana Amorim, 46, told AFP in Porto Velho, where half a million people live. Seven states, including Rondonia, have requested the army’s help in the Amazon, where more than 43,000 troops are based and available to combat fires, officials said. Dozens of firefighters went to Porto Velho on Sunday to help put out the blazes. Justice Minister Sergio Moro has also given the green light for the deployment of security forces to tackle illegal deforestation in the region. The fires have triggered a global outcry and are a major topic of concern at the G7 meeting in Biarritz in southern France. World leaders at the summit have agreed

HK police say protesters forced use of water cannon

Israeli court bars ‘racist’ candidates

JERUSALEM―Israel’s Supreme Court has barred two members of an extreme-right party many view as racist from running in a September 17 general election. The court ruled that candidates Benzi Gopstein and Baruch Marzel, of the Jewish Power party could not stand, quoting a law barring “incitement to racism” by candidates, according to a court statement late Sunday. Jewish Power members are followers of late racist rabbi Meir Kahane, whose Kach movement wanted to chase Arabs from Israel. The ideology of Kahane, assassinated in New York in 1990, also inspired Baruch Goldstein, who carried out a massacre of 29 Palestinian worshipers in Hebron in 1994. The court rejected petitions to ban the Jewish Power as a party and upheld the candidacy of West Bank settler Itamar Ben-Gvir, who heads its electoral list. Ben-Gvir acknowledges having a picture of Goldstein in his living room, but has reportedly said it is because he was a physician who rescued Jews targeted in Palestinian attacks. Indicted 53 times since his youth, BenGvir boasts of having been cleared in 46 cases. He decided to study law on the recommendation of judges so he could defend himself. AFP

Israeli warplanes hit Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM-Israeli warplanes hit the Gaza Strip’s ruling Hamas movement early Monday in response to earlier rocket fire from the territory into Israel, the army said in a statement. Israeli authorities also announced a punitive reduction in the flow of fuel to the strip’s main power station, meaning a deep cut in the already rationed electricity supply. Three rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Sunday night, the Israeli army said. “Three launches were identified from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory,” it said in a statement. “Two of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system.” “In response, a short while ago, (Israeli air force) fighter jets struck a number of terror targets in a Hamas military compound in the northern Gaza Strip, including the office of a Hamas battalion commander,” a statement Monday morning added. A Palestinian security source said there were no casualties. A separate statement from Israeli defense ministry unit COGAT said the latest fuel cut was personally ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also defense minister. “The prime minister and minister of defense, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered to downsize the transfer of fuel through the Kerem Shalom (border) crossing to the power station in Gaza by half, effective this morning and until further notice,” it said in English. AFP

to help the countries affected by the ﬁres “as fast as possible,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday. US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier offered their countries’ assistance. Bolivian President Evo Morales said Sunday he would accept international help to combat wildﬁres raging in the country’s southeast as he suspended his election campaign to deal with the crisis. Although about 60 percent of the Amazon is in Brazil, the vast forest also spreads over parts of eight other countries or territories: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. AFP

FESTIVAL. Actress Zulay Henao speaks onstage during LATINAFest 2019: Mind, Body and Soul at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Rightists rattle guardians of concentration camp ORANIENBURG, Germany―A tour group handpicked by the far-right party Alternative for Germany touched off a scandal last summer while visiting the former Nazi concentration camp Sachsenhausen north of Berlin. A few members of the delegation began asking the guide pointed questions about Allied bombing at the end of World War II, implying its impact on the civilian population was comparable to the Nazis’ atrocities. “As our horriﬁed colleague told me, the comments by obviously rhetorically trained people culminated in them questioning the existence of the gas chambers and the mass murders in them,” the director of the camp’s memorial, Axel Drecoll, told AFP. The guide broke off the tour and Sachsenhausen staff threw the group out. Drecoll, 45, demanded an apology from leading AfD ﬁgure Alice Weidel, who had organized the visit, but is still waiting for a response. This month authorities in Brandenburg state indicted a 69-year-old member of the group on charges including inciting racial hatred. Defenders of Germany’s sacrosanct atonement for the Nazis’ crimes―the

foundation of its Basic Law and political culture―warn it is coming under calculated assault from right-wing extremists. And ahead of three state elections in the coming weeks in which the AfD is set to do well, Germans like Drecoll are growing nervous about erosion of the country’s culture of remembrance, which many experts argue is unique in the world. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD could come in ﬁrst in Brandenburg as well as neighboring Saxony―which both head to the ballot box on September 1―and is polling strongly ahead of an October election in Thuringia. On a walk around the vast windswept grounds, Drecoll said memorials like Sachsenhausen need to evolve to defend their mission and prepare for a time in which there are no more Holocaust survivors alive to bear witness. “That means interactive media in the exhibitions, tablets in the seminar rooms, an up-to-date website and audioguides for visitors which may become multimedia guides,” he said. However he said overemphasis on digital tools or a pivot to gadgets like virtual reality goggles undermined efforts to teach the lessons of the past and

the duty to pay respect to the dead. “We are also a cemetery. We need digniﬁed remembrance and not pure emotion -- tears don’t educate.” Drecoll was similarly circumspect about calls for compulsory visits for Germans to the former camps. “I really believe in intrinsic motivation -- we want to have a conversation among equals,” he said. “Also some young people are simply overwhelmed by the images they’re confronted with at the place where the crimes were committed—you have to respect that.” Around 200,000 people—Jews, dissidents from across Europe, gay men and other groups targeted by the Nazis— were held at Sachsenhausen between 1936 and 1945. At least 40,000 were killed or died under brutal conditions. The memorial draws about 700,000 visitors each year from around the world—double the number a decade ago. The vast majority, Drecoll said, are “respectful”. Leading AfD politicians, however, have more and more openly challenged Germany’s unﬂinching reckoning with the legacy of the Nazi terror regime. AFP

HONG KONG―Hong Kong police said Monday they were forced to fire water cannon and a warning shot to fend off “extremely violent” demonstrators, following another weekend of clashes at pro-democracy rallies. Sunday’s violence in the district of Tsuen Wan, around 10 kilometers from the city center, was some of the worst in twelve weeks of political unrest roiling the international financial hub. As night fell, a group of officers were cornered by protesters armed with bricks and other weapons, Hong Kong police said in a statement. When one officer fell to the ground under a barrage of blows, and “facing threats to life”, six others drew their sidearms and one “fired a warning shot into the sky”, it said. It is believed to be the first live round fired by an officer during the current crisis. Fifteen officers were injured during the clashes, the statement said, while dozens of protesters were arrested― including a 12-year-old―for unlawful assembly, possession of weapons and assaulting police. “Police appeal to members of the public to make a clean break with violent protesters,” the statement added, vowing “relentless action” to bring the perpetrators to justice. The firing of a live round prodded an angry response from social media users, who mocked a police spokesman who had praised the “valiant and restrained” actions of officers on Sunday. “If the police can’t control their emotion, how can they be valiant and restrained?” a Facebook user asked. The violence erupted after a peaceful march nearby earlier Sunday. Police used tear gas against the black-clad, gas mask-wearing hardcore protesters, who had built barricades and thrown bricks and Molotov cocktails at lines of riot cops. Police confirmed they deployed two water cannon vehicles “to stop violent acts”. The jets hit the barricades as demonstrators ran for cover. The weekend of violence―unrest also flickered across the city on Saturday―banished several days of peaceful action, which included a human chain across the city. AFP

Sudan’s persecuted Christians eye long-sought freedom MORNING MIST. A mill is

pictured in the morning mist in Groningen on August 26, 2019. This time of year can be foggy in parts of the Netherlands during the sunrise. This is mainly due to the fact that it has cooled down considerably at night compared to the temperature during the day. AFP

KHARTOUM―Sudan’s Christians suffered decades of persecution under the regime of Islamist general Omar alBashir. Now they hope his downfall will give the religious freedom they have long prayed for. Deep within the maze of dusty alleys that honeycomb Omdurman, Khartoum’s sprawling twin city, Yousef Zamgila’s church is not visible from the street. It is hidden in the courtyard of a friend’s home and consists of a few iron benches, a pulpit and crosses hastily painted on pillars holding a corrugated roof. “The previous center got destroyed because we didn’t have the right papers. They always refused... So we use the land of our neighbors,” says the Lutheran reverend. Denying the Christian minority permits to build churches has been the main tool of oppression over the years. Another was the all-Islamic culture imposed by the state in schools and in the workplace, despite the former constitution’s provisions on religious freedom.

“Our youths and children cannot learn Khartoum, the prelate says “the state about Christianity because their entire has consistently followed a strategy to environment is made only for Muslims,” weaken the Church”. In its worldwide report on religious says Jacob Paulus, a 28-year-old teacher freedom, the Aid to the Church in Need in Omdurman. Government figures say Christians (ACN) pontifical foundation ranked represent only three percent of Sudan’s Sudan in the most critical category of 40-million inhabitants, although countries. AFP Christian leaders say the real figure is much higher. Republic of the Philippines Copts, Catholics, Anglicans REGIONAL TRIAL COURT and a number of other confessions National Capital Judicial Region Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff are present in the country, yet Mandaluyong City Bashir’s Islamist regime drove NOTICE OF HEARING many of them underground. Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing Some of the foreign charities on the petition for Notarial Commission of assisting Sudan’s Christians were ATTY. ZIONELLE ANNE P. VARGAS will be held on driven out, a movement that August 30, 2019, at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the office of the Honorable Executive Judge, intensified after the country’s Session Hall of Branch 208, 2nd Floor, New Hall of Christian-majority south seceded Justice Building. in 2011. Any person who has any valid reason or cause to “The authorities felt that object to the grant of the petition may file with the the churches and Christian undersigned before the date of the summary hearing a verified written opposition thereto. charities supported the south’s Witness the Hon. Esteban A. Tacla, Jr., Executive independence,” says Ezekiel Judge, this 16th day of August 2019 at Mandaluyong Kondo, the Anglican Bishop of City. Khartoum. (Sgd.) ATTY. ERWIN N. BARATA Clerk of Court VI Sitting in his office across (MStandard-Aug. 27, 2019) from his large church in central

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

A stronger Marawi rising

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Bomb-sniffing dogs help detect unexploded ordnance and bombs in the rubble of one of the buildings in Marawi, with the city's white-domed mosque in the distance. Inset shows some of the permanent homes built for the 2,000 displaced families in the city. (Photos courtesy Marawi City)

Aeta, 19, saved from traditional tribal execution By Jess Malabanan PORAC, Pampanga—Anton Santos, 19, a member of Aeta in an upland community, was forced to lead for his funeral procession at gunpoint to a cemetery where a six-foot-deep pit and white coffin was readied for him at Sitio Balangkas in Barangay Camias here. Anton was facing sure death to redeem his family from a blood debt, when his father Tony killed a fellow Aeta, Siete Serrano, sometime in Feb. 26, 2013. He was then a teenager when the incident happened, said Elizabeth Baybayan, head of the Provincial Social Welfare Office. "Anton was minutes away from his pit when Governor Dennis Pineda, Porac local officials and the police led by Lt. Colonel Levi Hope Basilio arrived and halted the customary execution," said Baybayan. Under the Aeta tradition, Baybayan said a member of a family must pay the blood debt at all costs. The so-called "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" is part of the Aeta tribe’s customary laws. She added that Anton left the upland and went into hiding for six long years. He was forced to surface last week when news broke out that his mother was being threatened by Serrano family in exchange for him. Sensing his son is endanger, Anton's mother Marissa sought the help of government officials to intervene and put a stop to the traditional execution. Led by First Pampanga Provincial Mobile Force Company Lt. Col. Michael Masangkay and Basilio, policemen rescued Anton in the nick of time and took custody of him. "We respect their customs, but the government is the right entity to render justice," Governor Pineda said. Pineda called Baybayan Mayor Jing Capil, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Edwin Abuque and the barangay councils to a dialogue at Bgys. Camias and Planas between the feuding families. The Santos and Serrano families, Baybayan said, agreed to bury the hatchet, as they affixed their thumb marks to finally put the matter to rest. Should violence erupt again, they promised to submit themselves to the legal justice system. Governor Pineda and Mayor Capil stood as witnesses. "I appeal to our tribal brothers and sisters. Let us put our families and communities at peace. Let us follow the laws of our country. Do not take the law in your hands," said Pineda.

By Edith Caduaya

(Continued from yesterday)

AYOR Majul Gandamra said these developments in Marawi City, which survived a five-month siege by terrorists allied with the Islamic State, will never happen without the help of the national government.

"We are hurt if people in Manila said Marawi is a ghost city. We are slowly building our lives back. We were never abandoned by government. President [Rodrigo] Duterte made true his promise to rebuild Marawi," Gandamra said. Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair Eduardo del Rosario said: “The government is not sleeping. We are doing as planned with the support of the people.” Hasmina Dipatuan, an official of Mindanao State University, said: “You can see many housing units here inside the teachers Village here in Marawi, dumarami ang pumupunta dito, makita nyo. Tingnan nyo ang paligid, iba na ang Marawi ngayon, natutuwa kami dahil may military na, sana huwag na silang kukunin dito sa Marawi.” “Those saying that Marawi is a ghost city are people not from Marawi. It hurts us. We are here, we are not ghosts. We do not understand why they speak in our behalf to tell lies. They should stay and live here, so they will know, we are here,” she added. For Concepcion Semante, 62, who once enjoyed a booming business inside the Marawi Commercial Complex, the Marawi siege is a lesson learned. “We lost our business, but we will rise again, magaan na sa loob namin na babalik na kami. I am happy at makaplano

na kami ano ang dapat na gagawin sa aming lupain, naka-phobia dahil sa nangyari pero natuto na kami. I am happy, magaan na sa loob, makita na namin ang bahay namin, puwede na kaming magsimula, kabuhayan namin nawala, pero babangon kami.” National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada “is always here, he makes sure that everything is properly coordinated and is done according to the plan which they presented during the public hearing last April,” the mayor said. “Lahat ng gusto ni Pangulo pinapaabot sa amin ni Mr. Escalada, at lahat ng stakeholders kinoconsulta,” he added. The mayor said there are delays in the rehabilitation because certain protocols and processes must be observed to keep everybody secure and safe. Recently, NHA and Marawi City led the groundbreaking for the construction of 2,000 permanent shelters that are set for completion in March 2020. The houses will be built on the 39-hectare land that will cater to 2,000 families. The land was purchased by the NHA, which will also undertake the land development, while the construction will be financed by the San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Foundation. Escalada assured that the rehabilitation

SM Foundation, PSE Foundation team up for Tuba school building

The new two-story, four-classroom school building of Tuba Central School in Benguet is emergency-ready and accessible by PWDs. Inset shows students and teachers of Tuba Central School receiving the symbolic key for the building donated by SM Prime and Philippine Stock Exchange Foundation through SM Foundation.

CEMEX volunteers join river rehab project MANILA Bay and its connecting rivers and estuaries have once had pristine waters fit for swimming and other forms of recreational activities. Today, more than 20 million Filipinos have no access to proper sanitation and sewage facilities, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. To do its part in saving crucial water systems that are essential to life, CEMEX Holdings Philippines participated in the “Manila BAYanihan para sa Kalikasan”—a multi-stakeholder initiative that promotes the Filipino tradition of “bayanihan” in working towards the simultaneous cleanup and restoration of waterways

timeline remains on target. “The instruction of the President is clear. The NHA works on the temporary shelter and permanent houses, for us also to supervise the debris management, we have the marching order and we are working as scheduled,” he emphasized. According to Escalada, funds were only released in 2018 to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to finance the rehabilitation and restoration of Marawi after the assessments of the area. The process of rehabilitation of Marawi "must be structurally sound and culturally sensitive,” Escalada said. Del Rosario has assured the people of Marawi that his agency will flesh out the government’s promise.wEstablishing a new Marawi is a big challenge not only to the government but also to the Meranaws, especially as a new edifice will rise from the ruins of war, which killed many. "We have the blueprint, the new one, this is drawn from the consultations and discussion with Marawi residents and stakeholders. It is crafted from the culture of Meranaws and we agree on it," Escalada stressed. Gandamra said the Teachers Village inside the Mindanao State University campus is a testament that Meranaws are one in rebuilding their city. "So how are we a ghost city?" the mayor added, as he stressed the big help of the soldiers’ presence and the martial law in Mindanao. "Now we know everybody getting inside Marawi," the mayor said. In September 2016, Duterte promised “a stronger Marawi will rise again.” It is well on its way there.

in Metro Manila. The project is led by the DENR together with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways, Laguna Lake Development Authority, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and Local Government Units, among other agencies. “Nothing is impossible if we work together. We know that we can do this! Let’s support ‘Manila BAYanihan.’ In doing these small steps for the environment, we can pass on to our children and to the next generation a clean and progressive Manila Bay,” enthused Chito Maniago, Executive Director of

CEMEX Philippines Foundation and Regional Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at CEMEX Philippines. Leading the Marikina River cleanup drive were DENR Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia, Marikina Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz, LLDA General Manager Jaime Medina, and PNP Maritime Group Chief Police Brigadier General R'win S. Pagkalinawan. The river system clean-up sought to reinforce the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Project, driven by the vision to restore clean waters in the city and improve preservation efforts among communities for the long-term protection of rivers and tributaries.

STUDENTS of Tuba Central School in Benguet now have more learning space conducive to learning as SM Foundation turned over a new twostory, four-classroom school building last August 9. Present during the event were representatives from the local government, led by Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal- ongan; the Department of Education, led by Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Nestor Bolayo; SM City Baguio Mall Manager Rona Vida Correa; the Philippine Stock Exchange Foundation, led by Chief Operating Officer Roel Refran; and SM Foundation, represented by Executive Director Debbie Sy, Trustee Ramon Gil Macapagal, and Executive Director for Education Program Linda Atayde. SM has been an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program since 2002.This 94th school building donation by the Foundation was made possible through the partnership of SM Prime and the Philippine Stock Exchange Foundation.

Road clearing nets 32 violators on Makati streets By Joel E. Zurbano LOCAL enforcers in Makati City apprehended a total of 32 illegally parked vehicles on Monday, in line with the city government’s intensified road clearing and anti-obstruction program. Members of the city’s Public Safety Department conducted the operation in the areas of Pasong Tamo Street, Arnaiz Avenue, Jupiter Street, Burgos Street, J.P. Rizal Street and Urban Avenue. The PSD is conducting the clearing operations daily on the directive of Mayor Abigail Binay to maintain orderliness and cleanliness and promote road discipline and obedience to traffic rules. Mayor Binay ordered the intensified campaign against illegal parking, sidewalk vendors, and other road obstructions in the city in 2017. She said the city government has taken a hard stance against disobedient motorists to restore order and discipline on the streets and respect for the law in the city. “Mobility is a key factor to sustaining progress and development in our city. We are determined to use the full force of the law to effectively address traffic congestion caused by disobedient motorists and illegal vendors blocking roads and sidewalks,” said Binay. The mayor also reiterated her call to residents and the riding public to report abusive and reckless drivers through the city’s official social media accounts, and give important details such as the plate number, type of vehicle and location. Concerned citizens may send their complaints through My Makati Facebook page and Twitter accounts, @ MakatiTraffic and @Mayora_Abby. In the first year of the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay, the city government through PSD has recorded over 144,000 traffic violations, committed mostly by errant motorists and some by pedestrians.

‘Hugis at Kulay’ exhibit in Doha set FILIPINO artist Frederick Epistola will be showcasing the Philippines’ rich and exuberant culture and living traditions through an art exhibition entitled “Hugis and Kulay” at the Katara Art Center in Doha, Qatar. He is the first Filipino artist to hold an exhibit at Katara. The exhibit is on display at Building 22, Gallery 2, Katara Art Center from August 25 through 30. It is hosted by the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar, with support from the Philippines’ National Commission for Culture and the Arts Sentro Rizal. The exhibit features 15 paintings and 15 sculptures that give an outlook into the Philippines’ past, the history that shaped it—the people and their values, their philosophy and beliefs—and their everyday way of life, and its enrichment through time. Using colors, textures, and perspective, the paintings and sculptures aspire to showcase the Filipino cultural panorama that is made rich with the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its people. Drawing inspiration from the themes of national identity, ethnicity, diaspora, cultural influences, and the affirmation of the native race, language, and culture, Epistola aspired to show in his artworks his reflection and reaction to these common historical and collective experiences, which not only affect Filipinos, but all societies in the world. “In exploring these themes, I hope for my artworks to be the virtual bridge where people can come together to share common knowledge, even if we see and understand the world in different ways; to engage in discussions of anything and everything that affect our communities, without the limits of our borders; and to simply create that connectedness when appreciating a piece that speaks personally to us,” he said. Jun David

LIBRENG GAMUTAN.

Over a hundred residents of Parañaque City have availed of free medical check-up, dental services and medicines during the ‘Libreng Gamutan,’ a medical, dental, and optical mission conducted by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. at the city’s sports complex. The charity activity was conducted by the FFCCCII Foundation Inc. in partnership with the city government, with the support of Green Cross Inc., Hapee Toothpaste, and the Philippine Automotive Association Inc.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

By Diana B. Noche

HE ﬁrst attempt at wall climbing is one of mixed emotions. It’s a nerve-jangling wobble between resolve and despair. You remember yourself as a little kid who couldn’t walk up a mall escalator without getting winded. You start cold, then you catch ﬁre. The fear slowly melts away, then you feel the kick of added adrenaline. You are now up to the challenge.

No way but

Beauty beyond

skin deep

By Joyce Babe P. Pañares

WALLS THAT UNITE. Participants to Climb Central’s Cirque Du Climb take on the challenge of climbing the 40-feet wall. Photos by Diana B. Noche

Indoor climbing, or wall climbing, is a form of rock climbing. The earliest artiﬁcial climbing wall was the Schurman Rock in Seattle, Washington in 1939. In the United Kingdom, wall climbing started where pieces of rocks were inserted into a corridor wall of the University of Leeds. Rock climbing, or its milder cousin wall climbing, isn’t exactly heavy sport unless it becomes competitive. It’s a personal dare, to begin with, a full workout of the body and mind to reach a goal or mark and return to the ground. The body energizes itself simultaneously with the mind, working to think up routes and strategies to get to the top. It’s a very satisfying accomplishment to reach a goal, get over with the challenge, and conquer the initial qualmishness. It is also a great stress reliever after a grueling work burden and energy-sapping school loads. Wall climbing is now becoming a popular athletics. Many gyms are easily accessible and they have trainers qualiﬁed to teach beginners. Fundamental advice for novices: Don’t give up. It doesn’t always hurt when you fall. When gripping the holds, keep the arms straight. Invest in the right gear and appropriate shoes. And, relax, take your time. You are your greatest competitor. It also helps that you have done gymnastics, Pilates, or yoga—that way the muscles have been toned and that will give yourself a helpful leg up. A climbing wall is a wall constructed with grips for the hands and feet and is usually made for indoor climbing, although it may also be installed

outdoors. Some walls are made of bricks but they are least preferred because brick walls have less scope for a variety of routes and the hand holds are limited. Some walls are made of plywood—also known as “Woody”—over a metal frame, with bolted-on plastic hand and foot holds or sometimes spray-coated to a surface similar to rock texture. On most modern walls, a thick multiplex board is used with holes drilled in it. Some climbing surfaces may also be covered with textured products like concrete paint or polyurethane loaded with sand. Others may also be granite, concrete sprayed onto a wire-mesh, premade fiberglass panels, and large trees. A newer design is the rotating climbing wall—a mechanical, mobile wall that revolves like a treadmill. Boards have different heights and steepness—from horizontal “roofs” to near-vertical “slabs” with a variety of holds attached: “crimps” and “pinches” for small holds, “slopers” for slanted boards, and “jugs” which are large and easy to hold. It is necessary to be in comfortable gear so that nothing gets in the way of an effortless climb. Athletic clothes have to be of moisture-absorbing fabric. Kneelength baggy pants or tights are preferable. If shorts have to be used, loose-fitting ones with tight Spandex shorts underneath would be comfortable. And now, for the difficult part. First, check your equipment: harnesses, ropes and belay devices, climbing shoes, and plenty of chalk balls (as opposed to loose chalk) for better grip. Have a thorough

second check. Remember, you alone are responsible for your own safety. Remove watch, ring, necklace, and bracelet that may snag the surface features. Wall climbing is not as dangerous as rock or boulder climbing but a bad fall could result in impairment. Gaze at the towering wall. Take a deep breath. Focus. Each quest needs a bubble, your own “cocoon of concentration.” Rappelling down would be a breeze. Recently, wall climbing got a bit competitive in an event called “Cirque Du Climb” sponsored by Climb Central at its 750 square meters of wall space in its air-conditioned gym with wall height of 40 feet in Mandaluyong City. The event coincided with an international celebration of Global Climbing Day on August 24, with its theme, “To celebrate the walls that unite us, not divide us.” Participants to the competition were kids starting at age ﬁve, not taller than four feet, tiny ones but took the challenge like turbo-charged gymnasts, their faces making little twitches, smiles, then grimaces. They have more room to blossom. Others who were more experienced opened with blazing lava, labored away with huffs and puffs, unimpeded by gravity, each one trying to eat the competition, bolstered by the large crowd of overexcited enthusiasts shouting themselves hoarse. “Do it, Johnny!” “You can do it!” In the end, the competition may be over, but the cheers will echo for a long, long time. And yes, there is a Philippine National Climbing Team for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

A HEALTHY body is a beautiful body. “Health should be our barometer for what is beautiful. Pretty features can do very little if you are unhealthy or are suffering from a chronic disease,” said Max International vice president for Asia Joey Sarmiento. Sarmiento knows fully well where he is coming from—Max International, which has been in the country for a decade now, is known as THE Glutathione Company, and glutathione has become synonymous with achieving fair skin. “Achieving fair skin is probably the least of the benefits that glutathione has to offer. It can provide far more significant health benefits,” he said, noting how today’s fast-paced lifestyle has likewise accelerated the aging process. Glutathione is known to strengthen the immune system, neutralize many different types of free radicals, and protect against oxidative stress. According to clinical research, glutathione, chemically known as GSH, is the “most important” antioxidant produced within body’s cells, playing a key role in tissue building and repair, and in supporting the immune system. “We at Max International believe that you should be healthy inside and out,” said Max International global president Jim Stevralia. “Glutathione is the most powerful component of our body’s antioxidant defense system. It is even more powerful than vitamin C— increasing our energy and slowing down the aging process.” “I recommend the glutathione products of Max International to my patients who have severe immune deficiency and chronic allergies, among others,” added 72-year-old Cebu-based physician Dr. Carmen Genson. Turn to C2

Max International glutathione products

From left: Max International president Jim Stevralia, Dr. Carmen Genson, and vice president for Asia Joey Sarmiento

Life

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Tracing the source of supplements “Food safety is a real concern because what we ingest is ultimately absorbed by our bodies, which is why we take it seriously. Consumers should have the right to know the story behind their products because their health depends on the products they buy. It isn’t simply placing it on a label, it’s about letting them know and have the peace of mind,” said country manager Leni Olmedo. She added, “Traceability helps ensure that all people involved in producing and manufacturing the ingredients that go into our products are following strict rules for health, safety, and quality. It helps us guarantee that we are providing not only the safest products, but also ones that are pure and effective.” Traceability has been a fundamental part of the Nutrilite brand for over 80 years. Today, Nutrilite highlights its nine-step traceability process, or “Behind the Label” approach.

This contains information not just about traceability but also on its heritage and the key ingredient for its supplements—phytonutrients, each with a unique phytonutrient fingerprint or signature that contains a broad spectrum of nutrients closer to a natural spectrum found in whole fruits and vegetables. “Traceability has always been the core of Nutrilite. In the 40s, our founder Carl Rehnborg bought a farm in Southern California so he could learn to grow plants without pesticides and herbicides. This allowed him to develop his own farming practice, which has been adapted by Nutrilite,” related assistant brand category manager Pauline Kaye Batan. The traceability process not only shows the journey from seed to supplement, but its farms as well. Nutrilite said it is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest, and process plants on its own certiﬁed organic farms.

Nutrilite’s 9-step traceability process called ‘Behind the Label’ approach contains information about traceability as well as heritage and key ingredients of the brand’s supplements.

INANCIAL constraints and busy lifestyles have caused nearly 54 percent of Filipino households to experience food insecurity, data from the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute revealed. These households experience limited them from consuming the ideal serving or uncertain availability of nutritionally of fruits and vegetables needed for proper adequate and safe foods, which hinders diet and lifestyle. These ultimately lead

to poor nutrition and health problems. Vitamins and supplements brand Nutrilite reminds consumers about the importance of supplementation to support a healthy and active lifestyle through a balanced diet. But the company also knows that when it comes to supplementation, it’s important to know where the ingredients in each product comes from, through traceability.

From left: Robby Tan, science research specialist at DOST-FNRI; Dr. Mark Mariñas, general surgeon and Amway business owner; Amway Philippines country manager Maria Elenita Olmedo; and Amway Philippines assistant product category manager for wellness Pauline Batan.

Beauty...

Connectivity devices for easy BP monitoring GLOBAL healthcare tech provider Omron makes home blood pressure monitoring much easier with its new industry-leading connectivity devices. Home blood pressure monitoring is considered by medical professionals as one of the key mitigation measures against hypertension. With their accuracy and precision, and the ease of storing and reviewing results through the smartphone app Omron Connect, the company is optimistic the latest connectivity devices can help curb the rising cases of hypertension in the country. The Smart Elite+ HEM7600T Tubeless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor features an IntelliWrap Cuff that easily snaps on the arm, allowing accurate readings through its 360-degree wrap and eliminating the need for regular tubes usually

From C1

found in blood pressure monitors. The IntelliWrap Cuff makes incorrect placing virtually impossible. It adopts Omron’s patented technology Intellisense, whose algorithm allows the rapid detection of even minute changes in blood pressure. Through Intellisense, the BPM applies the right amount of pressure for fast, accurate, and comfortable measurements. The HEM-7280T Upper Arm BPM, like the Smart Elite+ HEM7600T, has Intellisense technology as well. Best used for morning hypertension detection, the HEM-7280T shows the average of the last three readings with date and time. Its blood pressure level indicator is designed for easy interpretation of results. For a better insight into trends in the user’s blood pressure, the HEM-7280T Upper Arm BPM stores up to 100 measurements

HEM-7280T Upper Arm BPM

in memory, complete with date and time. Another newly launched Omron connectivity device is the HEM6232T Wrist-type BPM. It has a built-in positioning indicator that assists users in placing the monitor at the correct height to ensure accurate

and consistent readings. The monitor’s compact size and silent operation make heart health monitoring easy and convenient. The HEM-6232T Wrist-type BPM can also store up to 100 measurements in memory with date and time. These connectivity devices are available in the ofﬁcial stores of Omron Healthcare on Laz Mall and Shopee.

Smart Elite+ HEM7600T Tubeless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-6232T Wrist-type BPM

Pharma firm cuts prices of hypertension, epilepsy meds in PH

Novartis cuts the prices of six of its hypertension and epilepsy medicines to better provide Filipinos access to essential medicines.

SINCE July 1, the prices of six hypertension and epilepsy medicines of Novartis have been reduced by as much as 87 percent. The price reduction of Novartis hypertension medicines ranges from 15 to 61 percent, covering Valsartan, Valsartan + Hydrochlorothiazide, Valsartan + Amlodipine, and Valsartan + Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide. The price reduction of the Novartis epilepsy medicines Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine, on the other hand, ranges from 10 to 87 percent “Novartis is implementing our Legacy Pricing initiative in the Philippines in line with our shared goal

of providing Filipinos with affordable access to sustainable healthcare,” said Jugo Tsumura, country president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines. Legacy Pricing aims to support the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and provide Filipinos across socioeconomic segments access to essential and innovative medicines. “Our mission is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. To achieve our purpose, we work to improve access and affordability of our medicines,” said Tsumura.

It is, however, difficult to supplement the glutathione already present in one’s body the way vitamins or other nutrients can be easily taken. The digestive process breaks down GSH into unusable components before it can reach the cells, making oral consumption almost impossible. Taking glutathione intravenously, on the other hand, is costly and can only be done at a doctor’s office. Max International has solved this conundrum with its proprietary and patented technology RiboCeine, which has been shown to be 300 percent more effective than the traditional N-acetyl-cysteine formula in raising glutathione levels in the liver. RiboCeine was the end-result of the years of research done by Dr. Herbert T. Nagasawa, who, through the 1960s and ‘70s, saw how the Second World War left veterans in despair and dependent on alcohol, including his brother who suffered from cirrhosis. This prompted Dr. Nagasawa to develop a way to better prevent alcoholics from developing fatty livers, thereby reducing the risk of cirrhosis and liver failure. He and his team sought to boost the body’s natural production of GSH through RiboCeine, which, once ingested, enters the bloodstream and delivers cysteine and ribose direct to the body’s cells, not only supporting glutathione production but also providing important fuel and energy for those cells. Today, RiboCeine is the keystone ingredient in several of Max International’s products, including Cellgevity and MaxOne. MaxOne, in particular, is purely 100 percent RiboCeine, which means it is safe even for people with allergies to shellfish and mushrooms as there are no additional active ingredients. Cellgevity, on the other hand, features an advanced RiboCeine formula with 12 synergistic ingredients—including aloe leaf, vitamin C, broccoli seed extract, resveratrol, and grape seed extract, among others. Max International currently has 50,000 partners nationwide, with the Philippines being one of its top five markets globally. “We have seen so many lives transformed through our products, whether through better health or through employment opportunities,” enthused Sarmiento.

Entertainment Yves Campos, a native of Cebu, is a US-based nurse. He is representing the country at the Miss & Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019 in Myanmar.

Cebuano nurse wears PH sash at international male pageant in Myanmar

ORMER Misters of Filipinas-Supranational 2017 Yves Campos is competing at the Mister & Miss Tourism & Culture Universe 2019 pageant in Yangon, Myanmar with the ﬁnals night set on Aug. 31.

Campos, a 26-year-old native of Cebu City, presently works as a nurse in Hawaii, USA. He won the 2017 Misters Filipinas-Supranational representing the Hawaii Filipino community and finished as a semi-finalist in Mister Supranational 2017 held in Krynica Zdroj, Poland. “I’m honored to be representing the country, for the second time, in an international pageant. I believe that my advocacy towards youth education is suited in the Mister Tourism & Culture Universe pageant,” Campos said during the send-off party held for him by his Kagandahang Flores mentors and supporters. The hunky nurse believes in the value of education as a vehicle to success in life. He hopes that he could encourage others, especially the youth, to work and develop ways to succeed for their future. “In this pageant, I want to inspire others that nothing is impossible in doing greater things, if they give importance to their education. I would like to represent the country by being the best version of myself. I would do my best to help promote the rich Filipino cultural heritage and tourist attractions as a top world travel destination,” added the registered ICU nurse who is now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2018 was Sujae Yoo of South Korea while Miss Tourism & Culture Universe 2018 was Svetlana Khokhlova of Russia. The Miss & Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019, now on its second edition, is Myanmar’s first international beauty pageant after the Myanmar government granted a license to Miss & Mister Tourism and Culture Universe Co., Ltd, founder, and owner of the pageant. Our mission is to promote Myanmar’s tourism sector. We hope that it will be a very effective way to introduce our country to the outside world. The

PAGEANT CONCEPT ETON CONCEPCION

winners in this pageant will actively involve and initiate the promotion of tourism worldwide and cultural exchange programs,” said Ko Lamai Robin, managing director of Miss & Mister Tourism and Culture Universe. *** Innovative Floral-themed Miss Earth 2019 coronation stage presented The stage design for the Miss Earth 2019 coronation night, to be held at the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, was ofﬁcially presented recently by the Miss Earth organizers that include the United Architect of the Philippines (UAP)- Manila Archizonian Chapter, Camarines Sur Board Member Carlo M. Batalla, Atty. Luisito G. Tongson, Jr., and Carousel Productions, Inc. executive vice-president Lorraine Schuck. The Miss Earth Organization has partnered with UAP Manila Archizonian Chapter for the pageant’s environmental activities and charity works in Camarines Sur. The stage’s overall design concept, by Architect Majore Fortin, revolves around

DOWN 1 Canine noises 2 Bruins’ inst. 3 Feline sound 4 Facet 5 Rubber-stamps 6 Collapsible bed 7 — Krishna 8 Veld grazer 9 Colonel Potter’s aide 10 Huge creature 11 Kind of tradition 12 Stare at 13 Mildew 21 Hurry 23 Slickers 25 Energy source 26 Hindu kingdom 28 Taxi riders 29 Uniform color 30 Furry swimmer

Nadine is new GCash endorser Young star Nadine Lustre is the new face of the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet, GCash. The multi-awarded actress headlines GCash’s “What Can’t You Do?” campaign to power the dreams of young adults who constantly want to do more, to expand possibilities, and to achieve beyond their own expectations. “Nadine is the perfect ﬁt for GCash because she represents the true aspirations of young adults and is at that point in her life where taking charge of your ﬁnances is becoming more important. She shows how young adults can be independent and take charge of their own lives, and with the help of GCash, “What Can’t You Do?” means so much

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ambassador. The actress, named by a top magazine as Sexiest Woman in 2017, has her own line of swimwear with H&M. “She has built her brand and can create the image of a lifestyle that everyone will want to follow. We hope for that to happen with GCash as well,” Manguera said. “We also want to activate her big fan base to help spread the word of ﬁnancial inclusion and empowerment.” Lustre, who was voted Artist of the Year and Favorite Female Artist at the Myx Music Awards 2019, is a social media savant who has 6.8 million followers on Instagram. GCash’s “What Can’t You Do?” campaign pushes the limits of what mobile phones can do for young adults with its innovative ﬁnancial services accessible through mobile. With over 50,000 partner merchants and 20 million users, GCash remains the country’s leading mobile wallet.

Franz Weber, Head for Branding and Strategic Planning, Nadine Lustre and GCash Chief Marketing Officer Chris Manguera

more,” Chris Manguera, chief marketing officer at Mynt, which runs GCash, said. After starting out as a singer in a pop band, Lustre evolved to become a much-sought-after actress on TV, with her primetime hits On The Wings of Love (2015) and Till I Met You (2016). The 25-year-old actress has fared as well on the big screen, winning the Best Actress awards from Young Critics Circle, FAMAS Awards and the Gawad Urian Awards in 2019 for Never Not Love You. Her latest film, Indak, a dance musical movie, shows Lustre’s flexibility as an actress. Early this year, one of world’s biggest fast fashion brands, H&M, launched Lustre as its first Filipino

Like Lustre, who has won over the entire country and has kept everyone’s attention throughout the years by relentlessly adapting to change, G Cash continues to evolve not just as a digital platform but as a lifestyle brand. *** Gary V at EK Enchanted Kingdom is proud to present a very special, one-night-only show entitled Music For Life with Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano. On Aug. 31, head over to EK’s Enchanting Events Place and watch Gary performing his best hits and many more, for the beneﬁt of Real Life Foundations. Get your tickets now because this will be a night to remember!

‘Breaking Bad’ sequel movie out on Netflix in October

Carousel Productions EVP Lorraine Schuck, with the stage architect, Carousel board members, Miss Earth Philippines 2019 winners, presents the winning stage design.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

57 Yelled 61 Papa 65 Range in Asia 66 Roots around 69 Pate de — gras 70 Seabird 71 Says decidedly 72 Ms. Peel of “The Avengers” 73 Pop-top beverage 74 Synthetic fabric 75 Forest ruminant

From C4

The 'Breaking Bad' movie, which will premiere on Netflix on Oct. 11, has already finished filming, despite no one knowing anything about it.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Arizona city 5 Earth color 10 Economic upswing 14 Unreturnable serves 15 Qantas mascot 16 Thus 17 Sit down heavily 18 Fine violin, briefly 19 Vestibule 20 Cut timber 22 Painted 24 “Misery” costar 27 Wee drink 28 Suspenseful movie effect 32 Honey holders 36 Hgt. 37 Aspired 39 Unimaginative 40 Coolidge or Gam 42 Oats enthusiasts 44 Weeded 45 Occurrence 47 Charlie Brown’s pal 49 Dust cloth 50 Suit material 51 Realistic 53 British school 56 Shaft locale

the floral theme of the event in an abstract manner. The centerpiece consists of three frames representing the flower (rose), women and Earth, which in view, forms a circle as a whole. This incorporates to the audience the idea of the design which is an international women’s event with a floral theme. The pattern blocks add to the floral concept and can be made from recycled materials. Illuminated lights can be applied here to create color plays. The LED columns, together with the luminous floating flower comprises stem, leaves and the petals of a flower. The LED columns, when synchronize with the LED floor panels, can alter the overall color and display of the stage, which can be used in transitions between parts of the program. When announcing the Grand Finale, every lighting in the stage is dimmed except for the floating flower and the frontal stage below it is lighted. The floating white flower symbolizes purity and shall be the brightest among the lightings. The Miss Earth 2019 candidates’ entry shall be from the backstage through a ramp to the middle entrance and shall exit to both side ends of the stage covered from the audience with a horizontal board with waterworks. The board shall illuminate a flower silhouette with lighting effects through water. This board can be optioned as LED screen for far viewers to see the candidates close up. The innovative coronation stage of Miss Earth 2019 will be something to look forward come the pageant finals set on Oct. 26.

Couch Potato...

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

31 Danger 33 Austronesian language 34 Dreary 35 Papyrus is one 38 Durable fabric 41 Actress — Jolie of “Changeling” 43 Muslim mystic 46 Chapeau’s place 48 Mail out 52 Turned pages 54 Piano kin 55 Brazen 57 Some derbies 58 Tub in the

fridge 59 Pie crust ingredient 60 Do some fencing 62 Hemispherical roof 63 Makeshift screwdriver 64 Century unit 67 Buddy, briefly 68 Worker’s ID digits

A BREAKING Bad ﬁlm set after the events of the hit television show and centered on meth addict-turned-cook Jesse Pinkman will be released on

Netflix in October, the streaming giant said Saturday. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie will pick up the story after Pinkman escaped the clutches of a neo-Nazi gang with the help of kingpin Walter White in the AMC show’s 2013 conclusion. “In the wake of his dramatic escape from captivity, Jesse must come to terms with his past in order to forge some kind of future,” Netflix said in a statement. The “gripping thriller” is written and directed by Vince Gilligan, creator of the original series, which is widely acclaimed as one of the best TV dramas ever made. Breaking Bad ran for five seasons from 2008 to 2013, and told the story of a high-school chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer who starts cooking crystal meth -- often with former pupil Pinkman—to provide for his family. A teaser trailer for the film released Saturday shows another returning character, “Skinny Pete,” telling police he has no idea where his friend Pinkman has gone. “No way I’m helping you people put Jesse Pinkman back inside a cage,” he says. The movie will be released on Oct. 11, Netflix said. The original series is widely credited with helping to usher in the current socalled “golden age” of television. AFP

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Entertainment

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

Drunken with EXO’s

Some people (read #TeamJulia) find her courage amid unfortunate ordeals remarkable and inspiring.

‘LOVE SHOT’

JULIA BARRETO’s

remarkable courage THE vicious attacks against young actress Julia Barretto is a reflection of how, by way of malicious commission or omission, a post can become viral online, take a life of its own, and destroy lives of innocent people. The 22-year-old Julia, who has shown maturity and grit all throughout her unfortunate ordeal, has been dragged into the breakup of two showbiz colleagues —Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson. Bea’s cryptic message hinting that she was betrayed by her ex-boyfriend after photos of Gerald and Julia surfaced online has seemingly goaded netizens into bashing Julia. Whatever sweetness could be inferred from the photos of Julia and Gerald was the result of their professional relationship as costars in the recent movie Between Maybes. Gerald himself has denied that a third party caused his break up with Bea, admitting that their relationship became unhealthy after enduring one fight after the other, thus triggering the separation. Julia has likewise broken her silence on the non-issue that has spawned malicious and libelous comments online. “Gerald is not my boyfriend now and he was never my boyfriend. Let us end this malicious rumor,” she said. “There’s so many more important issues that need our attention. We should stop talking about this. I’m moving forward already, and I hope everybody else does also,” Julia added. Julia, in settling the score on her alleged role in the Bea-Gerald split, is proof that in this fast-paced digital age where content without context is king, people need to be more discerning and responsible in the posts that they share and react to. Netizens were only too quick to judge her because of baseless accusations. Being a Barretto, people were only too happy to pounce at the opportunity to bash her, even if she did not do anything wrong. Closeness and friendship are par for the course for professional actors involved in any movie project. She was unfairly misjudged for being friendly to her leading man. The bigger picture here is the need to educate netizens to be more circumspect in making online allegations against anyone. Celebrities are not fair game just because they are public figures. Online

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG posts that besmirch one’s reputation may constitute cyberlibel. The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 punishes computer-related offenses such as computer forgery; fraud and identity theft; and content-related offenses, such as cybersex, child pornography and, most signiﬁcantly, cyberlibel. Libel, in its traditional and digital form, is not Constitutionally-protected speech. Cyberlibel, in fact, carries a higher penalty because of the use of information and communication technologies. In her own words, Julia noted how “a culture of hate” was unleashed with the intentional “liking” of harmless photos of her and Gerald. By not deliberately explaining the context of the photos, the act has “(put) malice into the minds of many, which resulted in the outrage of insults” against the young actress. Other victims of cyberbullying were not as composed as Julia—some needed medical intervention to get over the trauma, while others have taken extreme measures to escape from the vicious virality of bashers by taking their own lives. This culture of hate is not only deplorable, but under certain circumstances, criminal as well. ***

Vroom service

Winford Manila Resort & Casino (WMRC) “Wheels for the Win” gives members a chance to rev up and drive home a brand new Honda Repsol or Yamaha Mio Aerox motorcycle. Simply earn 30 points on slots or table games to get a ticket. Rafﬂe draw on Aug. 31, 8:00 p.m, at Hippodrome Bar & Lounge.

Dingdong Dantes celebrates YesPinoy’s 10th year ACTOR and YesPinoy Foundation Inc. (YPF) Chairman Dingdong Dantes celebrated YPF’s 10th anniversary together with some students, teachers, and volunteers at Cubao Elementary School last Tuesday, Aug. 21. Recently, Dingdong’s chaired organization YPF, in partnership with the Stunt Association of the Philippines and the Seoul Action School-Korea, convened together all stunt actors and directors in the country for a series of extensive training and seminars entitled “Project #BeScene.” The stunt action training activities concluded with a graduation ceremony and exhibition program for the participants last July 21 at GMA Network Studio 4. The Amazing Earth host expressed his will to empower everyone in building a better tomorrow, “When we strive to be heroes by empowering not only ourselves, but also our families, communities, and others in need, we, especially the youth, help build a Super Nation.”

BIG BOSS.

Soft-hearted Dingdong Dantes spending time with kids as he celebrates YesPinoy Foundation's 10th anniversary.

Ten years ago, Dingdong put up YPF in hopes of bridging resource gaps in education, and empowering the Filipino youth on environmental stewardship and responsible citizenship. “YPF started with our simple yearning to contribute and be of service to the country by educating, empowering and engaging the Filipino youth…through the years, we have witnessed how heroism uplifts lives and communities,” said Dantes during his speech. The whole-day event gathered the Foundation’s family, friends and fellow advocates to pay tribute to its accomplishments that are made possible through passion, collaboration, and volunteerism. At present, Dingdong has undergone military training as part of his preparations for the iconic role of “Big Boss” or Captain Lucas Manalo in GMA’s highly-anticipated Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean drama series, Descendants of the Sun.

South Korean–Chinese boy band based in Seoul was in Manila for a two-day concert at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. Their ﬁrst album XOXO, which featured the breakthrough hit “Growl,” sold over a million copies and made EXO the best-selling Korean artist in twelve years. Now years and years into an illustrious career, they are now quintuple million-selling artists, with their most recent album Don’t Mess Up My Tempo, which features their latest music which they will be performing on this exciting tour. EXO has prepared yet another spectacular show for their beloved EXOLs, and will surely do their best to ﬁll the spaces temporarily left by Xiumin and D.O. who have both gone on hiatus due to mandatory military service. This

By Clay Moreno

HE grandscale EXO PLANET #5— EXplOration, the band’s ﬁfth solo tour, had a pitstop in Manila at a soldout Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 23 and 24.

Thousands of fans greeted EXO members feverishly when they opened the show with “24/7,” but saved their loudest whoops for the K-Pop group’s “Love Shot,” a pop dance track that features a memorably addictive chorus and heavy 808 bass. From start to ﬁnish there wasn’t a molecule of tiredness on stage as Suho, Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Chen, Sehun, and Kai paraded their impressive dancing skills and charisma exciting fans in between sets when they expressed their love for the Philippines and Filipino fans. They dashingly glided on the stage with their kinetic numbers and captivated the audience with their individual performances like Baekhyun with

Thousands of fans illuminating the entire venue at the 'EXO PLANET #5 – EXplOration in Manila' concert.

his electrifying “UN Village,” Suho’s “Been Trough,” Chen’s ballad “Lights Out,” Kai with his sexy solo number, “Confession,” and Sehun capping the prod. Named the “kings of K-Pop,” EXO is a record-breaking nine-member boy group under SM Entertainment. The South KoreanChinese boy band debuted in 2012 and is composed of members Xiumin, Suho, Lay,

COUCH POTATO IVY ROSSINI I BINGE-WATCHED Glow so I could catch the much-publicized appearance of Filipino transwoman Bb Gandanghari (formerly actor Rustom Padilla) in one of its Season 3 episodes. Yes, indeed, she does have a short role in episode 8 (the 2nd episode before the finale) as Patricia. Actually is shorter than a minute. Bb Gandanghari has a skillful agent that got her a very brief part (nearly editable has it isn’t very crucial in the development of the episode), so we should expect more cameo roles in the future before she finally clinches a longer role. Well, at least it was a speaking part. Glow is a comedy produced for the web initially before Netflix picked it up. The first season in 2017 consisted of 10 episodes, and season 2 in 2018 also had 10 episodes. This current season that premiered on Netflix in August had a similar number of episodes and continues on with the lives of the ladies that became Glow or Gorgeous ladies of wrestling. Debbie Egan (Betty Gilpin) has hooked a rancher but her friend Ruth Wilder (Alsion Brie) remains alone as Russell Barroso (Victor Quinaz) travels to Spain as camera operator for a film directed by Menahem Golan. Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron), Glow’s director, calls him about a film he’s doing and wants her in it. It seems that the series that used to be fun

is another K-Pop show our K-mmunity shouldn’t miss. EXO PLANET #5–EXplOration was brought to Manila by Globe in partnership with PULP Live World. Most recently, Globe has brought massive K-Pop acts like TWICE, BLACKPINK,Wanna One, and Super Junior to the country to satiate the K-Pop cravings of Filipino fans.

Bb Gandanghari in ‘Glow’ to watch is now descending into a mushy melodrama about this actor wannabes that found fame as TV wrestling ladies as the show starts losing steam even as Bash Howard (Chris Lowell) is also losing his sexual desire for the wrestler she married, Rhonda Richardson (Kate Nash). I just don’t quite value the noise that Bb Gandanghari’s appearance in one episode created in the local media. It wasn’t even much of an acting part. Patricia simply welcomed Ruth to her well-lit hut along the highway. The lonely actor wannabe was lonely and wanted some voodoo services from a $10-tarot card reader. Local media are easily won over by tales about Filipino performers doing things overseas, particularly in Hollywood. Bb Gandanghari’s case is no different from Tetchie Agbayani who landed roles in films made by American directors. She was featured in Gymkata (1985) an action thriller, then in John Boorman’s Emerald Forest (1985) as an Amazon girl. Other than those films, she was also cast in minor roles like in the Tom Hanks starrer The Money Pit, and several others. Filipino Americans who are in Hollywood now can never land on lead roles unless the film or TV show is about Asians or Asian Americans. Even the medical dramas proliferating on TV

BB Gandanghari was cast in Glow's third season as Patricia, a fortune teller and tarot card reader.

like The Resident, Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Doctor, and New Amsterdam don’t have a single Filipino in the cast considering that in most hospitals in the US (particularly in California and New York) Filipino nurses are all over. Continued on C3