Manila Standard - 2018 December 2 - Sunday by Manila Standard

EAGLES SOAR OVER MAROONS IN GAME ONE By Peter Atencio VOL. XXXII • NO. 290 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

EX-PRESIDENT BUSH PASSES AWAY AT 94

ASHINGTON—Former US President George H.W. Bush, who helped steer America through the end of the Cold War, died Friday at age 94, his family announced.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018

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SOLON BUCKS NFA PRICE HIKE By Maricel V. Cruz

LEGISLATOR has opposed the plan of the National Food Authority to increase the price of NFA rice from P27 per kilo to P33 to P35 per kilo.

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said that the proposed increase “will deliver a staggering blow to poor consumers who are still reeling from the price spikes of goods and services in the last 11 months.” “It is unjust and basically antipoor. NFA is very wrong to assume that a P6 to P8 increase in its products is acceptable,” he said. “That agency was created mainly to cater to the needs of the poor, those who can’t afford to buy com-

mercial rice. The proposed increase is against its basic mandate,” Casilao added. Casilao joined consumer group Bantay Bigas in accusing the NFA of setting the stage for a shortage of its rice supply to justify raising rice prices. During the height of rice crisis this year, the NFA was found to have refused to procure palay from rice farmers, creating a shortage of rice in the local market that forced

consumers to buy rice from commercial outlets at higher prices, the lawmaker said. “I cannot understand where the NFA is coming from and heading to. Early on, they said, ‘let’s flood the market with rice imports to lower rice prices.’ Now that the rice imports have arrived, the NFA is proposing to increase the price of its rice. The logic behind all these escapes me,” Casilao said. Last week, the congressional bicameral committee passed the Rice Tariffication Bill which government said would tame price increases in rice. But Bantay Bigas claimed the enactment of that enrolled bill will only open the local market to unlimited imported rice, thus adversely affecting

millions of local rice producers. Once enacted into law, the NFA will stand to lose P160 million in revenues as well as the removal of the agency’s regulatory powers. Around 400 NFA employees will also be left jobless. Casilao said local farmers and consumers are the biggest losers under the Rice Tariffication Bill even as there is no assurance of affordable and steady rice supply in the market. “The NFA’s mandate is to ensure affordable price of rice. It should follow its mandate of catering ordinary Filipinos, mostly the poor who cannot buy commercial rice in the market. Despite its GOCC character, NFA should continue to sell cheaper price of rice,” Casilao said.

PNP CHIEF: NO MORE NPA-SPARU HIT SQUAD PHILIPPINE National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Saturday said the infamous hit squad of the New People’s Army, the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU), no longer exists. The alleged presence of SPARU assassins prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare that he will form a death squad to counter that of the communist rebels. “Right now, we have not monitored (any SPARU presence). There have been instances in the past years and killings recorded, about 136. But we have monitored those and indeed, the SPARU has long ceased to exist,” Albayalde said in an interview with dzBB. On Tuesday, Duterte said he wanted to form a “Duterte Death Squad” to counter SPARU members. “I will create my own SPARU— Duterte Death Squad against the SPARU. I will match their talent also for assassinating people. They will have firearms for sure. That’s my plan,” the President said. “They will do nothing but look for idlers who are prospective New People’s Army members and take them out,” Duterte added. Albayalde said the President may have his own sources as to the presence of the hit squad of the communist rebels. The PNP chief, however, clarified that the Palace has yet to make an official order on the proposed formation of the Duterte Death Squad. “We are talking with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in anticipation of the order. We need to discuss the composition of such a a group—whether it will be from the military or the PNP,” Albayalde said. Duterte’s proposal was immediately shot down by his own political ally, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the President’s ruling party, PDP-Laban.

LET THERE BE LIGHT. New York City’s safest neighborhood, Dyker Heights, is dubbed as the ‘epicenter of professionally hung Christmas lights’ with most holiday decorations in the area prepared by professional decorators. Residents in the affluent residential neighborhood in Brooklyn pay as much as $5,000 for their Christmas decorations. Eric B. Apolonio

‘1 IN 10 PINOYS WITH HIV IS AN OFW’ ON THE occasion of World AIDS Day, a party-list lawmaker on Saturday called for “heightened vigilance” against the epidemic that has infected nearly 60,000 Filipinos and killed almost 3,000. “Fighting AIDS through greater awareness and prevention is a top priority for us because one in 10 Filipinos living with HIV is a migrant worker,” said ACTSOFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III. “OFWs are especially at risk because once they are exposed to foreign cultures, they tend to let their guard down,” Bertiz said. A total of 697 overseas Filipino workers were newly diagnosed with HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus from January to September this year, up by 13.7 percent from 613 for the same period in 2017, according to Bertiz. The nine-month figure brought to 6,135 the cumulative number of OFWs found infected with

HIV since the government began passive surveillance in 1984. OFWs with HIV now account for 10 percent of the 59,135 confirmed cases in the National HIV/AIDS Registry as of September this year, Bertiz said. Of the 6,135 OFWs in the registry, he said 5,280 or 86 percent are male with the median age of 32 years. Majority of the male cases, or 71 percent, were infected through sexual contact among MSM, or men who have sex with men. The median age of female OFWs in the registry is 34 years. Bertiz urged the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to devote more resources to preventive education among OFWs and their families. Maricel V. Cruz

BALL IN HIS HAND.

UP’s Jun Manzo goes up for a possible two points against Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena in Game 1 of the schools best-of-three championship games in the UAAP 81 season Saturday at the jampacked Mall of Asia won by the latter, 88-79, for a 1-0 advantage. Ey Acasio

ROLLBACK ROLLS ON; OIL PRICES CHEAPER BY P2 By Alena Mae S. Flores

Tributes quickly poured in for the former US leader, a decorated war pilot and onetime CIA chief who also saw his son George follow in his footsteps to the Oval Office. Bush’s passing comes just months after the death in April of his wife and revered first lady Barbara Bush -- his “most beloved woman in the world”—to whom he was married for 73 years. “Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died,” former president George W. Bush said in a statement released on Twitter by a family spokesman. Turn to A2

ATENEO banked on its veterans Matt Nieto and Thirdy Ravena to frustrate University of the Philippines, 88-79, and zero in on a second straight crown after Game 1 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines best-of-three title showdown at the jampacked Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Nieto fueled the Eagles’ offense with a new career high of 27 points, while Ravena was all over the place, scoring 21 points, hauling 10 rebounds and dishing off nine assists as Ateneo moved nearer its second straight crown and 10th title overall. Ange Kouame added seven points and 13 rebounds for the Eagles, while holding league Most Valuable Player Bright Akhuetie to just 10 points and 5 rebounds. The Eagles can finish off the Maroons in Game 2 on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, hoping to become the first team to clinch a consecutive UAAP championship since Norman Black led the Eagles to five straight championships from 2008 to 2012. Turn to A2

CHINA HITS US NAVAL VESSELS IN PARACEL

‘UNFLAPPABLE LEADER.’ Former US President George H.W. Bush (seen in this 1992 file photo) is dead at 94, with tributes quickly pouring in for the erstwhile decorated pilot and one-time CIA chief. He helped steer America through the end of the Cold War, this chief executive described by President Donald Trump as one with 'sound judgment and unflappable leadership.'

BEIJING—China on Friday scolded the United States for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations. The US and its allies periodically send planes and warships through the area to conduct “freedom of navigation” operations, intended as a signal to Beijing of their right under international law to pass through the waters claimed by China. According to the Pentagon, the USS Chancellorsville guidedmissile destroyer sailed Monday near the Paracel islands, known as Xisha in Chinese, “to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law.” The Chinese military scrambled aircraft and warships, sending out warnings for the American vessel to leave the area. “We urge the US to strengthen the management of its vessels and aircraft that pass by Chinese territory to prevent unexpected events,” People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre spokesman Li Huamin said in a statement. China has also lodged a diplomatic complaint with Washington, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing, calling on the US to “immediately stop such provocative actions that violate China’s sovereignty.” The Paracels are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts. Further angering those countries, and the US, Beijing has moved aggressively to build up reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. It was the second US naval operation to irk China this week. On Wednesday, two US ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait —which China considers its territory but the US and others see as international waters open to all—prompting a furious Beijing to send warships and fighter jets. This was the third such operation this year, including one last month which prompted a diplomatic protest. “US Forces operate in the Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis, including the South China Sea,” the Pentagon statement read. “All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.” The naval tensions come just ahead of scheduled talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina this weekend aimed at softening trade tensions. AFP

SMALL player Phoenix Petroleum Philippines led the latest round of rollback of P2 per liter for gasoline and diesel, triggering the 8th weekly consecutive oil price rollback. “To enjoy the long weekend with cheaper fuels, Phoenix Philippines will initially decrease the prices of gasoline and diesel P2 per liter effective 12:00 noon of Dec. 1,” Phoenix said. Other companies are expected to follow suit but have not announced their respective price adjustment as of press time. Unioil Philippines, for its part, said “diesel should decrease by P2.20 to P2.30 per liter while gasoline should decrease by P1.90 to P2 per liter.” World oil prices dipped, weighed down by uncertainty over the US-China trade war and signs of increased global crude production, according to the Department of Energy’s latest monitoring report. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte will weigh the social costs of pushing through with the implementation of the second tranche of the oil excise tax increase scheduled for 2019, Malacañang said. Turn to A2

‘UHC FUNDING GAP MUST BE ADDRESSED’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SPLASH OF COLORS. In a show of bayanihan, residents of Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City painted houses along F. Martinez Ave. Manny Palmero

THE lack of funding for its implementation is one of the challenges that the Universal Health Care measure could face, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said. The bill, which is awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte to become a law, seeks to enroll all Filipinos under a state-backed health insurance program both as paying and non-paying members. For its first year of implementation, Duque said UHC would need a funding requirement of P257 billion, but was appropriated only with P217 billion under the proposed national budget for 2019. Duque said the funding gap of P40 billion would mean that not

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all hospitals or health centers as envisioned under the bill would be constructed. “The UHC is not a silver bullet. It is not a panacea. We have to manage our expectations. Everything is not for free,” he said. “We know that we don’t have infinite resources that is why we have to start from the ground up.” He said construction of barangay health units in fourth to sixth class municipalities would be prioritized so that patients would not have to troop to hospitals for minor ailments. “Only 50 percent of our barangays have functional barangay health units. Under the UHC, we would have one barangay health unit for every 3,000 to 4,000 patients and one city or rural health unit for every 20,000 patients. We would have health ser-

vices at the lower level so that there would be congestion in hospitals,” the Health chief said. A barangay health unit is manned by at least two healthcare professionals, which include a nurse and a midwife, while rural and city health units are manned by around 13 to 14 healthcare professionals, including doctors. Duque said they are banking on the passage of a measure increasing tobacco taxes as well as the government meeting its annual target of 10 to 12 percent growth in tax collection for the funding of the UHC. The Department of Budget and Management, he added, likewise gave an assurance that it would restore the DOH’s proposed P33billion budget for its Health Facilities Enhancement Program for 2019.

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LEADERS' FORUM. The 2018 Top Leaders Forum themed 'Changing the Game: Building a Culture of Resilience Through Public-

Private Partnership' was held recently at the SMX Convention Center, Manila. The Forum brings together the country’s top executives and leaders from the National and local governments, private sector, academe and science community, to discuss concrete actions in achieving disaster resilient communities. Highlight was the launch of SM Prime’s Business Continuity Program for its small and medium enterprise tenants as part of its Disaster Risk Reduction efforts for its business partners and stakeholders. In photo (middle, seated) are SM Prime’s Hans Sy, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Reduction Mami Mizutori, Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and officials of UNISDR, National Resilience Council, ARISE Philippines, government officials and private and public sector partners. Top Leaders Forum is organized by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and ARISE Philippines, in partnership with SM Prime Holdings and the National Resilience Council.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PALACE VOWS TOUGHER STANCE VS CRIME RASH

DFA CHIEF SLAMS OCAMPO'S ARREST; CHR SEEKS PROBE

By Vito Barcelo

MALACAÑANG assured the public the Duterte administration would continue to make significant stride to stop crime and other forms of criminality, noting the latest Social Weather Stations survey on crime victimization was much higher by 0.7 percent compared to the second quarter SWS survey. Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo said despite the slight increase, Filipinos felt much safer now because of the government’s stance against criminals and drug pushers. “We take note of the 2018 3rd quarter survey showing 6.1 percent of families reporting crime victimization within the past six months. This figure is identical to the statistic for the same period in the previous year,” Panelo said in a statement. The Palace official said significant strides had been made by the current administration through its war against criminality, including those related to illegal drugs. While noting the SWS report, Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against criminality and illegal narcotics shall be pursued until the last day of his term to ensure that our streets are completely safe from criminals, drug personalities and other rogue elements. The Palace official said those disagreeing against the President’s policies were either people connected with illegal activities or politicians belonging to the opposition, as well as their blind followers, who could not accept the feats of the government. “This achievement, however, will not render us complacent,” he added. According to the SWS report, about 1.4 million families or 6.1 percent said they were victimized by common crimes such as pickpocketing or robbery, break-ins, “carnapping,” and physical violence in the past 6 months. This is higher than the 1.2 million families or 5.3 percent that reported victimization by common crimes in June this year. More families at 1.3 milion also said they were victimized by property crimes such as street robbery, burglary, and “carnapping,”within the past 6 months, higher than the 1.2 million families in June.

OREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., a former member of the House of Representatives, took to Twitter Saturday to express his dismay over the arrest of former lawmaker Satur Ocampo on kidnapping and human trafficking charges. “Human trafficking? Bullsh*t,” Locsin said in a tweet. At the same time, the Commission on Human Rights said it had launched an inquiry into the alleged detention of Ocampo and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro in Talaingod, Davao del Norte since Wednesday. CHR chairperson Chito Gason told a news conference in Quezon City the agency had sent quick-response and fact-finding teams in Talaingod to investigate whether or not the rights of Ocampo, Castro, and their colleagues were violated.

There was no immediate comment from the security and police authorities. Locsin vouched for Ocampo, saying the 79-year-old activist had been hounded by warrants of arrest since they were lawmakers. “I won’t even bother to get the other side. I know Satur. We protected him in our Congress against warrants of arrest,” he said. In related developments: • Ocampo’s wife Carolina Malay criticized the arrest of her husband on charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Ocampo, a former Bayan Muna Party-list lawmaker, along with Castro were charged Friday with kidnapping and human trafficking over the transport of minors in Davao del Norte. Malay said in Filipino: “Everyone is laughing at the absurdities of our government but we have to do more than just laugh.” Ocampo, Castro, and 15 others were stopped at a police checkpoint in Talaingod town around 10 p.m. on Wednesday after they were found carrying 14 minors, reportedly students of the Salugpungan Learning Center, a school for Lumad children. • Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao slammed Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo for saying that due process was being accorded to those arrested. On Friday, Panelo said due process was being accorded to Ocampo and Castro to give them the opportunity to file counter affidavits to refute the allegations against them.

Casilao said Saturday counter charges would be filed against military and police who, he claimed, attached and detained Ocampo et al. The Palace spokesman also reminded critics that “the rule of law must always prevail in a democracy.” Both Locsin and Ocampo were members of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010. Locsin was elected as Makati representative for three consecutive terms, while Ocampo was Bayan Muna Party-list representative. Ocampo’s group said it was delivering school supplies to indigenous communities, but police officials said the arrest “stemmed from complaints of parents and tribal leaders” in the province, said Chief Supt. Benigno Durana, Philippine National Police spokesperson. “You cannot bring anybody’s children without the authority or consent of the parents,” Durana told ANC’s Early Edition.

EAGLES SOAR...

From A1

The Fighting Maroons were in the game three-fourths of the way, trailing by just a basket entering the payoff period. They were also down by two halfway through the final period at 73-71 on a triple from Diego Dario. But Nieto took charge and snuffed out the Maroons’ chances with eight points in a telling 12-2 run. His fourth triple with two minutes remaining gave the defending champions an 87-73 lead. “No question UP deserves to be in the finals. We had to make sure that we play good offensively and defensively to win,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. Things looked bleak for the Maroons in the 6:31 mark of the third period when Akhuetie injured his knee following a collision with Kouame and was carried out on a stretcher by medics. Akhuetie, who returned to the game with seven minutes left, hit two free throws that put UP to within three points, 71-68, halfway through the fourth quarter. The Maroons again threatened with Dario’s three-pointer with five minutes left, 73-71, before Nieto came through with his heroics. “For a first timer in the finals, I have to appreciate the kind of effort that my boys have shown. One takeaway is that it’s possible to beat Ateneo. Before the series, they said we had no match against them, no championship experience. But they showed that with a little tweak in defense and a little experience, they can give Ateneo their money’s worth. Even if Bright was not there for a few minutes, they still fought it out,” said UP coach Bo Perasol. Earlier, boxing icon Senator Manny Pacquiao offered the Maroons a free trip to the United States, where they can watch his fight with Adrien Broner should they win the championship. Jun Manzo led UP with 19 points, while Juan Gomez De Liano added 16. Team captain Paul Desiderio, the hero of UP’s pulsating semifinal win against Adamson the last time around, could only cough up a paltry 5 points. The Eagles’ blistering start gave them a 17-7 lead in the first period, behind Ravena’s deft playmaking. The scores: ATENEO 88—Nieto Ma. 27, Ravena 21, Kouame 7, Verano 6, Tio 6, Mamuyac 5, Asistio 4, Nieto Mi. 4, Wong 3, Mendoza 3, Go 2, Navarro 0. UP 79—Manzo 19, Gomez de Liaño Ju. 17, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 11, Akhuetie 10, Dario 9, Desiderio 5, Tungcab 3, Vito 3, Prado 2, Murrell 0, Jaboneta 0, Gozum 0. Quarters: 26-18, 39-38, 63-61, 88-79

BATTLE OF THE BIRDS. The Ateneo de Manila fans, alumni and students scream their lungs out while jabbing the air with their fists every time an eagle on the hard court makes a three-pointer or just two points while Ateneo’s Kakou Kouame (inset) secures ball possession against UP’s Bright Akhuetie and Javier Gomez de Liano. Ey Acasio

EX-PRESIDENT... From A1 “George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for,” he said. “The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens.” Bush is survived by his five children and 17 grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, a family spokesman said. Bush is expected to lie in state in the US Capitol. President Donald Trump, who was in Argentina attending a G20 summit of world leaders, hailed Bush’s “sound

ROLLBACK...

From A1

However, the President will also consider what is stipulated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press statement. “We note the sentiments of the Filipino consumers and the President will certainly weigh in the social costs involved,” Panelo said. “Due regard, however, must also be given to the dictates stipulated under the law, which only the Congress can modify,” he added. Panelo made the remarks after the Development Budget Coordination Committee publicly announced that it would recommend the continued implementation of the oil excise tax’s second tranche.

judgment, common sense, and unflappable leadership.” “Through his essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country, President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service,” Trump said in a statement. “As president, he set the stage for the decades of prosperity that have followed.” ‘New world order’ Bush—who was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts into a wealthy New England political dynasty—put his inevitable political career on hold to join the US Navy during World War II. He flew 58 combat missions and was shot down over the Pacific by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. After a brief career in the oil in-

He said the DBCC recommendation was still subject to discussion in the next Cabinet meeting on Dec. 4. Expectations that crude exporters would agree to cut output at an upcoming OPEC meeting helped to ease the price decline slightly. DoE said market participants looked ahead to a meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 nations (G20), the world’s biggest economies, from Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, with the trade war between Washington and Beijing top of the agenda. The ongoing supply glut plunged oil prices downwards after the US Energy Information Administration released its weekly petroleum status report last week, showing that US commercial crude inventories increased by 3.6 million barrel, maintaining a total US commercial crude inventory of 450.5 million barrels. DoE said the crude inventory was now about 7 percent higher than the

dustry, he entered politics, serving in the US House of Representatives and as chief of the Central Intelligence Agency before being elected Ronald Reagan’s vice president. As he accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for president in 1988, Bush pleaded for a “kinder, gentler nation.” He went on to easily defeat Democrat Michael Dukakis that November. Bush was a foreign policy stalwart who declared a “new world order” in 1990 and drove Iraq from Kuwait in a matter of weeks with a lightning air and ground assault—and the backing of a coalition of 32 nations. But he suffered the ignominy of being a one-term president, denied a second term over a weak economy when he lost the 1992 election to upstart Democrat Bill Clinton. In his post-presidency, Bush

turned to philanthropy—he joined forces with Bill Clinton to raise funds for victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He worked with Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and son George to raise money for hurricane victims in Texas in 2017. In 2011, Obama awarded Bush the highest US civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “America has lost a patriot and humble servant in George Herbert Walker Bush. While our hearts are heavy today, they are also filled with gratitude,” Obama and his wife Michelle said in a statement. “After seventy-three years of marriage, George and Barbara Bush are together again now, two points of light that never dimmed, two points of light that ignited countless others with their example.” AFP

five-year average for this time of year and has risen for 10 consecutive weeks. Last week, the oil companies also cut the price of gasoline by P1.10 per liter, kerosene by P2.10 per liter and diesel by P2.30 per liter. Oil firms also rolled back the price of cooking gas, or liquefied petroleum gas by as much as P70 per 11-kilo tank starting Dec. 1 to reflect the lower contract price of LPG in the world market for December. Petron Corp., which sell the Gasul brand, announced a rollback of P6.40 per kilo while Isla LPG, which markets the Solane brand, cut LPG prices by P6.36 per kilo. Petron said it will also cut the price of auto LPG by P3.50 per liter. “Petron will roll back Gasul and Fiesta Gas prices (VAT inclusive) by P6.40/kg effective later 12:01 a.m., Dec. 1. This is equivalent to a rollback of P70 per 11-kg household cylinder,” the company said. EC Gas, the liquefied petroleum gas

arm of Eastern Petroleum, previously announced a minimum price rollback of P5 per kilo effective 6 a.m. Nov. 30 equivalent to P55 off per 11kg cylinder. LPG now sell from P543 to P795 in Metro Manila as prices vary depending on the brand, location and market forces. The Palace official, meanwhile, advised the public to wait for the President’s decision, noting that national interest will always be put into consideration. “The President’s decision will, as always, be based on national interest and benefit to the people,” Panelo said. The DBCC’s recent recommendation is a complete reversal from their recommendation earlier this year, when oil prices soared to more than $80 per barrel, that the hike be put on hold until world crude prices have softened. Since then, oil prices have rapidly retreated to less than $70 per barrel. With PNA

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MMDA SEIZES 650 VEHICLES IN NOVEMBER By Joel E. Zurbano

HE Metro Manila Development Authority said that it has apprehended at least 650 vehicles since it resumed this month the campaign against illegal parking along Mabuhay Lanes, the alternate routes designated for private vehicles avoiding congested main roads, especially along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The MMDA resumed the crackdown by issuing citation tickets against erring motorists for illegal parking on the 17 listed Mabuhay Lanes or express routes connected to EDSA and roads going to commercial districts and shopping hubs in Metro Manila. The campaign is aimed at easing traffic along EDSA during the holiday season. Records released by the MMDA public information office showed that of the 650 vehicles, 57 were impounded while 593 were given citation tickets. It also showed that most of the vehicles were caught during weekends. MMDA Task Force Special Operations chief Edison Nebrija Jr. has formed two groups—Task Force Alpha and Task Force Bravo—to clear the roads of any kinds of obstructions from 6 am to 9 pm. Nebrija said the campaign is aimed to further ease

traffic along EDSA and other major streets during the anticipated heavy traffic this Christmas season. MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said traffic enforcers are instructed to issue citation ticket to vehicle owners. For unattended vehicles, tickets will be attached to their windshields. “Motorists who do not have parking space have long been using major thoroughfares and the Mabuhay Lanes as their own parking area. This practice has to stop. This is the agency’s response to hard-headed vehicle owners who defy the MMDA’s illegal parking rules,” said Garcia. Recently, the Metro Manila Council agreed to increase the fine for illegal parking in the metropolis. Fine for attended illegally-parked vehicles was raised from P200 to P1,000, while unattended illegally-parked vehicles increased from P300 to P2,000.

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AEV INC. CHAIRMAN JON RAMON ABOITIZ PASSES AWAY, 70 ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc. chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz passed away on Nov. 30, Friday due to a lingering illness at the age of 70. Jon has served as AEV chairman since 2009. At the time of his death, he was also Chairman of the privatelyheld Aboitiz & Co. Inc. and chairman and chief executive officer of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the Aboitiz family’s Cebu-based foundation. “Jon will be profoundly missed as he was an inspiring leader, loving and lovable, and someone who easily connects with everyone around him. His passing is certainly a great loss, not only for the Aboitiz Group, but for Philippine business as well,” said Erramon I. Aboitiz, AEV president and CEO. Jon began his career with the Aboitiz Group in 1970. He became president of Aboitiz Shipping Corp. in 1976, and was president and CEO of AEV from 1994 to 2008 and president of ACO from 1991 to 2008. Jon is survived by his wife and three children.

LINO CAYETANO LEADS TAGUIG MAYORAL POLLS

STILETTO RACE. Males, females and members of the

LGBTQ community participate in the yearly Marikina City ‘Tour de Takong Race’ which showcases the strength and beauty of Marikina-made ‘Stiletto Shoes.’ The participants were made to wear any kind and design of stiletto shoes as long as the heels are at least 3 inches high. Manny Palmero

LAWMAKER BACKS DU30’S DIRECTIVE ON ‘CRACKERS’ By Maricel V. Cruz A PRO-ADMINISTRATION lawmaker on Saturday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest directive on the use of firecrackers. At the same time, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte urged Congress to support it by coming up with stricter regulations on the sale, distribution and use of pyrotechnic devices to help ensure a safer Christmas and New Year’s Day festivities for Filipinos. “The Congress could show its unequivocal support for President Duterte’s fresh directive on stricter rules on the manufacture and use of firecrackers by passing new legislation requiring manufacturers, dealers and wholesale distributors of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to indicate the names and adresses of all their accredited retail stores, outlets, resellers to the Firearms and Explosives Office of the Philippine National Po-

lice [PNP-FEO],” said Vilafuerte. In Memorandum Order 31, Duterte directed the PNP, among others, to confiscate and destroy prohibited firecrackers and to suspend or revoke the licenses and permits of manufacturers found violating rules on the manufacture and sale of these devices. This as Villafuerte pushed for the passage of his House Bill 8085—which he said, jibes with President Duterte’s MO 31 as it aims to improve the existing law covering firecrackers—Republic Act No. 7183—by requiring manufacturers, dealers, and wholesale distributors of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to report all of their accredited retail stores, outlets, re-sellers to the PNP-FEO. Under Villafuerte’s bill, this requirement will now be a pre-requisite for the grant of a license to engage in the manufacture and wholesale distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices. Stores, outlets, dealers, distributors

and resellers are also required under Villafuerte’s HB 8085 to secure a permit to sell from the PNP before they can engage in the sale or distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices. “There shall be a “one-store, onepermit” policy,” he said. “The joy of celebrating the New Year with firecrackers is sometimes done with reckless abandon. The joy suddenly turns into horror when the use of firecrackers results in injuries, dismembered bodies, burned houses or death. Most of the time, the victims of the irresponsible use of firecrackers are innocent children,” said Villafuerte, as he underscored the need to put in place more rigid measures in regulating the sale of pyrotechnics. In his proposal, Villafuerte said the selling of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in places other than those indicated by the licensed manufacturers, dealers, or wholesale distributors in their application for a license permit

with the PNP-FEO and without the requisite permit shall be considered illegal. Such violation “shall be cause for the confiscation of the products and being sold without prejudice to the penalties provided herein,” the bill states. It is also punishable with a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000, or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than three years, or both, upon discretion of the court. The bill also prohibits the sale of firecrackers or other pyrotechnic devices to all persons below 18 years old. “Children using firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices must be strictly under adult supervision,” Villafuerte said in his bill. “Parents and guardians who shall knowingly instigate the purchase of fireworks or pyrotechnic devices by their minor child or ward shall be punished with a fine of P10,000,” the bill likewise states.

BI TO DEPORT TURKISH NAT’L WHO ASSAULTED TRAFFIC ENFORCER

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

THE Immigration bureau has started the deportation process against a Turkish national who assaulted a traffic enforcer in Makati City last week. Makati City chief information officer Romulo Salgado Jr. said the suspect, Yuksel Ibrahim, 24, will also be deported for overstaying and for being an undesirable alien. Salgado said the Makati City police station released Ibrahim from detention after posting bail, but authorities again placed him under arrest for violating the Immigration law. “After posting bail, he was immediately arrested again by the Bureau of Immigration,” said Salgado. Mayor Abigail Binay earlier asked the agency for the immediate deportation of Ibrahim who was caught driving without

license and later assaulted a local traffic enforcer along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Thursday last week. Investigation showed that Ibrahim was driving a black Honda car at the corner of Gil Puyat Avenue and Bautista Street in Barangay Palanan around 5 pm when he hit the arm of Michael Orcino, who was directing traffic in the area. Binay said Ibrahim, a businessman and residing at Teacher’s Compound in Barangay West Rembo, Makati, blatantly disrespected Philippine laws by driving a vehicle without a license. Since he had none, Ibrahim tried to escape but Orcino maneuvered his motorcycle in front and block the Turkish national’s vehicle. Ibrahim alighted from the vehicle and dragged the motorcycle off the road. He also physically assaulted Orcino when the traffic enforcer refused to let him through.

AGAINST TYRANNY. Human rights activists link arms as they called

for a stop to DuterTyranny during a press-conference led by Anak Pawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, Carolina Malay, wife of Satur Ocampo; Commissioner of Human Rights Chairman Luis Gascon, Cristina Palabay of Karapatan, Editha Burgos and other militant groups at the Coconut Restaurant in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

TAGUIG City Mayor Laarni Cayetano will likely hand her post to her brotherin-law movie director Lino Edgardo Cayetano next year. Based on survey results conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. last month, Lino is the leading candidate for mayor this May 2019 elections in Taguig with 76 percent approval rating over his rivals, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Arnel Cerafica of PDP-Laban party (15 percent) and independent candidate Sonny Andrade (1 percent). Lino’s running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz Jr., also topped the survey in the vice mayoralty race in the city with 65 percent rating over Cerafica’s running mate Henry Duenas (18 percent) and independent candidate Baltazar Mariateque (4 percent). “Cruz will eventually beat Duenas of PDP Laban for the VM post,” the Publicus Asia said. Laarni, who is on her third and final term as mayor of Taguig, filed her certificate of candidacy for congressman under the banner of the Nacionalista Party. Lino, a known dramatic film and TV series director, is teaming up with Cruz with a campaign slogan ‘Bida Tayo’. The young Cayetano said he wants to improve on all the programs and projects initiated by his sister-in-law as city mayor, including the city’s free education and scholarship programs. In July 2017, the city government of Taguig increased the allowances of city scholars which now ranged from P15,000 to P60,000, depending on what type of scholarship the student has availed of. Joel E. Zurbano

SOLONS HAIL PASSAGE OF BILL ON ‘HIJAB’ TWO party-list lawmakers on Saturday hailed the imminent appproval on third and final reading a bill declaring the first day of February of every year as National Hijab Day. AMIN party-list Reps. Amihilda Sangcopan and Makmod Mending Jr. said House Bill 8590 which is principally authored by Rep. Mauyag Papandayan Jr. of Lanao del Sur, said that once enacted, the bill shall promote and deepen understanding among nonMuslims about the wearing of hijab, a veil that covers the head and neck of a Muslim woman as an act of modesty and dignity. The bill encourages Muslim and nonMuslim women to wear the hijab and experience the virtue in wearing it. It will remove the misconception that wearing the hijab is a symbol of oppression, terrorism and lack of freedom. It intends to also stop discrimination against Muslim women, or “hijabi,” Sancopan said. Instead, she said it will promote appreciation for the diversity in expressing one’s self and one’s faith and religion and to promote tolerance and acceptance of other lifestyles among Filipinos. The bill acknowledges the State policy recognizing the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination and or preference, shall be forever allowed. “Hijab” is defined in the bill as a veil that covers the head and chest, which is particularly worn by a Muslim female beyond the age of puberty, in the presence of adult males outside of their immediate family. It is any head, face, or body covering worn by Muslim women that conform to a certain standard of modesty. Maricel V. Cruz

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018

News

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SOLON BUCKS NFA PRICE HIKE By Maricel V. Cruz

LEGISLATOR has opposed the plan of the National Food Authority to increase the price of NFA rice from P27 per kilo to P33 to P35 per kilo.

LET THERE BE LIGHT. New York City’s safest neighborhood, Dyker Heights,

is dubbed as the ‘epicenter of professionally hung Christmas lights’ with most holiday decorations in the area prepared by professional decorators. Residents in the affluent residential neighborhood in Brooklyn pay as much as $5,000 for their Christmas decorations. Eric B. Apolonio

CHINA HITS US NAVAL VESSELS IN PARACEL BEIJING—China on Friday scolded the United States for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations. The US and its allies periodically send planes and warships through the area to conduct “freedom of navigation” operations, intended as a signal to Beijing of their right under international law to pass through the waters claimed by China. According to the Pentagon, the USS Chancellorsville guidedmissile destroyer sailed Monday near the Paracel islands, known as Xisha in Chinese, “to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law.” The Chinese military scrambled aircraft and warships, sending out warnings for the American vessel to leave the area. “We urge the US to strengthen the management of its vessels and aircraft that pass by Chinese territory to prevent unexpected events,” People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre spokesman Li Huamin said in a statement. China has also lodged a diplomatic complaint with Washington, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing, calling on the US to “immediately stop such provocative actions that violate China’s sovereignty.” The Paracels are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts. Further angering those countries, and the US, Beijing has moved aggressively to build up reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. It was the second US naval operation to irk China this week. On Wednesday, two US ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait —which China considers its territory but the US and others see as international waters open to all—prompting a furious Beijing to send warships and fighter jets. This was the third such operation this year, including one last month which prompted a diplomatic protest. “US Forces operate in the Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis, including the South China Sea,” the Pentagon statement read. “All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.” The naval tensions come just ahead of scheduled talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina this weekend aimed at softening trade tensions. AFP

‘UHC FUNDING GAP MUST BE ADDRESSED’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SPLASH OF COLORS. In a show of bayanihan, residents of Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City painted houses along F. Martinez Ave. Manny Palmero

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion

EDITORIAL

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE

A SHOCKING SUMMARY

HERE is a red light up: One million people die every year from life-threatening Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV, a sexually transmitted infection. HIV, which can cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS, interferes with the body’s ability to fight the organisms that cause disease. While it appears, according to World Health Organization and UN AIDS Program, that new HIV cases reported worldwide had plunged from 2.1 million in 2015 to 1.8 million in 2016, such cases continued to rise in the Philippines in 2017. Health analysts say there has been more than 3,100 percent overflow since 2007 in sharp contrast to a worldwide swing. There are those who claim the number of HIV cases in the Philippines remains low, given the population of 106 million. But these same claimants should do some rethinking, after the United

PECIER DECIERDO

THE COOLEST SIDE BENEFITS OF SPACE EXPLORATION

Nations said in August last year this nation of several ethnicities has the fastest gallop in HIV epidemic in Asia-Pacific, which has a population of 4.3 billion, or 60 percent of the world population of 7.53 billion as of 2017. The UN report has identified the Philippines as one of eight countries that account “for more than 90 percent of new HIV infections” in Asia-Pacific. But while there is a red light up, there is a green light also in the horizon: Researches are being conducted to find new and effective ways to prevent HIV. The Rockville, Maryland-based National Institutes of Health in the United States has been conducting research focused on behavioral strategies designed to delay sexual activity among young people and reduce sexually transmitted infections. It is also doing research on drug abuse intervention and treatment programs to prevent HIV transmission among injection drug users. This is the right track.

SEVERAL stories about space exploration made the news in the past few months. NASA just recently landed the Mars InSight probe on the red planet. Meanwhile, astronomers continued debating the nature of ‘Oumuamua, the first detected visitor from outside the Solar System. The debate took on a new life last month after some scientists from Harvard suggested that ‘Oumuamua might be a spacecraft sent by aliens to observe other planetary systems. On a more local level, the Philippines’ second microsatellite, Diwata-2, was successfully launched into orbit on Oct. 29 of this year. It began observing the Earth and beaming down important data soon thereafter. Whenever news like these come up, many are, justifiably, asking the question, “What is this all for?” In other words, is space exploration worth all the money we spend it for? Space programs have several direct benefits. For instance, having a space program gives countries like the Philippines more power to manage the risk of disasters and assess the damages when they occur. Space programs help us monitor the status of climate change and the state of our planet. Space programs also help us monitor outer space for incoming asteroids that may pose a danger to human civilization. In this article, I want to focus on less direct benefits of space exploration. These are things that were developed to help solve the problems of space exploration but that benefit us now. These often unintended benefits of space exploration remind us of two things. First, that space exploration often pays more dividends than we can predict. Second, basic scientific research in general provides a lot of unforeseeable benefits in the long run. The most obvious side benefits of space exploration come in the form of gadgets that were first developed for outer space but later found a lot of use here on Earth. One example of this would be the infrared thermometer, which have largely replaced the once ubiquitous but unsafe mercury and alcohol thermometers in hospitals. Infrared thermometers help healthcare providers measure the thermometer of a patient without having the device make contact with the person. This helps prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. Infrared thermometers use the same technology developed to measure the temperature of distant stars and planets! Another device that was developed because of a space program is a sensor found in so many of today’s cameras. “Whether you take pictures and videos with a DSLR camera, phone, or even a GoPro, you’re using NASA technology,” says NASA’s Tumblr page. The device, called a CMOS active pixel sensor, is found in most cameras today. It was developed by NASA scientists to allow them to make a small, lightweight camera for planetary exploration. Some of the devices developed under space exploration have saved countless lives. One example a heart pump for patients awaiting a heart transplant. The science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, who survived a heart transplant after using the artificial heart pump, used himself as an example when he talked about the benefits of funding space exploration to the US Congress back in 1979. Space exploration also results in a lot of consumer products that we use everyday. For example, nearly all of today’s baby formula uses nutrient enhancing technology that was developed by scientists trying to formulate more nutritious foods for astronauts. Today, many babies can develop healthier brains, eyes, and ears thanks to the improved nutrient content of baby formula first developed for space exploration. The demands of food safety in space exploration have also lead space engineers to develop advanced water filtration systems that provide hundreds of millions of us with safe, drinkable water today. In fact, many of today’s food safety standards were developed in laboratories funded by NASA and other space agencies when they were doing their space programs. Meanwhile, some of us are sleeping more soundly every night, thanks to the space technology in memory foam mattresses. Memory foam can also be found in automobiles, safety equipment, and prosthetics, where they not only make people more comfortable but also safer. In fact, even the improved design of today’s car seats benefited from space technology. NASA scientists working on the Skylab performed research on neutral body posture that now help drivers operate vehicles more comfortably and safely. These are just a few of the many side benefits of having a space program. As more countries, especially developing countries, venture into space, many of these benefits might come at a cheaper price. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for example, was able to send a space probe to Mars at a fraction of the cost of the movie “Gravity”. Who knows what a modest space program might do for the Philippines? Along with the immediate, direct benefits, what side benefits await us along our journey to space?

‘THE SORROWS OF ROWENA’ RETIRED University of the Philippines industrial relations professor Geraldine C. Maayo launched her fourth book, ‘The Sorrows of Rowena and Other Stories’ at Popular Bookstore’s Sikat events studio last Nov. 24. Dr. Maayo has authored three other collections of short stories: ‘The Photographs and Other Stories,’ ‘A Quality of Sadness: Ten Stories,’ and ‘The Boys in the Boarding House and Other Stories,’ as well as a professional book, ‘Organizational Behavior: A Book of Cases.’ Relationships, and how ordinary humans deal with them, are at the core of most of her stories, and in that her writing reminds me of the short stories of Alice Munro and Penelope Lively. Maayo had her first story published in 1972, and five years later won first prize in the National Focus Literary Awards for ‘The Photographs.’ Her fiction writing career spans more than four decades, and the quality of her work brought her to the attention of iconic women writers Estrella Alfon and Gilda Cordero Fernando, among other writers, critics, and academics. Encouragement along the way is given her by Dr. Elmer A. Ordoñez, her Modern British Literature professor way back and later writing mentor along

with the late great Franz Arcellana. In ‘Sorrows,’ Ordoñez says in his introduction to the book, “the stories are expectedly sad and poignant as they deal largely with failed or truncated relationships between adults, their inability to really connect, whether it is between the narrator and character or between the characters themselves.” Still, despite the sorrows experienced by the characters, “the reader cannot but help empathize” with them. The stories contain life lessons, told from the perspective of “a mature person,” says Ordoñez, “who apparently has seen it all—as an academic, an observant neighbor, a part of the corporate world, an ardent listener to gossipy friends,

Relationships, and how ordinary humans deal with them, are at the core of most of Maayo’s stories.

and a person who has loved and lost but realizes it is just as well with no regrets as in Edith Piaf’s song ‘Je ne regrette rien.’” The launch of Maayo’s book was well-attended. Dr. Jenny Llaguno was the program emcee, Alice Banzon read Philippines Graphic literary editor Alma Anonas-Carpio’s foreword to the book, and Palanca winner and media executive Terra Daffon read an excerpt from the eponymous story. I was honored to be one of the readers as well, performing an excerpt from “Collagen Shot,” the story Ordoñez says “makes the reader smile…as the otherwise detached narrator/character still seems vulnerable to the abiding attention of a young admirer,” who is twenty years younger than her. Here’s a sample from that story: “We danced and danced one musical number after another coming from the band in front. We danced nonstop till I got dizzy both because of the spirits which could’ve lodged in my brain, and the dance, and the feel of his body circling with mine, endlessly, moving to the beat nonstop, doing the Swing, Tango Boogie —but it could have been an African erotic ritual dance we were dancing,

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE the beat of the drums under the moonlight I was hearing…” Strong juju and the stuff of romantic dreams. For those looking for a good read, ‘The Sorrows of Rowena’ is an interesting pick. Anonas-Carpio says, “[Maayo’s] stories read like they are being told to you by a good friend, in a mix of comfortable language and an almost exhibitionist candor, the good kind… “This is the kind of book that is perfect for curling up with on the couch while the rains thrum a steady tattoo on your windowpanes… Do dive in, the stories here are fine, warm, and gently told.” The Sorrows of Rowena and Other Stories by Geraldine C. Maayo is available at Popular Bookstore, Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City. Dr. Ortuoste wonders if anyone reads the notes at the bottom of columns. Let her know at FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

UN TO VOTE ON US MEASURE RAPPING HAMAS LEADERSHIP UNITED NATIONS—The UN General Assembly will vote Thursday on a US-drafted resolution that would condemn the Palestinian Hamas movement, a measure championed by US Ambassador Nikki Haley. The United States won crucial backing from the European Union for the draft resolution that condemns the firing by Hamas of rockets into Israel and demands an end to the violence. If adopted, it would mark the first time that the assembly has taken aim at Hamas, the Islamist militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. All 28 EU countries agreed to support the measure after the United States included a mention of relevant UN resolutions in the text that does not however refer to the two-state solution. In a statement, the US mission to the United Nations said it had hoped to put the draft resolution to a vote on Monday but that the Palestinians had pushed for a delay until Thursday. “The issue before the United Nations on Thursday is not whether it supports one form or another of a Middle East peace plan,” the US mission said. “Each country will be asked to vote for or against the activities of Hamas, along with other militant groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad.” “If the UN cannot bring itself to adopt this resolution, then it has no business being involved in peace discussions,” it added. AFP

CHAMPS-ELYSEES LOCKDOWN SET VS PROTESTERS PARIS—Thousands of anti-government protesters are expected Saturday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, a week after a violent demonstration on the famed avenue was marked by burning barricades and rampant vandalism that President Emmanuel Macron compared to “war scenes”. The avenue will be closed to traffic and protesters will be searched by police and subject to ID checks before being allowed access to the area to avoid a repeat of last week’s violence that made headlines across the world. More protests were due around the country for a third straight Saturday as Macron’s administration faces a wave of grassroots anger, originally sparked by an increase in fuel tax which has morphed into a multi-faceted outcry against the high cost of living. Macron has sought to douse the anger by promising three months of nationwide talks on how best to transform France into a low-carbon economy without penalising the poor. He also vowed to slow the rate of increase in fuel taxes if international oil prices rise too rapidly but only after a tax hike due in January. On Friday, the government tried—mostly in vain—to talk to representatives of the “yellow vest” movement, named after the highvisibility jackets which motorists are required to carry in their cars. AFP

N. KOREAN SOLDIER DEFECTS ACROSS BORDER: SOUTH’S MILITARY SEOUL—A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea across the eastern land border on Saturday, the South’s military said. Defections across the closely guarded inter-Korean frontier are rare, and this one comes as the neighbors pursue a delicate reconciliation process. “A North Korean soldier was detected crossing the military demarcation line” by South Korean troops using surveillance equipment, the military Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. “The soldier is safely in our custody,” it said. “Related agencies plan to investigate him regarding the details of how he came to the South.” Even as talks on denuclearisation between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled, the two Koreas are pushing ahead with a reconciliation process, taking steps to ease tensions along their heavily fortified border. They have begun work to reconnect their railway systems, removed landmines and destroyed military bunkers at parts of the frontier. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but most flee across the porous frontier with China, and rarely across the interKorean border which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. AFP

BIG WAVES. Waves break on the jetty in Ploemeur, western France, on Thursday. AFP

‘MBS’ SHRUGS OFF WOES AT G20 GAB

UENOS AIRES, Argentina—Fissures on trade, climate change and Ukraine divided world leaders Friday as United States President Donald Trump came under sustained fire and Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler came in from the cold at G20 talks. The leaders of countries representing four-fifths of the global economy opened a two-day meeting in Argentina facing the deepest fractures since the first G20 summit convened 10 years ago in the throes of financial crisis. Earlier, Putin grinned broadly and welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman like a long-lost friend with an enthusiastic handshake after the group photo, where Trump looked on somberly and Chinese President Xi Jinping stood impassively. The summit marks a quick return to the international stage for Prince Mohammed after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate. Trump was attacked for destroying the group’s past unity on trade and climate change. But he won a breakthrough with the signing of a new trade pact for North America and, having ignited a trade war with China, touted “good signs” ahead of a dinner Saturday with Xi. In remarks to the summit relayed by the Xinhua news agency, Xi reaffirmed his pledges of economic reform “with increased efforts in

intellectual property rights protection and more imports.” If that was designed to soothe Trump, Xi more generally urged his fellow G20 leaders “to stick to openness” and to “steer (the) world economy responsibly,” Xinhua reported. The summit began in Buenos Aires with a traditional “family photo” by the leaders of a group whose relationships range from warm and friendly to chilly and distrustful. Elsewhere in Buenos Aires, as Argentina goes through a painful economic crisis, tens of thousands of protesters rallied peacefully to denounce the government for spending millions on the summit while the public endures rocketing inflation and unemployment. They paraded with signs attacking Trump and the International Monetary Fund, whose largesse is keeping Argentina afloat at the cost of hard-hitting austerity measures. Russian President Vladimir Putin, under pressure himself after his security forces seized three Ukrainian ships, set the tone for a combative two days by condemning the “vicious” use of sanctions and trade protectionism. The target was clear, as Trump—who canceled a planned meeting with Putin in Buenos Aires—tears up the stability promoted by the G20 powers a decade ago. And during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin was said by a French aide to have drawn a map of the strait off Crimea to buttress his position that the Ukrainian ships had intruded into Russian waters -- a claim denied by Kiev. Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May both raised the murder of Khashoggi during meetings with the 33-year-old prince. AFP

ANTI-CHINA: US, JAPAN, INDIA PUSH FOR OPEN ASIA BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—The leaders of the United States, Japan and India met jointly Friday for the first time and called for open navigation in Asia, a show of unity with China clearly in mind. The three right-leaning leaders —US President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe—met on the sidelines of the summit of the G20 economic powers in Buenos Aires. With the meeting lasting around 15 minutes, the three-way summit was more about symbolism than

planning strategy, but it comes as all three share concerns on China’s rising clout. Japan and India both have longstanding territorial feuds with their neighbor, while Trump has been pressing China hard on trade and reiterating concerns over Beijing’s assertive posture in the dispute-ridden South China Sea. “Japan, the US and India share fundamental values and strategic interests,” Abe said. “By having three of us working together, we’ll bring more

prosperity and more stability in the region, as well as globally,” he said. Modi noted that Japan, America and India made out the acronym “Jai”—Hindi for “long live.” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement that the summit “reaffirmed the importance of the free and open Indo-Pacific vision for global stability and prosperity and pledged to deepen trilateral cooperation.” The Trump administration has increasingly spoken of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” a catchphrase long favored by Abe as he insists

that all of Asia remain open to navigation and trade. But Modi and Abe also both met separately with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump is set to meet Xi on Saturday for talks focused on trade disputes. India, despite decades of territorial disputes with China, has historically shied away from joining alliances with major powers. And tensions have also been easing between Japan and China, with Abe in October paying the first official visit in seven years by a Japanese premier to Beijing. AFP

POWERFUL QUAKE HITS ALASKA CITY, BUILDINGS BROKEN LOS ANGELES—A powerful earthquake rocked Anchorage on Friday, violently shaking homes and businesses, sending scared residents into the streets and damaging buildings in Alaska’s largest city. The 7.0-magnitude quake struck at 8:29 am (1729 GMT), in the middle of the school run and as workers were heading out for the day. Several people were wounded, mainly from broken glass and falling objects, but no deaths were reported, according to US media. The epicenter of the quake was about eight miles (13 kilometers) north of Anchorage at a depth of 25 miles, according to the US Geological Survey. Police in the city of around 300,000 said it had caused “major infrastructure damage.” “Many homes and buildings are damaged,” the police department said in a

statement. “Many roads and bridges are closed. Stay off the roads if you don’t need to drive.” A tsunami warning was issued for the Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula following the massive quake but was quickly lifted. Residents posted pictures and videos to Twitter of damage to their homes and stores -- belongings knocked off of shelves, broken windows and pictures scattered on the floor. Local CBS television affiliate KTVA posted a video of a room shaking back and forth with panels falling from the ceiling and lights flickering on and off as people hid under desks. “Everyone just sprinted out of the coffee shop I was at in Anchorage in the middle of a huge earthquake,” Nat Herz, a reporter with news portal Alaska’s Energy Desk, posted on Twitter. AFP

DEEP FREEZE. Commuters are seen behind frozen bus windows in the eastern Siberian town of Yakutsk, with the air temperature at about minus 39 degrees Celsius, on Thursday. AFP

Images

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

FOR SHOW. Smartphones and cameras from militants and photographers alike as they try to capture the burning effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte to mark their protests on the 155th birth anniversary of national hero Andres Bonifacio on Friday in front of the US embassy in Manila. Lino Santos

SCOUT’S HONOR. A troop of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines gets snappy in front of the Andres Bonifacio Shrine in Manila to honor the national hero on his 155th birth anniversary on Friday. Lino Santos

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan reads a message on

behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte at the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City as part of the government’s rites for the 155th birth anniversary of the Katipunan ‘Supremo.’ Andrew Rabulan

FOR KIAN. Supporters of Kian Loyd delos Santos light candles in his memory at the police station where three policemen involved in the teenager’s killing were stationed on Thursday. The cops were sentenced to decades in prison for the murder of Delos Santos during an anti-narcotics sweep, the first conviction against police officers carrying out President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. AFP/Noel Celis

PRISON ROUNDUP. Inmates at the Manila City Jail are rounded up at the prison quadrangle as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology conducts a ‘greyhound’ search inside their cells for illegal substances, gadgets, and weapons on Friday. Norman Cruz

STANDING GUARD. The honor guard of the Philippine Navy stands with city officials of Manila who lay a wreath at the Andres Bonifacio Shrine in honor of the working-class hero’s 155th birth anniversary. Norman Cruz

BURNING BRIGHT. Lights come on at the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the ‘Lighting of the Parol’ Parade, featuring lanterns made by the Las Piñas’ Samahan ng Magpaparol, on Tuesday at the CCP Complex in Manila. Lino Santos

ALL SET. Workers put the finishing touches on the giant Christmas tree in front of the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros on Friday, with less than 30 days to go before the big day itself. Lino Santos

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

TOUGH CAST GEARS UP FOR PRADERA GOLF DUEL

Yupaporn Kawinpakorn

STELLAR field made up of the country’s top players and a host of Thai aces brace for a fierce showdown in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic which reels off Tuesday at the Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga. LPGA Tour-bound Dottie Ardina, reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Princess Superal and former OOM champions Pauline del Rosario and Cyna Rodriguez head the locals’ bid against a strong 19-player Thai delegation in the P1 million event put up by ICTSI which actually serves as the second leg of the 2019 LPGT season. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, who topped the Beverly Place and Summit Point stops of the just concluded 2018 LPGT circuit, banners the crack Thai crew which includes leg winners Onkanok Soisuwan and Wannasiri Sirirampant, guaranteeing three days of battle of shotmaking, iron game and putting among the perennial regional rivals. Backiing up the troika are Alisara Wedchakama, Arpichaya Yubol, Chakansim Khamborn, Chatprapa Siriprakob, Chommapat

Pongthanarak, Chonlada Chayanun, Chouvarest Chouskittisopon, Dolnapa Phudthipinij, Jaruporn P Na Ayutthaya, Kanokwan Yospak, Omnicha Konsunthea, Pattaporn Kraturuk, Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro, Preenaphan Poomklay, Trichat Cheenglab and Waralee Athcarerk. Former many-time LPGT leg winner Chihiro Ikeda along with Daniella Uy, Marvi Monsalve, Alex Etter and Gretchen Villacencio firm up the local challenge in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. which also drew Taiwanese Yeh Hsin Ning. Nine amateurs also toughen up the cast in the tournament backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf, all going all out to spoil the pros’ expected showdown with club bet Annyka Cayabyab hoping to cash

Dottie Ardina

in on her local knowledge of the relatively flat but challenging layout, along with Junia Gabasa, Laurea Duque and Team The Country Club’s Eagle Ace Superal, Samantha Dizon, Mafy Singson and Nicole Abelar. Ardina is coming into the event brimming with confidence, having gained a full card for next year’s LPGA Tour while Del Rosario is coming off a stint in the Cactus Tour in the US and Superal barely missed the cut

in the Final Stage of the LPGA Tour of Japan last Friday, making them the early favorites in the upcoming event. But Kawinpakorn and company have long proven their worth against their Filipina counterparts. In fact, the Thais have won six of the 11 tournaments in the recently concluded 2018 LPGT season, ensuring a shootout right from the start of the 54-hole championship.

WWE SUPERSTAR WOODS DAZZLES HIS FILIPINO FANS By Ram Christian Agustin

Xavier Woods

WWE Superstar and New Day member Xavier Woods dazzled fans as he returned to the country for a fan meet-and-greet at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay recently. Aside from being a part of New Day, which boasts of the longest WWE Tag Team championship reign, Woods also shines in the academic department with two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and philosophy, a master’s in psychology and a current trajectory for his Ph.D. in educational psychology. The 5’11’’ Woods from Atlanta was recently awarded with a Guinness World Record for the “Most Subscribed To Celebrity Video Game Channel,” with his Youtube gaming channel UpUpDownDown

featuring other WWE superstars such as fellow New Day members Big E and Kofi Kingston, Sasha Banks, Tyler Breeze, Bayley and referees playing games and challenges from the gaming community. “Once I’m done wrestling I feel like I have to transition to something else,” said Woods. “I, throughout my life, always wanted to do wrestling and I also wanted to make video games, which are a huge part of my life. They always have and they always will be.” New Day, which is comprised of Woods and his teammates Big E and Kofi Kingston, has won the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship twice and the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship three times now. Woods was also recently nominated as Fan Favorite Celebrity Gamer (Athlete) in the first-ever Gamers’ Choice Awards.

PETRON BUCKS SLUGGISH START, SWEEPS PSL 1ST ROUND PETRON brushed off another sluggish start before routing Smart, 25-23, 25-13, 25-12, to complete a sweep of the first round of the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference yesterday at the Caloocan Sports Center. Middle Blockers Remy Palma and Mika Reyes asserted their dominance to tow the Blaze Spikers to their 10th consecutive win in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, Sogo, Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, UCPB Gen and Bizooku with Genius Sports as technical partner. Palma was a revelation as she registered seven kills, five aces and three blocks for 15 points while Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Reyes chipped in 11 markers apiece for the Blaze Spikers, who are on track to duplicate their historic sweep of this conference three years ago. Petron will take the top spot against the No. 8 spot in the sudden-death quarterfinals on Thursday at the Batangas City Coliseum. In the Collegiate Grand Slam, Colegio San Agustin-Binan went through the wringer before shocking Far Eastern University, 17-25, 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 1512, while University of Santo Tomas remains flawless

Games Tuesday: (Batangas City Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. -- Foton vs Sta. Lucia 7:00 p.m. -- Cignal vs Cocolife

following a 25-22, 25-17, 25-19 win over University of the Philippines. Despite falling behind by two sets, the Eagles refused to surrender as Lency Duarte and Aliah Marce delivered crucial hits to complete their upset of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines powerhouse. Duarte fired 16 kills for 19 points, including 18 digs, while Marce delivered 16 points off 13 spikes and three service aces for the Eagles, who started the conference slow with two straight setbacks. Maveth Torres was also instrumental with seven markers as well as setter Venice Puzon, who made 28 excellent sets on top of 20 digs and seven points. Lycha Ebon erupted for 29 points while Martha Mora added 14 hits for the Lady Tamaraws, who committed 36 errors en route to their third loss in four matches.

Aiko Urdas of Smart is foiled by Aiza Maizo Pontillas of Petron.

BIBAK NY LEADS FIL-AM GOLF BY 5

BAGUIO CITY—Bibak New York leaned on Lindsey Hora and Donnie Leonor as the couple fired an identical 27 at the Camp John Hay course to give the team 84 points and a five-shot lead as games started in the Regular Fil G of the 69th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament today (Dec. 1). Jimmy Martin added 20, while Reggie Reyna chipped in 10 to count for the New York based locals as they take a five-shot lead on AK Amigos, which made 79, thanks to the 23 of Danny Wong. Eaglemasters got a 32 from Chris Tan to stay five shots down with 74. Over at the Baguio Country Club layout, AMG Yokosuka mustered 80 points to take a three-shot lead in Am G. Cris Christobal led AMG with 26, Neon Corpuz wound up with 23, while Roddy Marcos and Moises Lovinana counted with 16 and 15, respectively. IGC Tugegarao had 30 points from Neil Ruelan for a 77 to take second spot, while Sandigan Golfers netted 66 points that is good for third spot. Focus tomorrow will be on the Seniors’ Fil Championship flight at the CJH course, where Eddie Bagtas will try to lead Luisita to its second straight title. The former pro will utilize his long game in the longer fairways of the par 69 course in an attempt to take a good lead prior going to the shorter par 61 BCC layout. Bagtas thrives at the longer CJH course even as he has been bemoaning the short and tricky BCC greens. Meanwhile, Manila Southwoods gained an additional firepower with Tommy Manotoc teeing off for the Carmona, Cavitebased parbusters as they try to give defending champion Luisita a run for their money.

NU LADY BULLDOGS TAKE GAME 1 Games Wednesday (Game 2 at the Araneta Coliseum) 11 a.m. FEU vs NU (women) 3:30 p.m. UP vs Ateneo(men)

By Peter Atencio JACK Danielle Animam came up with another double-double for the defending champion National University Lady Bulldogs in their 71-59 swamping of comeback finalist Far Eastern University yesterday in Game 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Animam led with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs, who moved to within a win to their fifth straight crown in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament. Rheena Itesi added 13 points in leading the Lady Bulldogs to their 79th consecutive triumph in five years, which included a 14-game sweep of the elimination round this season. “Just happy that Jackie came out today. I hope we can get the championship next game,” said Bullpups’ coach Pat Aquino. Joining hands with Kaye Pingol, Animam struck twice during an 11-2 blast in the first period. Their efforts shattered an 11-all deadlock and put the Lady Bulldogs ahead, 22-13. FEU, with Clare Castro making 15 points, was held to 10 points in the second period as NU went on to grab a 37-23 halftime edge. The Lady Bulldogs, behind Animam, Ria Nabalan and Jeanne Canelo, unleashed a 15-0 blast in the third period to enjoy a 58-31 spread with 1:30 left. The Lady Bulldogs showed no signs of slowing down after coming back from a two-week layoff and Aquino attributed this to their tuneup games with a team from Taiwan.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018

Business

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

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR LUNG CANCER EMERGING

CHIEF ARGONAUT REDEFINES PH E-COMMERCE

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Argomall Inc. chief argonaut Karel Holub

By Othel V. Campos

ITH 65 million Filipinos online and 12 million individuals shopping through the internet daily, the Philippines still has a big potential for e-commerce, according to Karel Holub, chief argonaut of online retailer Argomall Inc. Argomall is the first e-commerce platform focused on selling smartphones tablets, laptops, smartwatches, audio devices, and related accessories online. Holub, one of Argomall’s pioneers, is an expert in mobile phone marketing, having worked with the Nokia brand for a long time. “Opportunities and prospects via the web is exponential. The idea back in 2015 was very simple. The Philippines then had the lowest penetration of smartphone in Asia, so there’s a lot of opportunity for growth,” he said. “Compared to physical stores which are mostly dominated by promoters trying to sell their products without consideration for customer’s preference or how much they are willing to spend, Argomall is more of a straight forward on the net store focused on selling smartphones and delicering happiness to customers,” he said. The start-up has been around for three years but has already introduced innovations particularly in payment options and logistics. The platform welcomes all forms of payments whether cash, credit card, G-cash and other payment facilities. It also widened options for delivery, utilizing in-house and third-party couriers. The archipelagic nature of the Philippines, its terrain and its climate pose a challenge to delivering items purchased over Argomall’s website, Holub said. “We are, to a certain extent, the best-kept secret in the Philippines. We are focused on holistic service. We build relationships with each of our customers. The entire experience—from browsing our website to enjoying easy and secure transactions, chatting with our sales personnel about which item suits your needs best and comparing specifications, to receiving the items we deliver and getting good after-sales services—should build trust between our customers and Argomall,” he said. Human touch Argomall keeps its customers on its website by offering human support for

Anchanto COO Abhimanyu Kashikar

browsing shoppers. Company staff engage clients with informative and helpful chat. They walk each customer through the process of opening an email account and other online accounts needed to complete the transactions with Argomall easily and quickly. It also includes assistance to applying for a Home Credit account, a payment option that allows monthly instalment for purchased products. The entire Argomall customer experience revolves around the customer, he said. The site offers the best authentic items at the best prices, with several options for payment, including payment by installment that Filipinos have become accustomed to over the past decades. As a security guarantee, the entire process is trackable online and via SMS.

We want to make sure that every Filipino has our smartphone in their pocket, or whatever item we sell. “ We h a v e p e o p l e w h o c h a t w i t h customers who may not yet have decided which item they really want to buy. We ask what it is they’re looking for in a smar tphone, or T V, for example, and do the specification comparison for various items in real time with them. We do not want to become a marketplace that sells everything to customers and yet is nothing to them. We want to have a m e a n i n g f u l re l at i o n s h i p w i t h o u r customers. We have to be true to our brand, true to our values,” Holub said. Building trust is central to Argomall’s values and brand, he said. People usually only get a smartphone once every three years, so gaining customer loyalty, in this context, is about building trust. “We want to be the shopping site that our customers return to because they trust us. Every product featured in our gallery is always available and can be ordered or preordered,” he said. Argomall offers the widest and up-to-date choices of official and genuine products customers may compare and choose from. Argomall’s focus is all about “being true

to our customers, caring about them and learning about them,” Holub said. “This is the most important thing we can do.” “For some reason, when something goes wrong with the delivery, we are responsible for that. We chose the delivery partner. We are the people from whom the item was bought. So we do our best to ensure the items are delivered in good condition and, when an item gets lost or damaged, we take responsibility for that,” Holub said. When delays do happen, Argomall’s argonauts maintain close coordination with customers via email, SMS and private message chats on Facebook Messenger. Delivery personnel are also briefed on the Argomall corporate culture of personalized service. “There’s a balance between finding a delivery person who fits our culture and ensuring that our items arrive on time. Our delivery partners and their personnel are trained on how they should greet the customer. We are still learning from the feedback we get, and we keep working on improving this important part of the delivery process using that feedback,” he said. “If you buy an item from us and it needs repair while under warranty, “we pick it up, ship it to the repair shop, and return it to you—for free. If it is no longer under warranty, we tell you the cost of repair and ship it back and forth by COD [cash on delivery],” he said. Argomall guarantees that all the products they sell come from the official brand manufacturers and distributors. The biggest challenge for Argomall is delivery, according to Holub. So Argomall strives to keep improving this part of their business. Despite this, they still offer the best after-sales service they can, even where pickup and delivery of items for repair may not be the easiest thing to do. “We eventually want to carry larger appliances, like refrigerators and washing machines among the products we offer. So we are also looking at how we can make that happen and how we can incorporate the installation of items that do need to be installed by professionals after they are delivered,” he said. Argomall’s focus is on solid growth— strengthening its customer base that will also help push for bigger returns. “Building our brand with our customers, suppliers, and partners is very important to us. We want to make sure that every Filipino has our smartphone in their pocket, or whatever item we sell,” Holub said.

LUNG cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and in the Philippines, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. November has been identified as the Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness regarding lung cancer and provide support to patients and their loved ones. Dr. Diana Edralin, country medical director of Roche (Philippines) Inc., says lung cancer prevention is an important public health advocacy. “Lung cancer prevention involves proper diet and adequate exercise, avoiding pollution, and most importantly, avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke. There is no way to totally prevent lung cancer, and the fight against it is challenging,” Edralin said. She said treatment options for patients with lung cancer, depend on the type, whether it is non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] or small cell lung cancer [SCLC], and how far it has grown and spread in the body. SCLC is less common but much more aggressive than NSCLC. For many patients with lung cancer, the disease is diagnosed when it is already at an advanced stage, when it has already spread or metastasized, thus making it more difficult to treat. “Fortunately, with strong interest in lung cancer in the medical community, there is now a wide variety of treatment options for people with lung cancer, giving patients many different options to achieve positive outcomes,” said Edralin. The main treatment for early-stage lung cancer is surgery to remove the tumor itself or the area where cancer has developed. However, surgery may be a challenge in patients with other complicated medical conditions, and older patients who may not be able to tolerate the operation. Edralin said chemotherapy is a common treatment strategy which involves the use of powerful drugs that directly attack cancer cells and stop it from growing and spreading. For some cases, chemotherapy is used after lung cancer surgery to further eradicate cancer cells. “Chemotherapy may inadvertently affect normal cells of the body, not just the cancer cells, so there are side effects that need to be managed appropriately by an oncologist,” she said. “Another treatment option is radiotherapy, which uses bursts of radiation targeted specifically at cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be effective in relieving symptoms of lung cancer, and may prolong survival of patients,” Edralin said. For lung cancer diagnosed at advanced stages, Edralin said chemotherapy and radiotherapy have proven to be effective. “They are also effective for the more aggressive lung cancer type, SCLC. One of the main drawbacks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are their side effects. For example, patients may experience fatigue, hair loss, and blood abnormalities,” she said.

ANCHANTO EMPOWERS BUSINESSES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA A N C H A N TO, a global company headquar tered in Singapore, is ex p a n d i n g i t s p re s e n ce i n t h e Philippines as it aims to help more organizations take advantage of electronic commerce. Anchanto’s proprietary softwareas-a-service products helps brands, retailers, online sellers, third-party logistics, warehousing players, postal associations and e - distributors, equip themselves with best-in-class e-commerce capabilities. “All our S aaS produc ts were developed in-house for clients such as Garnier, L’Oreal, Maybelline, amongst other leading brands, before being

released in the market,” said Abhimanyu Kashikar, co -founder and chief operating officer of Anchanto. Anchanto was founded in June 2011 by Kashikar, Vaibhav Dabhade, Julien Juttet and Muhammed Shafique. “All of us, being passionate about technology, eCommerce and retail, shared a common interest of doing something of our own. Hence, we started Anchanto with an aim to revolutionize e-commerce logistics and online selling by leveraging technology,” Kashikar said in an e-mail. He said that in the Philippines, they observed that online sellers needed

to deal with a deluge of procedures in order to sell their products online on multiple sales channels. Anchanto now has around 90 team members working in offices across the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Australia. Anchanto has more than 100 integrations with Southeast Asian marketplaces, webstores, financial and accounting tools, and ERP systems such as Tally and SAP. “ We ser ve a massive base of 6500+ DIY online sellers and 250+ Enterprise customers such as Nestle, Pos Malaysia, Telkom Indonesia, GreatDeals e-Commerce Corp, Payless,

SilverWorks, LWE, 3M, Garnier, L’Oreal, Maybelline and many more. Moving further, we plan to expand our market outreach and build a stronger presence in Southeast Asia,” he said. “We are very close to achieving our targets for 2018 in Philippines,” he said. “Due to the proliferating e-commerce penetration, infrastruc ture and telecommunication growth, Philippines is very well positioned to grow in the digital world. With our robust amd scalable products, brilliant customer base, rockstar team, we are super confident of establishing ourselves on the top position in Philippines,” he said.

Business

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 business@manilastandard.net

Department of Science and Technology Fortunato de la Peña visits the Misty Kool booth during the 25th National Inventors Week in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

AIR-CONDITIONER FOR OUTDOOR USE DRAWS CROWD IN ILOCOS NORTE

AN OUTDOOR air-conditioner impressed a crowd of students, government officials, employees and businessmen during the 25th National Inventors Week organized by the Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative, the Department of Science and Technology and the Technology Application Institute on Nov. 20 to 23, 2018 at Teatro Ilocandia in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. The exhibit, attended mainly by students of Mariano Marcos State University, aimed to trigger the interest of the youth in Filipino inventions. Bannered by the theme ”InventrePinoy for sustainable growth and prosperity,” the celebration showcased “unique and marketable Filipino inventions that can be competitive even in the world area,” said FISPC president Francisco ‘Popoy’ Pagayon. Misty Kool, an outdoor airconditioning unit developed by Filipino inventor and entrepreneur Edgardo ‘Gary’ Vazquez, a member of FISPC, received several orders from the guests who attended the exhibit. “It was surprise on the last day of the exhibit when MMSU president Dr. Shirley Agrupis passed by the Misty Kool booth and noticed the difference in the cool temperature which was being created by the Misty Kool fan in the area,” Vazquez said. Misty Kool is a misting system that sprays ultra-fine microns of water to cool off any area. It conserves energy while offering an air-cooling effect and repels flying insects, dust, smoke and pollen. Vazquez said MMSU placed orders for several Misty Kool fans for the use of students in the campus. The DOST Region 1 and local government officials also became interested in the local innovation and placed their own orders. “The mayor of the town of Batac, being a civil engineer, discussed with me the technology and he computed the energy consumption and said the Misty Kool fan consumes less electricity. He also said he would visit me in Manila to check the other products of Misty Kool,” said Vazquez. “My staff in the Misty Kool booth reported to me that many government agencies were planning to order Misty Kool because they observed a big difference in temperature of about 5 to 10 degrees and the operation of the system was simple,” said Vazquez. The 65-year-old inventor recently secured the ‘Misty Kool’ trademark for his mist-dispensing apparatus from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. The Misty Kool machine consists of a misting fan, high-pressure pumps, fine nozzles, switches, oil indicator, programmable timer, automatic shut-off mechanism, hose, a 41-liter water tank and heavy-duty wheels with locking mechanism. Misty Kool produces mist, which evaporates into the air, and this is sometimes called “flash evaporation” because it happens “quickly as a flash” and gives a stronger cooling effect. Vazquez said the air is cooled evenly and feels more like a fog. “In engineering, they call it the flash point. When you subject the water at a very high pressure, then extrude it through a very fine nozzle, it automatically becomes mist and floats in the air,” said Vazquez, who is also known as the inventor of the Vazbuilt modular housing technology in the Philippines.

BEEP CARD TRANSFORMS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

F PAYMENTS Inc.’s tap-andgo payment system beep card ends 2018 on a high note having completed a series of partnerships and improved services, to make payments more convenient to the commuting public. Beep is widely used today to pay for transport services. It can be used in pointto-point (P2P) buses plying key cities in the metro, and recently, in public utility vehicles such as modern jeepneys and, e-trikes deployed in the walled city of Intramuros. The beep system has recently been introduced in Mindanao via Husky Tours, which operates a fleet of buses between General Santos and Cotabato. It was also on Aug. 8, 2018, when beep card hit its 1 billionth transaction in the light rail network (LRT 1, LRT 2, MRT 3) since inception in 2015, which demonstrated the reliability and robustness of the system. “Transportation has been and will continue to be our core strength. The government’s focus on developing the industry for the benefit of commuters nationwide encourages us to to work harder to support Filipino commuters and transport operators,” said Peter Maher, president and chief executive of AF Payments. In the world of retail, beep is now accepted at establishments such as Auntie Anne’s, Wendy’s, Binalot, Worship Generation and retail kiosks in train stations like Siomai House and Mr. Donut. In a bid to develop cashless communities, beep collaborated with Property Company of Friends to offer beep-enabled resident identification cards for access to transportation to and from and within its masterplanned communities in Cavite—Lancaster New City

AF Payments Inc. president and chief executive Peter Maher

and Bellefort Estates—and entry to their key facilities. In 2018, St. Jude Catholic School became the first beep-integrated educational institution with beep-enabled ID cards that allow their students to purchase cashfree from merchants inside the campus and avail of Student discounts when they ride public buses and PUVs with beep acceptance. To support this growing network and make reloading more convenient, beep card teamed up with Coins.ph and EON by Unionbank to offer mobile app and over-theair reloading, and China Bank for the first ever ATM reloading service.

This year also saw the launch of the beep app, which allows cardholders to track their transactions and check load balance, a feature that has been requested by digital savvy users. “2018 has been a productive year for beep as it allowed us to form strategic alliances and establish more innovative ways to extend our service to a wider public. We look forward to to expanding our network through 2019,” Maher said. Over 5 million beep cards are currently in the market. These cards are used to pay for fare at elevated trains and select transportation, toll fees, as well as for purchases at select retail outlets.

YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM LINKS FIL-AM YOUTH TO PH IN ITS seventh year, the Filipino Yo u n g L e a d e r s P r o g r a m continues to strengthen the links of Filipino-American youth to the Philippines through a weeklong immersion program. Held in Manila on Nov, 19 to 25, FYLPRO brought together 10 dynamic young FilipinoAmericans who have shown leadership and a passion for service in their respective fields. FYLPRO is a partnership program of Ayala Foundation and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The fellows are Amanda Bantug ( Washington, D.C.); Baron Cabalona (Chicago, Illinois); Anthony Dela Rosa (Miami, Florida); Lauren Lalicon (Trenton, New Jersey); Catherine Luib (San Diego, California); Charlynne Mae McGinnis (Honolulu, Hawaii); Melissa Palma (Chicago, Illinois); Joshua Price (Maumalle, Arkansas); Brian Tajo (San Francisco, California); and Meriden Villanueva (Los Angeles, California). The fellows were selected for their “inspiring work in their communities driven by their passions for the Filipino

The 10 FYLPRO 2018 delegates are welcomed by the Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez (center), together with Ayala Corp. chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (second from right), Ayala COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala (third from left), Ayala chief human resources officer JP Orbeta (right) and AC Health president Paolo Borromeo (left).

culture and the advancement of Philippine interests and advocacies in the United States. They now join a prestigious network of 70 young, Filipino-American leaders across the nation to collaborate, exchange ideas, and continue to inspire a wave of diplomatic innovation.”

In Manila, the fellows had the opportunity to interact with leaders from government, business, the non-profit sector and other fields. They also had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, members of the Philippine Senate, Ayala Corp. chairman and

chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala and other executives from the Ayala group. They also interacted with members of the local community in San Juan City. A key feature of the program was that each fellow was assigned a mentor who would help them understand better the realities experienced by Filipinos and also help them to shape the projects that they wish to implement after the immersion. The selected mentors are thought leaders from various fields in the country. “ We sincerely hope that this experience will only be the beginning of a closer and more productive dialog between Filipinos Americans in the United States, and Filipinos in the Philippines,” said Ayala Foundation president Ruel Maranan. “We hope that through the partnerships opened for us by this experience, we can all commit ourselves to continuing to uplift and inspire Filipinos and Filipino Americans,” he said.

INVENTOR OFFERS SOLUTION AS DPWH DISCOURAGES RICE DRYING ON HIGHWAYS THE Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative urged the Department of Agriculture and local government units to tap a locally developed technology to dry palay (unmilled rice) more efficiently, after Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar asked farmers not to use the national highways as a postharvest facility. FISPC president Francisco “Popoy” Pagayon said his invention called Portasol solar dryer could help small rice farmers and upland growers to dry palay faster using minimal space in their backyard, instead of using portions of concrete roads that result in accidents and post-harvest losses. “Portasol has been available in the country for many years. It is a much better solution to dry palay and other crops, compared to the primitive and inefficient method of using the national highways as a drying facility that affect the quality of the produce and block vehicular traffic in the provinces,” Pagayon said. Portasol consists of aluminum thermal trays which are assembled

Members of the Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative (FISPC) headed by Francisco “Popoy” Pagayon (fourth from left) showcases the Portasol solar dryer during the 25th National Inventors Week in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

in a rack format and covered with a net to preserve the heat from the sun and efficiently dry palay, corn, high-value crops, fish and other food products. The net also protects the products from pests, bacteria, fungus and the elements. Pagayon said he used aluminum as a material because it is a good conductor of heat which makes the drying process faster even during the rainy days. “The Portasol tray drying system is more effective, efficient and reliable as it

is two to three times faster in drying crops compared to the conventional practice of pavement drying,” said Pagayon. Pagayon endorsed Portasol, after Villar called on the Department of Agriculture to provide facilities where farmers can dry their palay and other produce. Villar said that as drying palay along national roads is prohibited, Filipino farmers should be provided with facilities specifically designed for post-harvest activities. “ We s h o u l d b u i l d a g r i c u l t u r e

infrastructures so that the farmers don’t have to use our roads. Of course, on our part, we discourage the farmers from using the road,” Villar was quoted as saying in a report. The Department of Public Works and Highways issued Department Order No. 41 in 2013 prohibiting the drying of palay and other farm produce along national highways. Farmers who violate the order face a penalty of up to P1,000, or imprisonment of up to six months. Sen. Ralph Recto said farmers were using national roads to dry their harvest because of the absence of drying equipment and infrastructure. Pagayon said the best solution is the Portasol solar dryer which can avoid the problem of post-harvest grain losses amounting to P15 billion a year mainly because of the wasteful and unsanitary drying practices. “FISPC has been offering Portasol as a better solution for palay drying for many years. We want to help small and upland farmers so that they could improve the quality of their produce and thus command better prices,” he said.

“Drying palay on concrete roads is not only unsanitary, but also wasteful. The grains are broken into smaller pieces because of the use of raker and whenever the wheels of trucks, jeepneys and other vehicles roll over the grains. Imagine the large amount of stones and soil that mix with the grains. Farmers also spend a lot of time transporting the grains from the farms to the highway and the work is repeated every time it rains,” said Pagayon. Farmers are also exposed to the danger of being bumped by vehicles, he said. He said that in comparison, farmers can easily assemble the Portasol solar dryers on the farm itself or in the backyard. “The grains dry faster in a safer means that does not compromise their quality. It is also much easier to transfer the grains from the trays into sacks,” said Pagayon. “Portasol is now being used in many barangays in Region 2, after the Department of Science and Technology found it useful not only for farmers, but also fishers,” he said.

Tech & Gadgets

JABRA BRINGS 4 ELITE ADDITIONS TO HEADPHONES/EARBUDS FAMILY

Besides the Elite series’ trademark quality listening experience and durability, each of the four products—Elite 45e (left), Elite 65t (upper center), Elite Active 65t (lower center), and Elite 65e—presents specific features

ABRA is launching four newest members of the Elite series in the Philippines - the Elite 45e, Elite 65t, Elite Active 65t, and Elite 65e. First announced at CES 2018, they are the latest to join the Elite family of headphones and earbuds, a series engineered for outstanding music quality and strong voice capability. With the Elite range, headphone users no longer have to make a choice between great music headphones or a headset designed for voice and calls, and can have both with whichever Elite product they choose. The four latest products - Elite 45e, Elite 65t, Elite Active 65t, and Elite 65e - model the bestselling Jabra Elite Sport, the most technically advanced true wireless sports earbuds which set the standard for the Elite product suite by incorporating leading audio technology. Drawing on the GN Group’s long-standing audio, headset and hearing aid expertise, each new Elite product contains unique microphone configurations to ensure users will always be heard, whether you’re speaking to voice assistants such as Alexa or your family, and whether you’re indoors or out on the street. In addition, the companion Jabra Sound+ app allows you to personalise your music to the sound that suits you. In addition to the best-in-class voice and music experience, the new Elite products also come with the security of a two-year warranty against dust and water ingress (two years for the Elite Active 65t also including sweat ingress). While users will experience the great voice and music experience that Elite products offer, they will also be able to choose the wearing style that suits them best. The Elite family includes true wireless and soft neckband variants with the suffix letter signifying the styles clearly using ‘e’ for earbud and ‘t’ for true wireless.

Alexa integration

For those who prefer using voice commands,

the new products allow voice support for all major voice services, now including Amazon Alexa onthe-go. Jabra will be among the first movers to enable this mobile feature, providing customers with access to Alexa directly from the earbuds. With Alexa, you can ask to play music, hear the news, check weather, control smart home devices, and much more. Elite 65t delivers a 4-microphone array and superior sound. While delivering the Elite series’ trademark market-leading voice and music experience and durability, each of the products has its own specific features: Elite 45e (SRP Php 6,999.00*): Engineered for the best voice and music experience. The Elite 45e is for users who want the best combined voice and music experience in a headset with a discreet design and a great fit. This soft neckband (with memory wire) headset has a lightweight form factor and a unique box microphone solution that delivers the clearest voice communication on any stereo wireless headphone. Elite 65t (SRP P10,499.00*): Engineered for the best true wireless voice and music experience. The Elite 65t is a third generation true wireless earbud aimed at those who want the best voice and music experience without wires. It is engineered to ensure a stable wireless connection and best call and voice quality. The 65t includes one-touch access to Siri®, and Google Now™, new integration for Amazon Alexa on-the-go and has up to 15 hours of battery life (with cradle). Elite Active 65t (SRP P11,999.00*): Engineered for active users who want a true wireless voice and music experience while working out. The Jabra Elite Active 65t is for those who want the features of the Elite 65t, while being able to use the earbuds in a sports or training setting. The earbuds have enhanced grip, through special coating, integrated accelerometer for tracking features and IP56 sweat, water and dust certification. The Elite Active 65t has five hours of listening time on one charge with two additional charges in the cradle. Elite 65e (SRP P12,499.00*): Engineered for the best-in-class wireless calls and music. The Elite

65e provides two levels of noise cancellation, including Jabra’s leading Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) solution. In addition, the Jabra Elite 65e offers incredible conversation quality with three-microphone technology that creates a noise-blocking zone—making sure your voice is conveyed with crystal-clear clarity. “By introducing the Elite series, we have demonstrated to headphone users that we understand their needs and that we are fully committed to providing the best voice and music headphone solutions. Our new Elite series accommodates three levels of technology in sound, microphone and voice interaction capabilities, different endurance levels, and both true wireless earbud and neckband solutions,” said René Svendsen-Tune, CEO at Jabra. “With the Elite family, we now offer headsets for every choice of wearing style, use case and price point.” Key features of the Elite franchise: The best voice experience: unique, marketleading microphone technology ensures the best calls and voice interactions on the market. Plus support for all major voice virtual assistants including new integration with Amazon Alexa-on-the-go Personalised music experience: users can adapt their sound to suit their personal preferences with the Jabra Sound app Biggest choice of wearing styles: true wireless, neckband, soft neckband, headband – always the best voice, music and calls Unbeatable durability: two-year life proof warranty against water and dust ingress*, two-year warranty for Active & Sport variants against sweat and dust Find out more about the new Jabra Elite family at: www.jabra.com/elite.

Availability

The Jabra Elite 45e, Jabra Elite 65e, Jabra Elite Active 65t, and Jabra Elite 65t are available at any Power Mac Center, The Listening Room, Lazada, Urban Gadgets, and Egghead stores. *Jabra app registration required, product prices may vary

NEW LG OLED 4K TV COMES WITH FREE NETFLIX By Jordan Pimentel LG TOOK members of the media on different spots around the Metro showcasing its new OLED 4K TV discussing what’s new on their partnership with Netflix on Wednesday. Partnering with Netflix, LG Electronics is offering 6 months worth of subscription with a purchase of its 55” LG OLED 4K TV B8. Customers can redeem 6 months of Netflix Premium (Ultra HD) Streaming Plan P550 with the LG OLED TV with the promo starting from Nov. 15 2018 and will end on Feb. 21 2019. LG OLED 4K TV is equipped with LG’s exclusive a7 Intelligent Processor, which allows for the pre-

mium image quality of LED TV bringing a clearer viewing experience and supports a high frame rate of 120 FPS for streaming. At 55” this TV presents a resolution of 3840 x 2160. It supports different HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HLG HDR, HDR10, and Advanced HDR by Technicolor. With the webOS Smart TV operating system, this TV comes in with intelligent voice recognition that supports up to 10 languages. Dolby Atmos’ surround sound and Dolby Vision for immersive visuals guarantees a full cinema experience at your living room. The LG OLED TV B8 by all means is a Netflix Recommended TV. This means faster start up and run time. The remote control comes with its own Netflix button for convenient access. If you turn your TV

off while on Netflix, it will resume the moment you turn it back on. Get 6 months of Netflix (total value of P3300) with a purchase of the LG OLED TV B8 worth P99,990 or P89,991 straight cash in participating dealer stores nationwide. In order to redeem the promo make sure to; Connect your OLED TV to the Internet. Click on the Wedge Banner to start. Click ‘Sign in and redeem’ then enter your personal details. Read the Terms and Conditions and click on the ‘I agree’ box. Then click on Start Membership. For more information check out: https://www. lg.com/ph/promotions/Netflixpromo

GET NEW IPHONE XR AT POWER MAC CENTER

THE latest iPhone with the most advanced LCD in the industry has arrived at Power Mac Center. Recently, the premier Apple partner in the country welcomed the arrival of iPhone XR with a midnight launch at its flagship store in Greenbelt 3. Customers in line were rewarded with premium accessories, perks from retail partners, and automatic membership to 1 Infinite Card, Power Mac Center’s loyalty rewards card. The newest iPhone has an all-new Liquid Retina all-screen display, faster Face ID, and the smartest, most powerful chip in a smartphone. It also comes in multiple finishes (PRODUCT) RED, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, and Blue in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities. “We at Power Mac Center are grateful for the trust and loyalty of our cus-

tomers and for that, we will continue to bring the latest Apple products and services to the Filipino market at the best deals,” said Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing. Shop the iPhone XR at Power Mac Center stores nationwide. Customers who activate their iPhone XR upon purchase will get P500 Power Mac Center gift certificate from Nov. 19 to Dec. 31. For more information on products and services, visit the Power Mac Center website www.powermaccenter.com or its official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts (@powermaccenter). PRICE LIST: iPhone XR 64GB P52,490; iPhone XR 128GB - P55,490; iPhone XR 256GB - P62,490 *Color: Red, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, Blue

Premier Apple reseller Power Mac Center launches the iPhone XR in its flagship store in Greenbelt 3. The new iPhone XR is now available in Power Mac Center stores nationwide. It comes in different colors (PRODUCT)RED, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, and Blue.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

RCBC ROLLS OUT ENHANCEMENTS IN ONLINE FX PLATFORM RCBC online banking continues to make foreign currency exchanges easier and more convenient for many Filipinos as it now accommodates travel- and investmentrelated transactions. The commercial bank offers frequent travelers a more accessible way to buy or exchange their Philippine peso to foreign currencies. Clients can avoid the hassles of long queues in branches by simply visiting www.rcbconlinebanking. com to pre-order the foreign notes they need before their travel date. They can choose to pick up their money at their preferred branch where the currency is available to save time. RCBC clients who want to grow their money over time can also place their foreign currencies in a 90-day time deposit account. RCBC has competitive rates that can earn higher interest for investments. “We are continuously enhancing our online foreign currency exchange platform to bring relevant and convenient banking services to more Filipinos, to enable them in their financial achievements such as making big investments or funding their dream travels,” says Horacio Cebrero, RCBC Treasurer. RCBC is the first bank in the country to provide online foreign exchange services through its online banking site, eliminating the need for face-to-face or over-thephone transactions. Currently, the online platform offers buying and selling of US Dollar, Euros, Great Britain Pound, Japanese Yen, Singaporean Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Swiss Franc, and Chinese Yuan. RCBC patrons can simply enroll their Peso/Foreign Currency accounts in RCBC online banking to access the online foreign exchange platform services. Those who frequently use RCBC’s online banking platform can open foreign currency accounts to also avail of the latest foreign exchange services. Interested clients can go to the nearest RCBC branch for more information on opening a foreign currency account.

ALCATEL...

From C4

storage (expandable). It sports a 5MP (interpolated to 8MP) rear camera with LED Flash and a 1,500 mAh battery, making it a fine choice for first-time smartphone user. At P2,690, the Alcatel U3 would make a great first smartphone for kids. It’s an intuitive and accessible device that even comes in sharp blue and neon pink versions. Alcatel 3026—For the Young at Heart, P2,490 When you need a phone that’s good at being a phone, Alcatel has that one covered too. The Alcatel 3026 brings the phone back to its roots with a classic flip phone designed to be easy and intuitive to use specially by our elders. It is equipped with a large 2.8-inch screen and an ergonomic keyboard with large buttons to make typing easier. This does more than the old flip you remember, however, as it’s equipped with a 2MP (interpolated to 3.2MP) camera, bluetooth 2.1 compatibility, 3G fast connectivity, and enough space for unlimited entertainment (supports up to 32GB MicroSD card). The 3026 is also designed to be intuitively used by the seniors in our lives. With it’s hearing aid compatibility and SOS feature, the 3026 enables seniors to be connected to the important people in their lives with a press of a button. The package also comes with an easy dock to charge the phone when needed. The senior need not be bothered to slowly plug the charger pin carefully. With its suite of smart and feature-rich phones at incredibly low prices, Alcatel is making firm on its commitment to make smartphone technology more affordable, accessible, and fun for all Filipinos. Alcatel’s new phones will be available at MemoXpress nationwide. You can also check it out in other retailers. Find it in Techbox, Cybertab, Cyberwidget and AccessOne in Greater Manila Area; Wow and Vertext in Northern Luzon; RC Goldline in Visayas; and Expression Mobile in Zamboanga and Dipolog. For online shopping aficionados you can visit the LAZADA and SHOPEE Alcatel Online Stores. For more information, go to https:// www.facebook.com/AlcatelmobilePhilippines/ and https://www.facebook. com/memoxpress98/.

C4 .

TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ALCATEL LAUNCHES 6 NEW PHONES TO SUIT PH LIFESTYLE

CCORDING to a report by Blackbox Research, Filipinos are a highly digitised, mobile-first population, with 87 percent of consumers surveyed owning a smartphone. Smartphones have played a big part on how Filipinos experience the world around them by putting the world at their fingertips. Alcatel is making waves in the Philippine market by launching 6 new feature-rich smartphones that are affordable and accessible for everyone. These new devices enable Filipinos to maximize and enjoy the experience of ‘now’, and are designed to always be ready to help capture those spontaneous and ever-changing joyful moments that make up life. “We’re very excited to launch 6 new Android smartphones to the Filipino market. This shows our commitment to making great mobile technology accessible to everyone,” said Rudolph Santos, Alcatel Philippines Country Head. He added, “Our goal is simple—to make people smile. We believe in innovation that creates and enhances moments of joy for everyone.” Alcatel has designed devices to empower Filipinos to create, share and elevate every moment, and find new ways to enjoy and experience your own personal joy—now. Whatever your lifestyle may be, there’s an Alcatel smartphone for you. Alcatel 1 & 1X – For the practical “Juan” 1: P3,990 1X: P4,990 Filipinos are big on social media. You’d be surprised to find someone without at least a facebook account. They enjoy sharing photos on social media, streaming videos, and playing games. And the Alcatel 1 & 1X delivers these simple joys without breaking the bank. Both the Alcatel 1 and 1X are packed with features you’d be hard-pressed to find at this price point. In fact, these are the first smartphones to feature an 18:9 aspect ratio which fits the palm of one’s hand perfectly and priced in the sub-P5,000 range. The 1X is even finished in a suede texture giving it a premium feel for a P4,990 device. With a built-in 8MP rear camera (interpolated to 13MP) and 5MP front-facing camera (interpolated to 8MP) (both have flash), the Alcatel 1X’s socialmedia ready cameras are capable of capturing high-quality images and videos. It also comes with a suite of intuitive photo editing tools like Instant Collage, Photo Booth, and Social Square, which will allows users to elevate create fun photos to share instantly on social media. Running on a Mediatek MT6739 processor, both smartphones run on Android Oreo (Go edition),

Epson Philippines’ marketing director Eduardo Bonoan

Enjoy life’s moments Now with feature-rich devices at affordable prices

which is designed to give two times the available storage out of the box, freeing up space to do a lot more with the built-in storage on both devices. Alcatel 5V—Premium features at an affordable price, P9,990 Premium features and affordability are two sentiments that never seem to go hand in hand, until the Alcatel 5V series that is. At first glance, the Alcatel 5V looks comparable to most flagship models with its notch design with 2.5D Dragontrail™ glass display and curved glass-like unibody. With the 5V’s 19:9 infinite full view display, it gives users an extensive screen for an encompassing experience. The 6.2-inch display gives an unrestrained screen for that truly enjoyable viewing experience, perfect for streaming videos or playing those fast pace games. The Alcatel 5V also boasts pro-level photography powered by artificial intelligence (AI). With its dual rear cameras with depth-of-field, re-focus, real-time Bokeh, face beauty, and real-time scenes detection, everyday captured moments are sure to be sharp, vibrant, and fun. Adding to the 5Vs premium feature set is intuitive face recognition and fingerprint sensor. It even boasts smart on-demand object recognition with Google Lens. Add all this to an octa-core processor with 3GB/32GB of memory and a big but light 4000mah battery and you get a premium powerhouse to enjoy all-day.

Alcatel 5—For the selfie connoisseur; P8,490 Double the camera, double the possibilities. From intimate portraits to awe-inspiring views, selfies to group shots, the Alcatel 5 has the selfiegame covered with its 13+5MP SmartSelfie Duo Cams. The Alcatel 5 also automatically adjusts to 120 degree super-wide angle selfie when it detects more than 2 faces in the frame, letting you shoot with ease. Its wide angle feature lets users capture 3 times the content, people, and memories. No light? No problem. The Alcatel 5’s low-light performance lets you shoot even in the moodiest lighting conditions. No matter which frame of view you use, you’ll get premium performance with fast focus, increased sharpness and crisp clarity with less distortion. The Alcatel 5 takes some cues from its bigger brother the 5V. Its 5.7-inch bezel-less design coupled with hairline brush finish on the body just oozes premiumness. And it’s even got a fingerprint sensor. Alcatel U3—The perfect first phone; P2,690 The U3 is an affordable 3G Smartphone perfect for the first-time smartphone owner thanks to its ‘simple mode’ that allows easy navigation on the Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). It has a 2MP front-facing camera for selfies. The U3 has a 4-inch 800×480 resolution display powered by a 1.3 GHz Quad-core Mediatek processor, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB of on-board Turn to C3

DELL GM: GEN Z WILL REVOLUTIONIZE WORKFORCE By Paul David L. Gelario THE Country General Manager of Dell EMC believes that Filipinos born after 1996 or Generation Z have the utmost potential to revolutionize the future workplace. “Filipino youth are ready to be part and shape that (digital transformation) journey,” Dell Country General Manager, Ronnie Latinazo said during a conference at the Shangri-La Hotel BGC in Taguig last Nov. 28. A global study led by Dell Technologies shows that 88 percent of Filipino Gen Z, prior toentering the workforce, have cultivated a technology-first mindset. “What is surprising is the level of digital maturity they are bringing the workplace,”said Senior Vice President, South Asia & Korea of Dell EMC, Pang Yee Beng. A whopping 94 percent of Filipinos were also found to be optimistic as they view machines as

partners rather than a threat to their employment. Latinazo further added that to attract the Gen Z, companies should focus on their corporate social responsibility to instill a sense of purpose for them. In Dell, they conduct beach cleaning, for instance, to make a clear statement of their corporate social responsibilities to protect the environment. “We also do beach cleaning. Collect plastic bottles, plastic waste,” said Beng, adding that companies shoud also leverage the strengths of each generation. “You need people with all sorts of skills. So you can leverage them. Diversity is important,” Beng added. Latinazo agreed, further adding that it is good if companies can strike a balance. “Each generation has their own strengths and weaknesses. If you can strike a balance and harness both, it is good.” Latinazo said. According to the study, in 2020 about 20 percent of the workforce will be represented by Gen Z.

EPSON OFFERS PRINT SOLUTION SERVICE By Ram Christian Agustin TO STREAMLINE their customer’s print management, Epson launched its monthly subscription premium service EasyCare360, which features a pay-per-click model and is currently available in Metro Manila. The subscription, which can be bought separately from Epson’s WorkForce Pro WF-C869R printer, aims to provide the users their unit’s consumables, spare parts, repair and maintenance services, while only paying for the total number of pages they print every month. “The detail-obsessed individuals in Epson are committed not only in creating the most innovative products for consumers, but also in developing solutions that will complement these products and help drive business innovation value,” said Epson Philippines’ marketing director Eduardo Bonoan. The service also provides a dedicated technical support team committed to respond on solving on-site issues in over two hours and is available from Mondays to Saturday except National holidays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while deliveries of consumables, remote troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, installation services, and user trainings will be free of charge. “With EasyCare360, we aim to showcase that we are capable of providing end-to-end service to our customers and ensure business continuity,” said Bonoan. EasyCare360 is available upon purchase of the Workforce Pro WF-C869R, an A3 multifunction printer with the lowest-cost color printing in its class which can breeze through professional-quality prints at 24 ISO pages per minute.

K-ARRAY PRO AUDIO SYSTEMS NOW IN PH THRU WESTCO K-ARRAY, Italy’s premier pro audio solutions expert, is finally making waves on Philippine shores with local partner Westco. K-array had its exclusive launch in the Philippines recently at the Vu’s Bar of the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas. To officially launch K-array in the Philippines, Mark Vincent, Area Sales Director and Daniele Mochi, Project Support Specialist & K-Academy Manager from the global HQ flew in to showcase the sensorial masterpiece of the K-Array experience. It was a night of beats and bass, surround sound and amazed audiences. K-array is partnering with Westco in the Philippines, one of the country’s top and leading electrical engineering services firm, led by WESTCO Electrical & Equipment Corp. President Engr. Roddy Peñalosa. The partnership marries the strength of both parties—K-Array’s inno-

vation and design and Westco’s expertise and technical know-how. The KFaces: Shocked and Impressed Members of the media and the city’s top influencers joined Manila’s renowned engineers, architects, and interior experts. Together, they were the first to be in shock and awe when K-array showcased the power of its sound across its sleek and unassuming discreet audio designs. Think: tiny finger-like speakers that pumped up enough sound to get the party started or the slimmest viper speakers that could generate audio for an entire bar. When the audiences realized the power and capacity of the K-array offerings, it became clear how its functional products can figure in the Philippines’ booming spaces. Pro Audio, Sensational Sound K-array is a renowned Italian manufacturer of innovative pro audio solutions with

beautiful yet powerful slim-array technology for small to large-scale applications. Headquartered in Florence, Italy and founded in 1990, K-Array concentrates its efforts and resources in the revolutionary design and manufacture of highly-efficient audio systems that produce unparalleled performance. Since its inception, K-array has maintained its reputation for revolutionary design by developing the next generation of touring systems as well as true line array elements for installed sound and portable systems that are highly intelligible and extremely discrete. With an extensive portfolio of product lines providing ultra compact speaker solutions for medium to large-scale applications, including touring, events, installed sound, and broadcast, it’ll be quick to see K-array applications in the home, commercial establishments, and even huge

concert venues. The K-array Way The needle of the K-array compass is innovation. The ability to understand clients’ needs to realize products once considered unimaginable, that are quick to install and light to handle, providing an abundance of time and cost savings. For K-array, mixing bold innovation with inspirational design causes a chain reaction. The result? High-technological speakers and unconventional options that exceed in both aesthetics and performance. For architectural, design, and functional reasons, K-array effectively offers a visually discrete pro audio system. And there’s no compromise in sound, too in fact, the innovative and technical elements provides the clearest of sound yet can blend into its surrounding, like a chameleon changing its color.

The Lyzard (ultra-miniature line array element) is as small as your finger but packs a punch when it comes to sound quality

Destinations D1

sunday, december 2, 2018

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

8990 Holdings, Inc. chairman Mariano Martinez and president and chief executive Willie J. Uy

Top housing developer enTers hospiTaliTy indusTry

happiness sTorMs This island

Travelers are in for a more fun experience in the Philippines as a housing developer introduces a diverge range of hotels and resorts with the launch of hospitality group 8990 leisure and resorts. 8990 leisure and resorts is a subsidiary of top housing developer 8990 Holdings, Inc. (HOUse). looking to develop a total of 3,000 rooms in the next five years, it seeks to further promote the country as an exciting and enjoyable destination. The country’s newest hospitality group is targeting the following key destinations: Cebu, Makati, Davao, Palawan, Boracay, siquijor, alabang, Manila, Iloilo, legazpi, Clark, lapulapu, siargao, and Baguio. “The Philippine leisure and hospitality industry is on an upswing with the current administration focusing on tourism development. The launch of 8990 leisure and resorts definitely comes at a perfect time,” says Willie J. Uy, president and chief executive officer of 8990 Holdings, Inc.

CATANDUANES CHARMS. Tuwad-Tuwadan lagoon is a tidal pool in the municipality of Pandan tucked in the midst of a rock formation endowed with crystal clear blue-green water, deep enough for a low cliff dive.

He island province of Catanduanes is not your usual getaway destination. Perhaps it is not even part of many’s travel bucket lists what with it being exposed to storms due to its geographical position in the easternmost fringe of luzon. But its location also makes it rich with natural wonders and exhilarating attractions. Catanduanes is an exciting frontier in the archipelago’s Pacific seaboard off mainland Bicol region. Despite its seeming obscurity, this off-the-beaten path hideaway promises pleasant surprises and lives up to its moniker as “The Happy Island.” With an almost infinite coastline, it offers an overload of stunning beaches minus the madding crowd which will make tourists feel like a stranger on the shore. The lack of high-end tourist facilities is compensated by the

abundance of its back-to-nature offerings, each with an irresistible pull and the silhouette of the perfect-coned Mayon volcano in the horizon. Happy moments begin in virac town, the aerial gateway, provincial capital, and center of commerce, transport, and tourist services. a visit to the provincial tourism office at the restored Old Capitol is highly suggested for helpful travel tips and documentation of tourist arrivals. Include in the itinerary is a visit to Museo de Catanduanes for a glimpse of the rich local heritage. For pre-arranged tours, guests

Turn to D2

Puraran Beach is a surfing playground known for its adrenaline-pumping waves.

are regaled by the Padadyaw sa Tinampo, a time-honored folk dance of couples which mimics the courtship of the doves. also called the Pantomina, the age-old dance is performed to welcome special visitors or during social events such

as the recent Catandungan Festival which marked the province’s foundation day To add a meaningful part of the itinerary join a tree-planting activity under the “One Tourist, One Turn to D2

8990 leisure and resorts president lowell Yu

Mina’s susTainable energy for susTainable TourisM

ever since her term as Tourism secretary ended, the indefatigable Mina Gabor has never stopped putting up projects that help our tourism industry. The one that she is proudest of is her International school of sustainable Tourism, the first sustainable Tourism school in the asia Pacific region which she put up to “educate the new generation of leaders.” mercury rising established in 2010, the IssT aspires to By BoB zozoBrado become the premier tourism school in asia-Pacific by 2025, dedicated to the edu- and in our aseaN neighbors. cation and technical training of manpowIt is also dedicated to the improvement er, to develop, promote, and viably oper- of the lives of the people in the communiate sustainable Tourism in the country ties with ecological resources that need to

The spacious lobby of IssT is called Mabuhay lounge.

be preserved and can be sustainably used for tourism. If all our local government units were required to take the various courses in this school, the closure of Boracay wouldn’t have been necessary. It would do our country a lot of good if our Department of Tourism would encourage all lGUs to set aside a certain amount in their respective operating budgets, for them to enroll in the courses offered by IssT. The school teaches residents of tourism destinations how to viably manage their communities so that it will earn for them income and livelihood in tourism. It also helps inculcate in tourism stakeholders and visitors the value of responsible tourism, where people interact with nature in a mutually beneficial relationship. To ensure sustainable Tourism, a visitor at any destination must always remind himself of this mantra: “leave nothing but footprints...Take nothing but pictures...Kill nothing but time.” With the participation of noted international lecturers and resource speakers, IssT offers intensive short-term courses, some as short as three days, while others are as long as three months. These courses are specifically designed for the executive, the working class, and the new graduate who are looking Turn to D2

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon were (from left) sonia roco, IssT president Mina Gabor, Tourism Promotions Board’s Marie venus Tan, and International Institute for rural reconstruction director Philip Usi.

destinations

sunday, december 2, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

mina's...

From D1

to expand their tourism business, or want to specialize in a certain facet of tourism, or improve their knowledge on a certain tourism aspect. since the school opened, it has already served hundreds of students, not only from the Philippines but also from our neighboring countries. classes usually have a minimum of 50 students but, last september, the class on Farm Tourism had 98 students. IssT’s original location, for the past eight years, was at subic Freeport Zone, but mina found a better, bigger location for the school. The new campus, which was inaugurated just the other day, is now at the James yen center, Km. 39, aguinaldo Highway, silang cavite. It is inside the 52-hectare compound of the International Institute of rural reconstruction, fenced in by a greenbelt mini-forest, with crops, trees, and livestock serving as sustainable livelihood models.

east meets West in Bohol

YOUR weekend CHUCkLe a man walks into a bar and says, “Give me a beer before the problem starts!” He drinks the beer and then orders another one saying again, “Give me a beer before the problem starts!” The bartender looks confused. This goes on for a while, and after the fifth beer, the bartender is totally confused and asks the man, “When are you going to pay for these beers?” The man answers, “now the problem starts!”

students of IssT may avail of any of the 64 guest rooms or five cottages at very affordable rates. Just like in regular hotels, the accommodations at the James yen center are air-conditioned, have hot and cold water and, most importantly, Internet connectivity. Food and dining services are available five times a day and guests have a choice of buffet, plate service, or packed, in case they want to partake of their meal at the lawn, al fresco style. Prior arrangements may also be made for vegetarian and kosher meals. For groups which might want to combine learning with team building sessions, the facility has an Olympicsized swimming pool, a multi-purpose court, jogging paths and nature trails, table games, and a karaoke room. If they opt for something different, there is also the camp James yen where guests can pitch tents, have obstacle games, a bonfire, boodle fights, or go bird-watching. as you can see, IssT’s new campus is the perfect setting for those who need to learn the basic tenets of sustainable Tourism. This is why you see our hardworking and indomitable dear friend, mina Gabor, grinning from ear to ear these days—her most important “baby” is bound to take off even higher and faster at its new location. sustainable Tourism will soon be a byword in our industry, thanks to mina’s sustainable energy and her sustainable desire to succeed! For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

top housing...

From D1

Peacock Garden, a hidden gem in bohol, features an east meets west design philosophy as seen in its halls, rooms, and amenities.

HIdden gem in bohol offers a signature mix of old world ambiance and Filipino hospitality, making it ideal for those who want to get away, albeit temporarily, from the christmas flurry in the city. “We’ve always believed in delivering a relaxing, memorable, and world-class experience to show our guests the best qualities of Filipino hospitality, especially during this busy holiday season,” says managing director Frederick christian schoof. a six-time winner of Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ choice award, the Peacock Garden follows an east meets west design philosophy as seen in its halls, rooms, and amenities. On display as guests enter the lobby is dr. Jose rizal’s living room furniture during his time in an 1886 study stint in Heidelberg. complementing this is a wall of picture postcards from the early 1900s, a private collection taking guests to a visual trip to the past. Its nostalgic décor and contemporary exteriors exude a unique charm that captures the hearts of travelers. at the hotel’s Laya restaurant, guests use antique chairs from the

happiness... From D1 Tree” program which has been going on for almost five years now. catanduanes Governor Joseph cua says the program was hatched based on suggestions by foreign tourists who were impressed by the province’s forest cover. He said they take pride in the province’s 60,000-hectare of forests considered as the largest green patch in bicol, which includes the 26,010-hectare Watershed Forest reserve, the 1,500 hectares of old- and second-growth forests, and vast abaca plantations which is home to rare wildlife species. The Philippines’ top producer of abaca fiber, it is listed by the department of environment and natural resources as among the

late 1800s collected from castles and mansions around europe while enjoying a mix of continental and Filipino fare. Homey signature beverages abound, such as sangria made with Philippine coconut wine, gumamela (local hibiscus) iced tea, and third-wave espresso made with local organic coffee beans. each of Peacock Garden’s 33 guest rooms is adorned with cebu-crafted coconut palm and seashell-inspired furniture. Its Fontana aurelia spa combines local hilot and swedish massage techniques, giving a unique and relaxing experience. The hotel also offers a private music and dance club, and an infinity pool with a gorgeous view of bohol sea. In time for the holiday season, the Peacock Garden offers the blissful bohol Package, which includes deluxe accommodation for two, daily breakfast, a three-course dinner at Laya restaurant, and a

tasting platter of the restaurant’s signature homemade ice cream. Guests also enjoy an exclusive 60-minute head, shoulder, and back massage at Fontana, the only Filipino establishment in the 2012 list of condé nast Johansens recommended Luxury spas. also included are a round of signature cocktails best enjoyed with the

country’s most important centers of biodiversity. For homebase, Twin rock beach resort is hands down the ideal choice because of its amenities and recreational facilities such as swimming pools, zipline, zipbike, watersports equipment, and a customized Volkswagen vintage van guests can drive around with. While in Virac, feast on a wide array of bicol cuisine, seafood, and crop-based dishes which are served in homegrown restaurants. For after-dinner cravings, there are cozy coffee shops and watering holes around town. The quaint riverine town of bato is home to two spanish-era religious spots—the shrine of the Holy cross, where the first cross in catanduanes was planted, and the st. John the baptist church which sports a baroque architecture which transports

stephanie Zubiri, Wil dasovich, and mikaela Lagdameo-martinez

8990 Leisure and resorts kicked off with three brands, which are introduced by influential personalities, namely, traveler and writer stephanie Zubiri for adama. adama is a five-star luxury family resort nestled within nature, allowing families to bond amidst lush greeneries. model-turned-entrepreneur mikaela Lagdameo-martinez introduced Kura, a four-star luxury hotel for the trailblazers who are seeking to indulge in the grandness of life. Vlogger Wil dasovich presented argo, a resident urban hotel equipped with essential amenities and tools to help travelers explore, discover, and experience the best of the locale.

Laya restaurant diners sit in antique chairs from the late 1800s collected around europe as they enjoy a mix of continental and Filipino fare.

surfers ride the 'majestic' waves of Puraran beach in baras.

sunset view, roundtrip airport/ seaport transfers, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The Blissful Bohol Package is available at P18,800 for a three-day, two-night stay. To book, call 09177298888 or email relax@thepeacockgarden.com. This promo is valid until Dec. 20.

Padadyaw sa Tinampo, held every October, is marked with street dancing and festivities.

visitors back in time. also within the town is maribina Falls, a three-layer cascade tucked within a lush vegetation and forms ice-cold natural swimming basins, and the stunning islets of Patag, carorian Japanese Kaidan, seaside Waterfalls, Poseidon’s rock, and Pinta beach where adventurers can hop around on board a chartered outrigger boat. a must-see is the iconic Puraran beach in baras, a surfing playground nicknamed “majestic” because of its adrenaline-pumping waves. This once-remote spot has become a tourist colony, events and party place, mecca for surfing tourneys, and a fine cream sand beach for those who want a slower pace of life. up north is nahulugan Falls in Gigmoto which beautifully cascades on three tiers, creating spectacular sprays. Large nest ferns sit on the

branches of these trees throwing in some shadows, giving the area a mystic touch. another social media star is TuwadTuwadan Lagoon, a tidal pool in Pandan tucked in the midst of a rock formation endowed with crystal clear blue-green water, deep enough for a low cliff dive. en route to it is cagnipa rolling Hills, a majestic greenery with a welcoming vista where skies meet the sea, as if they were nature’s artwork in a living canvas. Island hoppers will be delighted by Palumbanes and calabagio isles whose turquoise waters teem with lush marine life ideal for snorkeling and a potential site for scuba diving. With more attractions being uncovered and more tourist activities being introduced annually, every visit to the Happy Island always bring forth happy endings worth remembering.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018

FIVE K-POP

FIL-ITALIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER VIES FOR MISTER SUPRANATIONAL TITLE

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

YOUTUBE VIDEOS TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY MANY Filipinos may not be fluent in Korean, but they sure know their K-Pop. South Korea’s pop music hits are irresistibly captivating with their catchy beats, over-the-top music videos, and lovable heartthrobs. There’s just nothing like a hit K-Pop tune to brighten up your day. Here are five of the most popular K-Pop videos on YouTube to prove it:

Marco with candidates from Puerto Rico and Romania

“Love Scenario” by iKON Classic boy band moves? Check. A story about love that wasn’t meant to be? You got it. Off of the second album Return, Love Scenario is one of iKon’s biggest hits to date, with over 209 million views on YouTube. Local fans are in for a treat as this boy band is scheduled to visit Manila on November 11 as part of their first world tour.

By Eton Concepcion

ILIPINO-ITALIAN model and entrepreneur Marco Poli, 25, will vie against nearly forty ambitious and athletic men from the four corners of the world at the 2018 edition of Mister Supranational pageant in Krynica Zdroj, Poland.

Poli, who hails from U d i n e , Italy and Matabungkay, Batangas and a member of the U23 Philippine National Football Team, will compete on the platform of sports and health awareness. His advocacy focuses on teaching children to undergo physical training to become proactive and responsible citizens. The 6-foot-3 Poli, who is also a fine chef, has been preparing for the competition through intensive physical training and high-definition diet.

“What is Love?” by Twice One of Asia’s most in-demand girl groups ponders this timeless question in this adorable music video, which currently has more than 216 million views. Movie fans will also recognize references to famous films, such as The Princess Diaries, Romeo and Juliet, Love Letter, and La La Land. Marco said that for his preparations, he continued the intensive physical activities and diet he's been on during the national pageant.

“BBoom BBoom” by Momoland You are definitely living under a rock if you haven’t heard of this hit from allgirl ensemble Momoland. With over 279 million views on YouTube, this music video became a viral dance craze in the country, inspiring dance challenge videos from K-Pop fans of all ages.

For the formal wear, casual wear and swimwear competition, he will wear the designs of Adam Balasa. At the pageant, he and his fellow candidates will walk the stage wearing Claudius Scissor collection, by designer Claudius to decide the complementary title-winners of Mister Top Model, Best Body, Mister Personality, Mister Photogenic, Mister Popularity, Best in Formal Wear and Mister Supranational Thermaleo 2018. Six Continental titles will be awarded to the delegates who are out of the Top 5 in the final competition, namely, Mister Supranational Americas, Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The winner of Mister Supranational 2018 will take home a $12,000 cash prize and other gifts and traveling worth nearly $20,000. Now on its 3rd edition, Mister Supranational aims to revolutionize male pageantry and discover new talent for the modeling and television industries and produce instant celebrities. Venezuela’s Gabriel Correa will be crowning his successor on Dec. 8 in Krynica-Zdroj, Malopolska, Poland. Mr. World Philippines national director Arnold Vegafria has urged Filipino fans to support Marco via the Mister Supranational 2018 online polls.

“Fake Love” by BTS With 373 million views and counting, Fake Love was composed by the group’s main rapper and lead RM. BTS is certified K-pop royalty and the group is currently taking the U.S. by storm with a speaking engagement at the United Nations and a sold-out world tour, to name a few.

“Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” by Black Pink After a year of absence, Black Pink released Ddu-Du Ddu-Du—one of the songs in their new album, Square Up. It is currently the second most viewed Korean music video within 24 hours of its release on YouTube. It now has 478 million views, and it’s likely to keep on growing as fans can’t seem to get enough of this sassy comeback hit.

Filipino-Italian model Marco Poli is a rising football player and a chef. He is currently in Poland representing the Philippines in the 3rd edition of Mr. Supranational pageant.

DIGITAL

JOLLIBEE LAUNCHES NEWEST ENTERTAINMENT CHANNEL

LEADING fast-food chain Jollibee is expanding not only around the Jollibee Studios houses the brand’s digital hits, including the world, but also online with the launch of Jollibee Studios. well-loved Kwentong Jollibee videos, two seasons of the quirky, starIt is the first content channel of its kind in Philippine QSR branded studded JolliSavers series 14/29: Petsa de Peligro JolliSery, and the entertainment and aims to deliver quality content that is bound to make viewers cry, laugh, fall in love, and more. “This all-new entertainment channel stems from the wonderful reception towards our latest digital content that we’ve received not only from our fans online but from global industry leaders,” said Arline Adeva, Jollibee AVP for Brand PR, Communications and Digital. “Even in the past, Jollibee has been known to be quite the storyteller, producing many of the country’s most memorable ads. And today, we raise the bar in storytelling and branded entertainment through Jollibee Studios.” Jollibee Studios was officially launched on Nov. 21 in an exclusive event held at Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City. The director and actors from the series unveiled graced the event, along with Jollibee executives, influencers, and media guests. Jollibee has been dubbed a game-changer and the country’s #1 QSR brand in digital engagement. This is thanks to the slew of heartwarming content that have touched the hearts of viewers Pioneering entertainment platform, Jollibee Studios raises the bar in the country and around the world and sparked conversations in digital marketing. between the brand and its audience.

exciting JolliDance Showdowns starring the brand’s most lovable mascot. All of these digital-led projects racked up impressive figures of views, reactions, shares, and comments on Jollibee’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel. The latest series to burst forth from the Jollibee Studios stable is Chickenjoy Perfect Pair’s One True Pair, a romance-serye with episodes under the direction of acclaimed hitmakers JP Habac and Antoinette Jadaone. The episodes premiered on Nov. 22. To date, the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel boasts of over 250,000 subscribers. “We earned those figures by ensuring that our content feels authentic, and touch on relatable experiences and situations that illustrate how Jollibee has touched the lives of generations of Filipino diners,” Adeva said. To recognize this milestone, Google was present during the launch where Jollibee Studios was awarded the Silver Creator Award by YouTube. This is a recognition only given to content creators whose channels have reached the 100,000-subscriber mark. “Pinoy netizens can expect more exciting, engaging, and heartwarming content to come their way in the very near future, all from Jollibee Studios so we encourage everyone to subscribe and keep watching,” concluded Adeva.

sunday, december 2, 2018

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

reMinder to hooMans:

raBies is fataL

By Jose Mari L. Castro, D.V.M.

ABIES remains to be a widespread, neglected and under-reported zoonosis (an illness that humans get from animals) with an almost 100 per cent fatality rate in humans and animals.

open wound to the saliva of a rabid animal. How does the body react to the virus? After the bite, the virus travels through the muscles and nerve cells (neurotropic), towards the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM and eventually the brain, thus causing ENCEPHALITIS. How does an individual get treatment from a rabid dog bite? There is a vaccine called PEP or Post Exposure Prophylaxis wherein a type of vaccine or immunoglobulin is injected intramuscularly to an individual to stop the How does someone get rabies? spread of the virus in the body and Rabies is transmitted through a to stop it from reaching the brain. bite, scratch and exposure of an How do we prevent rabies infec-

My Furry Bestie THIS corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals. For contributions, please email to daycarlos28@yahoo.com and put My Furry Bestie as subject.

WHAT IS RABIES? To make it very simple for us to understand: RABIES is a HIGHLY FATAL viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and almost all mammals What do you see in a rabies-infected human and animal? 1.FEVER 2.FEAR OF WATER 3.EXCESSIVE SALIVATION 4.HALLUCINATIONS 5. PARALYSIS AND 6.COMA. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY DEATH.

Young or old, dogs and cats are given the yearly anti-rabies shot to protect both humans and pets. In the photo is Silver, a senior rescued dog of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL) who is now 14-16 years old.

tion? In humans, there is also a type of vaccine called PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS wherein a vaccine is injected to an individual to protect the individual from rabies infection in case one might be bitten by a dog or a cat in the future. In dogs and cats, a vaccine is available against the rabies virus, it is given at three (3) months of age and given annually thereafter.

COOKIE, a five-year-old Bichon Frise, is a very generous baby, owner Len Inigo says. “She loves giving me kisses!” Len says. Cookie also loves long road trips and playing with Len.

BABY LOVE, a two-year-old female cat, was given to Happie Fua. She became Happie’s constant companions. “Baby Love would always find her way to cuddle up and sleep beside me. A very lazy bedmate, she is!” Happie says. “She is my constant companion. Wherever I go, she goes. I love her to the moon and back!” Happie adds. About the author: Dr. Jose Mari L. Castro or Doc Jomar graduated from the U.P. College of Veterinary Medicine Class of '99, and the founder and medical director of Ask A Vet Medical Clinic in Quezon City. He also worked at the Warren Animal Hospital, Bear Valley Animal Hospital and AmarGlen Animal Hospital, all in Los Angeles, U.S. A.

Ella, a one-year-old rescued beagle, has complete vaccines and has been given an anti-rabies shot. She is now up for adoption.

Editor's note: These stories were compiled by admin Miks Lim of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), a SEC-registered animal welfare group that helps animals in need, and encourages and promotes responsible pet ownership, adoption of rescued dogs and cats from fosters, shelters and pounds, and spaying and neutering of pets to control animal population in the country, among others.

Cats are great pets PETS, may they be dogs or cats, make humans both happy and healthy. Cats though need less maintenance, space and even food, many cat lovers said. Here are “10 Reasons Why Cats Make Great Pets” from Michele C. Hollow of Pet News and Views posted in familycircle.com 1. Bad Rap Andrea Arden, an Animal Planet pet expert and pet trainer, noted that cats are often not given the credit they deserve. “They are often seen as solitary, aloof creatures," she said. Hollow though said that Cats can actually “thrive in a family with children, and can even learn to play games that are traditionally associated with dogs, such as fetch.” 2. Playful and Agile I have seen cats play. They love to play with each other and with humans. Give them a carton and they will scratch at it in a playful mood, and not just to groom their nails. They can play with anything: leaves, slippers, and mats. They are very creative and resourceful. “Cats love to play. They are quite acrobatic too — especially when you

take out a toy fishing pole or a cat dancer toy. They will leap, run, and pounce on the toy, which is great fun to watch, “ Hollow said.

walk them on cold, rainy days. They and fed. Yet you won't have to dote on do prefer doing their business in a them all day.” clean box, so keeping the box tidy is a must.” 9. Cats Are Trainable Cats are easy to train. Like dogs, you 3. Pleasing Purrs 6. Alone Time just have to repeat the commands and Hollow noted: “Ever listen to a cat Cats love an alone time. “You can it helps if you give them a treat after purr? It is one of the most delightful leave a cat home alone for a few they have done the task or what you sounds. Children often squeal when hours, since they don't need to be want until they get used to the comthey hear it.” walked. However, they do need at- mand. Our cats rub against our legs and tention, love, and care. If you're go“You can teach a cat to come when purr. They are quite delightful to ing away for the weekend or longer, called, to not scratch the furniture, watch and to listen to. it's important to hire a pet sitter,” and to retrieve a toy. Just like clicker Hollow said. training with dogs, you can teach 4. Cuddle Time cats with a clicker. It's a good idea to “Cats love to be pet, held, and 7. Easy Care purchase a cat training video or book cuddled. Plus, they are extremely “Cats don't require bathing. They that you can watch or read together loyal. Give them a bit of attention, Zachia, a five-six-month-old kitten, "adopted" our are meticulous about grooming as a family before you get your cat,” family. She came near our car parked in front of and you'll get a lot of love in return,” the gate and got our attention by crying. We gave themselves. If you have a long-haired Hollow said. Hollow said. cat, daily brushing is essential,” Holher food. The next day, she was already in the If trained well, kittens grow up into garage, sleeping on the welcome mat. This kitten low noted. 10. Consider Two Cats cats who will also lie on their belly is such a sweet girl and she loves to be pet, to rub But some cats who have develIt will be truly nice if you can give and allow you to rub them. They can oped some skin problems may need your cat a companion. “If you have herself against us, and to be massaged on the also be taught to keep their claws head and neck, eyes closed and seemingly smiling. a bath every week. Please ask your an active lifestyle, work long hours, in when they play with you. We just She always greets us when we get home, sitting in vet about this. or have the kids in after-school front on the gate. tell the kittens, “ No claws. That will programs, then two cats are bethurt us. You don’t want to hurt us, do 8. Cats Are Content ter than one. They easily entertain you?” Cats are easy to please. Hollow each other. (But) You will still have 5. Litter-Box Trained They love to be pet indeed and will said: “Cats don't require constant at- to devote time to caring, playing, Hollow noted that “Most cats are tention. They are happy just being feeding, and brushing them, “ Hioeven close their eyes in seemingly pure litter-box trained. You won't have to near you. They love to be pet, brushed, llow said. contentment and delight.