Manila Standard - 2019 August 11 - Sunday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 178 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DUTERTE TELLS COPS: YES TO GIFTS, NO TO BRIBES POLICE SECURITY. The Police Security Protection Group conducts a consolidation and accounting of its personnel after rendering election duties relative to the Synchronized Local and National Election—the group has been tasked to provide security to the candidates, members of the Commission on Elections in all Comelec warehouses to transport of election paraphernalia and the canvass of votes. (Inset) President Rodrigo Duterte greets PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde after the latter’s welcome remarks at the 118th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday. Lino Santos, Malacañang Photo

SOLON WARNS VS. CHINESE TOURISM ISLES By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST legislator on Saturday cautioned the administration against the plans of some Chinese companies to develop some Philippine islands into tourism sites. Magdalo Rep. Manuel Cabochan said the Department of National Defense considers China a major threat to national security, owing to the conflict at the West Philippine Sea, where the Chinese took control of some land features being claimed by the Philippines in the Spratly Group of Islands. “The military and other relevant security agencies should have been consulted first regarding this plan. Should the administration allow Chinese companies to develop our islands, our national security would be jeopardized,” said Cabochan, a Navy officer before joining politics. He added: “We can never be sure that the islands will be strictly used for tourism purposes. The fact that Chinese Turn to A2

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CEBUPAC STARTS 3 NEW FLIGHTS FROM CLARK

MMDA DEFENDS YELLOW LANE SCHEME THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has defended the ongoing stricter implementation of the yellow lane policy on EDSA, saying it is not an experiment nor is it related to the planned ban on provincial buses. “That yellow lane policy has long been put in place. It has nothing to do with our provincial bus ban,” MMDA Traffic and Transport Zone Head Bong Nebrija said in a television interview on Saturday. “This is an existing policy. We are not experimenting here,” Nebrija added. Unusually heavy traffic was experienced on EDSA this week as the MMDA enforced the yellow lane scheme strictly. “We will discipline these bus drivers who offload passengers in areas that are not loading and unloading zones,” Nebrija said. “It is sad that these criticisms against us come from people who should be supporting us. We are not implementing a science experiment on EDSA—this is an existing policy.” Earlier, Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate public services committee, said she will question transport officials on Tuesday over the “hellish” traffic that choked EDSA. Concerned sectors were also called to a public hearing on Aug. 13 to explain the gridlock on EDSA amid the test run for the EDSA provincial bus ban. “We will thresh out all these issues in a productive dialogue where all stakeholders will have a voice and will be part of the solution,” Poe said. Senator Francis Pangilinan, for his part, took the cudgels for commuters and called on the MMDA to stop its “anti-family, anti-progress” experiments on EDSA.

By Joel E. Zurbano

BRAVING THE RAINS. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel join the cleanup drive on Saturday at the Baseco Beach in Tondo, Manila. Norman Cruz

POLL OFFICIAL HITS CARDEMA AGAIN

N OFFICIAL of the Commission on Elections has slammed the new set of nominees —led by Ronald Cardema—submitted by the Duterte Youth party-list a day after Cardema was disqualified by the poll body.

“His new list is [filed] under oath. This is another count of material misrepresentation,” Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said. “It shows that Cardema has no respect for the authority of Comelec. He filed that new list a day after our resolution disqualifying him as representative was released,” she added.

Guanzon said she is not discounting the possibility that a petition will be filed against the new nominees of the Duterte Youth party-list. Cardema’s wife, Ducielle Marie, was listed as the group’s second nominee. She was the original first nominee of the group but withdrew her nomination together with the four other nominees in favor of her husband. Comelec earlier denied Cardema’s nomination due to misrepresentation. In a 25-page decision, the poll body cited its previous ruling on Aratea vs. Comelec which canceled the certificate of candidacy of a certain Romeo Lonzanida for misrepresentation. Several youth groups petitioned

against Cardema’s nomination, saying the former NYC head, who was 34 years old before the May polls, attempted to deceive the poll body in claiming he was eligible even if the age qualification provided for a representative of the youth sector under the Party-List Law was limited to 25 to 30 years old. Cardema countered the Duterte Youth party-list represented not only the youth, but also young professionals, which had no age limit. But the Comelec dismissed the argument by pointing out that professionals could not be differentiated from the youth sector as the Duterte Youth constitution and by-laws did not define what a young professional was.

‘P’ IS FOR PROTEST: FAMILIES JOIN HK RALLIES HONG KONG—Armed with balloons and strollers, several hundred families took to the streets in Hong Kong on Saturday to show support for prodemocracy protests that are now in their third month. The colorful and calm atmosphere at the rally was a far cry from the increasingly violent confrontations that have marked recent demonstrations by activists calling for greater freedoms in the city. A leaflet featuring an alternative alphabet was circulated, offering“demonstration” for the letter D, “angry” for A and “protest” for P. Faye Lai was attending with her three-year-old niece and said she hoped the rally would help children understand the tumult that has engulfed the international financial hub in recent weeks.

“We have to tell children about the current situation in Hong Kong, and educate them about what the right kind of society is,” Lai, a stage assistant, told AFP. “The future belongs to the children. Hong Kong’s future is theirs. We are fighting for rights that children should have,” she added. Protests that began in opposition to a controversial bill to allow extradition to mainland China have morphed into a broader movement calling for greater freedoms, including direct election of the city’s chief executive. The family event, billed as a rally to “guard our children’s future,” received a permit from authorities, unlike several other protests that activists have organized for the weekend. “At this stage, we need to come out for any event, especially those for the

A child holds a leaflet showing an alternative alphabet—offering ‘demonstration’ for the letter D, ‘angry’ for A, and ‘protest’ for P—during a ‘guard our children’s future’ event for families who are against a controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong on Aug. 10. AFP

future generation, not just protests and of having a future... Although they marches,” said Roger Cheng, a 50-year- don’t understand [everything] yet, old office worker. they might be able to experience “Like today, it’s for the next gener- freedom, the human need to just do ation to know about the importance what they want.” AFP

 OR ? EMOJI HOUSE SPARKS DEBATE LOS ANGELES—A house painted bright pink and adorned with two giant “emoji” faces is the latest salvo in a bitter feud between neighbors of a wealthy Los Angeles area beach town. In a bid to preserve its distinctive “smalltown feel,” Manhattan Beach banned shortterm rentals lasting fewer than 30 days a few years ago. Despite this, the owner of a house on 39th Street, a stone’s throw from the beach, listed her property on the Airbnb lettings website. K athr yn Kidd was repor ted to local authorities by a group of neighbors and fined $4,000 in May. A few weeks later, the contentious house was repainted a garish pink and was decorated with the two large yellow emoji faces

sporting fake eyelashes. One has his mouth zipped shut, while the other is depicted with his tongue hanging out and his eyes rolled in a delirious fashion. Neighbors believe the emojis are designed to poke fun at them. Susan Wieland, one of the residents who reported Kidd, told local media she had been wearing fake lashes when she spoke to Kidd. However, Kidd insisted her home’s makeover was simply intended to add a little color and character to the street. “Instead of everybody being so gloomy, always so depressed, always in other people’s business, I just wanted to send a message to be happy, be colorful, be positive, and enjoy,” she told the EasyReaderNews website. AFP

CEBU Pacific Air on Saturday announced it has started operating one new international and two domestic flights to and from Clark International Airport. With these new flights to and from Bacolod, Iloilo and Narita, Japan, CEB will become the largest carrier in Clark in terms of capacity by end of the year, capturing 28 percent of total number of seats offered by all carriers operating in the area. CEB operates daily flights from Clark to Bacolod and Iloilo, while direct service to and from Narita is scheduled four times weekly—Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. The airline also announced earlier it will begin operating daily between Clark and Puerto Princesa in Palawan by the fourth quarter of 2019. These four new routes will boost CEB’s total capacity in Clark by 40 percent in 2019 alone, following a 75 percent increase last year with the launch of direct commercial air service to and from Davao and Panglao (Bohol) as well as additional frequency for the Clark-Macau route. “We have been operating flights in and out of Clark since 2006. The opening of these new routes is a testament of how committed we are to continuously develop this hub—we are not only establishing seamless inter-island connections, but also opening up North Luzon to more potential entrepreneurs, both local and foreign, furthering tourism, trade and investment opportunities in Clark and its surrounding areas,” said Lance Gokongwei, CEB president and chief executive officer, in a statement. Meanwhile, legacy carrier Philippine Airlines on Saturday praised the government for its success in improving security condition at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

EX-PBB ACTOR ARRESTED IN MAKATI POLICE arrested and filed a criminal charges against an actor and former Pinoy Big Brother housemate after he allegedly got involved in a commotion at a nightclub in Makati City early Saturday morning. Karlos Lorenzo Gutierrez, 22, a resident of 46 Samar Avenue in Quezon City, was charged with alarm and scandal and resistance and disobedience before the Makati City prosecutors’ office. The authorities arrested Gutierrez after an employee of Karrivin Plaza, a night lifestyle hub along Pasong Tamo Extension in Barangay Magallanes, asked for police assistance about a commotion involving the actor inside the establishment at around 1:20 a.m. When the police responded and talked to Gutierrez, the actor, who was apparently under the influence of liquor, cursed at the authorities and challenged them to a fistfight. One of the responding police officers, Allan Agbayani, asked Gutierrez to calm down but the actor continued shouting and resisting arrest. Upon arrival at the Makati City police station, the actor continued berating the policemen while in custody. “Who are you? You don’t know me. I will ask for your dismissal from service,” Gutierrez said. Joel E. Zurbano

SOFT ON 'LAST 2' GAMING, HARD ON DRUG ADDICTS PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, known for his tough stand against state-run gambling operations alleged to be sources of corruption, has shown his soft side on an illegal numbers game known as “Last Two.” “This Last Two, Last Two, do not mind this, it’s a neighborhood activity,”Duterte said at the 118th Police Service Anniversary in Camp Crame Friday. Addressing his audience in Tagalog, Duterte said “Just kill drug addicts there, do not touch that Last Two.” Republic Act. 9287 defines “Last Two” as an illegal numbers game where the winning combination is derived from the last two digits of the winning sweepstakes ticket from the weekly draw of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Duterte said he was supportive of the Turn to A2

ROLL THEM ON. President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been tough on state-run gambling operations tainted with corruption, appears to have a soft shell on what is popularly known as 'Last Two' which he has described as a neighborhood activity, where the winning combination is derived from the last two digits of the winning sweepstakes ticket from PCSO’s weekly draw.

By Vito Barcelo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has said policeman can accept thank-you gifts, especially if they are given out of generosity for their work, but cautioned them to avoid greed that would lead to corruption. In a speech during the 118th Police Service Anniversary Celebration on Friday, Duterte said he would not sanction policemen accepting gifts, arguing that such an act was not consideréd bribery. In the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson said such action of accepting gratitude gifts might start off ''insatiable greed” among poliçe, stressing “insatiable greed starts with simple, petty grafi (and) could be more addicting than drugs. But neophyte Senator Ronald dela Rosa said receiving gifts was no big deal so long as it was given out of goodwill, adding “anything that is given in the spirit of goodwill is not a problem.” Duterte assured police in his speech he would not sanction policemen for receiving gifts, saying there was nothing wrong with accepting gifts from

someone who feels indebted to the police oflicers. If they give you a gift, accept it. It is not bribery because... It cannot be bribery because it is allowed by law. What I mean if there is generosity in them, [according to the anti-graft law] you cannot accept gifts. That’s insane,” he said during his speech. The President also said he was nót bothered by cops caught playing video karera, an illegal betting game of horse racing played in arcade machines. Presidential Decree No. 46 states that any govermment employee who “receives, directly or indirectly. any gift, present or any other form of benefit in the course of official duties” may face imprisonment of up to five ycars and perpetual disqualification from office if found guilty of violating the decree. Turn to A2

OIL PRICE ROLLBACK: P1.10/LITER By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines led the latest oil price rollback of P1.10 per liter effective 2 p.m. Saturday to reflect the movement of world oil prices. “Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline by P0.50 per liter and diesel by P1.10 per liter effective 2 p.m. Aug 10,”the company said. Phoenix implemented the rollback ahead of its rivals. Seaoil Philippines announced a rollback of P1.10 per liter for diesel, P0.50 per liter for gasoline and P1.30 per liter for kerosene. Chevron Philippines, which markets the Caltex brand, announced the hefty oil price rollback of P1.10 per liter for diesel, P0.55 per liter for gasoline and P1.30 per liter for kerosene effective 12:01 a.m. Aug. 13. PetroGazz will also implement its Turn to A2

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INTEGRATED RESORTS. (From left) Boy Beloso, RWM director for Hotel Operations, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City; Ana Vergara, GM of Sheraton Manila Hotel; Bruce Winton, GM of Marriott Hotel Manila; Kingson Sian, RWM President and CEO; Kevin Tan, Alliance Global CEO; Hakan Dagtas, RWM Chief Gaming Officer; Simon McGrath, GM of Hilton Manila; Jan Marshall, GM of Hotel Okura Manila; and Rey Fabricante Area Director of Operations for Savoy Hotel Manila and Belmont Hotel Manila. In 2009, Filipinos experienced a new kind of thrill as Resorts World Manila introduced the new concept of integrated resorts in the country. This August, RWM marks its first decade milestone in the industry with a grand celebration across all its world-class segments, offering the best deals in hotel and dining with its 10th anniversary promos.

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2 SRI LANKAN TERRORISTS HAVE ENTERED PH, AFP WARNS

DUTERTE...

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Republic Act 6713 also states that government oflicials and employees are prohibited from “soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.” But the Philippine National Police said it was not keen oń allowing cops to engage in video karera operations or accept gifts from the public, despite presidential go-ahead. PNP Spokesperşon Bernard Banac told CNN Philippines Saturday PNP would instead continúe to enforce the law, which prohibits illegal gambling activities such as video karera, or horse racing video machine games. He said: “Definitely any form of illegal gambling is not acceptable and we are the ones enforcing the law so there will be conflict. ano, conflict of interest. “As much as possible, we’d like to let people have their own source of living but if this violates the Iaw being in the law enforcement, we have to enforce the láw.” But the President warned he would not tolerate policemen involved in illegal drugs. “Do not allow your greed to run away with all the irregularities. So that’s my stance.1 won’t sanction you, he said. “I know that, especially the police, if you are able to solve a crime and you guys from Davao you know that. If you are able to solve a crime and the family would like to be generous to you or would nurture feeling of gratitude for what you accomplish, then by all means, accept it. That’s fine with me,” he said. Well, if you’re given a gift, accept it. It cannot be bribery because it is allowed by law. What I mean if there is generosity in them, the anti-graft law says you cannot accept gifts. That’s nonsense.” Duterte said. If you are able to solve a crime and the family would like to be generous to you or would nurture a feeling of gratitude for what you accomplish, then by all means, accept it,” he added.

By Francisco Tuyay

RANKING military officer urged the public to be vigilant following reports two Sri Lankan terrorists might have sneaked into the country to stage a bombing mission in the northern part of Luzon. Reports posted at the Straits Times identified the two terrorists as Mark Kevin Samhoon and Victoria Sophia Sto. Domingo, both tagged as suicide bombers and with relatives in the Philippines and are included in the watchlist. Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, acting commander of the Civil Relations Service, did not dismiss the report, saying they had information relating to it but were validating the report with other government agencies. Arevalo said: “We have to validate that report with other agencies of government. The information immediately available are reports coming from media. “We already have some information that we are checking with another agency.”

Sto. Domingo was reported to have arrived in the country in November 2018 while Samhoon followed her in June this year, but the circumstances of their entry into the Philippines remained unknown. Samhoon is reported to be connected to the Sr Lankan terror network, the National Thowheed Jamath, ((NTJ), an ISIS-affiliated radical organization responsible in the Easter Sunday bombing of St. Sebastian Church in Sir Lanka last April, killing at least 250 people. Last week, the military’s intelligence branch was alerted and urged to pursue leads to the reported terrorist planned attacks in still unspecified targets in Northern Luzon. Reports said Samhoon’s mother

was working as overseas Filipino worker in Dubai. He had unclear links with Sto. Domingo who holds a Philippine and a Sri Lankan passport and was described as a “black-belter” who had trained children and women in bomb-making techniques. The Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research through its head, Rommel, said Sto. Domingo was reportedly involved in plotting the suicide attack in January this year on a Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sulu, that killed 23 people and wounded 100 others. Indonesian authorities tagged two of compatriots Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani as the bombers. Meanwhile, the Benar News reported that Samhoon and Sto. Domingo were already with a faction of Filipino militants in Luzon where most extremist groups linked to ISIS normally operate. The terror group Suyuful Khilafa Fi Luzon, formed by the remnants of the Rajah Sulaiman Islamic Movement (RSIM), is reportedly planning attacks on churches in Luzon, with the help

SPEAKER VOWS PURGE OF HOUSE 'NARCO-POLS' By Maricel V. Cruz

SOFT...

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gambling activity when he was mayor of Davao City for more than two decades. Speaking in Tagalog, he said those who collected bets in the Last Two were poor. “Sometimes police arrest them, they are even breastfeeding their children... I told Bong [Senator Christopher Go] to pay for the bail. I told the policemen, they will have to pay for the bail if they make any more arrests..” The President said law enforcement authorities should intervene only if syndicates would take over these smalltime betting games. At the same time, Duterte indicated he might not be able to completely eradicate jueteng, a popular illegal numbers game. State-run small town lottery (STL), which has been perceived to be a legal front of jueteng, remains suspended following Duterte’s verbal order to stop all games, licenses and franchises under the PCSO over the supposedly widespread corruption. Retired and incumbent officers of the police and military should be free to own small town lottery franchises, for as long as they are corruption-free, Duterte said. Duterte also addressed the issue of retired generals’ alleged involvement in corrupt STL practices, as earlier revealed by Senator Panfilo Lacson, former chief of the Philippine National Police. “Let me say this to you now. There are allegations that police generals retired are into the STL, lotto, and what not. I said you do not have any problem with me,” Duterte said. He added: “If it’s a bidding, you participate, as long as it is not rigged in your favor and you secure it, complying with the laws, no corruption, I will not begrudge you. “If it’s clean, you don’t deprive government of money due to the country and the people, that’s okay with me.” But Duterte advised police and military officials to request assignment in a place where there is no gambling or other business operations, for the sake of “honor, delicadeza.” “That is my advice not only to you police officers, but also the military and for that matter any government employee who is a citizen of this country, we should not be deprived of that activity which can contribute to our general welfare.”

from Samhoon and Sto Domingo. The RSIM whose membership consists of “Balik-Islam was founded by Ahmad Santos in 1995 whose cell was secretly established in Pangasinan. The terror group, however, was busted by police intelligence agents under then Gen. Boogie Mendoza. Reports said the militants were planning to pull bomb attacks in Luzon, apparently to send message that their influence was spreading in places far from their strongholds. This developed as Arevalo urges the public to remain calm and continue their routine, “but they should remain vigilant and alert. [They should] report their unusual observations to the AFP and PNP.” President Rodrigo Duterte on Aug 5 voiced concerns over possible ISISinspired attacks in Luzon. “I have ISIS, and this is what I am most afraid of,” he said in a speech. “I am praying, really praying, kneeling before God, to spare us the kind of brutality and cruelty [ISIS brings] because it will really be bloody, bloody as it can be.”

HOPE IN HOOK. Two men have hopes as they cast Saturday their fishing hooks and bait for fishing at the Baseco Beach in Tondo, Manila. Norman Cruz

HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday vowed to rid the lower chamber of narco politicians, saying “If there is a drug user or, worse, trafficker or protector in Congress, I will join the move to cleanse Congress of those characters.” He added: “Let me assure you that the Congress of the Philippines is behind you and we will do everything possible, and we ask for closer coordination.” Cayetano promised to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that Congress would give them what they want. The PDEA is responsible for efficient law enforcement of all provisions on any dangerous drugs and/or precursors and essential chemicals. “If you need more funds, just tell me. If you need training funds just ask us,” Cayetano said. Cayetano, whose speakership was endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, also maintained his support to the administration’s war on drugs, which he said was “not war on life.” He said: “The anti-illegal drug campaign, or the drug war as well call it, is not a war on life. “Our intention is not to kill people. Our intention is to protect human life, to protect the life, liberty of our people, to protect our people by giving them safe areas to live in, safe streets to walk and safe places to work.”

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firms have chosen islands of importance to strategic maritime security is enough to raise doubts on their motives. We should have learned our lessons. China says something in public, but does otherwise on the ground.” He said: “If the administration approves the plan of the Chinese companies, we will fall into their trap. “The administration will be the very enabler of China’s creeping invasion.” The government reportedly plans

to allow Chinese firms to develop at least three Philippine Islands into tourist destinations: Fuga Island in Cagayan, Grande and Chiquita islands in Zambales. Military authorities, meanwhile, raised caution against government plans to allow Chinese investors to develop the three islands. The investment plans were part of the business deals signed during the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to

China in April for the Belt and Road Initiative Forum. These islands are said to be the main strategic locations because they were made part of the defense parameter in the West Philippine Sea. “There’s no doubt that these island features have strategic security impacts on us if these were to fall into the hands of other people. They have a strategic importance for our defense,” military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.

“While we approve of our economy getting a boost, we should also consider the security aspect that may be compromised if we fail to adequately study the implications of leasing these to foreigners,” he added. CEZA administrator Raul Lambino, for his part, said there was no concrete proposal as yet from the Xiamen-based Fong Zhi Enterprise Corp., which wants to put up a $2-billion “smart city” on Fuga Island in Cagayan province.

demand to reach 1.1 million barrels per day this year, lower by 100,000 barrels per day forecast. Last week, however, the oil firms did not move domestic oil prices. On July 30, the oil firms cut the price of gasoline by P0.95 per liter but raised the price of diesel by P0.15 per liter and P0.10 per liter.

As this developed, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said last week that inspite of the injunction issued against the unbundling circular, the Department of Energy is looking at legal ways to inform the public on the computation of pump prices. “We did all the process, we did the pubcon, now despite all of those, there is an injunction. We’ll just have to find

legal ways on how to properly inform the public....That’s the right of the affected companies, they are exercising it, we respect the court but it doesn’t mean we will stop from finding ways how we can, how we can keep the people informed,”he said. Cusi said government is still looking at oil importation although this has been delayed.

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own price cut effective 6 a.m. Tuesday of P1.10 per liter for diesel and P0.50 per liter for diesel. World oil prices moved downward last week due to expectations of softening of demand due to the ongoing US-China trade war. The International Energy Agency reported last week that it expects oil

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IMMIGRATION COMMISSION IN PLACE OF BI —ZUBIRI

LPA, MONSOON RAIN BOOST ANGAT DAM WATER LEVEL ANGAT Dam’s water level may reach the 180-meter minimum operating level as Luzon is expected to experience more rain, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said on Saturday. PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said the continuous rain can increase the volume of water in the reservoir. “A daily average rise of 0.30 meter to 0.40 meter can bring Angat’s water level to the MOL by this month’s end,” he said, taking into account the 36 cubic meters per second water allocation of the dam for Metro Manila. Orendain said tropical cyclones (TCs), low-pressure areas, the southwest monsoon (habagat) and thunderstorms can still bring rain to Luzon including the watershed hosting Angat. Angat Dam supplies irrigation, power generation, and Metro Manila’s water needs. The government earlier suspended the release of Angat water for irrigation, if its water level dips, to ensure a continuous water supply for Metro Manila. This year, Angat Dam’s water dipped below the MOL due to El Niño phenomenon or the prolonged dry spell. For August, PAGASA has forecast two to four TCs in the Philippine Area of Responsibility, one of which became Typhoon “Hanna” (international name Lekima). PAGASA reported that Angat’s 6 a.m. water level on Saturday was at 172.31 meters, which is 1.43 meters higher than the 170.88 meters elevation 24 hours earlier. Orendain said ‘Hanna’, which exited the PAR, helped Angat recover by enhancing “habagat.” “Even if TCs don’t landfall, these weather systems can still enable “habagat” to bring more rain,” he said. PNA

BFP’s 28th. An officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection demonstrates safety procedures to children anniversary celebration held at the Rizal Park in Manila. Norman Cruz

during the bureau’s 28th

SOLON PUSHES PROBE OF RICE CARTEL

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Philippine Competition Commission will do well to investigate rice millers and traders for allegedly violating the Competition Act, a lawmaker said, claiming that they were abusing farmers by taking advantage of their dominant market position.

Assistant Minority Leader Stella Luz Quimbo—a professor and department chairman at the University of the Philippines’ School of Economics and a member of the PCC prior to being elected to Congress—noted that inflation was down to 2.4 percent in large part due to the decrease in rice prices. The price of rice decreased by about 2.9 percent since the Rice Tariffication Law came into effect. However, Quimbo said that “while the price of rice we buy in the public market dropped by 2.9 percent, the price of palay (unmilled rice) sold by farmers to rice traders and middlemen plunged significantly more, by 17.48 percent. In short, the farmers are shouldering the

substantial portion of the reduction in rice prices.” “That is just not fair,” she added. This unfair situation, Quimbo said, points to a conclusion that rice millers and traders are abusing their market position to the detriment of the rice farmers. “It is a clear violation of section 15(g) of the Philippine Competition Act; rice millers and traders cannot abuse their dominance and severely undercut the price of palay bought from farmers,” she said. “The Philippine Competition Commission should resolve soonest its investigation of rice cartels and file cases where necessary.” She cited Section 15(g) of the Competition Act which states: “It shall be prohibited for one or more entities to abuse their dominant position by engaging in conduct that would substantially prevent, restrict or lessen competition” by “directly or indirectly imposing unfairly low purchase prices for the goods or services of, among others, marginalized agricultural producers.” She said economic managers led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez should be commended for their efforts to ease inflation, while the 17th Congress should be credited for passing the Rice Tariffication Act, which has helped reduce rice prices. “The administration’s economic team correctly diagnosed the inflation problem—it was a food problem. Congress, on the other hand, came up with the right medicine—The Rice Tariffication Act.”

DSWD, OPAPP SIGN DEAL ON MORO PACKAGES THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Department of Social Welfare and Development have signed a Memorandum of Agreement through which socioeconomic packages will be provided to soon-to-be decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The assistance packages will be given under the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. “I would like to express the department’s full commitment to the implementation of the Bangsamoro transitory support package and its livelihood settlement grants,” said DSWD Secretary Joselito Rolando Bautista in his remarks during the MOA signing. “We assure you that the implementation of these programs for our [soon-to-be] decommissioned MILF

MEDICAL MISSION. A

volunteer nurse examines the eyes of a young patient during a medical mission for the Muslim community at the Golden Mosque of Quiapo, Manila on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. Norman Cruz

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista

combatants and their family members will be done with integrity and transparency,” Bautista said. The MOA will focus on three objectives: (1) the adoption of conflictsensitive and peace promoting approach in the implementation of socioeconomic assistance; (2) assistance to the decommissioned com-

batants’ transition to civilian life and its facilitation on the transformation of six acknowledged MILF camps into peaceful and productive communities; and (3) establishment and operationalization of institutional partnership and coordination mechanisms at the national and regional levels. The socioeconomic aspect is part of the four main components of the Normalization Track of the CAB. The other three are security, confidence building measure, and transitional justice and reconciliation. At the heart of the Normalization process is the complete transformation of MILF combatants into peaceful and productive members of the communities. The MILF weapons will be put beyond use. They will also be equipped with livelihood skills and provided with livelihood support that will

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri

prepare them for reintegration to mainstream society. Last week, 225 members of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces underwent basic military training to capacitate them as members of Joint Peace and Security Teams. JPSTs are composed of members of the MILF-BIAF, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine National Police who will be tasked to ensure the security of residents within the six government-acknowledged MILF camps during the decommissioning process. In his message during the event, Presidential Peace Adviser on Peace, Unity and Reconciliation Carlito G. Galvez Jr. emphasized how the socio-economic aspect of the Normalization will help uplift the lives of the former combatants and their families.

TRYES CLASS ‘83 REUNION THE Teodoro R. Yangco Elementary School Class of 1983 will be having a reunion dubbed “Y.E.S. -B83: Back To The Teachers” on Monday (Aug.12, 2019), 1 p.m. at the Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila. Century Park 2016 and 2011 Inter Nuwhrain singing contests champion Cesar “Sarsi” Cenit and Pop-Rock Band artist Salvador “Buddy” Almazan will attend the occasion. Batch 83 Outstanding Student Joann Dy-Suriaga, P/Lt. Ramil Rumbawa of the Northern Police District, and Yangco Elementary School teachers will also join the reunion. All the members of this class are invited to take part and celebrate the spirit of our alma mater by coming together on this special day.

By Joel E. Zurbano SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is pressing for a measure creating a new commission to institutionalize immigration policies. “To establish the Philippines as a formidable force in the international scene, the government must first institutionalize our immigration policies,“ Zubiri said. Zubiri, in filing Senate Bill No. 107 or the Philippine Immigration Act, proposed the creation of a Commission on Immigration, that will be charged with establishing “protection for the nation’s sovereignty, territory, security, interest, and right to selfdetermination.” Under the proposed measure, the Commission shall be directed to require foreigners to secure a visa before they are able to enter Philippine territory as nonimmigrants. It shall also set a quota or a cap on immigrant foreigners entering the country. It shall also be responsible for the evaluation and granting of refugee status to persons fleeing their home nations for protection on Philippine shores. The Commission shall also have Regional Immigration Offices that are accessible to all citizens in all corners of the Philippines. Zubiri also proposed the creation of Boards of Inquiry in crucial areas of specialization such as the following: deportation, revocation of immigration status, application for recognition of Philippine citizenship by reason of birth or marriage, application for legalization of residence, application for issuance of visa for stateless persons. “Pro-active persons shall be appointed to the Board as they have only five days to resolve cases brought to them as enumerated and perform other duties and functions as directed by the Commissioner,” he stressed.

HANGING BRIDGE LINKS REMOTE AREA TO REST OF VIZCAYA THE Department of Public Works and Highways has completed the construction of the 75-meter-long hanging bridge in a remote barangay in Nueva Vizcaya, allowing residents to cross a river in going in and out of their far-flung community. The P1-million hanging bridge constructed by the DPWH in Barangay Aurora in Nueva Vizcaya will to put an end to the ordeal of locals in Barangay Aurora, most especially the students who attend classes at Barangay Boliwao Elementary School, located on the other side of the tributary of Magat River, DPWH said. According to DPWH-Nueva Vizcaya First District Engineer Oscar G. Gumiran, the construction of the hanging 75.20-lineal meter steel bridge was undertaken by DPWH–Nueva Vizcaya First District Engineering Office (DPWH-NVFDEO) funded under the 2019 Local Infrastructure Program. “Prior to the completion of this project, students walk for about 5.35 kilometers, rain or shine, just to go to school. But now, this bridge will provide a safer and shorter connection for the students and stakeholders in the area,” Gumiran said. Vito Barcelo

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CEBUPAC STARTS 3 NEW FLIGHTS FROM CLARK

By Joel E. Zurbano

BRAVING THE RAINS. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel join the cleanup drive on Saturday at the Baseco Beach in Tondo, Manila. Norman Cruz

POLL OFFICIAL HITS CARDEMA AGAIN

‘P’ IS FOR PROTEST: FAMILIES JOIN HK RALLIES HONG KONG—Armed with balloons and strollers, several hundred families took to the streets in Hong Kong on Saturday to show support for prodemocracy protests that are now in their third month. The colorful and calm atmosphere at the rally was a far cry from the increasingly violent confrontations that have marked recent demonstrations by activists calling for greater freedoms in the city. A leaflet featuring an alternative alphabet was circulated, offering “demonstration” for the letter D, “angry” for A and “protest” for P. Faye Lai was attending with her three-year-old niece and said she hoped the rally would help children understand the tumult that has engulfed the international financial hub in recent weeks.

future generation, not just protests and marches,” said Roger Cheng, a 50-yearold office worker. “Like today, it’s for the next generation to know about the importance

of having a future... Although they don’t understand [everything] yet, they might be able to experience freedom, the human need to just do what they want.” AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TRASH FOR TICKETS ON INDONESIA’S ‘PLASTIC BUS’

EDITORIAL

ONE STEP FURTHER

OMORROW, we join governments round the world, including the Philippine government, and others in drawing attention once more to International Youth Day, observed annually since the first in 2000. We will see and experience in the local scene concerts, workshops, cultural events as well as meetings involving national and local government officials, with youth organizations expectedly participating. Through these activities, hopes are high the day would be able, properly, to put in sharper focus the difficulties the young people are facing today. Themed “Transforming Education,” we join the cogwheels of this event in highlighting efforts to

make education more inclusive and accessible for all youth, including efforts by the youth themselves. Implanted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”— International Youth Day 2019 will examine how governments, young people and youth-led as well as youth-focused organizations and other stakeholders, are transforming education so that this becomes an Herculean tool to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We agree with advocates that inclusive and accessible education is a matter of life and death to achieving sustainable development and can play a critical role in preventing conflict. It is an axiom that education is a “development multiplier” as it plays an epoch-making role in accelerating progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations: poverty eradication, good health, gender equality, decent work and growth, reduced inequalities,

action on climate or peaceful societies. We cannot disagree with the argument that education should lead to pertinent and effective learning outcomes, with the content of school curricula being appropriate for purpose, not only for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the future of work, but also for the opportunities and challenges that rapidly changing social contexts bring. We note the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world. To date, those who have gained the most from it have been consumers able to afford and access the digital world; technology has made possible new products and services that increase the efficiency and pleasure of our personal lives. Ordering a cab, booking a flight, buying a product, making a payment, listening to music, watching a film, or playing a game—any of these can now be done remotely. Tomorrow’s manifesto is today’s.

COMMUTING WITHIN THE SOLAR SYSTEM HOW do we send a spacecraft to outer space? How does it get to another planet or planetary body? The most basic physics answer is that a spacecraft has to change its speed in order to get around. In the space sciences, the change of speed needed for an object to get from one part of the universe to another is called delta-V. The delta in delta-V is a Greek letter that stands for “change of”. Meanwhile, the V stands for velocity, which is an object’s speed plus its direction of motion. Right now, as you are sitting while reading this, you are moving at incredible speeds with respect to the center of the Earth. You are moving at even greater speeds with respect to the center of the Solar System inside the Sun. Speed, after all, is always relative. Nothing in the universe has an absolute speed. Speed is always measured with respect to a chosen reference frame. Back to the topic of sending things to space. I mentioned the fact that you are moving at great speed with respect to the Earth’s center because that is important when thinking about sending spacecraft into orbit around

the Earth. Right now, even if you are stationary with respect to the ground, you are moving at a whopping 1,700 kph with respect to the Earth’s center. However, to send a spacecraft into orbit, you must make it travel at speed even much faster than this. How fast? Now imagine throwing a ball horizontally. After some time it falls on the ground in front of you. To get there, it followed a certain path. Scientists call the shape of this path a parabola, and they would say that the ball had a parabolic trajectory. Now imagine throwing the ball faster. You will notice that it falls farther from you. The faster you throw the ball, the farther it falls from you. The amazing thing is that, there is a throwing speed at which the ball falls to the ground in such a way that the Earth curves underneath it. At this speed, the ball will keep on falling while the Earth will keep on curving underneath it, so the ball will never hit the ground. It will keep on orbiting the Earth! Of course this imaginary scenario is impossible because there will be many things in the way of the ball. There are trees, buildings, people, mountains, and most especially there

will be air. Even without the other obstacles, the air resistance will eat away at the ball’s speed and will slow it down, making it fall to the ground even if it had enough speed. But what if you hurl the ball high into space, where there are no obstacles, including air? Well then that ball becomes a satellite of the Earth! That is how we send satellites into orbit: we use rockets to hoist them up into space, and then we push them horizontally at high speeds so that they fall in such a way that they never hit the ground. How fast should we hurl spacecraft horizontally so that they orbit the Earth? In the orbit of the International Space Station and the Philippines’ Diwata-1 microsatellite, the answer is 27,600 kph with respect to the ground! Now remember that an object on the ground is actually moving at 1,700 kph with respect to the Earth’s center. The difference between this speed and the required speed of orbit, 27,600 kph, is the delta-V needed. That is a delta-V of 25,900 kph. The orbit of the ISS and Diwata-1 is not that high by the standards of

By Harry Pearl DOZENS of people clutching bags full of plastic bottles and disposable cups queue at a busy bus terminal in the Indonesian city of Surabaya— where passengers can swap trash for travel tickets. The nation is the world’s secondbiggest marine polluter behind China and has pledged to reduce plastic waste in its waters some 70 percent by 2025 by boosting recycling, raising public awareness, and curbing usage. The Surabaya scheme has been a hit in the city of 2.9 million, with nearly 16,000 passengers trading trash for free travel each week, according to authorities. “This is a very smart solution. It’s free and instead of throwing away bottles people now collect them and bring them here,” explains 48-yearold resident Fransiska Nugrahepi. An hour-long bus ride with unlimited stops costs three large bottles, five medium bottles or 10 plastic cups. But they must be cleaned and cannot be squashed. There is a steady stream of people squeezing past sacks full of recyclables to deposit plastic in four bins behind the small office and claim their tickets. Franki Yuanus, a Surabaya transport official, says the program aims not only to cut waste but also to tackle traffic congestion by encouraging people to switch to public transit. “There has been a good response from the public,” insists Yuanus, adding: “Paying with plastic is one of the things that has made people enthusiastic because up until now plastic waste was just seen as useless.” Currently, the fleet consists of 20 near-new buses, each with recycling bins and ticket officers who roam the aisles to collect any leftover bottles. Authorities said roughly six tons of plastic rubbish are collected from passengers each month before being auctioned to recycling companies. Nurhayati Anwar, who uses the bus about once a week with her threeyear-old son, said the trash swap programme is changing how people see their throwaway cups and bottles. “Now people in the office or at home are trying to collect [rubbish] instead of just throwing it away,” the 44-year-old accountant told AFP after trading in several bottles for a free ride. “We now know that plastic is not good for the environment—people in Surabaya are starting to learn.” Other parts of Indonesia, an archipelago of some 17,000 islands, are also trying to tackle the issue. Bali is phasing in a ban on singleuse plastic straws and bags to rid the popular holiday island of waste choking its waterways, while authorities in the capital Jakarta are considering a similar bylaw to rid the city of plastic shopping bags. Governments around the globe are increasingly taking measures to curb the menace of disposable plastic. A 2016 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation warned there would be more plastic than fish, by weight, in the seas by 2050. It estimated eight million tons of plastics enter oceans annually. It added: “This is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. If no action is taken, this is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050.” AFP

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE PECIER DECIERDO space. At a mere 400 kms. above the ground, this place is called the Low Earth Orbit or LEO. To get from LEO to where the GPS satellites, the ones that help us navigate, are orbiting, an additional delta-V of around 14,000 kph. Meanwhile, to go from LEO to an orbit around the Moon, a delta-V of around 22,000 kph is needed. To land on the surface of the Moon, an additional 6,000 kph is needed. Every kph of delta-V means kilograms of expensive fuel. This is why when you look at the paths of actual spacecraft moving across the Solar System, they are actually more roundabout. They pass by other planet for gravitational assistance that increases their delta-V without using much fuel. Right now, all this talk sounds a bit too abstract or distant. However, in the future, such a way of viewing the Solar System might be second nature to our descendants who will be shuttling back and forth across our neighbors in space.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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AT LEAST 13 PERISH AS ‘LEKIMA’ HITS EAST CHINA

HIGH VIEW. Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma (Mount of Mercy), southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca as the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage approaches on Saturday. Arafat is the site where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon about 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the pilgrimage. The ultra-conservative kingdom, which is undergoing dramatic social and economic reforms, has mobilised vast resources for the six-day journey, one of the five pillars of Islam. AFP

SHANGHAI—At least 13 people were killed and 16 others missing in a landslide after Typhoon Lekima hit eastern China, national television reported Saturday. The tragedy occurred in the municipality of Wenzhou, which was in the path of the storm as it made landfall overnight, CCTV said. Lekima slammed into southeastern China early Saturday, bringing torrential rain and heavy winds that knocked out power, downed thousands of trees and forced more than one million people from their homes, state media reported. The monster storm made landfall in the early hours in Wenling City packing winds of 187 kilometres per hour (116 miles per hour) and was expected to churn up the east coast towards Shanghai, Xinhua news agency said. More heavy rain was forecast for the Shanghai area as well as the eastern provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with authorities warning of possible flash floods, mudslides and landslides caused by the downpours. In Zhejiang province alone, nearly 300 flights were cancelled, and ferry and rail services were suspended as a precaution. More than a quarter of a million people were relocated in Shanghai, where the high-speed maglev train that links the city to one of its airports was suspended. More than 110,000 people were housed in shelters. China issued a red alert as the storm approached on Friday, before downgrading the level to orange as winds eased on Saturday morning. The storm had earlier swept past the northern tip of Taiwan on Friday, where nine people were injured, thousands of homes lost power temporarily and more than 500 flights were cancelled. Last September, Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into mainland China where authorities evacuated more than two million people, after it left a trail of destruction in Hong Kong and Macau and killed at least 59 people in the northern Philippines. AFP

US, CHINA ESCALATE WORD WAR OVER HK

ASHINGTON—The United States and China have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over prodemocracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers.

In the latest exchange, Washington on Friday called out Beijing-backed news outlets for sharing “dangerous” reports after a newspaper revealed personal information about an American diplomat in Hong Kong who met with

pro-democracy activists. “Official Chinese media reports on our diplomat in Hong Kong have gone from irresponsible to dangerous. This must stop,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus posted on Twitter. Beijing has increasingly pitched the antigovernment protests in the semi-autonomous city as funded by the West, at one point describing violent unrest in the city as “the work of the US.” But China has provided little evidence for the claim beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians. The Hong Kong-based, pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao reported that the political unit chief of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh, had met with members of the political party Demosisto—including prominent democracy

RUSSIA: 5 DEAD IN ARCTIC MISSILE TEST EXPLOSION

A man and a dog walk past a house damaged by a landslide in Kalaw village in Bilugyun township, Mon State on Saturday. At least 22 people were killed when a landslide triggered by monsoon rains struck a village in eastern Myanmar, as emergency workers continued the search for scores more feared missing. AFP

MYANMAR LANDSLIDE KILLS 22, MANY MORE FEARED MISSING

MAWLAMYINE, Myanmar—At least 22 people were killed when a landslide triggered by monsoon rains struck a village in eastern Myanmar, as emergency workers continued the search Saturday for scores more feared missing. A huge brown scar on the hillside marked where the deluge of mud descended on Ye Pyar Kone village in Mon state on Friday, wiping out 16 homes and a monastery. Search and rescue teams worked through the night trying to find survivors and recover bodies from the deep sludge. “So far we have found 22 bodies and 47 injured people,” said local administrator Myo Min Tun.

Officials believe up to 100 people could still be missing. Aerial pictures showed broken remnants of rooftops and other debris from the houses strewn next to trucks knocked over by the force of the mudslide. Htay Htay Win, 32, told AFP that two of her daughters and five other relatives had still not been found. “I heard a huge noise and turned around to see my home being hit by the mud,” she said, crying. Rescue workers spent Saturday morning loading bodies wrapped in plastic onto the back of flatbed trucks as worried villagers looked on. AFP

MOSCOW—Russia’s nuclear agency on Saturday said an explosion at an Arctic missile testing site had killed five of its staff after the military had put the toll at two. The accident on Thursday happened during testing of a liquid propellant rocket engine at a missile test site in the far northern Arkhangelsk region. In a statement, Rosatom said the accident killed five of its staff and injured three, who suffered burns and other injuries. The statement came after authorities in a nearby city said the accident had caused a spike in radiation levels, but the military had denied this. Rosatom said its staff were providing engineering and technical support for the “isotope power source” of the missile engine. The authorities have released few details of the accident at the Nyonoksa test site on the White Sea, used for testing missiles used in nuclear submarines and ships since the Soviet era. The defense ministry initially said that six of its employees and a developer were injured while two specialists died of their wounds. The authorities in Severodvinsk, a city around 30 kilometres (19 miles) away from the test site, said on their website that automatic radiation detection sensors in the city “recorded a brief rise in radiation levels” on Thursday morning, without saying what the levels were. The post was later taken down. Russian online media published unattributed video that journalists said showed a line of ambulances speeding through Moscow to take the injured to a center that specializes in the treatment of radiation victims. Rosatom said that the injured were being treated at a “specialized medical center.” The Soviet Union saw the world’s worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl in 1986, when the authorities sought to cover up the seriousness of the disaster. AFP

EX-PRESIDENT OF PANAMA ACQUITTED OF ESPIONAGE RAP

PANAMA CITY—Panama’s ex-president Ricardo Martinelli was acquitted on charges of spying on political foes and misappropriation of public funds in a court decision Friday. The case marked the first time a Panamanian former president was tried in criminal court. The 67-year-old supermarket tycoon was accused of spying on some 150 opponents between 2012 and 2014 as well as using state resources in the pursuit, including $13 million in equipment which subsequently disappeared. Martinelli “is found not guilty,” said Raul

Vergara, one of three judges on the tribunal. Shouts of joy from Martinelli’s supporters rang out in the courtroom after the verdict was read. “Thank you to my lawyers, thank you to the Panama authorities, this was a criminal conspiracy,” Martinelli told journalists and supporters. After his release, Martinelli held a small party at one of his luxurious properties. Martinelli—who was president from 2009-14 and fled to Miami in 2015 to avoid arrest—claims he was a victim of political persecution by the government of his successor Juan Carlos Varela, a former

political ally. Prosecutors had asked for an “exemplary” sentence of 21 years to set a precedent for corruption cases in Panama. The sentence would be justified due to the former leader’s rank when the alleged offenses took place, prosecutor Ricaurte Gonzalez said. Martinelli was also accused of helping embezzle $45 million from a government school lunch program. He was extradited from the United States in June 2018 and held for a year in pre-trial detention before he was released to house arrest two months ago. AFP

activist Joshua Wong. It shared details on Eadeh’s career as well as her family members’ names. The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong denounced Ortagus’ remarks as “blatant slander against China” that had “again exposed US gangster logic.” Ortagus, however, said that “Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country.” “Foreign diplomats in the United States, including Chinese ones, enjoy open access to all elements of American politics, civil society, academia, and business,” she added. On Thursday, China demanded that US diplomats based in Hong Kong “stop interfering” in the city’s affairs. AFP

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES National Capital Region

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID For the Lease of Package Type Air-Conditioning Equipment For Field Offices 1. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), through the GAA CY’ 2019 intends to apply the sum of One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP1,800,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Project’ “Lease of Twelve (12) AirConditioning Equipment,” for six (6) months. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 2.

The DENR-NCR now invites bids for the Project, “Lease of Twelve (12) Air-Conditioning Equipment,” for six (6) months. Delivery of the Goods shall be in accordance with the Delivery Schedule under Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DENR-NCR Regional Bids and Awards Committee (RBAC) Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on August 06 to 26, 2019 from the address below and upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the DENRNCR website (http://www.ncr.denr.gov.ph), provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The DENR-NCR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference August 14, 2019, 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Conference Room. 4th Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the RBAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 10:00 A.M. of August 26, 2019. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on 10:30 A.M. onwards of August 26, 2019 at the Conference Room 4th Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DENR-NCR reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: RBAC Secretariat Procurement Section, 3rd Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg. National Ecology Center East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. 932-13-71 (SGD) GWENDOLYN C. BAMBALAN Chairperson, Regional Bids and Awards Committee DENR-NCR National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. (02) 426-38-46 (MS-AUG 11, 2019)

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RAINY DAY WOES. A man is forced to walk in the rain along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Friday as trailer trucks fill its entire stretch, causing gridlock in the capital. The trucks were unable to enter the Manila North Harbor as strong monsoon winds forced the suspension of its operations. But the truck drivers were not told in time, leading to the massive jams even in nearby Quiapo and forcing passengers to brave the downpour and traverse the flooded streets to get home. Norman Cruz, Lino Santos and AFP

CHEAP HEADGEAR. Young pupils in an elementary school in Baguio City use coconut husks or ‘bunot’ as helmets while ducking underneath their chairs as part of a nationwide earthquake drill on Friday. Dave Leprozo

STORMS COMING. State weather bureau forecaster Ariel Rojas points to a wind map to update the media on Thursday about Typhoons ‘Hanna’ (Lekima) and ‘Krosa,’ which left and could enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, respectively, over the weekend. Manny Palmero ‘FUNNY’ PLANT. One man hides a smile while the other beams it as they harvest the ‘tawa-tawa’ plant from the grounds of the CCP Complex in Pasay City. The herb is touted as a treatment for dengue fever, which has claimed over 600 lives across the country this year. Lino Santos

MISDECLARED GOODS. A Customs inspector shows off carrots as part of the contents of a shipping container filled with smuggled agricultural products—carrots, onions and potatoes with an estimated value of P24 million from China—on Thursday. The shipment, which was consigned to Ingredient Management Asia Inc. and Mcrey International Trading, was ordered seized. Norman Cruz

SWEET KISSES. The Binibining Pilipinas Charities and Dairy Queen bring smiles to the kids confined at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center on Thursday. Photo shows Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up Maria Andrea Abesamis (center) and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Leren Mae Bautista blowing kisses as they take a group picture with the patients and their families. Revoli Cortez

VISIONING. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Domagoso points out a feature of a City Hall area to Singaporean Ambassador Gerard Ho amid the rains on Thursday. Norman Cruz

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

SPOTLIGHT ON MENDEZ, REED, STEFFEN IN IRONMAN 70.3 By Reuel Vidal

ACTAN, Cebu—Running mom Caroline Steffen, defending champion Mauricio Mendez and veteran Tim Reed lead 20 professional triathletes who will compete for the top prize of the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Powered by PhilAm Vitality here today. Steffen, who’s the favorite to rule the women’s category, says she enjoys the challenge of balancing her life as a mother and as a triathlete even as she emphasized how much she loves racing here in the Philippines. “It’s certainly not an easy task but I love it. I love the challenge of both. He is a great kid and I’m lucky to have him (baby Xander). It just gets better each year and that’s why I keep coming back. It’s quite unique. It’s hard to explain to people who haven’t been here before so just go out there and experience it yourself,” said Steffen during the Meet the Pros launch at The Marquee at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa yesterday. Hungary’s Anna Eberhardt, Guam’s Manami IIjima, Aussies Dimity Lee Duke, Laura Wood and Amanda Wilson and Frankie Sanjana of Great Britain will compete against Steffen in the women’s category. Mendez, who is also 2016 XTERRA world champion, expressed his excitement at racing in the Philippines, adding that he feels right at home. “It’s just more fun to race here in the Philippines. It’s amazing. And it’s just a dream come true to race here. It’s different. It’s a lovely place. Lovely people and I just love it,” said Mendez. “I always say that I’m the youngest one and I need to learn from those guys and everything but now it just feels more real and I’m super excited to be racing. I look forward to racing. I just wish luck for all of us.” While Mendez is the favorite to repeat Reed, who has won multiple IRONMAN 70.3 titles including two Asia Pacific crowns, is more than capable of winning it all. Like every other professional who has raced here Reed likewise reiterated how much he loved racing in the Philippines. “This is a very special event for me. It’s no secret that

Caroline Steffen sets a brisk pace in the run stage of the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 earlier this year in Davao in file photo. Steffen is favored to win the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 in Cebu today. Jamil Buergo

I mark this down as one of my top priority races for the year and really build up for it properly. I think it’s so special to me, being part of the Alaska Tri Aspire team, one of the great privileges of my triathlon career. One way to honor that sponsorship is to race my best when I’m here. I always try to do that,”said Reed who added that running in the Philippines is always a big challenge especially because of the heat. “I think the event attracts just great athletes to compete against. I think Mau (Mendez) is probably one of the best guys in the heat to run against. So he’s always a tough challenge,” said Reed. “And then of course the atmosphere of the race is like no other event. And that always brings a smile to me just thinking about it. It’s always a buzz to

have the crowd cheering for us.” Tim Van Berkel, Braden Currie, Sam Betten, Luke McKenzie, Lindsey Lawry, Mitch Robins and Justin Ghosh, all from Australia; Bahrain’s Eric Watson; Bermuda’s Tyler Butterfield; and New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone will give Mendez and Reed a run for their money in the men’s category. Other backers of the Regent Aguila-sponsored event are Province of Cebu, City of Lapu Lapu and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Lungsod ng Mandaue, Dept. of Tourism, David’s Salon, Alaska, AlcoPlus, Borromeo Motoring Group, Cetaphil, DeVant, Timex, Sanicare, Regent, Motor Ace, Ever Bilena, Active Network, One Sports, Cignal, The Philippine Star, TriLife, AsiaTri and Finisher Pix.

SANTE FITNESS LAB LAUNCHES FUND-RAISER FOR PHILSPADA IMUS—Santé Fitness Lab, a premier one-stop fitness center that offers holistic fitness and sports performance training programs, as well as innovative recovery and sports rehabilitation, recently held its “Langoy Pinoy 30-Minute Swim Challenge” at the Vermosa Sports Hub. Santé Lacuna Swim School, a comprehensive swimming training program under SFL, organized the “Langoy Pinoy 30-Minute Swim Challenge” as a fundraising program to support the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled – National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines. Olympian swimmer Jessie Lacuna and professional athlete, Bea Grabador, both coaches of the Santé Lacuna Swim School, said that “Langoy Pinoy” aims to offer financial support for the PHILSPADA team, as well as to invite young swimmers to enjoy a day of fun-filled activities in the company of professional sports athletes. “PHILSPADA is a great friend of

Langoy Pinoy 30-Minute Swim Challenge

ours and, this event is for them. We want everyone to witness the members in action so that they would feel inspired in pursuing their own goals,” said Gabrador. The challenge was composed of

several categories with varying difficulties, namely, “Swimmers,” “Triathletes,” and “Masters,” as well as people from different age groups ranging from 13 to 50 upwards. To win the competition, participants must swim the most laps in 30 minutes. Arnel Aba, a record-breaking national para-athlete, triathlete, swimming coach, and member of the PHILSPADA team, led by national coaches Tony Ong and Ral Rosario, emerged as one of the winners for the “Masters” category. He said PHILSPADA joined this event to inspire people to push through life with discipline and perseverance. “We are doing this because we want to encourage other people with disabilities to never give up and, show their talents to the world. Our handicaps do not define us. We can do so much more if we just try our best in whatever we do,” said Arnel. Other national members of the swimming team include Ernie

Gawilan and Remigio Lobos. According to them, the coaches train the team to become top athletes while providing equal treatment and the same training programs as those with regular athletes. “We want to include everyone in our programs, whether they are ablebodied, or with physical and mental disabilities, especially the young generation,” said Ong. “We’ve even taught one special needs individual who won a silver medal at our PHILSPADA National Games last month under the mentorship of one of our members. So, it’s an awesome feeling, to form this community where we can share our skills and help people grow.” Jessie Lacuna also supports the idea of molding the next generation of champions. He said “our vision at Santé Lacuna Swim School is to produce grassroots swimmers at our premier one-stop facility in Santé Fitness Lab. We are aiming to produce the future Olympians of our nation.”

JUVIC SETS RECORD PH GOLF TOUR RUN SILANG, Cavite – Juvic Pagunsan turned the final round of the ICTSI Riviera Classic into a victory walk, closing out with a 70 for a whopping eight-shot victory over Tony Lascuña and a record fourth straight championship on the Philippine Golf Tour here yesterday. By posting a big six-stroke lead on a late charge in wet conditions Friday, Pagunsan just went through the motions in the last 18 holes—and with no one able to pose a challenge, he came out a clear winner in a rainhit week that ended with clear skies. He drilled in a side-hiller for birdie from 10 feet on the 18th and pumped his fist to close out with a 36-34 for a seven-under 277 total another P450,000 purse in his final PGT tournament before he resumes his campaign in Japan, his base in the last decade, in two weeks time. But more importantly, he had set a norm that could be tough to even match given the level playing field on the local circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. “I’m very happy to win four straight (on the PGT). It seems that as I grow older, I am able to achieve more goals,” said Pagunsan, who took a break from the Japan PGA Tour and ruled the Bacolod stop of the four-leg PGT Visayan swing last June. He retained the Negros Occidental crown the following week and made it three-in-row by nipping Michael Bibat in sudden death in Iloilo.

It was actually Pagunsan’s second straight win here at Langer as he also reigned here last March when he beat Angelo Que by seven in a PGT Asia leg. “For now this will be my last PGT tournament as I head back to international tournaments, especially in Japan,” added Pagunsan. “But if my schedule permits, I might be able to join in other local events.” That could be good and bad news for the local pros. Good as Pagunsan would be away when the PGT holds a four-stage Mindanao swing next month. But bad after the region’s former No. 1 hinted at re-joining the ICTSI-backed local tour if given a break. Meanwhile, Lascuña secured runner-up honors at 285 despite bogeys in the last two holes for a 71 while reigning Philippine Open titlist Clyde Mondilla birdied four of the last nine to save a 69 and claim third place at 286. “I made sure that I would be the runner-up. Juvic played really good in the last two days. I believe the third round was crucial,” said Lascuña, trailed Pagunsan by just two after 36 holes but hobbled with a 72 as against the leader’s decisive 67. “I got tired after the third day and lost steam today.” Rupert Zaragosa posted his best finish in a rookie season marred by missed cut stints, closing out with a 69 for solo fourth at 287 while Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who took the other Visayan leg in Cebu, wound up fifth with a 288 after a 72.

Juvic Pagunsan is a winner the fourth time around.

64 YOUNG CAGERS HEAD TO JAPAN FOR BASKETBALL SANS BORDERS NEW YORK AND TOKYO—The National Basketball Association and the International Basketball Federation announced the top 64 boys and girls from 18 countries and territories who will participate in the 11th edition of Basketball Without Borders Asia. BWB Asia 2019 will be held Wednesday (Aug. 14) and Saturday (Aug. 17) in Tokyo, marking the second time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Japan. BWB Asia was previously conducted in Japan in 2012. BWB Asia 2019 will feature a number of current and former NBA players, including three-time NBA Champion Sam Cassell, two-time NBA Champion Kevon Looney (Golden State Warriors), Robin Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks) and Yuta Tabuse (formerly of the Phoenix Suns; Japan). Former WNBA players Ashley Battle, Allison Feaster and Yolanda Moore will also participate in the camp and coach the top highschool-age campers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Current NBA assistant coaches Pat Delany (Orlando Magic), Bryan Gates (Minnesota Timberwolves), Antonio Lang (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Wes Unseld Jr. (Denver Nuggets) will also serve as BWB Asia 2019 coaches. Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) will be the camp director. Jeff Tanaka (Chicago Bulls) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer. Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, skill development stations, shooting and skills competitions, 5-on-5 games, and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. One boy and one girl will be named BWB Asia MVPs at the conclusion of the camp. In addition, former NBA Referee Joey Crawford will lead development sessions with local FIBA referees.

LAMBONAO, BRAVO SEEK PPS HONORS CEDRICK Bravo and young Corazon Lambonao gear up for a tough outing in quest of honors and ranking points in two divisions in the PPSPEPP Baybay national age-group tennis tournament, which got under way yesterday (Saturday) at Baybay City Tennis Club in Leyte. Bravo gains the top seeding in the boys’ 18-and-under play that also includes John Martin Alejandria, Joshua Torres and Darcy Orag, while Lambonao shoots for the premier title in the girls’ side of the Group 2 tournament against the likes of Mia Gemida, Joan Gonzaga and Mae Ramos. Bravo, Orag and Alejandria also look to dispute the 16-U crown that features Nicolas Ocat, Cymer Casem, Daniel Apostol and Rick Laguna, while Lambonao and company are likewise tipped to slug it out for the 16-U plum in the four-day event presented by Dunlop. Gerald Gemida and Ocat, along with Bert Manlimus and Justine Hermoso, are expected to mix it up for the boys’14-U diadem in the event serving as part of the biggest and longest national age-group circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/ CEO Bobby Castro. Meanwhile, action shifts to Samar next week for the Mayor Rolando Aquino Cup on Aug. 15-18 in Calbayog, Samar. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464. Lambonao is actually shooting for a rare three-title feat as she is also entered in the 14-U category that also features Mae Ramos, May Impas Kate Dayanan and Kimi Brodeth while Christian Laguna and Kenzo Brodeth spearhead the chase for the boys’12-U plum in the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

Business

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

POP-UP CAMPUS SEEKS TO REINVENT EDUCATION

New Bold University founder Ralph Layco

ALPH Layco, the 2019 Asia’s most outstanding young marketeer, has organized New Bold University—a pop-up campus that empowers Filipinos to pursue the jobs they desire despite the limited employment opportunities in the country.

We go back to school one week every year and practice what we’ve learned the entire year,” he says. “The current educational system doesn’t work anymore. We have abundance of information, from a quick Google search to a Youtube series that teaches coding. We don’ t need to feed people what to learn, we need to make them intellectual curiosity. That will empower them to learn more on their own,” says Layco, the 30-year-old founder of NBU. Layco who grew up in General Santos City graduated from the University of the PhilippinesVisayas with Bachelor of Science i n B u s i n e s s Ad m i n i s t rat i o n , Marketing and Communications. As an entrepreneur, he established Macho Mucho Salon for Men and Crown & Glory in General Santos. Aside from being an e n t r e p r e n e u r, L a y c o i s a communications expert, a social media strategist and a motivational speaker. He says that in the age of AI, robotics and exponential technology, the educational system should prepare students for jobs that have never existed before. “Worse, there will be less available jobs when they graduate. If we want to prepare for the future, we need to start with education,” says Layco. “If you look into Google, the look of the classrooms is same with what we have now. That’s scary. It means we’re not adapting fast. That educational system is a factorymodel education, but we can’t push for individuality if we teach people all the same,” he says. Asked on how his version of school works, Layco says: “Instead of being stuck in four years of education, why not a week every year. Learning never stops, why should school? Students get to reenro.l as new classes will be made available every year depending on relevant skills and trends,” he says.

“On day one, before we encouraged anyone to a career they like, we required to help them go inward first. We collated sessions and tools that revealed their strengths, weaknesses and personality. We made them secure about what they’re good at, and equally as important, what their weaknesses are because this is the foundation of the many decisions they will make in life,” says Layco. “On the next days, students got to choose classes with CEOs, founders and change-makers. They were taught about mindfulness, the power of their minds, compassion, purpose and classes that taught them how to be a better human,” he says. NBU’s speakers and mentors included founders, CEOs and award-winning change-makers. Among them are celebrity Hero Angeles, Forbes 30 under 30 awardee and MyKuya founder Shahab Shabibi, International Viral CEO Charity Delmo and The Dessert Museum and Inflatable Island president Lance Tan. Ultimately, the pop-up campus is designed and curated for transformation, not incremental learning. “If we turn on their intellectual curiosities, they will be ultimately change-makers who are not accepting the status quo and will find ways to solve problems with more courage,” says Layco. Layco, a marketing consultant o f t h e To u r i s m a n d Tr a d e departments, says he is now in talks with a government agency to implement the NBU concept among its employees. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that in 2018, more than 6.3 million Filipinos were underemployed or those who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, get an additional job or have a new job with longer working hours.

NBU is a six-day transformational learning that Layco spearheaded on July 1 to 6 at Ground Up coworking spaces in Parañaque City. It sought to help professionals, artists, freelancers and aspiring entrepreneurs transform their passions and big ideas into a business and life they want to live. It is anchored on the German type of education where modules are real-life work scenarios instead of theories. In German education, only six months are allotted inside universities and the rest of college life on internship. I n the Philippines, Layco envisions changing the typical four-year college bubble into a one-week crash course every year. “Education is a lifelong pursuit. Why should it end in college?

NUTRIAASIA ASKS CONSUMERS TO REUSE BOTTLES SOCIAL media influencers and vloggers Weizel Gulfan and Angel Jones joined the recent kick-off event of NutriAsia’s Bring Your Own Bottle initiative, affirming their support for the company’s vision of a more environmentally sustainable world. BYOB encourages consumers to bring clean, reusable plastic bottles and have them refilled with their favorite NutriAsia food condiments and products like Datu Puti vinegar and soy sauce, UFC banana catsup and Golden Fiesta cooking oil. Through BYOB, NutriaAsia aims to raise awareness on responsible plastic use and help build zero-waste communities as a vital step towards sustainability. BYOB was launched on July 30 and would run until Sept. 12 at The Mind Museum in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

NICKEL ASIA ADOPTS DOST’S SOIL TECHNOLOGY T H E Depar tment of Science and Technology’s bioreactor at the Rio Tuba Nickel facility can process 500 kilograms of waste materials to produce the same amount of fertilizers and soil conditioners. Rio Tuba Nickel became the first mining company to use the Department of Science and Technology’s bioreactor that converts biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizers and soil conditioners. RTN, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp., adopted the innovative soil conditioning technology through DOST’s technology transfer program. “RTN is proud to be first in the mining industry to run this bioreactor. It gives us the integrity to compel the community to segregate household wastes. We are committed to educate the barangays on how solid wastes from their homes and backyards, when handled properly, can contribute to the protection of the environment and help reduce environment degradation,” said Wilbern Blitz Paeste, RTN’s mining technology and geosciences coordinator. DOST project supervisor Dr. Myra Tansengco said the principle behind the bioreactor developed by DOSTITDI is to promote efficient solid waste management practices in the communities to comply with RA9003. “RTN is the first mining company to use the fertilizer and soil conditioner from this bioreactor for their rehabilitation programs and for use in the communities,” said Tansengco. Th e Eco l o gi c a l S o l i d Wa s te Management Act of 2000 or RA 9003 was signed into law in 2001. It is the legal framework for a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program in the Philippines. Almost 20 years after RA 9003 became a law, the challenge continues to be on how to enforce proper waste segregation in the communities. Engr. David Herrera, a senior science specialist at DOST, said the challenge is still for the barangay-level folks to visualize how solid waste can be useful, for the individual and for the community as a whole.

FOREIGN STUDENTS LEARN FROM PH RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS By Alena Mae S. Flores MAPUA University and PetroEnergy Resources Corp., affiliates of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, have completed an international summer training program on renewable energy for foreign students. Dubbed as Renewable Energy Innovation and Leadership Experience, the three-week course is designed to provide future energy leaders with the conceptual foundations and introductory practical knowledge in RE systems, technologies and operations while providing students the opportunities to tour the Philippine countryside. “Mapua envisions the REILE program to be a mechanism and a collaborative e d u c a t i o n a l ave n u e to h i g h l i g h t the importance of engineering in RE

development and to promote RE as a tool for sustainable development,” said Dr. Reynaldo Vea, president and chief executive of Mapua University. “The merging of engineering and technology brings many exciting possibilities to improve and sustain energy generation and efficiency, and we want Mapua to take the lead in exploring these possibilities,” said Vea. Rosette Eire Camus, director of Mapua’s Office of International Career and Exchange Programs, said the first batch of REILE participants was composed of international undergraduate and graduate students from China, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. The REILE program combines theoretical introductory lectures by Mapua faculty

Foreign students visit the Nabas wind project of PetroEnergy in Aklan to learn more about the benefits of renewable energy.

on various RE technologies with visits to PetroEnergy’s geothermal, solar and wind power facilities and interaction with their professional engineers and staff, and invited talks by RE specialists from private

industry and government, many of whom are Mapua alumni. PetroEnergy’s RE projects include the 32-megawatt Maibarara geothermal power project in Batangas, the 70-MW

solar power project in Tarlac and the 36-MW Nabas wind power project in Aklan. These RE projects served as the natural laboratory for students to appreciate the various elements and challenges of RE development and operations as well as to showcase Filipino engineering and technical innovation. “As Mapua’s sister company, we are pleased to host the first set of REILE students in our RE facilities and share our experiences from pre-development to operations and maintenance. We also thank invited speakers from the Department of Energy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines who make our REILE Program more relevant and comprehensive,” said PetroEnergy president Milagros Reyes.

Business

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

GOKONGWEI, UY MARK 15 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP

i3 Inc. CEO Katherine Alejar (second from right)

ENTREPRENEUR VISITS VITAL DOME PLANT

KATHERINE Alejar, the CEO and chief innovator of i3 Inc. who brought Vital Dome Infratheraphy machine to the Philippines, recently visited the Vital Tech headquarters in Paris, France. Alejar, who has the exclusive rights to distribute Vital Dome in the country, met with Vital Dome’s founders and creators, Alexandra Gavsevitch and Eric Fauchon. Gavsevitch holds a degree in Naturopathy and Bioenergetics, while Fauchon is an osteopath Poyet method and acupuncturist. Both are internationally known in the naturopathy and in the health and wellness industry. Alejar had the chance to visit the Vital Dome factory in Normandy, interact with its team and saw how each dome was manufactured from start to finish. Vital Dome, a product of years of extensive research, is an advanced infra-therapy ecosystem machine that uses pure far infrared to regenerate the body from inside and out. Its founders realize that skin and body toxins are the real cause of health concerns, thus they looked into a more effective and natural detoxification process. With Vital Dome, more people can experience the most advanced and most natural beauty and wellness maintenance machine that uses far infrared (a vital radiation of the sun) which is the ultimate, most natural, and essential factor for body rejuvenating and healing. Alejar will soon introduce a new product also from Vital Tech called Nuage (or Cloud), a machine that is used for relaxation in the workspace.

P.A. PROPERTIES CELEBRATES 25TH YEAR

THIS year marks the 25th anniversary of Lagunabased P.A. Alvarez Properties & Development Corp, one of the largest developers of affordable housing in Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Cavite and Metro Manila. To commemorate its 25th year, the company will launch a series of activities highlighting the milestones achieved through the years, which will culminate in December with the company’s silver anniversary festivity for internal and external business partners. As part of the initiatives, P.A. Properties recently launched “Buhay at Bahay ”, a photography competition showcasing special moments and stories of individuals and families who dwell in the communities developed by the company. “Buhay at Bahay” echoes the company’s vision of transforming the lives of Filipino families by making their journey towards home ownership possible. The contest is open to all aspiring photographers, 18 years old and above who are presently residing in the Philippines. All they need to do is to capture unique moments happening in P.A. Properties communities as seen through their lenses. Participants can submit a maximum of three entries. Exciting prizes are in store for the winning entries while selected photos will be featured in P.A. Properties’ 25th Anniversary Exhibit in December.

EPLDT LAUNCHES MANAGED IT SERVICES

INDUSTRY-LEADING enabler of digital solutions ePLDT Inc. introduced its newest ICT offering, Managed IT Services, to help mitigate potential sources of system downtime in the modern business world and allow enterprises to shift their time and focus on core operations and critical business imperatives. In the PLDT Enterprise’s Connected Survey Report, it was ascertained that almost 90 percent of companies in the Philippines had experienced incidents of system downtime within the last 18 months. About 43 percent of hardware failures stemmed from mechanical or internal failure, while 36 percent were due to lack of IT infrastructure maintenance. “There is factual basis that no enterprise is exempt from risks of potential system downtime. This is what compelled us to establish our own Managed IT Services portfolio, which is hardened by the most advanced platforms and on-ground expertise as well as the group’s experience in critical infrastructure operations,” said Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group’s senior vice president and chief operating officer. Comprised of three core service categories— Managed Operations Center-as-a-Service (MOCaaS), Professional Services, and Managed IT Platforms—ePLDT’s holistic Managed IT Services aim to simplify and solve the complex challenges of enterprises in managing and operating their IT infrastructure.

Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei

EHIND every takeoff and landing of a Cebu Pacific aircraft is an enduring partnership that has enabled the pioneering Philippine low-cost carrier to deliver on its well-known promise to “fly every Juan” when it started in 1996.

Phoenix Petroleum, the country’s fastest-growing and homegrown independent oil company, has been providing the aviation fuel needs of Cebu Pacific for the past 15 years. Phoenix president and chief executive Dennis Uy started the company in 2002 from his hometown of Davao City, listing it on the Philippine Stock Exchange by 2007— the first oil firm to do so following the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998—and growing it into the multi-billion-peso enterprise that it is today. Uy’s success story is that of an ordinary Juan as well who made it big in the local business scene through dint of hard work, perseverance and integrity. In more ways than

one, these are the same values and entrepreneurial spirit that enabled Cebu Pacific to disrupt the local aviation industry when it first started, according to chief executive Lance Gokongwei. “He was starting out then, but Cebu Pacific was also not a large company then. So we both took a chance on each other,” recalls Gokongwei of a fateful cold call that Uy made to Cebu Pacific’s procurement office to offer Phoenix’s services. It was still known as Davao Oil Terminal Services Corp. then, and Gokongwei would not even meet Uy until a couple of years later. Cebu Pacific would become Uy’s first big corporate

account. Gokongwei recounts: “He [Uy] is still a young man now but he was even younger then. But he was full of energy and ideas, so we gave him a project to start off with, supplying us and handling our logistics out of Davao. And it did really well. We’ve continued to grow from there and our relationship has gotten stronger over the last 15 years.” Gokongwei cites excellent customer ser vice as a key advantage of Phoenix. “ The relationship has grown because Ph o e n i x h a s b e e n a b l e to deliver on its commitments to Cebu Pacific not only in terms of offering a very competitive price but more particularly in terms of investing ahead with us. They’ve invested substantial management and resources to serve Cebu Pacific’s growing needs, and in terms of service and execution, they’ve been very reliable,” he says. “They store, they transport. They do in-plane for us—the whole gamut of services. And they’ve also been willing to grow with us in our new stations. They are the ones who are willing to put up the tankerage facilities to support our growth,” Gokongwei says. Such commitment and support for its valued customers have distinctly defined Phoenix’s brand of partnership and customer service. “I think both of us will continue to grow together and partner with each other. As Cebu Pacific continues to grow, I think Phoenix will have a role in that and vice versa,” says Gokongwei.

FILIPINO DESIGNERS TO HIGHLIGHT NATURAL MATERIALS IN DUBAI LIFESTYLE products crafted from natural and eco-sustainable materials will be the focus of this year’s Philippine participation at Index Dubai—the biggest design event in the Middle East and North African region, which opens on Sept. 17 to 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates. Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Export Marketing Bureau and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai, the participation will feature seven companies from different lifestyle sectors: furniture and furnishings, home décor and fashion accessories. “This participation will bring to the forefront the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our skilled Filipino craftsmen and designers,” said DTICitem executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan. “Through their intricate and innovative pieces, these exhibitors will help elevate Philippine design in both the Middle Eastern and the global markets.” The seven companies will feature their latest creations that promote world-class craftsmanship made with locally sourced, eco-sustainable or

natural seashells and metalworks that depict the magnificence of nature and Bon-Ace with their home accessories made with all-natural materials designed with Filipino and Italian influences. After doubling its sales target in last year’s edition with $2.77 million, the Philippines is now eyeing to generate $2.9 million in export sales for this year’s show. Citem is partnering with the Expor t Marketing Bureau to achieve optimum results for this year’s participation, with DTI-EMB organizing business-matching activities during the show proper.

Frog shell and brass camel by Arden Classics

repurposed materials like old fabrics, driftwood pieces, natural seashells from non-endangered species and other reusable objects that are typically considered as “waste,” to emphasize that responsible sourcing is an integral aspect of the Philippine design industry. Exhibiting under the Philippine participation are companies that include James Doran-Webb and Furniture Doctor. Both use raw and re-engineered driftwood to create original and functional furniture

pieces. Another furniture exhibitor, Coast Pacific, perfectly balances the use of natural and synthetic materials in developing new weaving patterns and enhancing traditional techniques for their product line. Joining these furniture companies in Dubai are two fashion accessory brands: traditional jeweler, Kit Silver; and minaudière maker Mele + Marie. Rounding off the list are home décor and accessory companies Arden Classic with their blend of

CONSUMER GROUP HITS GOVT INACTION ON QUAKE PREPARATION LAWMAKERS and a consumer group have criticized anew the government’s slow pace in preventing the recurrence of the disaster that flattened a four-story supermarket in Porac, Pampanga on April 22. “Four months have passed since the tragic collapse of the Chuzon supermarket after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook the province,” former Senator Nikki Coseteng said. “Until now, despite the fact that Chuzon was only four stories high, and clear evidence of substandard steel rebars were found by investigators on site, no findings, or solutions against future stronger quakes, have been released by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government unit,” Coseteng said. Strong quakes also rocked Java island in Indonesia, northern Philippines and Mindanao recently, while the Metro Manila Development Authority held “shake drills” ostensibly to keep the people of Metro Manila ready in case of a magnitude-7.2 earthquake.

Dubbed the “Big One”, it is feared that the killer temblor may hit any time the West Valley Fault, which runs from Bulacan, across Metro Manila, to Cavite and Laguna. Coseteng said the Department of Interior and Local Government, instead of coming up with preventive preparations to mitigate the impact of the big one, is focusing on “reactive drills.” CCTV footage of the Chuzon collapse showed the four-story supermarket crumbling in seconds, killing dozens of shoppers and employees trapped inside. Coseteng said steel rebars made by a local local steel manufacturer were positively identified and photographed at the Chuzon site, but the Bureau of Products Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry was strangely silent. The BPS-DTI and steel manufacturers insist that steel rebars used in both highrise and low-rise buildings are properly tested, while the DPWH and DILG have yet to make a list of concrete buildings at risk of collapsing in a major quake. An informal analysis released by the Consumers Union of the Philippines found

that there could be several hundreds— many of them residential condominiums and offices. By the most conservative estimate by the CUP, as many as 100 of these buildings in Metro Manila would be destroyed, exposing thousands to injury or death. CUP president Rodel Taton said this would affect property valuations for both low and high-rise buildings, and impact buyers of condominiums and office spaces. “Now is the time to work on concrete safety measures to help curb the devastating effects of a strong earthquake,” Coseteng said. “Specifically, with all these quakes happening all around us, the government should seriously investigate allegations of continued selling of substandard construction materials by big steel.” According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the 100-kilometer West Valley fault could produce a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that could kill 37,000 people in an instant, injure 604,000 persons and cause an estimated damage of P2.4

trillion to buildings. Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza announced he would call for a congressional inquiry on a study that reportedly found that substandard steel bars were being used in the construction of some high-rise commercial and residential buildings in the country. The study, prepared by engineer Emilio Morales, former chairman of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, said substandard materials were being used in the construction of many buildings in Metro Manila and other urban centers which would not be able to withstand a magnitude-7.2 earthquake. Taton said big steel manufacturers were making a windfall by replacing micro-alloyed steel rebars with quenched tempered steel – which is used to build hundreds of high rise structures throughout the country – without the knowledge of contractors, developers and various construction end-users. Taton claimed that local steelmakers were making as much as P1.5 per kilogram by switching from the manufacture of MA to comparatively cheaper QT steel rebars.

“In return for this profit, these companies are risking the lives of many people who live in condominiums, work in high rise offices, and use government and private sector infrastructure that have been built using substandard steel,” he said. Agham party-list also released a statement urging the DTI and the DILG to coordinate in ensuring that buildings, particularly high-rise structures, all over the Philippines, are not prone to collapse in case a high intensity earthquake strikes. “The geographical location of the Philippines is the main reason why certain types of steel materials are not recommended for use in high-rise buildings,” said Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones. Palmones expressed doubts about the use of QT, or “thermo-mechanically treated” steel bars as reinforcing in highrise buildings. These products, he said, are potentially threatening tens of thousands of lives due to their premature catastrophic failure under “cyclic loading” generated by earthquakes.

Tech & Gadgets

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

GALAXY...

FARMING TECHNOLOGIES POWERED BY PLDT-SMART

From C4

ANG Vicente “Vic” Berdan, a 59-year-old farmer from Tanay, Rizal, is not new to Facebook.

His cover photo shows him and his wife harvesting crops from their farm. The couple also actively replies to friends who comment on their online photos, asking about their produce. Beyond basic functionalities though, Mang Vic wants to use Facebook to further promote the rice and organic vegetables that he produces. A 2008 Regional Outstanding Gawad Saka awardee for Rice, he sees the popular social media site as a channel to share his knowledge on farming. EMPOWERING SMALL-SCALE FARMERS Assisting Berdan in learning more about how to use and benefit from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as create and upload Youtube videos, is his niece Camille Margaret Custodio. The 18-year-old college student was his learning partner at the Tanay leg of the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) participated in by eleven farmer-youth pairs. The DFP is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and leading wireless services provider Smart Communications (Smart) that aims to empower small-scale farmers by educating and giving them access to available digital tools and technologies. Berdan commends Smart and DA-ATI for coming up with the brilliant idea of pairing older farmers and the youth. Given his advanced age and limited knowledge on all things techie, he admits that learning and understanding social media and digital tools is easier with Camille on hand to guide him. For an entire day, the senior farmers and their younger, more tech-savvy learning partners underwent hands-on training on smartphone 101, file sharing, social media, group chats, search engines, phonetography and videography 101. They also explored available e-learning courses and other agrisupport sites online. PROMOTING OVERALL DIGITAL INCLUSION Program partner Probe Media Foundation conducted a workshop on how to create short videos with mindful and effective content and good visuals during the “Kwentuhang Agri” session. This is to prepare each farmer-youth pair to make their own videos about agriculture. “DFP aims to advance the local industry’s adoption of more innovative forms of technology in farming, which is in line with the Government’s long-term vision of IoT penetration in Philippine Agriculture and overall digital inclusion,” says Darwin F. Flores, VP for Community Partnerships of Smart. “It is part of the Smart Communities advocacy of Smart, which taps Technology for Development

The senior farmers and their younger, more tech-savvy learning partners underwent hands-on training on smartphone 101.

(Tech4D) to narrow down the digital divide. The project specifically gives emphasis to the UN’s goals of No Poverty and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” adds Flores. DEVELOPING BETTER APPRECIATION FOR AGRICULTURE By partnering senior farmers with young people, preferably their children or a relative, DFP is able to engage the youth to address identified stumbling blocks in agriculture. “Smart conducted a series of benchmarking activities with DA-ATI and it was revealed that we have an aging population of farmers—with the average age at 57 years old— and that the younger generation is not too keen on pursuing agriculture as a profession,” warns Angelica Umali, Information Officer of DA-ATI Central Office. Due to the possibility of running short on farmers who will feed the next generation, those behind DFP hope that people would develop appreciation for agriculture through information sharing. “Agriculture will always have a space in my life and heart,” assures Camille in Tagalog. “We need to pay special attention to it and look at social media and other latest technologies that can help promote and empower farmers.

“We hope that the public, especially the youth, will learn more about agriculture—how it is not a profession that people should belittle,” she says. SHOWCASING SUCCESS IN FARMING According to Rolando Maningas, Information Officer of DA-ATI Region 4A, due to Tanay’s proximity to Metro Manila, commercialization and industrialization pose a challenge to agriculture in terms of getting more young people involved. This is where the value of having more agri-related online content comes in. “Generally, millenials go by the concept ‘to see is to believe’ and ‘to experience is to apply’,” Maningas points out. If people get to see blogs or videos showcasing success in farming, he believes that it can be a driving factor for more people to get interested in agriculture. As farmers are encouraged to put out their stories on social media, other farmers also stand to benefit from their online contributions. “It is a great help to agriculture and the entire community for the farmers to have an avenue to share their farming practices,” says Maningas. Mang Vic is excited to impart his know-how in farming through the help of technology. “I particularly want to push the idea of sustainable farming to a wider audience,” he shares.

HOW TO GUARANTEE SUCCESS OF LAUNDRY BIZ LAUNDROMATS have actually been in existence since the 1930s in the United States: a row of fully automated self-service machines where people brought their own detergent and waited for their laundry to finish. In the Philippines, laundromats actually only started becoming popular in the late 1990s and these were full service in nature. People came in and dropped off their laundry and picked them up at a later time already packed and folded. But a few years back, we started seeing the growth of self-service laundry shops and these have become so popular that you can now see one in every corner of the neighborhood. Photo shows the prestigious Fred Maytag Award for outstanding achievement. Shown here are (from left) Joy Catiis-Cruz, Marketing Manager; John Sioco, Operations Director and Windy Punzalan, Brand Manager.

The proven advantages of the laundry business consistently make this industry a solid business choice. Experts say that the combination of flexibility and high demand appeals to aspiring entrepreneurs since these factors raise the probability of success. Besides this, it is also an advantage that laundry shops are recession-resistant as clean clothes are considered a basic necessity. Unlike other industries, the targeted customers are not restricted to certain age groups; everyone needs clean clothes so everyone is a potential customer. As a cash business, there are minimized struggles with accounts receivables and low capital investments can even bring high rates of return. Where else do you have the possibility of earning back a P1-million investment in just 18 months? And where else can you operate a shop where your customers do their own work? However, we must remember that success only comes with choosing the right equipment. Durability and dependability are a must before making decisions. And with Whirlpool-Maytag Commercial Laundry, these are not just words but commitments to their partners and customers. This is why more than 1,500 laundromats in the country have chosen the brand as their partner in the laundry industry. Whirlpool-Maytag offers an extended line of commercial and industrial laundry equipment such as washers, dryers, and stackable units for you to select from that offer reliable performance and high-energy savings. They are equipped with an Inverter Drive Technology that ensures energy efficiency and high extraction speeds which lessens the wear and tear on its components. These models also have advanced software that tracks payments, wash cycles, and settings so both the customers and owners can relax without worrying about their security.

MULTI-FACETED PRODUCTIVITY TO MAXIMIZE EVERY MOMENT Note users put a premium on productivity, and they see their phone as essential to helping them do and achieve more. For these users, the Galaxy Note10 features new technologies, enhanced capabilities and powerful integrations all in service of giving users the freedom to work in the way that makes them the most productive. • Handwriting to Text: The Galaxy Note10 brings a powerful new capability to the re-designed, uni-body S Pen. Now, users can jot down notes, instantly convert their handwriting to digital text in Samsung Notes, and export it to a variety of different formats, including Microsoft Word. Users can now customize notes by shrinking, enlarging, or changing the color of the text. In just a few taps, meeting minutes can be formatted and shared; bursts of inspiration can quickly become editable documents. • Evolution of the S Pen: The Galaxy Note10 builds on the Bluetooth Low Energy-enabled S Pen capabilities introduced on the Galaxy Note9 by adding Air actions, allowing you to control certain aspects of the device using gestures with the S Pen. By opening up the Air actions SDK, developers can create customized controls that give users the ability to play games or use their favorite applications using gestures. • Samsung DeX for PC[3]: The Galaxy Note10 extends Samsung DeX’s capabilities, making it easier for users to work between their phone and a PC or Mac. With a simple, compatible USB connection, users can drag and drop files between devices, and use their favorite mobile apps with a mouse and a keyboard, while keeping their data secure on their phone through Samsung Knox. • Link to Windows: The Galaxy Note10 integrates Link to Windows directly into the Quick Panel. With one click, users can connect to their Windows 10 PC. There, they can see notifications, send and receive messages, and review recent photos without pausing to look down at their phone. PRO-GRADE CAMERA FOR CREATORS With the Galaxy Note10, content creators and everyday users alike can use stateof-the-art tools to capture stunning video and photos—allowing their channels, stories and posts to stand out and make an impact. Featuring a combination of advanced imaging technology and software, the Galaxy Note10 elevates mobile videography and photography to the next level. • Premium Video Technology: The Galaxy Note10 enables users to capture pro-grade video without having to carry around any extra gear. Live focus video adds depth-of-field adjustments so you can blur the background to focus on your subject. Zoom-In Mic amplifies the audio in frame and pushes background noise aside to help focus on the sounds that you want. And to remove the bumps and shakes that usually make an action shot blurry, new and improved Super steady stabilizes footage, and is now available in Hyperlapse mode for steady time-lapse videos. • Quick and Easy Video Editing: Once they’ve recorded their video, Galaxy Note10 users can edit-on-the-go instantly right from their phone. Video editor can be used with the S Pen, so instead of having to tap to select or edit a clip, users can choose the precise moment they want to trim. • Screen Recorder: For gamers who want to add some personality to their streams, or vloggers who want to enhance their tutorials, the Galaxy Note10 introduces Screen recorder. Easily capture what’s on the screen, use picture-in-picture to add reactions, and use the S Pen to annotate as they record for a more entertaining, engaging video. • AR Doodle and 3D Scanner: The Galaxy Note10 integrates bleeding-edge AR and 3D capabilities into the camera. Along with an Ultra Wide camera, it opens up an entirely new medium for creators. With AR Doodle, use the S Pen to personalize photos with dynamicdrawings, effects, and animations that track to the image. And with 3D Scanner[4], a groundbreaking first for the Note, the Galaxy Note10+’s DepthVision camera can take a scan of an object[5], and instantly turn it into a movable 3D rendering.

HUAWEI ICT PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS TO GIVE PH STUDENTS A LEG UP IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET EMERGING jobs in the Philippines are increasingly taking a turn towards the technological, with many companies seeking professionals who can help them navigate their digital transformation journeys. However, universities and colleges have been hard pressed to produce graduates ready to take on these jobs, given the challenges they face in updating their course offerings to keep pace with rapid technological growth. Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, has developed Huawei ICT Academy to answer the need for more ICT professionals worldwide. The academy, now present in 20 countries, boasts of a comprehensive range of ICT career certifications, prioritizing knowledge sharing and cultivation of ICT talent through partnerships with colleges and universities. This year, Huawei aims to partner with eight universities and colleges, and targets to have 500 students enrolled in Huawei ICT Academy courses. With this, Huawei is looking to have 200 students certified by end of the year. COURSE OFFERINGS In the Philippines, the Huawei ICT Academy is fo-

cused on sharing knowledge with both students and teachers on six key areas: IP routing and switching, WLAN, security, storage, cloud, and big data. Students of partner schools are given access to the Huawei Academy website, which has free-of-charge courses students can go through on their own, along with other ICT-related resources. These online courses, developed with Huawei’s leading industry knowledge, include lectures and training modules, which aids students in gaining the necessary skills needed to pass the internationally recognized Huawei Certification. The online courses are augmented by classroom sessions led by the school’s own teachers who had previously taken Huawei’s rigorous “Train the Trainers Program” and earned the Huawei Certification themselves. This way, the teachers are armed with the most updated knowledge and skills to pass on to their students. Huawei ICT Academy also offers an inter-school student competition, the Huawei ICT Competition, where students from Huawei’s partner universities and colleges participate in a national competition that tests their ICT skills. Winning students will be

sent to the regional meet in Singapore in 2020, to compete against winners from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. From there, winners will join the global competition in China, also in 2020. PARTNER SCHOOLS Huawei ICT Academy was first launched in the Philippines in 2018, with four partner schools: University of South Eastern Philippines, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology , Bulacan State University, and the Dela Salle University Science Campus. In 2019, Mapua University and Polytechnic University signed-up as well. These schools were chosen by Huawei based on their course offerings, as well as their focus on ICT-related education, such as computer science, electronic engineering, or Information Technology. Courses offered by the academy are modular, which means that university or college partners may choose which programs to incorporate into their current course offerings. For instance, Mapúa Makati took on the Huawei ICT Academy course on storage, which needs prior knowledge of IP routing and

Officials of Huawei and Mapua Institute of Technology

switching, a course which the university requires of their students. Mapúa Makati partnered with the Huawei ICT Academy this year. Once students have completed Huawei’s ICT courses, Huawei also provides them with vouchers to pay for the certification exam. “I was amazed by the wealth of knowledge available on the Huawei ICT Academy website,” says electronic engineer Macdeib Borbon, a Mapúa Makati graduate and Huawei Certified ICT Professional. He currently works as an engineer in Huawei Philippines.

TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

VIVO HELPING SHAPE SMARTPHONES, INDUSTRY

VER since man used scientific knowledge to create machines and processes to solve problems and create new products, the development and harnessing of technology have always played a vital role in how industries would evolve and progress.

In the smartphone manufacturing industry, Vivo has built a reputation of being a leading global technology company by investing in hardware and software development, to bring the latest cutting-edge handset features to a whole new level or introduce new technologies altogether. It is a commitment that has enabled the brand to not only commercially produce some of the most advanced and powerful handsets in its class or price range, but also to offer game-changing technology that set the trend for competitors to follow, ultimately driving the growth of the industry further. GLOBAL FIRSTS Vivo’s journey to innovating global technology and industries started in 2012 when it introduced the Vivo X1 which, at that time, became the world’s thinnest smartphone at 6.65mm. It was also the world’s first smartphone to have a dedicated Hi-Fi quality audio chip courtesy of the Cirrus Logic CS4398 digital-analog converter plus a CS8422 sample-rate converter. Not contented, the smartphone manufacturer came up with an even slimmer handset in 2014, with the 4.75mm-thin Vivo X5 Max, to claim the “world’s thinnest phone” title, at the time of its release. At the height of the global selfie phenomenon in 2017, Vivo also launched its then midrange V7+ handset which boasted the firstever 24-megapixel front camera lens along with the world’s first LED flash. This was complemented by Face Beauty 7.0 and smart photography algorithms which provided the right amount of brightness, contrast, and sharpness for selfies. In February 2018, at a time when smartphones sported a rear fingerprint scanner as a security feature, Vivo launched its X20 Plus UD, to be-

Robertson “Dick” Chiang, Dragonpay Founder and Chief Technology Officer with Nikki Valdez, SureTayo Celebrity Merchant at the Dragonpay’s SureTayo App launch

DRAGONPAY’S SURETAYO LAUNCHES SMARTPHONE APPLICATION

Vivo has built a reputation of being a leading global technology company by investing in hardware and software development, to bring the latest cutting-edge handset features to a whole new level or introduce new technologies altogether.

come the first ever manufacturer to introduce a handset that has a front fingerprint scanning sensor underneath the 6.43” FHD+ display. TECH INNOVATOR That same time, Vivo also introduced its APEX™ FullView™ to a global market of smartphone enthusiasts at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The concept smartphone features the world’s first notch-less and bezel-less full-screen display for a nearly 98% screen-to-body ratio, and an 8-megapixel elevating selfie camera. Within just four months, Vivo successfully turned the concept phone into a reality for consum-

ers as it commercially-made available the Vivo NEX with an elevating selfie camera that paved the way for a notch-less full screen display and other premium features such as the half-screen in-display fingerprint scanning technology, apps powered and enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), and bezel-less display which competitors adopted for their own flagship products. In June 2018, the Mobile World Congress trade show in Shanghai, China, hosted a number of device launches, including the Vivo Time of Flight, a pioneering 3D sensing technology that detects the time it takes emitted pulse light to return to the

sensor, to accurately map objects at up to three meters in front of it. Time of Flight promises a paradigm shift in imaging, augmented reality, and human-machine interaction to elevate consumer lifestyles with new levels of immersion and smart capability. INNOVATIONS TO COME Showing no letup in innovation, Vivo this year, once again made the Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, China its platform to introduce the APEX 2019, its first-ever 5G smartphone which sports a Super Unibody Design that eliminates the bezel, notch, all physical buttons, ports, and speakers.

FEEL FUTURE WITH GLOBE AT HOME AIR FIBER 5G GET firsthand experience of the world’s fastest empowered households.” fixed wireless technology with Globe Lifespeed Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G powered by HuaHome booth at Bonifacio High Street Central, wei became commercially available last July 27, Taguig now until Sept. 6, 2019. 2019 in Barangay Buting in Pasig City, with plans Visitors will be treated to try out the power of of firing up more areas in Greenpark Village in Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G—the first 5G technology Cainta, Rizal; Woodland Hills in Carmona, Cavite; commercially available for the home in Southeast and Carissa 2A and 2B Palmera Homes in San Jose Asia, through exciting activities for the entire del Monte, Bulacan by September. family. These include ultra HD TV streaming, low Plans being offered are at P1,899 per month lag gaming, and experiencing intelligent home for up to 20Mbps, P2,499 for up to 50Mbps, and devices. Exclusive merchandise will also be given P2,899 for up to 100Mbps. All plans include up daily to those who will drop by until supplies last! to 2-terabyte data capacity. “Globe Lifespeed Home is designed to Consumers who are interested to avail showcase the power of the world’s fastest Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G Plans in said areas Experience the power of technology at lifespeed wireless Internet technology to more cusmay apply through authorized Globe Sales powered by Globe and Huawei tomers,” said Martha Sazon, SVP and Head of Representatives. Broadband Business at Globe. “This is in line Visit https://bb.globe.com.ph/5g/ or call Globe with fiber-fast and secure Internet access, to transwith our vision to provide more Filipino families form their homes to more digitally connected and customer care at (02) 730-1000 to learn more.

SURETAYO, an escrow service powered by Dragonpay Corporation, has introduced their very own smartphone app to handle the needs of the buyer and seller who are always on-the-go. Launched in 2018, SureTayo is a payment solution that makes every transaction convenient and safe. By becoming a third-party, SureTayo receives the payment from the buyer and once the item was delivered and received, SureTayo releases the payment to the seller. And to make it more convenient, SureTayo also utilizes Dragonpay’s popular alternative payment channels. No need to worry about fraud and scammers! SureTayo saw the growing need of the customers today especially those who rely their businesses on mobile phones. In response, SureTayo has recently launched their very own SureTayo smartphone app. The mobile app is designed to cope with the demands of every transaction giving the sellers an opportunity to easily facilitate and manage customer payments. SureTayo App’s UI is straightforward, has no complicated processes, and provides the customers what they exactly need. The app features six (6) main tools to help the customer’s needs: PROFILE—For first timers, there is no need to register on PC or laptops because registration can now be done through the app. On the main app dashboard, the profile button contains the seller’s information and link that they can share to their customers to place orders. ORDER—The sellers can now create invoice through the app! Just click the Order button, fill-up the transaction details and voila! The invoice will be automatically sent to the buyer via SMS, email or other messaging apps. The buyer will receive a message containing the link that he/ she can use to pay via Dragonpay payment channels. TRANSACTIONS—Once the payment has been settled by the buyer, the seller will be notified through the Transaction button. This button also allows you to check the status of your transactions - from paying to shipping! PAYOUT—Want to check the total earnings? Payout button helps the seller to see his/ her total earnings for the week and when it will be received to his/ her registered bank account.

GALAXY NOTE 10: DESIGNED TO FUEL PASSIONS TO LIFE NEW YORK—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy Note10, a new line of premium smartphones that combines elegant design with powerful performance and productivity tools to help users make the most of every moment. Inspired by a generation that flows seamlessly between work and life, the Galaxy Note10 gives users the freedom to work the way they want and showcase their creative spirit, all on-the-go. For years, the Galaxy Note series has helped millions of loyal users around the world pursue their passions and achieve their goals, and with the Galaxy Note10, Samsung is helping users do more of what they love. “From the very beginning, the Galaxy Note has stood for the best-of-the-best technologies and features. The Galaxy Note10 re-imagines this promise for the modern Note fan who uses their smartphone to take their productivity and creativity to the next level, and who effortlessly flows between ideas and endeavors at a moment’s notice,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division,

Samsung Electronics. “Every element of the Galaxy Note10 was designed to help users achieve more. Whether they’re finishing a big project for work, capturing and editing a video, or playing their favorite mobile game, the Galaxy Note10 will help them do it faster and better.” PURPOSEFUL DESIGN FOR A PREMIUM EXPERIENCE Galaxy Note users appreciate the power of sophisticated design—not just the look and feel of their device, but the experience it offers. Every element of the Galaxy Note10 is crafted to be sleek, slim and distraction-free, so users can devote their full attention to the ideas, projects, and content that matters most. • Two Sizes: For the first time ever, the Galaxy Note10 comes in two sizes, so consumers can find the Note that’s best for them. The Galaxy Note10 opens up the Note to users who want the power of the S Pen and ultimate productivity in a compact form factor, packing a 6.3-inch Cinematic Infinity Display into the most compact Note yet. The Galaxy Note10+ features the biggest Note display ever

with a 6.8-inch Cinematic Infinity Display on a device that’s still easy to hold and easy to use. The Galaxy Note10’s display is Samsung’s best yet. From its physical construction to its underlying technology, the display is designed to immerse users in their favorite TV, movies and games. • Edge-to-edge Design: The Galaxy Note10’s edge-to-edge Cinematic Infinity Display is nearly bezel-less, while the in-display cut out for the front camera is small and centered for a balanced design. Samsung’s most immersive display creates a seamless experience between thought and action, viewing and creating. • The Galaxy Note10 features the award-winning Dynamic AMOLED display. With HDR10+ certification and Dynamic Tone Mapping, photos and videos are brighter than previous Note devices, and feature a stunning, wide color range. UL verified[1] the Galaxy Note10 display for its 98% color and brightness uniformity. The Eye Comfort display reduces blue light without affecting color quality for comfortable viewing[2]. Turn to C3

The most powerful Galaxy Note suite of productivity and creativity tools with enhanced S Pen and pro-grade camera

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME. The filming location of the hit series 'Mr. Sunshine' at Nonshan Sunshine Land features reproduced houses and buildings seen during the late Joseon period in 1900s.

NEW DISCOVERIES IN SOUTH KOREA By Bernadette Lunas

good looking) drivers take guests around the popular heritage site, making stops at a few establishments.

OU can be in Seoul for three days and still not be able to see all the best destinations in the city. That is how many interesting attractions there are in South Korea's capital.

A day or two of photo shoot

Well, at least, that was the experience I had in my first and second trips to Seoul. But aside from the usual itineraries that include palace tours, K-drama location visits, and shopping in Myeongdong— which are great itineraries, still—there's so much more to see in Seoul, more so outside of the capital. And that was what the Korea Tourism Organization Manila wanted to prove in the recent familiarization tour it organized for select members of the Philippine press.

A trip to Hanseong

It's one thing to take a few photos at a coffee shop where a scene from a K-drama was shot, but it's quite another when you can literally walk around the set of a popular series; take photos and rent the same costumes worn by the characters. At Sunshine Studio in Nonsan Sunshine Land in Chungcheongnam-do, a province in South Korea, fans of the critically acclaimed drama series “Mr. Sunshine” can spend a day enjoying the film

Chungcheongnam-do is home to various pilgrimage sites such as Solmoe Holy Ground (left) and Shinri Holy Ground (right).

set whose streets are lined with skillfully reproduced houses and buildings in Hanseong (former name of Seoul) during the late Joseon period in 1900s. The 6,000-square meter complex served as the main filming location of the

Gothic style rch in Daejeon features a modern The Daeheung-dong Catholic Chu ed concrete. architecture made using reinforc

period series; about 75 percent of the show, officials said, was filmed there. Officials also said the film set, which officially opened to the public in November 2018, receives about 30,000 visitors a month. Visitors can walk around the set in costumes they can rent for a fee.

It's no longer news that Korea is replete with places great for selfies and photo shoots. Sajinchango Café and Photo Studio in Daejeon offers a special photography experience. It has a retro ambiance complete with vintage knick-knacks, and a studio where guests can take their selfportraits using a remote shutter. Another popular site for photo shoots among locals is the Ami Art Museum in Dangjin. The art gallery has various exhibition halls featuring contemporary artists. The interesting artworks and the sprawling garden make for a great photo background. For Santorini-inspired photos, head over to Blue Crystal Village in Asan, where streets are lined with white buildings that house boutique shops and restaurants. For a charming traditional village scenery, the Oeam Folk Village is another must-visit. Guests can walk around the rustic village where they can see traditional thatched-roof houses, stone walls, gardens, and an artificial waterway. Not yet satisfied with those photos? Head over to Harry Potter-inspired King's Cross Cafe, a multi-level pub and coffeehouse where guests can borrow robes and scarves and take photos at its many spots; or to Byeol-Madang Library (more popularly known as Starfield Library) inside Coex Mall, which boasts over 50,000 books and magazines.

institutions it supports every month, our tour guide said. When Pope Francis visited South Korea in 2014, he went to Daeheungdong church and bought ciabatta at the bakery. At night, the nearby Uineungjeongi Cultural Street, Daejeon's version of Myeongdong, lights A journey of faith up with lines of shops selling The tour had also brought us to beauty and fashion items, and several religious destinations, mostly of the 214-meter long arcadeCatholic faith. During our “pilgrimage,” type LED screen dubbed our amiable tour guide told us that in the “Sky Road” which shows terms of religion in South Korea, 50 promotional videos and percent are members of a religion and product commercials. 50 percent are not. And of those 50 Meanwhile, in percent faithfuls, about 40 percent are C h u n g c h e o n g n a m - d o , Protestants, 30 percent are Buddhists, other Catholic pilgrimage and 30 percent are Catholics. sites include Shinri Holy One of the interesting religious Ground in Dangjin, a huge sites in the country is Daeheung- site that has a modern dong Catholic Church in Daejeon, the chapel, an outdoor chapel country's fifth largest metropolis. Our with a wall designed with tour guide said the city, which is a few a bas-relief of Jesus Christ, hours away from Seoul (1.5 hours by and a museum which tells KTX / 2.5 hours by bus), is popular for the story of the birth and its Catholic churches. spread of Catholicism in The church features a modern Gothic Korea. design, a modern bell tower, and a Also in Dangjin is cantilevered steel canopy. It was built Solmoe Holy Ground, without columns. At the time of its the birthplace of the first completion in 1962, the Daeheung- Korean-born Catholic dong Church was the tallest building in priest, Saint Andrew Kim Daejeon. Taegon. Interestingly, when you look from Aside from the popular the outside, the towering structure Myeongdong Cathedral, looks like two hands together in prayer. there's also Kahoe A stone's throw from the church is Catholic Church located in Sung Sim Dang Bakery, whose founder Bukchon Hanok Village in hailed from North Korea. Seoul. The charming bakery, divided into two Speaking of Bukchon outlets—one sells cakes and the other Hanok, we discovered sells breads—not only offers delectable a new and fun way to goods which locals patronize, but also tour the village—via Vintage knic k-kn donates part of its profits to charities. the Artee Pedicab Tour, Sajinchango Caf acks and several photos displayed at é and Photo Studio. The bakery gives about P875,000 to the wherein skilled (and

Destinations

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

LE ISOLE DI VENEZIA MERCURY RISING BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

HAT was how our tour guide introduced to us “The islands of Venice,” which, until this visit, I didn’t know there were any. For me, it was a big discovery that Venice had other islands, 10 of them in the Venetian lagoon: San Francesco del Deserto, Isola Santa Cristina, Sant Erasmo, Lazzaretto Nuovo, San Michele, Lido, Murano, Burano, Mazzorbo, and Torcello. Since it was a half-day tour that we joined, we had time to visit only three of these islands: Murano, Burano, and Torcello. As we embarked on the ferry from Venice’s Piazza di San Marco, our tour guide got me all revved up as she described the beauty of these islands, and gave us useful tips on what to do when we get there.

Murano

Who hasn’t heard of these very expensive, much coveted artistic glass pieces? Anybody worth his grain of salt in home accessorizing knows that Murano glass items perk up home interiors with elegance and classy flair. This island is the closest to Venice proper and remains the most visited among all the others in the lagoon. Its internationally renowned glassmaking industry dates back to the 13th century. However, history shows that this industry actually started in Venice, but the fear of fire burning down the city, which was made up of wooden buildings then, had the furnaces relocated to nearby Murano. We visited the oldest and the biggest glass-making company on the island, 90-year-old Ferro & Lazzarini. A company officer toured us around and showed us the processes that silicone undergoes for it to eventually become a glass masterpiece that commands skyhigh prices. It is very interesting to watch how an ordinary looking element could be transformed into an awesome work of art. After the glass-blowing session, which was demonstrated by one of the factory’s experienced workers, we were led to their showroom which had all shapes and sizes of decorative pieces for home. Going through the entire showroom makes one feel like being in a glass wonderland. There were elaborately designed chandeliers, samples of contemporary art, home accessories, and those signature Murano beads that have been crafted in a variety of glass-blowing processes. Looking at all the masterpieces around me, I

Leaving Venice’s Pizza di San Marco, on our way to the islands in the Venetian lagoon.

couldn’t stop myself from buying a few of the Duomo di Milano. Everybody but it gets very busy during the summer items to bring home. raved about it, and the lace from as hordes of tourists flock to it via the Burano was exported all over Europe. available tour ferries. Although there Burano The industry experienced a decline are many sites that attract visitors, It looks like each of the Venetian in the early 18th century but was I was interested in only two—the islands has a particular specialty in arts revived in the 19th Basilica di Santa and crafts. This one is known all over century when a Maria Assunta the world for its lace-making industry, lace-making school (Basilica of YOUR WEEKEND aside from the fact that tourists find its opened in Burano. the Blessed CHUCKLE bright-colored houses a real come-on. However, very Mary of the The island has a very interesting few women now Assumption), Alcohol does not solve probLace Museum that exhibits, not just make lace in the with its mosaics lems; but, then again, neither exquisitely crafted lace products, but traditional manner of Venetiandoes milk. also tells the history of how this lace- because it is very Byzantine making tradition started. time -consuming designs; and It was in the 16th century when and, therefore, very the Ponte del women on the island began making expensive. Items with lace on them are Diavolo (Bridge of the Devil), a bridge lace with needles, an industry now being mass produced on the island with no protective railing. introduced to the island by Cyprus with the use of modern machinery. Just as our ferry docked in the island’s which, at that time, was ruled by Burano’s main source of income is pier, the weather suddenly changed. Very Venice. What made the industry tourism. strong gusts of wind pervaded, forcing popular was when Leonardo da Vinci stores to close, and residents to barricade visited the island and purchased a Torcello their windows and doors for protection piece of lace-covered cloth for the altar This tiny island has very few residents, from objects carried by the nasty wind.

The oldest and the biggest glass-making company on Murano island, Ferro & Lazzarini.

Even the basilica locked up and we only had time to view the scary bridge that tourists ordinarily have fun crossing, but not this time when very strong winds kept people off-balance, especially when there were no railings to hold on to. Needless to say, the foul weather forced us to rush back to our tour ferry and return to Venice, but satisfied to have spent an afternoon of memorable discoveries. My foray into these islands in the Venetian lagoon was just the start of a weeklong “escapade” to a destination that I have always dreamed of visiting on my birthday. With gratitude to my youngest sister, Esperanza, who made all the arrangements on my behalf, I echo what Italians always say, “La vita e un sogno” (Life is a dream). For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com.

A close-up of Burano’s intricate lace craftsmanship

History comes to life at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar IN ITS efforts to make history a fun and interactive learning experience, Las Casa Filipinas de Acuzar, starting this August, brings to life iconic Filipino characters that played huge and nostalgic pieces of history through HistoryLand. The heritage hotel and destination's newest attraction brings the following events back to life: The Battle of Mactan (where guests may expect to see Lapu Lapu and Magellan), the Execution of Jose Rizal (where guests are expected to realize the contribution of our National Hero to the society and its impacts to the future by rediscovering the past), The Cry of Pugad Lawin (featuring the iconic tearing of cedulas, where guests will understand the significance of this action), the Making of the Philippine Flag (where guests can immerse themselves in the making of this authentic Filipino symbol), and the Fight for Philippine Independence (where guests can experience this event live). Guest can also take pictures with El Katipuneros, Sisa, General Luna, Maria Clara, and friars, and learn a thing or two from these icons in Philippine history. Finally, the Parade of History, the main highlight of this attraction, lets guests mingle with HistoryLand’s historical figures in a 30-minute Meet and Greet. The characters walk through the aisles of Las Casas. Go to www.lascasasfilipinas.com for more information.

HistoryLand features five key events in Philippine history played by actors from Bataan and Manila.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

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

JAVI BENITEZ

THE NEXT BIG ACTION STAR By Nickie Wang

OUNG actor Javier ‘Javi’ Benitez left the corporate world to pursue his passion for acting. And to show everybody that he has made the right decision, he gives his 100 percent effort and dedication to his craft. The 22-year-old Star Magic talent, who is unmistakably Pinoy with his moreno complexion towers at 6 feet. Adrenaline junkie and sports enthusiast, he considers his height and his sporty frame as his strong advantage in his chosen genre -action. Currently, he is working on a movie titled Kid Alpha One. It is directed by Richard Somes, who is best known for horror and action films.

In an interview with Manila Standard, the young actor was eager to show the trailer of the film, which he described as an action romance movie. “It’s just a teaser. We will release the final trailer soon,” he said. “I believe it’s a kind of project that both local and international audience will appreciate. We are used to seeing romantic films all the time that’s why there’s a strong demand for action movies,

something really different,” he carried on. The independent film made him train for five months, mastering arm combat and Filipino martial arts. “I used arnis, knife, sticks and Muay Thai. I was part of Muay Thai Association before. I have gun training – shotgun, pistol and riffle. I’m quite familiar with guns,” beamed the young actor who grew up watching Chinese action films that starred Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee. The action movie also stars Sue Ramirez as his leading lady and he promised that fans and moviegoers will definitely appreciate the kind of team-up the movie has prepared for them. Javi was born in Quezon City and raised in Manila. He studied in Xavier School until high school (and graduated with honors) and

went to Santa Clara University in California where he graduated with a degree in political science. He was a member of his school’s badminton and football teams, an active gokart racer from Grade 4 to senior high, and played in the 2008/2009 Asian Karting Open Championships (AKOC). “After graduation, I went corporate for a few months. I felt that the drive wasn’t there. I am not challenged anymore. And then I was offered to join show business. I didn’t think of it as a full-time job until after workshops,” Javi shared. After dipping his toes in showbiz, opportunities have started to come his way and a lot of doors have opened. “I’m just grabbing every opportunity that comes my way. I’m a very competitive person so I’ll try my best to excel in this field,” he ended.

Political scion Javi Benitez is an up-andcoming action star and rising leading man.

The young action star in a scene from ‘Kid Alpha One,’ a romantic action feature likened to the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith.’

#SeeYouTomorrow campaign takes viewers into the world of a person battling depression.

GLOBE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS WIN BIG IN PANATA AWARDS GLOBE has proven that it can marry limitless creativity with brand-building objectives by winning six trophies at the recently held PANAta Awards which include the Gold for PANAta Brand Bravery Award for #SeeYouTomorrow mental health awareness campaign. Presented yearly by the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA), PANAta is the premier recognition program for standout brand building campaigns in the country. It gives merit to advertisers that effectively utilize marketing communications to build their brand and grow their business. “All Globe corporate campaigns are now geared towards advocacies that directly contribute to the company’s sustainability development goals (SDGs) commitment. Anchored from our company’s purpose of treating people right to create a Globe of good, the #SeeYouTomorrow campaign for instance addresses SDG #3 which is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages,” says Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications Globe also bagged honors for its CSR efforts by winning two awards under the Excellence in Brand CSR category: a Silver for #SeeYouTomorrow, a Bronze for the #TimePlease Volunteer Program, and another Silver for its National Teachers’ Month Campaign. As a leading telco provider in the country, Globe hopes to empower customers not only through the services it provides, but also through the impact of its game changing campaigns. It won two trophies for Excellence in Customer Empowerment: a Silver for #SeeYouTomorrow and a Bronze for #TimePlease. The #SeeYouTomorrow campaign made waves last year with a heartwarming video that takes viewers into the world of a person battling depression, from the perspective of someone closely affected by the person suffering. There is value in the story presented through the video, but more than the powerful execution, it sends a message of hope and encourages the 3.3 million Filipinos suffering from depression, to seek assistance by calling HOPELINE, toll-free. A total of 130 entries were submitted for consideration to this year’s PANAta awards and only 74 qualified for the shortlist. The awarding ceremonies were held last July 19 at the Marquis Events Place in BGC. For more about Globe’s advocacies, follow Globe Bridging Communities on Facebook.

‘PUSO NG SAYA’ MARKS SUNDAY PINASAYA’S FOURTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION GMA Network’s breakthrough comedy-musical variety show Sunday PinaSaya celebrates its fourth anniversary via a series of surprises that will give Filipinos more reasons to smile and laugh together. This year, Sunday PinaSaya aims to strengthen its emotional bond with the viewers from different walks of life by staying true to its brand - Puso ng Saya. The country’s number one Sunday noontime habit introduced its first mascot last July 28 named ‘Pusong Gala,’ who tags along in the journey of promoting happiness and love among Filipino households. The episode also saw the return of the ‘Puso ng Saya Awards,’ which gives recognition to inspiring individuals or groups who are able to spread positivity through their happy disposition despite life’s challenges. This year, Pusong Gala

goes around the metro in search of worthy awardees. Viral blind rapper Jericho “Kokey” Fernando Corpus of Malabon was the first recipient of the award. He also performed with his idols Julie Anne San Jose and Gloc-9. The following Sunday (Aug. 4), the program unveiled its brand new set, introduced new characters, and presented a new SPS dance craze. The show also launched a nationwide comedy-reality competition, ‘The Joke.’ This opens doors for aspiring and amateur comedians to become a regular cast of the program. Then, the weekly winners of Hatawanan Grand Showdown also returned for a dance-off. In the end, the Tween Team, composed of Kyline Alcantara, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Sofia Pablo, Will Ashley, and Bruce Roeland, was hailed as

the first ever champion of the Hatawanan. The episode’s Puso ng Saya awardee was “Kariton Kid” Michael Angelo Tatad who was recognized for his perseverance to achieve his dreams and his undeniable talent in singing. Michael sang a duet with Aicelle Santos and Julie Anne. Today, Sunday PinaSaya goes all out on a special comedy concert entitled ‘Puso ng Saya Day,’ featuring live performances from the cast and special guests, which echoes the Filipino positive spirit. Meanwhile, the ‘Puso ng Saya Celebrity Awards’ will pay tribute to four Filipino comedians whose long careers are dedicated to making the Filipinos happy. It will be done through sketches and musical performances from the show’s cast members. Make sure to tune in today and join in the kantahan, sayawan, at masayang tawanan in Sunday PinaSaya on GMA-7.

'Sunday PinaSaya' cast members Julie Anne San Jose, Alden Richards, and Marian Rivera.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

SIGNS OF AGING IN DOGS

OGS age at different rates, depending on the breed and size.

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.

PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

Big dogs with breed like Great Danes are considered a senior at 5-6 years old, while smaller breed dogs like a Chihuahua will most likely enter the senior phase at 10-11 years old. In “Health Issues to Look for When You Have an Older Dog” by Dr. Hanie Elfenbein in PetMD, owners are encouraged to be on the lookout for changes in their dogs’ health. “Visit your veterinarian regularly; many vets recommend twice a year for senior dogs, “Elfenbein said. Below are the signs of aging in dogs. Please consult a vet when you observe this in your dog: 1. Vision Loss and Other Eye Problems Your dog may be experiencing vision loss or an eye disorder when he/she starts to bump into things, fall or display signs of eye discomfort like redness or cloudiness. “Many dogs will develop a cloudiness in their lens as they age, and though this is normal, it does decrease the precision of their eyesight,” Eflenbein said. It is still important to bring your dog to the vet to rule out treatable eye diseases such as corneal damage, dry eye syndrome or conjunctivitis, Eflenbein said. Cataracts can also be treated through surgery, he added. “Loss of vision is usually irreversible, but there are certain things you can do to help your dog adjust. Ask your veterinarian for tips on handling senior dogs with vision loss,” Eflenbein said. 2. Increased/Strained Urination If your dog is straining to urinate or he now frequently urinates, this may indicate a kidney disease or urinary tract infection which are usually observed in middle-aged to older dogs. This problem can easily be addressed through prescription dog medicine or dietary change. 3. Bad Breath, Bloody Gums and Other Oral Problems

MY FURRY BESTIE

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

Richie's exercise is roaming and playing in the garden with his buddy, Margaux, a rescued dog who has also entered the senior stage.

A dog whose teeth is not cleaned regularly may start to display signs of bad breath, excessive drooling, gum inflammation and loose teeth. Eflenbein said that it is not too late for an owner to start dental hygiene for his/her dog. He also suggested that the dog be brought to the vet to resolve any dental issues. 4. Lumps, Bumps and Other Skin Problems A dog may develop a skin problem at any age but a senior dog is more susceptible to skin issues. The skin problems vary from rashes to lesions, swelling, lumps, dry skin or hair loss. “But there are often things your veterinarian can do to help alleviate the symptoms (such as make dietary changes) or even cure the underlying cause of the issue,” Eflenbein said. Eflenbein added, “Many dogs develop lumps under their skin as they age. Lipomas, or fatty growths, are common and benign —meaning they pose no problem for your pet.” But fatty growths and the more dangerous growths can look very

Richie, the oldest rescued dog of Save Animals of Love and Light at around 18-19 years old, is brought to the clinic twice a year for blood test and physical check-up. He now has cataract in both eyes. He is given a dry dog food for senior dogs and boiled vegetables with a little meat. He is also given Co Q 10 30 mg for the heart and multivitamins.

similar, thus the dog must be checked by a vet. “Lumps are of increased concern when they are new, when they grow, or if they change shape, color or size,” Eflenbein said. 5. Weight Gain or Loss There are two kinds of weight concern: 1. Some older dogs may need a dog food with higher calorie content or better palatability because they can not maintain their weight or getting thin. 2. Other dogs gain weight and may need a special diet to prevent obesity. “Neither being overweight nor underweight is ideal for your dog. Overweight and obese dogs, for instance, have a higher incidence of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and even cancer, “ Eflenbien stressed. Do ask your vet when it is best to switch your dog from an adult dog diet to a senior dog diet. “Ask about the benefits of therapeutic diets, which can provide key benefits to help manage conditions commonly associated with aging dogs,” Eflenbein said. Your senior dog also need an age-appropriate exercise routine. Please ask your vet about this. “A proper diet and exercise plan

can be important in delaying the signs of aging and increasing your dog’s longevity,” Eflenbein said. 6. Difficulty Playing and Getting Around Joint problems are common in older dogs. Ask your veterinarian about dietary changes such as including antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Dog ramps and orthopedic dog beds may also be provided. “Physical rehabilitation can also reverse some mobility losses and is a valuable tool for aging pets,” Eflenbein said. Your vet can help with this. 7. Behavior and Memory Problems Please consult your vet if your dog has signs of confusion, disorientation, memory loss, irritability, unusual pacing or other personality changes. “Changes in your dog’s behavior may be a normal part of aging or a symptom of a disease like dog dementia (canine cognitive dysfunction),” Eflenbein said. “Some specific signs of canine cognitive dysfunction include staying awake or pacing at night, having urinary accidents and forgetting cues (e.g., sit, stay) that he once knew, “ Eflenbein added.

FLAME, a stray kitten, was rescued during the second leg of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation at the Marikina Riverbank on July 7. “ We saw Flame mingling with the participants, particularly the Dagun Pilipinas Dragonboat Team. With the help of Kuya Recca, we brought the stray kitten to our home in San Andres, Manila and named it Flame,” says Kurie Arguelles. “From then on, Flame became a part of our family. Gender can not be identified yet according to the veterinarian because Flame is too young. She was only three weeks old when rescued,” Kurie adds.

Next week: Tips for Caring for Senior Dogs

KEEP YOUR CAT FREE FROM HEARTWORM (Last of two parts) HEARTWORM can kill your cat. Thus, proper diagnosis is vital. It is important to bring your pet to the doctor for tests as soon as you see one of these symptoms: 1. Collapse 2. Coughing 3. Dyspnea 4. Vomiting 5. Convulsions 6. Diarrhea 7. Vomiting 8. Lethargy 9. Blindness 10. Anorexia 11. Tachycardia 12. Weight Loss The following tests will be done, according to Ernest Ward in “Heartworm Disease in Cats” in the VCA website: 1. A blood sample will be tested for the presence of microfilariae. But less than 20 per cent of cats with heartworms have microfilariae in their blood, and microfilariae are present for only one to four weeks. A positive test is diagnostic but a negative test means little. 2. An eosinophil count will be measured in cats suspected of having heartworms. “Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that occur in increased numbers when certain parasites are present. They are elevated in the presence of heartworms, but this elevation only occurs for a few months. This test is not specific, since cats with other parasites (intestinal worms, fleas, etc.) or allergies also commonly have increased eosinophil counts. An eosinophil count is often performed with a complete blood cell count (CBC) and serum chemistries during the initial diagnostic workup.,” Ward said. 3. Radiographs (X-rays) will show the size and shape of the heart, and will allow the vet to measure the diameter of the pulmonary arteries. “Many cats with heartworms have an increase in the size of the pulmonary arteries, or the arteries may appear blunted

JULY, one year old, has been dewormed and is now being given a heartworm preventive even though he stays inside the foster home.. A son of a rescued mama, Chloe, July is up for adoption. Please contact Save ALL Inc.- Save Animals of Love and Light on Facebook. (suddenly come to an apparent stop) on their way to the lungs, due to worms obstructing them. However, many other cats with heartworms have no abnormal findings on their radiographs, especially early in the infection. 4. Cardiac ultrasound or echocardiography allows the examiner to directly view and assess the heart and surrounding vessels. In some cats, the actual adult heartworms can be seen, thus, you will know what you are dealing with. But most infected cats have a low number of worms, thus these are not seen, and proper treatment is not started and given. Can feline heartworm disease be treated? There is no drug approved for treating heartworms in cats. One of the drugs used for treating dogs has been used in cats, but it causes significant side effects. "To complicate things further, when the adult heartworms die during this treat-

VAL, a kitten when rescued by Save ALL, roams freely in a garden with trees and is thus more exposed to the possibility of being bitten by mosquitoes. He is given heartworm prevention too. Val is also up for adoption. ment, they pass through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs where the reaction to the dead and dying worms can cause sudden death,” Ward said. When a cat is diagnosed with heartworms, there are two main choices: 1. Treat using a drug designed for dogs. But Ward said “this drug can have serious side effects in cats including acute pulmonary (lung) failure and death. For this reason, this approach is not recommended or use.” 2. Treat the symptoms of the disease and hope the cat will outlive the worms. “Since heartworms live in a cat for about two to three years (as opposed to five to seven years in dogs), several months of treatment are needed. When cats are in a crisis, they are treated with oxygen and corticosteroids (cortisone) to relieve the reaction occurring in the pulmonary arteries and lungs, and, if needed, drugs to remove fluid from the lungs (diuretics). When they are stable, they are treated continuously or periodically with cortico-

steroids. In many cats, this treatment will reduce clinical signs and improve their quality of life. However, the threat of an acute crisis or sudden death always exists,” Ward said. 3. Surgical removal of the heartworms is now the recommended treatment for cats with severe signs of heartworm disease. “This procedure must be performed by a specialist, often at a college of veterinary medicine. Studies have shown that up to 40% of cats may die during or after this procedure, so surgical heartworm removal is typically reserved for those cats who have severe disease and a poor prognosis without surgery,” Ward said. How to prevent heartworms It is strongly recommended by vets that cats be given a year-round monthly heartworm preventives in areas where mosquitoes are active all year round. Cats in colder places should be given a monthly preventative for at least six months of the year. Ward said there are good heartworm preventives for cats which makes it easy and safe to prevent heartworm disease in cats. Giving heartworm preventives is very important for the following reasons 1. Diagnosing heartworm is not easy for both cats and dogs. 3. Unknown Incidence. Although heartworms are not as common in cats as they are in dogs, Ward said it is possible cases of heartworm have not been known. “As we look more aggressively for heartworms in cats with better and better tests, we expect to find that the incidence is greater than previously thought. Studies have shown that up to 15% of all cats in certain locations, regardless of whether they are indoor and outdoor cats, have been exposed to feline heartworm disease,” Ward said. 4. Treatment is not easy either. “There Is No Good Treatment. There is simply no good treatment for heartworminfected cats. Effective drugs are not available, and cats that seem to be doing well may die suddenly. Treating heartworm infections in cats is risky at best, and not treating these cats is just as risky. It will

MYAW MYAW, a sweet three-monthold kitten loves to catch and run after a rat the moment she wakes up, says Aurora Jose. “My apo Fey Fey loves her so much and Myaw Myaw enjoys being pampered by Fey,” adds Aurora. “Myaw Myaw is very playful and loves tricking us by crying just to catch our attention. She also loves being hugged and touched especially on the nose,” says Aurora. Aurora encourages people to adopt animals. “ Animals make us happy and they touch lives in a wonderful way just like how Myaw touched ours.”

take about two years for the parasitic infection to be eliminated in the cat, and serious clinical signs can suddenly appear at any time during this period,” Ward said. 5. Prevention is always better, safe and easy. “Cats given heartworm prevention drugs have not shown signs of toxicity. There is a wide margin of safety, even in kittens as young as six weeks of age,” Ward said. 6. Indoor cats can also get heartworms Too. “Exposure to mosquitoes is required for transmission. Cats do not have to be exposed to cats or dogs infected with heartworms. Obviously, cats that go outdoors are more likely to be exposed; however, an infected mosquito can easily get into the house and infect the cat,” Ward added. DC