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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 185 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CHINA TOLD: EXPLAIN SIBUTU INTRUSIONS

ALACAÑANG, miffed by the unflagging passing of Chinese warships through Sibutu near the Philippines’ southernmost province Tawi-Tawi without clearance from the Philippines, wants to know the reason for the ceaseless crossing.

Sibutu Passage, a deep channel some 29 km wide that separates Borneo from the Sulu Archipelago, has a deep sill allowing entry of deep water into the Sulu basin while connecting the Sulu Sea with the Sulawesi Sea that feeds from the Pacific Ocean by the Mindanao Current. Military sources noted that Sibutu, which is only 1,103 kilometers from Manila, is 3,915 kilometers from Beijing. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had described the recent movement of Chinese vessels through Sibutu, as reported by the Western Mindanao Command, as an “irritant.” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo himself told a weekend media forum: “We want to know why [the Chinese warships] are passing through [Sibutu].” But he could not ascertain if President Rodrigo Duterte, who would be meeting up with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, would raise the issue regarding the Chinese warships incursion. “That’s the call

of the President, whatever issue he wants to take with the President Xi,” Panelo said. “But I suppose taking that up will also be important because, as Mr. Lorenzana said...the incident has been repeatedly done and, therefore, it is becoming an irritant, and we have to know exactly why they’re passing through that strait when the shortest route going to China can be done on a different route,” he added. On Thursday, Malacañang expressed its concern over the military’s report that five more Chinese warships sailed in Philippine waters of the Sibutu Strait without informing Manila, saying it was not“an act of friendship.” Panelo at that time said the actions of the Chinese warships might be a violation of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which only allows innocent passage of ships through the territorial sea of a coastal state provided that it will be “continuous and expeditious.” Panelo, however, said Duterte would raise the issue on the landmark Turn to A2

UNFALTERING PASSAGE. One of five Chinese warships monitored as passing through the Sibutu Strait by the Western Mindanao Command, described by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday as an 'irritant.' WestMinCom Photo

DOJ TIGHTENS UP ON VISA RULES FOR SINO TOURISTS THE Duterte administration is pulling together visa rules for visiting Chinese nationals, permitting the arrivals to a maximum of 30 days and blacklist overstaying aliens, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Saturday. “We intend to limit the maximum permissible period to 30 days, blacklist overstaying aliens, ensure non-convertibility to work visas, and impose sanctions on travel agencies breaking the rules,” he said. Under current rules, the Visa Upon Arrival or VUA is good for 30 days but may

be extended for up to six months. In a statement, Guevarra said the Department of Justice and its attached agency the Bureau of Immigration “are tightening up the rules on the issuance of VUA”—just weeks after officials raised concern over the influx of travelers from China, with National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. saying the arrivals were a security risk. Guevarra added the VUA was supposed to have been “non-convertible ever since.” “But if it’s a regular tourist visa is-

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sued by our consular offices abroad, it may be converted to a work visa upon compliance with all legal requirements,” he said. The VUA program allows Chinese tourists to apply for visa upon arrival in the country, instead of applying beforehand at the Philippine embassy and consulates in China. First implemented during the time of then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in 2017, the move was initiated by the Tourism department to lure in more Chinese tourists and investors. Turn to A2

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UNRESTRAINED ENTHUSIASM. Children—joining Big Bird, Elmo and the gang—run through the Sesame Street Fun Run Philippines at the SM by the Bay in Pasay City Saturday. It is promoted as the world’s first run to celebrate 50 years of Sesame Street and Counting! The five-kilometer family fun run caters to all ages, from first timers to seasoned athletes. Norman Cruz

METRO NEARING DENGUE EPIDEMIC SCALE—HEALTH METRO Manila, the national capital region where 12,900,000 live, faces the risk of a dengue epidemic after surpassing the alert level threshold, according to the Department of Health. In a report on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, beamed nationwide, the DOH said it had recorded 11,123 dengue cases in Metro Manila as of Aug. 10, adding 856 of these cases were recorded in just one week, most of them among children aged 5 to 9. The highest number of cases had been recorded in Quezon City’s Greater Fairview, with 160 cases, including one dying, recorded there as of August 3. Earlier on, a DOH official urged residents in the congested metropolis and the Ilocos region to be more vigilant in fighting dengue as both areas were close to hitting the “epidemic

RULING PARTY NOTCHES KEY HOUSE POSTS By Maricel V. Cruz THE Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan is confident it can push the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration for the next three years with the allocation of key positions and chairmanships to its party members in the House of Representatives, a party stalwart said Saturday. Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, the party leader in the House, made the statement after he and Senator Emmanuel Pacquaio were named as the party heads in ther respective chambers of Congress. Turn to A2

threshold.” In a TV interview on Monday, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the department was closely monitoring the two regions because they were now “above the alert level and nearing the epidemic threshold.” “Alert level meaning, you’re seeing cases more than the average cases in the past five years and there’s a higher threshold, this is the epidemic, this is way higher than we’re expecting for that area. For the past few months, they were below the alert threshold, but now the cases are going up,” Domingo added. He said Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Region 4-B (Mimaropa), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Regions 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Turn to A2

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HONG KONG’S DIVISIONS DEEPEN WITH RIVAL RALLIES

popular with mainland tourists. cord-breaking rallies in June and July ONG KONG democracy activists kicked off a Some protesters targeted the that saw hundreds of thousands of weekend of fresh rallies on Saturday in a major test offices of the staunchly people hit the streets. for the movement following criticism over an airport local pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Businesses under pressure protest earlier this week—and as concerns mount over Unions, pelting it with eggs and The protests were sparked by Beijing’s next move. spraying graffiti. opposition to a plan to allow extraThe new marches came as thousands of pro-government supporters—many waving Chinese flags—gathered in a park to condemn their opponents and support the police, a stark illustration of the polarization now coursing through the city. Ten weeks of demonstrations have plunged the international finance hub into crisis, with communist-ruled mainland China taking an increasingly hardline tone, including labeling the more violent protester actions “terrorist-like.” Democracy activists are billing the weekend rallies as a way to show Beijing and the city’s unelected leaders that their movement still enjoys broad public support, despite increasingly violent tactics deployed by a minority of hardcore protesters. On Tuesday, protesters blocked passengers from boarding flights at the city’s airport and later assaulted two men they accused of

“The government has yet to respond to a single demand and has escalated force through the police to suppress the people’s voices,” a 25-year-old protester, who gave his first name Mars, told AFP. “If we don’t come out, our future, our next generation will face even more suppression,” he added. But across the harbor at the proBeijing rally, where a giant screen showed recent clashes with police, 60-year-old retiree Irene Man had a very different take as she rounded on democracy protesters. “Their acts are not human, they have all become monsters. They are rioters, with no reason, no thinking,” she said. The biggest pro-democracy rally is Rival rallies Saturday’s rallies began with thou- expected to take place on Sunday on sands of teachers marching through the main island. Billed as a “rational, non-violent” torrential rain in support of the largely protest, it is being organized by the youth-led protests. In the afternoon, thousands also Civil Human Rights Front, a group that marched through Hung Hom and eschews confrontations with police To Kwa Wan, two harborside districts and was the driving force behind re-

being Chinese spies. The images damaged a movement that until then had largely only targeted the police or government institutions, and prompted some soulsearching among protesters. China’s propaganda apparatus seized on the violence, with state media churning out a deluge of damning articles, pictures and videos. State media also ran images of military personnel and armored personnel carriers across the border in Shenzhen, prompting the United States to warn Beijing against sending in troops, which analysts say would be a reputational and economic disaster for China.

ditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city. Millions of people have hit the streets while clashes have broken out between police and small groups of hardcore protesters. Battles between police firing tear gas and rubber bullets—and hardcore protesters using rocks, Molotov cocktails and slingshots—have since become routine in an international finance hub once renowned for stability. Beyond suspending the extradition bill, Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam have shown no desire to meet key demands such as an inquiry into police violence, the complete withdrawal of the bill and an amnesty. But protesters remain unbowed, despite the arrests of more than 700 people and 11 consecutive weekends of rallies that have won few concessions. AFP

(Left) An anti-extradition bill protester holds a sign against police brutality during a gathering at Chater House Garden in Hong Kong on Aug. 16. (Right) On Saturday, a pro-Beijing supporter displays a sticker with China’s national flag on her face as she takes part in a progovernment rally at Tamar Park in Hong Kong. AFP

P18M PAID FOR PWDS, SENIORS’ FREE MOVIES By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati city government paid a total of P18 million to its five partnercinemas for free movie tickets given during the first six months of the year to 82,035 senior citizens and 9,896 persons with disability. Mayor Abigail Binay said the unparalleled perk provided by the city government is available to some 110,780 elderly citizens and 12,080 registered PWDs of Makati. “Our meaningful partnership with cinema owners in Makati has been giving joy to our senior and PWD Makatizens for over two decades now. It is our pride and pleasure to make them happy and young at heart through this privilege,”Binay said. “We are heartened to learn that other localities have followed suit and granted the said perk to their elderly and PWD residents, although with certain limitations, such as designating certain days of the week for the free admission to selected cinemas,” she added. The elderly and PWD Makati residents can watch movies for free at any time and day in cinema-partners in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart. In his report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, city chief accountant William Dayrit said the city paid a total of P18,146,284.00 to five cinema-partners for movie tickets issued for the first two quarters of the year. Of this, P16,595,131.75 went to movie tickets of senior citizens and P1,551,152.25 to movie tickets of PWDs. The amount represents the 25-percent share of the city government in the cost of movie tickets used under the program The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Makati also recently enacted City Ordinance No. 2019-A-023 which grants a P10,000 cash gift per year for senior citizens aged 90 to 99 who have been Blu Card holders for at least five years.

BABY DUGONG DIES IN THAILAND

FILIPINOS IN LIBYA ADVISED TO BE VIGILANT FILIPINOS planning to travel abroad or to other parts of Libya are advised to be vigilant in the wake of the frequent shelling of Mitiga International Airport, the sole functioning airport in Tripoli. “The incidents of shelling during the past several days have not only resulted in the suspension of flight operations but have also endangered the lives of hundreds of civilians using the only functioning airport in Tripoli for inbound and outbound travel,”the Philippine embassy in Libya said in a statement. “Filipinos flying to and from Mitiga are advised to take these factors into consideration when

making their travel plans,” it added. While the more than 1,000 Filipinos in Tripoli are still covered by restrictions under Alert Level IV, chargé d’affaires Elmer Cato said many of them still travel abroad for their vacations. “Some of those exempted from the Level IV restrictions also use the airport as a transit point to other places in Libya where they work,” he added. The Alert Level IV, which is still in place in Tripoli, prohibits Filipinos who have gone back to Manila from returning to Libya. Meanwhile, Cato said the repatriation efforts of the embassy is still ongoing, with 12 applications

being processed at present. The embassy had been using Mitiga to repatriate Filipinos from Tripoli. It is also used by members of the augmentation teams from the Department of Foreign Affairs. With the current state of the Mitiga International Airport, Cato said the embassy will most likely evacuate future repatriates first to Tunis by land. The ongoing conflict began when units loyal to the Libyan National Army advanced toward Tripoli to capture the capital from forces aligned with the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord in April. PNA

BISHOP CALLS FOR ‘PRAYER POWER’

BEAUTY AND BRAWN. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray (left) paid a courtesy call on Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. Manny Palmero

“PRAYER power” is a new form of resistance to that will bind Filipinos together in overcoming the challenges faced by the country, said Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who himself is battling sedition charges filed by the Philippine National Police over his alleged involvement in the creation of a series of viral videos that cast the President in a negative light. “I call this new form of resistance prayer power. We don’t call it people power, we call it ‘prayer’ that binds people together, in solidarity together,” David, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said in a radio interview on Saturday. David is among the many religious leaders charged over their supposed hand in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” viral video that featured an alias Bikoy, who eventually surfaced and identified himself as Peter Joemel Advincula. “Our solidarity does not require physical manifestation. We can express our solidarity

spiritually that is why I call it prayer power,” he said. “My appeal is for our prayer warriors to grow in number so that we can achieve peace and we can overcome this difficult challenge that we are facing,” David added. In his counter-affidavit filed before the Department of Justice, the bishop admitted meeting Advincula once, but not to plan any ouster plot against the President. “Contrary to the accusations leveled against me, I will be the last to resort to any kind of activity designed to undermine the administration or oust the duly elected officials in government,”he said in his counter-affidavit. “Such assertions is nothing but a blatant lie, an orchestrated move to ruin my name and reputation as a Roman Catholic Bishop through false innuendos, malicious inferences and speculations which are doubly libelous, grossly vilifying and obviously defamatory,” David added.

BANGKOK—A sick baby dugong whose fight for recovery won hearts in Thailand and cast a spotlight on ocean conservation has died from an infection exacerbated by bits of plastic lining her stomach, officials said Saturday. Mariam washed up in shallow waters off southwestern Thailand months ago and photos of her nuzzling playfully next to rescuers quickly went viral. The discovery soon after of another orphaned dugong brought the sea cows celebrity status, the attention of a Thai princess—who named the second one“Jamil”—and round-the-clock webcasts giving viewers a front-row seat to feedings and treatment. But Mariam died just after midnight after going into shock and efforts to resuscitate her failed, Chaiyapruk Werawong, head of Trang province marine park, told AFP. “She died from a blood infection and pus in her stomach,” he said, adding they found small amounts of plastic waste in her intestinal tract. An autopsy showed the plastic had caused obstructions in the animal’s stomach, leading to inflammation and gas build-up, veterinarian Nantarika Chansue posted on Facebook. AFP

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TRANSPORT AGENCIES' MERGER EYED

OIL PLAYERS SHIFT GEARS, HIKE PRICES BY P0.75/LITER

By Maricel V. Cruz DEPUTY Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte wants an expanded Department of Transportation to formulate and execute a 30-year National Transportation Strategy for the Philippines to sustain the gains of President Rodrigo Duterte’s centerpiece program “Build, Build, Build.” Villafuerte, representative of Camarines Sur, made the proposal under House Bill 2245. In his bill, Villafuerte said all transportrelated agencies should be merged with the revitalized DOTr, which will then take charge of “rationalizing the structure and functions of the different transportrelated agencies and harmonizing all plans” under a long-term national transportation roadmap. Villafuerte said that in crafting the 30-year NTSP, the new DOTr needed to strengthen the capability of local governments in undertaking transport management and management beyond their current collaborative efforts with this department. “There is an urgent need for the efficient and effective coordination of transportation and public works projects in support of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Duterte administration, and with an eye on strengthening LGU capacities in transportation planning and management beyond the present collaborative arrangement between DOTR and local governments,” he said. “Developed countries such as Japan, Canada and the United States have put planning and development of transportation systems and infrastructure under one ministry or department for optimum coordination of policy formulation and program implementation,” said Villafuerte in HB 2245. “This has led to greater efficiency in the use of resources and effective planning and implementation of transportation projects which ultimately benefit the commuting public,” he added. In his proposal for government to formulate a national transportation strategy for the country from now till 2050, Villafuerte underscored the need for “a long-term transportation road map, considering the increasing population, high urbanization rate and requirements for the country’s economic growth in urban, rural and far-flung areas of the country.”

RULING...

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“The PDP-Laban and all of its [members-] lawmakers in the House of Representatives are ready to buckle down to work and tackle issues and legislation that can change our nation,”Velasco said. Velasco said the appointment of several PDP-Laban members in several key positions at the Lower House would enable the swift passage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda. “Under the 18th Congress, six of our party mates have been named deputy speakers, three deputy majority leaders, one assistant majority leader, and one assistant minority leader,” Velasco said. He added PDP-Laban also received 19 chairmanships of key committees and 58 vice chairmanships. “Our party members have also been appointed to head the House delegation to the Commission on Appointments and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal,” he said. There are 19 PDP-Laban members who secured key posts in the House, including Velasco, as chairman of the House committee on energy. Others are Reps. Joey Salceda of Albay, chairman of the House committee on ways and means; Abraham Tolentino, accounts; Anne Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay, foreign affairs; Ria Vergara of Nueva Ecija, ethics; Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Mindanao Affairs; Eric Martinez of Valenzuela City, youth and sports.development; Gloria Labadlabad of Zamboanga del Norte, ecology; Sandra Eriguel of La Union, social services; Eric Olivarez of Parañaque City, government enterprises and privatization; Divina Yu of Zamboanga del Sur, interparliamentary relations and diplomacy; Bong Suntay of Quezon City, human rights, Junie Cua of Quirino, banks and financial intermediaries; Lucy TorresGomez of Leyte, disaster management; Lucille Nava of Guimaras, population and family relations; Dale Malapitan of Caloocan City, poverty alleviation; Elisa Kho of Masbate, rural development; Rogel Pacquiao of Sarangani, special committee on east Asean growth area; and Geraldine Roman of Bataan, veterans affairs. Velasco thanked the House leadership “for naming members of PDP-Laban to various committees and important posts in the bigger chamber, cognizant of the role of our political party as an important ally in accomplishing the Duterte administration’s plans and programs through legislation.”

By Alena Mae S. Flores

HE country’s oil firms are poised to increase pump prices by as much as P0.75 per liter on Tuesday. “Effective 12:01 a.m. Aug. 20, 2019, Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex) will increase WPP [wholesale posted price] of Platinum and Silver by P0.50 per liter, diesel by P0.75 per liter and kerosene by P0.50 per liter (all VATInc),” Chevron said. PetroGazz, for its part, will also implement a price hike on fuel products effective 6 a.m. Tuesday: diesel by P0.75 per liter and gasoline by P0.50 per liter. Last Aug. 13, most of the oil com-

DOJ...

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Aside from Chinese tourists, other nationals may also avail themselves of the program if they are foreign investors endorsed by relevant organizations, delegates to sports competitions and international conventions and officials of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other development partners. On July 31, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. called for an end to the issuance of the VUA to Chinese tourists, saying they should undergo a vetting process before being issued visas and allowed to enter the Philippines. Diplomatic observers noted Chinese arrivals in the country have been on the rise, with many employed in off-shore gaming operations. On Friday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the presence of Chinese-run off-shore gaming facilities near military bases was “very concerning,”saying such may be used for surveillance purposes. Despite improved bilateral trade between Manila and Beijing, the two countries remain locked in disputes over the South China Sea. Defense and military officials have also flagged Chinese ship passages without Philippine clearance at the Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi. Earlier on Thursday, China expressed “grave concern” over a proposal to transfer Chinese working in offshore gaming operators to self-contained communities or hubs, saying this might infringe on their basic legal rights. In a statement, China urged the Philippine government to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines. Earlier, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said the proposal to confine the Chinese

METRO... From A1 Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), and 12 (Soccsksargen), remain in the epidemic threshold. The DOH-Epidemiology Bureau said about 167,606 dengue cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to July 27, 2019. “These cases equate to a 98 percent increase in January to July 2019 compared to the same period last year. Dengue, as we know, has ups and downs, it usually goes with two years low burden and the third year becomes a high burden, and 2019 is proving to be that,” Domingo said, adding that the same trend is true for other Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand. Saying that rain patterns affect the breeding of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, Domingo urged the public to make their surroundings clean and keep their children protected all the time. “The dengue mosquito does not travel far, but because of the wind factor, they can travel two to three more blocks. That’s why we say if there is clustering in your barangay, say yes to selective fogging because we know that the mosquitoes are

panies implemented a price cut of P0.50 per liter for gasoline, P1.10 per liter for diesel and P1.30 per liter for kerosene. According to the latest monitoring of the Department of Energy, yearto-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P4.50 per liter for gasoline, P2.85 per liter for diesel and P0.85 per liter for kerosene. World oil prices have remained volatile in recent months due to the ongoing China and US trade war which could affect demand. Even local oil companies are keenly watching developments between the US-China trade war, which could impact on future expansion plans. “We want to continue expanding and at the same time we’re watching what happens to the trade war, obviously a concern that wasn’t existent 18 months ago. That one really is affecting not just both countries but

even those in the periphery because ultimately what happens to both of them if they have to both of them if they have... if they catch a cold, the Philippines needs... might go to the ICU,” Francis Glenn Yu, Seaoil chief executive officer, said. Yu said oil companies have already been experiencing price volatility due to the US-China trade war which could affect global demand. “I definitely think it is playing in the minds of every player because we’re talking about the two largest consumers of... two largest countries... the consumers of oil. The two largest consumers of oil, if something happens in either of their economies how this will affect,” he said. He said Seaoil is selling a commodity that is greatly affected “so we have to take a look at that.” “If there’s a slowdown, there will be a trickle down effect... What are

those products that we export into China that China uses as components to export into the United States...That will impact local demand,” he said. Seaoil, one of the country’s leading independent oil companies with more than 450 retail stations, imports finished petroleum products to sell to the domestic market. “It’s a macro. It affects everyone. I think in our mind, if demand all of a sudden disappears and then they have all this capex in the pipeline,” he said. Seaoil spent P811 million for its capital expenditure budget last year from P524 million in 2017. It did not disclose capex figures for the year. The company targets to open about three to five stations per month. “Normally, we will revisit it towards the end of the year... so last quarter... as related to the trade war and the understanding that might impact the future investment,” Yu said.

workers to designated areas was intended to limit their interactions with locals amid complaints of their unruly behavior. But the embassy said it had always reminded Chinese citizens overseas to abide by local laws and regulations and not to work illegally in foreign countries. It said a large number of Chinese citizens had been illegally recruited and hired for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) and casinos. “In many cases, the employers of Philippine casinos, POGOs and other forms of gambling entities do not apply necessary legal work permits for their Chinese employees. Some Chinese citizens are even lured into and cheated to work illegally with only tourist visas,” the embassy said. The statement also emphasized that any form of gambling by Chinese citizens, including online-gambling, gambling overseas, opening and operating casinos overseas to attract citizens of China as primary customers, is illegal. “Many of the Chinese citizens working illegally in Philippine casinos or POGOs and other forms of gambling entities are subjected to what media described as ‘modern slavery’ due to severe limitation of their personal freedom,” the embassy said. “Their passports are taken away or confiscated by the Philippine employers. They are confined to live and work in certain designated places and some of them have been subjected to extortion, physical abuse and torture as well as other ill-treatments,” it added. The embassy also said there were dozens of kidnappings and torture cases of Chinese citizens who gamble or work illegally in gambling entities in the Philippines. “Some Chinese citizens were physically tortured, injured or even murdered,” it said. The embassy also expressed alarm that offshore gambling has resulted

in cross-border crimes, such as money laundering, which undermines China’s financial supervision and financial security. According to the embassy, offshore gaming for Chinese has also contributed to China’s increasing social problems and crime rate. “The Chinese side hopes and urges relevant departments of the Philippine government to pay more attention to China’s position and concerns and take concrete and effective measures to prevent and punish the Philippine casinos, POGOs and other forms of gambling entities for their illegal employment of Chinese citizens and crack down related crimes that hurt the Chinese citizens,” the statement said. The Chinese government vowed it would carry out more operations to prevent and combat cross-border gambling as it sought cooperation with Philippine law enforcement agencies to curb such illegal activities. It warned Chinese companies or individuals in the Philippines to “immediately stop relevant illegal activities, otherwise they will be punished in accordance with Chinese law.” Malacañang also on Thursday urged exploited Chinese workers to file charges against their employers following China’s statement. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government would not allow any abuse of foreign visitors and vowed that laws will be observed. “We will not allow any violation of their rights as visitors or working nationals in this country. We certainly have the Constitution to guide government authorities in dealing with them,” he said. Earlier, the Chinese embassy in Manila said some workers were abused and subjected to “modern slavery” dure to severe limitation of their personal freedom. “They are confined to live and work in certain designated places and some of them have been subjected to

extortion, physical abuse and torture as well as other ill-treatments,” the statement read. The embassy in Manila also alleged that Chinese workers’passports were taken away by employers. “At the same time, dozens of kidnappings and tortured cases of Chinese citizens who gamble or work illegally in gambling entities in the Philippines have taken place. Some Chinese citizens were physically tortured, injured or even murdered,” the embassy said. Panelo said the government could not act without the filing of formal complaint,. The government said it would continue to issue tax identification numbers of TINS to foreign workers despite the Chinese statement. In a statement to reporters, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he has not yet seen the statement from the Chinese embassy but said the economic team would issue a statement once they have studied the Chinese statement. “We will not suspend the issuance of TINs to foreign workers,” Dominguez said. “As for the BIR, we are simply implementing the Tax Code, and requiring those earning Philippinesourced income to pay income tax,” Dominguez added. Earlier, Pagcor Chairman Andrea Domingo said the hubs would have all the basic needs of foreign POGO employees, such as office and residential spaces, food establishments, wellness and recreational activities, and service shops. She said the hubs were in fact being established for the protection of foreign workers.”They are no longer exposed to crimes being committed against them on streets, they are assured of good working conditions and decent living quarters, and will be given their proper visas as there will also be other relevant government agencies setting up offices at the hubs,” she said.

concentrated in that certain area,” he said. On Aug. 6, the DOH launched the Sabayang 4-o’clock Habit to raise awareness and encourage the community to do its share and take time to weed out dengue breeding sites at 4 p.m. every day. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urged other government agencies, local government units, schools and communities to conduct the “4-o’clock habit para deng-get out!” vector control program to effectively address the national epidemic. “The pattern of dengue in the Philippines starts in July, and it stays up there until November because even after the rain stops there’s still water for two to three weeks where mosquitoes breed, the cases only go down by December. Awareness is really key,” Domingo said. Stressing that early diagnosis and treatment improve the survival rate of dengue victims, Domingo reported the DOH has downloaded funds to provide help especially to those in the epidemic areas. “We also made sure that our resources are prepositioned like the medicines and testing kits in the region, and of course, activated the dengue fast lanes in the hospitals and we’ve opened dedicated hospitals for dengue and referral centers,” he said. Domingo added increased dengue cases can be expected in September and

October, but should decline in November. With 3,089 dengue cases, Quezon City topped the cities in Metro Manila with the most number of dengue cases. Quezon City was followed by Manila with 1,062 cases. The other cities in Metro Manila with the most number of dengue cases are: Caloocan, 942; Parañaque, 828; Malabon, 504; Valenzuela City, 487; Taguig, 463; Pasig, 419; Makati, 417 and Mandaluyong City, 385. Records from the DOH Dengue Special Heightened Surveillance Report also showed there were 10,103 dengue cases with 43 deaths from Jan. 1 to July 27, 2019. Quezon City recorded 25 deaths while Manila had four deaths. DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Chito Avelino said a total of 12,880 dengue cases were reported from July 21 to 27. He said the number was a 70 percent increase compared to the 7,542 cases in the same period last year. Thirty-nine deaths from dengue were also reported in the same period, which brought to 661 the number of persons who died from dengue from Jan. 1 to July 27. With the new cases, Avelino said the cumulative number of dengue cases from Jan. 1 to July 27 was 167,607.

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ruling on the South China Sea when he meets up with Xi later this month. But Panelo said Duterte would not provoke China in invoking the arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. “There will be a time when I will invoke that arbitral ruling. This is the time that’s why I’m going there,” Duterte had told Panelo last Aug. 6. The President sought to raise the ruling given that he only had three years left in his term. The Palace said that Duterte would also discuss the June 9 Recto Bank ramming, as well as the 60-40 sharing arrangement in the proposed joint oil exploration in the South China Sea. Vito Barcelo

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RAISED WALKWAYS SAFER, HEALTHIER FOR PEDESTRIANS, RECTO CLAIMS

ANOTHER FIRST. A ship built by Filipinos docks at the North Port in Tondo, Manila on Aug. 17, 2019. Named MV Isla Simara, it is designed as a RoRo passenger or RoPax. This is the first vessel built by the Philippines equipped with Marine Evacuation System, a life-saving device found in many modern passenger ships abroad. Norman Cruz

SENATOR DUSTS OFF MANDATORY AUTOPSY BILL SENATOR Francis Pangilinan has refiled two measures that require mandatory autopsy of persons killed in violent and questionable manner such as victims of anti-drug operations where most cases were declared by the police as “death under inquiry.” Pangilinan’s move to refile the Mandatory Autopsy Act (Senate Bill 428) and the Mandatory Collection of Biological Specimen and Identifications Act (Senate Bill 429) came in light of the return of cases described as “deaths under investigation.” The series of violent incidents, according to the senator, “are once again put in the spotlight on the second year since the murder of 17-yearold Kian delos Santos.” Delos Santos was gunned down by police officers conducting an anti-drug operation in Caloocan on the evening of Aug. 16, 2017. The case became controversial when the official police reports differed from witnesses accounts. Senate Bill 428 seeks to require mandatory autopsy of dead bodies “believed to have died in a violent, suspicious, questionable, unusual and/or unnatural manner.” Pangilinan has previously filed the same measure last January 2017 of the previous Congress, but it has stayed pending at the committee level. “The original purpose of this measure is to help investigate the increasing daily killings way back in 2017. Back then, the victim tally has been at 7,000. At present, the so-called deaths under investigation have reached over 20,000, including children. Clearly, there is a need to legislate measures that will help us solve cases swiftly and efficiently,” the senator said. Joel E. Zurbano

4 GUNMEN ATTACK 2 CUSTOMS OFFICIALS By Joel E. Zurbano

CRIMINAL syndicate behind the series of abductions of businessmen and Bureau of Internal Revenue officials struck again Friday night, this time in Makati City where its members tried to abduct and rob two Bureau of Customs female officers. In the latest incident, four gunmen shot and wounded Maricon Grafil Manalo, 56, head of Customs Port of Manila-Formal Entry Division (POMFED), and her sister Marietta Grafil Lasac, 60, POM-FED Customs principal appraiser, both residents of Barangay Sun Valley Subdivision, Parañaque City. Police said Manalo sustained a gunshot wound on her left finger while Lasac suffered a gunshot wound on the backside of her shoulder. They were rushed to the Makati Medical Center and were now in stable condition. Initial investigation showed that the incident happened at the corner of LapuLapu Avenue and Victoria Street in Barangay Magallanes around 8:30 p.m. Friday. The sisters and their companion Sherlyn Salazar, also a Customs employee, were on their way home on board a gray Toyota Altis with registration plate number DAH

4106 when another car blocked their path. At least four armed men alighted from the car and ordered the three passengers to get out of their vehicle at gunpoint. When the women stayed put, one of the gunmen smashed the car’s glass window where Manalo was seated, prompting her to shift to reverse and evade the gunmen, who fired at them, hitting Manalo and Lasac in the process. Salazar, who was at the backseat of the car, was not injured. The gunmen fled after the incident. Police said the victims immediately sought assistance from a nearby barangay outpost. Makati City police chief investigator Major Gideon Ines Jr. said they recovered seven fired cartridge cases and four bullet shells of different firearms at the crime scene. He added the investigation is still ongoing in coordination with the Bureau of Customs intelligence unit.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero

Police said there was an indication that the incident might have been a failed abduction and robbery. Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero on Saturday issued a statement and strongly condemned the shooting incident involving his three officers. Guerrero said he will exert all efforts to go after the perpetrators in order to bring them to justice. He tapped the bureau’s Intelligence and Investigation Service to coordinate with the police for updates and further investigation.

260,000 MORE SIGN UP FOR SK, VILLAGE POLLS By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections has received at least 260,000 applications in the second week of the voters’ registration for next year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. “The ongoing voter registration nationwide, which started on Aug. 1, has yielded 269,087 applications in its second week,” the Comelec said in a statement. The poll body said that of this figure,

159,126 applications came from firsttime registrants, wherein 36,649 applications were from those aged 15 to 17, while 122,477 were from those 18 years old and above. “Region IV-A (Calabarzon) takes the lead in overall applications from regular registrants, with 43,777 applications processed from Aug. 5 to 10, 2019. Meanwhile, Region 1 (Ilocos) processed 5,880 applications from SK registrants in the same period,” the Comelec said. The Comelec said that it processed a

total of 144,202 female applicants and 124,885 male applicants. “All types of applications are accepted in the ongoing registration of voters, including application for registration, transfer, change/corrections of entries, reactivation, inclusion, and reinstatement of name in the list of voters,” the poll body said. “The Commission reminded the public that it will accept applications until Sept. 30, 2019 from Mondays to Saturdays including holidays.

SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to include the construction of elevated walkways in its infrastructure program for the safety and health benefits of pedestrians and those who want to walk in short-distance destinations. “It is time to elevate wide pedestrian and bike lanes, whether groundlevel or elevated, to the league of major construction works,” said Recto. But the senator emphasized that elevated walkways should not also be constructed around malls and shopping centers in the country. “[The construction] should not be a mall-to-mall network. It would appear to be an interconnectivity of shopping centers. The walkways should also be built in Tondo, Sampaloc, and Commonwealth area in Quezon City,” Recto said. Recto said government’s infrastructure and spending plans are silent on elevated walkways because the DPWH is presently focused on four programs—roads, bridges, flood control, and buildings, mostly classrooms. “They do not even merit a footnote. The policy bias is for people who ride in cars but not for people who walk or bike,” he said. “For example, in the budget request of the DPWH for 2019, projects sought to be funded were detailed in 1,030 pages of fine print, covering at least 20,000 funding items, but not one was for an elevated walkway,” Recto said. Recto said it is time for government to build elevated walkways along the “pedestrian-dense” streets of urban centers like Metro Manila “to respond to the reality that more people are now walking to short distance destinations.” “If there are no sidewalks, or if there are but they’re occupied, or are dangerous to walk on, then we should follow the best practice in many cities of building covered, allseason, and safe elevated walkways. Building them do not pose an engineering challenge, and cost-wise are affordable,” the senator said. “If we have skyways for cars, why not raised walkways for people? If we’re building a subway, then we can surely build a pedestrian walkway above ground. If we have the money for multi-lane highways over hundreds of kilometers, how much more for a one-lane walkway that is 3-kilometers long?” he added. Recto said a forthcoming $100-million loan from the Asian Development Bank for a greenways project covering six to seven walkways in North EDSA, Ortigas and Taft intersections, when implemented, should demonstrate the benefits of this kind of infrastructure. In the government’s infrastructure “division of labor,” ports, airports and railways are undertaken by the Department of Transportation; irrigation by the Department of Agriculture; and hospital and health facilities by the Department of Health. Joel Zurbano

PH SPACE AGENCY TO BOOST RATINGS, INNOVATION—SOLON

MOON CAKE FESTIVAL. Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong (right), president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, hands a box of moon cake to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo (3rd from left) during FFCCCI’s celebration of the Moon Cake Festival held in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

THE Philippine Space Act (RA 11363), signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Aug. 8, will help push the country’s forward thrust and further boost its Global Innovation Index (GII) rating, now in 54th place among 129 countries. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, principal author of the measure in Congress, said RA 11363 paves the way for the Philippines’ entry into the international space community, and is among the administration’s priorities to help safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also establishes the Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy, the country’s strategic roadmap for space development, to become a space-capable and spacefaring nation in the next decade. It also creates the Philippine Space Agency. Salceda said RA 11363 is committed to the development of science and technology that will foster patriotism by continuous growth in climate studies and hazard management, ensure national security, accelerate social progress and enable Philippines representation in the international space community.

The measure, he stressed, will surely boost further the country’s GII rating, which has jumped 19 rungs to 54th place this year from 73rd in 2018. “Among 32 low middle (LM) income economies, we are ranked 9th with Vietnam leading at No. 1. The Philippines should use Vietnam as benchmark and aim for the top five among LM nations,” he added. The GII result was recently published jointly by Cornell University graduate business school INSEAD, and the World Property Organization. Congress passed the PhilSA bill in December 2018. The Senate passed its version in May this year. While pending at the Office of the President. Salceda lobbied hard with various executive departments to endorse the bill. Duterte last year also signed RA 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act, which Salceda also crafted in the House to address the lack of scientists in the country working for research and development, and catch up with Asian neighbors. The Philippines has only about 189 scientists per million population, way below the ideal 380 per million ratio.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HONG KONG’S DIVISIONS DEEPEN WITH RIVAL RALLIES

ONG KONG democracy activists kicked off a weekend of fresh rallies on Saturday in a major test for the movement following criticism over an airport protest earlier this week—and as concerns mount over Beijing’s next move. The new marches came as thousands of pro-government supporters—many waving Chinese flags—gathered in a park to condemn their opponents and support the police, a stark illustration of the polarization now coursing through the city. Ten weeks of demonstrations have plunged the international finance hub into crisis, with communist-ruled mainland China taking an increasingly hardline tone, including labeling the more violent protester actions “terrorist-like.” Democracy activists are billing the weekend rallies as a way to show Beijing and the city’s unelected leaders that their movement still enjoys broad public support, despite increasingly violent tactics deployed by a minority of hardcore protesters. On Tuesday, protesters blocked passengers from boarding flights at the city’s airport and later assaulted two men they accused of

Rival rallies

Saturday’s rallies began with thousands of teachers marching through torrential rain in support of the largely youth-led protests. In the afternoon, thousands also marched through Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan, two harborside districts

popular with mainland tourists. Some protesters targeted the local offices of the staunchly pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, pelting it with eggs and spraying graffiti. “The government has yet to respond to a single demand and has escalated force through the police to suppress the people’s voices,” a 25-year-old protester, who gave his first name Mars, told AFP. “If we don’t come out, our future, our next generation will face even more suppression,” he added. But across the harbor at the proBeijing rally, where a giant screen showed recent clashes with police, 60-year-old retiree Irene Man had a very different take as she rounded on democracy protesters. “Their acts are not human, they have all become monsters. They are rioters, with no reason, no thinking,” she said. The biggest pro-democracy rally is expected to take place on Sunday on the main island. Billed as a “rational, non-violent” protest, it is being organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that eschews confrontations with police and was the driving force behind re-

cord-breaking rallies in June and July that saw hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets.

Businesses under pressure

The protests were sparked by opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city. Millions of people have hit the streets while clashes have broken out between police and small groups of hardcore protesters. Battles between police firing tear gas and rubber bullets—and hardcore protesters using rocks, Molotov cocktails and slingshots—have since become routine in an international finance hub once renowned for stability. Beyond suspending the extradition bill, Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam have shown no desire to meet key demands such as an inquiry into police violence, the complete withdrawal of the bill and an amnesty. But protesters remain unbowed, despite the arrests of more than 700 people and 11 consecutive weekends of rallies that have won few concessions. AFP

BABY DUGONG DIES IN THAILAND

BISHOP CALLS FOR ‘PRAYER POWER’

BEAUTY AND BRAWN. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray (left) paid a courtesy call on Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. Manny Palmero

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MEET THE WOODSTOCK COUPLE WHOSE HUG MADE HISTORY

EDITORIAL

TOKEN ADVOCACY

HERE is no shortage of causes we can attach ourselves to. Championing them shows we are not preoccupied only with ourselves and our immediate circles. It says we are capable of altruistic activities that seek to make the world a better place. More importantly, being part of something bigger than ourselves gives meaning and purpose to our lives. But if there are many good causes and many people rallying behind them, why does our world remain ugly and unjust? It’s the disconnect between what we profess and what we actually do or not do that is the problem. For instance, sporting a rainbow—the symbol for LGBTQIA+—is becoming more common these days. This is a cause that is noble and fundamental:

Openness to all, celebration of diversity, finding common ground in our humanity. Unfortunately, while many individuals and institutions claim to champion gender equality, they only so in words, while their action leaves much to be desired. A popular shopping center in Quezon City made a show of celebrating Pride Month last June with a rainbow-colored skyway and

pedestrian lane. And yet, it failed to train its employees on what it truly means to be in solidarity with Pride. Last week, a transwoman was dragged out of the ladies’ room at the mall and was discriminated upon by guards and a janitress. When she started recording the incident on her cell phone, the same woman was charged with unjust vexation, handcuffed and brought to the police station. The government also recently passed a “Bawal Bastos law” that punishes catcalling and sexist remarks, among others. Many claim to demand that rapists and abusers be brought to justice. And yet, we have no less than the leader of the land objectifying women, even using them as “tourist attractions” to entice foreign men to come here. Of course, we are told he is joking—but this is no joking matter. We have esteemed institutions protecting their “highly esteemed” members that they dismiss

allegations of improper behavior. We hear about businessmen claiming to have compassion for the labor sector and yet shortchanging their own workers and refusing to give them their due despite their hard work and commitment to their jobs. Many extoll freedom of expression but keep close watch on critics and dissenters, slamming them for being “activists” as though demanding accountability from leaders were a terrible thing. Many, too, condemn the violence taking place in other places and display their position on social media, while being dreadfully silent about the violence taking place here at home in the name of campaigns against insurgency, or against illegal drugs. Many causes need champions who will do more than mouth off the right words. Genuine advocacy demands sincerity and authenticity. Without these, you only have posturing.

By Maggy Donaldson NICK and Bobbi Ercoline had only been dating three months when they joined flocks of their peers for the 1969 Woodstock blow-out that would become emblematic of their generation. Months later and still falling for each other, the lovers realized they, too had become symbols: their heartstringtugging image had gone down in history on the cover of the live album compiling highlights of the milestone music festival. “We were like, are you kidding us? It was total shock,” Nick said, recalling the moment the couple saw themselves embracing on the now iconic album art, wrapped in a blanket amid the sea of humanity flowing over the alfalfa fields of Max Yasgur’s farm in upstate New York. Fifty years on they’re regulars—rock stars even—at the Bethel Woods Center of the Arts that today runs the grounds where greats like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin jammed in torrential rain. “We did not realize what we had really witnessed or had been part of until we got quite a distance from it,” Bobbi told AFP at the opening night of Woodstock’s 50th anniversary commemorations at Bethel. “Every year further from it you look back and you realize—that was really something pretty phenomenal,” she said, as a fellow aging hippie donning frayed denim shorts, a fringed midriff halter top and long blonde pigtails frolicked nearby. The pair nuzzle and smooch like honeymooners despite being married 48 years this month, and accommodate the many gawkers—many of whom have copies of the album in tow—eager for selfies and autographs. Their place in pop culture lore “hasn’t changed our lives, but it certainly has enhanced it,” Bobbi said. “I’m very thankful to have been a little part of this whole Woodstock experience,” she said, before giving Nick a loving glance. “And that I get to share it with the man that I’ve known for 50 years.” Patchouli oil and weed The lovebirds, who still live near the original Woodstock grounds, don’t remember the moment photographer Burk Uzzle snapped the image that showcases Nick’s mass of curls and Bobbi’s oversized sunglasses. “But that’s a pose that you can see every morning in our house,” Nick said with a grin. “Either in the bedroom or the kitchen, first thing in the morning or the last thing at night.” “What you don’t notice is when he talks too much I pinch his hand behind his back,” Bobbi chimed in. She said her memories of Woodstock mostly pertain to the senses: “the smells... it was hot, humid, damp summer. It was campfires and cooking and patchouli oil and weed and body odor and vomit,” she said. “Your senses were bombarded.” But the Woodstock vignettes kept their charm, she said, sighing as she waxed nostalgic on the “singing, dancing, laughing, instruments being played, babies crying.” Pointing to the “splintered” societal foundation of the late 1960s, Bobbi called Woodstock a “symbol that under the harshest times, the worst scenarios and circumstances, there’s always hope. As long as you’re kind and peaceful and love each other.” ‘Never-ending love’ The duo are VIPs at this weekend’s festivites at Bethel, where they relaxed in lawn chairs and held hands while enjoying a performance from folk mainstay Arlo Guthrie. Groupies gathered nearby, eyes wide and fingers pointed as they murmured: “that’s them!” Starry-eyed Patrick Depauw of Belgium —who trekked across the Atlantic especially for Woodstock’s golden anniversary—is one such devotee. “I bought the triple album and listened to it hundreds of times, looking at this couple and imagining what they experienced,” he told AFP. “The perfect union, a never-ending love,” he said, clutching his newly signed record, complete with the message “peace and love.” “Look, 50 years later, they’re still together, they’re next to each other, they’re generous, they love each other.” “You feel it.” AFP

REMEMBERING BERLIN WALL VICTIMS, 30 YEARS ON By Ryland James WHERE guard towers and barbed wire once stood, runners will this weekend pound the 100-mile (160-kilometer) path along the former Berlin Wall in a race with victims of the Cold War relic at its heart. On Saturday at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT), around 500 individual runners from 32 countries, plus double that in relay teams, will start the 8th edition of the Berlin Wall Race, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Wall’s demise this November. The race is part ultra-marathon, part tribute to those who died trying to cross the Wall, which the East German communist regime hastily erected in 1961, and stood for 28 years. Precious little of the original concrete structure remains, most of it hurriedly torn down when the former East German state collapsed in late 1989. The longest single section is the kilometer-long East Side Gallery, where the former symbol of what was once a heavily-fortified border strip that encircled West Berlin, patrolled by guards under shoot-to-kill orders, was in 2006 turned into the ‘Mauerweg’ or Berlin Wall path. It passes iconic landmarks the

Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie but also crosses through leafy suburbs, farmland and forests. Along the route, popular with weekend hikers and cyclists, memorials tell the personal stories of many of the around 130 people killed along the Wall. “When you move around Berlin now, you hardly see any of the Wall left, but when you run the path and see its scale, you have a better understanding of the divide it caused,” said race organiser Olaf Ilk, who was born in East Germany and was 24 when the Wall fell. Mental challenge The mammoth race is not for the faint-hearted: it is effectively four marathons back-to-back. “The physical challenge is one thing, the other is for the head,” added Ilk. With heavy legs, most runners will jog through Saturday night, aiming to reach the city center stadium which doubles as both start and finish, in the early hours of Sunday. The course record, set by Briton Mark Perkins in 2014, stands at a mindblowing 13 hours, 6 minutes for the 100 miles. Elite athletes will run the whole way with hobby runners out to beat the 30-hours time limit.

“You have to accept that you will be moving for 24 hours,” says west Berlin runner Nina Blisse, who finished both the 2014 and 2015 editions in under 26 hours and is race treasurer. The Wall’s history is entwined in the race’s DNA. Registration for the following year’s race always opens at 18:57 (1657 GMT) on Nov. 9—marking the exact moment in 1989 when East Germany lifted its travel ban, triggering the Wall’s demise. Each year, one Wall victim is chosen for a special tribute, their face featuring on start numbers and finisher medals, while a ceremony is held at the spot where they died. For the first race in 2011, Chris Gueffroy, the last person shot dead on the Berlin Wall, was honored. He was killed in February 1989, eight months before the Wall fell, and on Sunday, Gueffroy’s mother Karin will present medals at the finishers’ ceremony. Political prisoners Last year, the Wall’s youngest victim, Joerg Hartmann, a 10-year-old boy shot dead by East German border guards in 1966 while trying to visit his father in the west, was honored. Having each been asked to carry a gift for him, last year’s runners piled

cuddly toys at the spot he was killed. “I still get goosebumps thinking about it,” admits Ilk. For the organizers and 400 helpers, all volunteers, a sleepless night is par for the course. Logistics coordinator Andreas Pfeiffer must ensure half a ton of provisions reach each of the 26 stations along the route. He first got involved because of his personal Cold War story. Raised in East Germany, Pfeiffer spent two years in prison up until 1984 after being arrested trying to flee across the Iron Curtain at the Hungary-Austria border. He was freed in West Germany —one of 33,755 political prisoners released for 3.5 billion Deutschmarks by East Germany under a scheme between 1963 and 1989, according to government figures. “I was never a runner, but when I first heard about the race, I had to get involved,” he said. “For me, democracy is everything— those two years in prison were worth five years of freedom in the west. “I still get goosebumps every time I cross the old border between East and West Germany—that’ll never go away.” AFP

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SUDAN POISED TO CELEBRATE CIVILIAN RULE KHARTOUM—Sudan was poised Saturday to celebrate a historic deal between generals and protest leaders for a transition to civilian rule, which many hope will bring increased freedom and prosperity. During a ceremony to be held at a hall by the Nile in the capital Khartoum, members of the Transitional Military Council and protest leaders are expected to sign documents defining a 39-month transition. But the road to democracy remains fraught with obstacles, even if the mood was celebratory as foreign dignitaries as well as thousands of citizens from all over Sudan converged for the occasion. The deal reached on August 4—the Constitutional Declaration—brought an end to nearly eight months of upheaval that saw masses mobilize against president Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in April after 30 years in power. The agreement brokered by the African Union and Ethiopia was welcomed with relief by both sides; protesters celebrated what they see as the victory of their “revolution”, while the generals took credit for averting civil war. In the town of Atbara—the birthplace of the protests back in December—people on Friday night danced and sang at the train station as they prepared to travel to Khartoum, videos shared on social media showed. “Civilian rule, civilian rule,” they chanted, promising to avenge the estimated 250 allegedly killed by security forces during the protests. With Saturday’s official signing, Sudan is set to kick off a process that includes important first steps. The composition of the transitional civilian-majority ruling council is to be announced Sunday. On Thursday, protest leaders agreed to nominate former senior UN official Abdalla Hamdok, a veteran economist, as prime minister. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

N. KOREA’S KIM SUPERVISES ‘NEW WEAPON’ TEST AGAIN

EOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un once again supervised a “new weapon” launch, state media said Saturday, complicating efforts at denuclearization ahead of next week’s visit to Seoul by the US envoy to Pyongyang. Friday’s launch was the North’s sixth test in recent weeks as it protests the annual US-South Korea military exercises which Pyongyang considers rehearsals for invasion. Defence officials in Seoul said Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles Friday, that flew some 230 kilometres (140 miles) before splashing down in the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan. A report by the official Korean Central News Agency said the tests had a “perfect result”, which helped “cement bigger confidence in this weapon system”. “Juche shells were fired in the presence of the

Supreme Leader,” KCNA said. Pyongyang has routinely expressed anger at the war games, but in the past has avoided carrying out tests while the maneuvers are taking place. The KCNA report came after Pyongyang called South Korean President Moon Jae-in “impudent” for hoping to resume inter-Korean talks while continuing military drills with Washington. Plans to resume working-level talks between the North and Washington appear to have stalled since an impromptu June meeting between leaders of the two countries. But US President Donald Trump, who has been playing down Pyongyang’s tests, said last week that he had received a “very beautiful letter” from Kim. He also agreed with Kim’s opposition to the war games -- albeit for financial rather than military reasons. Stephen Biegun, the US special envoy for North Korea, will travel to Japan and South Korea next week for talks on denuclearizing the North, the US State Department said Friday. The North has said nuclear talks would be “strictly” between Pyongyang and Washington,

refusing to hold separate dialogue with the South. “We have nothing to talk any more with the South Korean authorities nor have any idea to sit with them again,” the North said Friday. Washington, Seoul’s security ally, stations nearly 30,000 troops in the South to defend it from its neighbor. On Friday, North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range missiles into the sea and launched a scathing attack on “foolish” calls for dialogue from South Korean President Moon Jae-in, rejecting further peace talks with Seoul. It was the sixth round of launches in recent weeks in protest at ongoing joint military drills between Seoul and the US. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has described the tests as a “solemn warning” to the South. Pyongyang has routinely expressed anger at the war games, which it considers rehearsals for invasion, but in the past has avoided carrying out tests while the maneuvers are taking place. The South Korean military said the projectiles were fired from near the city of Tongchon and flew some 230 kilometres (140 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan, which is also known as the East Sea. AFP

JEFFREY EPSTEIN HANGED HIMSELF, CORONER RULES

VENEZUELA THREATENS EARLY ELECTIONS TO PRESSURE OPPOSITION CARACAS—Threatening to bring forward parliamentary elections is the latest card played by Venezuela’s regime to put pressure on the USbacked opposition at the negotiating table, analysts say. The National Assembly is the only branch of government under opposition control, and elections are not scheduled until December 2020. But Diosdado Cabello, the most powerful regime figure after President Nicolas Maduro, set up a committee earlier this week to study the possibility of calling parliamentary elections at the start of next year. “It gives you something extra to protect you in negotiations,” said Felix Seijas, director of pollsters Delphos. National Assembly president and opposition leader Juan Guaido has warned Maduro that any attempts to bring forward elections would end in “disaster” for the government. In January, the National Assembly branded Maduro a “usurper” before Guaido declared himself acting president, garnering support from more than 50 nations but plunging the oil-rich and cash-strapped country into a political crisis. A new vote could threaten the opposition’s hold on the National Assembly and with it Guaido’s claim as head of the body to be the country’s legitimate president. AFP

AEROBATICS. French elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France

(PAF) performs a flying display during a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Allied landings in Provence during World War II in SaintRaphael, southeastern France, on Thursday. AFP

GREENLAND ISN’T FOR SALE BUT IS INCREASINGLY VALUABLE WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s reported wish to buy Greenland may have been rejected by Denmark, but it underscores the rapidly rising value of the massive, ice-covered island due to global warming and to China’s drive for an Arctic presence. The accelerating polar ice melt has left sparsely populated Greenland, a self-governing part of Denmark, astride what are potentially major shipping routes and in the crosshairs of intensifying geopolitical competition between superpowers. It also has untapped natural resources like oil, minerals and valuable rare earth elements that China, the United States and other major tech economies covet. A Chinese government-backed group’s offer last year to build three new international airports on Greenland sparked alarms in Copenhagen

and Washington. The Chinese plan was finally nixed in exchange for Danish funding and a pledge of support from the Pentagon. Trump’s idea to buy Greenland, reported by the Wall Street Journal on Friday, “is not a serious proposal,” said Heather Conley, a specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. But, “The administration has awoken to the Arctic as a geostrategic issue,” she said. Greenland has been essential to US defense since World War II when it was a base for monitoring Nazi ships and submarines passing through the “Arctic Avenue,” the sea gateway to the north Atlantic. In 1943 the US Air Force built its farthest-north air base at Thule, Greenland. Thule was crucial in the Cold War, a first line of monitoring against a po-

tential Russian attack. With a population of 600, the base today is part of the NATO mission, operating satellite monitoring and strategic missile detection systems and handling thousands of flights a year. “The early warning radar system in northern Greenland helps protect North America and is a key part of our missile defense apparatus,” said Luke Coffey of The Heritage Foundation. “Luckily the US is able to ensure and meet its security interests by maintaining this air base in northern Greenland. There’s no requirement to buy Greenland to keep America safe.” Conley said that after the Cold War ebbed in the 1990s, Washington stopped thinking about the Arctic. Yet as the polar ice sheet began to shrink, the Russians became more active and China has moved to establish itself in the region. AFP

NEW YORK—An autopsy on disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein—who was found dead in his jail cell—has concluded that he committed suicide by hanging, a coroner said Friday, answering one of the questions surrounding his death. The ruling comes six days after the 66-year-old, who was accused of trafficking girls as young as 14 for sex, was discovered dead in New York’s highsecurity Metropolitan Correctional Center. New York’s chief medical examiner Barbara Sampson said in a statement emailed to AFP that “after careful review of all investigative information, including complete autopsy findings” it was determined that Epstein killed himself. The New York Times cited officials as saying that Epstein had used a bedsheet to hang himself. The report came a day after US media reported that preliminary findings from the post-mortem examination had found broken bones in Epstein’s neck. Epstein, a multi-millionaire who once counted Britain’s Prince Andrew and US President Donald Trump as friends, was charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. According to prosecutors, Epstein sexually exploited dozens of teenagers at his homes in Manhattan and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He denied the charges but faced up to 45 years in jail if found guilty. Epstein’s lawyers said Friday they were “not satisfied with the conclusions of the medical examiner” and would conduct their own investigation into his death, including demanding to see video footage from the jail. AFP

FIJI PM SAYS AUSSIE PM ‘VERY INSULTING’ AFTER GAB

NOT A PLAYTHING. A Syrian boy plays with the head of a sacrificed sheep at

a camp for Interally Displaced Persons near the town of Aqrabat in Syria’s northern Idlib province on Monday. Known as the “big” festival, Eid Al-Adha is celebrated each year by Muslims sacrificing various animals according to religious traditions, including cows, camels, goats and sheep. It marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates Prophet Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP

SYDNEY—Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama blasted his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison as “very insulting”, saying China offers a more welcoming brand of diplomacy following a tense Pacific summit. Bainimarama accused Morrison of heavy-handed tactics after the Pacific Island Forum wrapped up in Tuvalu Thursday with pro-coal Canberra sharply at odds with island nations facing the existential threat of climate change. “The prime minister (Morrison) was very insulting, very condescending, not good for the relationship,” Bainimarama told the Guardian late Friday. The group had hoped to issue a compelling global call to action from nations on the frontline of climate change ahead of UN talks in New York next month. But after 12 hours of negotiations that descended into tears and shout-

ing, the summit communique fell well short of expectations with language watered down at the insistence of the Australian PM, island leaders said. Morrison pledged Aus$500 million in aid to Pacific Island nations to invest in renewable energy and climate change resilience, part of a strategy to counter China’s rising influence in the region. But leaders of the other 17 nations in the Pacific Island Forum have called on Canberra to do more to cut emissions and curb Australia’s lucrative coal industry. “(Morrison) at one stage, because he was apparently [backed] into a corner by the leaders, came up with how much money Australia have been giving to the Pacific,” Bainimarama said. “Very insulting.” The Fijian leader added there was “no competition” in the region between Australia and China, but commended Beijing’s approach to diplomacy.

“They don’t go down and tell the world that we’ve given this much money to the Pacific islands. They don’t do that. They’re good people, definitely better than Morrison, I can tell you that,” he said. Morrison, who concedes climate change is real but insists it can be managed in a way that does not hurt the economy, has denied a rift between Pacific leaders. “We showed up, we’re stepping up, and it’s getting on,” he said following the negotiations that dragged into the early hours of Friday morning. Meanwhile, Australia’s deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has caused a stir after being caught on camera saying Pacific nations would weather climate change thanks to Australian aid and a program that allows islanders to work in seasonally in Australia. AFP

Images

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

CRIME SUMMIT.

CAPTURED. Jose Adrian Tiamson Dera bows his head as National Bureau of Investigation deputy director and spokesman Ferdinand Lavin (right) speaks to him during the former’s presentation to the media following his arrest on Friday. Dera is the co-accused of detained Senator Leila de Lima for an illegal drugs case, and had been at large for two years. Norman Cruz

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (center), acting as chairman of the National Police Commission, listens to a speech at the National Summit on Crime Prevention with (from left) Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay and Napolcom Commissioner Zenonida Brosas on Friday at the Manila Hotel. Lino Santos

STREET ARTIST. A one-armed artist finishes his religious sketches at a stall at the underpass near Manila City Hall on Friday. The man accepts donations from passersby in return for his creations. Lino Santos

READY FOR WAR. Trucks and armored personnel carriers are seen parked at the Shenzhen Bay Stadium in Shenzhen, bordering Hong Kong in China’s southern Guangdong province, on Friday. They are expected to move into Hong Kong to test the island’s pro-democracy movement and quell the unrest in the former British colony. STR/AFP

HOME ALONE. A boy watches his family’s belongings as a demolition man takes down their shanty along the Estero de San Antonio de Abad at Barangay 718 in Malate, Manila on Friday. Norman Cruz

LANDSLIDE. Residents of Camp 5 in Baguio City cross a section of Kennon Road buried under a landslide on Wednesday, at the height of monsoon rains affecting Northern Luzon last week. Dave Leprozo

MARKED FOR WRECKING. National Capital Region Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar (left) takes a swing at a wall of a barangay outpost in Damayang Lagi, Quezon City that has been obstructing traffic in the area. Looking on (from left) are Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, QC Police District Director Joselito Esquivel Jr., QC Public Safety chief Elmo San Diego and other local officials. Manny Palmero

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

PH ARMY DRAGON WARRIORS GUN FOR GLORY IN THAILAND

Soldier athletes of the Philippine Dragon Boat Team hone their paddling skills during a training session at Laguna de Bay in Taguig City. They are members of the 31-man Philippine delegation that will represent the country in the 14th International Dragon Boat Federation World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya, Thailand on August 20 to 25. Photo by Lt. Col. Harold M Cabunoc

By Peter Atencio

FTER a three-year absence, the Philippines is back with an elite Philippine Army crew which leave today (Sunday) for the 14th International Dragon Boat Federation Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. The paddlers want to come early to acclimatize themselves for the competitions set from Aug. 20 to 25. Known as the Philippine Army Dragon Warriors, the team tries to get familiar with the conditions of the water at the Mabprachan Reservoir, Bang Lamung District in Chonburi. “Sasali ulit kami. Mabigat ito, dahil lahat ng kalaban ay naghanda. Kami rin ay naghanda, because we are the team to beat,” said head of delegation, Col. Raymund Lachica following a send-off last Friday at the City Park Hotel Manila in Taguig City. Over 4,000 athletes from 30 countries are expected to take part in the six-day event.

A 31-man team of athletes and officials has been assembled to form the Dragon Warriors, who have been training for the last three months, with coach Usman Anterola leading them. “The team is led by eight veterans, and there are four coming in from the civilian ranks and clubs. And they have not seen action internationally. The four new ones will help us win medals,” said Anterola, who has been racing since 1998. Anterola and veterans like Romy John Dionio, Salvador Sumagaysay, Harlan Baraquero and Joemar Ocquiana, will bring with them the experience they got after being part of the national squad for the Southeast Asian Games in 1995, until many of them retired in 2007. Overall, the team is made up of 24 soldiers from the Army, two airmen from the Air Force and five civilian athletes. The entire team prepared at the nearby Fitness Army Gym at the Bonifacio Global City. It is the first time that the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will take place in the Kingdom of Thailand. And the new environment will be a challenge to the Dragon Warriors. The Army Dragon Warrior paddlers are entered

in the Senior A, the premier mixed categories of the small boat division. The team will be accompanied by Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, who will be their manager. Under Cabunoc’s watch, the team has earned five golds and two silvers during the 2011 World Championships in Tampa, Florida. In 2014, an Army crew-bannered team snared two golds during the World Club Crews Dragon Boat Championships in Ravenna, Italy. Later, they claimed four golds in the same event held in Adelaide, Australia in 2016. “We count on a high state of discipline and comradeship of our crew. We are focused in claiming victory in this race,” said Anterola. The Dragon Warriors are seeing action through the support of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation. Paddlers from the PDBF have done well in the 200 meters Premier Open category in such events. In 2009, Filipino rowers logged a time of 40.02 seconds, to beat their own record of 41.91 that they had set in Sydney two years earlier. This record stood until 2017 when China beat the time at the World Championships in Kunming.

LIYAB HOPES TO CRACK NATIONAL SQUAD BEING part of the Philippine national team comes with a huge responsibility of representing the country and doing well in international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games. Because of this, the pressure also mounts on the national athletes as they strive to give glory to the Philippines and hopefully win the coveted gold medal. The national esports team, known as Sibol, is not exempted from it. However, Jeremiah Camarillo, a member of the pool that serves as the basis on who will play for Sibol, said that he is already feeling the responsibility of performing at his best to give more than 100 million Filipinos something to cheer about early into the SEAG buildup. “Medyo nakaka-pressure kasi pagpipilian pa kayo sa pool,” Camarillo said. “Kailangan mas maging consistent kami.” (There is pressure because you will be chosen from a pool. We just need to be more consistent). Known by his in-game name “1717”, Camarillo is one of the hopefuls to crack the final

seven-man team for the Arena of Valor game in the inaugural SEA Games esports event set from Dec. 5-10, 2019 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. Camarillo got a direct invite to the pool alongside Kevin “Gambit” Dizon, Jervan “Bents” Delos Santos, Lawrence “Rubixx” Gatmaitan, and Miguel “Miggie” Banaag, his fellow members at his mother club,Liyab Esports, an esports organization powered by Globe Telecom and Mineski. For Camarillo, the only way ease some pressure is for the entire Liyab quintet to make the “Final 7.” “Ang gusto namin, as much as possible, kami ang mapili as a team,” he added. “Mahirap yung may bago kayo na ipapasok.” (As much as possible we want to play as a whole team. Things would be challenging if someone else gets selected). Camarillo also said that Liyab cracking the final lineup as a whole would be very advantageous.

Globe’s Team Liyab have at least 6 players, five of which compose the entire Arena of Valor team, with the rare chance of representing the country in the biggest sporting event in the region as the 2019 Southeast Asian Games recognizes esports as part of its medal events.

COCOLIFE TIGERS DOWN BATAAN RISERS THE DAVAO Occidental Cocolife Tigers hurdled one of their obstacles in their campaign this season, downing the Bataan Risers, 83-75, in the elimination round of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup at the FilOil Arena in San Juan City. The Bataan troopers of coach Jong Uichico, regarded as one of the title contenders, rose to the occasion in the early goings, firing from long range and inside, ignited by Anton Inigo and Jai Reyes to seize control in the first quarter. Tiger James Forrester joined hands with veterans Billy Robles, Bonbon Custodio, newcomer Marco Balagtas and main man Mark Yee to neutralize the Risers’ relentless assault in the next frame and level the score at 37-all at halftime, Peaking his form at every game, Forrester, who found his home in Davao, put up another huge performance as he topscored for the Tigers of Dumper Party List Rep. Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental, backed by Cocolife President Atty. Jose Martin Loon, FVP Joseph Ronquillo, AVP Rowena Asnan and SVP Franz Joie Araque to help his Mindanao team notch its seventh straight win. They remained on top of team standings at 8-1 in the south division of the 31-team league organized by Sen. Manny Pacquiao. The hard-earned win awarded Forrester his second Best Player of the Game recognition. The classic close game until crunchtime was only decided when Tigers’ role player Emman Calo converted a pair of freebies at the line, 81-75, with 13 seconds left to snatch the victory off the fallen Bataan. Alvin Pasaol topscored for the Risers’ losing cause.

PSC-PSI HOLDS COACHING IN BILIRAN OVER 150 coaches, trainers and sports officials joined the four-day program of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Sports Institute in Biliran and received advance coaching skills in athletics, badminton, boxing, taekwondo and swimming held at the Biliran Province State University from Aug. 13 to 16. Veteran athletes, national coaches and officials attended the second Grassroots Sports Coaching Clinic and Consultative Sports Planning. In his message, PSC Visayas Sports Coordinator Nonnie Lopez emphasized the importance of proper and scientific coaching approach in grassroots sports. “The next generation of Filipino athletes lies in the grassroots. The PSC and PSI are here to impart dynamic and scientific techniques that would make our coaching more effective in this level.” “We thank the PSC and PSI for this sports clinic that will surely elevate our grassroots program in Biliran. Sana makuha na natin ang gold sa limang larangan na nakasali sa clinic na ito,” added DepEd Region 8 OIC-Assistant School Division Superintendent Crista Joy Torabila.

CASTRO CAPTURES GOLD, LIFTS PH TO TEAM CROWN

DOMINANT WIN. Nemittra Juntanaket (third from left) joins the growing list of Thai winners on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour after posting a dominant six-shot victory in the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Classic in Lipa City, Batangas Friday. With her are (from left) Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club general manager Romeo Garcia, low amateur Eagle Ace Superal and organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. executive director Narlene Soriano.

LUIS Castro rode on a fiery frontside charge then closed out with a run of pars to card a second straight 71, capture the individual crown and power the Philippines to the team championship in the Indonesia Amateur Open 2019 at the Gading Raya Golf in Jawa Barat, West Java last Friday. Castro banked on his five-under 67 to gain a share of the lead with Singapore’s Low Wee Jin halfway through the 72-hole championship then wrested control in the third round with that 71 and a 207 as Jin fumbled with a 75-211. Justin Kuk, also of Singapore, took the challenger’s role at 210 with a 71 but failed to match Castro’s hot start of three birdies in the first eight holes in the final round, enabling the Filipino shotmaker to coast to victory at 278. Lucius Toh recovered from 72-71 start with a third round 69 but ran out of holes in a desperate bid to chase Castro. He wound with a 68 and finished tied for second with Jin, who rallied with a 69, at 280. Sean Ramos, priming up for the Manila SEA Games in December, shot the best score in the final round with a 67 and salvaged joint sixth at 285 with Japanese Yuto Watanabe (68) and local bet Alfred Sitohang (73) with Malaysia’s Adam Arif Bin Madzri taking fourth place at 281 after a 69 and Kuk settling

for fifth at 283 after a 73. With Gab Manotoc pooling a 292 after a 71 for joint 13th, the Philippines, whose campaign was sanctioned and supported by the National Golf Association of the Philippines, also ran away with the team championship

with a 561 total, beating Singapore by two in the three-to-play, two-to-count format event. “We are so happy and proud of our team’s awesome performance,” said NGAP sec-gen Bones Floro. “Certainly, this reinforces our bid for the gold at the SEA Games.”

MARATHON CAGE LEAGUE. Kelvin dela Pena of the visiting Rise Up Hoop Canada makes the ceremonial toss during the opening of the Asian Hoops Summit Manila Showcase at Jose Rizal University Gymnasium in Mandaluyong City as event organizers (coaches) Don Dulay, Mat Makalintal and Ray Alao look on. The marathon cage league was participated in by seven Manila collegiate teams and one from Calgary, Canada.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

Business

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

FILIPINO-MADE MOBILE APP PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE TOURISM A

GROUP of millennials who met as students at the Asian Institute of Management has developed an online platform that promotes sustainable tourism.

“Our startup Trakaro is an online sustainability rating platform for hotels, restaurants and tour operators,” says Paul Joseph Galacan, the general manager and co-founder of Trakaro: Sustainable Travels. Trakaro is the first online sustainability rating platform for hotels and restaurants that uses a proprietary technology called Fylla Algorithm. Through Trakaro, travelers can look for sustainable establishments, contact them and book their services. Trakaro is the first project of Kezar Innovations Pte. Ltd., a Batangas-based company established by the first students who completed the Master of Science in Innovation and Business program at AIM in 2017. Kezar was incorporated in Singapore on March 26, 2018. Galacan serves as the chief financial officer of Kezar while Rey Edward Solicito is the chief executive. “We joined the AIM Sustainable Tourism Challenge while we were graduate students in 2017. We were fortunate to have won the competition and they gave us initial funding of P150,000. It was enough for us to develop the first application,” says the 25-year-old Galacan who graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology with a civil engineering degree in 2016. Galacan says Trakaro is the first startup to be supported by AIM’s Center of Tourism. “They gave us the metrics on sustainable tourism and we developed the app,” he says. He says the plan is to make Trakaro the best online platform in finding sustainable hotels, restaurants and tourism operators. “The goal of Trakaro is to raise more awareness for sustainable tourism by creating a platform where people can see and compare establishments that are genuinely doing their part to conserve the environment and empower the local community,” says Galacan. The startup is a part of the few teams in the French Social Enterprise Incubator and MakeSense Academy. Trakaro now has more than 100 partner establishments all over the Philippines, from hotels and resorts to restaurants and coffee shops to tour operators. Galacan says this is one way of disrupting the tourism industry in the Philippines. “With Trakaro, you can search establishments that are into sustainable tourism. They include hotels, restaurants and tour operators that are genuinely healthy to the environment and empower the local community,” he says. “The goal of Trakaro is to identify establishments that are doing that and telling travelers and users that instead of just customer ratings, you can also look at sustainability ratings for additional metrics in choosing tourism establishments,” says Galacan. Among the establishments that received high ratings in Trakaro are a vegetarian restaurant, a farm-to-table restaurant, a resort that takes care of its environs and a farm tourism project. “We have as far north as Pangasinan and as far south as Zamboanga. We discovered that there

Trakaro co-founder and general manager Paul Joseph Galacan

are vegetarian restaurants in Los Baños, farm-totable restaurants in Quezon province and farm tourism in Tagaytay,” he says. “Right now, we have more than 100 hotels, restaurants and tour operators. Among the factors we consider are food sourcing, local hiring and customer experience,” says Galacan. This is based on the triple bottom line of sustainability: planet, people and profit. “The first is planet, which means you have to conserve the environment, take care of it. People means empowering the local community, giving more opportunity to them and encouraging local hiring. And then profit, which means that to be sustainable you also need to get sustainable growth,” he says. “With planet, we are using the metric on food

sourcing. We look at the types of ingredients. Of course, there is higher carbon footprint when you serve beef, meat and so on, unlike vegetables. We also look at their source of ingredients. The closer the source, the better. For manpower, we look at where they hire,” he says. Trakaro, however, has yet to develop the full metrics on profit. “Since we cannot look directly into profit which could be confidential, we just incorporated customer experience and rating. A higher customer rating is a good sign for profitability,” says Galacan. Galacan says the plan is to include more metrics in the future. “If we talk about sustainability, there are other aspects such as waste management, energy consumption and water consumption. That is why we reach out to our partners that are doing that like Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc., an NGO with sustainability metrics,” he says. “Another partner is WWF Philippines Ayoko ng Plastic Campaign and Sustainable Diner. Then there is the AIM. We are also conversing with the Department of Tourism to help us with their Anahaw Awards. We are asking their help to improve our ratings,” he says. Galacan hopes that more establishments that support sustainable tourism will join the platform soon. “Our next milestone target is 1,000 establishments,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

NETWORK MARKETING FIRM GARNERS MULTIPLE AWARDS A FILIPINO company that markets food supplements such as grape juice, coffee with glutathione and barley powder has garnered multiple awards during the Asian Networkers Convention & Expo in Pasig City. IAM Worldwide Corp., a company established in 2016 by veteran network marketing professionals Allen Marvin Yu Eder and Aika Lorraine Uy, received the Best New Company Award 2019 during the Ance awards nights. It also won the Ance Vision Excellence Award during the same event. The company is also considered one of the fastest-growing networker marketing groups around the globe. “What IAM Worldwide Corp., offers are a diverse and comprehensive range of marketing solutions, specialty products and services aimed to drive individuals and families to financial excellence. We commit to provide high-quality products as

zealous as protecting our reputation. We value trustworthiness by choosing to do what is right even when no one is watching,” says Eder. The company’s founders have more than 20 years of combined expertise in the relationship marketing industry. “By living for others, we help move them to improved lives whatever the situation and no matter the circumstance,” says Uy. IAM Worldwide offers products like Amazing Grape Juice with Garcinia Cambogia which is one of the hottest weight loss products today. The herbal supplement is making waves in the diet industry, thanks to an endorsement from several nutrition experts. The supplement is described as “a revolutionary fat buster” and “a breakthrough in natural weight loss”. Garcinia cambogia is the small, sour fruit of a tropical tree that is native to Indonesia. The fruit is

cultivated for culinary purposes in Asia, India and Africa. Ayurvedic medicine uses the extract for various treatments including weight loss, stomach ulcers and digestive problems. Another product is the Amazing Pure Organic Barley Powdered Drink. Barley has been used for centuries in the treatment of skin, liver, blood and GI disorders. Gladiators ate barley for strength and stamina. Health benefits of barley grass include relief from ulcerative colitis, prevention and treatment of cancer, strengthening of the immune system, cleansing and detoxification of the body, protection from radiation and cellular damage, ability to fight addiction and regenerate damaged cells and tissues. It maintains healthy skin, helps achieve acidalkali balance, contributes to the bone metabolism, promotes agility and exerts rejuvenating effects on the entire body. Turn to C2

FWD PH LAUNCHES NEW BUNDLES FOR PROTECTION FWD Philippines, part of pan-Asian FWD Group and one of the country’s fastest-growing insurers, has strengthened its Set for Life variable unit-linked product proposition with the launch of a new set of addons tailor-made for people’s diverse lifestyles and evolving insurance needs. Bundled with FWD’s Set for Life product, FWD’s starter investmentlinked insurance plan, these optional add-ons provide extra layers of protection that suit every customer’s insurance needs and budget. “We’re passionate about fulfilling the evolving protection needs of Filipino customers with simple, relevant, and affordable insurance products,” said FWD Philippines president and chief executive Peter Grimes. “Our new protection add-ons and lifestyle bundles are geared towards ensuring that our growing customer base will have the opportunity to get much-needed protection as they invest in their financial future today. In line with our vision to change the way people feel about insurance, we remain focused on giving Filipinos financial peace of mind when and where it matters,” Grimes said. FWD Philippines’ newest Protection Add-ons can be layered on top of the Set for Life investmentlinked insurance plan, giving customers optimum coverage so they can live life to the fullest. Customers can enjoy the benefits of Set for Life plan and the add-ons. HealthPro is a critical illness insurance add-on that covers 42 major illnesses, 15 minor illnesses, and death. It pays 100 percent of the benefit amount upon diagnosis of a major illness, 20 percent of the benefit amount for minor illness and 100 percent of the benefit amount for death. LifePro is a life insurance addon that covers death and terminal illness. It pays 100 percent of the benefit amount upon the insured’s death or diagnosis of a terminal illness and provides an additional 20% of the benefit amount if the death happens abroad. SafetyPro is an accident insurance add-on that covers the insured up to 75 years old. It pays 100 percent of the benefit amount if the insured dies due to an accident. SurePro is an add- on that waives premiums if the insured is diagnosed with a critical illness or total or permanent disability. These new add-on benefits can be layered with FWD’s Set for Life plan into ready-made Lifestyle Bundles for customers to choose from based on their protection needs.

Business

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

JG SUMMIT EMBRACES SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK

By Alena Mae S. Flores

G Summit Holdings Inc., one of the country’s largest conglomerates, has set up three pillars of sustainability framework: pulling for progress, raising people up and caring for the environment.

BRIA HOMES DUBBED FASTEST RISING STAR IN PROPERTY SECTOR BRIA Homes, With more than 50 masshousing projects being developed in some of the country’s most progressive towns and cities, is now depicted as the property industry’s fastest-rising star. A singular goal drives the company to unprecedented success: to help and serve ordinary Filipinos. Bria Homes is a subsidiary of Golden Bria Holdings Inc., considered the third largest real estate company in terms of market capitalization valued at more than P200 billion. Studies have shown that the problem that continues to prevail in the real estate industry today is the lack of mass-housing developments. Legions of Filipinos still rent tiny dwellings in congested districts in the cities, constantly exposed to pollution, floods and unhealthy environments because these are all they can afford. For some time now, Bria Homes has been striving to address this situation by building high-quality, modern and affordable homes in safe and secure communities where the average Filipino workers can raise healthy families. Bria Homes has successfully anchored its property development principles in a simple formula: affordability (mura) + superior quality (dekalidad) = a beautiful Bria home for every Filipino. By ensuring that future homeowners can purchase a Bria condominium unit or a house and lot package at affordable rates—some for as low as P1,897 per month—and through flexible payment schemes such as Pag-IBIG and bank financing, Bria has won the hearts of Filipino families. Aside from this winning formula, Bria also takes pride in the variety of spaces and sizes that its units—condominium and house and lot packages alike—offer, all designed to suit the evolving needs of Filipino individuals and families. Bria communities are mindful of their residents’holistic well-being. Thus, healthy eco-friendly spaces are complemented by recreational amenities such as basketball courts. Safety and security are ensured by guarded entrances and perimeter fences. Homeowners also get good service from courteous and highly competent administrative and maintenance personnel. Bria Homes’ rapid rise to its star status is evident in the presence of Bria communities in progressive towns and cities in the Philippines. In Luzon, there are Bria developments in Bataan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Camarines Sur. In the Visayas, Bria has made homes accessible in Samar, Leyte and Negros Oriental. In Mindanao, Bria has built projects in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and North Cotabato. Developments in these areas share a key feature: strategic location. All Bria communities are set within convenient access to schools, churches, hospitals, business districts, retail shops and major roads and highways. As Bria treads on this path to ultimate goals, it sustains the vision it has had from the start: to provide easy-on-the-pocket homes for Filipinos all over the country.

NETWORK...

From C1

The company recently tapped actor Piolo Pascual as the brand ambassador of Herb-all Amazing Pure Organic Barley. “What I love about the product is that it boosts my immune system. Barley grass supports in boosting the immune defense mechanism of the body. Regular consumption of barley grass provides the required nutrition which is necessary for balancing the optimal production of immune cells in the body. Effective and strong immune defense vigilantly fights infections and prevents the development of fatal diseases,” says Pascual. “Plus it gives rejuvenating effects. Barley grass is a natural way to stimulate the regeneration of cells without any side effects,” says Pascual. I AM Wo r l d w i d e, w h i c h h a s headquarters in San Juan and branches across the country. It also has branches in Kenya, Kuwait, Rwanda and Uganda. It will open a branch in the United Arab Emirates soon.

“ The move towards greater sustainability is strategic for us in aligning our business strategies with all our corporate social responsibility efforts on empowering communities, elevating people’s lives, and protecting our planet,” says JG Summit president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei. Gongkowei, appointed in May 2018, marks a new generation of leadership which includes focusing on key areas towards sustainability through the adoption of a formal environment, social and governance program. JG Summit has carved for itself an essential role in nation-building, a mission reflected in the three pillars of its sustainability framework through the combined strengths and competencies of its strategic business units—Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Land Corp., Universal Robina Corp., JG Summit Petrochemicals Group and Robinsons Bank. Pulling for progress means creating a business and social environment that inspires, empowers and enables others to achieve success. It sets the stage for the right ideas to incubate and seeking like-minded partners both public and private to synergize with and leverage on each other’s strength. The Flourish Pilipinas program of URC–Flour & Pasta Division is an example of such capacity-building initiatives specifically targeted toward the youth. Developed in collaboration with the Department of Education, the program created and distributed a strategically designed multimedia

teachers’ toolkit for bread and pastry production under the SHS TechnicalVocational-Livelihood track. URC Flour engaged 11 public schools in Metro Manila and Davao, benefitting 1,109 senior high school students during the pilot stage. Raising people up, meanwhile, pertains to practical and tangible positive impact in the daily lives of people from the customers, suppliers, employees and society at large. JG Summit Petrochemicals Group in Batangas and its employees conduct educational outreach activities under their flagship and primarily employeedriven “Abot Kamay” program. Since 2000, JGSPG through Abot Kamay has been regularly suppor ting academically-qualified high school and college students within its host barangays with scholarships, covering expenses like tuition, books, uniforms, and monthly stipends. JGSPG has also been actively supporting the needs of the nearby public schools, with annual school clean-up drives, donations of school and office supplies, furniture and equipment, as well as regular feeding and outreach programs, which has now benefited over 9,500 students of nearby barangays since the start of the program. Robinsons Bank, for its part, promotes financial literacy under its flagship CSR program, RBank Creates Value. Volunteers of Robinsons Bank adopt schools where financial awareness activities are conducted for the pupils and their parents over a three-year period.

JG Summit president CEO Lance Gokongwei (left) leads the launching of the Juan Effect project of Cebu Pacific.

In the first year of the program, 263 RBankers volunteered to teach the “Value of Saving” to pupils of 15 schools nationwide. In the second year, almost 300 RBank employees visited 17 schools nationwide and impacted a total of 1,288 beneficiaries, composed of mothers of the pupils. The focus of the initiatives in the third year is on the fathers of the children of adopted schools. Caring for the environment ensures the positive impact of business operations and prudent use of natural resources. Waste management and energy efficiency are only among the most important areas of environmental concern that need to be highlighted in this time of climate awareness. The “Juan Effec t ” projec t of Cebu Pacific in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Interior and Local Government engages travelers on their responsibilities as tourists and encourages them to proactively save the environment. They are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles and eco bags and dispose trash properly with the goal of mitigating the impact of tourism on the environment. As of July 2019, the total pledge count on the Juan Effect website has reached more than 17,500.

Fo r R o b i n s o n s L a n d C o r p . sustainability means helping to address the depletion of natural resources. Its buildings are designed to make efficient use of energy, water, and resources. R LC h a s i n v e s t e d i n s o l a r installations in 14 Robinsons Malls to reduce the demand for fossil fuels and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Robinsons Starmills in Pampangah hosts the world’s largest solar rooftop installation in a mall. Some Robinsons Malls are also designed with a rainwater collection system and a wastewater and treatment and recycling facility to reuse water for non-potable use. Green building practices also h e l p m i t i g a te c l i m a te c h a n g e and the environmental impact of operations, with three of RLC’s office buildings being certified by LEED, an internationally recognized green building certification system. “Running a truly sustainable business is a must. It is not anymore a nice-to-have, but rather a necessary component of a well-run business. Integrating sustainability at the core of our businesses which includes disclosure of its sustainabilit y performance will enable JG Summit companies to focus on creating visible shared value. This is indeed a more impactful future for JG Summit and its key stakeholders,” Gokongwei says.

FEU RECOGNIZED FOR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FAR Eastern University continues its commitment to academic excellence through its program offerings, exceptional facilities and corporate governance. These are evident in distinctions recently granted by two respected organizations. At the 2018 Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard, the university was the lone school recognized as a top-performing publicly-listed company in the Philippines. FEU was conferred two Arrow citations by the Institute of Corporate Directors at the ACGS assessment ceremony. FEU was also recognized by the Philippine Association of Practitioners of Student Affairs and Services as a standard for best practices in the management of student formation programs in the country. The university was lauded during the benchmarking session of a specialist certificate course on student affairs and services. “It is an honor for us to be entrusted with these valuable awards. We continuously work toward promoting a world-class learning environment for our students and these are the fruits of our labor. This assures us that we continue to uphold the university’s core values of fortitude, excellence, and uprightness,” said FEU president Dr. Michael Alba. These accolades are a reflection of FEU’s commitment to setting the standards for academic institutions. Since being founded in 1928, the university has firmly implemented a culture geared toward quality and accessible education.

FEU chairman Aurelio Montinola III (center) accepts the Two-Arrow recognition from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard.

This culture is rooted in extensive industry partnerships with more than 1,000 partners, 30 percent of which belong to the top 1,000 corporations. These tie-ups include seminars on work ethic and industry trends, curriculum review, internships and university-to-work transition programs. At the same time, FEU fosters an inclusive environment where students are made to feel welcome. They can enjoy all-gender restrooms, “a no haircut policy”, school attire options instead of a uniform and a multi-faith room. The university also has international linkages with universities in South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to expose students to different cultures. FEU believes that a well-rounded education backed by an inclusive atmosphere is the key to producing competitive graduates. Throughout its history, FEU has developed business tycoons, ambassadors and justices of the Supreme Court and other judicial bodies. Other notable alumni include leaders in the private and public sectors, finance wizards, acclaimed physicians, nurses, educators, athletes, artists and theater and media luminaries. “We want to uphold our legacy of producing outstanding alumni and these new citations prove that we are on the right track. We will continue innovating our services to sustain our standing as one of the country’s top educational institutions,” said Alba.

PAYMAYA NOW EMPOWERS DOST’S ONESTORE.PH THE Department of Science and Technology has chosen digital financial services leader PayMaya to empower the OneSTore.ph e-commerce platform. The partnership brings a significant boost to DOST’s mission for OneSTore. ph to serve as a platform to expand the market of local MSMEs by allowing sellers on the site to easily accept payments via Visa, Mastercard and JCB credit, debit and prepaid card as well as PayMaya e-wallet via their mobile number through the cuttingedge PayMaya checkout payment gateway. “MSMEs are the lifeblood of the country and power the economy, which is why it is imperative to help them succeed. With the OneSTore.ph platform, we helped them expand their market online which reaches virtually every corner of the country. And now that we have digital payments acceptance from PayMaya, the online shopping experience on the platform just

got even more convenient,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña. Envisioned as a platform to help local MSMEs grow their business by expanding their market online, OneSTore.ph was launched in 2017 to help promote the use of the platform in connection with its Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program. Through PayMaya checkout, businesses of all sizes can easily accept payments via card and other emerging payment options such as PayMaya, which only requires the customer to input their mobile number in order to pay for purchases online. “With DOST being a center of excellence for the country’s science and technology programs, this partnership is a validation of PayMaya’s integrated digital financial services platform. We are proud to work with DOST on this project, and we are looking forward to collaborate with them in other areas as well. The benefits of digital should

From left: PayMaya head of enterprise business Mar Lazaro, PayMaya president Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya founder and chief executive Orlando Vea, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Undersecretary for regional operations Brenda Nazareth Manzano and DOST Region II regional director Sancho Mabborang.

be felt by all, not just by large enterprises or big-named merchants, which is why we have designed our platforms, particularly PayMaya Checkout, to be able to scale and adapt to the needs of all businesses, no matter the size or location,” said PayMaya founder and chief executive Orlando Vea. Aside from powering digital payments acceptance for OneSTore.ph, PayMaya

and DOST will also be collaborating on bringing digital payments capabilities to OneSTore physical hubs that will be launched across the country through its One by PayMaya all-in-one payment device, which is the only point-of-sale device that can accept multiple modes of cashless payments via swipe, tap, and dip for cards, and pay-to-scan via QR.

Tech & Gadgets

SKIP THE LINES AND ENJOY YOUR COFFEE WITH BOTTY

ITH world-class brews and supreme customer service, enjoy the next level caffeinated experience with Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY, a first in the PH market. Bo’s Coffee, a proud Filipino coffee chain that has been serving quality coffee since 1996, is now making it easier for customers to enjoy their coffee. This is perfect for people who are always on the go and want to skip the long queues as BOTTY lets you order ahead of time so your coffee is pick up ready when you go to your preferred Bo’s Coffee branch. “We really want to give our loyal customers the best of both worlds. If they want to unwind and relax, they can come to our stores and enjoy the ambiance. When they want to save time and don’t have time to line up, we also have the platform for that and that’s BOTTY,” said Steve Benitez, CEO of Bo’s Coffee. Bo’s Coffee introduced BOTTY in March this year in five stores. By June 2019, it became available in 47 stores. “For now, it is just for select stores but there are plans to expand it to all stores so that all our customers in the Philippines can have this experience,” said Benitez. BOTTY is available at selected Bo’s Coffee stores in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Palawan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. BOTTY is very user friendly and can be accessed through the Facebook Messenger app. To use BOTTY, simply open the Messenger app and search for Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY. Then, you can send your location or choose the store to place your order. Choose your drink size, perks, and quantity. You can pay online using Visa or MasterCard credit/debit cards, Paymaya Card and Cash. Your order will be ready in 15 minutes, skip the queue and present your collection number. Soon, other online payment options will be accepted such

He has over twenty—five years of professional and entrepreneurial track record, ensuring the growth of Bo’s Coffee. To date, Bo’s Coffee has expanded to over 100 stores, making Bo’s the country’s biggest homegrown coffee chain.

Ordering coffer has never been this handy.

as GCash and GrabPay. Delivery service will soon be available as well via GrabExpress. With the launch of BOTTY, Bo’s Coffee will be creating more convenient ways for customers to order through other digital initiatives which will be launched soon. Skip the lines and order online through BOTTY! Enjoy your coffee!

ogy, London Business School and Wharton School of Business. He is also an Endeavor Entrepreneur and a member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization Philippine Chapter.

STEVE D. BENITEZ

Bo’s Coffee Founder, Chairman and CEO Steve Benitez founded Bo’s Coffee in June 1996. He has held different roles for the company—he became President in 2000 and later on elected by the Board of Directors as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in November 2008. Mr. Benitez earned his Bachelor's Degree in Management Economics from Ateneo de Manila University. He took Executive Education in Massachusetts Institute of Technol-

Steve Benitez

Cary Gee

CARY GEE BOTTY Founder & ReCreator Having owned F&B businesses in the past, Cary Gee has been passionate on helping hospitality businesses build a customer engagement to drive transactions and retention for merchants. His vast experience in managing software teams and business operating system (BOS) for his restaurant chains led him to the creation of the BOTTY—a chatbot that allows users to order meals through messaging platforms such as Facebook Messenger. BOTTY has been present in several food chains in different countries, and today, it will finally be launched in the Philippines as an advance ordering option with Bo’s Coffee.

ENGLISH EDUCATION PLATFORM 51TALK SIGNS MOU WITH TECH GIANT HUAWEI LEADING online English education platform, 51TALK continues to break ground for the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) industry as the company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with with global tech giant HUAWEI. The MOU represents a collaboration between 51TALK and HUAWEI on the promotion of digitalization and transformation as well as the promotion of the use of information and communications technology and offers opportunity for qualified Filipinos to become online English teachers and improve lives through digital livelihood and learning. With this partnership, it is expected that more Filipinos would benefit from both organizations’ wealth of knowledge and expertise on digital technology and online teaching. This signed MOU between Huawei and 51Talk, two giants in their respective industries, is an innovative step towards promoting better understanding of home-based online English teaching while showcasing the talent and skills of the Filipinos as online English teachers and leveraging technology for human development. To learn more about 51Talk and how to become an online English teacher, visit www.51Talk.ph.

Signing on behalf of 51TALK is Jennifer Que, Country Head (2nd from left) and Gou Zhi, Vice President, Huawei (2nd from right), joined by Nelson Tan, Business Development, 51TALK and Karenina Buenafe, Public Affairs and Communications Department Head, Huawei during the MOU signing ceremony.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ALLIANZ PNB LIFE OFFERS INDEXLINK SUCCESS doesn’t come easy for most of us. But that doesn’t mean we should easily give up. In fact, according to Jonathan Yabut, the winner of the first The Apprentice Asia, should look at failures not as the opposite of success, but an “input to future success.” “Everyone needs a dose of failure to get it right,” he says. Yabut, who was the speaker at the recent launch of Allianz PNB Life’s new insurance solution Allianz IndexLink, is one of the youngest and most soughtafter motivational speakers in the country today. Below are some more tips you can adopt at any stage in your life that the apprentice-turned-mentor shares for developing a winning mindset in life. Don’t settle for “Being” and think of “Becoming.” “The state of being is a mindset saying that I have already achieved what I wanted, so I’m in my comfortable stage. I want to stay here because if I move, I might ruffle feathers and I might not be able to achieve anything else,” Jonathan explains. He advises instead that one develops a mindset of “becoming”, a state where after they have already achieved what they wanted, they would move on to their next mission. “Because a one-time victory is called tsamba or luck, but repeated victory means you’re consistently good in what you do. At the end of the day, if you want to keep your legacy, you want to be known as that guy who is repeating his victory because he’s good at what he does,” he says. Grit can get you a long way. “Grit is a non-intellectual, psychological trait, that no matter how many times you get down, you pick yourself up. You dust yourself off and start all over again,” Jonathan says. He adds that being a winner is “accepting the fact that you may not be lucky all the time, that it will take you five, ten, twenty times to get it right.” What is important, Jonathan points out, is that you get it right at the end because that’s what really matters. Have a growth mindset. If you’re not good at something, keep exerting effort into it so that you’ll do better over time. “For example, you’re not good at Math. Having a growth mindset means that as long as you keep practicing those Math skills, you will definitely do better than anyone who did not practice at all,” he says. Learn from your failures. See failure as a way to better yourself. “Whenever I experience failures in life, I ask myself what am I learning from this? How can I pick myself up from this? Over time, over a period of time, what can I do to finally correct it if I cannot get it right the first time around?” Jonathan concludes. Look for win-win investments. While being financially successful doesn’t necessarily equate to professional success, it’s important to be financially secure. “We all have our own definition of success. However, there are certain situations where success requires more resources to happen,” he says. Jonathan advices young people to invest as early as possible “because financial wealth is something determined by time.” For those who have a winning mindset, Allianz PNB Life offers IndexLink, a first-in-market product that provides protection and capital preservation. Available for a one-time payment of P200,000 for a seven-year term, it provides life insurance coverage, full principal protection at maturity provided no credit event on the Republic of the Philippines, and earnings potential through an annual index-linked bonus benefit which captures the upside performance of an underlying index. To learn more about the Allianz IndexLink, visit PNB branches near you.

GLOBAL SUPERSTAR RONALDO IS LATEST SHOPEE BRAND AMBASSADOR SHOPEE, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announces its partnership with global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo as its newest brand ambassador. Ronaldo will work with Shopee in a wide range of initiatives to engage and inspire people in the region, starting with Shopee’s signature annual shopping event, 9.9 Super Shopping Day. “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest athletes of our time. He is an inspiration to many, and his dedication to football matches the deep commitment we have towards our users. Together with Cristiano Ronaldo, we look forward to creating

a lasting positive impact for our region,” said Chris Feng, Chief Executive Officer. On the other hand, Ronaldo said: “I am proud to be Shopee’s brand ambassador as we share the same ambition to be the best in our fields. I am always improving my game for my fans and my team, just as Shopee innovates to benefit their users in this region. I am excited by this partnership, and I look forward to creating more special moments for my fans together with Shopee.” Shopee’s announcement of Ronaldo as its latest brand ambassador is in line with the return of its signature annual shopping event, 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Ronaldo will join a series of initiatives as Shopee brings users and fans across the re-

gion closer to the global football icon: The soccer superstar also stars in Shopee’s newest 9.9 TVC as he is at the center of Shopee’s new television commercial, which premiered on Aug. 16. In a first for Southeast Asia and Taiwan, fans will be able to get up close and personal with Ronaldo via a range of exclusive content available only on Shopee Live. More information will be announced on Shopee’s app and social media platforms at a later date. Find out more about Cristiano Ronaldo and 9.9 Super Shopping Day at http://shopee.ph/ShopeexRonaldo. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Global Football Icon and Chris Feng, Chief Executive Officer at Shopee

TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

SAMSUNG LAUNCHES NEWEST GALAXY NOTE SERIES IN PH

ies, even in low light situations. Both the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ are equipped with a full professional studio that allows users to shoot and edit instantly. Footage can be furthered enhanced with Live Focus video for a movie-like depth of field similar to bokeh, Zoom-In Mic to control surrounding sound, and the upgraded Super Steady feature to reduce shaky recordings. Every video showcases vivid colors and details with 4K UHD technology. Editing becomes a breeze, especially when used with the S Pen.

Unparalleled Performance

Ms. Universe Catriona Gray is the newest member of the #TeamGalaxy.

AMSUNG officially unveiled the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+, the powerful multi-device for a new generation of Filipinos who are no longer defined by traditional ways of working. Its elegant design, exceptional performance, and productivity tools are developed to help users embrace work and life seamlessly.

of multi-hyphenates. Guest artists Kris Abrigo and Kara Pangilinan conducted a live demo of the S Pen. Galguerra along with Ellie Huang, product marketing manager for Note series, also showed the phone's next-level power when playing games and shooting clips. Meanwhile, Bella Concepcion, marketing manager for IT & mobile, shared Samsung’s partnership with Microsoft reinforcing how the Note10 is the ultimate device for productivity. The event also showcased the Galaxy Ecosystem Zone and displayed a full suite of Samsung devices that are "This ever-growing market of Fili- interconnected seamlessly. pino millennials have changed how Purposeful Design we work. They refuse to be confined The Galaxy Note 10 is wrapped in to a 9-to-5 desk job. They want to an edge-to-edge and near bezel-less have the freedom to customize how Infinity-O Display for uninterrupted they accomplish their tasks. This on- viewing. The in-display cutout for the the-go lifestyle and pursuit of passion front camera is discreetly positioned, make the Galaxy Note10 the best de- allowing for Samsung’s most immervice for these growing multi-hyphen- sive and seamless display. ates who make up the new work The body is complemented by tribe,” shared Benson Galguerra, Sam- the award-winning Dynamic AMOsung Philippines Marketing Head for LED Display, enabling a cinematic IT & Mobile. experience in the palm of the user’s Samsung launched its newest hand. The HDR10+ certification and flagship on August 14 at the Grand Dynamic Tone Mapping technology Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, present photos and videos the way it where guests witnessed first-hand was intended to be seen, resulting in what makes the Galaxy Note10 the stunning and vivid content. right phone for this new generation For the first time, Samsung loyal-

ists can choose between two sizes. The Galaxy Note 10 comes in a compact 6.3-inch screen, while the Galaxy Note 10+ features a 6.8-inch display. Both versions are sleek, slim, and easy to hold and carry.

Multi-Faceted Productivity

Samsung continues to innovate and re-engineer the stylus. Through air actions, users can control certain aspects of the device using gestures with the S Pen. The S Pen is also redesigned to further enable productivity. Handwritten notes can now be instantly converted to digital text and exported to different formats including Microsoft Word. Additionally, users can drag and drop files between the Galaxy Note10 and other devices through Samsung DeX. Those using Windows 10 PCs can integrate their smartphone and see notifications, send and receive messages, and view photos without having to lift their smartphone.

Inspiring Creativity

The Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ boast a new camera system with prograde movie technology. The smartphone comes with a triple camera that guarantees professional-looking shots even for beginners. Its lenses include a 16MP Ultra Wide, a 12MP Wide-Angle, and a 12MP Telephoto camera. The front camera beautifully improves self-

The multi-device offers unmatched performance perfect for the new work tribe millennials who juggle tasks all the time--from workrelated tasks to content creation for social media, and to cultivating their passions. It is packed with a 7nm processor that allows users to multitask without experiencing any lags. The new Note series comes with big battery, featuring 3,500mAh for the Galaxy Note10 and 4,300mAh for the Galaxy Note10+. The Super Fast Charging feature means that a 30-minute power-up can last the whole day. Additionally, Wireless Power Share allows users to share the Galaxy Note10’s battery with Qicompatible devices by placing them against the smartphone. The device is also a gaming phone as it comes with the world’s slimmest vapor chamber cooling system and the AI-based Game Booster to deliver optimal performance. The PlayGalaxy Link P2P streaming service lets gamers continue playing their PC console on the Galaxy Note 10 without the need for local storage. The Galaxy Note 10 will be available starting August 23, with a suggested retail price of P53,990 for the Galaxy Note 10 (256GB) and P60,990 for the Galaxy Note 10+ (256GB). The Galaxy Note 10+ (512GB) will be available for a pre-order exclusive with a suggested retail price of P72,990. The Galaxy Note 10 will come in Aura Glow and Aura Black, while the Galaxy Note 10+ will be available in Aura Glow, Aura White, and Aura Black. Customers can enjoy exclusive promos when they avail the Galaxy Note 10. Preorder the multi-device and get freebies like a Smart TV, a Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Buds, and more. From August 23 to 25, customers can also get 30% off on Samsung wearables. For more information, visit samsung.com/ph.

FACEBOOK FOR CREATORS LAUNCHED IN MANILA MANILA’S finest creators and influencers gathered in the first Facebook for Creators Philippines workshop. 80 creators including the Guerrero siblings Ranz Kyle and Niana; inspirational guru, author, and lay preacher Bo Sanchez; actor-TV host Robi Domingo; and vlogger and Viva recording artist behind the hit song “Kakaibabe” Donnalyn Bartolome joined the event. The workshop helped creators learn more about how they can grow their community with video, share best practices for managing their online presence, and new tools for monetization and engagement on Facebook.

“We want to ship love for creators and let them know that we want to help them build their audience on Facebook. We are proud to support the creator community by teaching them how to connect with their fans by using our engagement tools and also to enable them to build a business with us through ad breaks and other monetization tools, “said Anna Rodriguez-Dela Cruz, Facebook’s Strategic Partnerships Lead for Entertainment, Philippines and Singapore. The energy was high and the atmosphere decidedly festive as some creators came in full character—Chino Liu channeled his alter ego Krissy, Prince De Guzman who does make-up transfor-

mations came as the scary clown Pennywise, and not to be outdone was Lady Gaga impersonator, Lady Gagita. The Facebook for Creators workshop is part of a series launched in the APAC region that also recently brought together creators from Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The workshops focus on supporting creators in building their community on Facebook with insights on how people are engaging with content across multiple surfaces, and demonstrating the tools available at their fingertips for engaging their audiences.

SMART CARRIER BILLING NOW AVAILABLE FOR APP STORE, APPLE MUSIC, ITUNES FILIPINOS will now have an easier and more convenient way of buying all the apps and content they love as Smart pioneers Carrier Billing for App Store, Apple Music and iTunes. With Smart Carrier Billing, mobile users can conveniently charge their App Store, Apple Music, and iTunes purchases across Apple devices to their Smart Prepaid load or Smart Postpaid bill—providing a safe, secure and versatile payment method to meet the Philippines’ growing demand for digital entertainment. This feature makes it easier for subscribers to enjoy all the apps they love, with one easy way to pay. “For the longest time, the need for a credit or debit card has kept many Filipinos from maximizing the full potential of their iOS devices. By introducing Smart Carrier Billing, we are eliminating this barrier and therefore empowering our customers to truly embrace the digital lifestyle with easy access to millions of paid iOS apps and digital content at their fingertips,” said Oscar A. Reyes, SVP and Head of Individual Consumer Business.

How it works: Making payments with Smart Carrier Billing Signing up for Smart Carrier Billing takes only a few simple steps. Smart customers need to have a new or existing Apple ID, and select “Mobile Phone” as their payment method from their account settings on App Store, Apple Music, and iTunes from their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac, or on iTunes from their PC. Once “Mobile Phone” has been selected, all future purchases with the customer's Apple ID will be automatically charged as part of the monthly Smart Postpaid bill or directly deducted from their Smart Prepaid load—eliminating the need to use a credit card. The new payment option will be configured automatically and immediately allow for easy, onetap purchasing from all Apple devices, including Apple TV and Apple Watch. This includes purchases of apps, music, movies, TV shows, as well as Apple Music subscriptions and iCloud storage. No personal information will be shared with any third parties, making carrier billing both simple and safe to set up and use.

PH RED CROSS, SMART, NOKIA TEST USE OF DRONES IN DISASTER RESPONSE THE Philippine Red Cross, Nokia and PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart) conducted a series of test flights for drones in areas recently hit by calamities. The drones are part of Nokia Saving Lives (NSL), a nonprofit initiative that provides innovative communications technology and technical-expert assistance to emergency response teams like the PRC. The NSL solution, which is a recipient of global mobile group GSMA’s Disaster Response Innovation Fund, includes a portable LTE network, which connects to drones equipped with cameras and sensors, a high-performance server, and analytics applications. In the Philippines, NSL uses the LTE frequency assigned to Smart. To test the NSL solution, a team of engineers and volunteers from the

three organizations performed a trial flight in Sagnay, Camarines Sur. The province was placed under a state of calamity last year following the massive flooding and landslide brought about by Tropical Depression “Usman.” Another trial was held in Porac, Pampanga, which was severely affected by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that jolted Luzon in April. Utilizing the Smart LTE network, the drone with cameras was able to connect real-time to the PRC control center, allowing volunteers to assess remote and inaccessible areas, including those too dangerous for responders to reach. Aerial insights and data analytics generated by the NSL drones will not only help improve ascertain the situation but also assist disaster response groups in prioritizing

the deployment of resources. Information gathered by the NSL solution will be valuable inputs in PRC’s rehabilitation and risk reduction plans, in coordination with the local government and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices. Nokia and Smart are both signatories to the GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter (HCC), which aims to provide increased access to communication and information to those affected by calamities, helping reduce loss of lives and contributing to humanitarian response. Smart’s support to the PRC and its commitment to GSMA HCC are part of the company’s #SafePH advocacy, which aims to help build resilient communities and reduce disaster-related casualties through mobile communications technology.

A volunteer from Nokia inspects a drone before takeoff in Sagnay, Camarines Sur.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

VERONA: MORE THAN JUST ROMEO AND JULIET The statue of ‘Juliet’ in the courtyard of what is supposed to be the Capulet’s residence.

O, ROMEO. The supposed balcony in the Capulet’s residence where Juliet wondered aloud where her Romeo was, according to the play written by William Shakespeare.

LAME it on my high school World Literature class and some of the movies I’ve seen through the years. I have always thought MERCURY RISING that the only thing BY BOB ZOZOBRADO worth talking about in Verona is its being the setting for the story of the world’s most popular star-crossed lovers, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. So, when my younger sister planned our visit to the city, as part of our Italian holiday, I immediately told her that half a day would be enough time for us to spend there, as we only have to see Juliet’s house and the balcony. But as soon as we got off the train, the charm of the city’s ambience, its laid-back appeal, its distinct character, rich in medieval antiquity, enticed me to discover what else Verona has to offer to first-time visitors like me. Lo and behold, there are a lot, as it turned out. We started our walking tour with a visit to the beautiful Castelvecchio, an old castle and bridge which spans Verona’s Adige River. This imposing complex made of red bricks served as a fortress built by the then-powerful Scala family to protect themselves from the neighboring clans whom they were at odds with. The bridge was their family’s escape route to the north,

in case of an uprising. When the family finally lost their hold on Verona, the surviving members The letters to Juliet from tourists who wrote about their love stories and escaped to Germany. Castelvecheartaches, adorn the walls of the entrance gate to the 'Capulet residence.' chio, with its Gothic architecture and trademark M-shaped parapets, now stands as one of the ieri is now the town hall. It used to the Capulets. In fact, it seemed like be a palace occupied by the mili- all roads led to that particular part city’s iconic landmarks. Next stop was at Piazza Bra, tary forces of the Austrian Army. of the city because, anywhere we the largest in the city and in the Our tour guide was telling us would go, we’d see a directional country. This central square is about this beautiful fresco of the sign that pointed to the “Casa di Gilined with many restaurants and Crucifixion and the Madonna but, ulietta” (House of Juliet). Marked by a small plaque on cafés that are always full. There unfortunately, the building was the upper left corner, the gate are also three important build- closed to tourists at that time. The im- leading to the courtyard of the ings on this posing and house was blocked with throngs piazza. e n o r m o u s of tourists inching their way in, The apYOUR WEEKEND Palazzo della while another “battalion” was proximately CHUCKLE Gran Guar- trying to exit. Both sides of the 2000-yeardia is anoth- tunnel-like gate were plastered old Verona The most effective way to reer historic with small notes from tourists, Arena was member your wife’s birthday is to building. It sharing with Juliet their love an amphiforget it once. used to be problems. The 2010 Hollywood theater pata military love story, Letters to Juliet was terned after installation based on this practice. the Roman Tourists, packed like sardines Colosseum. It is now a venue for but, because of its sheer size, it is large concerts and operas. In fact, now used as the city’s convention in the courtyard, were busy taking photos of and selfies with the during our visit, preparations were and exhibition center. Saving the best for last, our tour balcony where Juliet, in Shakebeing made and promotional materials were displayed for the stag- guide warned us to be ready for the speare’s masterpiece, was supcrowds that flocked daily to what posed to have wondered aloud, ing of the popular opera, Aida. The Neoclassical Palazzo Barb- is believed to be the residence of Turn to D2

The Castelvecchio with its trademark M-shaped parapets. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

The former Palazzo della Gran Guardia is now Verona’s convention and exhibition center.

Destinations

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

REDISCOVERING

BATANGAS’ HIDDEN GEMS

Inside Casa de Segunda in Lipa City with some of its furniture pieces that survived World War II.

By Angelica Villanueva

RBAN warriors seeking a quick getaway, a respite from the craziness that is Metro Manila, often take the two- to threehour drive to Batangas—usually for three things: beaches, Taal Volcano, and warm bowls of lomi. But more than those aforementioned, Batangas has more hidden gems up its sleeves—attractions and experiences made for either adventure-seeker, beachgoer, or foodie. We know lomi’s great and frolicking on the beach sounds like a great plan, but here are some other things you can do when in Batangas.

Experience heart-stopping activities

This is not your usual sporting event: experience the thrill and excitement of horse racing at Malvar’s Metro Manila Turf Club. The 45-hectare horse racing field can accommodate 3,000 horse racing fans and bettors. It hosts races twice a week together with two other horse racing venues in the Philippines—San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona and Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park in Naic. Try your luck by betting on horses called llamado starting at P2.

Relive history

One of the great things about Batangas is that it maintains and preserves its ancestral houses. Among them is Casa de Segunda in Lipa City, where Dr. Jose Rizal’s first love, Segunda Katigbak lived. Katigbak’s great granddaughter, Lileth Dimayuga-Malabanan said that it was common for Batangueños to have big houses during that period since Lipa was once the only supplier of coffee beans in the world, and buyers would give sacks of gold as payment. Built in 1880 by Segunda and her husband, Manuel Luz, the house and some of its furniture survived World War II. It was declared a National Heritage Site by the National Historic Commission of the Philippines. One of the historical sites in Taal is the house of Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo, the “Mother of the Philippine Flag.” It was where Doña Marcela together with her eldest daughter Lorenza and Rizal’s niece, Delfina Herbosa de Natividad

The Basilica de San Martin de Tours, more popularly known as Taal Basilica, is said to be the largest church in Asia.

VERONA... From D1 “Romeo, oh Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?” Visitors pay an entrance fee if they want to go inside the house, which is now a museum, and be able to go up to the balcony. The other thing I find interesting is that there is a bronze statue of “Juliet” in the courtyard. Considering that Romeo and Juliet are just the product of Shakespeare’s fertile imagination, I wonder who they used as a model for the statue for which tourists line up to have their photos taken while they touch its right breast. It is a common belief that doing so would bring one true and lasting love.

Now, the thing that baffles me is that close to 5 million tourists flocked to Verona last year and I’m sure a big chunk of that total wanted to relive the story of the world’s most popular ill-fated lovers. But the only thing true that Verona can lay claim to is that there were the perennially feuding Montagues and Capulets. There is no record at all that these families had children named Romeo and Juliet. They are purely products of Shakespeare’s mind. In fact, the supposedly 13th-century “Capulet residence” which tourists flock to now was actually owned by a family named Capello. The house did not even have a balcony when it was built. This was added only in the 20th century when the popularity of Shakespeare’s tragic lovers reached its peak.

Imprenta Café’s Beef Bulalo (left) and Goco Ancestral House’s Suman with Taal Tablea Tsokolate paired with Kapeng Barako.

Batangas that serve authentic Filipino cuisine, sewed the first flag of the Philippines. The residence has been turned into a museum such as Hotel 1925’s in-house restaurant, Imthat relives the life of Doña Marcela and the cre- prenta Modern Filipino Cuisine in Lipa. Built in memory of Rufino “Pinong” Mojares, ation of our country’s most important symbol. father of the hotel’s president Michelle Fabie, Imprenta uses local food items like dulong, Revel in the beauty of nature For those who want to have a closer look pajo, and tulingan as ingredients in its dishes. of Taal Volcano, the best place to witness its Among its bestsellers are White Cheese, Tinabeauty is at Lima Park Hotel, whose Sunset Tour pa, and Paho Lumpia; and Kamote Churros comes with an island tour and picnic, with a side with Tablea Tsokolate. Meanwhile in Taal, there is the Goco Ancesof a great view of the sunset. But if you are having an overnight trip, tral House. Previously the residence of Juan Cabrera Nayomi Sanctuary Resort offers traditional hotel rooms and glamping tents that can ac- Goco, the Katipunan’s treasurer, and his wife Lorenza, it is now a restaurant managed by commodate up to 10 persons. his grandson, Pio Goco. Goco House offers Taal specialties served Strengthen your faith Among the tourist attractions that you should on plates owned by Pio’s grandparents and see in Batangas are its old churches—Basilica de parents. Among its dishes are Taal Panutsa San Martin de Tours (Taal Basilica) and Archdi- with Sea Salt; Turmeric and Calamansi Juice; Tapang Taal, a pork rendition of tapa native ocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay. Completed in 1878, the Basilica de San Mar- to the town; and Sinaing na Tulingan. For tin de Tours is made of adobe and coral stones. dessert, Suman with Taal Tablea Tsokolate Standing 95 meters long and 45 meters wide, paired with Kapeng Barako is a perfect endit is considered the largest church in Asia. Its ing to a meal. patron is St. Martin de Tours, the patron saint of Get there fast soldiers and horses. Travelers coming from Metro Manila can Meanwhile, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay is known for its miraculous easily reach Batangas through the Southern Sta. Lucia Well, whose water is believed to Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway. “Because of faster travel, easier access, heal sickness and grant wishes. It opened in 1640 in honor of the image of and added convenience, more people are encouraged to visit different provinces outthe Virgin of Caysasay. side Metro Manila more frequently,” says Indulge in Filipino cuisine STAR Tollway president and chief executive There is no shortage of establishments in Manny Bonoan.

However, there is a popular tale of two star-crossed lovers in the outskirts of Verona, who ended their lives in a most pitiful manner. Shakespeare must have taken inspiration from that and added to it the reality of the existence of two feuding families of Verona, thus, “Romeo and Juliet” was born. Whichever way we look at it, the fact remains that tourism has capitalized on the emotions evoked by the story of the world’s most popular tragic lovers. With or without Romeo and Juliet, I enjoyed Verona for its old world charm and its small-European-town feel that is rich in history. All these give it a lot of character that transcends any emotion arising from any ill-fated romance. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

Large groups of tourists flock to the House of Juliet every single day of the year.

Entertainment By Nickie Wang

OUNG actress and former PPB housemate Maris Racal experienced a lot of “firsts” shooting the movie I’m Ellenya L. She had to immerse herself in the world of vloggers while containing herself with the idea of having a launching movie as a solo artist. “I can’t tell much of the things I did for the movie because I might spoil the biggest scenes and the things that people might want to watch out for in the movie,” the 21-year-old actress told Manila Standard in an interview. “But let me tell you this, I believe that everyone will get to enjoy the movie. This is not just for the millennials. It’s also for the younger and older generations, the Gen X and Gen Z. At its core, I’m Ellenya L is a story about family, love, and embracing your real self,” she added. One of the things that Maris excitedly shared about her immersion as a vlogger was her meeting with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. She did manage to see Mayor Isko up-close and personal but the Manila Mayor identified Maris not as an actress, but as a vlogger since she was in full character. “Now I understand how difficult it is to be a vlogger. They are also like the members of the press. They go to a place, wait for hours without knowing if they’d be able to get a story, an interesting one to share with the viewers,” she said. In the movie, Maris is Ellenya Lakampati is a simple 21-year-old girl. Just like any millennial, she exemplifies every stereotype of her generation. “Her whole lifestyle revolves around social media and trying to be famous. She would do whatever it takes to be the next online sensation,” Maris said of her character. Ellenya lives with her loving and supportive father, Daddy Toots, who is a musician, and her conservative and traditional grandmother, Lola Madz. Ellenya’s best friend, Peng, lives next door. He’s a talented photographer, who is wary of the image she portrays online. “The idea started out on how millennials deal with their daily lives and struggles. Through collaboration and weeks of brainstorming, we ended up with a story that doesn’t only explore the lifestyle of millennials, but hopefully show their aspirations and failures,” said Boy 2 Quizon who directed the film. “Since it is also my directorial debut, I decided to ensure that the viewers will see my own brand of comedy in the film. As I come from a family who made their business in this genre, I made sure that laughs will be plenty. We took careful consideration of the classic way of doing gags,” he ended. I’m Ellenya L also stars Inigo Pascual, Patrick Sugui, and Kat Galang.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

MARIS RACAL IS ELLENYA L.

Maris with ‘I’m Ellenya L’ costar Iñigo Pascual

IN CHARACTER. As part of her immersion as a vlogger, Maris tried to interview Mayor Isko Moreno in an event also graced by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

‘I’m Ellenya L’ is Maris Racal’s launching movie. In the story, she plays a vlogger who will do whatever it takes to become an online sensation.

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

KEN CHAN UNVEILS EYEWEAR COLLECTION

KAPUSO actor Ken Chan has been showcasing his prowess in various scenes. Following the success of toprating series My Special Tatay where he portrayed the lead role of Boyet, the audience saw another side of him in the concert stage after he showed off his natural talent at the My Special Love - #BoBreyinCONCERT together with Rita Daniela. Ken and Rita have released their first duet single “Almusal” under GMA Music. The novelty song’s music video, which can be streamed on GMA Music’s YouTube channel (GMAMusicOfficial), features Ken and Rita in their iconic roles as Boyet and Aubrey, respectively, with their onscreen son Baby Angelo who makes a special appearance. Apart from this, Ken has also launched his latest single “1 Like” under GMA Music which is available for streaming on Apple Music, iTunes, and other digital stores worldwide. Its music video, directed by Miggy Tanchanco, is also available for streaming on GMA Music’s YouTube channel (GMAMusicOfficial). Just recently, Ken and Rita also performed Barangay LS 97.1’s newest theme song “Tayo ay Forever” that reminds everyone how forever can be defined and related in so many ways. The two sought-after Kapuso artists also star in the FM station’s series of short digital films. Meanwhile, Ken is also one of the lead stars of GMA Public Affair’s upcoming primetime series, One of The Baes, where he plays the role of Grant, a hopeless romantic and an environmental vlogger. But before that, the GMA Artist Center star has another treat to his fans as he launches his muchawaited eyewear collection. The Ken Chan X Peculiar collaboration with Peculiar Eyewear is personally handpicked by Ken, focusing on protection and his personal style. The collection is made up of computer and gadget protection eyeglasses and polarized sunglasses. Ken expressed his heartfelt gratitude for all the good things coming his way, “I am very blessed and happy with the support GMA has been giving me and Rita. Out teamup has opened a lot of doors for us. My eyewear collection is just one of the many opportunities that come along my way.” Ken Chan X Peculiar is exclusively available in Lazada.

Ken Chan showcases his eyewear collection, which was made possible by his collaboration with Peculiar Eyewear.

'Amazing Earth' host Dingdong Dantes

AMAZING EARTH UNVEILS EXCITING NEW SERIES BEGINNING today, GMA Network’s top-rating infotainment program Amazing Earth takes Kapuso viewers on the fascinating stages of life that animals face with a new series featuring BBC’s special nature documentary “Life Story.” Award-winning actor, TV host and Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes shares that he enjoys discovering some of the most breathtaking sceneries and protected areas of the country which are featured on the show every week. “’We went mostly to protected areas, locations that you would expect its beauty. Yung mga discovery na ganoon lingo-linggo nakakatuwa dahil kahit na may iba akong ginagawa sa TV, bina-value ko because it’s educational and at the time, I’m enjoying it. It’s like I’m on vacation every week,” Dingdong said. The new captivating and suspense-filled series

will showcase the animals’ journey through life beginning with the crucial stage of adolescence to overcoming the struggles of the grown up world. As they compete for glory and search for a suitable mate, this is where parenthood takes place and the survival of their own offspring and legacy becomes their life’s purpose. For the first episode of the new series, Dingdong travels to Pandin Lake, San Pablo, Laguna and showcases the first rocky steps that animals have to take and how they overcome life’s first hurdle which is surviving infancy. Under the helm of esteemed Director Rico Gutierrez, explore and learn more about our one and only planet in Amazing Earth every Sunday evening after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA Sunday Grande.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2019

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

EASY WAYS TO KEEP YOUR SENIOR DOG HAPPY AND HEALTHY PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

ENIOR dogs require more attention, not to mention more hugs and kisses.

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

As with human loved ones, it is best to enjoy moments with your senior dogs now, as we do not know how long we have to love and care for our senior dog. We have five senior shih tzus. People always ask us what we do as our shih tzus do not look like they are senior dogs. Staff at a pet store are amazed that our Summer, now 14 years old, can still run and play like a 2-year-old dog inside the store with 12-year-old Lucas. They tell us every time we are in the pet store that our Summer looks so young for her age. They ask us, “What’s your secret?” I tell them we nurture our pets not just by giving good, nutritious food and vitamins. I tell them we also bring our senior dogs to the vet twice a year for a check-up and we bring them out for car rides and visits to pet restos to make them happy. I tell them we try to exercise them as often as we can and we allow them time to sunbathe. But the most nourishing, I believe, is making them feel loved. Members of our family say to each of them as often as we can, “Thank you for coming into my life.” Every day, I also say to them, “I love you so much. Thank you for being in my life. You make me so happy.” And each would smile, and look at me with so much love. They do understand. They appreciate the kind words. They thrive in kind words. And the many hugs and kisses also “nourish” them in their senior years. To help you take better care of your senior dog, here are five tips from Lorie Huston, DVM, in “Healthcare Tips for Senior Dogs” in PetMD. Huston stressed “A senior dog has different health requirements than a younger dog.” 1. A regular health check-up will help your senior dog. Vets recommend that a senior dog be checked twice a year. Please take heed. It is a big help for senior dogs. This can help you help your senior dog address a health concern early and fast. “A thorough physical examination by your veterinarian may reveal health issues that can impact your pet’s life and comfort level, such as dental dis-

Senior dogs go malling with their humans (from left) Angela Munoz-Salgado, Abby Munoz, Paolo Salgado and Niko Salgado. ease, arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease and more,” Huston said. The check-up is more Every important if your dog aldoggy now: ready has serious health (from left) issues, Huston added. senior dog 2. Always watch out for Louise, her behavior changes in your pamangkins senior dog. Batchikels “This is important for and Putzi, all pets but doubly so for seniors senior dogs. Changes in Shakti, your dog’s behavior may Nacho, be a symptom of disease. Summer and Watch specifically for Lucas. changes in your dog’s appetite and water consumption,” Huston said. Huston also said, ”Watch for changes in urinary and bowel habits and alterations in sleep routines. If your dog sud- need help to go around your house. denly becomes irritable for no reason, Rearrange furniture and sharp objects it may be because he is in pain, hav- to keep your senior dog safe. ing difficulty seeing, or having a hard 4. Talk to your vet regarding a diet time hearing properly. Any changes in for a senior dog. your senior pet’s routines or behaviors “Dietary requirements may change should prompt a consultation with as your dog ages. It's important that your veterinarian.” you provide your senior dog a pet 3. Make your house a place where food that is age appropriate. Some your dog can get around easily. older pets tend to gain weight and “Be aware that your senior dog may may need a diet for less active dogs. have pain caused by arthritis or other Others may have difficulty holding health issues that make it difficult for their weight and may need a diet with him to get around as well as he did a higher calorie content or better palwhen he was younger. Consider pro- atability,” Huston said. viding ramps or stairs to allow your “Older pets also may have diseases senior dog to access furniture or beds. that can be manipulated and/or conRamps on stairs may make it easier for trolled at least partly through diet. Your your pet to get up and down the stairs, veterinarian can help you choose an apand carpeting on slippery floors may propriate diet for your senior dog based help your dog gain his footing. Your on your dog’s individual nutritional resenior dog may need assistance get- quirements,” Huston added. ting into and out of the car as well,” 5. Give your senior dog soft blankets Huston said. and towels for his/her bed. Some senior dogs may be having “This will help him to rest easier and some eye problems already. They will sleep better. There are even special

orthopedic beds made for senior dogs. In addition to having a denser form to help cushion your senior dog's aging joints, some orthopedic beds can be outfitted with a heat and/ or vibration source, which increases circulation and reduces stiffness—perfect for dogs with arthritis,” Huston said. May I add the following tips: 1. Do not over exercise your dog. Your dog can no longer do long walks. Your dog also can not walk or run as fast as when he or she was younger. You, as the owner, will know how slow and how long your dog can walk at his/her age. 2. Look out for panting. Make sure you have water on hand. 3. We also noted that some senior dogs get hot easily even in a temperature that is cold for a human being. 4. Have your senior dog groomed regularly. Thick coat can make your dog feel hot. 5. Also, they do age, thus, their body temperature may be too hot sometimes. Indicators of a dog who is feeling hot are panting and a belly that is hot to the touch. 6. Ask your vet for additional supplements depending on the condition of your senior dog. For example, we give Co Q 10 (30 mg) gel (tablet) daily for the heart. We also boost the immune system by giving 5 ml of coco nectar daily. It is best to observe your dog and find out from your vet how you can help make the senior years still the best years of your pet by making him/her feel loved, comfortable, and well-cared for.

SHADOW, an eight-month-old-kitten, changed the lives of owner Ron Lim and other members of the family. “Shadow came into our lives by sneaking up our store window and searching for food. My Dad started feeding him with treats and from then on, he would come by more often. Eventually, He never left us, “ Ron recalls. “Shadow loves entertaining our customers by laying around and stretching out his legs as if telling everyone, be careful not to step on me, “ Ron says. Shadow loves cat food and fish if his furdad gives him that too. “We give him a bath once a week and he enjoys the water,” Ron shares. Shadow, in turn, gives good paw massages, Ton says. “We love him dearly!! I can't imagine life without him,” Ron says.

HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR DOG DURING THE RAINY SEASON

By the Pet Food Institute

SEVERAL pet owners believe that it is nearly impossible to give their pets a proper workout during the rainy season. However, owners are reminded that there are several activities that they can do to ensure that their beloved four-legged companions get their daily dose of exercise. Staying in and teaching their pets new tricks is a great example of a mental workout. Teaching one’s pet new tricks can help improve their behavior, increase bonding with their human, and help the pet be comfortable around people. When training one’s pet, owners are reminded to be patient and to take into consideration factors such as their pet’s abilities and age when they teach them tricks. If their pet is old, owners must not force them to learn strenuous tricks such as standing on their hind legs. Climbing up and down the stairs is a different form of exercise that owners can enjoy with their dogs and cats. Owners with a staircase at home may use this to strengthen their pet’s strength and stamina. This simple exercise also helps strengthen the bond between owner and pet as synchronicity is required to avoid untoward incidents. If climbing up and down the stairs is not an option, owners may play a game of fetch by sitting on top of the stairs and throwing a toy to

Einstein, a five-month old Goldendoodle, loves to play fetch with furdad Damian, says furmom Anna. Is your dog bored inside the house during rainy days like Einstein, furbaby of Anna Castro? There are many ways to play with your dog while inside the house, the Pet Food Institue says.

their pet. This can also help the owner get exercise, as well, as they bring the ball back up the stairs. Another game that pet owners might want to explore is the fun nose game. The nose game challenges pets to find treats their owners hid around the house. Playing this simple yet interesting game physically and mentally challenges pets and helps them rely on their instincts and senses, particularly their sense of smell. For those who are looking for a more active gameplay, setting up an obstacle course for their pets is a great way to

beat the boredom during the rainy season. Pet owners may use boxes, towels, cushions, and other household items that may serve as barriers and hurdles their pets can jump over and avoid. This activity is the perfect exercise for pets because it challenges them physically. Moreover, this activity strengthens the bond and trust between owner and their beloved pets. About the Pet Food Institute: Pet Food Institute (PFI) is committed to educating pet owners about proper pet nutrition to keep pets healthy and happy. Through its local initiative,

Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured campaign in partnership with the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP), PFI seeks to advocate responsible pet ownership to the ever-growing Filipino pet community. Since 1958, the Pet Food Institute has been the voice of the U.S. pet food industry. PFI is the industry's representative before Congress and state legislatures, as well as state and federal agencies; public education and media relations resource; organizer of seminars and educational programs; and liaison with other organizations.

SYDNEY, a three-month-old half-breed kitten, was found in the corner of the store of Regine Galicia who adopted him. “He was so dirty and thin as if dehydrated na. It touched my heart so I took him in and gave him fried fish and water,” Regine says. “As the day days went by, I noticed that he likes catching roaches, “ Regine adds. “After giving the TLC --tender loving care -- he transformed into a handsome cat as you can see in the photo, “ Regine says. His favorite food is fried fish and cat food. He is also crazy about his little stuffed toy frog. He is smart and gentle too, says Regine. “Sydney also loves to scratch his back against my leg,” Regine says. Editor's note: These stories were compiled by admin Miks Lim of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), a SEC-registered animal welfare group that helps animals in need, and encourages and promotes responsible pet ownership, adoption of rescued dogs and cats from fosters, shelters and pounds, and spaying and neutering of pets to control animal population in the country, among others.