Manila Standard - 2019 September 22 - Sunday by Manila Standard

ANOTHER CHIP. Air Force

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 220 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sergeant Hidilyn Diaz, in this file photo when she competed in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, wins another medal and honor in her

BIG-TIME OIL PRICE HIKE IN THE OFFING By Alena Mae S. Flores

HE country’s oil firms will implement a big-time oil price increase of as much as P2.30 per liter this week to reflect the impact of the Saudi Arabia drone attack, industry sources said Saturday. The oil firms warned last week that pump prices will likely go up by more than P2 per liter due to the drone attacks which affected Saudi Arabia’s production. “Expect fuel prices to go up next week (Sept. 24 - 30, 2019). Diesel should go up by P1.70-P1.80 and gasoline should go up by P2.20-P2.30. Load up accordingly,” Unioil Philippines said. The oil firms said oil prices could have gone up further, fortunately, Saudi Aramco announced that it will be able resume production, thus tempering worries of tightness in global oil supply. This is the second weekly oil price increase. On Sept. 17, most of the oil companies implemented a price increase of P1.35/liter for gasoline, P0.85/liter for diesel and P1.00/liter for kerosene. Year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P5.51/liter for gasoline, P4.02/liter for diesel and P2.01/liter for kerosene, according to the Energy Department. Extensive damage Saudi Arabia on Friday revealed extensive damage to key oil facilities following weekend aerial strikes blamed on Iran, but vowed to quickly restore full production even as regional tensions soar. Yemen’s Tehran-linked Huthi rebels, who on Friday announced a sudden halt to attacks on Saudi Arabia, claimed the strikes on state giant Aramco’s facilities in Khurais and the world’s largest oil processing facility at Abqaiq. Turn to A2

trove after grabbing the bronze in the women’s 55kg division at the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. AFP

HIDILYN ADDS THAI CHIP TO MEDAL TALLY RIO OLYMPICS silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz added another chip to her medal collection as she nabbed the bronze in the women’s 55kg division at the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. After lifting only 93 kgs in the snatch, enough for 8th place, Diaz registered 121 kg in the clean and jerk to put herself in the podium race for an overall total of 214 kg. Two Chinese weightlifters dominated the competition with Liao Qiuyun scoring 98 kg and 129 kg en route to a gold-medal worthy 227 kg. Zhang Wanqiong, on the other hand, topped the snatch with 99 kg but tallied 126 kg only in the clean and jerk to settle for silver. In a Twitter post, Diaz bared she almost lost focus after the snatch category. The Zamboanga native then thanked her parents and other groups for the support and prayers she received. Turn to A2

SWIFT BUDGET OKAY PRODS SENATE ACTION By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER on Saturday commended the leadership of the House of Representatives for acting swiftly on priority legislative measures meant to help President Rodrigo Duterte fulfill his goal of sustaining the economy’s high—and inclusive—growth rate. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte made the statement after the House approved on final reading Friday night the proposed P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020. Aside from the money measure, Villafuerte, deputy speaker for finance, said that as of this week, several investor-friendly bills have already been approved by the House and is now being referred to the Senate for action. These bills were House Bill 4157 or the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform (CITIRA), which was approved on third and final reading last Sept. 13. Turn to A2

VAGINA MUSEUM TO OPEN IN LONDON NEWS A4

XMAS SYMBOL. Splashy Christmas lanterns—iconic symbols

of Filipino Christmas spirit—are luring passers-by in the first class town of Cainta in Rizal, east of the capital, with the swash of different lights (inset) beckoning would-be buyers, encouraging them to buy at least one, seen as a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness and Filipinos’ goodwill during Yuletide. Hanging these symbols outside the windows is an expression of shared faith and hope among Christians. Sonny Espiritu

SAD DAY FOR ENTERTAINMENT: 2 VETERANS DIE HAIR-RAISING nightmare the country’s entertainment industry woke up from on a cloudy weekend: two of its pillars—veteran director-writer Carmelo “Mel” Chionglo and old hand entertainment editor Isah Red— shocked fans and followers with news of their death. Cultural Center of the Philippines artistic director Chris Millado confirmed Chionglo’s death in a Facebook post, writing, “”Very sad to announce the passing of dear colleague and renowned film director Mel Chionglo.” Chionglo, 73, was involved in spearheading the annual Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, where he was a member of the executive committee. Turn to A2

MEL CHIONGLO

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ISAH RED

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THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR CLEANUP DAY THOUSANDS of activists fanned out across beaches and rivers throughout Asia Saturday, picking up rubbish and drawing attention to the amount of trash that is dumped worldwide, a day after millions marched to urge world leaders to act on climate change. The volunteers turned out for World Cleanup Day—an initiative that has got millions into the streets and cleaning up litter across the globe since it began just over a decade ago. The Pacific island nation of Fiji swung into action early, with people scouring palm-fringed beaches for rubbish, heaving discarded car tires and engine parts from the coast just west of the capital Suva. Turn to A2

AUSTIN MAHONE RETURNS TO MANILA SHOWBIZ D3

BATMAN SIGNAL LIGHTS THE SKIES NEWS A4

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RODY PUTS LOAN TALKS ON HOLD PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has ordered the suspension of all loan and grant talks with foreign governments that backed a United Nations resolution to review human rights abuses during his signature anti-drug war. The Iceland-sponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution passed by a minority vote in July, drawing the ire of Duterte, who bristles at Western condemnation of his campaign which has killed thousands and drawn international condemnation but is widely supported by Filipinos. Duterte’s chief aide Salvador Medialdea, in a memorandum which he signed “by order of the president,” instructed all government agencies to cut off all official development aid talks with the 18 countries that voted for the resolution. The order, noting the “administration’s strong rejection of the resolution,” was issued Aug. 27 but only revealed in local media reports late Friday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement Friday night “The President has not issued any memorandum suspending loans and negotiations involving 18 countries that voted in favor of the Iceland resolution.” A copy posted to the Bureau of Customs website was taken down Saturday. Human Rights Watch Asia deputy chief Phil Robertson told AFP that any such move would “only result in renewed determination by the Council to get to the bottom of these abuses.” Reports said, following the signing of the Aug. 27 order, “in light of the Administration’s strong rejection of the Resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council which was carried through by the votes of a minority of the Council members on 11 July 2019 and calls upon the Philippines to take certain actions in relation to alleged human rights violations in the country.” At least 18 countries, spearheaded by Iceland, approved a resolution allowing United Nations Human Rights Council to compile a comprehensive report on Duterte’s bloody drug war that has reportedly killed more than 6,000 suspected drug pushers and users since Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016. The growing number of deaths prompted the UN to issue a statement of concern in June about what they called a “staggering” number of deaths during Duterte’s signature campaign. “The country is digging itself into a deeper hole by this retaliation,” Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party, told AFP. The amount of aid that would be held up by the order was not known. AFP, Vito Barcelo, and PNA

THOUSANDS...

From A1

On Australia’s Bondi beach activists sifted through the sand, carting off bits of plastic and cigarette butts. In the Philippines, some 10,000 people swept across a long stretch of beach on heavily polluted Manila Bay, clutching sacks they filled with rubbish. Plastic pollution is a major problem across Southeast Asia, but particularly in the Philippines, which—along with China, Vietnam and Indonesia—is frequently listed among the world’s worst offenders. “It’s for us to help the environment, especially here in Manila, there’s a lot of garbage,” Mae Angela Areglado, a 20-year-old student told AFP as she pitched in with the cleanup—held right next to the city’s huge Baseco slum. “[Plastic is] affecting the marine life because they think that it is food”, she added. The mass cleanup is coordinated by the Let’s Do It Foundation, which aims to “connect and empower people and organizations around the world to make our planet waste free,” according to its website. It attracted around 1,400 volunteers in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, where they scoured different areas of the city for litter under the scorching sun. “Although our actions are very small— like cleaning trash from the sidewalk—it could spread a meaningful message,” 18-year-old Hoang Thi Hoan told AFP, as motorists zipped by on a busy street. In China, a group of about 30 gathered by the Xiaotaihou River in Beijing to pick up rubbish along the man-made waterway. “You can’t get permission to organize large events in Beijing due to tight security ahead of the 70th anniversary celebrations,” organizer Zhang Hongfu, from the environmental group Friends of Nature, told AFP. AFP

DOH TOLD: FIGHT FAKE NEWS USING P1.23-B AD BUDGET

ENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has suggested to the Department of Health to use P1.23-billion ‘advertising, publication, and travel’ budget to fight fake news vs. vaccines.

The DOH wants to spend P629 million for advertising next year, just one of its many information-related expenses in 2020 that can be tapped to fight the fake news on vaccines, which has kept many children from getting them. Recto, who tagged “at least four items” in the DoH’s proposed 2020 budget of P91.7 billion that can be used to whip up turnout in the national immunization drive next year, echoed the warning by health authorities that “polio is making a comeback, partly because many of our people have been paralyzed by the fear generated by fake news on vaccines.”

BIG-TIME...

From A1

But Washington has pointed the finger at Tehran, condemning an “act of war” which knocked out half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production and on Friday prompted US President Donald Trump to sketch out the latest in a series of economic sanctions against Iran. Abqaiq was struck 18 times while nearby Khurais was hit four times in a raid that triggered multiple explosions and towering flames that took hours to extinguish, Aramco officials said. “Many critical areas of the [Abqaiq] plant were hit,” an Aramco official said, pointing out the strikes had a high degree of precision. A towering stabilization column, normally silver, had been charred black with a gaping hole blown in the shaft’s base. A separator plant also appeared ravaged in the raids and was surrounded by scaffolding and white-helmeted workers. “There are 112 shift workers here in normal times. Now 6,000 workers are involved in restoration work,” said Aramco official Khaled al-Ghamdi, pointing at damaged infrastructure. Aramco said it was shipping technical equipment from the US and Europe to speed up repairs. In related developments: US sends reinforcements • The United States announced Friday (Saturday in Manila) that it was sending military reinforcements to the Gulf region following attacks on Saudi oil facilities that it attributes to Iran, just hours after President Donald Trump ordered new sanctions on Tehran. Trump said the sanctions were the toughest-ever against another country, but indicated he did not plan a military strike, calling restraint a sign of strength. The Treasury Department renewed action against Iran’s central bank after US officials said Tehran carried out weekend attacks on rival Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, which triggered a spike in global crude prices. Those attacks, combined with an Iranian attack on an American spy drone in June, represented a “dramatic escalation of Iranian aggression,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said. The Pentagon chief announced that the United States would send military reinforcements to the Gulf region at the request of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

SWIFT... From A1 The bill aims to gradually lower the current corporate income tax rate of 30 percent to 20 percent and redesign the fiscal incentives system to make it performance-based, time-bound, targeted and transparent; • HB 304 or the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Act (PIFITA), which was approved on third and final reading last Sept. 9. The bill aims to harmonize taxes in the financial sector; • HB 305 or the Valuation Reform Bill, which was approved by the House committees on government reorganization and on ways and means on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, respectively. The measure seeks to institute reforms in the country’s property valuation system to align it with international standards and enable local government units to raise additional

The Health department plans to provide children, the pregnant and seniors with P7.54 billion worth of vaccines next year. Among the beneficiaries are 2.7 million infants who will be given antipolio shots, a key move in stopping the spread of the polio virus, which has returned to the country after 19 years of zero reported cases. In a statement, Recto said “Superstition in digital form and viral chismis (rumors) are aiding the spread of many viruses.” To combat these, he urged the DOH to direct a portion of“its massive advertising, travel, training, printing

and publication” budget for 2020 to the anti-polio, anti-measles and antidengue drive. Ensconced in the DOH’s proposed P91.7-billion budget for 2020 are P622.3 million for advertising; P79 million for “printing and publication”; P530 million for traveling; and P2.16 billion for “training and scholarship.” Recto, in his statement, said these could be used to drumbeat the immunization program, “or these can be cut and then rechanneled to buy more vaccines to inoculate more people; and for those already sick, to bring more personnel, medicines, and equipment to treatment facilities.” “My suggestion is for them to practice ‘financial triage’. First are the essential ones, and delay those that can be postponed,” he said in Filipino. For 2020, the DOH plans to vaccinate 2.7 million infants against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diptheria,

pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella and influenza. Two million infants will also get anti-pneumonia shots. Also in the list are 2.4 million Grade 1 and 1.9 million Grade 7 students who will be vaccinated against tetanus, diptheria, measles, and rubella. The program also covers the pregnant, with 2.7 million of them set to get Tetanus vaccines. Also to be readied are two million units of Influenza vaccine and 500,000 units of Pneumococcal vaccine for senior citizens. But for these life-saving vaccinations to reach their beneficiaries,“they should be inoculated against wrong information.” Recto blamed “unfounded fears” for plunging the immunization rate for all types of vaccines for children to a low 66 percent last year, way below the 95 percent minimum.

“In response to the kingdom’s request, the president has approved the deployment of US forces, which will be defensive in nature, and primarily focused on air and missile defense,” Esper said. However, Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford categorized the deployment as “moderate,” with the number of troops not expected to reach the thousands. Earlier in the day, Trump attacked both critics who thought the mogulturned-president would trigger war and hawks seeking a military response. “The easiest thing I could do (is) knock out 15 different major things in Iran,” Trump said. “But I think the strong-person approach and the thing that does show strength would be showing a little bit of restraint,” he said. Iran’s warning • The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned Saturday any country that attacks the Islamic republic would see its territory turn into the conflict’s “main battlefield.” “Whoever wants their land to become the main battlefield, go ahead,” Guards commander Hossein Salami told a news conference in Tehran. “We will never allow any war to encroach upon Iran’s territory. “We hope that they don’t make a strategic mistake” as they have before, Salami said, before listing past US military “adventures” against Iran. Salami was speaking at Tehran’s Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense museum during the unveiling of an exhibition of what Iran says are US and other drones captured in its territory. Aramco flew dozens of international journalists to the two sites to show it was speeding up repairs, giving rare access to the nerve centre of the world’s largest oil producer as it seeks to shore up investor confidence ahead of a planned initial public offering (IPO). “We will have production at the same level as before the strike by the end of this month -- we are coming back stronger,” asserted Fahad al-Abdulkareem, an Aramco general manager, during the visit to Khurais. Badly warped thick metal piping— peppered with shrapnel during the aerial strikes—lay strewn around the area of the Khurais attack. But Abdulkareem said that 30 percent of the Khurais plant was operational within 24 hours of the initial strikes. Industry analyst Alex Schindelar, president of the Energy Intelligence group, said that restoring sustainable

production capacity to 11 million barrels per day by the end of the month is an “ambitious target, given the amount of repairs required”. Retaliatory measures Tehran has denied responsibility for the attacks against the heart of Saudi Arabia’s all-important oil industry, raising the specter of “all-out war” in the event of retaliatory measures by Washington or Riyadh. The rhetoric has raised the risk of an unpredictable escalation in a tinderbox region where Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in a decades-old struggle for dominance. Chinese President Xi Jinping condemned the attacks but called for restraint during a phone call with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Friday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday there was“enormous consensus in the region” that Iran executed the attacks, despite its denials and the Yemeni rebels’ claims. The Huthi rebels announced late Friday “the halt of all attacks against the territory of Saudi Arabia” as a peace initiative to end the country’s devastating conflict. There was no immediate reaction from Saudi authorities. Huthi rebels have previously hit dozens of targets in Saudi Arabia, and their advancing arsenal has exposed the kingdom’s vulnerability despite vast military spending. US, French and Saudi officials have disputed the Huthi claims, insisting they do not have the capability to mount such an advanced, coordinated strike. Trump earlier this week vowed substantial new sanctions against Iran in response to the attacks and told reporters Friday they would target the country’s central bank. The US Treasury Department said these latest sanctions were linked to “terrorism”, alleging Iran’s central bank had provided “billions of dollars” to two forces blacklisted by Washington. “Treasury’s action targets a crucial funding mechanism that the Iranian regime uses to support its terrorist network, including the Qods Force, Hezbollah and other militants that spread terror and destabilize the region,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement. The Qods Force conducts international operations for Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, while Hezbollah is a powerful Shiite movement in Lebanon. The Saudi defense ministry, which has said the attack was“unquestionably sponsored by Iran”, this week unveiled what it said were fragments of 25 drones and

cruise missiles fired at the two oil hubs. Trump in June authorized a military strike after Iran shot down the US spy drone, only to call it off at the last moment. Saudi Arabia on Friday revealed extensive damage from the strikes on state giant Aramco’s facilities in Khurais and the world’s largest oil processing facility at Abqaiq. The attacks, which knocked out half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production, have been claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, but Washington has pointed its finger at Tehran, condemning the strikes as an “act of war.” Abqaiq was struck 18 times while nearby Khurais was hit four times in a raid that triggered multiple explosions and towering flames that took hours to extinguish, Aramco officials said. New ground for sanctions The United States already maintains sweeping sanctions on Iran including on its central bank, with anyone who deals with it subject to prosecution, due to Tehran’s alleged nuclear program. But the new sanctions Friday were imposed for the additional reason of “terrorism,” Treasury said, adding that Iran’s central bank had provided“billions of dollars” to two groups blacklisted by the United States. “Treasury’s action targets a crucial funding mechanism that the Iranian regime uses to support its terrorist network, including the Qods Force, Hezbollah and other militants that spread terror and destabilize the region,” US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The Qods Force conducts international operations for Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, while Hezbollah, the Shiite militant group and political party in Lebanon, is among Iran’s closest regional partners. Iran responded that the move showed that the United States was running out of options. The United States also imposed sanctions on Iran’s sovereign wealth fund, whose board of trustees includes President Hassan Rouhani, as well as Etemad Tejarate Pars, a company that the Treasury Department said had sent money internationally on behalf of Iran’s defense ministry. Trump recently said that he hopes for talks with Rouhani, who responded that Trump must first ease sanctions. Last year, Trump pulled out of a nuclear accord with Iran negotiated under former president Barack Obama, sending tensions soaring as he tried to stop all countries from buying Iran’s oil. With AFP

revenues by updating their schedule of market values; • HB 1026, or the new “Sin” Tax bill on alcoholic drinks and electronic cigarettes, which was approved on third and final reading last Aug. 20. The bill aims to substantially raise excise taxes on alcohol products, including “alcopops” and e-cigarettes such as heated tobacco and vapor (vaping) products. The approval of the bill will help the government fill the huge funding gap of the Universal Health Care program; and • HB 300 or the amendments to Republic Act No. 7042, also known as the Foreign Investments Act (FIA), which was approved on third and final reading on Sept. 9. • The bill aims to lower the threshold for foreign investors to own small and medium enterprises by allowing them to do so with a minimum paid up capital of less than $100,000 if the business involves advanced technology or if they employ at least 15 direct employees.

SAD DAY... From A1 Red, meanwhile, peacefully passed away in his home—the news confirmed by colleagues at the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors, where he was the President Emeritus and co-founder. “We take solace that while he felt unwell these past few days, he died peacefully in his home this morning, without struggle or difficulty,” the state-

ment read. Veteran director-writer Carmelo “Mel” Chionglo passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 73. Some celebrities and Chionglo’s colleagues in the film industry took to Twitter to express their condolences over the veteran director’s death. These include Director Joey Javier Reyes who called Chionglo and Red, “irreplaceable.” “What a sad sad day. Goodbye, Mel Chionglo & Isah Red. You are both irreplaceable. Have a safe trip home to our Father,” Reyes said.

HIDILYN...

From A1

This will be Diaz’s third bronze in the world championships after clinching the same ranking in the 2015 and 2017 edition of the Games. Diaz, who captured the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games, is trying to book a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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POLICE TAG THREE PERSONS OF INTEREST IN CADET’S SLAY

AGUIO CITY—Three persons of interest are facing charges while 20 others are now the subject of an investigation due to the death of Philippine Military Academy Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, the Baguio City Police Office confirmed on Friday. “Three persons of interests will face administrative charges for violation of the anti-hazing [law],” BCPO director, Col. Allen Rae Co, said in a press briefing. Co said the suspects are a third class cadet, a second class cadet, and a fourth class cadet. The third class and second class cadets are now in stockade confinement while the fourth class cadet is at the holding area of the academy. The 20 other cadets are being investigated to find out whether they have knowledge of

the incident. The doctor who diagnosed Dormitorio to be suffering from urinary tract infection after he was confined a day before his death, will also undergo a probe. Dormitorio died at 5:15 a.m. on Wednesday, more than an hour after he was rushed to the PMA station hospital after complaining of stomach ache and continuous vomiting. The PMA relayed Dormitorio’s death to the BCPO on Wednesday afternoon. A police report said the academy’s physician declared that Dormitorio died of cardiac arrest due to trauma. The postmortem autopsy conducted by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, however, showed a different cause. “Dormitorio’s cause of death was trauma caused by blunt force that led to the untimely demise of the cadet,” Co said. He added that “there was already a maltreatment based on the medico-legal result released last night [Thursday].” The medico-legal report said there were

visible signs of trauma surrounding the navel of the cadet. Co thanked the PMA administration for allowing the investigators full access to facilities and to the cadets. Police Regional Office-Cordillera Director, Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, assured Dormitorio’s family of a fair, objective and transparent investigation. “We believe that justice will be served to the victim and his family,” he said. PMA Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Ronie Evangelista, said the perpetrators of the crime would face an administrative charge for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, which carries the penalty of dismissal from military service. This will be accompanied by a criminal case, the nature of which will depend on the result of the police investigation. The PMA management has shifted the task of investigating to the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to achieve an impartial result. PNA

DIVE EXPO. The

Philippine Dive Expo, the first and only international dive event in the Philippines, has opened. Organized by the Department of Tourism, PHIDEX gathers dive travel and trade stakeholders as well as renowned dive experts, scientists, marine conservationists, and underwater photographers to present innovative ideas, network with leading dive operators, and impart their knowledge and ideas about sustainable dive practices.

TWO WORKERS OF BOHOL AIRPORT CITED FOR HONESTY By Joel E. Zurbano THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has commended two employees of Bohol-Panglao International Airport for honesty. Lourdes Malou Montalban and Christopher Horcasitas, both airport facility cleaners, were recognized for returning items left by passengers at the BPIA, said CAAP chief information officer and spokesperson Eric Apolonio. On June 9, Montalban returned a smartphone left by a passenger at

the airport’s comfort room. “For her admirable act of honesty and integrity by returning the lost item instead of keeping it for herself, Montalban was given recognition by the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals [BCBP] Tagbilaran Chapter. The uncle of the lost items’ owner is a member of the BCBP,” said Apolonio. Hearing about Montalban’s good deed, another BCBP member and Bread’s Edge Corp. president and chief executive

NEW DAR REG’L DIRECTOR ASSUMES OFFICE REGIONAL Director Stephen M. Leonidas officially assumed his post as the new head of the Department of Agrarian Reform-Eastern Visayas (Region VIII). Leonidas replaced lawyer Sheila Enciso, who was reassigned to DARWestern Visayas region. Enciso formally turned over to Leonidas the symbolic key of responsibility, as well as the ISO 9001:2015 and the PRIMEHRM Level 2 manuals, during the turnover rites at the Oriental Hotel. The reassignments were carried out by virtue of the Special Order 504 issued Aug. 13 by Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones. Leonidas, a resident of Bacolod City, is the 19th DAR-Eastern Visayas regional director. His previous assignments included being regional director for the regional offices of the DAR in Western and Central Visayas. Leonidas said, he is not new to Eastern Visayas, having been invited to work with the Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officers here on claim folder review during the time of former DAR Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes. “RD Shee also invited me as one of the lecturers to local municipal agrarian reform officers after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda,” he added. More than 62,000 hectares of farmlands are still up for distribution to qualified farmer beneficiaries in the region, which is composed of the provinces of Leyte, Western Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte. Maricel V. Cruz

officer Dr. Ed T. Escalona also awarded the BPIA employee with a Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation. Horcasitas, on the other hand, was praised for honesty last Sept. 12 when he found and returned to the owner a lost sling bag containing three wallets with cash amounting to P48,940.00, several foreign currencies, government-issued ID cards, and bundles of keys. The item was accidentally left by one Marco Fernando L. Ng at BPIA’s comfort room.

“On the same day, the items were successfully returned to Mr. Ng through his authorized representative. The turnover was witnessed by the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service [CSIS], the Airport Terminal Supervisor and a representative from the transport service sector who accompanied the claimant,” said Apolonio. “Both employees, expecting nothing in return, showcased CAAP’s core values of integrity and honesty in the course of their service to the public,” he added.

EXTRAORDINARY. A

fruiting banana measuring more than five feet is being recorded by Tabuk City Tourism staff Danmar Manganip. The fruit has been arousing the curiosity of residents and visitors. Dave Leprozo

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HOSPITAL FOR THE ELDERLY SOUGHT By Maricel V. Cruz THE leader of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives has pushed for a separate hospital for the elderly. Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. urged the House leadership to prioritize the passage of his House Bill 3939 that provides for the conversion of the National Center for Geriatric Health into the National Geriatric Health and Research Institute to make it a fullyoperational hospital that will cater to health services for the elderly. Abante stressed the need for the establishment of the National Geriatric Health and Research Institute, a full service hospital focused on caring for the elderly. He said the country has 8.6 million senior citizens or 8.2 percent of the population, and yet there is no hospital that especializes on their “almost permanent aches and pains.” The elderly, Abante said, are as vulnerable to health problems as the very young and yet the country has the National Children’s Hospital and the Lungsod ng Kabataan, both of which are in Quezon City, to address the needs of the young. Abante filed the bill following his visit last week at the NCGH in San Miguel, Manila, and found that “the NCGH is just an outpatient department of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.” “Unfortunately, this hospital is not operational because of the absence of a law that allows for its operations.” Abante pointed out that the latest data from the Commission on Population and Development revealed that 8.6 million Filipinos are aged 60 and older. “By 2030 to 2035, that percentage is expected to hit 14 percent. Our population is aging, and we must work to develop infrastructure and institute policies that will enable us to properly care for the nation’s elderly,” he added. “Given how much our senior citizens have contributed to our country, they deserve our care. Benefits like senior citizen discounts and the like are helpful, but we should not stop there. Steps must be taken to improve geriatric health services because health care is the top concern of our elderly.” HB 3939, or “The National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute Act,” establishes the NCGHRI, a 100-bed hospital that will be attached to the Department of Health. Under the measure, not less than 40 percent of the NCGHRI’s hospital beds shall be allocated for indigent patients.

PAL EXPRESS NAMED AMONG ASIA’S TOP 100 EMPLOYERS LEGACY carrier Philippine Airlines received another honor after its sister airline, PAL Express, was recognized as among Asia’s Top 100 Employers. PAL Express bagged the latest recognition during the 10th Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards ceremony at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said. Villaluna said PAL Express was recognized for its efforts to promote employee welfare and engagement through social media, simplify employment processes with the use of automation, nurture talents through career development programs and boost talent acquisition to become a top-of-mind employer choice. The award-winning Filipino airline employs an all-Filipino workforce of 1,432 personnel and operates a high-technology fleet of Airbus and De Havilland aircraft for the domestic flight network of flag carrier Philippine Airlines. Asia’s Best Employer Branding Awards, hosted by the Employer Branding Institute-India, is given annually to top performing companies that adopt the best practices in Employer Branding, Talent Management, Talent Development and Talent Innovation. The prestigious international awards program is conducted in cooperation with the World Federation of Human Resources Professionals, Chief Marketing Officer Asia, Chief Human Resources Officer Asia. Last August, PAL Express was also included in the Philippines Best Employer Brand Awards by the same award-giving body, citing the airline’s successful efforts to combine vision with action in the execution of HR strategy by cultivating competencies vital for a “future-ready” company and initiating effective employee benefits and engagement programs. Joel E. Zurbano

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

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700 CHINESE WORKERS TO BE DEPORTED NEXT WEEK

By Vito Barcelo

T LEAST 10 chartered planes from China will arrive in the country next week for the deportation of nearly 700 Chinese nationals who were arrested by Immigration authorities for illegally working in Palawan, Pasig, Parañaque and Pampanga. An immigration official said the planes will arrive in Puerto Princesa International Airport and Ninoy Aquino International Airport on separate dates to fly home the detained

Chinese nationals. The Chinese government will shoulder the cost of deporting all the arrested foreigners caught for illegally working in the country, the BI source said.

Seven small commercial planes will land in Palawan because the Puerto Princesa International Airport cannot accommodate big planes as large as the Airbus A380, while three commercial planes will arrive at NAIA. The Bureau of Immigration arrested 324 Chinese nationals in Palawan and another 277 in Pasig for illegaly working in online games. Another 31 Chinese believed to be operating prostitution dens were also arrested in a raid on a massage parlor in Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City while 51 female Chinese working as masseurs were rescued.

Immigration agents also arrested seven Chinese nationals in Pampanga who did not have the necessary working permits. The BI likewise apprehended a Chinese fugitive wanted in his country for economic crimes and swindling more than a thousand of his compatriots of large sums of money in a pyramiding investment scam. According to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, the arrested fugitive, identified as Qian Bingxu, will be deported following his arrest at a five-star hotel in Pasay City by operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit.

DARK KNIGHT’S BAT SIGNAL LIGHTS UP THE SKIES THE bat signal illuminates the sky in cities across the globe Saturday to mark the caped crusader’s 80th anniversary. Fans of the DC Comics superhero will have the chance to catch Batman’s signal flash in the following areas: Fed Square in Melbourne; Magnet by Shibuya 109 in Tokyo; The Leonardo Building in Johannesburg; Potzdamer Platz 11 in Berlin; Roma Termini in Rome; Galeries Lafayette in Paris; Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona; Senate House in London; Itausa-LMB in Sao Paulo; Domino Sugar Refinery in New York; Complex Dupuis in Montreal; Torre Reforma in Mexico City; and City Hall in Los Angeles. In the US, a Batman-themed 5K marathon will be held in Los Angeles while Batman writers will conduct panel discussions across New York. Batman Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of September every year in honor of the Dark Knight.

FIRST VAGINA MUSEUM TO OPEN IN LONDON IN NOVEMBER

MMDA JOINS INT’L COASTAL CLEANUP EFFORTS By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Saturday joined the International Coastal Cleanup at the Baseco Beach in Tondo, Manila as part of its commitment to help save the environment. MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said more than 200 personnel from different offices of the agency participated in the event spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “We called on everyone to take part in the annual ICC activity that will bring together national agencies, local government units, environmentalists and volunteers to collect trash littering the coastline,” Lim said. Volunteers brought cleaning materials, gloves and sacks for removing trash in the foreshore areas of Manila. “Aside from our regular cleanup drive for the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay, the MMDA continues to be a part of many other initiatives to advocate environmental protection,” added Lim. Most of the collected garbage at the bay are bamboo poles and driftwood which had been carried by currents from nearby fish pens, water hyacinths, plastics, and household waste, among others. Lim tapped members of the agency’s Road Emergency Group to administer medical assistance in case anyone gets injured. Four rubber boats, portalets, vans and support vehicles were also dispatched. Presidential Proclamation No. 470 declares the third Sunday of September of each year as the International Coastal Cleanup Day in observance of the Global Coastal Cleanup celebrations.

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. (From

top) Thousands of participants join the International Coastal Cleanup at the Navotas Bay. At the Manila Bay site of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, students, NGOs and ecology advocates collected tons of garbage and debris. A kid uses an electric fan cover as a makeshift catch basin at the Baseco Compound. Andrew Rabulan, Diana Noche and Norman Cruz

POSTAL SYSTEM USED TO SMUGGLE LIQUID MARIJUANA INTERNATIONAL drug syndicates continue to use the country’s postal system to smuggle liquid marijuana despite the government’s all-out war against narcotics. Customs agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have intercepted at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City a package of liquid marijuana smuggled from Romania. Authorities also arrested the claimant and consignee of the package, identified as Jeffrey Ciabal Perez, 33, a seaman and resident of 0690 Purok 6,

San Lucas 2, San Pablo City, Laguna. Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the package, which arrived on Sept. 19, contained six boxes of bottled liquid marijuana shipped by Bayer-Vasilica of St. Gheorghe GR Miko Imre, Romania. The package, based on its import manifest, was misdeclared as “ULEI CBD full plant extract.” “The Customs examiner in duty conducted a 100 percent physical examination on the package in the presence of representatives from other agencies.

From the test conducted by the PDEA, the seized undetermined quantity of liquid substance gave positive result for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, a substance found in marijuana,” said Talusan. Perez was charged with violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The anti-drug operation was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine

Post Office, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the bureau’s Antiillegal Drugs Task Force, X-Ray Inspection Project and Enforcement Security Service. The latest apprehension was the 50th anti-drug operation conducted by the Customs-NAIA, which has been active in intercepting illegal drugs both in passenger terminals and air parcels. “Attempts to bring in and out prohibited goods are forewarned since Customs-NAIA is aggressively monitoring all parcels and baggage in the port,” Talusan said. Joel E. Zurbano

THE first vagina museum in the world will open in London in November. In an interview with CNN, development and marketing manager Zoe Williams said The Vagina Museum will educate visitors about vaginas while challenging the prevailing stigma surrounding them. “As this is the world’s first bricks-and-mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynecological anatomy, we didn’t quite know what to expect in terms of interest, and were delighted with the £50,000 we raised,” Williams said. Founder Florence Schechter developed the concept for the museum after finding out that there was a museum dedicated to penises in Iceland but no counterpart for vaginas. Schechter and her team launched a campaign on Crowdfunder where they raised almost £50,000 (about $62,000). The museum will open on Nov. 16 in London’s Camden Market, with an exhibition entitled “Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How to Fight Them.” “We want to give everyone the confidence to talk about a perfectly normal part of the anatomy,” Williams said. “There’s nothing shameful or offensive about vulvas and vaginas. They’re a part of the body that should be celebrated!”

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion AUSTRIA’S BIGGEST TABLOID: FANNING POPULISM, INFLUENCING VOTES

EDITORIAL

THUNDERSTRUCK

O SAY we are thunderstruck, if steamed up, over the death four days ago from suspected hazing injuries of 4th class cadet Darwin Dormitorio of the Philippine Military Academy is clearly a restrained statement. We urge the authorities to run down the events, including looking assiduously at the provisions of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which has gone into the books as Republic Act 11053, seeking to prohibit all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, school- and communitybased organizations. The law also prohibits hazing in recruiting citizens’ military and army training although it was

previously clarified the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police may still conduct physical, mental and psychological testing and training for prospect members on condition the referred-to training is not hazing. Initial police investigation, which we think should be dragged out to its full stretch, suggested Dormitorio was maltreated by at least three of his fellow PMA

cadets, with the PMA saying autopsy findings have ruled that blunt force trauma was the cause of Dormitorio’s death. If the 20-year-old Dormitorio, a member of PMA Class of 2023 from Cagayan de Oro City, was indeed a victim of hazing, as it appears from initial inquiries and autopsy reports he was, what happened to the implementation of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, only a year away from its signature by the President into the country’s jurisprudence? If he was, this would make him the fourth victim from the Philippine Military Academy—the first in 2000, and two others in 2001 —established on Dec. 21, 1936 by virtue of Commonwealth Act № 1 or

the National Defense Act to be the training school for future officers of the AFP. But first, what is hazing? Experts say hazing—initiation ceremonies, bastardization, ragging, or deposition —refers to the practice of rituals, challenges, and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group including a new fraternity, sorority, team, or club. We are rather nonplussed, thrown into a tizzy as it were, but we underline our earlier submission that justice must be done. Let those who violated the law, by sin of commission or by sin of omission, be properly punished, whoever they are.

By Sophie Makris THE “Ibiza-gate” corruption scandal cost Austria’s far-right its place in government, but also the tacit support of the country’s most powerful newspaper, the tabloid Kronen Zeitung. With the Freedom Party (FPOe) vying to form a coalition government again after snap polls on September 29, the party founded by former Nazis in the 1950s can hardly afford the ill-will of the tabloid read by a third of adults in the small Alpine country. “No one can rule without the Krone,” the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote recently. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung, together with German weekly Der Spiegel, broke the “Ibiza-gate” scandal when they published hidden camera footage in May that brought down the government, leading to the fresh elections to be set. In the recordings, filmed on the Spanish resort island of Ibiza, FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache appears to offer contracts to a fake backer in exchange for campaign help. He also outlines a plan how the woman, who remained off camera but claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch, could take control of the Kronen Zeitung. Strache resigned from his posts as party leader and Austrian vice chancellor. The remarks also caused an outcry among the central European country’s media. TOOL OF POWER Even though the Krone spreads messages similar to those of the far-right party, including stoking fear of immigrants and mistrust of EU institutions, the paper prides itself on “not being among those that can be bought” with its sole loyalty to its readers. In the “Ibiza-gate” aftermath Kronen Zeitung—The Crown Newspaper— published several headlines slamming Strache in a “never seen” reaction, according to Raimund Loew, a veteran journalist working for Austria’s public television. But how did the newspaper, which celebrated 60 years since its founding this year, become such a tool of power? “A third of Austrian adults read the Krone every day. Its readership is larger than that of the other five dailies combined,” says political scientist Fritz Plasser, who has conducted several studies on the tabloid. Even with a declining circulation in recent years, it sells some 700,000 copies in Austria every day, servicing two million readers, out of the country’s 8.8 million inhabitants. Plasser says the Krone “accelerated the rise of populism” in Austria. “The Krone was the first newspaper to touch emotions... and so connect to its readers,” Plasser tells AFP. “This influence has rubbed off on politicians who have adopted the emotional strategy to reach the wider public.” RISE OF THE FAR-RIGHT In Austria, the far-right’s influence postWorld War II started before similar antiestablishments movements found their foothold in other European democracies. The FPOe—under controversial but charismatic leader Joerg Haider—already governed Austria in a coalition from 2000 until 2002. “The rise of Joerg Haider and the FPOe since 1986 (when Haider took over the party) is inseparable from the Kronen Zeitung,” Andreas Moelzer, an FPOe leader, said a few years ago. The Krone also allowed one writer to publish prose with antisemitic hints in its pages. He wrote for the tabloid until 2012. “Over the years we have written positively about the FPOe... but I also remember a lot of critical articles,” Kronen Zeitung editor-in-chief Klaus Herrmann told the Standard daily in an interview at the end of May after “Ibiza-gate.” The Krone’s political preferences have indeed fluctuated, in line with those of Hans Dichand, who led the tabloid for half a century until his death in 2010 and thought of it as “the people’s voice,” which could make and unmake chancellors. The one constant has remained the paper’s anti-immigration rhetoric—the FPOe’s main platform—impossible to miss in its screaming headlines and striking photos. According to media watchdog kobuk. at, 89 percent of alleged sex offenders singled out in newspaper articles in 2017 were foreigners, while they made up only some 40 percent in police statistics at the same time. In 2018, as in previous years, the newspaper once again committed the highest number of code of ethics breaches, according to the Austrian Press Council. Its editor has promised the newspaper will be “even more cautious” and “more honest” after “Ibiza-gate.” AFP

RECOGNIZING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY — NOT ALARMISM, JUST SCIENCE

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE PECIER DECIERDO ON SEPT. 20, an estimated 4 million people around the world participated in the global strike for climate. Led by young people such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, these actions served as a kick-off for a week of worldwide protests that will culminate on Sept. 27. The specific demands and goals of the strike participants are as varied as the languages used by the protesters. However, there is one demand common to all actions from Melbourne to Manila and from New Delhi to New York: we must act like there is a climate emergency, because there is one. Detractors have dismissed such demands as “alarmism.” However, the science is very clear: Our global civilization has to rapidly undergo drastic changes in order to prevent the worst impacts of a climate catastrophe. Denying the reality of a climate emergency is nothing short of denying science. Before reviewing the science, it helps helps to see where the Philippines is situated in all of this. Here in the Philippines, the national organizers of Youth Strike 4 Climate Philippines listed among their demands the “phase out of coal and other fossil fuels” in the Philippines’ energy supply

and the safeguarding of “the rights of indigenous peoples and environmental defenders.” Consistent with these and their other demands is the one that is first on their list: the declaration of a climate emergency in the Philippines. These demands were echoed by strike participants from Ilocos Norte to Cotabato City and every other area in between where a strike was held. In the statement of their demand, the organizers cited two things. First, the fact that the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts. Second, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) special report on 1.5 degrees, which builds the case for a global climate emergency. The IPCC report is the basis for recognizing the fact that what we are going through is a climate emergency. However, we should always remember that the IPCC report is not one study. Rather, it is a summary of the best and most up-to-date science that we have on the state and most likely evolution of the climate. In fact, the IPCC report was based on a review of more than 6,000 research papers authored by thousands upon thousands of

climate scientists, atmospheric scientists, geologists, ecologists, and scientists from more than a dozen disciplines. According to IPCC’s own estimates, if all those research papers are stacked on top of each other, they would be about as tall as a four-storey building! Just think about the amount of data and theoretical analysis needed to come up with each of those research papers. Think of brainpower and raw research work needed, all the hours in the lab and in the field. Then think of the endless back and forth between the study’s authors and the expert reviewers before those papers are published in a peer-reviewed journal. Now multiply that by more than 6,000. Add to all of that the fact that those more than 6,000 scientific papers were reviewed by an expert panel comprised of 91 top climate scientists from 40 countries, one of them being Filipino climate scientist Dr. Rosa Perez. What is the conclusion of the IPCC report based on the massive body of evidence? Here are a few of them. First, the report recognizes that the world is undergoing global warming due to human activities. This warming has already led to disruptions in the Earth’s

climate in the form of more extreme weather and many other things. Second, it shows that the warming is likely to rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the coming decades. This increase in the warming will lead to the worsening of the climate disruptions we are already experiencing. Third, it shows that if we allow warming to go beyond 1.5 degrees and reach 2 degrees, it will lead to catastrophic impacts. For example, the number of people exposed to deadly heat waves will more than double with a 2-degree warming, while the number of people threatened by rising sea levels will increase by a staggering 10 million. Fourth, the report shows that we have little over a decade left to limit greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent to get a chance to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. We are also required to have net zero emissions by 2050 to reach this target. That is not a pretty picture, but that is the picture that comes out if we examine all the best lines of evidence. We really are in a climate emergency. It is time we stop denying it and start uniting behind the science if we want a livable planet for the next generation.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Ofﬁce, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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Standard SUNDAY, B2 TODAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 Manila

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

KIDS PROTEST, LEAD GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE

EW YORK—Masses of children skipped school to join a global strike against climate change that teen activist Greta Thunberg said was “only the beginning,” ahead of a United Nations youth summit she will participate in Saturday. Some four million people filled city streets around the world, organizers said, in what was billed as the biggest ever protest against the threat posed to the planet by rising temperatures. Youngsters and adults alike chanted slogans and waved placards in demonstrations that started in Asia and the Pacific, spread across Africa, Europe and Latin America, before culminating in the United States where Thunberg rallied. “Change is coming whether they like it or not,”said Thunberg, hitting out at skeptics as she wrapped up the massive day of action in New York, where she said that 250,000 protested. Strike organizers 350.org said Friday’s rallies were the start of 5,800 protests across 163 countries over the next week. From Berlin to Boston, Kampala to Kiribati, Seoul to Sao Paulo, protesters brandished signs with slogans including “There is no planet B” and “Make

the Earth Great Again.” In New York’s Battery Park, tens of thousands of supporters gave Thunberg a rockstar reception, chanting her name as she called on leaders to act now to curb gas emissions. “Why should we study for a future that is being taken away from us?” She asked. “We demand a safe future. Is that really too much to ask?” On Saturday, she and 500 other youth environmentalists from around the world will take part in the first-ever Youth Climate Summit. Then on Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has convened a Climate Action Summit where more than 60 world leaders will take to the podium to present greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Events began Friday in the deluge-threatened Pacific Islands of Vanuatu, the Solomons and Kiribati, where children chanted: “We are not sinking, we are fighting.” AFP

TEARDOWN. Local residents remove banners, posters and sticky

notes from a “Lennon Wall”, one of many which appeared during the recent pro-democracy protests, in an underground walkway in the Aberdeen area of Hong Kong on Saturday. “Lennon Walls” have sprung up in more than a hundred locations across the city, often in pedestrian tunnels or near subway stations. Walls are still being torn down by opponents, but they reappear within hours. AFP

BACKED BY AUSSIE PM MORRISON, TRUMP TALKS TOUGH ON CHINA

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offers shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

Dropping of bid envelopes will be on the date of bidding from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM only. Opening of Bids will immediately follow. Late bid envelopes will not be accepted

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on an “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he/she wants to buy, as long as, he/she posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or an accredited through External Financing Institution (EFI).

Interested bidders through EFI must first secure a conditional loan approval with EFI accredited bank. Insert the document in the bid envelope along with the duly filled out and signed bid form.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Date of Bidding b. Name of the bidder c. Exact address of property you are interested to bid d. Transfer Certificate of Title No. e. Mode of Payment f. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) g. Signature of the bidder/representative

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and must not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Offer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System.

10. The following shall be inserted on a sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished bid form b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. Pro-forma Certificate of due diligence (for occupied or unoccupied) d. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative e. Pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable f. Two (2) proofs of occupancy, if applicable f.1. Barangay certificate that Bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property and any of the following: (1) Valid Government Issued IDs, or (2) Latest Billing Address under Bidder’s Name 11. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope)

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding. 13.If the occupant will exercise his/her Right to Match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the full 10% deposit based on the matched bid amount in cash on the day of bidding. 14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within fourteen (14) calendar days of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two (2) valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable. 15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. The Bidder’s deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately. 16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or in manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension. 17. In case the bid is through EFI, winning bidder shall submit the Letter of Guarantee (LOG) within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of bidding. The equity, if any, shall be paid in cash or in manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of LOG by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the Offered Bid Amount and LOG amount. 18. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS will result in the forfeiture of the 10% bidder’s deposit. 19. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the said NOAS shall be deemed automatically revoked and the highest/ winning bidder shall be informed in writing. The second highest bidder, if any, shall be informed in writing if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued a NOAS. 20. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice. 21. For bidding inquiries, you may call the Real Property Accounts Management Department (RPAMD) at trunkline telephone numbers (02) 479-3500, (02) 479-3600 and (02) 9764900 local numbers 3228, 3374, and 3396. (MS-SEPT. 21,22 & 23, 2019)

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said Friday that only a “complete” deal with China on trade will be acceptable and his tough approach won support from visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “I’m not looking for a partial deal. I’m looking for a complete deal,” Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with Morrison at the White House. Trump denied that he was under pressure to resolve the massive trade dispute between the world’s two main economic powers, saying “I don’t think I need it before the election” in 2020. Morrison, enjoying an unusually lavish reception and state dinner, said he backed the US push to force China to reform on issues that include routine violation of foreign companies’ intellectual property.

“We need to make sure that we all compete on the same playing field,” he said. China can’t have “special rules.” Morrison’s supportive stance contrasted with worries he expressed in June about smaller economies suffering collateral damage in the US-China standoff and the global system coming “under real pressure.” Later the United States Trade Representative’s office issued a statement announcing that deputy-level US and Chinese negotiators had completed “productive” talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday. Top level talks are expected in October. This was only the second state-level visit to the White House granted under Trump and the first for an Australian premier here since John Howard in 2006. AFP

‘PARTISAN’WHISTLEBLOWER HIT, BIDEN PUSHES BACK VS PRESIDENT WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump on Friday vigorously rejected a whistleblower’s claim of wrongdoing in a call with a foreign leader, amid reports he used the conversation to pressure Ukraine’s president to investigate the son of Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden. The whistleblower’s secret complaint has triggered a tense showdown between Congress, whose Democratic leaders are demanding to review the complaint, and the executive branch which has barred them from doing so. It has also raised concerns Trump sought to strong-arm Ukraine into providing damaging information on the president’s possible 2020 challenger, which would represent dangerous foreign meddling in the US election similar to the interference blamed on Russia in 2016, when Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. According to a report by The Washington Post, which cited two unnamed former US officials, the complaint stemmed from Trump’s communications with Ukraine, and a “promise” allegedly made by the president. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

OS T O PH F THE O EEK W

ATTACK EVIDENCE. Saudi defense ministry spokesman Colonel Turki bin Saleh al-Malki displays pieces of what he said were Iranian cruise missiles and drones recovered from the attack site that targeted Saudi Aramco’s facilities, during a press conference in Riyadh on Thursday. Saudi Arabia said that strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the ‘north’ and were sponsored by Iran, but that the kingdom was still investigating the exact launch site. AFP

DAD ALONE.

Richard, 34, an ebola survivor and sole parent to his two children after his wife passed away from the virus earlier this year, is seen inside his bedroom in Beni, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday. Since the beginning of the Ebola epidemic in August 2018, over 2,000 deaths and now nearly 1,000 survivors have been recorded. AFP

ON MELTING ICE. Protesters stand on blocks of ice while standing under gallows during the ‘Fridays for Future’ demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin as a protest for climate action on Friday, as part of a global climate action day. AFP

JAPANESE VISITOR. One of two minesweeper vessels in the service of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force arrive at Pier 15 of Manila’s South Harbor for a three-day goodwill visit in the country. Mst-464 Bungo, an Uraga-class minesweeper, and JS Takashima, a Hiroshima-class coastal minesweeper, were escorted by Philippine Navy BRP Emilio Jacinto as they traversed the waters off Corregidor Island and led to their anchorage. Ey Acasio

ASF POINTS. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (left) points to a map of the city as she speaks to backyard hog raisers in Barangay Payatas to discuss the culling of 300 pigs possibly infected by African Swine Fever. The mayor also announced a P10-million budget for financial assistance for ASF-affected areas. Manny Palmero

REMEMBER THE LOST. Men clean the surroundings of the name monument at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to remember the dead and the disappeared during the Martial Law era ahead of the 47th anniversary of its declaration on Friday. Manny Palmero

TOP EMPLOYERS. The Social Security System recognizes the top employers of 2019 in its annual Balikat ng Bayan Awards during the SSS’ 62nd anniversary celebration on Sept. 12. Photo shows (from left) SSS NCR Operations Group Senior Vice President Jose Bautista, SSS Branch Operations Sector Executive Vice President Judy Frances See, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio, Hitachi Global Storage Finance Manager Ryan Ibardolaza, Gingoog City Colleges Inc. Finance Coordinator Melissa Apolinar and Assessment Remittance In-charge Paz Gonzales, Ryomo Philippines Corp. Human Resource Administration Supervisor Ma. Melanie Sebastian and Human Resource Administration Assistant Mojica Grace Dequiña, Social Security Commissioner Diana V. Pardo-Aguilar, SSS NCR North Division Vice President Helen Abolencia, and SSS Account Management Group Acting Head Atty. Antonio Argabioso.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

WOMAN’S GM-IN-WAITING ANTONELLA ON THE RISE

By Arman D. Armero

OBERT Racasa, more popularly known as the founder of the Philippine Memory Games, narrated a story that sort of defines the skyrocketing chess career of his daughter, Antonella ‘Tonelle’ Racasa, currently the country’s youngest Woman Fide chess master at 12 years old. When Tonelle competed in the recent Under-12 girls’ division in the World Cadet Chess Championships in Weifang, Shandong in China, she posted probably the biggest upset in the tournament by toppling Olga Dm. Karmanova of Russia after 85 gruelling moves. It was impressive in every sense of the word, because Tonelle entered the tournament as the 45th seed, while her Russian foe was seeded ninth, which is not surprising, since Russian players are ranked among the best in the chess world, then and now. The Russians also use tactics to dominate and intimidate opponents over the chessboard. And Karmonava’s Elo rating of 1830 which is nearly almost 500 better than Tonelle’s rating of 1380, was enough to instill fear into the hearts of chess players made of lesser stuff. To top it all, Tonelle played the disadvantageous black pieces of a Benoni, which is actually not her favorite defensive opening (she favors the Sicilian with the black). Fearlessly, Tonelle focused on her game and patiently marshalled her pieces into a superior endgame. The defeated Russian girl, according

Antonella Racasa during her stint in the World Cadet Chess Championships in China

to Robert, appeared stunned and inconsolable, the proud scowl and intimidating aura totally vanished from her face. “Nakakatakot talaga siya. Sa pangalan pa lang nakakatakot na,” Tonelle said, a hint of a smile creeping up her face. PROUD PARENTS To most people, a parent should naturally be proud of their children’s achievements and successes, however big—or small—they are. But Robert, who is on the front seat row in every tournament that Tonelle joins in, is not only immensely proud, but is continually amazed by her daughter’s multi-faceted talents and her determination to be the best that she can be. Robert can ‘blame’ it all on genetics, since his skills as a ‘memory’ man is perhaps as phenomenal as his daughter’s chess talent, while mom

Antonella Racasa with father Robert

Marife, who works with JP Morgan, is a financial whiz. But in his heart, Robert knows that their only child has special gifts few children of her age possess. Chess is one of those special gifts, because Tonelle is just as adept in drawing, painting and bak-

ing. She also dabbles in other sports such as swimming and taekwondo. She also wants to learn to play the keyboard and perhaps a hundred other things that would interest her in the near future. Academically, Tonelle is doing superbly well as an online student of Home Global School despite her many other activities. But it is in chess that Tonelle continues to spread her wings. With over 10 trophies and 50 medals that she had accumulated since her first tournament at 10 years old, the wonder kid is eyeing perhaps one of the most difficult—and daunting goal for a chess player—to be a Grandmaster. “Gusto ko pong maging Woman Grandmaster in two years,” Tonelle told stunned sportswriters in a recent forum, and she said it in a determined tone. Tonelle and her father Robert are slowly taking the next steps towards that goal. On October 19-30, Tonelle will see action in the Pattaya Chess Club Open in Thailand, where she is expected to draw some of the world’s best young chess players. Robert said Tonelle will join both the Open and the Youth categories of the tournament in a bid to improve his daughter’s current rating. Of course, the Pattaya tournament is one of perhaps a hundred more events that Tonette would join to gain more experience and hone her chess skills to achieve her ultimate goal. And if and when that happens, perhaps Robert and her growing number of fans can cease to be amazed. But for now, let us all watch and enjoy the metamorphosis of this pizzaand-pasta loving kid into a fearless chess warrior we can all be proud of.

ABABA COASTS TO 2-SHOT WIN

ARMED with a big cushion, Jhonnel Ababa played pressure-free all throughout and snapped a year-long spell on the Philippine Golf Tour, beating local favorite Reymon Jaraula by two despite a wobbly finish for a 71 in the ICTSI Del Monte Championship in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon yesterday. Not even Jaraula’s scorching frontside five-under 31 in a flight ahead nor Ababa’s late-hole miscues could tilt the balance for the homegrown talent and recent Pueblo de Oro winner as the Davaoeño ace had built too huge a lead with a string of brilliant 67s in the first three rounds of the P2.5 million event that served as the seventh leg of PGT’s 10th season. He did stick to his game plan to slow down after doubling his 36-hole lead to four over Zanieboy Gialon and a charging Clyde Mondilla and moving six-up over Jaraula Friday, frustrating his pursuers no end with four birdies in the first 11 holes to all but wrap up the championship on a 16-under 272 total worth P450,000.

“This victory meant so much to me, confidence-wise,” said Ababa. “I actually felt I could win after Day 2 after making two eagles. I really had a great game and it motivated me in the third round.” Not even a double-bogey on No. 15 and a bogey on the 17th could stop Ababa from nailing his first PGT win since ruling the rain-shortened Cebu leg of last year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI, finally ending up on top after a string of top eight finishes in the last three tournaments, including a joint third effort at Pueblo which Jaraula won in a two-hole playoff over Tony Lascuña last week. “I didn’t attack and played relax at the frontnine and made the most of my birdie chances. I made a mistake on No. 15 on wrong shot selection and made a 6 but it hardly mattered as my putting kept me going,” added the winningest player on PGT Asia with four victories, whose latest triumph likewise foiled Juvic Pagunsan’s bid for a record five-title feat in the PGT.

Jaraula did threaten to within four at the turn with his solid start but bogeyed the par-3 No. 12 in a futile attempt to gun down another birdie. He flubbed a couple more birdie opportunities in the closing holes and finished with a 67 for second at 274. He pocketed P295,000 after scoring a breakthrough at Pueblo. Dutch Guido Van der Valk, winner in the kickoff leg in Cebu last June, birdied four of the last five and snatch solo third at 275 worth P170,000 while Lascuña also charged home with three birdies in the last five for a 68, tying Gialon and Mondilla at fourth at 277. Each received P111,666. Gialon failed to recover from a bogey-bogey start while Mondilla, who sparked hopes of a big finish after a fiery third round 65 on solid putting, struggled on Del Monte’s surface, missing a number of birdie putts at the front to reel back. The reigning Philippine Open champion bogeyed No. 10 and closed out with a birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie

Jhonnel Ababa

game to match par 72 with Gialon. Noel Langamin placed seventh at 278 after a 70, his bid for a stronger finish ruined by a double-bogey on No. 15 and closing bogey while Pagunsan shot his best round of 68 for solo eighth at 279. Anthony Fernando and Richard Sinfuego turned in identical 67s for 280s as they shared ninth place in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology Inc.

EQUESTRIAN PH TO STAGE INAUGURAL RIDERS’ TOUR THIS month shall see the staging of the inaugural Equestrian Philippines Riders Tour, a showjumping competition featuring a Nations’ Cup (team competition) between Philippine and Malaysian Teams, in addition to individual classes for local riders. Organized by Equestrian Philippines, Inc. (Equestrian PH) and JFJC Equestrian Training Services, the country’s leading equestrian services providers, the competition will take place at the Manila Polo Club on Sept. 29, 2019. In the decades when the Philippines produced some of its top international riders, it was common for Filipino riders to participate in borrowed horse competitions in the Southeast Asian region, where host countries would mount visiting teams. According to Equestrian PH president Carissa Coscolluela, the exposure of our riders at such competitions many years ago was instrumental in honing their competitive riding abilities. “We need to expose our

Equestrian PH president Carissa Coscolluela

younger riders to competing as a team for our country, which requires an entirely different mindset from competing locally as individual riders,” Coscolluela explains as the rationale for staging the event. “They all aspire to one day become members of the Philippine Team at continental championships like the Asian Games and Southeast Games, for example, even the Olympic Games, so we need to give them the experience not only for the actual riding, but also for the competitive scenario where there is mental,

emotional, and physical pressure,” she continues. The idea, she says, is for the Equestrian PH to host one competition a year, inviting a team from another country, which may then have the option to invite a team from the Philippines to their country as a reciprocal competition. “In the years our group has been collectively involved in the sport, we have made many friends and contacts all over the world whom we can tap as partners in this exchange program, and so there will be many opportunities for exposure for our young riders,” she says. The event will see six riders each from the Philippines and Malaysia competing head-to-head at different height categories, generating a team score and event champion, and scores and placings per level. In addition, the event will also be open to individual local entries who are qualified for placings per category. The Philippine Team will be coached by Equestrian PH sports director and JFJC founder Joker Ar-

royo, one of the country’s leading international riders and a mainstay of the national team, including the 2005 SEA Games gold medal team and the 2011 SEA Games silver medal team. Arroyo asserts that it is never too early to start cultivating the will, desire, and the competitive spirit to ride for the Philippine flag. “There is no greater honor that can be bestowed upon any athlete than to compete for their nation, and the act should thusly be treated with the gravitas and respect that it deserves,” she says. She continues to explain that as it is, equestrian is an unpredictable sport - dangerous, subject to the horses’ temperaments and characters, influenced by the environment, and so many other factors that render this an unusually difficult sport to manage. Therefore, she says, “athlete preparation should begin early to ensure that, once the younger and less experienced riders are ready to debut on the global stage, they are in a position to represent the country to the very best of their abilities.”

GOLF SPONSOR.

Felix Ang (right), president of Auto Nation Inc., shakes hands with organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter president Rosalind Wee after reaffirming the company’s support as one of Diamond sponsors of the 14th Highlands Ladies Cup slated Oct. 5 at Tagaytay Midlands.

COCOLIFE TIGERS ROUT VOLCANOES THE DAVAO Occidental Cocolife Tigers got back to their deadly form by silencing the Bicol Volcanoes, 88-76, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup -South Division Thursday at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Angeles City. Frontliners Mark Yee, Bonbon Custodio, Billy Robles, Bogs Raymundo and Marco Balagtas unleashed their fiery run-and-gun-offense and scorching defense in the early goings to control a potential eruption by the Volcanoes. They went on to build 20-point leads en route to another lopsided victory after absorbing a close defeat to Pampanga, which ended their streak last week. Veteran Yee posted his 29th double-double in the league, scoring 19 points and hauling 10 rebounds for the 12th win in 14 outings of the Tigers, owned by Dumper Party List Congresswoman Claudine Bautista, and backed by Cocolife President Atty. Jose Martin Loon, FVP Joseph Ronquillo, AVP Rowena Asnan and SVP Franz Joie Araque. Bicolanos Ronjay Buenafe, JR Ongteco and Alwyn Alday put up a minor uprising in the second half, but were hampered by the out-of-the-playing court officials’ decision slapped on their head coach Monel Kallos. “Sipag, tiyaga, focus and defense ang puhunan para manalo. Diin din sa endgame para makabawi at huwag magkumpiysnsa kahit malaki ang lamang,” said the Game’s Best Player Yee. Deputy team manager Ray Alao said the boys learned from their Pampanga setback as coach Don Dulay put on a “killer instinct” motivation that yielded a positive result for the Tigers, who blasted the GenSan Warriors after, followed by their annihilation of Bicol.

PBA OFFERS 50% OFF ON TICKETS THE Philippine Basketball Association is offering a 50 percent ticket discount to its patrons for the entire elimination round of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup. The special promo takes effect on September 25 (Wednesday) and valid on all regular games on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo and the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay. PBA patrons can avail of the promo by simply presenting proof of purchase of any of the PBA’s 12 teams at the PBA promo booth where the games are played. The proof of purchase include four packs of Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink or Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink, two bottles of Blackwater Fragrance, minimum P250 worth of Dyip Ko Shuttle tickets, five seals of GSM products, minimum P250 worth of any Magnolia chicken products, proof of Meralco bill payment, P250 worth of NLEX/SLEX tollgate receipts, one used Air Asia boarding pass or e-ticket confirmation, P250 worth of Phoenix Petroleum products, eight crowns of SMB products and one unused Smart/TNT/ Sun prepaid card or minimum P150 worth of e-load. One proof of purchase shall entitle a customer one coupon and present it at the designated ticket counters at Smart Araneta Coliseum (Yellow Gate), Ynares Center Antipolo (Main Gate) and Cuneta Astrodome (Main Gate) to avail of discounted tickets. One coupon entitles a customer to purchase a maximum of three (3) tickets at 50 percent per transaction.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Business

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

Metro Clark Waste Management Corp.’s ISOcertified engineered sanitary landfill in Sitio Kalangitan, Barangay Cutcut 2nd, Capas, Tarlac

GCASH APP ADDS FEATURE FOR SECURITY By Othel V. Campos

WORLD-CLASS LANDFILL FIRM GEARS UP FOR EXPANSION T

HE country’s lone ISOcertified engineered sanitary landfill operator is gearing up for expansion to serve its growing customer base and fulfill its plan for a waste-to-energy facility in Clark Special Economic Zone.

Metro Clark Waste Management Corp., armed with world-class German technology and run by a dynamic team of service-oriented individuals, has recently exceeded the 2,500-ton volume threshold to pursue a waste-to-energy facility that will bring its operations to the next level. “We have probably one of the best technologies in the world when it comes to landfill operations and we have the right people to handle those operations,” says MCWM executive vice president Victoria Gaetos, who is in charge of managing the 300 employees of the company and dealing with local government units as customers. MCWM, a joint venture of Filipino and German investors (BN Ingenieure GmbH and Heers & Brockstedt Umwelttechnik GmBH), operates one of the pioneering highly-technical waste disposal facilities in Asia on a 100-hectare site at Sitio Kalangitan in Barangay Cutcut 2nd in Capas, Tarlac which is a part of Sub Zone D of Clark Special Economic Zone. “There are now 103 cities and municipalities that have signed contracts with us. We collect 2,800 tons of garbage daily from them,” says Gaetos, who used to head one of the largest car dealerships in Luzon before she joined MCWM. The volume handled by Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill has substantially increased over the past 12 months from only 1,600 tons in 2018 as more LGUs decided to transport their garbage to a world-class facility. Among the company’s biggest customers are Angeles City, Cabanatuan City and Tarlac City, aside from the locators in Clark. MCWM has recently signed a three-year contract with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to collect the garbage of Subic Bay Freeport Zone locators and residents. “We are very active now on doing contracts with a lot of LGUs not only in Central Luzon but also in other parts of Luzon such as Pangasinan. We have to reach out and think of ways of getting closer to them. We are planning to have a wasteto-energy plant. We need as many garbage as we can get,” Gaetos says in an interview in Clark. “Cleaning the environment is our business,” Gaetos says in an interview. “If you compare Metro Clark to ordinary landfills, we are far ahead in terms of service. We have transformed the way landfill should be managed. It is not only about a profitable venture, but it is also about our advocacy which is to protect the environment. Even if the cost is too high, we put in the required

MCWM executive vice president Victoria Gaetos

protection. There is none like us in the Philippines. We adhere to environmental laws.” Gaetos says MCWM’s main facility is built based on internationally accepted standards which substantially exceed the Philippines’ sanitary landfill standards as stipulated under Republic Act No. 9003 or Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000. The company has already invested hundreds of millions to put up the facility and plans to invest more in its power component. She says of the 100 hectares of Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill, 70 hectares are dedicated for the landfill, 10 hectares for recycling facilities, 15 hectares for environmental buffer and 5 hectares for offices and other uses. “We are the first landfill in Asia to receive ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001:2015 for quality management systems,” she says. The landfill integrates cutting-edge technology and highly-advanced engineering to control the poisonous gas and foul-smelling liquid produced by decaying wastes. MCWM is using a containerized system to ensure the efficient handling of wastes for all local

government units. Wastes are delivered by trucks and trailers equipped to carry 25 to 300 tons of garbage at a time. The company has a fleet of 14 hook lift trucks, 14 trailers and 10 dump trucks. Gaetos says the wastes delivered and disposed to the site undergo a meticulous process to guarantee the safety and protection of the environment. The landfill has multilayered liners of gravel, sand, high-density polyethylene plastic and clays to ensure that no liquid pollutants called leachate from the landfill could harm the soil or the groundwater. This makes MCWM the only garbage disposal facility to have such multi-layer protection for the aquifer. Gaetos says the 2.5 mm HDPE plastic liner is much thicker than the 1.5-mm minimum thickness mandated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. She says the very dense clay material about 60 meters below the surface naturally protects the groundwater. The landfill also has a gas control recovery system and a drainage system for the leachate which is forwarded to the leachate treatment plant that prevents soil and air pollution. The treatment facility cleans the leachate in a natural way through a reed bed. MCWM also has a centralized recycling facility at the waste management center where materials are segregated for recycling or processing into secondary fuel. It will soon build a waste-to-energy plant that will use the secondary fuel as the primary feedstock to generate up to 35 megawatts of renewable energy. Gaetos says that once completed, the power component will reduce the amount of residual waste disposed of at the landfill by 70 percent, extend the lifespan of the solid waste management system for another 50 years and decrease the emissions of landfill leachate and landfill gas by eliminating the disposal of organic waste in the landfill. Gaetos says the landfill, which began operations in 2003, is ready to accommodate more wastes from other localities including Metro Manila and Calabarzon as it can handle 4,000 tons daily on the 20-hectare landfill so far which can be easily expanded up to 70 hectares. Data show that the Philippines generates more than 53,000 tons of solid wastes daily, enough to cover Fort Bonifacio with eight feet of garbage per year. Gaetos says that at present, every Filipino generates half a kilogram of wastes daily, most of which end up in unregulated dumpsites, rivers or sidewalks. Many localities across the country still operate open dumpsites which expose the seas, rivers and groundwater resources to pollutants. Gaetos says the MCWM facility is wellpositioned to serve the waste management Turn to C2

SMART TEAMS UP WITH FINTECH STARTUP TRUEMONEY PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. is expanding its retail accessibility with TrueMoney, the fastest growing financial technology company in Southeast Asia. Under the partnership, Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers can easily buy prepaid load, particularly Gigavideo+ 149, through the 20,000-plus TrueMoney centers all over the Philippines. With Gigavideo+ 149, subscribers can enjoy 2GB data allocation, plus 1GB video every day and unli-call and texts to Smart, TNT and Sun for a whole week on the country’s fastest network. Customers may also get additional P10 load when they avail of the Giga load package from

Sept. 10 to Dec. 31, 2019 exclusively from TrueMoney. “This partnership is a fulfillment of a shared vision with TrueMoney, which is to bring more value and convenience to our customers. Our goal is to make our products and services more available to our millions of mobile prepaid subscribers nationwide,” said Precy Katigbak, vice president and head of national key accounts at PLDT-Smart. “We look forward to this collaboration with an innovative and reliable partner like Smart as we connect more underserved sectors with digital and financial services in the country,” said Jenilyn Valdez,

From left: George Gordon, assistant vice president and channel head for key accounts at Smart; Precy Katigbak, VP and head at national key accounts at PLDT-Smart; Jenilyn Valdez, CFO and OIC-CEO of TrueMoney; Steven Christian Nardo, business unit head of Payments at TrueMoney; and Jeff Boone, general manager of LoadCentral.

chief financial officer and OIC-CEO of TrueMoney. The partnership between Smart and TrueMoney was also made possible with the support of Uniwiz Trade Sales Inc.

(LoadCentral). “We are happy to be part of the alliance of these two technology brands in the country,” said Jeff Boone, general manager of LoadCentral.

Committed to protecting consumers from financial fraud, leading mobile wallet GCash has recently added a new feature to the app. Powered by financial technology startup Mynt, GCash’s Customer Protect program aims to develop mutual trust and confidence between the app owner and user when making transactions online, whether it is a purchase on the net or a relatively sophisticated transaction such as financial investments. Mynt risk policy head Louie Miguel Santos said a recent study identified that among the hurdles to digital payment and mobile wallet usage were trust and security issues.

Mynt risk policy head Louie Miguel Santos

“That’s the main point that we want to address. Going back to the roots as Filipinos, we are very conservative with every financial transaction that there should always be a lead time or circumstance that will eventually build some element of trust first before transacting business,” he said. “But we, in GCash, we promise to provide a safe and secure transaction. Our fraud is less than 1 in a million, meaning we are very very secure. And in the rare event that something might happen to you, we promise that we have your back. We will do everything to remedy the problem because that’s what we are expected to do - to prevent those transactions in the first place,” he said. Under the program, GCash users are assured of compensation for unauthorized financial transactions on their GCash app, GCash on Messenger or GCash Mastercard platforms arising from instances such as stolen mobile phones or identity theft. A user should file a report regarding any irregular transaction— such as unauthorized withdrawals or point-of-sale purchases—on GCash’s official customer care channels within 15 days from the date of the said transaction. At the same time, the Customer Protect program is a campaign for increased cybersecurity awareness and education, especially regarding full verification of one’s GCash account. The app holds extreme importance to users to comply with the verification process of GCash based on the knowyour-customer mandate of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Full verification on GCash requires a user to establish legitimate identity through submission of valid government identification cards and a selfie and a series of mobile phone and contact information verification. Fully verified GCash users can receive compensation of the actual amount of unauthorized transactions not exceeding P100,000. Semi-verified users can receive compensation up to P10,000 while basic users can receive up to P2,000. Under the Customer Protect feature, the app is programmed to provide compensation of up to P100,000, which is the maximum limit of a GCash card. Eligible and valid disputes can be reversed for amounts of up to P100,000. “As a platform, we have to protect our interest. The more verified you are, the more we are sure of your identity, the more we can protect you. But, of course, one has to be fully-verified to enjoy the app,” Santos said. Gcash remains the biggest mobile wallet with over 60,000 merchant partners. It is the leading mobile app both in subscriber count and transaction volume. It maintains multiple partner establishments like Bayad Pay, Easy Pay and Express Pay and partner banks like BPI and Union Bank. In 2019, app users have surpassed 20 million and with the Customer Protect Program, the app expects to further attract more users.

Business

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

HOW THE YANSON COUPLE BUILT THE LARGEST BUS EMPIRE Udenna Corp. chairman and president Dennis Uy

DENNIS UY BAGS EY ASEAN ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD DENNIS Uy, Chairman and President of Udenna Corp. has received the ASEAN Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from EY Entrepreneur of the Year, the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs established by Ernst & Young Global Limited. The highly coveted award is presented to successful Southeast Asian businessmen that have helped develop economies and communities in the region. Since the inception of the Udenna Corp. in Davao City in 2002, Uy has gone on to become one of the nation’s leading businessmen. Udenna is the parent company of Uy’s venture into distribution and retail of petroleum products through Phoenix Petroleum. Phoenix is now the only homegrown brand among the top four international industry players. He also got into shipping and logistics via Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., which has become the biggest shipping and logistics company in the Philippines. Udenna has since expanded and diversified its portfolio to include property development, education, food, gaming, tourism, infrastructure and retail. Dito Telecommunity Corp., majority of which is owned by Udenna and Chelsea, was recently chosen to operate as the new major telecommunications service provider in the country by late 2020. In the wake of such success, Uy has helped support numerous advocacies through the Udenna Foundation and Phoenix Philippines Foundation. Through these foundations, Udenna has been able to provide financial and medical assistance to soldiers in Marawi City and their families, grant scholarships to their employees and their children, organize relief operations in times of natural disasters and embark on several environmental projects. “Dennis’ entrepreneurial story is truly outstanding,” said Max Loh, Singapore managing partner of Ernst & Young LLP. “His impact extends beyond job creation through his portfolio of companies to charity-driven ventures through the Udenna Foundation and Phoenix Philippines Foundation, bringing to life how successful corporates can contribute to the society and help build a better working world – and in his case, in the Philippines.”

WORLD-CLASS...

From C1

needs of more cities and municipalities to prevent them from harming the environment and making sure that they use innovative, secure, efficient and environmentally-sound waste management practices. “We have the technology of waste management solutions that meet international standards and we comply with all the environmental laws of the Philippines. When it comes to the operation of a landfill, we can say we are world-class. When it comes to management, I could say we are now creating a culture that is not ordinarily being done by any other landfill. When it comes to taking care of our customers, I could say we provide the best service to our customers. At the same time, we are advocating for a cleaner environment. We want to clean every town and city in the Philippines,” she says. “We are very lucky to have the best technology, but the most important thing is sustainability. Our vision is to really provide solutions for a clean environment and to achieve that vision, we have the best people to do it,” says Gaetos. She says the key to this success is keeping the MCWM employees happy by training them, equipping them and providing them with good benefits and stable income above the minimum wage. “You have to create a culture that will encourage people to do what is right. You have to keep your employees happy, and if they are happy, they will make your customers happy. If your customers are happy, they will make your stockholders happy. So everybody is happy,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Vallacar Transit Inc. co-founder Olivia V. Yanson

NLY a few people know that the largest bus transport company in the Philippines is based in Bacolod City and it started with one jeepney owned by Ricardo Yanson Sr. and his wife Olivia.

“My husband is a BS Fisheries graduate from the University of the Philippines. We got married in 1959. He is from Valladolid town [in Negros Occidental],” says Olivia, who graduated from Siliman University in Dumaguete City with a Nursing degree. Ricardo had a 14-seater jeepney that plied the routes in Bacolod City and nearby towns in 1968. “My husband had one unit of Ceres jeepney before we got married,” Olivia, the 85-year-old co-founder of Vallacar Transit Inc., recalls. Ricardo was fond of experimenting with motor vehicles and had a penchant for automotive body works. He tried his hands and skills in assembling more jeepneys while Olivia managed the warehouse and served as the collector of the daily “boundaries” from their drivers. “We were poor. I had to quit my nursing job at a rural health unit in Dumaguete. I had to help my husband run the small business as ‘bodegera’ by day and ‘collector’ at night,” she says. “Vallacar was originally owned by the family of my husband. Vallacar grew because Ricardo was active then, buying second-hand trucks from Manila and rebuilding them as transport units for VTI,” says Olivia. Olivia says her brother Rodolfo Terillo Villaflores

helped them in the early days. “We started our small business by buying additional jeepneys, then it grew and grew. I helped my husband manage the spare parts. I collected money every day from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. from the drivers. They went out with the jeepneys in the morning and I collected the rentals at night. I remember we had 35 jeepney units,” says Olivia. “We also ventured into trucking business...for the transport of sugarcane. In the early 70s, we had big trucks for sugarcane. At that time, Vallacar Transit Inc. needed new management,” she says. VTI became the flagship of the husband and wife tandem. Olivia was efficient in managing the family’s finances. Whatever they saved was used to expand the business, especially in acquiring more vehicles. “This is what I did just to save money for the business operation. There were times we ran short of money to buy milk for our children. So we had to strive harder,” Olivia says. “We invested blood and sweat to expand our business.” In the 1970s, the Yanson couple diversified into a small bus line which plied the Bacolod City-VilladolidLa Carlota route or Val-La-Car for short. It was named Ceres Liner, after Ricardo’s younger sister. By the 1980s, Ceres Liner was providing transport services to the whole Negros Island. With the expansion in mind and driven to succeed, the Yanson couple bought out rival companies and deployed more buses to other provinces and islands such as Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City. The expansion continued in the following decades, as Ceres Liner launched the Iloilo City-Metro Manila route through the Western Nautical Highway. The Yanson Group then established Ceres Transport to serve Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, thereby completing its national expansion. To support her husband, Olivia went beyond the capabilities of a nurse and performed functions outside her core skills like being assigned to manage the finances and ticketing function. As the group grew, Olivia handled the

administrative operations of the company, including the management of the group’s thousands of employees. She put in place systems to professionalize the operations and handled personnel services where she excelled the most in motivating and drawing out the best among their workers and making them vital partners in the growth of VTI. Thanks to Olivia’s effective handling of personnel, many of them who are now past the retirement age, decided to still stay and help the company. “I treat my employees as if they are part of our family. Sometimes I help them send their children to school and help them when they are sick. I had to help them in their healthcare and education too,” Olivia says. This is the “mom and pop” story of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies. VTI, a company under the group, is now touted as the largest bus transport operator in the Philippines. VTI was already earning a fortune annually when Ricardo died in 2015. Olivia, with the help of her six children, had to step up to run the family business. At 85, Olivia reminds her children about the sacrifice and the hardship that they went through as a family before the success of their business split them into warring functions. “You, my dear children, are the living stewards of the family business for the next generations,” she says. After 52 years, VTI stands as the largest bus conglomerate in the Philippines transporting goods and about 700,000 passengers every day. It is the company behind Ceres Liner, Ceres Tours, Sugbo Transit and Sugbo Tours. VTI has 15 terminals across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The Yanson Group, the parent company, operates 4,800 bus units run by 18,000 employees. Aside from VTI, the Yanson Group also includes Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. (Rural Transit, Rural Tours); Bachelor Express Inc. (Bachelor Express and Bachelor Tours); Southern Star Bus Transit Inc. (Southern Star); Ceres Transport Inc. (Ceres Transport); Gold Star Bus Transit Inc. (Gold Star); and Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc. (Island City Express and Mindanao Star).

TEXTRON AVIATION OPENS AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TEXTRON Aviation Inc. has opened a new service location in Manila in collaboration with PhilJets Aero Services. The new facility offers expert maintenance work on Beechcraft King Air 200, 250, 300 and 350 aircraft registered in the Philippines and is pursuing type certification for Cessna Caravans and Beechcraft King Air 90 aircraft. Located conveniently at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the facility offers 13,000 square feet of hangar space with an adjoining parts room and customer lounge. “As we’ve demonstrated with multiple expansions and investments, Textron Aviation is committed to serving our established and growing

customer base in Asia,” said Gabriel Massey, vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific Service at Textron Aviation. “Working with PhilJets to expand authorized service options in the Philippines brings expert service closer

to our customers and strengthens our global network,” Massey said. The opening of a new Manila location follows the recent expansion of Textron Aviation’s Singapore parts warehouse and establishment of a new Australia parts warehouse.

10 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES WIN AT BPI SINAG AWARDS 2019 TEN social enterprises have emerged as the winners of BPI Sinag Awards 2019, BPI Foundation’s flagship program championing Filipino social enterprises. The top 10 awardees of BPI Sinag Year 5 are Down to Earth, Halal Organics Crops Production, Mavil’s House of Mushrooms, Sabang Daguitan Surf Camp & Dao Balay Kawilan and Subida for the top one to five; and Gi Crafts Shell, Museum & Gallery, Malingkat Enterprise, Meaningful Travels Ph, Organic Growth and Yumi’s Farm for the top six to ten. After two boot camps, the top 21 finalists were tasked to present their business plans to a panel of judges which included Maricris San Diego, executive director of BPI Foundation; Marvin Beduya, senior fellow of Bayan Academy; Philip Felipe, executive director of Bayan Academy; Rhyan Uy, executive vice president of EO - Executive Optical; Rico Gonzales, managing director of XChange; and Susan Afan, managing director of ABSCBN Lingkod Kapamilya. The top five will receive cash grants worth P500,000, while the top six to ten will get P100,000. All will receive a sixmonth mentorship program by pioneering social enterprise incubator Bayan Academy for Social Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Development. Down to Earth is a biodegradable waste solution for small spaces or urban environments with little or no access to a garden or land. They utilize food waste from

BPI Sinag 2019 top 10 awardees households, restaurants or communities. Halal Organic Crops Production offers organic vegetables, free-range chickens and halal chicken siomai while Mavil’s House of Mushrooms provides a substitute for junk foods in the market. Sabang Daguitan Surf Camp & Dao Balay Kawilan promotes eco-tourism, organic farming, surfing, kayaking and spa. Subida involves the design, manufacturing and retail of unique Philippine souvenirs and crafts produced by local artisans from Negros Oriental and Siquijor. Gi Crafts Shell Museum & Gallery provides an educational experience to locals and travelers and custom-made products while Organic Growth trains farmers on how to grow organic vegetables. Malingkat Enterprise sells Philippine handwoven fabrics, with a special focus on Mindanao weaving communities. Meaningful Travels PH provides immersive travel experiences that merge adventure, cultural immersion and giving back to communities. Yumi’s Farm offers bed and breakfast, seminars and training in organic farming, farm tour, planting and feeding farm animals, trekking and experience life in the community.

“PhilJets is honored to be part of the entry and investment of a major global leading aircraft manufacturer in the Philippines,” said Thierry Tea, chairman of PhilJets Aero Services. “Textron Aviation’s expansion in Manila demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment and strategy to further invest in aviation in Asia for years to come,” Tea said. PhilJets Aero Services is a leader in aviation services for the Philippines and the ASEAN region. The company offers a wide range of services— from aircraft acquisition and sales assistance to aircraft management and maintenance—for customers from general aviation, commercial airlines, MRO companies and government agencies.

BIG DATA PERCEIVED AS KEY TO TRANSFORMING BUSINESSES INFORMATION solutions provider TransUnion Philippines’ recent Big Data Summit tackled the rising power of big data in banking and its potential to transform businesses and manage the emerging difficulties brought about by technology. It emphasized big data’s capability to innovatively disrupt the industry and fuel its future. Banks and other financial institutions have everything to gain in harnessing disruptive technologies like big data analytics in their operations as even the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recognizes that the digital transformation of the financial services sector is the new frontier. For TransUnion Philippines president and chief executive Pia Arellano, “information is a very powerful thing”. “Information drives business, opens doors, and empowers and enriches the lives of consumers. Change and transformation, however, can come with many implications, and the path to innovation and new technological solutions is not necessarily always an easy one. It involves courage, a willingness to learn and evolve, and a consumer-first mindset,” Arellano said. Big data is the extensive collection of varying information that can be generated and analyzed at optimal speed and mined for informative and analytical purposes. The majority of finance companies that participated in a study by TransUnion and Versta Research said that data and analytics are evolving faster than their own internal capabilities. Together with ever-increasing consumer expectations, the evolution of data and analytics poses a challenge for businesses to analyze data in the speed the market demands. To meet with the challenge, insights from the study show that business leaders use analytics tools as a competitive advantage to yield more room for growth. TransUnion, for instance, has started to harness the power of trended and alternative data to more accurately predict credit risk. Its members can now leverage this power to cross-sell the right products to the right customers.

Tech & Gadgets

GLOBE SPEARHEADS MANILA’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION G

LOBE has collaborated with the City of Manila to spearhead the digital transformation of the country’s capital by providing fast and reliable internet connectivity in key areas with GoWifi and delivering financial technology services to the city’s scholars with GCash. Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to make GoWiFi available at Manila City Hall, Ospital ng Maynila, Tondo Medical Center, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Tondo National High School, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Universidad de Manila. The MOA also covers the use of GCash as the official financial services platform to send allowances and other monetary benefits to about 15,000 scholars under the Office of the Manila City Mayor. Students will receive a corresponding GCash Mastercard to withdraw their cash allowance, and will also serve as their official identification card as a bonafide scholarship beneficiary of the city. Cu said that the collaboration with the City of Manila is a first step in contributing to the city’s digital transformation initiatives. “Providing free WiFi services via GoWiFi and bringing financial inclusivity via GCash are just the initial undertakings from our end to contribute to the digitalization efforts of the city. Our goal is to provide the entire digital ecosystem of Globe for Manilenos to enjoy their digital lifestyle,” he revealed. Cu also signified intention to improve the Globe network in the city to enable its digitalization. “We need to build additional 100

Globe has collaborated with the City of Manila to spearhead the digital transformation of the country’s capital by providing fast and reliable internet connectivity in key areas with GoWifi and delivering financial technology services to the city’s scholars with GCash. Present during the MOA signing are (from left) Mynt CEO Anthony Thomas, Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan, Mayor Isko Moreno and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.

wireless sites to improve the signal in Manila,” Cu said. Globe also has several ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives as part of its sustainability program directly benefited Mañilenos, such as the Globe Plastic Xchange program held in Brgy. 455 last September 14 where single use plastics were collected in exchange for rewards points, turnover of information and communication technologies equipment and a computer lab to Manila Science High School, roll-out of Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) to Manila Science High School students in 2016 to teach them responsible use of the internet and which will be adopted in the curriculum of the Department of Education for all public schools including those

in Manila City, and Globe’s participation in the Manila Bay coastal clean-up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources this September 21. GoWiFi continues its expansion plans nationwide, particularly in high-traffic areas like malls, hospitals, and schools to make high-quality internet connection accessible and affordable to more Filipinos. As of the first half of the year, GoWiFi is accessible in 2,500 sites nationwide, up by 500 sites from the previous year. To date, GCash has made financial transactions easier for its 20 million registered users. And with over 70,000 partner merchants in the country, it truly has helped revolutionize the way Filipinos transact.

LG LENDS HAND TO WORTHY CAUSE IT WASN’T like just any exhibition game. Hoop fans got a treat as the battle between PBA crowd favorites Barangay Ginebra and Korean ball club LG Sakers turned out to be a classic. The Gin Kings survived a late scare from the visiting Sakers to avenge their loss in their previous encounter and take a close 95-91 win on Tuesday evening at the Araneta Coliseum. The tuneup match was held in celebration of the 70 years of friendship between the Philippines and South Korea. LG Electronics Philippines made the exhibition game possible in partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association and the Korean Basketball League. LG gave out several home theater systems and other products to fans. “Basketball truly binds our cultures. Korea and the Philippines, we both love the sport. LG is very delighted to strengthen the bond between our countries,” said LG Electronics Managing Director Inkwun Heo. Before tipoff, LG also donated several appliances to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center’s Cancer and Hematology Depart-

LGEPH Managing Director Inkwun Heo and Barangay Ginebra Team Captain Mr. LA Tenorio with the kids from Philippine Children’s Medical Center - Cancer and Hematology Department

ment, the adopted community of the ‘Alagang PBA’, Philippine Basketball Association’s corporate social responsibility program. Several kid patients from the PCMC were able to watch the game live

LGEPH Managing Director Inkwun Heo

and had the opportunity to meet their idols. The Sakers beat Ginebra last week in another tuneup. Stanley Pringle hit a clutch threepointer with only 9.3 seconds remaining to give the Gin Kings a fivepoint cushion. Kim Sirae made an and-1 conversion in the ensuing play. But LA Tenorio put away the game for good by hitting two clutch free throws to settle the final score. Justin Brownlee had a gamehigh 27 points, while Tenorio and Pringle each had 17 markers apiece. The Gin Kings led for the majority of the contest but the visitors gave a spirited comeback late in the game. Trailing by 14 entering the fourth quarter, the Sakers displayed their true form in the payoff period to cut the deficit to as little as two points. Cady Lalanne capitalized on the early exit of Greg Slaughter, who fouled out halfway through the last quarter. Lalanne had a team-high 23 points for the LG Sakers. While Sirae contributed 20 for the visitors. The two teams first faced off in 2014, with the Koreans coming up with a five-point victory.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ACHIEVE NEXT-LEVEL PRODUCTIVITY WITH GALAXY NOTE 10, 10+ SLASHERS are becoming the norm, with Filipinos choosing a tech-empowered lifestyle that allows them to do their passion and profession anywhere. Called the new work tribe, these passionate individuals balance multiple projects and pursue many goals. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ are the ultimate productivity tools to help them achieve more. With this device, the new work tribe can comfortably work wherever they are, whether they’re stuck in traffic, at home, or even on vacation abroad. Mobility is further enhanced with the S Pen’s upgraded features. Promoting an on-the-go workflow The Galaxy Note10’s Intuitive S Pen is transformed into a remote control that can navigate presentations, and even shift between camera modes with 6 different gestures. By detecting the direction and acceleration of the user’s movements, the S Pen lets them control their device and gives them an extended remote control experience with simple gestures. Moreover, it offers a new notetaking experience through digital text conversion. With it, users can write on the Galaxy Note 10’s screen with the S Pen and it can be instantly transformed into text by simply touching it. After converting it, users can save their notes as text files, PDFs or word documents that can easily be shared. Redefining adaptability The redesigned Samsung DeX enables users to expand their mobile experience to PC or Mac with just one simple USB cable. This feature allows them to plug in their Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ to their laptop to easily access the device’s apps on a bigger screen. With that, they can help show presentations, bring out intricate details of an artwork, and even promote collaboration and mentorship between colleagues. Additionally, they can easily drag and drop important files, documents, photos, and videos to and from their laptops and device. The new work tribe can further achieve next-level productivity with Samsung’s partnership with Microsoft. The Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ are pre-installed with Microsoft Office, so they can craft documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on their device, even if they’re not in an office. Furthermore, users can wireless connect their devices with Windows PC with their Microsoft account, which makes transferring of data so easy. For the first time, customers can select between two sizes. The Galaxy Note10 comes in a compact 6.3-inch screen, while the Galaxy Note10+ features a 6.8-inch body.

DATA SCIENCE...

From D4

ATENEO STUDENTS WIN IN ASEAN DATA SCIENCE EXPLORERS 2019 By Paul David Gelario

ASEAN Data Science Explorers National Finals 2019 at the Technological AN ATENEO De Manila University- Institute of the Philippines in Quezon based team has exceeded all three City last Wednesday. judges’ expectations to win the third ADMU’s Sustainable team compris-

Team Sustainable (center), team Celestial-EX (third from left), team Isdabest (sixth from left), and Senior Project Officer for ASEAN Foundation-SAP Joint Initiatives, Ilan Asqolani (rightmost) along with the judges. Paul Gelario

ing of team members’ Krystel Iris de Castro and Anne Nicole Dolfo, edged nine other universities to win $800 cash prize and will represent the Philippines in the ASEANDSE Regional Finals to be held in Thailand, on Oct. 9. Sustainable’s project aims to resolve job automation and displacement by analyzing the impacts of technological disruption. Their data includes ratio of human to machine work hours from 2018 to 2022, percentage of displaced jobs per country, and net effect of displacement and income by industry sector. Eecond place went to team Isdabest from De La Salle University-Manila, winning $400 with the duo of Patricia Nicole Joyce Cruz and Dominique Hannah Sy aiming to resolve the gender gap in the workplace. TIP’s team Celestial-EX landed

third place, taking home $200. It comprised of teammates Daniel Soriano and Joshua Bacani aiming to address carbon emission. The ASEANDSE aims to cultivate awareness and equip the youth the necessary IT and data analytics skills. “This program is to promote ASEAN awareness,” Senior Project Officer for ASEAN Foundation-SAP Joint Initiatives, Ilan Asqolani said. “Secondly, this program is to equip the youth with IT skills and data analytics skills.” The contestants were judged based on quality of data, data analysis, and recommendation. Last year, Team Dimicrocambio from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology took second place in the ASEAN DSE Regional Finals with their project emphasizing to instill entrepreneurship education as a driving force to turn a student’s idea into action.

out. This allows us to provide security and value to both merchants and consumers,” added Devata. STORY-BASED ANALYTICS FOR RISK ASSESSMENT Matching users poses a series of analytical and technical challenges, PayPal uses advanced machine learning combined with proprietary story-based analytics to drive better risk decisions. “We run multiple models and rules before making decisions on transactions—all within milliseconds,” Devata added. PayPal leverages the network effect for risk management by evaluating all the accountsit recognizes for its customers when making real-time assessments. According to Devata, the task is to identify accounts with suspicious fraudulent behaviors, and that requires a lot of science and analytics. “There is a human story behind every transaction, and we combine data analytics and human oversight to find this story and try to protect our customers,” said Devata.

TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

LENOVO LAUNCHES 10 CUTTING-EDGE ULTRABOOKS By Paul David L. Gelario

ENOVO launched 10 stateof-the-art laptops known as ultrabooks, boasting of slicker designs, faster performance, and smarter AI functionality at the Blue Leaf Pavilion, in Taguig, last

NEED A NURSE? THIS APP CAN HELP FIND YOU ONE

Wednesday.

All released ultrabooks are fully equipped with solid state drives (SSDs) for 25 times faster performance, making Lenovo the only brand to release a 100 percent modern PC ultrabook lineup. “In terms of speed, SSD versus HDD is actually 25 times,” Consumer 4P Manager Lenovo Philippines, Joey Nocom said. All the 10 ultrabooks included in the launch are YOGAs S740, S940, C640, C740, C940 and IdeaPads S130, S145, S340, S540, and C340. Users who purchased the higher-end of the ultrabooks also get to enjoy a lifetime access to Windows Home & Student 2019, plus a two-year warranty with 24/7 Premium Care service. “We want to make sure all the end users to actually see what we offer them instead of the laptop design and specs itself,” Nocom added. All the ultrabooks’ software are powered by Intel’s 10th Generation Intel® Core™ Ice Lake and Comet Lake Processors, ensuring optimal performance across all devices. It also is Wi-Fi 6 supported, enabling access to the highest speed of wireless internet and data transfer. Short battery life has long been the

concern of productive workers, but with YOGA C640, that problem has been addressed t h a n k s to AI. YOGA C640 has a 20-hour straight battery life due to its AI software technology that maximizes battery efficiency. “With AI and all the enhancements, this can last 20 hours straight. Twen-

ty hours straight is almost like three working days. Amazing right?,” Nocom said. C640 has a price of P64,995. For the avid tech enthusiasts who wanted to enjoy a theater-like experience, the YOGA C940 provides the most surreal experience. It has a rotating sand bar powered by Dolby Atmos Speaker System to amplify its sounds in every direction. YOGA C940 has a price of P99,995. As a parting advice, Nocom adviced users to examine if their PCs are keeping up with today’s current technology. “If your PC can’t keep up. It’s not the PC for

DATA SCIENCE USED TO SAFEGUARD DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS THE digitization of money, widespread access to the Internet, and mass-adoption of smartphones are positive headwinds in the Philippines’ journey towards a digital economy. While the potential is undeniable, there is also concern that cyberattackers are shifting their focus to Asia-Pacific. Cybercriminals are growing in sophistication, and they are constantly finding new ways to victimize consumers and breach enterprises. This calls for a re-evaluation of safeguards against cyber threats. “For consumers, there is really no subsitute to awareness,” said Nagesh Devata, General Manager of Southeast Asia Cross Border Markets for PayPal. “For enterprises, we need to move from reactive to predictive models in risk management.” PayPal, the global leader in digital payments, outlined five consumer tips to secure online payments:

(1) protect your personal information; (2) choose a strong password that combines alphanumeric characters; (3) share personal information only through authentic online banking features (4); opt for a 2-factor authentication, where a user is granted access only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism; and (5) ensure that authentic apps are downloaded for payment. According to PayPal consumer research, 43 percent of consumers in Asia-Pacific identify security as the primary motivation when choosing a payment method while 38 percent choose convenience. With over 286 million active accounts made up of consumers and merchants. PayPal has a foothold on both equations of the purchasing process. “This puts us in a unique position to find insights

[for consumers and merchants] in the entire process. Cybersecurity is a team sport, and everyone has a part to play.” described Devata. USING DATA TO MITIGATE RISK PayPal anchors its risk management on data science as it bridges technology and business. Through its two sidednetwork, it is able to study both sides of the transaction while providing buyer protection, data encryption, and a seamless experience for its customers. For PayPal, data not only enables better customer experiences, but also enables it to take on more risk. “At the heart of everything we do with data, we do for our customers and to help our customers connect better,” said Devata. “There is a strong network effect in the digital payments business. And we want to enable the good guys while keeping the bad guys Turn to C3

VIVO HAS 3 EXCITING REVELATIONS THIS QUARTER VIVO will reportedly make three exciting revelations that will definitely capture everybody’s attention this last quarter of the year. If it is any indication about the first big splash coming soon, several videos and images teasing a new smartphone model, perhaps the Vivo V17 Pro, have already “surfaced” recently on Vivo’s Facebook page. And fans are already talking about the supposed dual selfie camera that seems to sit on Vivo’s iconic elevating front mechanism. Following the launch of the NEX 3 smartphone series in Shanghai, China, many are also speculating that the second big revelation for Vivo could be the availability of the NEX 3 smartphone in the local market. If this is so, many are already looking forward to Vivo’s announcement especially since a lot of smartphone enthusiasts were amazed

with NEX 3’s industry-leading 5G technologies, innovative display design concept and intelligent applications. Local fans are also speculating about possible new accessories to Vivo smartphones such as Bluetooth earphones especially since the global technology company has launched a true wireless stereo earphone in the Shanghai technology convention. There are also rumors of super-fast chargers that will soon be available. Whatever revelations Vivo will make this quarter, there is no doubt that it will make quite a big splash not only among consumers but also in the industry, especially since the leading global technology company has been known to pioneer trend-setting innovations. Could this mysterious smartphone with dual selfie camera be one of the three exciting revelations fans should

look forward to from Vivo this quarter? Vivo is a leading global technology company committed to creating trendsetting smart mobile innovations and services. Vivo is devoted to forming a vibrant mobile internet ecosystem, and currently

owns and operates an extensive network of research operations, with R&D centers focusing on the development of cuttingedge consumer technologies including 5G, AI, mobile photography and nextgeneration smartphone design.

IT’S now easy to find a nurse for your baby with this handy app. Meet AIDE, the convenient app that quickly gets you a nurse—or any licensed healthcare professional In 2016, the Philippine Statistics Authority released a report which showed that the so-called “ber” months see the highest birth rates in the country. September had the highest rate at 164,038, which comprised 9.5 percent of the total birth rate that year. October came in next with 9.3 percent, and November with 8.9 percent. If you’re having a baby around this time, you might be one among the hundreds of thousands who are, as well. And as we all know, the constant vigilance needed to take care of a baby gets very exhausting for both new and seasoned parents. With everything that’s going on, from looking after your baby to dealing with postpartum care, it doesn’t hurt to get a little help—an extra pair of hands, if you will. What if we told you that you could book a caregiver as easy as you could grab a car through your favorite ridesharing app? This is what’s possible today with AIDE, the first iPhone and Android app that lets you easily book a nurse, a caregiver, or any other licensed medical professional with a single tap. With AIDE, finding the right help for you is now possible. Who knew that booking for a 12-hr night or day shift caregiver could be as easy as booking a hotel reservation? AIDE app offers just that! Be able to book a day or night duty nursing care by easily requesting a schedule through the AIDE app. Most parents even book in advance to secure a schedule for their upcoming birth. Here’s how easy it is to book a professional using AIDE With just a few taps on their phone, AIDE aims to lend a hand to those who need help for both themselves and their loved ones. • Download the AIDE App at Apple app store or Google Play store • Sign up and create your profile • Go to the NURSING CARE (longterm) section of the app • Choose who the visit is for and what are the responsibilities of the caregiver • Wait for a confirmation via app regarding your request • Once confirmed, comfortably wait for your home care partner to arrive at your home This service is not only for your little bundle of joy but also available for elderly care, whether it be for companionship or medical and daily living assistance. This way, we can provide our grandparents or parents the same love and care that they gave us when we were young. What’s even better is if you try AIDE now, you can enjoy ongoing promos this month for newborn and elderly caregiving duties—avail of a 10-day caregiver duty for only P1,000 per 12 hour shift (appointment period must be from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019)! You can schedule appointments in advance and avail them at a later date this season. Download the app and book right away, as slots run out quick! AIDE also offers doctor visits, home laboratory tests, vaccinations, medicine delivery, and physical therapy. Established by siblings Paolo Bugayong, Pamela Bugayong-Donato, and Patrick Bugayong, MD in 2016, AIDE aims to bring quality home healthcare in the comfort of your own home. It got a boost in October 2018, when Ayala Healthcare Holdings invested in AIDE in line with its strategy of developing the healthtech industry in the country. For more info and updates on AIDE and their promos, like AIDE on Facebook at facebook.com/aideapp and follow on Instagram at @aideapp.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

The Old Volcano dive site is known for its spectacular canyon. (Photo by Edgar Yap)

DIVING

IN CAMIGUIN caption

BEST-KEPT SECRET. Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas invites trekkers to commune with nature at the Santelmo Eco-trail which offers three breathtaking viewpoints.

“I

N EVERY walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”

Words from Scottish-American author and environmental philosopher John Muir that ring true especially in today’s age of hyperconnectivity, of attachments and push notifications. Hiking is one of the popular ways to detach from the bustling

metropolis and rediscover the beauty and serenity of nature. We disconnect to reconnect, right? A new trail in Batangas, suitable for both amateur and seasoned hikers, offers a reinvigorating union with nature. The Santelmo Eco-trail is Hamilo Spend a night at Cabeza de Paloma camp site.

The ‘angel’ serving us specially mixed cocktails.

The thick canopy of tree branches helps shade the path.

Coast in Nasugbu’s best-kept secret—until today. Those who dare conquer the Santelmo Eco-trail can look forward to three viewpoints on the mountain, each showcasing a special and unique view. A path is easily visible heading up the mountain and to the first viewpoint. A line of rope tied from tree to tree serves as a banister to hold on to when climbing steep paths up and down the trail, making the climb easier to navigate. The thick canopy of tree branches helps shade the path, keeping trekkers cool from the sun at any

time of the day as they ascend the mountain. The first viewpoint presents a picturesque view of Pico de Loro Cove. From here, trekkers can appreciate Hamilo Coast’s artistry of seamlessly weaving nature and modern living in this beach resort town. A bench lets one rest while taking in the view. The second viewpoint is a bit more challenging. Located 114-meter above sea level, heading here raises the bar of difficulty for first-time trekkers. The steep trail also tests one’s agility. To Turn to D2

Here is one of the tables with the human centerpiece wearing a candelabra on her head.

A GALAXY OF CULINARY DELIGHTS MERCURY RISING BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

THE SMX Convention Center Manila in the Mall of Asia Complex is the biggest venue in the country for trade and industry events, conventions,

and exhibitions. Every year, its management invites its loyal patrons and throws a lavish culinary event, Culinaire, which guests rave about even after several weeks. This year, SMX presented “A Constellation of Culinary Wonders.” It was actually more like a GALAXY of culinary treats or, pure and simple, a foodie’s HEAVEN, a PARADISE for those with big appetites! The purpose of this much anticipated celebration is really to showcase the capabilities of the conven-

A NEW diving haven in the Philippines emerges with the successful conclusion of the first Camiguin Dive Festival An initiative of the Camiguin Provincial Government and the Department of Tourism-Region 10, the event registered over 500 divers from dive groups from Manila, Batangas, Cebu, and Bohol, as well as from Spain, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Korea, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Located off northern Mindanao mainland, the island province has 20 top dive sites. Mantigue Island Nature Park is a marine sanctuary surrounded by a nice drop off reef, while Old Volcano has a spectacular canyon.

tion center to take care of the food and beverage requirements of its clients, regardless of the number of attendees in the booked event, thus, the abundance of food that evening. To use a cliché, it was practically coming out of my ears! There were 15 full buffet spread scattered around the periphery of the humongous hall, courtesy of SMX’s accredited caterers. Each of them offered the particular delicacy they are known for. And to be sure that guests got to try everything, we were given a “map” showing the lo-

cation of each buffet station. The small “map” had to be validated when you get your food at every station. All 15 stamps earned for myself a pair of huggable stuffed animals, perfect gifts for my grandchildren! Participating caterers were: Josiah’s, Hizon’s, M, Conrad Manila, Tjioe, Via Mare, Goldilocks, Event Shaker, Kitchen City, Bizu, Manila Catering, Juan Carlo, Creamery, Albergus, and LJC. I went to all the stations, but I just couldn’t eat everything they Turn to D2

Lauren Hubbard's photo that won the first place in macro category.

According to Camiguin governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, the two-month dive festival placed the province in the dive circuit of the Philippines. Hence, he stressed the importance of responsible diving and the province’s efforts in protecting its rich environment. A highlight of the festival was the Underwater Photography Competition which awarded Peter Gosling and Lauren Hubbard, who bested other contestants in wide angle and macro categories, respectively. Both are from the United Kingdom and hosted by Black Beach Divers. Following the event’s success, Romualdo said Camiguin will roll out programs to support dive tourism campaign. He added that he envisions the fest to become another sports and adventure tourism event that raises people’s environmental awareness. Romualdo stated that scuba diving will be an added attraction and activity in the forthcoming 40th Lanzones Festival on Oct. 20-27.

Peter Gosling's award-winning wide angle shot.

Destinations

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

LIVING HIS BEST LIFE.

Stage 4 cancer has not stopped Bobby Joseph from serving his country and helping his countrymen in ways he can.

By Sara Grace C. Fojas

TAGE 4 cancer may stop a person from doing things they used to do before, much less pursue new endeavors.

But Robert "Bobby" Joseph is not one of them. Instead of resting and enjoying the luxuries he can afford in life, he chose to use his energy to help the country and his countrymen. His advocacies in the tourism sector have enabled him to lend a helping hand to the people in need. He uses his resources to help put the Philippines on the world map. “I started training when I was 18. I worked for an airline for free from nearly a year where I learned about ticketing, reservations, sales, and marketing strategies,” relates Joseph. He continues, “After that I worked my way to the top until I landed on Korean Airlines where they tasked me to bid for a Philippine convention in 1982. We won the 17th Annual General Assembly of World Airlines Clubs Association in the country.” When Ninoy Aquino died in 1983, and the country was in shambles,

Joseph recalls people were then scared to come to the country. “So I went to Europe, Florida, and Thailand to assure them that the country is safe. In 1987, the convention pushed through and I was able to get 487 delegates. I went to bid knowing that I would be retrenched. I did it with a group of colleagues who believed in me. We had no subsidies, doing it all for the country.” If you look at him, you wouldn’t see a hint of cancer in him. He even has that youthful energy and glow. To date, he has already came up with three books containing instructions for the people in various industries. “In 2008, I came up with an operating manual called MICE. It is a guide for organizing meetings, symposiums, conference, seminars, and congress including the objectives, timetables, policies, and announcements. We also have a breakdown of the different committees and

TREK... From D1 make the climb a bit easier, locals and the Hamilo Coast team built sturdy makeshift stairs made of soil, wood, and rocks. Tour guides provide interesting trivia on the various flora and fauna that thrive in the forest, including different possible food sources along the way. These trained tour guides assure trekkers a safe hike and they are equipped to assist anyone who might need help. The reward for the climb is an astonishing view of Santelmo Cove’s quiet and pristine white sand beach, blending beautifully with the lush green all around. Going deeper into the forest, trekkers are treated to brief encounters with wildlife. Indigenous birds fly over and break the silence with their chirping melodies. Forest fauna move swiftly and blend into the trees as if extending a shy welcome to the visitors. Occasionally, there are sightings of playful monkeys swinging from branch to branch, curious about the hikers yet cautious not to fully reveal themselves. The third and last viewpoint takes trekkers to a whole new level with its 360-degree view of Hamilo Coast. From the northeast can be seen the Batangas terrain with its beautiful and lush protected forest, while to the west one will experience a scenic view of the horizon of the West Philippine Sea. On the southeast is a sight of Pico De Loro Cove’s deluxe development. The adventure does not stop at the end of this trek. Less than a kilometer from the third viewpoint, trekkers can further their experience of being one with nature by camping at Cabeza de Paloma. A smaller cove within Pico de Loro Cove, Cabeza de Paloma is the perfect and safe site for campers who want to take in more of nature and experience the peaceful and clear night sky. Adventurers may unwind and disconnect from the noise while hanging around a bonfire enjoying barbecue cooked in a pit. Hamilo Coast is SM Prime’s master-planned seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas. It is approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road.

what they have to do, action plans, and safety and security. It also has a checklist and some practical tips for organizing events,” he shares. His other book, Guide to Global VIPs, identifies countries and the do’s and don’ts of that nation. “This book also contains protocol for the Philippines. The entrance of the host, the order of VIPs on the table from the President down to the other politicians, because as Filipinos, we should know all of these,” he says. Right now, Joseph still has a lot on his plate but he is currently focused on his latest advocacy— farm tourism. “We have a lot on farm tourism because right now our focus is to develop farms and turn it into ‘farm and tourism.’ We are currently improving destinations to encourage people to invest on our farms,” he shares. “Hindi natatapos ang mga gagawin (there's more to be done), but I am doing this for the country and my fellow Filipinos. Private sector cannot succeed without the collaboration of the government. And we have to continue the media exposure of these projects so that we can help each other solve the different issues of our country.”

A GALAXY... From D1 offered, and just had a bite or two of some of their delicious treats. I have to confess that I wasted quite a bit of food. If she were around, the late Mother Teresa would surely have reprimanded me, seeing the amount of food left on my plate. To make the event even more eye-catching, a contest was conducted among the caterers and prizes were given to the Best Entrée, Best Dessert, Best Buffet Décor, Best Table Centerpiece, and many others. You can imagine the kaleidoscope of colors inside the venue. What I found really unique were the human table centerpieces set up by the catering company, Juan Carlo. Its workers cut up a hole at the center of a big round table. Inside the hole stood a lovely maiden, dressed in a skintight costume, with a lit candelabra on her head (photo somewhere on this page)!

THE MAN WITH A HEART FOR HIS COUNTRY

With DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and Rotary Club Manila president Jackie Rodriguez.

Skal International Makati leaders (from left) former New World Makati Hotel general manager Farid Schoucair, Joseph, former Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, and Marriott Manila general manager Bruce Winton.

Guests seated around the table were so en- Opus One and they sang all my favorite tertained by this human centerpiece, and her songs, from Broadway hits to old stanrhythmic movements. Of course, the poor girl dards. I am thrilled every time I encounter had to continue doing what she had to do for a boy band like this because, these days, it the entire duration of the dinner, which lasted is quite rare to find one who sings songs close to two hours! Good thing they won the from my era. prize for the Best CenThis yearly Cuterpiece! linaire of SMX is cerAnother catertainly much appreYOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE ing company, Event ciated. It is a great Shaker, had a unique way for it to flaunt its Q: What do you call a Frenchman “angel” serving guests superiority, its posiwearing sandals? with its own alcoholic tion as the biggest A: Phillipe Phillope concoction. The beauconvention center in tifully painted wings the country. It is also of the angel encouran impressive feast aged a lot of guests, for the senses! including me, to stand in front of it and have How can you not be impressed when you’re their photos taken as “an angel!” served delectable culinary treats by people Not only was the food abundant, the en- who compete in giving you the best? tertainment was also fantastic. They had a group of young boys who call themselves For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

Opus One singing Broadway hits and old standards.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

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

South Korean heartthrob Lee Seung Gi will meet his Pinoy fans once again in a fan meet that’s going to be held at New Frontier Theatre on Oct 12.

FOUR LEE SEUNG GI DRAMAS TO WATCH BEFORE HIS BIG FAN MEET NEXT MONTH Ella with onscreen partner Julian Trono

The young actress shows off her Balanghai trophy, which she won for her memorable role in the film ‘Edward.’

By Nickie Wang

King 2 Hearts (2012) Set in a reimagined time period where the South Korea’s monarchy never ended and the royal family’s bloodline still continues, the series is about how South Korean Prince Lee Jae Ha (portrayed by Seung Gi) and North Korean Special Forces Officer Kim Hang Ah (played by Ha Ji Won) fell in love. As they decide to get engaged, the biggest challenge comes their way: overcoming their differences as citizens coming from the opposite sides of the Korean peninsula. Gu Family Book (2013) The roles are reversed from Lee Seung Gi’s role in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho as he is now the one who plays a mystical being named Choi Kang Chi. Kang Chi was orphaned by his parents—guardian spirit Gu Wol Ryung and nobleman’s daughter Yoo Seo Hwa. Despite this, he still grew up to be loyal and with a good heart, which made Dam Yeo Wool (played by Bae Suzy) fall in love with him.

N 2015, she was dubbed the “Millennial Dance Princess” after releasing a series of dance videos online. One of her first videos where she gyrated to the tune of “Twerk It Like Miley” garnered over 13 million views. That viral video was considered Ella Cruz’s breakthrough, even if she began her career when she was just 10 years old. Now 23, the young Viva Artists Agency star has nothing but gratefulness in heart as she thanks the people who have been rooting for her and supporting her career. She celebrates another milestone in her career now being a certified award-winning actress. “I wouldn’t be here without them. I think the best part of being in this industry is knowing that there are people who believe in your talent. It inspires me to do more and it it motivates me to be the best version of myself,” Ella told Manila Standard in an interview. Ella was hailed as the Best Supporting Actress in the recently concluded Cinemalaya film fest for her role in the critically-acclaimed drama, Edward. The win was somewhat of a surprise for many festival fans and showbiz observers who were expecting a more seasoned actress to claim the honor. But no one was probably more surprised than Ella herself. “I couldn’t believe it when they gave me the award. ‘Di ko po talaga in-expect ‘to. This is my first award after 10 years of doing acting that’s why winning an award is really a big deal for me. Finally, I can already see the fruit of my labor,” Ella said. The award citation noted Ella’s “totally winning portrayal of a street smart girl who toughens up but without bitterness amidst the oppressive conditions of society.”

Edward also won the Special Jury Prize at the Cinemalaya. It opens in cinemas nationwide on October 2. Awardwinning w r i t e r director Joey Reyes, who was part of the festival screening committee, likewise gave his thumbs up for Ella’s performance. “She has proven that there is more to her than her pelvic gyrations,” said Reyes. She has since appeared in a string of movies and TV shows including the top-rating TV series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano in which she currently plays a supporting role. The character in Edward is unlike anything Ella has done in movies and on TV. “It’s my first time to do something like that, malayo from the wholesome movie, pero thankful that it was offered to me because I believe it will open more doors for me especially projects that will see me as a serious actress,” she affirmed. On the small screen, Ella returns to romcom in the cable series Sisters Forever (2getherPoorever) together with leading man Julian Trono. The show started airing on Viva TV last night.

From gyrating to the tune of ‘Twerk it like Miley,’ young actress Ella Cruz has definitely come a long way now with an acting award under her belt.

AUSTIN MAHONE RETURNS TO MANILA CHART-TOPPING pop R&B artist Austin Mahone is set to return to Manila on Oct. 22 to stage a concert at the New Frontier Theater. The much anticipated one-nightonly show in the Philippines next month follows a series of sold-out concerts in Madrid, Osaka, Yokohama, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. In 2011, Mahone started posting YouTube videos of himself performing song covers by artists such as Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Jason Mraz. The viral content created an impact significant enough to land him a high-profile deal with Cash Money Records, the label home of Drake andLil Wayne. Mahone subsequently released his first single ”11:11,” followed

FILIPINO “Airens” finally have a chance to meet their beloved “oppa” Lee Seung Gi as he brings his Vagabond Voyage fan meet tour in Manila on Oct. 12 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. The event is certainly a once-in-alifetime opportunity for longtime fans of Seung Gi, but for Korean drama fans hoping to be introduced to his charming persona, we listed down four of his dramas that you can binge-watch (or re-watch) before his fan meet: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (2010) The 32-year-old Hallyu star rose to fame in the Philippines by portraying aspiring action-star Cha Dae Woong in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, which aired on ABS-CBN in 2011. He starred alongside Shi Min Ah, who played the legendary nine-tailed fox (a.k.a. Gumiho) in human form named Miho. The drama was extremely popular during its run, even earning various awards during the SBS Drama Awards.

by ”Say Somethin’” and ”Say You’re Just A Friend. “This unblemished hit streak lead him to debut on the road as the opening act for Taylor Swift’s Red Tour and headline a series of major shows for MTV’s Artist To Watch. The Secret, Mahone’s first EP, soared to No. 5 on the Billboard 200, along with crowd favorites ”AllIEverNeed” and ”Mmm Yeah” featuring Pitbullwhich reached No. 2 on the iTunes Chart and Top 20 on the Billboard Pop Songs Chart. His immediate rise to pop stardom earned Austin a number of accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, MTV Europe Music Award, iHeartRadio Music Award, Radio Disney Music Award, Teen Choice Award, and Young Hollywood Award. As of today, he has amassed a solid online following over 30 million followers strong across all social media platforms.

Earlier this year, the 23-year-old singersongwriter introduced this brand-new sound with the retro track ”Why Don’t We” penned by Charlie Puth. The instant bop easily accumulated more than seven million streams on Spotify. In June, Austin followed it up with the fresh summer anthem ”Dancing With Nobody” produced by Ian Kirkpatrick (Dua Lipa) and written by Sam Martin (Maroon 5) and Lindy Robbins (Demi Lovato). Austin Mahone Live in Manila 2019 is presented by Ovation Productions on its 40th Year Promoting the Biggest Names in Live Entertainment, in cooperation with TAP Edge: The Home of Live Action Sports. Ticket prices are P4,760/ 3,700/ 2,640 /1,590 available via www.ticketnet.com.ph and TicketNet outlets. For inquiries, call (02)911-5555 or (02)532-8883.

Hwayugi: A Korean Odyssey (2017-2018) Fresh from airing on ABS-CBN just last year, Hwayugi is a spin-off of the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Lee Seung Gi plays the powerful yet deceitful immortal Son Oh Gong who is bound to Jin Seon Mi due to his contract with her as a little kid 25 years ago. Things become complicated when the two try not to fall with each other after Seon Mi unintentionally traps Son Oh-gong’s heart with a magical bracelet making him her “love prisoner.”

This 2019, Lee Seung Gi is set to star in new spy drama titled Vagabond, reuniting him with his Gu Family Book co-star Bae Suzy. His fan meet in Manila, presented by Hook Entertainment and Applewood with ABS-CBN Events and CDM Entertainment, is just one of the four stops in his Vagabond Voyage tour in Asia. Tickets can be bought for P9,500 (MVP), P6,850 (VIP) and P4,000 (Airen Pass). MVP ticket holders get to be on a group photo with Lee Seung Gi, VIP tickets holders have a chance to be a part of the group photo while Airen pass holders can win a poster signed by the Korean star.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

MY FURRY BESTIE

A WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM M

FOR FAT DOGS

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.

ORE and more dogs are getting obese. Vets are warning owners to have their pet checked out for health concerns related to unnatural weight gain. “Obesity in animals can cause a variety of health-related problems and may even shorten the lifespan of your beloved pet. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to become informed on the issue and find a healthy way to get your pet’s weight back on track, “ says Jessica Remitz in “Overweight Pets: Addressing the Epidemic (Battling the Bulge)” in PetMD.com.

Causes of obesity

Katie Grzyb, a vet at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in Brooklyn, NY, said pets become overweight for several reasons: 1. too much caloric intake, 2. too little exercise, 3. too frequent feedings, and 4. consuming table scraps or food made for people. Treats also contribute a lot to obesity, Remitz said. Pets, unlike humans, have a difficult time controlling themselves when offered food and treats, said Remitz. “Most pets are always happy to eat,” she added. “’Many pet owners feel that feeding their pets treats or several meals a day helps them bond and shows their pet that they are loved,’” Dr. Grzyb said. “In actuality, feeding too much or [giving them] the wrong kinds of food

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

can be harmful and cause long term problems,” said Dr. Grzyb said.

Effect of Obesity on Your Pet

Health conditions may arise due to obesity. These are: hip dysplasia, osteroarthritis, pancreatitis, and diabetes, kidney and heart disease, high blood pressure, and many forms of cancer, among others. A shortened life expectancy is also associated with overweight pets.

Mama Bella (black) and son Dathir play and roam every day to stay fit and trim.

Helping an overweight pet

It is never too late to help an overweight pet get back on track. In “7 Surprising Ways To Help Your Pet Lose Weight (And Why It’s Important)” in Pet Health Network, Dr. Ernie Ward (DVMP listed ways to help your pet lose weight. 1. Count the calories Please ask your vet how to compute the ideal number of calories for your pet. Here is a formula for computing the proper number of calories: a. Divide your pet’s weight by 2.2. b. Multiply this figure times 30. c. Add 70 and you will have a general idea of how many calories you should be feeding a typical inactive, indoor spayed or neutered dog or cat weighing between 6 and 60 pounds.

Playing and running are part of the everyday routine of Ace and Feronia (left). These 1.5 year old dogs, both up for adoption, maintain their ideal weight because of these forms of exercise.

** [(pet’s weight in lbs/2.2) x 30] +70 ** “Of course, each pet’s metabolism is different so be sure to consult your veterinarian before starting a diet,” Ward said. 2. Measure the food Do not simply fill the bowl. Ward said it is best to use a measuring cup and to stop giving an “all-day-buffet” to pets. 3. Tactical treating Choose the treats you give your pets, Ward said. “Too many pet treats are what I call ‘calorie grenades’ laden with sugar and fat blowing up our pet’s waistlines and destroying their health,” Ward said. “Choose low-calorie, no-sugar goodies that provide a health benefit. I like single ingredient treats such as sweet potato, salmon, and blueberry bites or functional treats that provide a bonus such as helping to keep teeth clean or promote mobility. Whatever treats you give, be sure to count those additional calories. Many pet owners feed the proper amount of food but sabotage their efforts by adding one or two snacks throughout the day. As few as 30 extra calories per day means your pet gains over three pounds in a year,” Ward stressed. Ward also advised that a pet owner break treats and give them only as a reward for good behavior. “Be cautious of ‘guilt-treating’ – the practice of giving your pet a treat because you feel guilty leaving them home alone. Instead, use treats only as a reward for good behavior. Pets (and people) need to learn to earn extra goodies,” Ward said. 4. Important Veggies

Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, green beans, celery, cucumbers, sliced apples and bananas are good alternatives to store-bought treats. “These naturally nutritious tasty tidbits are a healthy option for many dogs. Be sure not to feed dogs a full apple or banana, as they have high sugar content, “ Ward said. 5. Exercise Dogs, like humans, need exercise. “For dogs, as little as 20 to 30-minutes of brisk walking is all it takes to boost immune function, improve cardiovascular health and reduce many behavioral problems. Do yourself and your dog a favor and commit to daily walks, rain or shine. The health benefits of walking extend to both ends of the leash,” Ward said. 6. Right Supplements Ward listed two supplements to keep pets fit and trim: a. a daily omega-3 fatty acid supplement helps prevent and treat numerous diseases, including achy joints; and b. L-carnitine aids weight loss and promotes lean muscle mass. “Ask your veterinarian if either (or both) of these supplements make sense for your pet’s condition and which ones are good quality,” Ward said. 7. Less carbs Most owners give a high-carbohydrate diet to their pets, Ward noted. But a pet needs a higher protein / low carb diet first for weight loss, Wards said. “Be sure to check with your veterinarian before making any diet changes. Pets with certain conditions, such as kidney failure, may do better on a different type of diet, “ Ward stressed. DC

MATCHA, now eight months old, was rescued when she was a baby. “I got her from the streets while I was driving to work. She literally crossed the street. I got off and took her in, “ says owner Meliton Cruz. “I bring Matcha to work every now and then. My officemates would buy her treats whenever she is around. She loves riding with me whether it be a near or long drive, “ adds Meliton.

WOLVERINE, now two weeks old, was found in an abandoned house. “They were three when my sister and I rescued them. I decided to keep Wolverine. His sisters were adopted by friends," owner Toni Yanga shares. “He has very sharp nails and uses them to climb up my pants up to my chest. He also loves being cuddled and fed with fish,” Toni adds. “We will have him visit his vet very soon for vaccines, “ Toni 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.

EASY-TO-COOK MEALS FOR CATS

Start them young. Give small amounts of home cooked meals as treats to kittens when they are already allowed to eat solid food. (Last part) CAT owners are always looking for the best food for their furbabies. But there are cat owners who have found some cat food brands cause urinary tract infection or kidney problems, or do not contain nutritious ingredients for cats. “Dry kibble tends to be loaded with carbohydrates and plant based proteins. Worse, it is often contaminated by bacteria, fungal mycotoxins and even vermin and their excretions, “ noted Feline Living in “9 Homemade Cat Food Recipes That Are Way Healthier Than Kibble.” “Dry food also does not have a high enough moisture content for cats. Many people remember the mass pet food recalls in 2007 after many unfortunate animals experienced renal failure after eating contaminated food, “ Feline Living added. It is thus a good idea to start cooking your cat’s food. Either the cooked food can replace dry kinbble or canned food, or can be given as a treat to supplement these

manufactured food. But one must know what should be in the food for your cat’s health and safety “Cats that eat healthy are healthy and won’t need to see a vet as often. Plus, a healthy cat is a happy cat,” Feline Living said. Also, offering something new every now and then will make their day exciting. Save ALL Inc.-Save Animals of Love and Light Save ALL Inc.), a SEC-registered animal welfare group, gives rescued cats both manufactured dry and canned (wet) food and cooked food. We give the dry cat food in the morning as caretakers can not cook very early for so many cats, then we give canned or wet food at lunch time so we can put the multivitamins in it. For dinner, we usually give home cooked food. Or we give the new home cooked food on other days to put excitement to their day. Here are the ingredients that will make your cat healthy:

Animal Protein

Cats need protein. “The cat is an obligate carnivore. She needs meat to survive, “ Feline Living stressed. Be careful with some cat food brand that claims their product is high in protein when the real “protein sources are only soy, nuts, lentils or wheat gluten,” Feline Living said. “This will not do. A cat can only digest protein from animal sources. The domestic cat has the shortest digestive tract to body size ratio of any mammal. This makes it very hard for them to digest plant based protein,” Feline Living said.

Animal fats

Cats need easily digestible fats for energy. Cats specifically need omega-6 fatty acids such as linolic and arachidonic acid.

PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS Fish oil, krill oil and flaxseed are all good sources of omega-3 fatty acids but poultry, beef and pork also contain healthy animal protein that your cat needs. However, “If your cat has pancreatitis, you may want to feed her something lower in fat, “ Feline Living said.

Calcium and phosphorus

Calcium and phosphorus are necessary for strong bones and teeth. Calcium also helps in blood clot and phosphorus boosts the repair of cells. “Phosphorus will help your cat metabolize protein and calcium helps those lightning quick muscles work. Small fishes like sardines and anchovies are calcium rich because their bones are tiny enough to be edible, “ Feline Living said. These are available as a vitamin supplement.

Water

Cats’ wild ancestors lived in dry climates. Thus, a modern cat does not drink as much water as needed. It is thus advised that you give food with moisture or add water or meat broth (no salt please) to your cat’s food to keep her hydrated.

Vitamins

It is best to provide food with vitamins your cat needs than to just give a supplement. “Cats can’t convert beta-carotene from plant sources into vitamin A, so it needs to come from an animal source such as halibut, liver and kidneys. Beef liver is also a good source of vitamin D as are tuna,

mackerel and salmon,” Feline Living said. It added: “To help your cat have a healthy coat, vitamin E can be found in eggs. The B vitamins are essential to a cat’s well being and can be found in liver, brown rice, poultry, fish and red meat.”

Bones

Do not give bones. Remove the bone from fish to avoid choking. You can grind the bone instead. “Calcium carbonate not only provides necessary calcium but is a natural preservative. Do keep in mind that your cat can have too much of a good thing where calcium is involved. Don’t overdo it,” Feline Living said.

Organs

Liver and kidneys of chicken, pigs and cows are good for cats. The liver contains vitamin A while kidneys are full of vitamin B vitamins and iron. You can also give heart , tongue and tripe to cats. Heart contains vitamin B12, iron and phosphorus IT should not be overcooked. Beef tongue has B12, iron and zinc but also cholesterol, so give only a little amount. Below are recipes for home-cooked meals. Please check with your vet before giving any of these meals to your cat as some cats may be prone to allergies or may have certain diseases that require less of the ingredients mentioned. 1. Chicken Dinner Ingredients · 1 cup of broiled or baked chicken · 1/4 cup of mashed steamed broccoli · 1/4 cup of mashed steamed carrots · Chicken broth, separated

Peach (inside the cage) and Berry are one-year-old cuties who love home cooked meals and canned food with water. Both are rescued cats who are up for adoption. Directions · Put ingredients in food processor with tablespoons of the chicken broth. · Puree or crumble the ingredients until the combination looks like pate cat food. Slowly add broth until mixture is smooth but not soupy. · Serve at room temperature. Source for recipe: House Cats | Cat Health | Kittens and more... | LoveToKnow 2. Chicken and Tuna Dinner Ingredients · 1/2 cup cooked chicken · 1 can oil packed tuna · 1 tablespoon mashed cooked carrot Directions · Put all ingredients in the food processor · Puree until blended. · You can refrigerate leftovers. Discard the leftover after three days. Source for recipe: https://cats.lovetoknow.com/