Manila Standard - 2021 February 14 - Sunday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXXV • NO. 04 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FOR GOOD LUCK.Not minding the cold weather and the fog, a woman happily strolled around the EMV Flower Farm in Indang, Cavite, surrounded by sunflowers in full bloom. Sunflowers – bright and cheery as the sun itself, are said to symbolize happiness and loyalty. JR Josue

Govt readies indemnity fund

Hospitalization, other compensation for adverse vaccine reactions covered By Joyce Pangco Pañares

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

HE government will compensate those who will develop adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, the Department of Health said yesterday.

(AS OF 4 PM FEB. 13)

547,255 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,960 34,967 NEW

ACTIVE

11,507

500,781

133

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STORIES ON PAGE 2

COMELEC SETS ‘22 POLL SCHED QC RESUMES BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS

COCKROACHES (LIKE LOVE) LAST FOREVER

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire made the clarification yesterday in a radio interview after the delivery of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses was delayed for a week over the lack of an indemnification law. “All of the manufacturers want an indemnification agreement. They do not want to be charged of any case because their products are still under development,” Vergeire said. “It will be the government (who will compensate). If, for example, a person

develops a reaction and has to be hospitalized, this will be covered by the government through PhilHealth,” she added. The Pfizer deliver due Friday was part of the procurement from COVAX, the globally-pooled vaccine procurement and distribution effort co-led by the World Health Organization and the GAVI Alliance. Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has been calling on Congress to pass an indemnification law, which he

year, which account for about 60 percent of the population which is the volume that experts said needed to inoculated to achieve herd immunity. Some 50,000 Filipinos are expected to be vaccinated this month. Galvez said the one-week delay in the mass rollout will not substantially impact on the government’s vaccination plan. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration said people with heart conditions can still receive the vaccine. “Right now, the only ones who are barred from getting the jab are those who have severe allergies to the vaccine contents,” FDA chief Enrique Domingo said. “If you are too frail or too weak, we can hold the vaccine. But for those with stable diseases, they can still get vaccinated,” he added.

NCR mayors buck cinema, arcade reopening Experts warn By Willie Casas

LOCAL ROUNDUP

METRO Manila mayors will appeal to the government to reconsider its directive to allow the reopening of cinemas and video arcades in areas under general community quarantine on Feb. 15, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said in a radio interview on Saturday. “We have reservations. We will likely appeal to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the reopening of cinemas,” said Olivarez, who is also the chairman of the Metro Manila Council. He said he already spoke with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos to manifest the objection of the Metro Manila mayors given that cinemas are enclosed, air-conditioned spaces where moviegoers will gather for more than an hour. “We are also apprehensive over the reopening video game arcades because these are enclosed spaces plus we are

not yet allowing minors to go outdoors,” Olivarez said. The government only allows persons between the ages of 18 to 65 in Metro Manila, which remains under General Community Quarantine, to leave their homes. Make policies based on data The OCTA Research group on Saturday urged government to adopt policies based on data as quaratine restrictions have been eased. Dr. Butch Ong of the OCTA Research group said the government must observe trends in infection spread, particularly in Metro Manila, which the group considers as the virus epicenter. “With the balance of more health care workers and the entry of new variants which are more transmissible, we neer

BIOPHILIC DESIGN FOR WORKPLACES ROSES rot, chocolate is a bit cliché, but cockroaches are forever! So assures the Bronx Zoo in New York, which for this Valentine’s Day is offering to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after your significant other...or your ex. “You don’t always have the right words, but you can give him or her goosebumps. Name a cockroach for your Valentine, because cockroaches...are forever,” assures the zoo’s successful campaign, now a decade old. AFP

said is required by vaccine manufacturers. Pending the passage of the said law, Galvez said the government has submitted a draft indemnity clause to the WHO and GAVI Alliance. “Various concerned units of the government are now discussing how to go about this indemnification. But definitely, government will be supporting and assisting all those who will have reactions to these vaccines,” Vergeire said. She said the compensation will cover not just hospitalization. “There will be other forms of indemnification, not just for hospitalization. We are just working on this and looking at our source of funds,” the Health official added. The government targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the

The design that is intrinsically connected to our love for nature has emerged as one of the most highly recommended office styles in the fit-out sector.

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to be more vigilant... We still consider the National Capital Region as the epicenter so we need to make policies and base these on data and evidence and our previous experience with COVID last year,” Ong said. More UK variant cases recorded The Department of Health late Friday said 19 new infections of the more contagious UK variant of the novel coronavirus have been recorded, bringing the total number of cases of the mutated strain in the country to 44. Three of the patients were from Davao Region — a 10-year-old boy, a 54-year-old female, and a 33-year-old male. Two were detected in Calabarzon while eight infected patients were returning overseas Filipinos. The DOH said it is still verifying if the remaining six patients are local cases or returning overseas Filipinos as well.

BIEBER MARKS V-DAY WITH TIKTOK FIRSTS Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber is celebrating Valentine’s Day in historymaking style, teaming up with TikTok for a series of firsts: the first-ever longform concert event in TikTok history and Justin’s first time performing his fan-favorite 2013 album JOURNALS live from his house.

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COVID-19 may last indefinitely

THE head of the EU’s disease control agency warned the novel coronavirus could last indefinitely even as global infections slowed by nearly half in the last month and vaccine rollouts gathered pace in parts of the world. In an interview, ECDC chief Andrea Ammon urged European countries in particular not to drop their guard against a virus that “seems very well adapted to humans” and may require experts to tweak vaccines over time, as is the case with the seasonal flu. “So we should be prepared that it will remain with us,” according to Ammon, head of the Stockholm-based European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. After the latest harsh wave of a pandemic that started in China more than a year ago, glimmers of hope flickered as an AFP database showed the rate of new Covid-19 infections has slowed by 44.5 percent worldwide over the past month. More than 107 million people have been infected worldwide and nearly 2.4 million have died from COVID-19. But disease experts warned that vaccines won’t end the pandemic unless all countries receive doses in a fast and fair manner. Writing in an open letter published in the Lancet medical journal, the authors said with vaccine stockpiling in wealthier countries, “it could be years before the coronavirus is brought under control at a global level.” AFP

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News

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PH distances from UN reso on Myanmar

IRIDESCENT. A sea of clouds appears along the western skies of Baguio City and Tuba, Benguet a day before Valentines Day. Dave Leprozo

Comelec sets 2022 poll schedule

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the one-week filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for all elective positions for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections from October 1 to 8 this year.

Under Comelec Resolution 10695 made public on Saturday, the poll body also set the campaign period for candidates in national positions (President, Vice-President, Senator, and party-list groups) from Feb. 8, 2022 to May 7, 2022. For candidates in local elective positions (members of House of Representatives and regional, provincial, city, and municipal officials), campaigning begins only on March 25, 2022 but also

House leader backs P420b stimulus fund By Maricel V. Cruz A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Saturday backed the proposed P420billion economic stimulus package under the Bayanihan 3 bill, saying the government needed to ramp up spending to boost the coronavirusbattered economy. “The government should be spending more, not less, to grow the economy, and this is precisely what the Bayanihan 3 is designed for,” Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera said. Herrera is one of the co-authors of House Bill 8628 or the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act filed by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. The bill proposes a P108 billion allocation for additional social amelioration to impacted households; P100 billion for capacity-building for impacted sectors; P52 billion for wage subsidies; P70 billion for capacitybuilding for agricultural producers; P30 billion for internet allowances to teachers and students; P30 billion for assistance to displaced workers; P25 billion for COVID-19 treatment and vaccines; and P5 billion for the rehabilitation of areas affected by recent floods and typhoons. Herrera said the Bayanihan 3 would allow the government to pump-prime the economy by providing much-needed support to sectors severely affected by the pandemic.

LOVE STAMP.

The Philippine Postal Corp. has released 25,000 pieces of its limited Valentine’s Day stamp. Norman Cruz

ends on May 7, 2022. However, campaigning is prohibited during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday on April 14 and 15 next year, respectively. The election period begins on Jan. 9, 2022 and ends on June 8, 2022, during which the gun ban is in effect. This means bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons is prohibited unless authorized in writing by the Comelec.

Also prohibited are: the use of security or bodyguards by candidates unless authorized in writing by the Comelec; organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces; alteration of the territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service; and suspension of elective local officials. Under the overseas absentee voting system. overseas voters may cast their votes in Philippine embassies, consulates, and other posts for one month, from April 10 to May 9 next year. Campaigning abroad, however, is prohibited during this period. On the other hand, local absentee voters have three days to vote on April 27 to 29, 2022. The last day for filing an application

to be a local absentee voter is on March 7, 2022. A liquor ban will be in effect from May 8 to 9 next year, where selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving, or taking intoxicating liquor is prohibited. Campaigning is prohibited on the eve of Election Day and Election Day itself. Also banned are the acts of giving or accepting free transportation, food or drinks, or things of value; and soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against a candidate or any political party in the polling place or within 30 meters of the area. Also not allowed are the opening of booths or stalls for the sale of merchandise or refreshments within a 30-meter radius from the polling place; and the holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races, or similar sports.

JUST FOR TWO.

Dining pods at the Atrium of SM Ciity East Ortigas allow guests to enjoy a cozy, sociallydistanced date. A pod can accommodate two guests and can be used for an hour and a half. Norman Cruz

IPO seeks united front vs. pirated goods By Joel E. Zurbano COUNTERFEIT commodity remains a serious concern in the Philippines. As locked-down customers shop online, fake products are flooding in, prompting the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to ask the help of concerned agencies like the Bureau of Customs to help in going against the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated goods. On Feb. 10, representatives of IPOPHL led by Director General Rowel Barba and makers of signature products met with officials of the Customsinoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City and discussed possible measures to intensify border protection against rampant intellectual prop-

erty right violations. During the meeting, NAIA collector Carmelita Talusan assured that adequate border security measures were in place to suppress and eradicate all sorts of smuggling activities and modus operandi involving counterfeit goods. In fact, she said, the Customs NAIA was able to intercept smuggled faked signature products such as watches, bags, shoes, sandals, shirts, and accessories worth of P23.2 million in 2020. In 2007, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo authorized the Bureau of Customs to organize a special team through Executive Order 736, which creates the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights. Meanwhile, IPOPHL revealed that complaints on counterfeiting and piracy

filed in 2020 with the agency surged to 121 as the coronavirus pandemic presented lucrative opportunities for unscrupulous traders. Records also showed that most of the complaints concerned counterfeiting while the remaining 54 were on the illegal sharing and selling of copyrighted works. Fake apparels were mostly the subject of complaints with 39 or about 77 percent, followed by gadgets with seven (10 percent) and cosmetics with six (9 percent). IPOPHL also stated that 22 piracy complaints involved movies and shows accounting for 40 percent in the category. E-books trailed behind with 14 reports or a 25 percent share, followed by software products with 9 or 16 percent.

QC resumes ban on plastic bags THE Quezon City government will strictly enforce stricter ban on plastic bags and single use plastics, Mayor Joy Belmonte said Saturday. She said beginning March 1, the Quezon City government through its Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) would resume the full implementation of the city-wide plastic bag ban under City Ordinance 2868-2019. The city already implemented the ban in Januar y 2020, but was temporarily lifted in May 2020 through the issuance of the city’s

Localized Guidelines for Modif ied Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and its succeeding versions. “There is a pressing need to strengthen the City’s efforts in response to the global movement to reduce plastic wastes. Our call to action is also in fulfillment of the City’s international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience. With the re-implementation of the plastic bag ban, we hope to promote sustainable practices in the city,” Belmonte said. Maricel V. Cruz

THE Philippines has set itself apart from a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution demanding the release of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained since the military takeover on Fevruary 1. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines took the same position as China, Russia, Venezuela and Bolivia “in dissociating itself” from the resolution despite joining a consensus to adopt the resolution without a vote. In its statement to the UNHRC, the Philippines, a fellow member of Myanmar in the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said it supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar, but stressed that “foreign solutions whether in regional or multilateral contexts, including through this Council” should never be imposed. The 47-member Council based in Geneva adopted unanimously without a vote the resolution brought by the United Kingdom and European Union, which called for the release of Suu Kyi and other detained officials and to allow a UN monitoring team to visit Myanmar. Myanmar’s military takeover sparked pro-democracy protests across the landlocked since last week, defying government ban on mass gatherings. “The Philippines has been supportive of Myanmar’s progress towards a fuller democracy, cognizant of the Army’s role in preserving its territorial integrity and national security, as well as the unifying role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the history of the country and Army her father founded,” the Philippine statement said. “The Lady is a deeply and widely admired icon of democracy among the Filipino people who identify with her and her people, given similar struggles against tyranny in the not distant past; struggles that culminated in the complete restoration of democracy by unprecedented and entirely domestic efforts that inspired similarly successful efforts in the rest of the Cold War world.” It added, the full realization of Myanmar’s democratic process can only be achieved thru “complete restoration of the status quo ante.” “Myanmar made important strides towards democratization in the past decade with the political presence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, constitutional constraints on her key political role notwithstanding. This was clear in Myanmar’s engagement in the Universal Periodic Review last month,” the Philippine statement said. “The Philippines will settle for nothing less than, and nothing else but the complete restoration of the status quo in which Myanmar had made so much progress.”

‘Laguna de Bay as potable water source’ A LAWMAKER from Metro Manila wants the government to use Laguna de Bay as one of the sources of potable water for Metro Manila. Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said “we have to take full advantage of Laguna Lake’s largely untapped water resources. There are modern technologies available to rigorously clean the vast amounts of water that may be sustainably recycled from the lake.” The 2.2 billion cubic meters of water naturally deposited in the 90,000-hectare lake is a mix of water from dozens of rivers and streams, rainwater, stormwater runoff and sewage. Campos cited the need to diversify the national capital region’s water sources amid rapid consumption growth and recurring dry spells due to harsh climate change. “The reprocessing of Laguna Lake’s water supply will also help lessen flooding, which is a persistent problem in surrounding communities,” Campos, a member of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said. The lake tends to overflow during heavy rains, causing floods in parts of Laguna, Rizal and eastern Metro Manila. “By reusing water from the lake, Metro Manila’s private water concessionaires will also achieve in one action their dual obligations to deliver roundthe-clock water supply to consumers and to provide wastewater treatment facilities,” Campos said, referring to Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. Maricel V. Cruz

World

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Protesters block arrests as UN demands Suu Kyi release YANGON -- Opposition to Myanmar’s new military regime intensified on Saturday as spontaneous neighborhood watch groups mobilized to thwart arrests of anti-coup activists and the UN demanded the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The army takeover that brought a decade-old democracy to an end last week has unleashed a storm of anger and defiance, with huge daily protests bringing urban centers around the country to a standstill. Since taking Suu Kyi and her top allies into custody, troops have stepped up arrests of civil servants, doctors and others joining strikes demanding the generals relinquish power. Crowds defied overnight curfews to mass on the streets as night fell, hours after finishing a seventh straight day of rallies, following rumors that police were preparing to launch a fresh wave of arrests. One group swarmed a hospital in the city of Pathein on rumors that a popular local doctor would be taken, chanting a Buddhist prayer urging protection from harm. “If I have problems, I will ask for your help,” doctor Than Min Htut told the group who had come to aid him, flashing the three-finger salute that has come to symbolize resistance to the coup. Than Min Htut spoke to AFP on Saturday to confirm he was still free and would continue to participate in a civil disobedience campaign opposing military rule. People in Yangon skirted a junta ban on Facebook to organize neighborhood watch groups that warned of rumored arrests. They signalled calls to gather outside buildings by banging pots and pans -- a nightly phenomenon in the days after the coup that is traditionally associated with driving out evil. “We didn’t know who will be taken, but when we heard the sound, we went out to join our neighbors,” said Tin Zar, a storekeeper in Yangon’s north. “Even if they shoot, we are not afraid,” she told AFP. More than 320 people have been arrested since last week’s coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group. AFP

SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Valentine’s Day messages decorate the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. The messages to the US were installed by US First Lady Jill Biden, according to her office. AFP

Peru health chief quits over vaccine scandal

IMA—Peru’s health minister resigned Friday, state TV reported, amid a growing scandal over claims that former President Martin Vizcarra was vaccinated against COVID-19 before the jab was available to the public.

Pilar Mazzetti -- who had served as the country’s minister of health since July last year -- has presented her letter of resignation to President Francisco Sagasti, state television network TV Peru reported. The

government is yet to formally confirm she is stepping down. Her successor is due to be sworn in Saturday, local media said, and will be the South American nation’s fifth health minister since the pandemic first emerged in the country 11 months ago. They will take office as the country continues to be hammered by a second wave of COVID-19 -- hospitals are overrun with more than 14,100 coronavirus patients and have reported a lack of oxygen to treat those with breathing problems. Peru only began its immunization program on Tuesday, two days after receiving 300,000 vaccine doses from state-owned Chinese company Sinopharm. But the Peru 21 newspaper reported Thursday that former President Viz-

carra had been vaccinated in secret in October, just weeks before he was impeached and removed from office on charges that he was “morally incompetent.” Vizcarra has insisted he had merely volunteered to take part in a vaccine trial for the Sinopharm jab. “I made the brave decision to join the 12,000 volunteers,” the former president, who is currently campaigning to win a seat in congress in April’s general election, has said. Vizcarra, 57, said he kept the fact a secret -- his wife also took part in the trial -- because “volunteers have to maintain confidentiality.” However, rival legislator Ali Mamani said his party would make a formal complaint against Vizcarra. AFP

Feminist dating app Bumble takes Wall Street by storm

RESISTANCE.

A protester holds onto his dog with a sign denouncing the military coup during a demonstration in Naypyidaw on February 12, 2021. AFP

WASHINGTON -- US dating app Bumble, where women make the first move, won Wall Street’s heart as it went public Friday, with markets valuing the company at $13 billion. Bumble offered 50 million shares at a price of $43 each, allowing it to raise more than $2 billion. The New York Stock Exchange welcomed its new arrival, listed as “BMBL,” with open arms: its shares shot up by 63.51 percent to $70.31 dollars in its first trading session, given the company a market capitalization of $13 billion. Dating apps have been hugely successful since the pandemic began and singles found themselves without venues to meet up. One of the best-known players in the sector, Match, owner of Bumble’s rivals Tinder and Meetic, has seen its shares increase fivefold on Wall Street since March and the outbreak of the pandemic in the United States. Bumble Inc, which includes the Badoo and Bumble apps, was launched in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, 31, a former president of marketing for Tinder. She wants Bumble to become a global social platform, first and foremost feminist and at the service of love, but also catering to professional and friendship issues and offering what she says is the power for women

to create the relationships they want. A year after its launch, the application claimed 15 million subscribers and 80 million meetings. By 2020, Bumble had 54 million monthly users, according to Bloomberg, and 2.4 million paid subscribers through Bumble and Badoo. Both apps, which were acquired by the Blackstone investment fund in 2019, employ 600 people in Austin, Texas and have offices in several European cities. “Bumble’s IPO coming just in time for Valentine’s,” said Wall Street 24/7, an investment newsletter. “The market for online dating has become increasingly popular over the past decade and is now the most common way for new couples to meet in the United States,” it said. The “Great Lockdown” has pushed singles around the world to dating apps. When the pandemic hit, Tinder posted record usage on March 29, with more than three billion swipes. The number of messages exchanged on competitor Bumble shot up 26 percent the same month in the United States. With its uninhibited and feminist approach, where only women are allowed to make the initial move, Bumble has found success with teens, millennials and older demographics. AFP

Global call to probe ‘violent deaths’in Honduras TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras—The United Nations, European Union and United States have urged Honduras to investigate the recent deaths of six young women in just four days, including a nurse who died in police custody. Honduras police said Keyla Martinez, 26, was arrested last Saturday night for violating the coronavirus curfew in La Esperanza in the country’s west, and claimed officers found her in her cell hours later “trying to kill herself.” The hospital she was brought to said she was dead on arrival, and prosecutors said an autopsy showed Martinez had died from hanging. But her mother, Norma Rodriguez, told AFP that she is “one hundred percent sure that my daughter was killed.” “She was murdered in the cells of the National Police, where she should have been protected,” she said, as some 200

family members, friends and supporters of Martinez marched through downtown La Esperanza calling for justice. The Anticorruption Coalition of civic groups has urged authorities to bring to justice those responsible for her death so that the crime, like “90 percent of murders of women” in Honduras, does not go unpunished. Amnesty International on Tuesday called for a “prompt, exhaustive, independent and impartial investigation into Keyla’s death” and urged authorities to end “the excessive use of force against those mourning this human loss and demanding justice” in recent protests. In a joint statement late Thursday, the UN and the EU delegation in Honduras said they “urge the authorities to carry out actions aimed at clarifying these facts and all those linked to any form of gender violence, in a thorough, impartial, expeditious and transparent manner.” AFP

VACCINE ROLLOUT. Airport workers unload shipping containers with Sputnik V vaccine doses against COVID-19, at the Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. The shipment with 400,000 Sputnik V vaccine doses arrived in Argentina, in what represents the fourth delivery for the South American country from the Russian laboratory Gamaleya. Argentina crossed the barrier of 2 million infected on February 10, since the first case detected in March 3, 2020. AFP

Biden wants Guantanamo prison closed WASHINGTON—US President Joe Biden wants to close the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects before the end of his term, the White House said Friday, echoing an unfulfilled campaign promise from Barack Obama’s administration. Asked at a press conference about a possible closure of the prison in Cuba during Biden’s tenure, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, “That certainly is our goal and our intention.” She said the administration was working through the National Security Council to “assess the current state of play that the Biden administration has -well, we’ve inherited from the previous administration.” In his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump expressed willingness to keep the Guantanamo prison open and “fill it with bad guys.” The Republican retained this position once elected. However, some detainees were promised their release from Guantanamo under his Democratic predecessor Obama, but he never succeeded in working out a compromise with Congress. Biden was Obama’s vice president. The military prison accommodates inmates linked to the US “war on terror” including Pakistani Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks. It still houses around 40 detainees, 26 of whom are considered too dangerous to be released, but legal proceedings drag on due to the complexity of their cases. After 9/11, the US Army, under the presidency of George W. Bush, quickly built the detention center on a naval base belonging to the United States at the eastern tip of Cuba, on a small enclave ceded by Cuba to the United States in 1903, to thank its powerful neighbor for its help in the war against the Spaniards. AFP

Mario Draghi assumes post as Italian PM ROME—Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi will be sworn in Saturday as Italy’s new prime minister, charged with guiding his country through the devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. The 73-year-old, known as Super Mario for doing “whatever it takes” to save the eurozone, has put together a national unity government involving almost all Italy’s political parties. He was parachuted in by President Sergio Mattarella after the previous center-left coalition under premier Giuseppe Conte collapsed, leading Italy rudderless at a critical time. Italy is battling the pandemic that hit one year ago, leaving more than 93,000 people dead and triggering the country’s deepest recession since World War II. Draghi has spent the last 10 days assembling a broad-based coalition and on Friday night formally accepted the post of prime minister in a meeting with Mattarella. He spoke only to read out a list of his cabinet -- a mix of technocrats, veteran politicians and existing ministers -- but will return on Saturday to be formally sworn in at the presidential palace. AFP

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Business

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

Filipino conglomerate instills innovation ABOITIZ Group executives take a long-term view and champion innovative strategies to succeed amid and beyond the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Speaking virtually to 516 team leaders at the 2021 Aboitiz Leaders Conference on Feb. 4 and 5, Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz underscored that innovation should be “instilled” and not merely “lived.” “An instilled value of innovation will help carry us through these disruptive times. The way we lead our organization will determine the future of everyone who depends on us,” he said. The Aboitiz LeadCon this year carried the theme “The Aboitiz Way: Driving Resiliency and Innovation.” Aboitiz said that “instilling” innovation would lead to deep-rooted value and the resilience needed for the future. “Instilling the value of innovation is establishing that belief within ourselves for the long term and influencing others to do the same, every single day. When people are talking about innovation and doing it moment by moment without being told, that is the true measure of success in instilling this value,” he said. During the Aboitiz LeadCon, CEOs of the group’s various businesses such as AboitizPower, UnionBank, Pilmico, Aboitiz InfraCapital, Republic Cement, AboitizLand and Aboitiz Construction also delivered performance updates and directions, specifically their companies’ collective efforts in applying and incorporating innovation in their operations to provide better service, achieve optimum results and improve efficiency. “We will only achieve our strategic growth objectives in the post-COVID world by truly believing that an instilled value of innovation is what we leaders want to leave behind for the future generation,” Aboitiz said. During the conference, two concepts were also given due emphasis: “radical candor” and “remix.” Radical candor was discussed by the Aboitiz LeadCon keynote speaker Kim Scott who is best known as the author of “Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity”. Scott was introduced by Enrique Aboitiz, chairman of the board of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. In a nutshell, Scott described radical candor as “challenging directly, at the same time that you care personally, so that you’re helping people grow in their career and you’re helping your team achieve better results.” Meanwhile, Sabin Abotiz, in his closing remarks, highlighted the need to create a synergy between traditional and progressive perspectives in the workforce—creating the so-called “remix.” “Our workforce is diverse in their thinking and backgrounds. It becomes increasingly challenging when we have to lead and manage five generations in one organization. But if we take the best of the old and the new, and harness their uniqueness, we can design a ‘remix’ workplace for our teams that is much more engaging, productive, and connected,” he said. He said Aboitiz leaders should take on the responsibility to catalyze this “remix.” “Our job as leaders in the workplace is the same as our role as leaders in our families. We must prepare people for the “remix,” to balance all that’s good from our past, with the style that works for the future. This is how we turn our multigen mix into an asset,” Aboitiz said. Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz leads the Aboitiz Leadership Conference 2021 with the theme ‘The Aboitiz Way: Driving Resiliency and Innovation’.

Course Belt founder Paolo Isyasa

Young techie builds platform to upskill unemployed Filipinos

IMING to provide life-transforming and affordable learning experience for Filipinos who lost their jobs during the pandemic, 24year old entrepreneur Paolo Isyasa founded Course Belt—an online learning platform that provides comprehensive and flexible access to quality education.

Founded in 2020, Course Belt is an innovative response to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the education sector. According to the International Labor Organization, the economic recession has led to 10.9 million unemployed Filipinos. Starting at 16, Isyasa has gained eight years of experience on creating websites and doing digital marketing for local and international businesses. He is a graduate of BS Marketing Management, Magna Cum Laude, from University of Makati. He’s now a freelance digital marketing consultant, a public speaker and the CEO and founder of Course Belt Learning Inc. By leveraging technological and digital opportunities, the company, which was

born at the beginning of the community quarantine, has been offering job-relevant courses and resources to fuel Filipino’s budding freelance careers as well as provide newly unemployed Filipinos with alternative sources of income. The company attracted 21,000 paying students and upskilled them in areas of copywriting, digital marketing, web development, SEO writing, Facebook ads, graphic design, social media management, among others. Since its inception, the company has generated over P5 million in revenues, banking on Filipino workforce’s demand to learn and upskill themselves to eventually land a job in the digital space. “Eight months ago, I was severely burdened to see some of my friends lose their jobs because of the pandemic. So I asked myself, how can I help? And that’s how the Course Belt was born. It’s a platform for learning new skills at one’s own pace. Filipinos have the guts and skills, we just need to empower them” Isyasa said. The courses are offered from an affordable price of P199 to P499. “The main reason we are offering it at a very affordable rate is because we basically just want to help people earn for a living during this tough time,” he said. Course Belt delivers expert instruction through online tutoring and comprehensive training manuals. Students also have Facebook groups to connect to the Course Belt team for clarifications and questions

they have. “We maintain an active community of learners where they can interact with one another and we provide localized and bite-sized content from local instructors, local examples, even local jokes,” Isyasa said. Course Belt seeks to easily provide all the benefits of an effective learning platform from the comfort of one’s own environment and schedule. Its online classes make it simple to dive right in and interact with the tutors and course materials and receive instant feedback. The platform is designed for students to get the most out of their training and develop themselves from it. “We are continually reviewing and adapting our programs to create a learning platform that is interactive, and hassle-free yet affordable and easily accessible. Going forth, we aspire to help unlock opportunities for people from all walks of life to realize their career objectives,” Isyasa said. CIIT College of Arts and Technology earlier placed bets on the young company as an investor. On top of that, Course Belt recently won Draper Startup House Manila Pitch Perfect Competition, bagging the prize of Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship Program from Silicon Valley-based Draper University. The pitch competition is sponsored by QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s premier startup accelerator and incubation hub. Course Belt looks forward to offering programming courses for kids.

Advertising sector adapts to new normal Raoul Buencuchillo, president of HDI Admix, along with the HDI team

THE year 2020 was a challenging year for the entire outdoor advertising sector, but 2021 is beginning to create a different story especially for brands and companies that were able to immediately move forward and adapt to the new normal. As people become more comfortable outdoors while wearing face shields and face masks, outdoor advertisements are on the rise once again. HDI Admix said new advertising channel trends are emerging this year. While other brands have taken a step back with their advertising budgets, some brands are taking advantage of the uncluttered view of the roads by putting up the most creative messaging and visuals on billboards. “We were surprised. Though there is a portion of our sites occupied by big companies. SMEs and start-ups are also becoming more aggressive in terms of traditional OOH [out-of-home] placements,” said Raoul Buencuchillo, president of HDI Admix. “I think the edge of traditional OOH is that it provides an unskippable huge platform. And if you couple it with a material that is eye-catching and triggers the interest of your target market, you can maximize the power of OOH, just like the first-ever dynamic lightbox. This bus shed execution is stunningly flashing through night and day on the busy highway of EDSA will for sure attract everyone’s attention,” he said. HDI Admix added the Jeepney Passenger Di-

vider to spice up the traditional ‘Jeepney Ads’ to excite the audience while they are on their journey and to adapt to the new normal transportation. “If you are a brand with celebrity endorsers, this is the perfect platform to connect with your customers. Just by putting the face of your endorser on Jeepney Passenger Divider, not only will you make your target customer get ‘kilig’, but they will also definitely remember that your brand made their daily commute more fun and exciting,” the company said. To also adapt to the 360-shift in audience behavior and the most complex stage of the advertising world, HDI Admix also added digital advertising platforms and Beep cards to its growing offers. This is to help brands become top of mind, and top choice by being present in multiple customer touchpoints. HDI Admix’s Multi-Touchpoint Plan aims to trigger the audience interest through massive platforms, excite them through creative executions in transit ads or mini billboards and influence them with winning digital strategies and presence. While in the middle of adapting and innovation, HDI Admix had its fair share of challenges. In 2020, HDI Admix and sister companies HDI Stopovers and HDI Adventures were involved in some legal controversies following the indictment of former directors and officers for violation of P.D. 1018, otherwise known as Anti-Dummy Law, which limits the ownership and management of mass media to Filipino citizens.

M Lhuillier brings PoP TV closer to Filipinos M LHUILLIER not only bridges Filipino families by providing a fast and efficient remittance service, but now it also bridges them to affordable and quality entertainment by partnering with the newest streaming platform Pop TV. Pop TV is a video-on-demand streaming platform exclusively for the Filipinos that offers a wide array of local content and tagalized international content for P49 for 10 days, and P99 for 30 days. “The pandemic has caused everyone many worries and troubles, and our role as a payment center is to give them the value of convenience and ease. With more than 2,600 M Lhuillier branches nationwide, we strive to be closer to the Filipino people by being committed to bringing a fast, safe, and reliable service

to them,” said Michael Lhuillier, president and chief executive of M Lhuillier Financial Services Inc. “We are excited to announce to our kababayans that POPTV is now available in all ML branches nationwide. Now you can relax and enjoy right at your homes. You don’t have to go out to watch your favorite stars or movies. The whole family can bond for just P49,” said Jackeline Chua, chief operating officer of Pop TV. Pop TV subscriptions are now available in more than 2,600 M Lhuillier branches nationwide. With PoP TV, one can enjoy hundreds of movies and series that include local blockbusters from ABS-CBN, VIVA, Regal, and TBA Studios, as well as tagalized KDramas, BL series, animes, Asian movies and more.

Youth & Culture B1

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Who do you love? 5 people define 'love in all forms'

OVE does not have to be reserved for a special someone. In fact, that “special someone” is not limited to a romantic partner; a child, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a pet can be that special someone so long as we love them.

Divine Lee-Go loves Baz and Blanca

With “quality time” as her love language, blogger and host Divine Lee-Go considers spending more time at home with her son Baz and daughter Blanca a blessing. “I agree that the silver lining of this pandemic is that I never miss a milestone. I consider working from home a blessing because it allows me more time to be with my family,” she says, adding, “I’m also very hands on with my kids, making sure Divine Lee-Go with that even if we are stuck at home, they’re husband Blake and having the best time of their lives.” children Baz and Blanca. Some of the toys she recommends for those with children like Baz who’s very active and Blanca who loves pretend play include Zubels Emma The Gallant Princess doll, Janod Macaron Cooker, WePlay We-Blocks Mini, Looping Scootizz 5 in 1 Scooter, Nike Boys Nike Tanjun, and Banz Short Sleeves UV Rash Top.

Heart Evangelista gives Panda a kiss.

Victor Basa loves Stephanie

Victor Basa shares that he shows his love for wife Stephanie by being supportive and spending quality time together. “Getting away from our gadgets and walking outside in the village together is how we spend quality time. We also go swimming, we sing and play guitar, and we also enjoy playing competitive ping pong against one another,” he shares. According to him, “love in all forms” translates to “love in all ways and at all Victor and Stephanie Basa times.” One of the ways he shows his love for his wife is giving her gifts; some of the items on his list for Stephanie include Bardot Alberta Lace Dress, Criselda Nikki Floral Appliqued Lace face mask, Pedro del Hierro Woman Denim Shirt, and more.

Rica de Jesus loves James

“Just like love comes in all forms, love is also for everyone not only for couples,” says wife, mom, and lifestyle blogger Rica de Jesus. She adds, “We give and share love with our family, our friends, and our employees. So when it is Valentine’s Day, we give presents to all the ladies. Just like Christmas, Valentine’s Day is a day for giving and sharing love through our tokens. It does not have to be big, because it is always the thought that counts.” Since she and her husband James love getting out of the city and exploring the Philippines during weekends, her Valentine’s Day gift for him is “either a Santos de Cartier watch with multi purpose strap or something from the Montblanc M_Gram 4810 collection (document case, Summit 2 smartwatch, wallet 8cc, duffle).”

Rica de Jesus and husband James

Heart Evangelista loves Panda

Heart or Love Marie Ongpauco-Escudero never hides her love for her dogs. “It’s really nice that my fur buddies keep me company especially since I have anxiety and my husband’s always away,” she shares. The actress defines “love in all forms,” as love for all kinds of dog, regardless of breed. “It’s like beauty beyond breed—it’s a campaign I actually did for PAWS. I do foster and adopt Aspins; Panda is actually an Aspin and Cheche is an Aspin. It doesn’t really matter if they have a breed or they were expensive, it’s the same thing, pets can still give you the most unconditional love. I am very, very blessed to have them with me.” She showers them with love by making sure they’re nourished with the right food and that they are always safe and comfortable. Heart says she likes giving them collars and treats; she also buys them nice beds and comfortable mats. Some of her favorite products are Pottery Barn Faux Fur Alpaca Throw, Pottery Barn Kids Belgian Linen Quilt, Ralph Lauren Home Wyatt Euro Sham, West Elm Cotton Knit Throw, and Rustan’s The Christmas Shop White Bow Cushion.

Lexi Schulze Berenguer-Testa loves Georgia

TV anchor and host Lexi Schulze has a close relation- comes in. Rustan’s has a beautiful rose gold bar cart that my ship with her younger sister Georgia, so much so, that she girly-girl sister would absolutely love! And with it will come says, “It was a tough time for us all the ingredients to her current both as we didn’t get to see each favorite cocktail—the Aperol other throughout the first year Spritz, so she can leave my stash of the pandemic.” alone!” she happily shares. “That being said, there were Lexi admits Valentine’s Day always tiny gestures here and “isn’t my favorite of the holidays.” there, from banana bread sent “But seeing it from a different my way from her kitchen, to perspective, and finding a pocket personalized gifts I found onof time to celebrate the love of, line for her and her four beautisay, a sister, appealed to me. My ful daughters,” she relates. wish for everyone this Valentine’s Lexi’s Valentine gift list for her Day—especially during such unsister is something Georgia can precedented times—don’t wait. use for her home—specifically for Reach out to those who mean entertaining. “She’s very proud of the world to you. Tell them you what she’s created for her family, love them. And show them if and she’s always happy to share you can, in whatever creative, that joy by inviting friends over. resourceful way you can musBut the bar can use some stocking ter during the pandemic. It will Lexi Schulze Berenguer-Testa is close to her up, and that’s where her big sister mean the world back.” younger sister Georgia.

Unique Valentine’s Day bouquets By Steph Llarena WE KNOW a bouquet of flowers—best if they’re red roses—is a classic, no-fail gift for Valentine’s Day. But you know what’s better than a gift that lives in a vase and wilts after two days? Something you can eat or drink or actually use. But that’s just us. In case you agree, here are fun, not-your-usual bouquets we don’t mind receiving even after the day of hearts.

Food bouquets

A brand first thought of gourmet arrangements made with colorful fruits, then others got the idea of putting food together in a bouquet: there was a chicken nuggets bouquet that went viral years ago, then came chocolate bouquets usually consisting of Ferrero Rocher. Food bouquet has now evolved into those that include Food bouquet with fries, chicken, your loved one’s favorite fast and milk tea. food grub, chips, and beverages (Photo from Food Delivery PH) among others. Honey and Hive Food Bouquet MNL offers customizable food bouquets that may include burger, pizza, fries, fried chicken, and milk tea; or chocolate bouquets featuring a variety of brands. Price starts at P880; search them on Facebook or contact 0921-400-9479. Food Bouquet PH (0917-817-2057) likewise has a variety of food bouquets composed of sweet and/or savory treats; some variants include flowers. It delivers in Metro Manila and select areas in Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. Other brands that offer edible bouquets are Food Bouquet Delivery and Surprise MNL.

Others: Makeup, anti-COVID bouquets

Liquor bouquets

Who says you cannot put booze and bouquet together? Definitely not the people behind Liquor Bouquet PH (0917-776-0810 or @liquorbouquetph on Instagram). The online store offers a variety of customizable boozy gifts for any occasion. Senders can choose from different brands and different kinds of liquor—beer, whisky, rum, soju, and tequila, among others. Since the bouquet contents are not really lightweight— being in bottle and all that—the brand’s liquor bouquets usually come in boxes or wooden crates. Liquor Bouquet PH also has a non-alcoholic variant, the bottled coffee bouquet.

Other interesting bouquets we’ve seen include makeup bouquets filled with cosmetics and/or skincare products, and anti-coronavirus bouquets which come with pandemic essentials such as face masks, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, and tissue, among others.

Jack Daniel's whiskey with flowers and chocolates in a box. (Photo from Liquor Bouquet PH)

Money bouquets

Earn lots of love points with a bouquet filled with cash. Now that’s something you can really use. Florista Flower Shop ( florista.com.ph), located in Manila and Boracay, offers money bouquet with flowers wrapped in Philippine peso bills. A service fee of P2,500 will be added to a bouquet with less than P15,000 in it; P3,000 for P15,000 and up. Also part of its surprise delivery service, BFC Flowers and Gift (0905-758-8398) offers flower arrangements with cash. PhilFlower.com likewise offers money bouquets, catering to clients overseas. Do check with your provider, and look for customer feedback before ordering a money bouquet.

A money bouquet surprise from a daughter to her parents. (Photo from BFC Flowers and Gift)

Money bouquet by Florista Flower Shop

HEY, YOUTH!

SHARE your unpublished essays with the readers of Manila Send your essay (maximum of 800 words) with photo/s, Standard. Chosen essays will be published in the Young Life if available, to manilastandardlife@gmail.com with the subcorner that comes out every Sunday. ject: “Young Life - (title of your essay)” along with a brief This space is open for young writers, aged 13-29 years old. description of yourself.

Home/Design

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

Lessandra eyes horizontal, vertical projects

ESSANDRA proved to be a strong player in the real estate industry last year, posting positive growth in sales consecutively in the second half of 2020 amidst the pandemic, and eyes expansion in 2021 with new offerings.

“Our online tools and innovations is a major step. Aside from being available where they needed us, we also provided more flexible payment schemes that helped address the concerns of the homebuyers.” In the latter part of 2020, the company introduced its newest model, a more spacious abode with a master bedroom, car park, and the Hive – a multifunctional space one can turn into a work-fromhome area, study area, or lounge. Expanding in Luzon, Mindanao This year, Lessandra will expand its foothold in Luzon and in Mindanao with additional projects, further strengthening its presence in the country. Lessandra plans to embark on vertical developments as it launches its first such residential community in the first quarter of this year. Two locations will soon rise just outside the Metro, retaining affordability, convenience, and accessibility as key advantages. To know more about Lessandra, visit their website at lessandra.com.ph.

Part of the company’s initiatives is the seamless digital buying experience of homebuyers – from choosing the property location to virtual house tours, and online reservation. Online tools, innovations “We knew that the market is out there and that it’s only a matter of how we can make it possible and easier for them to invest and own a home without risking their safety,” said Eduardo Aguilar, division head of Lessandra.

SAFETY

Biophilic design for the workplace

NUMBERS.

Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E) recently achieved two million safe manhours without lost time incident (LTI), a milestone that cements the company’s commitment to security and quality in all its activities at its power plant site in Barangay Villa Ibaba, Atimonan, Quezon. Over 600 people are working on site preparation activities, which started in 2018. Integrated Synergy Construction Corporation (ISCC) – the contractor in charge of site civil works – recognized the subcontractors who played a big role in reaching the safety milestone, Delta Earthmoving, Inc., Betobau Construction, Inc., and Rexsun Development and Consulting Corporation. A1E is the developer of a 2x600 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Atimonan, that will utilize high efficiency, low

emission (HELE) technology known as ultra-supercritical (USC). Shown in photo are employees and construction workers of the project during the awarding rites held at the plant.

Bringing color to your home

Building resilience in communities REAL estate developer Federal Land continues to see increased demand for its township developments, such as Metro Park in Pasay City and Grand Central Park in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), despite the ongoing pandemic. “The comfort Filipinos feel inside their homes needs to extend to the areas outside their doors, into what we now call the ‘outside world’ for Filipinos to feel safe and secure in their environment,” explained Federal Land, Inc. executive vice president Catherine C. Ko. says. “This is how we offer value

for our residents – living in our communities has allowed them to continue with their lives with minimal disruption, in a mixeduse community where almost everything that they need is within reach.” In BGC, Federal Land’s Grand Central Park (Seen here) offers luxury residential developments with spacious unit layouts and extra rooms that can be used as an office or classroom. In Bay Area, Metro Park’s resort-inspired condominium residences offer alternative spaces to work-fromhome and landscaped gardens for relaxation.

WITH all the challenges the the world has faced, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) is bringing back color to Filipino homes with its Color Your World 2021 calendar, a coloring book-style date monitor depicting its core businesses in black-andwhite images. “The MPIC calendar which comes with a set of Colleen colored pencils, was conceptualized to help us reflect and meditate on how the past year has affected the world and how we can bring color back to 2021,” said Melody del Rosario, vice-president for corporate communications. “The graphics illustrate how our core businesses are intertwined with our daily cycle of life. It likewise depicts motivational quotes from successful businessmen, philosophers, artist and novelist in order to let you see life from another, wider perspective.” The calendar is MPIC’s follow-up to its commitment to two sustainability alliances: the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Sustainable Accounting Board Alliance (SASB).

THE design that is intrinsically connected to our love for nature has emerged as one of the most highly recommended office styles in the fitout sector. Derived from the Greek words for “life” and “love”, biophilia is a manifestation of our love for nature in the form of design, decor, and structure. It is the practice of incorporating nature and natural elements into the built environment. It can be subtle like imitating forms of nature, or loud like plants walls and pillars. Regardless how it is presented, it provides benefits for occupants in a biophilic workplace. Sustainable approach to design “As we progress towards sustainable approach, humans recognize the need to transition to sustainable alternatives, explained IDr. Charisse Gail Bantiling, principal designer

and VP for design and construction management of Trends And Concepts. “It isn’t enough that we only provide greeneries but we want to provide an eco-system that would assist in human’s understanding of ecological management.” Designs that focus on the wellness of occupants are emerging, and are likely here to stay due to people shifting their concerns to being physically, and emotionally healthy inside and outside the workplace, Bantiling said. Biophilia is a design that can improve wellbeing while reconnecting people with nature. “The approach to biophilia can be subtle or loud, it can also be done to overhaul the whole workplace or only within one’s respective space,” she. Bringing the outdoors indoors One of the most common ways of

achieving biophilia in the workplace is by adding plants in the office. From large potted plants to small plants, incorporating greenery within the workplace can be in various forms and sizes. Plants can also be used as partitions and produce different functions depending on where you place it. One can also create a living green wall to help filter indoor air and place it within one section of your office, such as the lobby or beside windows. If you prefer the potted plants, you can simply scatter the plants randomly throughout the workplace, mimicking the vibrant structure of nature. Small changes, big impact There are subtle ways of making your office healthier for occupants. Among the small changes with minimal visibility are providing more access to natural light or views of the outdoors, utilizing outside areas and gardens, adding hints of wood and stone elements, or introducing colors inspired by nature. Free rein for workspaces You can let your employees free rein their workspaces, such as letting them add their preferred small potted plants or placing photos of their outdoor adventures. Employees can likewise design their desks according to their wants or needs. By allowing this, the company encourages the individuality of each employee while embracing biophilia for wellness. Trends And Concepts have created and realized several designs that integrate biophilia within the office space. Having a total interior solutions company to realize your ideal office design will greatly benefit your employees and business in the long run, Bantiling opined.. Trends And Concepts Total Interior Solutions offer a range of design, build, and interior construction services ensuring that the ideals of their clients are met and go beyond their expectations. To know more, visit http://www. trendsandconceptsinteriors.com.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Nickie Wang, Editor; E-mail: nickie.standard@ gmail.com

Inigo is ‘All Out Of Love’ SINGER and actor Inigo Pascual, in collaboration with music producer Moophs, recreates one of Air Supply’s classics, “All Out Of Love,” bringing a pop re-imagination of the 1980 worldwide hit. In the refreshed version, the Filipino pop star vulnerably croons about the empty feeling of losing a significant other over a guitar-driven trap ballad setting from Moophs. This release is the first in Tarsier Records’ series of Air Supply remakes the ABS-CBN Music label is doing for 2021. It is also aligned with Air Supply’s Valentine’s Day US campaign. A song by British-Australian soft rock duo Air Supply, “All Out Of Love” was originally written by Graham Russell and Clive Davis. It ranked no. 2 in the United States’ Hot 100, reached no. 11 in UK’s Top 40, and was one of the “100 Greatest Love Songs” in VH1’s list in 2003. “All Out Of Love” is the latest collaboration

JUSTIN BIEBER celebrates V Day in history-making fashion

between Inigo and Moophs, who recently released the dancehall-pop tune “Always,” which became part of Apple Music’s “The 100 Best Songs of 2020.” They also joined a band of international artists for “RISE” - a cross-cultural unity track featuring Eric Bellinger (USA), Sam Concepcion (PH), Zee Avi (Malaysia), and Vince Nantes (USA). The two artists are also behind the island pop track “Catching Feelings,” which has already garnered over 10 million streams on Spotify and over 100K dance challenge entries across various social media platforms. Inigo continues to make his presence on the global stage especially as his Options album, a collection of multiple international collaborations he has done in the past two years, is slated to drop this 2021. Inigo and Moophs’ version of “All Out Of Love,” is now available for streaming on numerous digital platforms.

Inigo Pascual releases a reimagined version of ‘Air Supply’ classic ‘All Out Of Love,’ in collaboration with DJ and record producer Moophs (left).

TV’s newest duo brings unlimited good vibes C By Nickie Wang

HATTING with Sef Cadayona and Andre Paras, albeit online, is like having an outrageously fun conversation with your closest pals.

Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber is celebrating Valentine’s Day with his fans on Tiktok.

CANADIAN pop superstar Justin Bieber is celebrating Valentine’s Day in history-making style, teaming up with TikTok for a series of firsts: the first-ever long-form concert event in TikTok history and Justin’s first time performing his fan-favorite 2013 album JOURNALS live from the drew house. This special performance event is hosted on Justin’s TikTok profile page, kicking off at 6:00 p.m. PST/9:00 p.m. EST this Sunday. The set will re-air on Monday, Feb. 15 at 11:00 a.m. PST/ 1:00 p.m. EST. Released in 2013 as a groundbreaking digital-only collection of singles, Journals was the companion to Justin’s second full-length documentary feature Believe, and marked a decidedly more mature, R&B-leaning shift in the young star’s output. In the near-decade since its release, Journals has amassed three billion streams worldwide, become a fan-favorite among the true Beliebers, and is widely looked upon at some of his best and most personal music to date. “I’m excited to bring this show to life. Journals is one of my favorite projects and I’ve never performed it live,” said Justin Bieber. “I’m grateful to TikTok for helping me to bring this show to everyone on Valentine’s Day.” After closing out 2020 with three smash singles — “Holy,” with Chance The Rapper, “Lonely” with Benny Blanco, and “Monster” with Shawn Mendes — Justin Bieber rang in the new year with a brand new single “Anyone,” and his return to the live stage in a blow-out NYE livestreamed concert. Justin continues to reign as one of the biggest artists in the world: the #1 artist on YouTube with 60+ million subscribers, the #2 artist on Spotify global with over 65 million monthly listeners, over 200 million in combined U.S. radio audience per week, three tracks in the Billboard Top 40, and three Grammy nominations and an American Music Award for his 2020 album Changes. With over 19.6 million followers, Justin Bieber is an active member of the TikTok community, using his account to reveal behind-the-scenes footage, partake in the latest trends, and more. His first-ever TikTok, which included a snippet of his hit song “Yummy” (which was a big TikTok hit with over 5 million video creations) generated over 117 million views. Most recently, Justin declared his devotion to his wife Hailey with a stylish video soundtracked by his single “Anyone.” Justin is currently trending worldwide with his Benny Blanco collab “Lonely,” which has over 842k video creations and more than five billion video views.

In a virtual press conference held Monday, the newest television duo exchanged banters with the members of the entertainment press while they were introducing Game of the Gens (GOTG), an all-original comedy game show that premieres on GMA News TV tonight. The show, which promises to bring unlimited good vibes while raising the bar to a whole new level of entertainment experience for all generations, under the helm of esteemed director Rico Gutierrez. Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Sef and Andre shared that they feel extremely proud to be hosting the show apart from the fact that they also enjoy working together for the first time. “For us to be hosts for this game show, which is original, is so surreal. I’m very thankful that they put the show in our hands and our backs, carrying it together with our cohosts,” Andre stated. The athlete and actor also expressed his enthusiasm to be hosting the game show with his good friend Sef. “Just the idea that I’m doing this show with one of my idols in showbiz, I’m talking about Sef of course, is really heartwarming because we get to prove ourselves in a way that we can make people feel at home. And I’m not going to be tired of saying that,” Andre admitted. “I was shocked when they told me about this project because I had no idea I’d be one of the hosts they would consider. But I will do what I can to make everyone happy and proud. Also, working with Sef doesn’t feel like work. It feels like I’m hanging out with my big brother and having a great time with our guests,” he added. Sef, who is known for his comedic prowess, is also excited to bring their own unique spin to the show. “It’s different because

Sef Cadayona and Andre Paras are hosting ‘Game of the Gens,’ TV’s newest and all-original comedy game show that aims to bring a different kind of entertainment to viewers of different generations.

all questions will come from different eras of pop culture that at times, some younger generations don’t even know existed. The audience and the players can look forward to the fun and the energy of the show since we’re merging different generations of people together. We have great guests and contestants who will do their best to outwit one another,” he said. Joining Sef and Andre in bringing topnotch entertainment in GOTG as the Gen Dolls are Mariko, Crissy, and Mariel of former Britain’s Got Talent top act The Miss Tres. The highly-anticipated program fuses singing, dancing, and playing games by engaging two teams against each other in three rounds namely, Tough Pick, Match Better, and List Mo Na ‘Yan. Each team is composed of two pairs from different generations – Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Questions and topics will vary from music, dance, entertainment, fashion, and trends from the different generations that are all relatable to the young and multigenerational. The winning pair will take home the jackpot prize of P300,000. For the show’s first episode tonight, Barbie Forteza and her dad Antonio “Tony” Forteza play versus Ruru Madrid and Snooky Serna.

(G)I-DLE shares new remix of massive single ‘HWAA’

K-pop sensation (G)I-DLE achieves new feats around the world with the group’s new mini-album ‘I Burn’and its title track ‘HWAA.’

K-POP sensation (G)I-DLE shares a new remix of its single “HWAA” from hit-making DJ duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike marking the rising act’s first border-crossing collaboration with an international artist. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike are a globally acclaimed Belgian DJ duo, who have ranked number 1 from TOP100 DJs of 2019 selected by DJ MAG and have joined forces with many top artists, such as Coldplay, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, and Lady Gaga. In “HWAA (Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Remix),” addictive beats and powerful sounds by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and the unique vocal colors of (G)I-DLE come together to

give off a unique synergy. Last week, (G)I-DLE followed the release of its chart-topping new mini-album I burn unveiling two new versions of the single, “HWAA (English Ver.)” and “HWAA (Chinese Ver.). The new mini-album amplifies the (G) I-DLE members’ voices as creators and songwriters. The six-track project notably features writing by leader Soyeon on three songs, Minnie on two tracks, and Yuqi on one song. Impressively, the new mini-album claimed the number 1 spot on iTunes in 52 countries. Last year, (G)I-DLE incited a frenzy worldwide with “DUMDi DUMDi,” which

gathered 21 million Spotify streams and 75 million YouTube views on the music video. Not to mention, the group’s “Oh my god” music video picked up a nomination in the category of Best K-Pop at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. Additionally, the K-Pop group broke the internet with online concert ‘I-Land: Who Am I. (G)I-DLE’s official U.S. debut mini-album I trust claimed number 1 on the iTunes Overall Album Charts in 61 markets with acclaim from MTV, Billboard, and Just Jared, to name a few. (G)I-DLE have reached astonishing heights with 805 million YouTube views and north of 752 million streams on Spotify.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

191 rescued dogs in Southern Leyte

need help for food and vaccines Adopt Love

Stray dogs are now safe in the Furry Tail Hinundayan Shelter.

Former homeless and neglected dogs now sleep on "papag," a bamboo bench, instead of sleeping on cold pavements .

ISTEMPER leads to paralysis in dogs and even death. A dog infected with the distemper virus goes through a lot of suffering such as involuntary movements and seizures.

Parvo, on the other hand, weakens a pup due to continuous loose bowel movement, and can cause a pup’s death due to dehydration. Senior dogs can be infected with parvo if their immune system is weak. Lack of nutrition or food is one of the major factors that weaken the immune system. Dogs can be protected against these two deadly diseases through the 5-in-1 vaccine which costs P300 per shot in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte where the Furry Tails Hinundayan Shelter is located. A dog’s immune system, meanwhile, can be strengthened by simply providing good food and vitamins. But lack of funds at this time prevents animal rescuers Donnabel and Jonathan Guinto from providing good food twice a day to 191 dogs in the shelter, and having the rescued dogs vaccinated. They had to close their physical store when the pandemic started. Their online selling has brought in little funds for the maintenance of the shelter. They need help. About 80 per cent of the 191 dogs are now suffering from one of the following ailments: distemper, parvo, cough, and bleeding. With one caretaker, they have been caring for 156 dogs in the shelter and 35 in their home. It is not an easy task as they have to feed the 156 dogs in the shelter and give medicine to those who are sick. Donnabel and Jonahan get home at past midnight, feed the 35 dogs in their home, sleep for 4-5 hours, feed the 35 dogs again, then rush to the shelter to help the caretaker feed 156 dogs and care for those who are sick. Stray feeding in college Donnabel, 43, and Jonathan, 48, have always loved dogs and cats. When they were in college in Cebu, they would always find

ways to help stray animals. They would feed stray dogs and cats on the streets during their college days with what little they have or can buy with their allowance. “Naaawa kami sa kanila. Kahit tinapay lang, ibibigay namin para makakin sila. Kahit papano, makaraos lang sila, ” said Donnabel. (We felt sorry for them. We would give them even just bread so that they can eat even just for a day.) Alot, the dog When they got married, they decided to move to Hinundayan, Souther Leyte where Donnabel was born. They didn’t have a dog then. But one day, Donnabel’s brother brought a dog to their house The dog survived what is now called the Guinsaugon tragedy. On Feb. 17, 2006, a rain-soaked portion of Mt. Kan-abag overlooking Ginsaugon collapsed and buried almost 2,000 residents of Barangay Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte alive. Of this number, 200 were schoolchildren. The dog who Donnabel’s brother brought to them survived the landslide. They could not turn the dog away so they decided to keep him and named him Alot. Alot is the first of many rescues to find shelter in the Gunto home. Stray feeding in the market In Southern Leyte, Donnabel and Jonathan also fed stray animals in the market where they buy their food every morning. They would bring rice with vegetables and feed this to the homeless dogs and cats. Sometimes, they added meat when they can afford it. They would take pity on some dogs who had skin diseases or were weak, and would bring them home. They would treat the dog and would end up “adopting” them. Their hearts would not allow them

Stray dogs now have a place they can call home and at least one meal a day.

to return the dogs to the streets. After eight years of feeding strays and bringing home those who needed care, the number of rescues in the small Guinto home reached 35. “Tuloy-tuloy na dumami na ang rescues namin sa bahay.Mga aso na tingin namin kailangan ng kalinga. 8 years of stray feeding until now. And we have already 35 dogs at home,” Donnabel said. They had no plans to rescue more but something happened in 2020. The Department of Agriculture announced that stray dogs will be captured as part of the government’s anti-rabies program. They understood that the government has to protect humans by making sure no rabid dog is roaming the streets but they can not allow all stray dogs to be captured and brought to the pound where most will die of hunger. Shelter for stray animals “Apektado kami ng sobra. Paano na po ang mga strays na pinapakain namin?“ Donnabel recalled. (We were affected by the news that strays will be rounded up. What will happen to those we are feeding?) “Agad po kami naka secure ng lote last January (2020). Unexpectedly, napagawa namin ang shelter with not enough budget. Humingi kami ng tulong ng iilang mga kaibigan para sa fencing at paunahang purok for their shelter, “ Donnabel said. (We immediately secured a lot last January 2020. We were able to put up a shelter by asking for help from friends for the fencing and the structures.) And then the government started to catch the dogs in February last year. Donnabel recalled how she felt so sad and distraught whenever she would learn a stray they were feeding was caught. It was more difficult when they would actually see the dogs being captured. If they could, they would run to where the dog is, get the dog, and bring the dog to the shelter. The dogs are brought to the pound where most are not claimed by owners. In

They can now sleep uninterrupted and unafraid. No more dog catchers, no more cruel people who kick them or throw stones at them, no more soaking in the rain. One dog though can't stop smiling. He seems so happy to be with other dogs in a place he feels safe.

the pound, the dogs are supposed to be euthanized or put to sleep (killed) after three days if they are not claimed by owners. This is the reality in animal pounds. If the pound is a kill pound, the dogs will be put to sleep after three days if unclaimed. If the pound is not a kill pound, the dogs are not fed sufficient food or are not fed at all due to lack of funds. The dogs will die of hunger, and even illnesses. In the streets, the dogs can look for food. In the pound, they are caged in small spaces and not provided sufficient food, if they are fed at all. In pounds where no food is provided, the dogs will die a slow, painful death. In Hinundayan, the captured dogs will be euthanized after three days if not claimed by owners. None has so far been euthanized because the Guinto couple rescued the dogs. “We rescued the unclaimed dogs in the pound. They were the strays we were feeding, or dogs who were neglected by their owners,” Donnabel said. Though there are 156 dogs in the shelter now, Donnabel said they still rescue sick, abused, and injured dogs who are reported to them. However, they need help to provide food and other needs of the rescues. “Our shelter is struggling every day. We need food and medicine for the dogs,” Donnabel said. They try their best to continue feeding and caring for 156 dogs in the shelter and 35 rescues in the Guinto home. How to help To help the rescues, you can contact Donnabel at 09052602618 or send donations to: GCash 09052602618(Donnabel) GCash 09272715204.(Jonathan) BDO Savings account name DONNABEL GUINTO Account number 006130317459 Paypal: donnabelguinto@yahoo.com Any help will feed the dogs, provide protection for them via vaccination, and provide treatment for those who are sick. DC

SHE was about six months old when she started coming to the garage. She befriended the cat guard named Angel. Angel would not let any cat get in but allowed her to stay at night. After a few days, she was included in the cats being fed in the garage. She must have felt welcomed and safe there that she decided to stay. The humans did not mind because she is a wellbehaved young cat who loves to rub against a human’s leg and allows everyone to touch her. Weeks passed and all of a sudden, her belly grew bigger and bigger. Angel could not have been the father because he is neutered. On December 16, she gave birth to four lovely kittens.

Sweet mommy-baby Belen.

For a first-time mom, Buntis Belen took very good care of her babies. It has been eight weeks since she gave birth but Belen is still breastfeeding her babies. The four kittens have been dewormed twice and will be vaccinated next week. Belen will be dewormed on the same day because by that time, the kittens would have been fully weaned from breastmilk. They are already eating wet food. Belen and the four kittens we named Pasko, Christmas, Holly, and Yule are up for adoption. They will be ready for release after the second shot: the kittens sometime first week of March, Belen sometime third week of March.

Dogs and cats can see some colors PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS A LOT of humans think dogs can see ALL the colors we humans see. Not true, folks. Some humans think dogs see only black and white. Not true also. In “What Colors Do Dogs See? Find out if dogs see in color or black and white,” book author Beth Finke said in thebark.com that dogs see colors but not the way humans do. “People can see a rainbow of variations including violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Dogs can only see blue, yellow and some shades of gray,” she said. To illustrate further, Finke said “Dogs would see a rainbow as dark yellow (sort of brownish), light yellow, gray, light blue and dark blue. Dogs don't see red, purple (violet), or orange as we do. So, while it is established that dogs see shades of yellow, blue and gray, if a dog were to look at a uniform that is red or green it would appear as faded brownish, gray or indistinct.”

How a dog sees

A dog’s eyes is like a camera, she said. “Light enters through the pupil. The iris, a structure that can expand and contract, controls the amount of light allowed in. Light then passes through the clear cornea and lens, which focus the light on the retina, a light-sensitive layer. The retina contains color-sensitive cones and motion- and lightsensitive rods, all of which convert light into electrical signals. The cones and rods send these signals via the optic nerve to the brain,

Color chart from Beth Finke in thebark.com which constructs an image from them. Dogs have only two types of cones, compared with the three types in human eyes.” This is why, she said, dogs can only see blue, yellow and some shades of gray.

Cats and colors

Just like dogs, cats can not see all the colors humans do but their world is not entirely black and white. Cats can see a bit of yellow, blue and gray. “They just may not see the ‘true’ color of an object. They are also less sensitive to changes in brightness, so they don’t have the ability to perceive color in the rich, vibrant tones that we do,” said Lynn Buzhardt, DVM, in “Do Cats See Color? “ in vcahoospitals.com.

The difference between cats and humans

Buzhardt explained that “Color is discerned by the nerve cells in the eye. The retina of the eye has two main types of cells-rods and cones. The ability to differentiate colors is determined by the presence of the

Luna loves scratching and lying on her blue and gray comfy bed. special color sensitive cells called ‘cones.’” “Human and feline eyes have three types of cones that can identify combinations of red, blue, and green. But because humans have 10 times more cones than cats do, they appreciate more color variations. In scientific observations, cats don’t appear to perceive the full range of colors that humans can. Some scientists believe that cats see only blue and gray, while others think they see also see yellow like their canine counterparts,” Buzhardt added. While cones are responsible for distinguish-

ing colors, rods detect light levels and motion. Cats have more rods than humans which allow them to see more in low light and to identify moving objects, Buzhardt said. Aside from color perception, “felines and humans have other visual differences, said Buzhardt. Cats are more near-sighted than humans. Humans see an object clear from a distance while cats will need to get closer to the object to see it, about 20 feet away. But cats have other visual advantages. A cat's eyes can see more at the sides. “Cats have eyes that are set more on the sides of the head, which allows them a broader range of peripheral vision than we have. The trade-off is a smaller range of visual acuity so cats don’t have the depth perception that we do,” Buzhardt said. “Also, cats have elliptical pupils that dilate to the max, allowing them to capture as much light as possible. They also have reflective cells under the retina which form the tapetum. The tapetum gives cats the “shiny eye” appearance and also improves their ability to see in dim light,” she said. Their visual accommodations allow cats to survive, Buzhardt said. “Seeing well in dim light and picking up slight movements in the forest at great distances improve the cat’s hunting ability. These assets also help a cat know when HE is the prey and needs to flee,” she added. So to help your cat given these facts, you can do the following: 1. Buy only yellow and blue toys so your cat will enjoy them more. 2. Stand directly in front of your cat if you want his/her attention.

Belen's babies Pasko (tricolor), Christmas (calico), Yule (more black) and Holly (more white).

Please message admin Is La of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL Inc.) if you can love a kitten or cat for life, and willing to give them good food and vitamins. They are all eating dry and wet food, and given LC Vit. There will be an online interview and a home visit. This month of hearts, can you adopt a rescued dog or cat? For the four Sundays of February, we will feature dogs and cats who were rescued by animal welfare group Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL Inc.). These dogs and cats were saved from sure death at the pound where caught pets are euthanized or put to sleep, from the streets where they were found after being hit by a vehicle or sick with severe illnesses, or from abusive or neglectful owners. Save ALL is looking for adopters who can provide a safe, loving home for these rescues who had a miserable, traumatic life before rescue. If you can take care of a dog or cat and love one for a lifetime, please message Save ALL or admin Is La on Facebook.