Manila Standard - 2021 February 25 - Thursday by Manila Standard

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FDA unsure of Sinovac effect Duterte asks agency to explain ‘colatilla’ on vaccine use for frontliners

By Willie Casas

HE Food and Drug Administration has expressed reservations on the efficacy of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for medical frontliners and senior citizens even as President Rodrigo Duterte summoned the head of the agency to explain its position. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization to Sinovac but recommended that it be used only for clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years. In a television interview yesterday,

FDA director general Eric Domingo said there was not enough data to remove the colatilla since Sinovac’s own Phase 3 clinical trials had participants mostly aged 18 to 59 years old. Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 15 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Galvez, Duque bat for efficacy of CoronaVac

Aid Caraga, President tells Cabinet PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte ordered various national government agencies to assist the Caraga region, the area most hit by tropical storm “Auring”, during his briefing on Tuesday in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. Duterte conducted an aerial inspection of the typhoon’s aftermath, then

FILIPINOS have nothing to fear about being inoculated with the vaccine made by China’s Sinovac, as some world leaders have received the same jab, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine czar, said Wednesday. At the same time, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said indications for the use of CoronaVac, made by Beijing-based Sinovac, may still change depending on the results of the discussions of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. In President Rodrigo Duterte’s weekly televised address, Galvez said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Indonesian President Joko

directed various secretaries to comcom plete their respective damage and needs assessments, and address concerns within a week. “Pagkain, shelter - ma-plastic man o ano - and tubig, yan importante, importante talaga yang tubig… all Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM FEBRUARY 24)

566,420 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,557 29,817 NEW

ACTIVE

12,129

523,321

392

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

AFTER THE STORM. This aerial photo shows the extent of the damage brought by Tropical Storm ‘Auring’ in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte on Wednesday. Meanwhile, members of the Philippine Coast Guard load relief goods and supplies onto the BRP Gabriela Silang and BRP Malapascua (inset) to bring to affected families in Visayas and Mindanao. Presidential Photo

Congress skips bicam on indemnity bill for early transmittal to Palace ately sign into law a measure expediting the purchase and administration of COVID-19 vaccines and creating a P500 million indemnification fund. This, after the House of RepresentaMALACAÑANG said Wednesday that tives agreed to adopt the Senate version President Rodrigo Duterte will immedi-

By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

of the proposed COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act. “We expect that it will be transmitted to the Office of the President so it will be passed into law as soon as possible),” presidential spokesman Harry Roque

said in an online press conference. Roque said Majority Leader Martin Romualdez had told him that there is no need to come up with a bicameral conference report on the proposed measure Next page

Nurses-for-vax proposal nixed by UK envoy

NEW

Special envoy to China in hot water over jab

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz MALACANANG welcomed the idea of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to deploy Filipino nurses to other countries in exchange for more COVID-19 vaccines.

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG has distanced itself from newspaper columnist and special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo after the latter claimed he was vaccinated with smuggled doses of Sinopharm in October last year. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Duterte administration does not tolerate smuggling and the use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines. “We have no opinion whatsoever with regards to Mon Tulfo’s write ups.

REMEMBERING EDSA. People pass

in front of the People Power Monument in Dasmarinas, Cavite on Tuesday. After 35 years, locals still remember what happened during the EDSA Revolution, but admit they are thinking more about how to get rid of the coronavirus pandemic. JR Josue

EDSA People Power marks 35th anniversary

importance of unity to contain the challenges facing the country. In his message for the 2021 EDSA People Power ON THE eve of the 35th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled a dictatorship, celebration, Ramos, now 92, recalled that “the world former President Fidel V. Ramos, a key player dur- stood in awe as it witnessed Filipinos united in courNext page ing the four-day historic bloodless uprising, cited the

By Ben Cal

2 POLICEMEN DIE IN SHOOTOUT NEAR QC MALL

Story on A4

ANVILS FOR SMFI. The team at SM Foundation (SMFI) poses after bagging four Silver honors for its exceptional communication and social good programs in the recent 56th Anvil Awards Virtual Gabi ng Parangal. Dubbed as the Oscars of Philippine public relations, the Anvil Awards recognizes outstanding external and internal programs, campaigns and tools that exemplify the highest standards of public relations practice in the country.

TIGER WOODS SURVIVES CRASH, BUT LEGS BROKEN Story on A2

Tiger Woods (inset) and the car he crashed in Los Angeles. AFP

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Gov’t needs to loosen reins’ By Othel V. Campos and Maricel V. Cruz

AYS after the President rejected easing quarantine restrictions nationwide, representatives from the three industries most affected by the move said the government needed to loosen the reins on movement and capacity of their sectors.

protocols that needed to be done. And we can continue doing all of that in an MGCQ or more relaxed quarantine level,” said IT-Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) chairman Lito Taya. The sector manages operations with about 60 to 78 percent of the total ITBPM work force working from home. Meanwhile, the tourism sector has been preparing to welcome a new breed of visitors while waiting for restrictions to relax further. “We have already learned to live with the restrictions up to a certain point and we hope the government will improve it sooner. If they do not lift it on March 1 (2021), hopefully, later on,” said Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines chairman Eugene Yap.

“What we do now is we have many of the hotels and the restaurants starting renovation. We have spent so much in renovation preparing for a new market. And for those improvements we cannot afford, we plan them for the future,” he said. The President has previously junked the proposal of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow areas still under GCQ to transition to MGCQ that include Metro Manila and few provinces, until the vaccine arrives. In the House, Abay Rep. Joey Salceda pushed for proposals to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution, saying this would address the “staggering” cost of the country’s inability to open its doors to foreign investments.

Rosemarie Ong, president of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and executive vice president of Wilcon Builders’ Depot, said while retailers have tried to improve on merchandising and instill good practices, they continue to rely on foot traffic, which has been light given the quarantine restrictions. Ong also reiterated the sector’s plea to the government to consider the retail frontliners in the essential list for COV-

ID-19 inoculation. The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, on the other hand, has adapted to varying levels of quarantine but maintains most of its workforce in a work-from-home setup. “I still believe that we can go to a more advanced level of quarantine. There’s a high level of consciousness among our people already in terms of the safety protocols and other health

Galvez,... From A1

Tiger Woods survives crash, but legs broken

Widodo all used the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. “This allays fear na ito pong Sinovac ay safe and effective, approved ito ng Food and Drug Administration, 91 percent ang efficacy rate sa Turkey,” Galvez said. Galvez said several local officials have expressed willingness to join him in getting the Sinovac dose in public to quell fears it is not safe. He said representatives from the Philippine government, Chinese Embassy, and Sinovac will prepare the documents needed to finalize the delivery date of some 600,000 doses of Sinovac “within this week.” Galvez said the government will use a military aircraft to ferry the vaccines across the country. The government will be able to conduct a major rollout of vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the third and fourth quarter of the year, he added “Ang main volume po ng ating mga procurement atsaka ‘yung sa COVAX ay darating po ng third quarter atsaka fourth quarter,” Galvez said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte. “So ‘yung ating planning po sa ating vaccination, ang major rollout po talaga natin will be coming from the third quarter and fourth quarter,” he added. Galvez said they are negotiating with manufacturers for early delivery. “Nag ne-negotiate din po tayo kahit mapamahal ng kaonti, basta ma-early delivery lang po sila ng second quarter atsaka po nung first quarter. Ayun po ‘yung ginagawa nating technique, ino-offset po natin price. Dadagdan po natin ‘yung prices para mapaaga po,” he said. The vaccine czar said the Philippines will receive 161 million doses by the end of 2021. Galvez said 17 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca were also secured in the tripartite agreement with the private sector and the local governments. He said three more agreements are being polished in terms of the indemnification and terms of delivery. The delivery of vaccines to the country has been delayed due to the lack of an indemnification fund law, which Congress has just passed on third reading. Jimbo Gulle

Congress... From A1 since the House lawmakers adopted the senators’ version of the bill. The House of Representatives on Tuesday night adopted Senate Bill 2057 or the proposed Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021. But Romualdez said Speaker Lord Allan Velasco opted to adopt the Senate version to avoid a bicameral conference committee meeting to speed up the legislative process.

Aid... From A1 of you, all departments, if you cannot come back here, at least send a representative who can work or who will work… you have one week to do it, all of you,” he said. “I am a very impatient man, not because by design, but kakaunti na lang kasi panahon na pagkapresidente ko; gusto kong dapat gawin, gawin na kaagad,” he said during the briefing attended by the Cabinet and local chief executives. The number of families affected by the onslaught of Tropical Storm Auring has

‘I want to hear people before VFA decision’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte wants to “hear the people” before deciding what to do with the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. In a televised briefing, Duterte said Wednesday he has “not yet decided on what to do, meaning to say to abrogate or renew” the VFA, which allows the presence of US military forces in the Philippines in a visiting capacity. Earlier this month, the President told Washington to “pay,” without specifying what, if it wanted to keep the pact. “I want to hear the people. I want the narratives to come up... hindi limitado dito sa (not limited to the) Congress. Ang ordinaryong mamamayan can have a say,” Duterte said. Through government complaint hotline 8888, the public can “enter your objections or any comment that you think would help the country,” he added. US military aid to the Philippines amounts to “loose change” compared to other Asian countries, Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque earlier said. He cited a study by Washingtonbased Stimson Center, which showed the Philippines received $3.9 billion in US counter-terrorism support from 2002-2017, compared to the $16.4 billion for Pakistan over the same period. “Pakistan got $16 billion. We think we should get something similar or close to that amount, but definitely not the amount we are currently getting,” said the Palace spokesman. “For now, what the President wants is if you want to continue using our territory, we want just compensation for it—not loose change, not outdated equipment. The equipment that just arrived, we bought those; those were not given to us,” Roque said.

LOS ANGELES—US golf legend Tiger Woods was recovering in a hospital Tuesday after surgery for serious leg injuries sustained in a car crash that law enforcement officials said he was lucky to survive. Woods was driving in a Los Angeles suburb on a road notorious for fatal accidents when his car crashed, rolling several times. “He is currently awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room,” his representatives said in a statement on Woods’s Twitter account late Tuesday. In the same statement, Harbor-UCLA

Medical Center chief medical officer Anish Mahajan said Woods underwent surgery to repair “significant orthopedic injuries” to his lower right leg and ankle. This included the insertion of a rod into his tibia and the use of “a combination of screws and pins” to stabilize his foot and ankle, the statement read. Woods did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the early-morning incident, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. No other vehicles or passengers were involved in the crash, which occurred on a steep stretch of road known as an

accident “hotspot,” where Woods was traveling at “a greater speed than normal,” the sheriff added. “Apparently the first contact was with the center median, and from there (the car) crossed into the opposing lane of traffic, hit the curb, hit a tree, and there was several rollovers during that process,” said Villanueva He did not say what caused the crash. The car ended up several hundred feet from the initial impact, lying on its side on a patch of grass some distance off the road, with its hood severely damaged. AFP

FDA... From A1

ficacy is acceptable, so why is there a need for such a colatilla,” he added. Domingo said the FDA would rather err on the side of caution given that the data of Sinovac has not yet been published in a peer-review journal. “What we got are the raw reports that we had to analyze ourselves. We can only allow indications that we can be sure of. We can see that for 18 to 59, it has very good clinical efficacy. But for others, we cannot prove yet without necessary information.” “If you look at the vaccination in Indonesia and Brazil, they did clinical trials there and they have results. Second, if you look at their phased programs, they started with 18 to 59 first. And once they were done with that, they expanded to 60 and above. So they already have real world experience. But let me tell you that in China, until now, they only used it for 18 to 59. We received that information from the Chinese embassy,” he added. But at the House of Representatives, former health secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said the FDA’s colatilla should be reviewed. “FDA’s decision on Sinovac should be reviewed and revisited. For the nth

time, we have heard our experts say, vaccination has three goals: to prevent severe disease and death, to prevent clinical disease, and to prevent transmission,” Garin said. “While I agree that everybody is careful about vaccines being given to seniors, it’s untenable to restrict the vaccine among healthcare workers,” she added. Aside from Sinovac, the FDA also issued emergency use authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca. Domingo said Russia’s Sputnik vaccine and India’s Bharat Biotech have pending applications, while other potential candidates include Moderna, Novovax and Covovax. Beijing has donated 600,000 Sinovac doses that are set to arrive either before the end of February or early March. “The products are already there. We are managing the procedures of making the delivery and we will expect that the Philippines will be one of the important countries where we’re going to supply the products,” Sinovac general manager Helen Yang said in an interview on ANC. Roque said Duterte wants to personally witness the arrival of the Sinovac doses.

age and determination, in selfless offering of life and fortune to restore our democracy, our rights, and our freedom. “This was our opportunity to make things right, to do things right, for what we hold in hearts as true and just. We were the beacon of hope, the pride of our race, the muse of the community of nations.

“We owe generations after us the true story of EDSA 1986 and bequeath the legacy of the spirit that carried us through those fateful days and beyond.” Ramos, who will be 93 years old next month, said: “The challenge we face now is to keep ablaze the flame of nationalism and continue to embody the unparalleled spirit of the People Power Revolution.” He asked: “Are we impassioned and inspired by the spirit of EDSA 1986? Do we go about our lives guided by these ideals? Are we worthy of the risks taken and the

sacrifices made by our countrymen?” The former President also said: “Our nation’s destiny remains uncertain, but her history is evidence that we always succeed in achieving our shared aspirations when we work together.” The revolution, he said, “is not over and the work remains unfinished until every Filipino enjoys the freedoms and rights embodied in our Constitution, our democracy secure, and we regain our seat at the table of the community of nations.”

Under the approved measure, the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Task Force against COVID-19 are empowered to negotiate the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and the needed supplies and services for their storage, transport and distribution for the national government, as well as local government units (LGUs) and the private sector. LGU’s are authorized to directly procure ancillary supplies and services necessary for the storage, transport, development, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines through negotiated procurement. The bill exempts LGUs from comply-

ing with the some provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Act as well as from customs duties and related taxes on the importation of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the speedy procurement and effective administration of vaccines against the deadly disease. The bill also provides a P500-million indemnity fund to compensate any inoculated person who subsequently experiences serious adverse side effects or worse, death. Senator Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, said with or without the new law, the executive department must get its act together and procure the needed vaccines.

Now that Congress had passed the law that would expedite their purchase and provide a P500-million indemnity fund, Pangilinan said the executive department must give the Filipino people a definite timeline for the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. Pangilinan, who delivered a privilege speech seeking a definite vaccine rollout schedule last Dec. 14, said the people, especially the health workers who face the dangers of COVID-19 every day, are demanding a specific date when the safe and effective doses of vaccine will land in their arms.

The Duterte administration does not patronize smuggled products and the use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines is not a government policy,” Roque said. The Palace official also qualified Tulfo’s claim that the President was open to getting inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine. “While the President likes Sinopharm, it has not secured an emergency use authorization yet. This is the reason why his doctors and advisers have advised against it. We have to wait for the EUA approval,” Roque said. The Food and Drug Administration has to issue an EUA for a vaccine to be legally used in the country. The FDA is also allowed to issue a permit for compassionate use similar to what it issued belatedly to the Presidential Security Group after the soldiers received vaccine doses from China. In a television interview, Tulfo said he got injected with the smuggled doses in October last year because he wanted He insisted that he saw nothing wrong with his actions and he should not be held liable since he was no longer a government official when he got the jabs. “I approached them as a private citizen not as a government official, I never used my position as special envoy to China in dealing with the private company here. As far as I’m concerned I did not commit any wrongdoing in having myself vaccinated,” Tulfo said. Tulfo claimed he got inoculated along with “other government officials” but did not identify them. The FDA said it would investigate Tulfo’s claim of receiving smuggled vaccine doses. “We will investigate this because it is not good that we learn that there are vaccinations that did not go through the right process,” FDA director general Eric Domingo said in a public briefing.

Meanwhile, the DOLE clarified that Filipino nurses are not being peddled as critics have charged. “It was never the intention to trade or exchange,” DOLE Information and Publication Service (IPS) Director Rolly Francia said in an online press briefing. Francia said that DOLE doesn’t view Filipino nurses as a “commodity or material for barter.” The labor official said reports on the “nurses-for-vaccines trade” stemmed from discussions during the previous virtual press briefing, saying DOLE-International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Visperas and other labor officials remarks were taken out of context. “What Secretary Bello wants is to ensure

that the nurse gets vaccinated if ever the request for an exemption in the cap would be granted by the President,” Francia said. “What we want is to deploy only the nurses who have been vaccinated and the vaccines should come from the requesting countries,” he added. The United Kingdom government turned down a proposal that would deploy more Filipino nurses to Britain in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines. “We’ve got no plans to link vaccines with those conversations around the recruitment of nurses,” said UK Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce. “You know those two strands of conversation I think continue but as I’ve said again we have no plans to link those two issues.”

“So since there is not enough clinical data for use on 60 and above, we cannot allow it for use on them. But if they give us clinical data on that, then we can expand the allowed indication age,” he said. “As for medical workers, we did not recommend it for frontline workers dealing with COVID-19, a very specific sub-group, because the efficacy there is about 50.4 percent, compared to 63 percent to 91 percent on healthy 18 to 59 year olds where the vaccine would be very, very good. All vaccines have certain people that it reacts well to and those that it does not,” Domingo added. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte wanted a more in-depth explanation from the FDA even as he respected the decision of the agency. “FDA director general Eric Domingo has been summoned, and the President has relayed his concern as to why there was that kind of colatilla,” Roque said. “The President respects the opinion of experts, so we let that colatilla remain. But his question is this: the World Health Organization said 50 percent ef-

EDSA... From A1

climbed to 49,947 in five regions, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. In its update on Wednesday, the NDRRMC said the highest number was recorded in Caraga with 47,791 families, followed by Northern Mindanao with 1,337; the Davao region with 803; Bicol with 15; and Eastern Visayas with one. Before the storm’s onslaught, a total of 18,966 families were pre-emptively evacuated in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga. Only one fatality was recorded, along with two injured and four missing in Caraga.

Nurses-for-vax... From A1 However, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the statement of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was just a proposal to Germany and the United Kingdom. “The President was not informed of this proposal, as far as I know. This is not the President’s idea. This is the idea of Secretary Bello and Secretary Locsin, which we welcome because more is better than less,” he said. He added: “But as far as the President is concerned, we have ordered more than enough [vaccines].”

Special... From A1

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

‘Polio vax drive affected by lockdown’ By Willie Casas

Paras hits solon from Quezon with libel rap

HE Philippines is having difficulty reaching its target number of children for measles and polio vaccinations as some areas are in lock down due to the spread of COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

By Maricel V. Cruz A FORMER legislator who is now a middle-level Malacanang official on Wednesday filed libel charges against a congresswoman from Quezon province for allegedly making damaging imputations against him in a privileged speech. Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, a former congressman from Negros Oriental, filed the charges against Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan. In a complaint at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, Paras claimed that parliamentary immunity did not cover the alleged defamation that Tan made against him in her privileged speech on February 8, 2020. Tan, chairman of the House Committee on Health, delivered a privilege speech claiming that Paras was responsible for a TikTok video using material from a news website, www. sovereignph.com, that Paras owned that reported about allegations of corruption involving her and her husband Ronel Tan, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Ilocos Region. The news report was based on a complaint filed by a councilor from Lopez town in Quezon province, Paras said. Paras denied posting any TikTok video, especially the posted video cited by Tan in her privileged speech. Tan said in her speech that the video has been pulled out from TikTok.

NEW HIGHWAY. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar conducts a final inspection of the 41.67-km East West Lateral Bypass Road

from Silang, Cavite to Nasugbu, Batangas -- which passes through the towns of Indang, Amadeo, Maragondon, Gen. Aguinaldo and Magallanes in Cavite as Villar points to in the map (inset) on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

Comelec defends ‘Run Sara Run’ banners THE Commission on Elections said Wednesday paraphernalia urging the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to run – criticized by some social media users – in the 2022 polls did not violate election laws. “Technically, there is no violation because in order for premature campaigning to be committed there should be an official candidate,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told ANC. “And no official candidate exists right now. In fact, we are not even filing the certificate of candidacy yet. So, since

there is no official candidate, there can be no crime or should we say offense of premature campaigning.” President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday his daughter was not running for the country’s highest post in 2022. “Inday Sara is not running. I have really, really put my foot down. Naaawa ako sa anak ko. Ang politiko dito, kababuyan,” he said in a briefing in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. “... I pity my daughter. The politics here is dirty.” Last month, the Davao City mayor

also appealed to her supporters to wait for her to run for president until 2034. Jimenez said the “Run Sara Run” banners, which have been slammed by several social media users as early campaigning, was “a matter of free expression.” “These people have the right to actually promote the candidacy of anyone that they want. They could put up a banner that says ‘Christian Run’ and it won’t make a difference because it’s a matter of free expression,” he said. However, the poll official noted such activity skews the playing field.

Dr. Beverly Ho, director of the DOH’s Health Promotion Bureau, said adding to the problem was the fear of some parents of the vaccination. “What we’re still getting from the ground is that a lot of them are afraid to go to the health centers because they’re afraid for the safety of them and their kids. They might get infected with) COVID, so they’re not going to the centers,” Ho said during a media briefing. “We want to reassure everyone that as long as we’re able to practice our minimum public health standards -- there are protocols in place in health center, so that the mother and the baby are protected,” she added, explaining that they would only need to stay in the health center for 15 minutes during the vaccination. The DOH and participating local government units are holding a mass immunization campaign for the whole month of February to prevent another measles outbreak from happening, and to further stop the spread of polio. For the measles-rubella vaccine, the DOH targeted 5.1 million children to be vaccinated, of whom, almost 1.4 million have yet to be reached. For the oral polio vaccine, almost 4.7 million children are targeted, but around 1.3 million children that have yet to receive it. “Unfortunately, for some of the barangays in these areas, there has been increasing COVID-19 cases, and this puts some of the areas in lockdown. And that compromises the ability of our vaccination team to go into those areas,” Ho said as she enumerated the participating regions — National Capital Region, Region 3, 4A, 6, 7, and 8.

Short lists for judicial posts out By Rey E. Requejo THE Judicial and Bar Council has submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte its shortlists of aspirants for the vacant positions in the Court of Appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals and the Sandiganbayan. In three separate letters the President, the seven-member JBC concurrently chaired by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta endorsed the nomination of 36 aspirants for six vacancies in the CA, eight for the lone Sandiganbayan vacancy and 15 for the two vacancies to the CTA. The vacancies in the appellate court were due to the promotion of Associate Justices Rodil Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, Edgardo L. Delos Santos, and Samuel H. Gaerlan as associate justices of the Supreme Court, while the remaining two positions were due to the mandatory retirement of Associate Justices Luisa Q. Padilla and Jane Aurora C. Lantion.

The aspirants who made it to the JBC’s shortlist for the CA posts include Joeffre Willkom Acebido, Philip Acosta Aguinaldo, Selma palacio Alaras, Henry Sumaway Angeles, Eleuterio Larisma Bathan, Lorna Francisc Catris Chua Cheng, Ronald Chua Chua, Maria Celestina Castro Cruz Mangrobang, Lanee Sosing Cui David, Mercedita Gozo Dadole Ygnacio, Maximo Mercado de Leon, Amado Paolo Calinog Dimayuga, Ma. Antonia Edita Claridades Dizon, Jacinto Gavino Fajardo Jr., Maria Milagros Nolasco Fernan Cayoya, Dorcas Perez Ferriols Perez, Carolina Cervantes Icasiano Sison, Rogelio Gilzano Largo, Mary Josephine Dela Pena Lazaro, Ernilio Rodolfo Yabut Legaspi III, Perpetuo Tarnate Lucero Jr., Robert Victor Consunji Marcon, Ana Marie Train Mas, Rosalyn Dagami Mislos Loja, Mia Joy Crisostomo Oallares Cawed,

LAKAS MEMBER. House Majority Leader and Lakas-CMD Party President Martin Romualdez (2nd left) administers the oath taking of new party member Crisostomo Gotladera (2nd right) of Sorsogon on Wednesday. Looking on are Lakas-CMD Deputy Secretary General Rep. Wilter ‘Sharky’ Palma (left) and Lakas VP for Legislative Affairs Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo (right). Ver Noveno

Audit of China-owned Dito sought PDEA reserves right By Macon Ramos-Araneta

FIRE AID. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna talk to a victim from the recent Parola compound fire inside the Jose Abad Santos High School in Binondo Manila on Wednesday. The victims received relief goods and P10,000 cash assistance from the City Government of Manila. Norman Cruz

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the National Security Council (NSC) to immediately conduct a security audit of China-owned Dito Telecommunity Corporation ahead of its commercial rollout on March 8. “Our worries on Dito telco are yet ro be resolved. While the bullying of China over West Philippine Sea is ongoing amid the pandemic, we rolled out a red carpet for a company directly reporting to China. This is worrying. NSC should execute a security audit for Dito. It’s the least it can do,” Hontiveros said. The senator added that NSC must also tap an independent security auditor, similar to how the National Telecommunications Commission conducted its technical audit of Dito. On Monday, Feb. 22, NTC announced that the third telco passed its first technical audit. “If there is a technical audit, there

should also be a security audit. Knowing that Dito is safe from China’s incursions is as vital as knowing Dito’s technical capabilities,” Hontiveros said, reiterating that ChinaTel, which has a 40 percent stake in Dito, is 100 percent owned by the Chinese state. During the Senate hearing on Dito’s franchise in December, the NSC admitted that it did not have a cyberdefense doctrine that could fight against cyberattacks. Hontiveros earlier questioned why Dito should be allowed franchise when the country’s cyberdefenses were down. The senator had also flagged a Chinabased hacking group, code name “Naikon,” that has been carrying out an espionage campaign against governments in the Asia Pacific, including the Philippines. “The concrete strategy of NSC on the issue of cybersecurity. is alarming,” said Hontiveros. She noted that China could easily take advantage of this.

Villar wants 3 Pinoy space engineers known for Maya-2 CubeSat By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar wants the Senate to recognize the three Filiipino space engineers for developing Maya-2 CubeSat, the country’s 2nd nanosatellite successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) last Feb. 21. In filing Senate Resolution 657, also

introduced by Sen. Nancy Binay, Villar said the three engineers—Izrael Zenar C. Bautista, Mark Angelo C. Puno and Marloun P. Sejera -- have brought pride to the country for the satellite launched aboard the cargo spacecraft Cygnus “NG 15.” Villar said the remarkable achievements of the three were not just in line

with the policies and goals of the Philippine Space Act. It was also viewed as a “welcome good news” bringing genuine inspiration to the Filipinos amid the backdrop of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in the country. “Their work on the development of Maya-2 CubeSat launched into space

constitutes a valuable contribution to the country’s science and technology, particularly in the area of space science,” noted Villar. And for this, Villar said, the three, who are currently pursuing their respective doctorate degrees in Space Engineering at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan, should be given commendation.

to charge own people By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday reserved its right to pursue available remedies relative to the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation to file graft and corruption charges against its former and incumbent officials, and anti-narcotics agents in connection with the smuggled P1 billion worth of shabu in 2019. Director General Wilkins Villanueva, who took over the agency on May 22, 2020, said he had nothing to do with the matter since he was still the regional director of the PDEA Regional Office 10 in Northern Mindanao at that time. “The incident happened during the previous PDEA administration,” PDEA’s statement read. “Although the PDEA has yet to receive a copy of the NBI report, the agency is ready to answer every allegation,” it said. “PDEA officials and agents who were implicated in the investigation are ready to clear their names in the proper forum,” it added. The NBI recommended the filing of graft charges against ex-PDEA chief Aaron Aquino, Villanueva, Bureau of Customs chief Rey Guerrero, Deputy Commissioner Raniel Ramiro and several drug operatives for alleged failure to detect the shabu shipment worth P1 billion two years ago that were found to be hidden in aluminum pallets in a tapioca starch shipment.

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

QC SHOOTOUT. Suspects are forced to lie on the ground by police after a gunfight ensued near a mall on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City Wednesday evening. Two persons died in the shootout, with police recovering several high-powered firearms from the suspects (inset). See story below. FZaff Solmerin via Facebook

2 police killed in QC shootout near Ever mall TWO policemen were killed in a shootout that followed a buy-bust operation at a Commonwealth Avenue mall in Quezon City. The gunfight ensued between police and still unidentified gunmen near the Ever Gotesco mall, with tweets posted by GMA News indicating that members of the QCPD District Special Operations Unit conducted the anti-drug operation at a fast food joint in the area. The team leader of the QCPD-DSOU group was rushed to a hospital after getting wounded in the incident, GMA News said. Information from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed the incident began at 6:08 p.m., shutting down the busy avenue’s eastbound lane. The shooting sent bystanders scampering for safety and halted traffic on the major thoroughfare. ABS-CBN News also indicated that agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency were in the area. Sen. Richard Gordon, also head of the Philippine Red Cross, said the shooting happened near an overpass fronting a mall, with at least two police officers reportedly hurt. “We already coordinated with QC Police Stations 5 & 6 and dispatched medic team to provide immediate assistance. Keep safe everyone,” he said in a tweet. In a statement, Ever Gotesco mall said shoppers were safe inside its premises as the shooting went on and asked the public to avoid unconfirmed information online.

Journo murder suspect nabbed By Willie Casas THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) announced on Wednesday the recent arrest of Richard Posas Bolastig, one of the suspected gunmen in the murder of journalist Dennis Denora, through the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office. In a report submitted to Malacañang by Police Lt. Col. Verna Cabuhat, Acting Chief of Police of Panabo City Police Station, police operatives were able to implement a court-issued warrant against Bolastig for the murder of Denora as earlier directed by the Task Force. Bolastig is currently detained at the Tagum City Jail awaiting trial. “This is proof of the government’s unwavering commitment to bring to justice all perpetrators of media killings in the country. I commend the men and women of the PNP for capturing this most wanted criminal. We will not rest until all those responsible for the murder of Dennis Denora are brought to justice,” PTFoMS Co-Chair and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said. Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of PTFoMS, explained that the arrest of Bolastig is a validation of President Duterte’s unbroken promise to end the plague of violence against media workers by bringing perpetrators behind bars.

Army: 9 women arrested for ASG bomb plot in Jolo N INE WOMEN suspected of plotting to blow up military targets in the restive southern Philippines have been arrested, the Army said Tuesday.

Security forces detained the women and seized bomb-making equipment during raids on Friday of several homes on Muslim-majority Jolo island, a stronghold of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group. Most of the women were the daughters or widows of slain Abu Sayyaf fighters and included several “potential suicide bombers”, Major General William Gonzales said in a statement.

“This is how desperate the remaining terrorists are, willing to sacrifice their families just to get back at government forces,” Gonzales said. The women had been monitored giving “financial or logistical support to their relatives” in Abu Sayyaf, First Lieutenant Jerrica Manongdo told AFP. They allegedly planned to attack soldiers with improvised explosive devices. Three of the women are the daughters

of the late Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who was accused of planning the deadly attack on Jolo cathedral in 2019 which killed 21 people. Their arrest comes six months after a pair of female suicide bombers, including an Indonesian, blew themselves up on Jolo, killing 15 people and wounding 74 others. It was the country’s deadliest attack last year. Listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of Islamist militants blamed for the Philippines’ worst terror attacks and kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries. AFP

Hataman seeks probe of arrests versus Muslims By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from Mindanao on Wednesday sought a congressional inquiry into the spate of alleged warrantless arrests against Muslims in Cavite and in parts of Metro Manila, raising the specter of the misuse and abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Law, particularly against Moros. At the same time, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman asked the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to explain the arrests and detention -- allegedly without a judicial warrant and without due process – of at least 11 individuals inside a construction site in Bacoor, Cavite last Feb. 17, the whereabouts of whom are still undetermined as of now. Seven of those taken were Muslims. “Is this the effect of the Anti-Terror Law? Or an incident of discrimination against the Moros?” asked Hataman. Hataman said he would file a resolution calling on the appropriate committee of the House of Representatives to probe the incident. “We will investigate this matter to find out what happened,” Hataman said. The Basilan lawmaker also referred to the spate of arrests against Muslims in Metro Manila, specifically in Manila and Taguig, where some individuals were allegedly taken by persons who identified themselves as operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation. These incidents also prompted Hataman to raise concerns if they were also within the purview of the Anti-Terrorism Act. “Since these are the first incidents of this arrests under the new anti-terrorism law, it is important to know if the safeguards we have instituted to protect the rights of suspects and the accused in the statute are followed to the letter,” Hataman noted. He said “The NICA and NCRPO should clarify the arrests, produce the 11 individuals and inform their families of what happened. Most of them come from Basilan, in my province ” Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, expressed. “If they were arrested on suspicion of terrorism, then they should let us know. ..They are my constituents, and they deserve legal aid or assistance to protect their rights under the law,” he added. Reports reaching Hataman’s office indicate that Bacoor police assisted an alleged joint operation by the NICA and NCRPO at Yuxing Construction Site in Barangay Mambog IV, Bacoor City last Feb. 17, 2021 at around 2 a.m.

Navotas shuts City Hall, annex THE Navotas local government on Tuesday put City Hall and its annex in Barangay Sipac Almacen under a granular lockdown due to the rising number of employees infected with COVID-19. Mayor Toby Tiangco said in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday that 24 local government workers had tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU). Of the 24, a total of 15 employees report to the City Hall Building and its annexes. “Dahil dito, kailangan po nating maglockdown ng city hall, kabilang na ang Navotas City Hall Annex (kasama ang NavoServe) at Franchising Permits Processing Unit mula ngayon, 23 February, 8:01PM, hanggang sa Linggo, 28 February, 11:59PM,” Tiangco said. The lockdown order is contained in Executive Order No. TMT-014 Series of 2021, which was signed by Tiangco on Tuesday. The city’s CESU surveillance officers sought to establish the presence of any clustered cases and trace all possible close contacts. With the lockdown in place, transactions at the city hall are temporarily suspended. “May mga papasok pa rin po na kawani pero para lamang ayusin ang sweldo ng mga empleyado, gawin ang mga proseso para sa pagbili ng mga kailangan para sa ating COVID-19 response, at pag-responde sa anumang emergency,” Tiangco said. The mayor also assured those with obligations to settle on Feb 28.

NO ENTRY. Local government officials and Pasay policemen inspectpeople entering Barangay 183 in Pasay City, one of the 55 barangays under the localized Enhance Community Quarantine due to the continuing increase in COVID-19 cases in the city. Norman Cruz

US names Vico to list of 12 ‘anticorruption champions’ THE US State Department has named Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to a list of 12 persons honoring the world’s anticorruption champions. The 31-year-old mayor is among the “brave individuals” given the International Anticorruption Champions Award, launched by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to “recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in pre-

venting, exposing and combating corruption.” Sotto “is a standard-bearer for a new generation of Philippine politicians who prioritize anticorruption and transparency initiatives in their election campaigns and in office,” the agency said in a statement released Tuesday. In a separate statement, Blinken said he launched the award to demonstrate US commitment in fighting corruption and

show support to anticorruption leaders and innovators. “As President [Joe] Biden has emphasized, our commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability is a mission that we must live at home and exemplify abroad. I commend the dedication of these 12 brave individuals to these same ideals... They inspire us and so many of their counterparts pursuing these ideals around the world,” he said.

BOC seizes P260m in cigarettes, rice

NO TO CHINA. Militant fishermen hold placards during a demonstration along Roxas

Boulevard in Manila on Wednesday in a show of defiance against China. They publicly declared the recently-enacted Coast Guard Law null and void as they vowed not to adhere to the repressive law and to assert Filipino fishermens’ rights in the West Philippine Sea. Norman Cruz

THE Bureau of Customs Port of Limay has intercepted smuggled cigarettes in master cases bearing the “Mighty” and “Two Moon” cigarette brands and Premium Vietnam Rice loaded onto LCT Yellow River on Wednesday in Orion, Bataan. Customs led the composite team from Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the arrest. Based on Customs reports, the importation was unloaded from a mother ship originating from Vietnam and loaded onto LCT Yellow River.

The importation, consigned to Asia Pacific Rice Trading Corporation, was accompanied with a fake Statement of Settlement of Duties and Taxes (SSDT) for the rice, and lack of tax seal for the cigarettes. LCT Yellow River also partially unloaded onto several trailer trucks, which were seized in various checkpoints, and in the premises of Orion Dockyard, Orion, Bataan. The crew of LCT Yellow River and the various trucks with about 50 individuals are now subjected to inquest proceedings on charges in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other laws. Julito Rada

Opinion Sugar law must confine itself to sugar

frastructural facilities, ferBELIEVING that tilizer and pesticides, new the state and perforvarieties and production mance of one of this credit - it is unbelievable country’s leading that the industry regulaagricultural industor should allow precious tries had deterioratfunds to go unutilized. But ed over the years, it has been happening. Congress in 2015 What could be the explanation for this enacted SIDA (Sugar Industry Development Act). SIDA’s salient provision was the “failure of implementation” on the part of appropriation of P2 billion annually for the SRA? The best explanation is SRA’s loss of fosugar industry. On August 20, 2020, the Committee on cus when it began to wander away from the Agriculture and Food of the House of the sugar industry and began to concern itself Representatives created a Technical Work- with things that are properly the concerns ing Group (TWG) to “review the imple- of other government departments. For instance, it began to involve itself mentation of Republic Act. No. 10659 on the Sugar Industry Development Act” and in activities relating to the development of to consider three measures intended to im- biofuel. Biofuel is an energy resource and therefore is a DOE (Department of Energy) prove the law. The means to review SIDA’s implemen- concern. The same can be said about alcohol. The tation was the progressive decrease in the annual appropriation for the SIDA program manufacture of alcohol is a DOH (Departas a result of the appropriations under-uti- ment of Health) concern. When alcohol is lization by the Philippine sugar industry’s turned into a beverage, DTI (Department of Trade and Indusregulation, SRA try) comes into the (Sugar Regulatory picture; distilleries Administration). are manufacturing From 2016’s P2 The agency must establishments. billion, the approregain the focus that The making of priation went down the “by-products of to P500 million by it has lost. the sugarcane indus2019. try” that SIDA and SRA’s under-utithe current Lower lization raised two questions in the minds of Lower House House measures repeatedly talk about-furfural, for instance - is likewise, a matter for the members. Why continue to annually appropriate P2 regulation of manufacturing activity, not the billion for the sugar industry if only a frac- regulation of the sugar industry. Because of the present wording of SIDA, tion of that amount can be utilized? Alternatively, did the record of under-utilization SRA apparently thought that matters remean that the sugar industry really did not lating to bioethanol, alcohol and the other “by-products of the sugarcane industry” need development assistance? The most significant of the measures were part of its SIDA mandate. Wrong. Sugar industry development is are set to undergo TWG review in House Resolution No.225, introduced by Rep. about development of the sugar industry, Deogracias Victor Savellano (Ilocos Sur). i.e., the planting and crushing (milling) of The Resolution “directs the appropriate sugarcane to produce raw sugar. SIDA was House committee to conduct an inquiry, in intended to help the planters - the great maaid of legislation, as to the failure of Repub- jority of whom own farms of 5 hectares or lic Act No. 10659 or the Sugarcane Industry less - and the millers who crush their cane; Development Act of 2015, causing adverse it was not intended to provide support for effects on the sugar industry in general and DOE, DOH and DTI. If the Committee on Agriculture and notably on the small farmers and workers.” The bills filed by Res. Manuel Sagarbar- Food is really serious about making SIDA a ria (2nd District, Negros Oriental) and Mi- true developer of the sugar industry, it must chael Romero (1-Pacman) propose non-far- amend the law so as to enable SRA to rereaching amendments to SIDA; they have gain the focus that it has clearly lost as a nothing to say about SRA’s under-utiliza- result of the non-sugar-industry issues that it has turned its attention to. tion of SIDA’s appropriation. Until that happens - until SRA is made to Most government departments and agencies are forever clamoring for the case of accept that its sole constituency is the sugar SRA the situation is one of repeated un- industry per se - SRA will continue to under-utilize SIDA allocations. That would be der-utilization of duly approved funds. Given the enormous financial need of the truly tragic for one of this country’s most sugar industry - funds for roads and other in- important agricultural industries.

Best practices in Southeast Asia measures, we have maintained relatively lower numbers of deaths and higher recoveries compared to other countries. Critics are tirelessly pointing out flaws in the COVID-19 response of the government. We would agree that not a single country was prepared to deal with this A YEAR ago, the thought of communi- pandemic. I would like to give credit to ty quarantine was badly dreaded by the the national government and local goventire country, more so the possibility of ernment units for the efforts in preventlocalized lockdowns. Now, almost three ing COVID-19 transmission. Southeast weeks away from its first “anniversary,” Asian countries have been better able in the country’s community quarantine has controlling the spread of COVID-19. The proved to be an effective means of curb- United States recently reached the half ing COVID-19 transmission. Even today, a million mark in the number of mortalcities and municipalities with alarming ities from COVID-19. Knowing the cainfection rates pability of the US have been resortin terms of teching to strict comnology and medmunity quarantine We just have to icine, it is quite measures to stop puzzling how the persevere, remain the increase of number of deaths patient, and COVID-19 cases. reached that high. Safety protoSame goes with conscientiously cols have also other developed do our part in been consistently and high-income in place since the preventing the spread countries such as start of the quarItaly, France, and of COVID-19. antine. Our govthe United Kingernment officials dom who are also constantly remind among those counus to observe sotries with high cial distancing as well as the mandatory numbers of mortalities. Meanwhile, rewearing of face masks and face shields ports show that Asia has lower incidence in public places. From the period of of deaths and positive cases than Europe lockdown until the easing of restrictions and North America. The Philippines has and reopening of the economy, we have recorded roughly 12,000 deaths to date been told and ordered to follow these and 522,000 recoveries, which translate minimum health protocols to the letter, to 2.14 percent and 92.6 percent, respecto prevent exposure to COVID-19. Inev- tively. itably, COVID-19 is there, but with these This does not, in any manner, mean it

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EDITORIAL

Half empty, half full

PALACE spokesman this week defended the emergency use authorization (EUA) issued to the COVID-19 vaccine made by China’s Sinovac, CoronaVac, saying it had met World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

The assurance suggests the WHO has finished evaluating the vaccine and has endorsed its use. This is simply not the case. In fact, the WHO representative to the Philippines said on Tuesday that the UN is still evaluating Sinovac’s vaccine and would not comment on its efficacy until the review is complete. Information about the vaccine’s efficacy in clinical trials, the WHO official added, were merely taken from media reports. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday approved CoronaVac for emergency use but said it is not recommended for health workers due to its lower efficacy rate of 50.4 percent in that group. Those media reports said the vaccine was found to be 91 percent effective in

clinical trials in Turkey, 65.3 percent effective in Indonesia but only 50.4 percent effective in clinical trials in Brazil among medical front liners. The FDA said late-stage trial data of the Sinovac vaccine showed it had a low-

Why did the Palace spokesman say that CoronaVac met WHO standards?

er efficacy rate when used for health-care workers exposed to the coronavirus compared with healthy people aged 18-59. This meant it should not be administered to frontline health workers or the elderly, who are on top of the government’s priority list for vaccination. Another Chinese vaccine made by the state-owned Sinopharm—which was illegally administered to members of President Duterte’s security team as early as last year and which the President favors for himself—is also still under evaluation by the WHO. So why did the Palace spokesman say that CoronaVac met WHO standards?

Most likely, that comes from the WHO’s target product profile for COVID-19 vaccines, which suggested that a “clear demonstration of efficacy (on a population basis) ideally with 50 percent point estimate” should be a minimum criterion for any acceptable COVID-19 vaccine. So if the reports about the Sinovac clinical tests are accurate, then the Chinese vaccine does indeed meet the WHO standard—but it would be right on the edge of being acceptable. In the meantime, the FDA’s observation that the vaccine is not suitable for frontline health workers poses yet another problem, because it throws the government’s well considered list of priorities—health workers and senior citizens first—out of whack. Who, then, will receive the CoronaVac doses when they arrive this month? That we even have to make this choice speaks to the incompetence that has attended the government’s efforts to acquire COVID-19 vaccines. In defense of the Sinovac vaccine, the Palace spokesman said that having some protection was better than none at all. This may be true, but given a choice between 50 percent and 90 percent protection, we wonder how the spokesman would choose.

Vaccines and variants SECRETARY Carlito Galvez Jr, the vaccine czar, recently asked the public to stretch their patience some more because of further delays in the arrival of the vaccines. It now appears that the vaccines that we were told would arrive in January, which was later moved to February, will now start to get here in trickles by the middle or later part of March. That is, if there will be no further delays. In the meantime, there are now three COVID-19 variants here in the country. One from the United Kingdom and two local variants originating from Cebu. For the information of the good Secretary, being patient is exactly what the people have been doing the past year. Patience is a cherished Filipino trait. They have also been religiously following most government instructions with regard to the pandemic even if some of the instructions were downright ridiculous like insisting that partners staying in the same house must have a divider when riding a motorcycle. The question that now needs to be answered is why some of our neighbors have been able to procure some vaccines and have started vaccinating while we are still waiting. There needs to be an explanation considering that in the first months of the pandemic, the President was already talking about buying vaccines to deliver us all to the promised land. I remember him saying on TV that we have to be patient, follow all health protocols, avoid getting infected – until the vaccines come. But instead of our government trying to find ways to start negotiating with the vaccine developers at the earliest possible time, the President lambasted western countries and the vaccine developers for their greed. This is true – but hardly an auspicious way to start the ball rolling. The Presiis a cause for celebration. Instead, this is a cause for serious concern for governments worldwide. Deaths mean losses and are not mere statistics. Hence, we must all strive to put the number down to a nil. This then begs the question, what are we doing right? What is it in Southeast Asia in that these countries do not suffer as much as those in the west? Perhaps, the World Health Organization can look into the measures im-

dents’ rants somehow delayed the start of any negotiations because he had to cool down first. There was also the problem of funding sources for the vaccines and the many debates that went on. Considering that a national emergency had already been declared because of the pandemic, funds should not have been a major stumbling block since about P40 billion in Bayanihan funds remained

Remember the issue about someone dropping the ball? unused. With the government betting all its marbles on the vaccines to bring us back to any semblance of normality, it would seem that we took a lot of time to get moving on the vaccine front. By the time we started serious efforts to buy the vaccines, there were already many countries ahead of us. And as we have all read in the papers, the effort has not been very efficient because of the differences of opinion that existed within the IATF. Remember the issue about someone dropping the ball? I also wonder whether our diplomats assigned to the countries abroad where vaccines are being developed had any role to play or whether everything was handled from here. Planning always involves plemented by Southeast Asian countries and study its application to those with high numbers of cases and fatalities from COVID-19. Vaccines are there to prevent fatalities and COVID-19 cases, but while it is not available to all for distribution, countries should contribute for better policies for global implementation to effectively curb COVID-19 transmission. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the

assumptions and answering the many what ifs. There appears to be some failure in this area because many of the snafus being mentioned now were not anticipated. So, when exactly will any of the vaccines ordered start arriving? If the reports are right, only the Sinovac vaccine has more or less a firm date of arrival before the end of this month. Trouble is, the Emergency Use Authorization given by the Food and Drug Administration is limited. Well, I guess there is nothing else to do except to wait and pray as Senator Franklin Drilon said in an interview or practice some more. It is hard to pass judgement on how our government has responded to the pandemic and I will not. But let me cite the Global COVID Index. According to that report, we are ranked 79th out of 98 countries around the world that were studied. Here are the ranks of some of our neighbors; Vietnam is number 2 behind New Zealand. Thailand is 10th while Malaysia is 16th. Myanmar is 24th while Singapore, Indonesia and India are 13th, 85th and 86th respectively. If it is any consolation to us, the United States is 94th. We are certainly not the last but our grade of about 30 out of 100 is not exactly a sterling performance. Because of the new variants now upon us, the need for the vaccines cannot be overemphasized. As we all know, vaccination according to experts is one of the best ways of getting ahead of the virus. Failure in this area will mean dire consequences especially to our vulnerable population. Now, we have received confirmation that some high-ranking government officials were vaccinated last year. That is leadership by example for you. And weeks after the entry of the UK variant, the DOH cannot yet categorically say whether there is already community transmission. safety protocols and health programs implemented by the government also relies on the cooperation of the people. Hence, I would also like to thank and give the people due credit for complying with these measures, no matter how inconvenient it is. Eventually, we will all be out of this dark tunnel. We just have to persevere, remain patient, and conscientiously do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

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At least 75 inmates dead in Ecuador prison riots AT LEAST 75 inmates died Tuesday and several were injured in riots blamed on gang rivalry at three jails in Ecuador’s overcrowded prison system, authorities said. As security forces battled to regain control, distraught family members waited desperately for news outside the prison in Ecuador’s western port city of Guayaquil, where officials said 21 died. Another 33 died at the prison in Cuenca in the south and eight in Latacunga in the center of the South American country, according to Edmundo Moncayo, director of the government’s SNAI prisons management body. “We want the death list given to us,” said Daniela Soria, 29, one of about 40 women outside the Guayaquil prison, many of them in tears. “We know that the problems are not over because everyone there has a phone and my husband doesn’t call me,” she told AFP. Earlier, she received a WhatsApp voice message from her husband, Ricardo, which she played back for AFP. “They

IN BRIEF Ex-wife gets $8,000 for unpaid housework A CHINESE man has been ordered to pay his ex-wife almost $8,000 for years of unpaid housework, in a landmark divorce case that has sparked furious debate in China. Under the country’s new civil code, which came into effect this year, divorcing spouses have the right for the first time to request compensation if they bore more responsibilities at home. Ex-wife Wang told the Beijing court that during five years of marriage she “looked after the child and managed household chores, while (her husband) Chen did not care about or participate in any other household affairs besides going to work.” She filed a claim for extra compensation for housework and childcare duties, according to a February 4 court statement. The court ruled that Wang had indeed taken on more household responsibilities and should receive 50,000 yuan ($7,700) plus sole child custody and an additional 2,000 yuan in alimony per month. But after local media reported this week that Wang had appealed – having originally requested 160,000 yuan compensation – the ruling sparked widespread online debate over the value of women’s unpaid domestic labour. AFPı

Trans twins undergo gender confirmation surgery together GROWING up as identical twins, Mayla and Sofia always did everything together, and their decision to undergo gender confirmation surgery is no exception. The 19-year-old twins, who grew up in a small town in southeastern Brazil, both say they “never identified as boys.” Now, they have made the transition they long dreamed of together, in what their doctor calls a first. “This is the only reported case in the world” of twins who were presumed to be male at birth undergoing female gender confirmation surgery together, said Dr Jose Carlos Martins of the Transgender Center Brazil, a clinic in the southeastern city of Blumenau. Martins performed the five-hour surgery on the twins one day apart. A week later, the euphoric young women smiled, joked and shed tears as they talked about their shared journey in a video-conference interview with AFP. “I always loved my body, but I didn’t like my genitalia,” said Mayla Rezende, a Manila who is studying medicine in Arbrunette Standard gentina.TODAY “I would blow dandelion seeds into the air and wish for God to turn me into a girl,” she said. When she saw herself after her surgery, she wept, she said. AFP LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estates of Spouses ELIGIO S. EGAÑA and ESTELITA PATRICIO EGAÑA who died intestate on March 18, 2018 and April 25, 2013, respectively, have been extrajudicially settled by and among their legitimate and sole heirs as per Doc. No. 9719; Page No. 45; Book No. 619; Series of 2021 of ATTY. REY C. LADAGA, a Notary Public for and in the Municipality of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. (FEB. 25/MAR. 4 & 11, 2021)

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extrajudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of Jose Fabricante namely: Ma. Venuza C. Fabricante, Joven C.Fabricante, Joanna Joyce C. Fabricante, Jona Mae C.Fabricante, Jeffrey C. Fabricate, all of legal age, per deed on Nov 10, 2020 before Notary Public Analyn Giba-Cinco, Per Doc No. 90, Page No.19, Book No. 1, Series of 2020. (FEB. 18/25/MAR. 4, 2021)

are going to kill me, get me out of here!” he could be heard exclaiming, the last she heard from him. Ecuador’s President Lenin Moreno, on Twitter, attributed the riots to “criminal organizations” engaged in “simultaneous acts of violence in several prisons.” The authorities, he said, “are acting to retake control.” The military was deployed to help police quell the uprising. The public defender’s office, an entity akin to an ombudsman set up to defend human rights, called the violence “an unprecedented massacre” and expressed its “concern over the lack of security in the country, which is reflected in the increase in crime and violence inside these prison facilities.” The prosecuting authority said several inmates were left injured in fighting between “criminal gangs,” including two at Guayaquil in serious condition. Several police were also injured, said Moncayo, but no deaths have been reported among security personnel. AFP

WELCOMING SPRING. Folk artists perform a dragon dance as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations in a village in Zhangjiakou, in northern China’s Hebei province on Feb. 24, 2021. AFP

Indonesia starts coup crisis talks

NDONESIA said Wednesday it was in talks with both sides in Myanmar’s political crisis and its foreign minister may visit to help find a solution, but she had no plans for an immediate trip. The statement came after a leaked Myanmar government document showed Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi was to visit the coup-hit nation on Thursday.

The trip was not confirmed by Indonesia – a key diplomatic player among Southeast Asian nations – and it said Wednesday that no visit had been scheduled.

But it left open the possibility of a later trip by Marsudi, who was still expected to visit Myanmar for a special meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The timing of that meeting has yet to be announced. “After taking into account current developments and following the observations of a number of ASEAN countries, this is not the ideal time to conduct a visit to Myanmar,” foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told reporters in Jakarta. “(But) Indonesia is also committed to

keep communicating with all parties in Myanmar.” Faizasyah later told AFP: “We’re open to the visit as an option, but we have to carefully decide (its timing).” Marsudi, who is currently in Thailand, would have been the first foreign envoy to visit Myanmar since a February 1 military-led coup. Myanmar authorities have ratcheted up their use of force against a massive and largely peaceful civil disobedience campaign for the return of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. AFP

Ghana to receive world’s first doses of free Covax jabs GHANA is to receive Wednesday the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Covax, a global scheme to procure and distribute inoculations for free to poor countries, UNICEF and the World Health Organization said. “We are pleased that Ghana has become the first country to receive the COVID-19 vaccines from the Covax facility,” UNICEF, which organized the shipment from Mumbai, said in a joint statement with the WHO. It said the 600,000 doses are part of an initial tranche of deliveries of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine licensed to the Serum Institute of India, “which represent part of the first wave of Covid vaccines headed to several low and middleincome countries.” The West African nation has recorded STRIKING A POSE. People pose for photos near the Olympic rings on display at the Odaiba waterfront in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2021. AFP 80,759 COVID-19 cases and 582 deaths since the start of the pandemic. These figures are believed to fall short of the real toll as the number of tests is low. Frontline workers in Ghana are meant to be the first to receive the vaccine. THE head of a controversial Malaysian in the socially conservative, Muslim-maEfforts to block the platform appear to “In the days ahead, frontline workers “sugar daddy” dating website was charged jority country. have had only partial success and it is still will begin to receive vaccines,” UNICEF Wednesday with causing public alarm afThe site’s founder Chan Eu Boon was available via some internet providers. Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. ter his claims that university students were charged in court in Shah Alam, outside Also known by his English name Darren “The next phase in the fight against this using the service sparked an outcry. Kuala Lumpur, with one count of making Chan, he faces up to two years in jail if condisease can begin – the ramping CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACKup of the largest immunization campaign in history.” Sugarbook bills itself as a site “where statements that could cause public fear or victed, and was set to be released on bail. Covax, led by Gavi the Vaccine Alromance meets finance” and aims to link alarm through a post related to students, Founded in 2016, Sugarbook has exliance, the WHO and the Coalition for up older men with younger women, with so-called “sugar babies.” panded to countries including Singapore, Epidemic Preparedness Innovations the men expected to provide financial supThe 34-year-old pleaded not guilty, Thailand and the United States. (CEPI), said it would deliver two bilport for their companions. with his lawyer saying the site had been Malaysia’s Muslim citizens, who make lion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to its But it sparked an uproar after releasing blocked by Malaysian regulators, mean- up more than half of the 32 million popumembers by the end of the year, includstatistics purportedly showing thousands ing the negative effects of his claims about lation, are banned under Islamic law from ing 2,412,000 doses to Ghana. AFP of students were using it to make money students had been “minimized already.” having sex outside marriage. AFP

Malaysia ‘sugar daddy’ website boss charged

Russian drug fugitive nabbed in Bali A RUSSIAN fugitive whose dramatic sprint out of an Indonesian immigration office was captured on CCTV has been caught again after two weeks on the run, authorities said Wednesday. Andrey Kovalenko fled the office on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali to avoid deportation, with the surveillance footage showing him keeping pace on foot with a motorcycle as he escaped. Authorities fanned out across the island in the hunt for Kovalenko, who was nabbed early Wednesday at a villa in tourist hub Kuta along with girlfriend Ekaterina Trubkina, who was wanted for allegedly assisting his escape. His dash for freedom on February 11 came as officials readied to deport Kovalenko back to Russia on an Interpol warrant. The 32-year-old had just finished a prison term following a 2019 arrest for

selling hashish to tourists in Bali. The Interpol warrant was linked to a drug case back in Kovalenko’s home country, said Eko Budianto, head of the immigration division at Bali’s justice and legal agency. Trubkina, 31, also Russian, could face up to nine months in prison if convicted of assisting Kovalenko’s escape, authorities said. Indonesian authorities have previously caught international fugitives wanted by Interpol who sought to hide in Bali. In July last year, Bali police arrested Marcus Beam, an American fugitive accused of scamming $500,000 from women he met online between 2015 and 2019. Beam had been hiding in Bali with his girlfriend where he worked as a porn actor-director. AFP

TRIUMPHANT. A supporter of a faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party blows a trumpet-shaped horn before taking part in a ‘victory’ rally after yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling to overturn the prime minister’s decision to dissolve parliament, in Kathmandu on Feb. 24, 2021. AFP

Business

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market down; DITO, Apollo Global drop PSEi February 24, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1

CHI

LAST PRICE 7.2

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.67 10.26%

2 3 4

OPMB LRW PHES

0.014 1.03 0.45

0.001 0.07 0.03

7.69% 7.29% 7.14%

5 6 7

FAF LSC DWC

0.6 1.03 5.43

0.03 0.05 0.23

5.26% 5.10% 4.42%

8 9 10

SHNG CIC SFIP

2.76 21 1.63

0.11 0.8 0.06

4.15% 3.96% 3.82%

HE stock market retreated Wednesday as the delay in the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the country dampened hopes for a quick economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 58.72 points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,755.95 on a value turnover of P14.7 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 174 to 58, with 37 issues unchanged. President Duterte on Monday rejected the proposal of the country’s economic team to place the entire country under the looser modified general quarantine until the government starts the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major telecommunications firm, slumped 10.1 percent to P16, while MerryMart Consumer Corp., the supermarket chain owned by businessman Edgar Sia II, dropped 4.4 percent to P6.72. Magnetite miner Apollo Global Capital Inc. declined 7.3 percent to P0.255, while AC Energy Corp., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., fell 3.1 percent to P7.22. The rest of Asian markets suffered fresh losses Wednesday as concerns about rising inflation and frothy equity prices continued to sap confidence, with investors unmoved by reassurances from Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell that officials would maintain recordlow interest rates for as long as needed. Hong Kong led Asia’s losses as it tanked three percent after the city’s fi-

nancial secretary said he would lift stamp duty on stock trades—the first in 28 years—in his budget as the government looks to tighten its belt. Bourse operator HKEx collapsed more than 12 percent at one point before slightly recovering. Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, Jakarta and Bangkok all saw significant losses, with technology firms taking the brunt of the selling. Global stock indexes have cruised to all-time or multi-year highs in recent months thanks to government and central bank backing, the rollout of vaccines, easing of lockdowns, Joe Biden’s imminent stimulus and falling infection rates. But the rally is showing signs of fatigue as traders fret that valuations may have run ahead of themselves, while the

Fed’s Powell allays inflation fears, vows to keep rates low

TOP LOSERS 1

MJIC

LAST PRICE 1.8

% CHANGE CHANGE -0.38 -17.43%

2 3 4

REG AR UPM

2.95 0.0034 0.0096

-0.5 -0.0005 -0.0014

-14.49% -12.82% -12.73%

5 6 7 8 9 10

T MAHB ABG DITO FERRO AB

1.31 2.59 7.24 16 3.22 7

-0.16 -0.3 -0.82 -1.8 -0.34 -0.66

-10.88% -10.38% -10.17% -10.11% -9.55% -8.62%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO PHA ACEN APL BDO MBT SM SMPH MM ALI

VOLUME 324840100 262534000 75130800 2042930000 4215020 7517220 342435 9081700 39729500 6423200

VALUE (PHP) 5187954982 753860050 533805191 516228260 437227955 379579188.5 356334580 318909160 264169524 248442975

Billionaire Thiele, Lufthansa’s biggest investor, dies at 79 BERLIN, Germany—German billionaire Heinz Hermann Thiele, the biggest shareholder in Lufthansa airline, died Tuesday aged 79, announced Knorr-Bremse, the company through which he built his fortune. Thiele, a rail industry tycoon and one of Germany’s richest men, died “surrounded by his family in Munich,” Knorr-Bremse said in a statement. Derided as a “caveman capitalist” by trade unions and dubbed a “patriarch” by others, Thiele had become Lufthansa’s largest shareholder last year with a 15.5-percent stake. He battled with Germany’s government last June, making no secret of his skepticism about plans for the state to take a 20-percent stake in Lufthansa in exchange for a huge rescue package to keep it afloat during the pandemic. But on the eve of the crucial vote, managers at Lufthansa heaved a sigh of relief as Thiele said he would back the bailout to avoid insolvency. Married with two children, Thiele trained as a lawyer and started out in 1969 in the patents office at brakes manufacturer Knorr-Bremse. In the 1980s he saved the company from bankruptcy in a loan-backed buyout, transforming it into a market leader for rail and heavy truck brakes. Factory staff worked for 42 hours per week rather than the 35 typical elsewhere in the sector, forging the core of Thiele’s wealth. Last year, Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at around 15 billion euros ($18.2 billion). Beyond the business world, Thiele also attracted headlines with controversial remarks on politics and international relations. He once told Manager magazine that Russian President Vladimir Putin “may not be an exemplary democrat but is a very competent politician.” AFP

yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds—a key red flag on inflation—has spiked. That has led to worries the Fed will have to lift borrowing costs more quickly than expected, removing a key pillar of support for stocks. Powell sought to soothe those concerns Tuesday in the first of two congressional testimonies, saying inflation was expected to pick up and be “volatile” this year as Americans begin to spend more but told lawmakers the increases were unlikely to be large or persistent. He pledged to keep the bank’s vast bond-buying scheme and low rates in place “until substantial further progress has been made toward our goals” of two percent inflation and full employment. With AFP

BUSINESS AS USUAL. A woman carries bags of cabbage from Hai Duong province, presently under COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown, along a street in Hanoi on February 24, 2021. AFP

Rigid Brexit requirements killing Britain’s au pair system LONDON—Once a childcare mainstay for many working parents, Britain’s au pair system is under threat after Brexit—piling pressure on families and forcing some mothers to consider quitting their jobs. The system, which typically allows younger foreigners to stay with a family in a host country while they take care of their children, had continued in Britain unimpeded until the end of its transition from the EU at the end of 2020. However, since the UK’s definitive break with the bloc, young people who want to come from the EU to immerse themselves in British culture and learn English now have to obtain a work visa. “Brexit killed our business, it’s a very sad state of affairs,” Cynthia Cary, from the Rainbow Au Pairs Ltd. agency based near East Grinstead, south of London, told AFP. Under post-Brexit working terms, au pairs now must earn a minimum of £20,000 ($28,000) per year to obtain a work visa. That is significantly higher than the £5,000 per year typically given in the past. Cary explained since January her agen-

cy had seen applications fall by 90 percent—the same proportion of au pairs that would normally apply from the EU. ‘Frustration’ “We have said that we cannot match any EU nationals at all, because we have no way of allowing them to come into the UK legitimately,” she added. Clare James, who has been using the system to look after her two sons for the past 10 years, said for the next school year in September she had only received one application, way down from as many as 15 in previous years. “It will stop people coming because it is so expensive,” James said. “It’s a real shame for the young people and for hard-working families.” Under the current regulations, the only foreign nationals who can work as au pairs are either Europeans who arrived in the UK before Brexit or nationals from nine counties that include Canada, Australia and Japan under a youth mobility scheme. The pool of candidates from these remaining countries does not come close to filling the usual demand for 45,000 au pairs in the UK every year, the British

Au Pair Agencies Association has said. James said the cost of a British nanny at around £2,000 per month was prohibitively expensive for most British families. “If we can’t find somebody in September, either me or my husband will have to stop working,” she added, calling the situation a “frustration.” Aurelie Nuret, who lives in upmarket Fulham, in west London, said she had “no idea how we will manage” during the summer months. “This neighborhood relies on au pairs. This is again going to impact working mothers,” Nuret said, adding: “I’m so annoyed.” ‘Deaf ears’ Jessie Clapp said she would likely also have to stop working “when our lovely French au pair leaves in July.” “My children will not get to meet and welcome a new ‘big sister’ because our government have not set up any alternative for au pairs,” she added. Clapp said she had signed petitions and contacted “all the MPs that could make a difference” but ultimately those efforts “land on deaf ears.”AFP

WASHINGTON—Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell attempted to tamp down rising inflation concerns, and again on Tuesday pledged to keep benchmark lending rates low until jobs recover and prices have risen consistently. The COVID-19 pandemic remains the key factor determining how quickly the world’s largest economy can recover, but Powell said vaccine rollouts offer hope things can return to normal quickly and the Fed has the tools to deal with price increases. With Congress moving towards approving President Joe Biden’s $1.9-trillion rescue plan, the central bank chief remained steadfastly noncommittal about the package, but he did downplay the need to address the $3-trillion US government deficit immediately. Amid growing fears on markets that a quick recovery from the pandemic—fueled by more government stimulus on top of nearly $3 trillion last year—will lead to higher interest rates and hinder the ability of companies to borrow, Powell tried to reassure skittish investors during the first day of his semi-annual testimony before Congress. He insisted that the Fed will keep rates at the current level near zero until the economy reaches “maximum employment and inflation has risen to 2 percent and is on track to moderately exceed 2 percent for some time.” However, he cautioned, “the economy is a long way from our employment and inflation goals, and it is likely to take some time for substantial further progress to be achieved.” Powell has said the true level of joblessness is closer to 10 percent than the official rate of 6.3 percent in January. He said inflation is expected to pick up and will be “volatile” this year, after declines during the past year of the pandemic, and as Americans begin to spend more. AFP

Scents of time: Belgrade’s last craft perfumery By Sally Mairs BELGRADE, Serbia—From a cobblestoned street in downtown Belgrade, the Sava perfumery has seen more than half a century sweep past without ceasing in its mission to keep the city’s citizens smelling flowery and fresh. The artisanal shop—which mixes its perfumes in-house—is the last of its kind in the Serbian capital, thanks to the Jovanov family who are committed to keeping the craft alive. While the city has gone through many changes, the store remains a snapshot in time, with glass bottles, mixing vials and other tools passed down through three generations. The work is a labor of love for the Jovanovs, whose other sources of income enable them to continue with the perfumery. “We have remained because of tradition, love, affection and willingness to do a job which at certain times doesn’t earn you enough money to subsist,” the shop’s jovial owner Nenad Jovanov, 71, told AFP as he mixed a custom eau de toilette in the shop’s laboratory-like back room, measuring out ingredients with beakers and pipettes. The perfumery dates back to the 1940s but opened under its current

Nenad Jovanov poses for a picture with perfume bottles in his 67-year-old perfume shop in Belgrade on February 23, 2021. The artisanal shop, which mixes its perfumes in-house, is the last of its kind in the Serbian capital, thanks to the Jovanov family which is committed to keeping the craft alive. AFP

name a decade later, when communist authorities in then-Yugoslavia reversed a decision to ban private business, allowing the family to take back ownership. In the 1950s and 60s, such perfumeries enjoyed a “golden age” in Belgrade, said Nenad, recalling more than 20 other family-run shops.

But as Yugoslavia started opening up to imports, mass-produced fragrances poured in, pushing local mixers out of business. Crippling sanctions in the 1990s, when Serbia and other ex-Yugoslav republics broke apart in a series of wars, dealt another blow to the industry. “One by one they started shutting

down. And in the end, we were the only ones to remain,” said Nenad. No labels When customers enter the tiny store, Nenad or his son Nemanja, who also works in the film industry, help them navigate the wooden shelves of labelless glass bottles. “We don’t have brand names. We don’t have brand bottles. We don’t have brand boxes. We simplified our packaging and our interior as much as we could so we can allow customers the experience of discovering what they like,” explained Nemanja. After enquiring about preferences— floral, citrus, sweet or musky—they use an old-fashioned pump to test different fragrances on the client’s arms. Shoppers are then encouraged to take a walk and return later to choose which perfume they like best, as the scent evolves over time after its first contact with the skin. Most of their ingredients come from France. “Men, at least those in this region, would be terrified if they knew that many masculine fragrances—wonderful and popular fragrances—have floral components,” Nenad said with a laugh. The store stays afloat thanks to a loyal clientele, plus a growing interest from tourists interested in what Nemanja calls its “living museum.” AFP

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 -58.72 PTS. 6,755.95

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

36,101,421,044 254,173 14,704,460,240.06 58 174 37

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.7010

Japan

Yen

0.009502

0.4628

Pound

1.411400

68.7366

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128971

6.2810

Switzerland

Franc

1.104972

53.8132

Canada

Dollar

0.794470

38.6915

Singapore

Dollar

0.757576

36.8947

Australia

Dollar

0.791000

38.5225

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655126

129.3073

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.9869

Brunei

Dollar

0.754717

36.7555

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.033311

1.6223

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2599

Euro

1.215000

59.1717

Korea

Won

0.000901

0.0439

China

Yuan

0.154703

7.5342

India

Rupee

0.013816

0.6729

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247402

12.0487

New Zealand

Dollar

0.734000

35.7465

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035912

1.7490 Source: BSP

Ayala Land allots P88b for ‘21 capital expenditures

Business PH spending over P700b to put up railway projects T By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE Philippines is spending more than P700 billion this year until 2025 to build more railway infrastructure projects in Luzon and Mindanao to address traffic woes in the country, an official of the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a virtual briefing the programmed capital expenditure for 11 railway projects would amount to P90.75 billion this year, P278.27 billion in 2022, P222.74 billion in 2023, P104.10 billion in 2024

and P45.47 billion in 2025. He said these rail projects are the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension Project, LRT 2 East Extension, LRT 2 West Extension, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 Rehabilitation, MRT 4 Project, Metro Manila Subway, Common Station, North-South Commuter Railway, Subic-Clark Railway, PNR South Long Haul Project and the Mindanao Railway Project. Batan said the country’s railway projects would be largely funded by official development assistance from foreign agencies led by Japan for International Cooperation Agency amounting to P796.58 billion. It is followed by Asian Development Bank which is providing P444.60 billion in ODA; Chinese government, P307.04 billion; Public-Private Partnership, P107.76 billion; and GAA-funded, P13.07 billion. Batan said that once most railway projects were completed in 2022, the to-

tal route length of the country’s railway will increase to 1,209 kilometers from just 77 km. in 2016. The country’s railway length of 77 km is the shortest among major Asian cities including Jakarta’s 170.2 km., Seoul’s 490 km., Tokyo’s 700 km. and Shanghai’s 690 km. Batan said the number of railway stations would also increase from 61 in 2016 to 168 stations by 2022, while the number of trains would increase to 1,381 from 224 trains. He said these railway infrastructure projects would help the country’s economy to “bounce back” from COVID-19 crisis and resolve the country’s traffic woes. Batan said the annual direct economic cost of congestion in the Greater Capital Region amounted to P1.277 trillion as of 2017. He said these railway infrastructure projects could cut the economic cost of traffic congestion by 10 percent.

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. said Wednesday it will spend P88 billion in capital expenditures this year as it expects overall businesses to recover from pre-pandemic levels in two to three years. Ayala Land president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy said in a press briefing the group planned to launch P100 billion worth of residential projects in 2021, up from P10.68 billion worth of launches in 2020. “Our goal is to start a V-shaped recovery. But we think it will be a journey that will take two to three years to bring Ayala Land back to its 2019 performance as well as set the stage for growth,” Dy said. Dy said the company was optimistic about the economy and the prospects of Ayala Land as the government continued to open the economy. Ayala Land said net income dropped 74 percent in 2020 to P8.7 billion from P33.2 billion in 2019 as overall businesses were severely affected by the pandemic. Consolidated revenues went down by 43 percent last year to P96.3 billion from P168.8 billion in 2019. “There was no escaping the major disruption caused by the pandemic in 2020, but our company’s performance in the latter part of the year was encouraging and provides a baseline for our recovery plans moving forward,” Dy. “In 2020, greater value was placed on maintaining a strong balance sheet to weather this crisis and prepare our company to resume our growth aspirations,” he said. Meanwhike, AREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust of Ayala Land Inc., registered profits of P1.23 billion and revenues of P1.95 billion in 2020. AREIT, which was listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange last year, said it closed 2020 with a strong balance sheet and a funding strategy in place to support growth. As the first Philippine REIT, AREIT performed consistently, delivering dividends and growing its assets,” said AREIT president and chief executive Carol Mills said.

BDO’s profit fell 36% to P28.2b in 2020 on higher loan provisions By Julito G. Rada BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by the Sy family, said Wednesday net income declined 36 percent in 2020 to P28.2 billion from a record P44.2 billion in 2019, on higher pre-emptive provisions of P30.2 billion for potential delinquencies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank said in a statement it relied on strong and resilient business franchise and balance sheet to support core business operations, despite significant hurdles from the pandemic and ensuing economic lockdown. Net interest income climbed 12 percent last year to P133.7 billion. Loans increased 3 percent to P2.3 trillion, driven by consumer and corporate accounts. “The bank continued to assist its borrowing clients, ensuring their uninterrupted access to credit facilities, in addition to granting loan moratoria under Bayanihan I and II,” it said. Current and savings account deposits rose 17 percent to P2.1 trillion, as clients were able to access BDO products and services through its branches, ATMs and digital channels even during quarantine restrictions. Non-interest income declined 8 percent to P55.2 billion, supported by fee-based income, trading gains and insurance premiums. “Business volumes were initially impacted by mobility restrictions, but have since begun to recover gradually. Wealth management, on the other hand, remained resilient with trust volumes and fees sustaining growth,” it said. Trading gains increased as the bank capitalized on favorable market conditions, while insurance premiums grew modestly despite the initial impact of the lockdowns.

IN BRIEF PSALM rejects SMC’s new condition on Ilijan

MERALCO AWARDS. Manila Electric Co. and corporate social responsibility arm One Meralco Foundation bag eight silver awards at the recently-concluded 56th Anvil Awards. The Anvil Awards, dubbed as ‘the Oscars’ of Philippine public relations, recognizes outstanding external and internal programs, campaigns and tools that exemplify the highest standards of PR practice in the country. The Gabi ng Parangal of the Anvil Awards this year was held via livestream because of the pandemic.

SEC approves Aboitiz Power’s application to sell fixed-rate bonds worth at least P30b By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the application of Aboitiz Power Corp. to raise up to P30 billion. The SEC en banc in a meeting on Feb. 23 approved the respective registration statements of Aboitiz Power for the issuance of fixed-rate bonds. Aboitiz Power may issue the debt securities in one or more series within three years. For the first tranche, the listed company will offer up to P4 billion of fixedrate bonds due 2026, with an oversubscription option for another P4 billion, at face value, which is expected to be offered to the general public in the first quarter. Assuming full exercise of the oversubscription option, Aboitiz Power expects to net P7.895 billion from the first tranche. The proceeds will be used for the redemption of bonds maturing 2021 and for the early redemption of bonds maturing in 2026.

The company said it aimed to list the fixed-rate bonds for trading on Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. “Aboitiz Power expects to issue subsequent tranches of the bonds under this shelf registration statement, as the need arises and as market conditions permit,” the company said earlier. Meanwhile, Unit 1 of Aboitiz Power’s Mariveles coal joint venture project with a capacity of 247 megawatts went on unplanned outage because of boiler damage. The company said repair could take until the end of the year. GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. informed Aboitiz Power of the unscheduled outage of Unit 1 which was traced to the damage found in a portion of the boiler. Abotiz Power said the procurement of the necessary services for restoration works was underway, and, based on current assessment, the completion of repair and Unit 1’s return to service were expected by the third quarter or fourth quarter.

FILIPINO PRODUCTS IN SYDNEY. Filipino products are on the shelves of Woolworths supermarket in Sydney, Australia. The Department of Trade and Industry through the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Sydney said Filipino products are now available in more mainstream retail stores in Australia. From Filipino sauces and mixes to vinegar, soy sauce, salty snacks, biscuits, rice noodles and other Filipino favorites, Woolworths is expanding the number of store locations where Filipino products can be found in its international food section in response to a growing multicultural population and increasingly adventurous Australian mainstream consumers.

Diokno: BSP in search of fifth deputy governor BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday a fifth deputy governor may be needed as the banking regulator evolves with the changing times. “The BSP always endeavors to evolve, reform and transform. Right now, the [creation of] PCMS [Payments and Currency Management Sector, which is headed by newlyappointed Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan] is the result of that,” Diokno said in an online briefing. “We will consider that [fifth deputy governor] because we have a provision to do so,” Diokno said. Diokno said Tangonan’s appointment was made about two weeks ago and it was confirmed by the Monetary Board. Tangonan joins fellow deputy governors Francisco Dakila Jr. for the Monetary and Economics Sector, Chuchi Fonacier for the Financial Services Sector and Ma. Almasara Cyd Tuaño-Amador of the Corporate Services Sector. Tangonan used to be chief of party of the United States Agency for International Development where he led the E-PESO project meant to find ways to boost digital payments in the Philippines. He also served as general manager of PT Smart Telecom; director of Globe Telecom Inc. where he handled the project management of G-Cash mobile banking project for rural banks; and first vice president of ING Life Insurance Co. (Phils.) Inc. The new deputy governor brings with him over 28 years of experience in digital and traditional financial services, telecommunications, technology, financial inclusion and consulting services. Amendments to Republic Act 7653 or the New Central Bank Act passed in 2019 allowed the BSP to have up to five deputy governors—the second-highest position in the institution – compared to the previous limit of three. Julito G. Rada

STATE-RUN Power Sector and Liabilities Management Corp. rejected the new condition offered by San Miguel Corp.’s unit South Premiere Power Corp. on the ownership of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan Power Plant. San Miguel wanted PSALM to cede control and ownership of the power plant to SPPC upon full settlement of monthly payments and ahead of the June 2022 date of turnover provided in the Independent Power Producer Administrator agreement. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the chairman of PSALM board, has asked for an update on SPPC’s offer to fully settle in advance the monthly payments for the Ilijan Power Plant. PSALM president and chief executive Irene Besido Garcia said SPPC’s offer now carried with it a new condition that “entirely differs from the tenor of SPPC’s original offer.” SPPC publicly announced last year that it was willing to prepay the monthly payments to PSALM “without prejudice” to the pending case it has with the latter. Julito G. Rada

‘2GO CabinCargo’ offers viable option LOGISTICS company 2GO recently introduced ‘2GO CabinCargo’ in response to the need to move essential cargo at the shortest possible time from Manila to Visayas and Mindanao. “2GO CabinCargo is the best alternative to air freight, while the airlines are reevaluating their plans,” 2GO chief operations officer Waldo Basilla said. “By using our ropax fleet, which are the fastest vessels in the country that offers special handling of cargoes, we now offer the best lead times closest to air freight. We deliver to consumers in the key ports of Visayas and Mindanao within five days, from pick-up to delivery. With this option, shippers can simply adjust their supply chain by a couple of days and reestablish their product flows”, Basilla said. Each vessel of 2GO CabinCargo has a maximum capacity of 14cbm, equivalent to a 10-footer container. Vessels accommodate around 164 boxes, with each box allowed to weigh up to 25 kilograms. Weight of packages are heavily considered as loading is done manually and handled with utmost care.

Eight SM companies receive Golden Arrow EIGHT SM companies received Golden Arrow awards from the Institute of Corporate Directors for performing well in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard—an assessment benchmarked against international best practices on corporate governance standards across the region. The SM companies which received the awards are SM Investments Corp., SM Prime Holdings Inc., China Banking Corp., Belle Corp., BDO Unibank Inc., Premium Leisure Corp., 2GO Group Inc. and Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. “We thank the Institute of Corporate Directors for this honor. The practice of corporate governance remains an integral part of our business and our company culture,” SMIC chairman of the board JoseSio said during a virtual awarding ceremony on Feb. 19, 2021. The recognition is given to companies with outstanding scores in the 2019 ACGS assessment. It symbolizes the continuing efforts of Philippine companies to raise the level of compliance with the ASEAN corporate governance principles.

Beach volley players cleared to wear bikinis in Qatar event BERLIN—Beach volleyball players will be able to wear bikinis for an upcoming tournament in Qatar, the sport’s governing body said Tuesday, after two Germans and their coach vowed to boycott the event amid a row over strict dress regulations. Karla Borger and Julia Sude told German media at the weekend they would skip the FIVB World Tour competition in Doha over an apparent bikini ban. On Monday, the Qatar volleyball association said it was “not making any demand on what athletes should wear at the event”. Yet Borger and Sude’s manager Constantin Adam said this was “not true”, pointing to the regulations, which are available on the World Tour website, from February 16. They stated that “it is expected that all participating women’s teams use a short sleeve t-shirt... and wear knee-long sports shorts”. However, those rules were updated later on Tuesday. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) clarified the situation, telling AFP the Qatari association had assured them there would be “no restrictions on female players wearing standard uniforms”. “The FIVB believes strongly that women’s beach volleyball, as all sport, should be judged on performance and effort, and not on uniform,” it added. “Therefore, during the competition in Doha, should players request to wear the standard uniform, they will be free to do so.” In a decision supported by the German volleyball federation, Borger and Sude said Saturday they “would not go along with” the rules imposed for competition in Qatar. “It’s not about whether we have more or less clothing on, it’s about the fact that we are not being allowed to wear our work clothes to do our job,” Sude told Der Spiegel magazine. Her team-mate Sude pointed out that Qatar had previously made exceptions for female track and field athletes competing at the World Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019. The country also allowed female beach volleyball players to compete in bikinis at the ANOC World Beach Games in 2019. Germany’s women’s national team coach Helke Claasen said she would not travel to Qatar either. AFP

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

This file photo taken on August 9, 2016 shows Germany’s Karla Borger diving for the ball during the women’s beach volleyball qualifying match between Germany and the Netherlands at the Beach Volley Arena in Rio de Janeiro, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Germany’s beach volleyball stars Borger and Julia Sude said they will boycott a tournament in Qatar because it was “the only country” where players were forbidden from wearing bikinis on court. But on Monday, the Qatar volleyball association said it was “not making any demand on what athletes should wear at the event”. AFP

SBP: Kai always welcome to join Gilas Pilipinas team By Peter Atencio

HERE will always be place for Kai Sotto in the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team.

Top officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said this after learning that the 18-year-old Sotto will no longer be able to play for Team Ignite in the ongoing NBA G League in Orlando, Florida. “When Kai announced via social media that he wanted to come home to play for Gilas Pilipinas, we welcomed him with open arms because he’ll always have a home with us at the SBP,” said SBP president Al Panlilio. G League officials said the tough restrictions that the league has imposed with its health and safety protocols will keep the 7’3”

Sotto from rejoining the games if ever he is able to enter the Orlando bubble. The protocols were meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Panlilio added that other Filipino players, who are chasing their dreams in the international basketball scene will also be welcomed by Gilas. “The same is true for any Filipino basketball player chasing their dreams on the international stage. Whatever may happen to their respective paths, they can always be sure that the SBP will be there to provide them a stage where they could perform for their Filipino fans,” added Panlilio. Despite his absence in the games of Team Ignite, Sotto is still be part of the squad, which is made up of elite prospects for the coming NBA Rookie Draft. Officials of the G League said this after discussing matters with Sotto and his management team on Tuesday. Sotto went back to the United States last

week after spending time in quarantine. He earlier came back to the Philippines, with hopes of playing for the Gilas Pilipinas. The final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Doha, Qatar and Manama, Bahrain, where Gilas was slated to play, was however, called off. Before Sotto left the US, Team Ignite was already in the middle of preparations for the ongoing season, which began early this month. “Kai and the team both understood the challenges for him to rejoin Ignite given the current international travel constraints, quarantine times and health and safety protocols,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim in a statement. Panlilio said that the SBP will support him “in any way we can.” “Even at his young age, Kai has shown amazing grit and determination to pursue his dreams and we have complete trust that he’ll do us proud,” said Panlilio.

Winter storm halts Knott’s preparations

Kristina Knott

THE harsh winter storm that hit Texas, Arkansas and other states in the South Central region of the United States last week has kept new Philippine sprint queen Kristina Knott from competing again. Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin said this following the cancellation of the fourth leg of the American Track League, also known as World Athletics Silver Tour indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. “The region has been hit with a horrible winter storm, snow, power outages, water outages, etc. and I’ve made a decision not to send her so as to not risk the chance of getting stuck there,” said Griffin in talks with the Manila Standard. Because of this, Knott is now adjusting her plans. She now plans to join the 87th annual Prairie View Relays set from March 26 to 27 at the Prairie View A&M University Track Complex. The competition is considered as one of the fastest-growing meets in Texas as the relays provide a proving ground for several collegiate and high school teams from across the state and region. Professional athletes are expected to compete as well, setting the stage for one of the most

competitive meets of the 2021 season. Griffin said they are also eyeing a stint Savona, Italy on May 13. Other schedules are still uncertain. “The others are tentatively scheduled, dependent on COVID-19 measures,” said Griffin. Three weeks ago, Knott posted a new record in the heats of the women’s 60-meter run in the Arkansas leg of the World Athletics Silver Tour indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.. The 25-year-old Knott clocked 7.22 seconds in the second heat to break the Philippine national mark for the third time. But with the schedules of the 60-meter and the 200-meter race close and within 16 minutes of each other, Knott deferred from joining the finals of events due to fatigue. Retired Asian sprint queen Lydia de VegaMercado held the national indoor record after she clocked 7.37 seconds in Japan 23 years ago. Knott seeks to become the women’s qualifier for the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics and join pole vaulter Ernerst John Obiena, boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, and gymnast Carlo Yulo, who have already qualified. Peter Atencio

Guiao’s weapon is Warriors’ deep rotation THERE’S a good reason why NLEX Road Warriors general manager and head coach Yeng Guiao embraced the philosophy of having a deep rotation. Through the years, we’ve seen him develop players and turn them to become vital cogs of his team. Take the case of Raul Soyud, Mike Miranda, and Kenneth Ighalo among others, who are now integral members of the team’s deep rotation. Soyud and Ighalo spent their early seasons being on the reserve list, but worked their way up to become key contributors of the team. In fact, Soyud, the 6’5” former University of the Philippines cager was even nominated for the Most Improved Player award in the recent Bubble tournament and earned Yeng Guiao him a spot for the Gilas Pilipinas pool, joining NLEX teammate Kiefer Ravena. Then, there’s Miranda, who has turned out to be a steady presence up front for the Road Warriors. In one of the games against the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen, he played a perfect game, sinking in all his eight shots from the field and winding up with 22 points to lead the team to a 124-90 beat“Ang hinahanap lang ng karamihang player ‘just down of their rivals. Getting the break, according to Guiao, is the only give me a break.’ When you say break, you’re not thing these players need to prove themselves—a saying playing only two to three minutes. Kapag pinalaro mo ang player ng two or three minutes, philosophy that has been tried and tested.

hindi mo siya binibigyan ng break eh, you’re just destroying the player. No player will play well in two or three minutes,” said Guiao. “Kapag ginamit mo ‘yung player, bigyan mo ng mga seven to eight minutes and then give him a chance in that seven to eight minutes to get another chance of going back to the court. When a player knows that, sa practice pa lang, magpupursige na ako,” he said. These players complemented the usual finishers of the team like Ravena, Kevin Alas, Jericho Cruz and JR Quinahan, hoping the Road Warriors could come up with a successful wind up. Majority of the games played by the squad, Guiao was able to utilize all his players in the lineup. “When you have a deep rotation, sa akin kasi, it’s not really who you start. It’s very important to get a good start. That’s already integrated into that equation. But what’s important is who do you end the game with. Sino ba ‘yung nagtatapos? Sino ba ‘yung closers niyo? So during the game, they need to prove to themselves or to me, that they can be the closers,” said Guiao. “Puwedeng mag-starting five kahit sino, pero ang iniisip ko, sino ba ang pangtapos ko in a close game? That’s when you want to figure out who will be your solid five to end the game. That’s the basis of it all,” Guiao said.

Kai Sotto

Celebrities, sports stars wish Woods fast recovery WASHINGTON—Golf legend Jack Nicklaus and US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau were among shocked supporters praying for Tiger Woods on Tuesday as the 15-time major champion was undergoing surgery for multiple leg injuries following a solo car crash near Los Angeles. “Barbara and I just heard about Tiger’s accident, and like everyone else, we are deeply concerned,” tweeted Nicklaus, who won a record 18 major titles. “We want to offer him our heartfelt support and prayers at this difficult time. Please join us in wishing Tiger a successful surgery and all the best for a full recovery.” DeChambeau was among players at a World Golf Championships event in Florida who were stunned, tweeting he was “heartbroken” and saying later he was confident Woods would return. “He’s one of the most impressive human beings I’ve ever met and I think he’ll come back just fine,” DeChambeau said. “He’ll do everything in his power to come back.” DeChambeau noted the fabled comeback of Ben Hogan, who was involved in a 1949 car crash but won six of his nine major titles after the injuries, and Woods’s resiliency from past back and knee injuries. “Whatever has happened, he has always come back from it in a pretty amazing way,” DeChambeau said of Woods. “He’s an amazing human being that has done incredible things. I have no doubt in my mind he’ll be back.” The crash revived memories of NBA star Kobe Bryant being killed last year in a helicopter crash in the hills near Calabasas east of Los Angeles. “It’s sickening,” said 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott of Australia. “He’s our hero out here. You think guys like Tiger and Kobe Bryant are untouchable, but they’re not. I just hope he’s all right.” AFP

Sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Harden gets nod as reserve for NBA All-Star showcase LOS ANGELES—James Harden headlined the list of 2021 NBA AllStar Game reserves announced on Tuesday, joining Brooklyn teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to mark the first time the Nets have had three All-Star selections. Irving and Durant were previously named starters for the 70th All-Star Game, to be played March 7 inside the pandemic bubble in Atlanta, Georgia. Durant will serve as captain of one select squad against Team LeBron James in the contest, where reserve players were selected by league coaches. Harden, the NBA’s top scorer each of the past three seasons, was named an All-Star for the ninth straight year and Chris Paul also got the nod, making him an 11-time All-Star. The league will break from tradition because of the global pandemic and hold the game and skills events on one night instead of spreading the festivities over several days. The NBA will launch the at State Farm Arena with an afternoon skills competition followed by the threepoint shooting contest. The Slan Dunk Contest will take place at halftime. In addition to Harden, reserves selected from the Eastern Conference were Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic. Joining Paul as reserves from the Western Conference are Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, LA Clippers forward Paul George, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson. Brown, LaVine and Randle from the Eastern Conference and Williamson from the Western Conference make up the four first-time reserve selections. Game rosters will be determined via a draft on March 4. Durant and James will each choose 11 players to complete their rosters. AFP

PBA scribes hold virtual awards night

Luka Doncic (center) of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball against Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics in the second half of their NBA game at the American Airlines Cente in Dallas, Texas. AFP

Doncic hits last-second 3 as Mavs edge Celtics

OS ANGELES—Luka Doncic nailed two clutch three pointers, including the game winner with one second left, to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a thrilling 110-107 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday in Texas.

Doncic drained a step back three pointer with 15 seconds left to make it 107-105 and then repeated the feat by shooting a high arching 28-footer over two Celtic defenders with less than a second left to win it. The 21-year-old Slovenian finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Mavs earned their sixth win in seven games. “It felt great. We needed this win badly. We somehow managed to win the game,” Doncic said. “I know my team trusts me. If two guys go on me and my teammates are open I will pass, but it is about finding the best shot and that is what happened today.” Doncic’s winner came immediately after Celtics Jaylen Brown made a layup to level the score in front of the crowd of a pandemic-limited crowd of 3,300 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Dallas was able to win despite playing without Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kle-

ber. Porzingis missed his second straight game with back trouble and Kleber sat out with a left ankle sprain. Jalen Brunson scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Brown had 29 and Jayson Tatum tallied 28 for Boston, who lost their second straight. The Celtics bungled 24-point lead on Sunday in a 120-115 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Also, Furkan Korkmaz jumped started the offence and Tobias Harris closed it out as the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia 76ers held on to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-102. Korkmaz scored 16 of his season-best 19 points in the first quarter and Harris tallied 12 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth for the 76ers, who snapped a string of 16 consecutive regular season road losses to the Raptors. Sixers centre Joel Embiid added 18 points and 12 rebounds to end a streak of

14 straight games in which he had scored at least 25 points. Ben Simmons chipped in 15 points and Shake Milton and Danny Green each scored 11 in the win. Norman Powell had 24 points and Pascal Siakam added 22 for the Raptors, who had their four-game win streak halted. Fred VanVleet had 12 points, Aron Baynes had 11 and Chris Boucher and OG Anunoby each scored 10 points. In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 37 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks spoiled the coaching debut of Chris Finch with a 139-112 rout of the lastplace Minnesota Timberwolves. Antetokounmpo was one of seven Bucks who scored in double figures as they won their third straight. The contest marked the coaching debut of Finch who was hired Monday to replace Ryan Saunders who was fired the day before. Finch was an assistant coach with the Raptors. Milwaukee’s eight game home stand gets more difficult as they next face Denver, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans. AFP

IT’S going to be a double event when the PBA Press Corps holds its virtual special Awards Night on March 7 at the TV5 Media Center. The group which covers regularly the PBA beat, will be handling out distinct awards for the Philippine Cup bubble season held in Clark, Pampanga. Together, they will be joining the entire 2019 Press Corps awardees, who are going to be honored belatedly after the annual event presented by Cignal TV, was called off last year due to COVID-19 pandemic. For the lone conference of the 2020 season, awards to be given out are the Outstanding Coach of the Bubble, Mr. Executive, President’s Award, Mr. Quality Minutes, Scoring Champion, All-Rookie Team, and Game of the Bubble. There will also be the Top Bubble D-Fender and the All Bubble D-Fenders. Together, the honorees share centerstage with the awardees of the previous season led by San Miguel mentor Leo Austria, recipient of the 2019 Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year trophy. Joining Austria in the honor roll list are PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas (Danny Floro Executive of the Year), Bulakan, Bulacan Mayor and former league MVP Vergel Meneses (President’s Award), Sean Anthony (Defensive Player of the Year), Terrence Romeo (Mr. Quality Minutes), June Mar Fajardo (Order of Merit), and CJ Perez (Scoring Champion). Completing the 2019 batch of honorees are NorthPort vs. NLEX (Game of the Season), CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Javee Mocon, and Abu Tratter (All-Rookie Team), Kiefer Ravena, Christian Standhardinger, Beau Belga, Vic Manuel, Arwind Santos, and coach Yeng Guiao (All-Interview Team), and PBL D-League Finals MVP Thirdy Ravena (Aspirants’ Cup) and Hased Gabo (Foundation Cup).

FESSAP offers free winter event registration to student-athletes By Graham C. Lim THE Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines or FESSAP, through its Winter Ski & Skating Committee chairman, former Department of Trade executive Michael Dodjie Fabian, has started sending the registration forms to university student-athletes, who wish to participate in the 30th Winter Universiade in Lucerne, Switzerland, from December 11 to 21, 2021. Fabian has been in constant communication with FESSAP Executive Vice President Prof. Robert Milton Calo, chairman of the FESSAP Monitoring and Preparation Committee, and coChair of FWSSC. Prof. Calo welcomes the idea of tapping Fabian’s former colleagues in the DTI international business section to help in the distribution of FWSSC registration forms to Filipino student-athletes, who study abroad, particularly those in Europe and the United States. So far, Fabian has expressed interest in recruiting a Filipino-German competing in a Cross Country ski event in the city of Cologne, Germany, and has sought to

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO FOR most baby boomers like me, the question of getting old is not the issue anymore, particularly those born after WW II, which is why we are called that by the way. But why am I writing on the subject of getting old in the first place? You see, when I began writing sports and started covering running events in the late 1970s, I got hooked into it and started running almost everyday from our Paco residence to Roxas Blvd. and back, even joining competitive runs, but not being competitive at all except in our inter company mini-Olympics with the Marsteel Group. After that, over at the Victoria Court Group, which I joined in 1988, I introduced

extend a registration invitation to them. The FWSSC will assist student-athletes, who have registered to join the Winter University Games, particularly in figure skating (men, women, ice dance), and short track speed skating events. Prof. Calo said that the FESSAP intends to regularly send athletes to FISU events to optimize the exposure of Filipino student-athletes and boost their credentials as well. The Winter Universiade selection process entails the expression of interest to participate by FESSAP to FISU at least 10 months before the event date. This is followed by the submission of the number of athletes per country per sport, at least seven months before the event date. Fabian, who was the Philippines’ Head of Delegation during the 29th Winter Universiade 2019, said every country may nominate as many as three figure skaters each for men’s, women’s, and ice dance. However, only 36 figures skaters or pairs per event from all countries may signify interest to join in the final competition lineup following the application of ISU rules and regulations.

Robert Milton Calo

Michael Dodjie Fabian and wife Sharon

Dodjie added that for prospective information in the 2019 Winter Universiade, 48 figure-skating nominees for the women’s category were submitted by the various NUSFs worldwide but only 36 saw action. During this time of the pandemic, the FESSAP has yet to determine how many countries and/or figure skaters

Am I getting old? running as an event for employees, even sponsoring A Run For Mother Earth. starting and ending at Spuds, The Potato Restaurant in Adriatico, which was also part of Archie King’s group together with Victoria Court and Hotel La Corona. We built the our own low and high ropes team-building events in La Corona in Pagsanjan and had to do the scary high events myself, not knowing that in the future, I would be doing them again as a teambuilding facilitator myself. We also had our first VC team-building for our management in Mt. Banahaw, which opened my eyes to mountain climbing as a weekend warrior, including going inside Banahaw’s tight caves like Husgado. Together with kayaking pioneers Val and Didi Camara, I also climbed Mt. Pinatubo,

the long way, not the shorter climb nowadays. You can include Mt. Maculot and Mt. Manabu in Batangas, too, among the mountains I climbed. Covering Didi’s out-of-town kayaking events, I also got into kayaking even if I didn’t know how to swim. Didi even sponsored me in the then emerging whitewater kayaking and rafting in Cagayan Valley in the North. When I got into travel writing for Mirror Magazine and Manila Standard, I did a lot of adventure stories, canyoneering and whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro, trekking and caving in Sagada and even covered for several years the Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon in Sabah. I got to know the tourism people in Sabah and was invited to go around the area. In fact, there was a time that I climbed Mt.

will be interested to participate in the postponed Lucerne Winter Universiade which should have been held in January 2021, but was deferred by 11 months due to COVID-19 and moved to December 2021. The Quantitative Entry mentioned by the Winter Universiade Delegation Services refers to the Philippine delegation Kinabalu myself together with my daughter Janis. It took me 8 hours of huffing and puffing, but we made it just before dark. The longest I have ran though was maybe 15 kilometers without stopping, while the longest distance I have done was when I walked with a group of mostly Century Park Sheraton employees, who accompanied ultra runner Max Telford in his Death March Run, which ended in a walk (I think we walked from Angeles City to Capas, Tarlac then). Does that convince you that I was indeed into sports? But then these last two years, my body started sending me signals. I could not trek anymore without stopping more often and it took me a bit longer to get out of the Balon ni San Jacob cave in Banahaw . Then came this pandemic and there went my Banahaw breaks and adventure team-building using this sacred mountain’s natural terrain. Among the teams I

in total. The FWSSC needs to send the number of athletes in sports and disciplines, as well as the number of officials (i.e. coaches, team officials, administrative officials, and medical staff) in all the events that the Philippines intends to compete in Winter Universiade. This may be a good opportunity for these student-athletes to register now and be nominated in the short track speed skaters of six men and six (women as well. Prof. Calo was very thankful to FISU First Vice President Leonz Eder of the Swiss University Federation, for encouraging FESSAP participation in the 30th Winter Universiade 2021, which will be organized by his country. Student-athletes who are interested in competing in the Lucerne Winter Universiade may enlist at the FWSSC Registration Form, free of charge, through this online form: https://forms.gle/jhdCV8PPbXv5m47s7. For any further queries, kindly contact Fabian and Calo at their respective Facebook account. Other FWSSC members are Sharon Fabian, Cecille Sarmiento, and Raul Ballado. have brought there were Foton with Jaja Santiago and sister Dindin, and the women’s basketball teams of University of the East of Ai Lebornio and Centro Escolar University with Jay Cambarihan. But what really showed me that I was ageing was last weekend’s family out-oftown trip to the San Rafael River Adventure Sports resort in Bulacan. The place was beautiful, situated right beside the river and we could fish right from the balcony of our villa. The place also offered fun adventures like a bamboo bridge challenge over a small, man-made lake, plus free kayaking on the river. And I passed up on both of them. Boy, that really emphasized the fact that even my weekend warrior softcore adventure days are nearing the end. Well, the truth is, in less than a month from now, I will be celebrating my 52nd birthday (after being 51 the last 14 years).

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

‘Bloom Your Hopes’ docu captures musical journey of new K-Pop group T1419

Momoland’s brother group T1419 is a nine-member boy group from MLD Entertainment consisting of four Japanese and five Korean members.

K-POP boy group T1419 lets fans in on the group members’ journey from being trainees to officially debuting as idols in their two-part documentary Bloom Your Hopes, which is now streaming worldwide for free on iWantTFC. The documentary, which is narrated by Nancy of Momoland, showcases more than 30 minutes of footage of the group in their one-on-one interviews, recording and dance practice sessions, and the filming of the music video for their pre-debut single “Dracula.” Fans will also get to know its members Noa, Sian, Kevin, Gunwoo, On, Zero, Kairi, Leo, and Kio better as the boys talk about their individual interests

Fil-Am pride GARTH GARCIA reintroduces a ’90s smash hit

HE 1996 hit single “Do You Miss Me?” by Jocelyn Enriquez is a recognizable anthem for every ‘90s. For US-based Filipino singer Garth Garcia, it is his favorite song.

Garth loved the 25-year-old dance hit so much as a kid that he worked on reintroducing the song to this generation. The former Star in a Million finalist did an official cover, adding a new flavor to fit the taste of today’s market. Four years ago, in 2017, Garth moved to the United States where he is now finishing his postgraduate studies at Harvard Business School. While studying and doing business on the side, the singer also handles his events business called Starlink Productions. It is a licensed LLC that mounts events and concerts in Los Angeles, California and other states. On top of that, Garth founded "Doctors on the Go," a mobile company for access to on-the-go doctors based in Southern California. Back in the Philippines, Garth has already shown his passion for music and the performing arts. He emerged one of the finalists in the second season of ABS-CBN’s singing competition, Star in a Million, and earned a number of accolades. Garth was MOR101.9 Best New Artist winner in 2014, PMPC Star Awards for Music as New Male Recording Artist of the Year in 2015, Asian Excellence Awards' Outstanding Recording Artist Award in 2016, and Gawad Musika's Best Male Recording Artist of the Year in 2017. In the US, Garth still reaped recognition. He was a WCOPA multi-medalist, Best RNB Artist for Spotlight Awards, Los Angeles, California in 2018, and the only Filipino nominated at Asians on Film Festival in Hollywood, California for Best Music Video in 2019. The migration abroad allowed Garth to broaden his reach and musicality.

and personalities, pre-debut preparations, and initial challenges as a group. T1419’s vision as a group is also perfectly explained by Gunwoo in the documentary, where he shares, “T1419 sees and criticizes the problems around the world such as disease, war, and poverty with a view from teenagers. We communicate with teenagers and represent what they think.” The brother group of Momoland, T1419 is also managed by South Korean agency MLD Entertainment. The group instantly made a splash online and in the K-pop world earlier this year with their debut single “Asurabalbalta.”

VIC SOTTO’S life story in

‘Tunay na Buhay’anniversary special IN CELEBRATION have a fun chat of Tunay na Buhay’s with the veteran 10th anniversary, the actor and comedian GMA Public Affairs about his personal program featured stories including last night (Feb. 24) his childhood a special showbiz memories, how icon who has been TVJ group started, part of the Filipinos’ and his principles noontime habit as a father. and is considered His wife, Pauleen as “everybody’s Luna-Sotto, also favorite”: the one shared details about and only Vic Sotto. their relationship as He is known for a couple, and their his roles as Victorio bonding moments Ungasis in Iskul Ace comedian and TV host Vic Sotto with with their daughter Bukol, Enteng wife Pauleen Luna and daughter Tali. Tali. Kabisote in Okay Bossing’s Ka, Fairy Ko, Barak “Dabarkads” also Otogan in Daddy’s Gurl,’ and of course, as revealed fun facts about him. Bossing in the country’s longest-running Hosted by Pia Arcangel, the 10th noontime variety show Eat Bulaga. anniversary special of Tunay na Buhay For the first time, Tunay na Buhay will aired after Saksi on GMA Network.

Top broadcasters stir new mix Fil-Am singer and former 'Star in a Million' finalist Garth Garcia is making a name for himself on the US music scene with his cover of Jocelyn Enriquez's dance hit 'Do You Miss Me?'

In a virtual concert held last December, he was able to perform with Jocelyn Enriquez and brought back the FilipinoAmerican singer’s hit song to the music charts. ”Do You Miss Me?” made it to the charts back in the day, hitting the 49th spot on the Billboard Hot 100, 17th on the Rhythmic Top 40, 14th on the Top 40 Mainstream chart, 8th on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, and 12th on the Canadian Singles Chart. Lucky Boys Confusion released a rock version of the song in 2001. Garth makes the most out of every opportunity that comes his way. Following the shared performance, he reached out to the team behind the single

and cooked up a revival. He said, "I'm excited to share this track with my fans as it is something different from my previous works, and I got the chance to work with an LA-based producer [Miyamoto], who worked with Hollywood artists.” Garcia also worked with Kevin Huang, music producer behind big names in the industry. Exciting times are definitely in store for the Fil-Am Prince of OPM. Garth’s “Do You Miss Me?” cover will be available worldwide on Friday, Feb. 26. The music video for the song, directed by Christian Reasonda and Brian Perales, will be available on March 5. His outfits in the MV was by Hollywood designer Rocky Gathercole.

Breaking the rock stereotype THERE’S a reason that the filmdom often depicts a rock band as a gang of largerthan-life noise-makers with a penchant for debauchery. YUGEL Blame it to Led Zeppelin LOSORATA and the acts that followed the route they went into, they who in real life enlivened the phrase sex, drugs, and rock n roll. When I watched the biopic The Dirt on Netflix which tried to recapture the story of American heavy metal band Motley Crue, I supposed either what was projected on the screen was a ridiculous exaggeration of its real-life equivalent or, on the contrary, just half the truth of the excess that really happened in the life of a band that sold over 100 million albums. Rock bands of the glam rock era tended to be too serious at being antiestablishments and taking whatever drugs they could inject into their system. That was cool. It made me smile that after watching that film, I encountered a currently active Filipino band that ran almost like a corporate entity for being decidedly straight and working by the rules. Plethora, under the guidance of BMPI Talent Center, is certainly not the typical rock band that Hollywood or rock magazines would rather showcase. “We want to break the stereotype that musicians are irresponsible and do drugs,” implied lead singer and bass player Lester John “LJ” Herrera, “We want everyone to know that through music, you can be better. That you, too, can inspire.” That’s the band’s mission-vision. The way the members present themselves reflects that, with their clean-cut, casual wear look, and with each member playing a role that doesn’t clash with anyone. Jesser Pello sits comfortably playing the drums.

BROADCAST journalists Karen Davila and Korina Sanchez were witnesses to the quality of this product that combines the best qualities of 20 ingredients and not only whitens your skin but also helps you lose weight. The product, Busy Nurse 20-in-1 Coffee Mix, is the first slimming and whitening coffee mix in the market and contains glutathione and collagen that help achieve both goals. It had also been featured in the shows My Puhunan hosted by Karen Davila and another one called Swak na Swak. Korina Sanchez had the opportunity to interview Mary Rose Yap Zamora, the entrepreneur developing beauty products and behind this "wonder coffee." The rapidly increasing number of the product’s resellers and distributors is proof of its good consumer following. Busy Nurse Coffee Mix has gained ground because of its more than 3,000 and counting resellers and distributors here and abroad. That fast despite the pandemic. Deputy CEO and General Manager Mylene Pimentel expressed her ode to the nobility of being a Busy Nurse Coffee Mix distributor. She said, “We are facing a pandemic and some of us think of giving up. I know it’s hard. But in unity and teamwork, we can overcome the hard times. I assure you that BNCM will be here to support everyone for the successful journey ahead.” Testimonials from a couple of them reflected the positivity this product brings over virtually a cup of coffee. Provincial distributor Precious Sesuca expressed gratitude over the fact that her source of income as distributor enabled her and her family to buy a truck and a motorbike which they use in delivering BNCM

‘Plethora After 2020’ is the quartet's e-concert set 7:00 p.m. this Sunday and streaming via QONEQ.

Lead guitarist Andrew Isaguire knows when to deliver his solos. And then there’s keyboardist Aldrin Isaguire whose presence makes the group flexible at various genres like alternative rock, reggae, and power ballad. The group will be featured this Sunday (Feb. 28), 7:00 p.m., in a virtual concert called Plethora After 2020 to be streamed via QONEQ. The e-concert will have Gloc-9, Kean Cipriano, Milan, Kimberly Baluzo, Aling Nena, and rock royalty Jett Pangan of The Dawn as guests. Plethora, the grand champ of Greenwich Ultimate Bandkada Search Season 2, is due for a show of this magnitude, having been together for 16 years and proving their worth in social media circles. Their Wish 107.5 live performance of their songs “Hindi Na Bale and Sarap Ng Pinagsamahan” garnered a combined half a million views and counting. Another track, “Kaliskis Ng Ahas,” shows to what extent they could rock, while their cover of Harem Scarem’s Honestly puts them in their proper comfort zone. The singing bassist noted, “We literally grew up together and share the same interest. We talk things out and we set meetings.” See, this band of schoolmates and cousins is the far opposite of one whose members burn hotel rooms, bed each other’s girlfriends, or drink themselves to death. It’s a kind of band this world surviving the pandemic needs. (For inquiries, call 0995-5000615 or email at events@bmpicorp. com)

Seasoned TV broadcast journalists Karen Davila (top) and Korina Sanchez with Mary Rose Yap Zamora who developed the Busy Nurse 20-in1 coffee; its name fittingly attributes one of pandemic's frontlining heroes.

products to customers. Zumba instructor Johnrev Sayson Binondo went from provincial to regional distributor, and eventually was upgraded to being in charge of Busy Nurse Luzon Depot. He had been able to put up his own business with his success on selling the whitening and slimming coffee mix. Perhaps the most impressive of the lot is Ma. Theresa Juan who invested as a franchisee en route to becoming the take-charge woman of BNCM’s National Depot. She used to work as an electronics engineer and got tired of her routine so she decided to find a venture to change her fortune. Those who wish to replicate their success stories should only need to purchase packages necessary to become a reseller. And then put a lot of hard work to help grow the brand and change lives. Product sales reportedly went bad in the beginning of the pandemic but the whole team behind this new coffee brand never lost hope and worked hard together to stay in the mix, with glowing skin and great body figure. Introduced in 2019, the product already reaped awards that included the 14th Gawad Pilipino Outstanding Herbal Coffee of the Year, Golden Dragon Awards of Excellence for Most Trusted Herbal Coffee Mix Products Provider, International Icon Awards for Business Leadership and Achievers (as Most Trusted Herbal Coffee Mix Provider), and Gawad America Awards for Most Outstanding Filipino in the Field of Online Entrepreneurship. For more information and inquiries, please follow the official facebook page of Busy Nurse Shopline Main and their YouTube channel Busynurse Shopline Official.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Home upgrades for every budget STAYING indoors during the pandemic has led to an increase in sales of home and design products, according to retailers. Having no place to go has had people upgrading the space they’re in. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in fact, reported a 7-percent increase in online purchases of home furniture and household products in 2020 versus last year. Lazada takes pride in its vast selection of home improvement items, furniture, and gadgets available on its platform. Lighting The chic Modern Nordic Floor Lamp (P1,658) boasts a versatile style that lends a modern vibe. It’s available in black and white. For a more affordable lighting, the Baseus Magnetic LED Desk Lamp (P849) has a 24-hour battery life, and can be easily installed on narrow spaces thanks to its slim body.

TV host Willie Revillame officially joins Shopee Philippines as the brand ambassador for the e-commerce platform’s first mega shopping sale this year.

Willie Revillame

wants to personally deliver your Shopee orders

F POSSIBLE, Willie Revillame, fondly called “Kuya Wil,” would like to personally deliver your next Shopee orders. The TV host expressed this wish during his official introduction as Shopee’s brand ambassador for its 3.3-4.4 Mega Shopping Sale. Prior to becoming a brand ambassador, Revillame has been previously associated with the e-commerce giant through the several successful runs of Shopee TV specials he’s hosted on his GMA 7 show Wowowin: Tutok to Win. “Shopee Philippines is excited to kick off the first mega sale of the year with its newest brand ambassador Willie Revillame, who is one of the country’s biggest TV icons,” said Shopee Philippines director Martin Yu. Yu continued, “Kuya Wil, as he is fondly called by Filipinos, has brought joy to millions during these trying times with his fun-loving personality on Wowowin. Together with Willie Revillame, Shopee hopes to provide Filipinos with more meaningful and entertaining shopping experiences at our 3.3-4.4 Mega Shopping Sale.” For the shopping sale event, which started on Feb. 18 and runs until April 4, Revillame will be hosting Shopee’s daily segments on Wowowin and Shopee’s monthly TV specials on GMA 7. Millions worth of cash prizes await

at the 3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo TV Special on March 3 at 5:00 p.m., airing on GMA 7 and Shopee Live. Shopee invites everyone to tune in to join Shopee Shake, Watch and Win, and Shopee Milyonaryo Pera o Kahon. Deals and discounts abound during the shopping sale, including free shipping with n o minimum spend, 20 percent cashback on various categories, and ShopeePay P1 deals from Jollibee, Dunkin’ Donuts, and

McDonald’s. Shoppers can also enjoy exclusive discounts and deals from Shopee’s trusted brand partners across all categories on Shopee Mall, which include Havaianas Philippines, Huggies Philippines, Realme, P&G Beauty, Pampers, Unilever Beauty, Nestlé, Garnier, Enfagrow, and Vivo. As part of the sale event, the e-commerce platform has ongoing themed days that started on Feb. 18. Following the four-day ShopeePay Cashless Festival on Feb. 22-25 is the Mega ShopeePay Day on Feb. 25 and March 25. In addition to the upcoming 3.3 Mega Shopping Sale are Mega Fashion Sale on Feb. 26; Mega Fitness Sale on Feb. 27; Mega Beauty Sale on Feb. 28; Mega Shopee Prizes Sale on March 1; Mega Vouchers Day on March 2, March 26, and April 3; Payday Sale of March 15; and Mega Free Shipping Sale on March 27. Bernadette Lunas

Kuya Wil will make lucky contestants choose between ‘pera’ or ‘kahon’ during the 3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo TV Special on March 3.

Hands-on mom Marian Rivera shops fresh CELEBRITY and mother of two Marian Rivera-Dantes wears the “hands-on mom” tag like a badge of honor, ensuring her family’s well-being a top priority. She dotes on Zia and Ziggy, takes care of husband Dingdong, and makes sure she prepares their meals using fresh items. Rivera-Dantes vouches for WalterMart as a reliable supermarket that checks all her requirements: offers a wide variety of products, ensures produce are fresh, has an online store and delivery service. “Talagang napaka-easy mamili sa WalterMart—mapaonline or in store ang daming reasons para ma-in love ka (It is truly easy to shop at WalterMart—online or in-store, there are many reasons to love),” enthuses the 36-year old mom and endorser of the supermarket. This year, WalterMart’s Love Everyday campaign ensures shoppers are guaranteed everyday freshness, choices, and savings. The store guarantees “freshness everyday” with its wide array of fresh and perishable goods that are delivered to store and regularly checked on a daily basis. Freshness is likewise assured for online orders at waltermart.com, as WalterMart says, items are picked on the same day and delivered within an hour from the time of order. Prices of products on the online platform are the same

Work desk The Luxury Office Desk (P2,422) is a great option for those looking for durability, style, and ample compartments for their workspace. Meanwhile, those who have limited space or are looking for a desk alternative that can be used at the bedside, the Adjustable Bedside Computer Table (P759) at an affordable option. This all-purpose laptop desk can be moved around the house. Shelves Store and display knick-knacks on the stylish Kallax Shelving Unit (P6,800) in white. For those who prefer to have their shelves portable and movable, the Storage Shelf on Wheels (P436.32) is great for organizing makeup, bathroom essentials, cleaning supplies, and herbs and spices. Electric fan Dyson Air Purifier and Tower Fan (P29,500) is a sleek bladeless fan that also serves as an air purifier that filters harmful pollutants. For a cheaper but just as stylish option, Asahi XF 6077 Retro Wooden Stand Fan (P3,555) boasts a unique color and sleek structure that adds a touch of luxe and modernity to the living space. Speakers Movie nights at home get an upgrade with a good quality speaker. The Marshall Emberton Bluetooth Speaker (P8,690) packs a punch with its crisp and clear audio and 20+ hours of playing time. For something more budgetfriendly, the JBL GO2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker (P2,399), available on JBL’s LazMall flagship store, is lightweight, waterproof, and comes in several colors.

A Wi-Fi system for more conducive online learning, working

Marian Rivera-Dantes vouches for WalterMart as a reliable supermarket that offers fresh products.

as those in stores. With more than 23,000 competitively priced items, the brand sees to it that it provides consumers with a wide range of choices including pantry and breakfast essentials, baby essentials, health and beauty products, and food togo. WalterMart also offers bundle deals and promos “almost everyday.” The supermarket has 39 branches across Metro Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bataan.

DEAD spots and weak signals especially in a household where multiple wireless devices are using the same Wi-Fi has become a prevalent problem now that many employees are working from home and students studying from home. In cases of insufficient coverage, a Wi-Fi mesh system helps boost Internet connectivity and provides wider Internet coverage—addressing dead spots in the house. Broadband and digital services provider PLDT Home offers its very own, easy-to-set-up Wi-Fi mesh devices. Its Wi-Fi mesh system has dual-band Wi-Fi technology that automatically detects the best connectivity possible for any device, allowing consistent and efficient connectivity. Meanwhile, its seamless roaming allows a household to use only one Wi-Fi name. Its mobile app enables easy connectivity management, while parents can keep tabs on their children’s online activities, and set multiple user profiles

and assign timed usage and blocked content for each. PLDT Home Wi-Fi mesh devices start at P298 per month (starter kit) which comes with two mesh units. Subscribers who need more Internet coverage at home can also avail of an additional mesh device for P149 per month. Go to pldthome.com/wifimeshsystem to know more.

PLDT Home offers Wi-Fi mesh devices— starting at P298 per month—that help boost Internet connectivity and provide wider coverage at home.