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Cases ‘nearing’ 2020 peak

Palace warns trend may even top it, OCTA forecasts 11,000 daily infections

VOL. XXXV • NO. 35 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IT’S A NO: RESIDENTS REJECT PALAWAN SPLIT By Willie Casas and Jimbo Gulle

NEWS / A4

HE Palace on Tuesday said the country is nearing its peak daily increase in coronavirus infections in August last year—and might surpass it soon based on projections by the OCTA Research Group.

BACK TO LOCKDOWN. A barangay official staples a ‘lockdown’ sign to the yellow caution warning tape he puts around their area inside Barangay 374 Zone 38 in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Tuesday. On Monday evening, policemen and with barangay officers man a checkpoint (inset) to enforce the unified curfew hours in Metro Manila from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., all it a bid to cut the rising number of COVID-19 infections. Norman Cruz

30m Novavax Curfew violators fined, minors banned outdoor doses arriving 3rd or 4th qtr. By Joel E. Zurbano

By Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippines has secured 30 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by US biotech firm Novavax Inc, an official leading the country's inoculation strategy said Tuesday. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said he signed a supply deal for the 30 million Next page

POLICE arrested 1,449 people for violating curfew in Metro Manila during the first night of its implementation Monday. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Tuesday most of the arrests were in Manila, where 1,139 people were caught violating the curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lt. Gen. Hawthorne Binag said 547 curfew violators were merely warned and lat-

er released, while others were fined. The Metro Manila Council agreed last week to implement the uniform curfew hours in the National Capital Region starting March 15. In Pasay City, which imposed its own curfew on March 12, police arrested 448 people for being outside their homes during the restricted hours. City police comcom mander Cesar Paday-os said most of those arrested said they merely went out of

their houses to buy something while said they did not know a curfew was in place. Mayor Imelda Rubiano issued an executive order last week imposing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. effective March 12. The order came before the 17 mayors in Metro Manila arrived at a unified curfew policy aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. Rubiano said there was an urgent need to strictly impose the curfew hour to discourage people from going out to minimize the risk of contracting the disease. Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 16)

631,320 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,437 57,736 NEW

ACTIVE

12,848

560,736

166

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

Rody’s poll party pushes him for VP ‘for country’

Bong Go pleads to count him out as presidentiable BONG Go: count me out of 2022 election talks; says he will make the most of his current position to serve Filipinos Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has reiterated his appeal to be “counted out” for a higher position in the 2022 national elections, urging everyone to focus on helping address the ongoing pandemic instead. This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte praised the senator’s work and called him “president” on March 5 during the joint meeting of National and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. “I said, please let’s not talk about politics during this time. It’s important for us to surpass this pandemic, because if

OCTA raised its estimates of new COVID-19 cases from 8,000 a day to 11,000 a day by the end of March, as the reproduction rate of the coronavirus rose to 2.03, up from 1.9, a research fellow at the group, Guido David, said. The reproduction rate refers to the number of people who can be infected by a patient. But presidential spokesman Harry Roque fended off suggestions that the country is starting all over again when it comes to the way it is handling the pandemic. “We’re not back to square one,” Roque said, taking issue with a statement made by Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva had earlier said the government was only taking action when the virus had already spread. "A spike is happening now. We are nearing the peak that we saw last August. We can even exceed this peak if we fail to bring down COVID-19 cases,” Roque said. But the spokesman, who himself has contracted the disease and is in isolation, said the government was “doing well” in containing COVID-19. He said public cooperation has also

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ONE-TWO PUNCH? President Rodrigo Duterte (right) listens to Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go after the televised briefing at Malacanang on Monday. Pundits with the ruling PDP-Laban party prefer that Duterte continue in government as vice president -- to his longtime aide Go or to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio. Presidential Photo

Body cam a must in serving warrant By Rey E. Requejo, Willie Casas, and Maricel V. Cruz THE Supreme Court on Tuesday has approved in prin-

ciple a proposal to require law enforcers to wear body cameras when executing search warrants, in an apparent response to allegations that police used unnecessary force when they killed nine activists while serving warrants in Calabarzon. Next page

Murillo Velarde map exalted via stamps ONE does not need to be a stamp collector to appreciate the new postage stamp unveiled by the Philippine Postal Cor Corporation (PHLPost), which features the “Mother of All Philippine Maps.” The first scientific map of the Philippines, the “Carta Hydro Next page

EYE ON CRIME.

PNP Directorate for Logistics Maj. Gen. Angelito Casimiro demonstrates the use of body-worn cameras during a training at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City in this file photo. The body cameras were distributed to 44 police sites in Metro Manila and will be connected to a data management center located at the NCRPO tactical operations center.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will be making a "supreme sacrifice" and will humble himself to be the vice president “for the benefit of our country” as he has already reached the pinnacle of power, PDP-Laban Deputy Secretary General Melvin Matibag said Tuesday. In an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel, Matinag said that for the benefit of the party and the country, he does not see any reason “why we should stop it when the vice-presidential candidate will be President Duterte.” Next page

News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rody ducks COVID threat in areas Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte was “confident” to pursue public engagements amid the pandemic because the Presidential Security Group and the Presidential Management Staff were making sure that strict health protocols were being followed. “The epicenter [of COVID-19] is Met-

ro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. He is not going there,” Roque, now in isolation after catching COVID-19, said in a virtual presser. Roque’s statement came a day after the Philippines logged around 5,404 new COVID-19 infections, the biggest-single day increase in cases recorded in the country

this year. Duterte stayed at Malacañan Palace in Manila when he placed the entire Luzon under the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine in March last year. He only returned to his residence in Davao City on May 16 last year after quarantine restrictions were eased. The first time he made a public engagement was on July 3, 2020, when he visited the soldiers at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City. Unfazed by threat Duterte, unfazed by the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has since then attended several public events. This month, Duterte attended six public events, including the ceremonial turnover

Cases...

distancing and the wearing of masks and face shields. "More people outdoors are not complying with guidelines or not completely complying with them. More social gatherings, I believe, are occurring," he said. He said the rise in cases could also be attributed in part to the presence of new coronavirus variants. Despite the spike in cases, the national president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Mayor Chavit Singson opposed setting stricter travel limits. Singson said allowing people to go to the provinces will prevent Metro Manila from becoming overcrowded, as was the case during the lockdown, when people could not leave the National Capital Region. In his province, Singson said they have already eased their control at the borders. He said they just advise travelers to undergo quarantine at home once they arrive in the province. Singson said the best practice of COVID-free municipalities is to conduct information campaigns. Local government units should consistently inform and remind their constituents about the disease and the minimum health standards to avoid its spread, he said. With the spike in cases, hospital beds are filling up. Beds dedicated for critical COVID-19 patients at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City are already at 95 percent while those at the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) are now 80 percent occupied. Dr. Alfonso Nuñez said the 95 percent utilization for critical COVID-19 patients is considered a “red alert” level. “We are making strategies to increase our capacity as far as severe and critical

cases are concerned,” he said. “We want to be one step ahead of everything.” At present, he said only four to five beds for critical patients are available. He said the EAMC has a total of 250 beds for all COVID-19 patients. He added that 77 percent of these are so far occupied. Nunez said they saw this number increase starting from the second half of February. During that time, he said they were at 60 percent utilization for COVID beds, but this slowly increased and it went up to around 70 percent in the early days of March and it further climbed to 77 percent. Meanwhile, LCP spokesperson Dr. Norberto Francisco said the occupancy in the hospital for COVID-19 patients has been “increasing rapidly” over the past 10 days. He said currently, LCP has 105 beds for COVID-19 patients. He said 85 of them or 80 percent are already occupied. “Slowly over the past few weeks, we’ve seen the occupancy rate to rise again from 30 to 40 to 60 percent, that’s why over the weekend we decided to open a new wing for COVID again,” he said. Even some isolation rooms have been converted into wards to accommodate more patients. The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said that beds in intensive care units dedicated to COVID-19 patients are beginning to get filled up in some regions, including Metro Manila, following the increase in coronavirus cases. Dr. Beverly Ho, concurrent director IV of the DOH’s Health Promotion Bureau and Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, said the current ICU utilization for COVId-19 patients in Metro Manila is classified as a moderate risk, while national health care utilization rate is at 35 percent classified as a low risk. A group of health professionals said

they will not call for more stringent quarantine measures but strongly urged employers and the government to decongest workplaces and public transport by not imposing curfews to address the surge in COVID-19 cases. Dr. Tony Dans of the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 said 80 percent of the intensive care units of COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila are already occupied at this point. “We will not make that call for a timeout for now. It's nearing, but still, it's not now. We are listening to our colleagues on the ground,” Dans said. He said statistics don't show it yet, but if they are feeling the pinch and are being overwhelmed by the number of people getting sick. "We will be the first one to call for help if our doctors are in distress," said Dans. The Philippines has been recording over 4,000 new COVID-19 cases for the past week. Dr. Aileen Espina said employers and other businesses should decongest the workplace by implementing work from home setups or staggering work hours so employees will not have to go to work at the same time and enable them to strictly observe minimum health standards. She also called for improved ventilation in the workplace. Ho said some establishments' noncompliance with the ventilation rules set by the Department of Labor and Employment may have contributed to the increase in COVID-19 cases. Espina also said there should be more open spaces that the people. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Health Workers said the DOH and the government’s “militarist lockdown as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic was a failure, incompetent, inefficient and negligent.

tickets fro the Office of the City Treasurer and must pay the fine within 24 hours to avoid being criminally prosecuted. Local enforcers arrested 2,501 quarantine violators from March 1 up to noon of March 16. Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reminded the public that minors in Metro Manila are prohibited from going outside their residences for two weeks

starting March 17. MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said only those between 18 and 65 are allowed to go outside their homes amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila. He said members of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) had banned minors from going outdoors for two weeks. "We are implementing age restrictions because of the increase in our COVID-19

cases. We encourage everyone to strictly observe and practice the minimum health protocols, and be extra careful and follow stringent measures particularly when around vulnerable family members, as there have been reports of transmission among family members," Abalos said. Last month, Abalos said NCR mayors agreed to ease age restrictions as the government sought to encourage economic activities.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government was on track of achieving its target of inoculating at least 70 million Filipinos following the fresh $1.2-billion (approximately P57.6-billion) loans extended recently by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Dominguez said these loans would secure the funding needed to procure COVID-19 vaccines. Galvez said the Philippines would get at least 1.4 million more COVID-19 shots from Sinovac this month. Vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility is also expected to deliver a second tranche of 900,000 COVID-19 shots in late March or early April, he added. Galvez had said that the Philippines would get 161 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from different manufacturers this year. At least 216,794 health workers have been vaccinated as of 11 a.m. Of Tuesday, or 16 days since the rollout began, said Galvez. Hospitals cannot vaccinate all of its workers to prevent operations from bogging down if they experience vaccine side effects, he said. The elderly will be inoculated against COVID-19 once all target health frontliners are vaccinated in the first or second week of April, he said. The Philippines, as of Monday, recorded a total 626,893 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 53,479 or 8.5 percent are active. The death toll stood at 12,837. With PNA

Body... During its regular en banc session, the Court resolved to consider the proposal to revise its Rules of Criminal Procedure to require the use of body cameras for law enforcers who execute warrants issued by the trial courts. Court sspokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the justices approved the use of body cameras in the service of warrants but said this will be subject to the actual guidelines as may be set in a formal resolution issued by the Court. The decision came after various groups pleaded with the Supreme Court to take action on the series of killings allegedly perpetrated by police officers during the service of warrants The wearing of body cameras, lawyer Evalyn Ursua said, would stop speculation about summary executions being carried out by law enforcers whenever there is a shootout. This would also prevent parties from issuing false accusations or accounts of what transpired, she said. National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers chairman Neri Colmenares also suggested that if the service of a warrant resulted in a fatality, the Supreme Court should get the records of the case from the judge for review. He added that law enforcement officers should be required to submit a report on the facts that led to the death of a person aside fromsubmitting a list of items found or confiscated from the

subject of the search warrant. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said the Duterte administration has recorded the most number of killings of lawyers, most of who have represented victims of the government’s “war on drugs” or human rights violations. HRW Senior Philippine Researchers Carlos Conde said more lawyers have been killed in the five years since Duterte took office than under any other government in Philippine history. Citing data gathered by news website Rappler, he noted that of the 110 lawyers killings from 1972 to the present, 61 happened since 2016. Conde also disclosed that since 2004, charges have been filed in just seven cases in which lawyers were victims, underscoring the lack of accountability for serious crimes in the Philippines. The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), one of two nongovernmental groups that track killings of lawyers, said more than half of the killingss were work-related. The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), which also monitors attacks, said most of those killed represented either victims of the “war on drugs” or victims of human rights violations. The NUPL said almost all perpetrators have never been brought to the bar of justice. Many of the high-profile attacks involved members of the NUPL, which represents leftist activists as well as victims of human rights violations.

A resolution calling for Duterte to run as Vice President in the 2022 elections is being passed around among PDP-Laban members, which House Deputy Speaker and Valenzuela 2nd District Rep. Eric Martinez has confirmed. The ruling party's leaders, including national president Sen. Manny Pacquiao, have called it “unauthorized," stressing this is not the time for politics.

However, Matinag said the call for Duterte to run “will not stop” despite warnings from Pacquiao. "I think it will not stop because the clamor is there. I respect our acting president Senator Manny Pacquiao. But we have this principle in PDP like consultative and participatory democracy. So how can we stop members who want to sign it?” Matibag said. He pointed out that the resolution is

gaining traction. He said the resolution is staying alive on its own. Matibag said this is actually “a major issue” for the President. Instead of enjoying his retirement once he steps down from his post, Duterte will make a sacrifice by running again for a national post for the purpose of continuing his programs “so that everybody will benefit,” the party official said.

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is avoiding areas that have high cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to keep him coronavirus-free, Malacañang said Tuesday.

From A1

helped President Rodrigo Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) limit the spread of the coronavirus. Roque noted that the country now has better facilities to accommodate COVID-19 patients. The Philippines reached a peak of 6,958 cases in a day last August 10, and Duterte expressed his concern over it on Monday, when 5,404 cases were recorded -- the fourth straight day cases went over 5,000. On Tuesday, the Department of Health logged 4,437 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total infections to 631,320. There were 11 new deaths and 116 patient recoveries. Guido said the current number of active infections -- 57,736, comprising 9.1 percent of total cases -- is considered the highest since Oct. 3 last year and may breach 60,000 on Wednesday, OCTA’s David said. Talking to ANC's Headstart, David said the outbreak started in Pasay, Malabon, and Navotas but has spread to many areas of Metro Manila, which are now seeing their cases rising. "Most areas in NCR are now having an increase and many areas are nearing the levels that you saw last August," David said. Provinces near the National Capital Region, such as Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan, are also seeing a rise in their cases. In Cebu City, where cases had been going down, David said they are now seeing a slight uptick. He attributed the rise in cases to increased mobility and decreased compliance with health standards, such as social

Curfew... From A1

In Pasay, the names of first-time offenders will be recorded in their barangays. For the second offense, violators will be fined P3,000. Third-time offenders will be fined P5,000. All those arrested will be issued citation

30m... From A1

Novavax doses in a visit last week to the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer. The World Health Organization, through the COVAX facility, might also deliver 979,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines on March 22 for a total of 2,379,200 doses, he said. During the briefing, President Rodrigo Duterte said Galvez went to India to personally negotiate on the vaccine procurement. The Novavax shots will arrive in the Philippines "most likely" in the third or fourth quarter of 2021, said Galvez, also chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. The Philippines has received 600,000 China-donated doses from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, and 525,600 shots of Britain's AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX Facility, the rollout of both had started over the last two weeks. At the same time, the government said it had vaccinated 215,997 Filipinos against COVID-19. Data released to the public also showed that as of March 15, 6 p.m., 96 percent of the 1,125,600 COVID-19 doses from Sinovac and AstraZeneca have been distributed. The DOH said it had already reached the “northernmost and southernmost island provinces of the country.” There are a total 929 vaccination sites in 17 regions.

Rody’s... From A1

Factions within the ruling party have been pushing for Duterte to slide down to vice president for either of two rumored presidential bets -- his daughter, Davao City Mayor arah Duterte-Carpio, or longtime aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

From A1

of Covid-19 vaccine doses developed by AstraZeneca and Sinovac. On Thursday, Duterte is set to attend an event in Eastern Samar and another one in Tacloban City. Roque said there has been no change in Duterte’s scheduled activities. He, nevertheless, ensured that attendees are required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests so as not to compromise Duterte’s health. “There has been a distinction as to who can or who cannot go near [Duterte]. And there is a separate list of people who have access to the President and are required to undergo RT-PCR test),” Roque said. With PNA

‘President not downplaying virus hardship’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not downplaying the suffering of Filipinos as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Tuesday. In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this clarification after a lawmaker criticized the President for seemingly undermining the challenges posed by the health crisis. Duterte, in a pre-recorded speech aired Monday night, said: ”I will just say to my countrymen that do not despair. We can beat COVID. This is a small thing in our lives. We’ve been through a lot worse, lot more difficult, and made us cry more.” Roque explained that Duterte was simply expressing confidence that Filipinos would be able to rise to the challenge of COVID-19, especially now that vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. announced the bulk of OVID-19 vaccines were expected to arrive by April or May. “The President is not downplaying our suffering but he’s saying that we will be able to rise from this, we will heal as one and that time will come soon because Secretary Galvez is handling the arrival of more vaccines,” he said. He noted the President was trying to assure the public that the pandemic wastemporary” and would eventually be resolved. “The President is saying it’s only temporary. It is not forever. It will pass and when vaccines come, we will have a solution to our problem, we will have a new normal,” he added. PNA

PAL canceling flights Mar. 18 to April 19 By Joel E. Zurbano PHILIPPINE Airlines on Tuesday announced it is set to cancel some flights in line with the government's new guidelines limiting inbound arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Beginning March 18 until April 19, international inbound arrivals at the country's premier airport shall be limited to a maximum of 1,500 passengers per day for all airlines combined in line with a directive issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). To comply with the restriction, airlines will need to cancel a number of international flights to and from Manila during that period. "Philippine Airlines will operate full international schedule for March 18 but we will be announcing in due course any flight cancellations on other days for the rest of the period," PAL management stated in its advisory.

Bong... From A1

we don’t, we have no politics to discuss in succeeding years,” Go said during his visit and distribution of assistance to fire victims in Brgy. Governor Duterte, Davao City on Wednesday, March 10. “Huwag natin pag-usapan ‘yung pulitika. Pangit po pag-usapan ang pulitika sa panahong ito. Darating din tayo diyan,” he added. Go pointed out that the country will inevitably elect its next leaders in 2022. The senator said, however, that he is planning to make the most of the opportunity given to him to serve Filipinos. “Whether we like it or not, once October comes, once May comes next year, we will choose our new leader. So, let’s choose a leader who really loves his fellow Filipinos, who can really continue the changes that President Duterte started,” Go said. “Please count me out po. Please don’t include me in politicking. My term as Senator lasts until 2025, and I won’t waste this. Every day that you give me is a chance to serve you all, and I won’t waste this.

Murillo... From A1

graphica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas Manila 1734,” also known as the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, was prepared by Spanish Jesuit cartographer Father Pedro Murillo Velarde together with two Filipinos, engraver Francisco Suarez and artist Nicolas dela Cruz Bagay. It was acquired by Mel Velasco Velarde, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and the NOW Group, through a Sotheby’s auction in London in 2014. Velarde donated the map to the Philippine government through a deed of donation.

News ‘House failed to act on raps vs. AJ Leonen’

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

Skyway 3 to stay open, says SMC By Darwin G. Amojelar and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Rey E. Requejo THE Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government on Tuesday bewailed the failure of the House of Representatives to immediately act on the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen for alleged culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust Edwin Cordevilla, FLAGG secretary general, lamented that the inaction by the House leadership on the impeachment complaint against Justice Leonen may only show that they are protecting the magistrates “It is with great dismay we look at the House of Representatives now, supposedly the very house that houses the representatives of our people’s desires and aspirations to make things which matter to the nation a reality,” Cordevilla said in a statement. “In our search for justice, we marched into the very halls of Congress in December 2020 to file an impeachment case that was found sufficient in form by the House Secretary General himself.” In December last year, Cordevilla filed a verified impeachment complaint against Leonen on the grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. “We have painstakingly built up the case to prove and show that Justice Leonen is indeed needed to be removed without delay, via a sacred right enshrined in the Constitution,” he said. “The House of Representatives, tasked to hear the case however, prefers to play dumb and chooses to take cover behind some alien mathematics. For, strangely, nobody among them seems to know how to correctly count their session days. The inaction of the House echoes the very attitude we find contemptible in Justice Leonen.” “Is it with logical basis to presume that some of our honorable congressmen are protecting Justice Leonen... from the truth?”

AN MIGUEL Corp. on Tuesday said Skyway Stage 3 will remain open to motorists despite the inaction of the Toll Regulatory Board to issue a toll operation permit.

PROTOCOL CHECK. A member of the Inter Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) talks to a van driver along Taft Avenue in front of the Manila City Hall on Tuesday. Public utility vehicle drivers who were found violating health protocols by allowing passengers to board without face masks and shields were fined P2,000 pesos on the first offense, P3,000 on second offense, and P5,000 on the third offense. Norman Cruz

Imee: Internet access ‘primary right’ like water By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Imee Marcos on Tuesday urged the government to recognize internet access as a “primary right” on the same level as electricity and potable water. She says establishing a lifeline rate for internet access is as important as the bicameral conference committee’s decision Tuesday to extend the lifeline rate for electricity to 2051. “Filipinos need to cope not only with the Covid-19 pandemic but also with the many demands of the 21st century. The needs as well as the aspirations of the na-

tion call for a lifeline rate for internet access,” Marcos said. “So much lip service has been paid to free internet in public places, but meager budgetary support, poor planning and failed linkages with private telcos condemn us to scant internet access.” Marcos cited the slow implementation of Republic Act 10929, also known as the Free Internet in Public Places Act. The senator has proposed to set a “socialized pricing mechanism” through a broadband and data lifeline rate via Senate Bill 2102, amending the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Phil-

ippines. The lifeline rate for internet access will give household beneficiaries and marginalized end-users discounts based on consumption thresholds not lower than one gigabyte per month, according to the Marcos bill. Household beneficiaries are to be determined by the guidelines of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), while marginalized end-users will be identified through the criteria set by the National Telecommunications Commission and certified by public telecommunications entities.

QC boosts moves vs. coronavirus By Ben Cal and Rio N. Araja

K9 WORK. An officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency MIMAROPA Palawan Seaport Interdiction Unit and PDEA K9 Unit guides his K9 partner in sniffing out illegal drugs in an interdiction effort on the ship MV Xin Hai Tong at the Port of Narra in Palawan on Tuesday. No dangerous drugs were found during the inspection. PDEA photo

AMID the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, Barangay Pasong Tamo in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, has launched a fumigation program to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Barangay personnel started the disinfection at San Pedro Compound-5 using a fumigation vehicle sent by Barangay Captain Banjo Pilar. Meanwhile, to improve its contact tracing capabilities, the Quezon City government has deployed a centralized and ready-for-use COVID-19 check-in system for over 80,000 registered businesses. Under KyusiPass, a contact tracing system powered by Safepass, all business establishments in the city are provided with free QR codes that would serve as a unique location monitoring code for its customers or clients to scan. And amid a new spike in the COVID-19 cases, the Quezon City council is

batting for a wider access to free medicine to include medication for cardiovascular, chronic obstructive pulmonary or respiratory diseases. “The situation is tough right now, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By expanding the scope of our existing ordinances on free medicines, we can hopefully lift some burden off the shoulders of our people,” Councilor Mikey Belmonte of District 2 said. San Pedro Compound-5 president Inez Magbual requested Pilar to disinfect the subdivision after a family of four were reportedly infected with Covid-19 and brought to the hospital over the weekend. “We are appealing for your kind consideration, that our San Pedro 5 Compound here in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, be fumigated due to the presence of Covid there days ago,” Magbual said in her letter to Pilar. The San Pedro 5 Compound residents thank Pilar for his immediate action to prevent the spread of the virus.

Veggies for 36,000 poor families By Rio N. Araja IN A BID to ensure food security and promote a healthy diet amid the COVID-19) pandemic, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has already distributed the city’s urban farm produce to 36,000 indigent families. “This project aims to bring nutritious food to the table of our QCitizens, especially those who were badly affected by this pandemic,” she said. “Amid the surge of cases, we want to help those affected from the vulnerable sectors. We want to make it sure that they are healthy and strong, especially in their struggles day to day.” The city government was able to hand out food packages to 36,000 beneficiaries

of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Yakap Day Care family beneficiaries under its Handog Pasasalamat program. The food package contained a bag of rice, canned goods and several sets of vegetables that were harvested from the different urban farms all over the city. Belmonte says the project emphasizes the importance of urban farming to ensure that the people will have greater access to a healthy and safe source of food even during and beyond the pandemic, while displaced workers were given new opportunities to earn to grow and harvest the farm produce. Under the Joy of Urban Farming project, several urban farming sites were established all over the six districts of the city.

THE Taguig City government is preparing a portfolio of vaccines that will complement the national government supply and ensure each resident will receive free vaccination. Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano says the local government has set aside one billion pesos to spend for the needed preparations and vaccine supply. Having a diverse portfolio of COVID-19

vaccines with different vaccine types, from mRNA and DNA vaccines to recombinant protein vaccines and viral vectors, creates options which could help combat different COVID-19 variants. Cayetano says they are expecting supplies of COVID-19 vaccines from at least three pharmaceutical companies and has made the following agreements: • Memorandum of understanding with Novavax for Covovax which is a protein

“Skyway 3 will remain open,” Ramon S. Ang, SMC president and chief operating officer, said following a misunderstanding between its infrastructure unit and the Toll Regulatory Board. Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson strongly reacted to the reported closure of Skyway Project 3, calling it another case of over-regulation by the government he that he referred to as “perwisyo!” Senator Win Gatchalian said the Toll Regulatory Board should get their act together. “This is not only causing confusion but also distress to the public, especially to those already plying the route regularly since late last year,” he said. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the TRB should decide on toll fees and encourage business to invest in our infrastructure needs. Opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan pressed the Department of Transportation and the TRB to explain the latter’s supposed directive to indefinitely close the project starting Tuesday at 5 p.m. Ang said he had relayed this commitment to Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade who, in turn, committed to act on the company’s concerns. “Basically, TRB is insisting that Skyway 3 cannot start full operations and collect toll until all ramps are 100 percent complete. Our supplemental toll operation agreement states that we can start collecting at 95 percent completion; we are now 97 percent complete. We need sufficient funds for the toll road’s daily maintenance, proper longterm upkeep and to keep it safe and efficient for the motoring public,” Ang said. “As Skyway 3’s losses have been mounting because TRB keeps delaying the start of toll collection, the quickest way for our infrastructure unit to speed up 100 percent completion of the ramps would have been to close Skyway 3.”

IN BRIEF Cops act on Mabalacat mayor’s case vs. VACC CAPAS, Tarlac—The Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit 3 has started its investigation of the alleged harassment and cyber bullying complaint filed by Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan against Pyra Lucas, former head of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Pampanga Chapter. This after BGen. Valeriano De Leon, regional director of the Central Luzon PNP, acknowledged Catacutan’s complaints and directed the RACU3 to organize a team that will properly conduct an independent investigation against Lucas, a social media personality. In his letter to De Leon, Catacutan urged RACU3 to look into the social media post of Lucas and several other personalities whom he described as below the belt series of comments and tirades dishonoring and insulting him. “I was informed that investigation against Facebook accounts of Lucas is underway,” said Catacutan during a press conference Monday. Jess Malabanan

‘Keep Katipunan Ave. Extension open’

LIQUOR BAN. A barangay official posts a public notice ban on alcohol selling at various stores and groceries in Barangay Immaculate Conception, Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday. The city government suspended all retail sales of alcoholic beverages in accordance with supplementary guidelines that impose emergency measures and protocols. Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Taguig prepares ‘portfolio of vaccines’ to inoculate residents By Joel. E. Zurbano

based vaccine that uses recombinant technology; • Term sheet with IP BioTech for Covaxin which is an inactivated vaccine; and • Memorandum of agreement with AstraZeneca which is an adenovirus-based viral vector vaccine. Cayetano says the availability of these vaccines will further expand the city’s supply and capability to combat COVID-19 including its new variants.

While the city government has locked in deals with several companies, it is also currently in talks with different vaccine manufacturers offering different types of vaccines, including Moderna and other possible suppliers of mRNA vaccines. “While we continue to build our portfolio of vaccines and wait for the supplies to arrive, we believe that the best vaccine to administer to our citizens is the vaccine that is available now,” Cayetano said.

QUEZON City Councilor Winnie Castelo is urging concerned government agencies, including local government units, to ensure permanent access to the newly opened Katipunan Avenue Extension. He reacted to complaints from his constituents that the affluent Loyola Grand Villas village closed its section of the Katipunan road extension during the Philippine Drug Enforcement AgencyQuezon City police district shootout along Commonwealth Avenue last Feb. 24. He said traffic enforcers closed the Fairview-Batasan Hills-bound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue in Batasan Hills at the height of the Feb. 24 shootout and in the aftermath of the ensuing investigation, stalling traffic for hours. Katipunan Avenue Extension is a bypass road from Katipunan Avenue to Barangay Batasan Hills, Marikina City and San Mateo in Rizal. The national government built the extension road to ease traffic congestion along Katipunan and Commonwealth Avenues. The extension road traverses the upscale Loyola Grand Villas, Vista Real, Capitol Homes and North View subdivisions. Rio N. Araja

PH testing czar, senator undergo self-quarantine

News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

CONSTANT REMINDER. A police officer uses

a megaphone to remind shoppers outside the Blumentritt market in Sta. Cruz, Manila to follow health protocols. Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso has ordered the lockdown of six more barangays in Manila, starting March 17 to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city. Norman Cruz

Lacson: Probe imported pork ‘tong-pats’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday asked the Senate to investigate alleged anomalies involving billions of pesos in “tong-pats” hounding the importation of pork meat, saying this could kill the local swine industry that is already reeling from the effects of the African swine fever. He claimed that a syndicate operating within the Department of Agriculture stands to gain billions of pesos from the DA’s recommendation to lower tariff rates on imported pork production and increase the minimum access volume to augment local supply. The anomalies, Lacson said, will amount to a triple whammy that threatens to kill the domestic hog industry, raises health concerns and costs the government forgone revenues. “We should unmask who is/are behind this scheme no matter how powerful and influential he may be with this administration,” the senator said. “I want to see even a whiff of enthusiasm from the President to order the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and other concerned agencies to investigate, not to mention heed the call of the Senate to disapprove the DA’s recommendation to reduce the tariff and increase the volume of pork importation. Let’s see,” he added. Lacson said he has already spoken with Senate President Vicente Sotto III on his proposal to start a probe. “COVID capitalism vs. COVID humanitarianism. In theory, the choice is clear. Unscrupulous people have another choice: COVID corruption. On their day of reckoning, they will burn in hell,” Lacso said.

It’s a no: Residents reject Palawan split By Vito Barcelo

HE “no” votes won in the recently concluded Palawan plebiscite, with majority of its residents rejecting the bid split the province into three, the Commission on Elections said Tuesday night. Based on Comelec’s last count of the votes cast in 22 out of the province’s 23 municipalities, the Provincial Board of Canvassers declared that the “no” votes won, with 172,304 votes against the 122,223 “yes” votes. “Its final. The proposed division of Palawan province into three, based on a 2019 law has been rejected,” the poll body said. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez earlier declared the weekend plebiscite a success with the 60 percent turnout of

voters despite the pandemic. “For the most part, people expected this to be a low turnout event. But again, the reality on the ground proved everyone otherwise,” he said. Gov. Jose Alvarez earlier conceded defeat in his push to see Palawan divided into 3 new provinces. The plebiscite sought to ratify Republic Act No. 11259 dividing Palawan into Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Del Sur and Palawan Oriental.

A lot is at stake in the proposed division of the biggest province in the country in terms of land area at nearly 15,000 square kilometers. Proponents of the division say it will shatter the traditional center-periphery development pattern where everything emanates from the capitol in Puerto Princesa. Breaking down the province would mean three provincial governments, each with its own Internal Revenue Allotment, set of leaders, and a seat of government that is more accessible to the municipalities. Those who oppose the division say the reduction claim it will make them more vulnerable to external security threats and exploitation by private firms interested in the area’s vast mineral and other natural resources.

DEFECTIVE.

Tampered weighing scales are crushed using a road compactor at the Baguio City Public Market on March 15, 2021. Dave Leprozo

Gov’t finalizing new concession deal with Manila Water—DOJ By Rey Requejo

A REVIEW committee of the Department of Justice is now finalizing the government’s new concession agreement with Manila Water. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the water concession review committee will meet today (Wednesday) to iron out “minor points” in the proposed

water deal. “We already ironed out remaining major issues (in the proposed concession agreement) during that meeting (severam weeks ago),” Guevarra told reporters. “We would have another meeting this coming Wednesday. So I suppose if there are remaining minor points, these will be ironed out during this meeting this Wednesday,” he added.

Guevarra said he expected the new concession agreement to be ready for signing with Manila Water. “And after that, we will proceed to the discussions with the other concessionaire, Maynilad,” he said. Upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, the DOJ has reviewed the 1997 concession agreements with Manila Water and Maynilad, who won

separate multi-billion peso arbitration cases abroad. The President found the concession agreement with Manila Water and Maynilad grossly disadvantageous to the government, particularly the provision that holds the government liable if it interferes with the implementation of water rates and accountable to indemnify the companies for losses incurred.

TESTING czar Vince Dizon said he underwent isolation due to his exposure to Palace spokesman Harry Roque, who earlier tested positive for COVID-19. Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise confirmed she is on self-quarantine after coming in contact with a person who later on tested positive. Hontiveros said she was exposed on March 5 to a host of a show that tackled Women’s Month issues. The said host tested positive for the disease on March 12. Dizon, who is also president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, said he was last in contact with Roque Friday last week. “But I am absolutely okay,” he told ABS-CBN News. Roque said he has informed all his close contacts of his swab test result, including Dizon, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc who he interacted with Friday morning, and those who went to church with him on Sunday. “There are not that many close contacts. I think the footages will bear me out that I am really strict in wearing a mask and face shield,” the Palace official said. Marcos on a Facebook post said he will undergo quarantine as he was a close contact of Roque. Hontiveros, for her part, said she tested negative on March 12 but will still complete her 14-day quarantine. Several senators have earlier contracted the disease, namely Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, Aquilino Pimentel III, Bong Revilla Jr., and Ronald Dela Rosa. Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago and will have his final test today. Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong on Monday night announced that she tested positive for COVID-19.

SC upholds PH Rome Statute withdrawal By Rey Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday junked two petitions seeking to nullify President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to serve a notice of withdrawal of the country’s membership from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. In a unanimous decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC “dismissed the petitions questioning the unilateral withdrawal for being moot and academic.” “The decision acknowledged that the President, as the primary architect of foreign policy, is subject to the Constitution and existing statute. Therefore, the power of the President to withdraw unilaterally can be limited by the conditions for concurrence by the Senate or when there is an existing law that authorizes the negotiation of a treaty or international agreement or when there is a statute that implements an existing treaty,” the high court said in a statement. “The decision noted that in this case, there were provisions in a prior law, Republic Act No. 9851, which were amended by the Rome Statute,” the SC added. RA 9851 penalizes crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity. The high court said “the Judiciary has enough powers to protect human rights contrary to speculations raised by the petitioners.” In March 2018, Duterte announced the country’s withdrawal from the ICC, citing “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” against him and his administration.

Metro Davao hurdles 2nd reading A MEASURE creating Metropolitan Davao Development Authority was passed on second reading Tuesday. “The creation of a Metropolitan Davao Development Authority, which consists of ten (10) cities and municipalities, is in response to the fast growth and peculiar urbanization of the Davao Region, citing its increasing social and economic demands that require a synchronized and unified development,” said Deputy Speaker and Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab in his sponsorship speech at the plenary. Ungab said House Bill 8930 is guided by the Philippine Medium Term Development Plan as it incorporates the national spatial strategy that seeks to

decongest the National Capital Region and direct the growth to key centers throughout the country This, Ungab said, will ensure that “the benefit of regional agglomeration can have greater potentials of being realized sooner.” Metropolitan Davao is seen as a major international gateway and serves as Mindanao’s premier commercial hub and center for education and health services, Ungab said. “The creation of the Metro Davao Development Authority will definitely bring change to the socio-economic landscape, growth and development of the Davao Region,” he said.

WARNING SIGNS.

Placards calling ln motorists to keep the traffic flowing have been installed all through out the toll plazas of NLEX in Valenzuela City.

Opinion Opinion inion Opinion Opinion

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Secretary State Clinton’s ocieties. The Army commanders. any adversary Given such an rm) cyber attacks Microsoft vare de he rpresided ch dren he rofin earn ng oo sthe improve our empathy and our tive ofdo cybersecurity firm FireEye, has itsand top officials resigning en masse. Meanwhile students are also adjusting to stay. ofese that change isrival, in the of Europeans They here to previously unknown lands and recreate tive the cybersecurity firmcorrect FireEye, has itseducation top officials resigning en masse. vide their children their learning tools. the mass murders inchange Samar during They are here to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s camprocesses and undermine societies. The nect the narrative surrounding Spanish we should put ident Marcos and those who noting that while multiple cyber-espionage a wake-up call not only for banks. This is their own, fi ght against corruption which is downright bad. Ombudsman’s fr eg y and na ona secu y Bu even so we of that is in the education or functio Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s camprocesses and undermine societies. The reach out to their students and enable them to put sian interfer- paign.” that change isserve inshould the education raised alarm bells over the Russian hackers the next colonizer in a each swift transaction Inof any event, this heist serve asover In 2019, the Human Rights Watch reworld geography. marked beginGiven the continuing debate over theenvironment security stability of ent Tom Burt has been quoted as raised alarm bells the Russian hackers In any event, this heist should as the Fil-American war, to name a few, the actors have targeted organizations associshort-sightedness Inover doing our best tofor the also for regulators, government arrival in the Philippines developed as thestay. country’s fate during those years paign.” controversy over spotted thesayRussian interferis in UCPB caper the much-changed demands of schoolwork purpose o IVE hundred years ago, the Philippines was ing to not make equa y system. ecogn zethe heIt un y ng the o eand oagencies Daw may be learn, notwithstanding the great challenges paign.” controversy over the Russian interferaper Microsoft has also state-sponns favor of stay. system. noting that while multiple acall wake-up callfor not for involving 20 million dollars. s. the landing ning of one the most martial law Mabayo’s notes shouldin noting that while cyber-espionage arrival the flotilla and the banks. death its iscould ahspotted wake-up notasof only banks. This isha ofThis ated not withgetthe upcoming election, the ported exsystem. andSan other companies doing essential Jus week weonly earned Omcountry went onthese tomultiple construct their own na-cyber-espionage over the fact that more and Microsoft has also state-sponence inyears, thein 2016 favor of who that “State security forces and Someone govand societies as well at the initial attempt on US Biden’s reach to Aung Suuof Ky n hepowerful coun yempires sas sthe o and yintegrity learnout new by untested methods. sored hackers China and Iran, mp Inin failed cope but weposed should also pick out the lesLessons from Microsoft has also spotted state-sponence the 2016 US elections inelections favortargeting of nations They may have grown up points with technology “discovered” by aagencies Portuguese explorer working for the actors have targeted organizations associalso for Magellan, regulators, government ledlingers. bythis Por-inciDuring the past 500 years, Filipiin history, defined by its maritime force make the storytellers pause, take a deep perts are “most concerned with that of the incumbent president’s corner. And this sensitive services. The incident reminds leader, as well as the eventual budsman Samue Mar res had m ed he actors have targeted organizations associalso for regulators, government agencies tional identities. In the practice of national more of view, of actual accounts sored hackers in China and Iran, targeting SALN then-candidate Donald Trump lingers. In nable Public school are set to reopen on OctoLessons from Mr. Martires’ ious about w and n hackers s des nyof ” China AM “D specifically he nc eas ng y Trump v o en ep ess on individuals involved in both presidential gainst was Trump The teachersparamilitaries themselves are having aofficial’s diflearn, notw sored in and Iran, targeting then-candidate Donald lingers. In nciLessons from ernment-backed continue to and standing companies and institutions aign targeted by sons that will come handy when this crid Magellan this episode will be atedupcoming with the election, upcoming election, the exand other doing essential and but mostly for recreation and socialization and one that wasin to last Russian military time around they are joined by Chinese them double their efforts securing breath widen their horizons. nos from one generation to the next landing ofcompanies the remaining pub c’s access o expedition’s he SSpain. ac set emen of Asse s oOctoKing of To say that a on lot has happened since Pub schoo are seon reopen Oc o- intelligence ated with the exand other companies doing essential and myth making, pewhat transpired during that period unit..which contraletter of authorit ber 5,individuals but and many private learning involved in both presidential fact, remains Trump aying: We campaigns but more intensely against the otold the Novemfrom, even Public school are to reopen s Catholicism, uetoha ASEAN eade s have adhe edinstituby told he m a and y aitun a oissue heaagainst gkey owissue ngTrump c There vagainst ficult timehistorical adjustingevents to the are newthe demands of posed by the individuals involved in both presidential fact, it is remains key recent pronouncement this episode will be Homonhon, harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in poses the greatest threat to the democratand Iranian hackers presumably in Demotheir digital systems and devices. of note can indeed be easily undermined by ussian hackers via phishing attacks four centuries. perts are “most concerned with that of the incumbent corner. And this sensitive services. incident reminds more to theagain eventsninthan meets the Duterte imposed one ofns‘construct’ theu-president’s earliest locklived in fearwisdom of and intimidation by the ship, Victoria, in be Spain under Mageland Lber abpriceless. esbut ofToday governmen off clearning aunderstatement. spr this episode will rused, selected for exclusion or inclusion their haveAnd been comperts are “most concerned with that of the incumbent president’s corner. this sensitive services. The incident reminds ber 5The bu many e vening earn ng sis is be finally over That would be SALN granting have already the have tova use technology to subTrump organization. mocrats and a again campaigns but intensely against the all movemen over thethe run-up the ocampaigns Novemng the about a CO he ptions nc pbut e omore nonintensely n started e more e ence nschool hetheyear. d extent sobed ence Myanma Fotoeye. their work. Sure, they may be teaching from 5, many private instituthen would athey gross against all over in the run-up to NovemtenttopunctuThe teach ic out. process.. as this hacking hasby been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side the After all, activities that seekthis tothem comprobeen “...To the rest of theof world, was Asa But Father Rannie Aquino wrote inJ hisa aclick Russian military intelligence unit..which time around they are joined Chinese them to double their efforts in securing lan’s second-in-command, Juan SebasA memorandum onin Sep 1ready agiven dthe down Master. Their way ofunit..which life depended on VIRTUAL by storytellers, in this casehomes, the states, and ing Their narrative even ifgroup they insist frustrates not corruption, Russian military intelligence time around they are joined by Chinese to double their efforts securing some instances attack and kill political acof a finger Grabe t the campaign’s communications for inspecting Through a mix so-called synchronous experts say Moscow is the adversary erts insisting downs in world. Still, even if it was the ons have a s ar ed he schoo year Trump organization. ber elections, with the Democrats and a d not have hapEverybod priceless. a s o s a es even as human gh s ssues e gn A s Sec e a y Teodo o Locs n the comfort of their but there is defitions have already started the school year. priceless organization. ber elections, with the Democrats andevery a Trump happriceless. stitute the interactions and experiences they ficult time ao responsible for some of the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing mise digital devices, even entire systems, ting, slanted arguably a key milestone in the history column on the martial law years, poses the greatest threat tothey theyour democratand Iranian hackers Demotian Elcano, has engendered inxhe its wake their digital and he hree cond ons nthis whdevices. ch then told and retold—proselytized, realasednon-debatable has beenpresumably what was allowed, even asdoing saw for that worries them the most, given Russia’s poses the greatest threat to the democrate backInindfact, thehe and Iranian hackers presumably inscrutinized Demo- in their digital systems andsystems devices. SALN shall a asynchronous the stuFilipinos mark day inofSALN history still bebe able Through a m so-ca synchronous But experts Moscow is the adversary number of US security experts insisting help. as have c and opped up nMoscow ce amethods—where n say membe s a es d gh h ng n ca ng o he mme nitely nothing comfortable about tivists, environmentalists, community leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown but the fi ght against Through a mix of so-called synchronous But experts say is the adversary number of US security experts insisting t, as tive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from for financial or state gains or just plain their work. REALITY on the story story thereafter, the exchange teller has his or her own “construct” of globalization; aRussia’s ofthe accounts, written or couto dtrove beInre eased If he off c aotherwise, or hthe s hods—where orenic process.. as this hacking group haswere beenhoping challenger Joe Biden’s side given the After all, activities that seek to comprotheir respective peoples. and cratic found Joe wanting. is not the the only record. real world, however, espethemselves the wanton ways in We which dents andbteacher are present at the same icly—to process.. as this hacking group been cratic challenger Biden’s side given After all, activities that seek to comproensure that we can look atand ment. Stud work in the same manner forhas many years, Bu eg ona octhewh e open y all nmost, avo dhisasimethee lengthy ease he Russian de a ned gove nmen that worries them the given thato track the hackers back inhe the have been and asynchronous me he s u- Itwe that worries them most, given Russia’s that hackers are back inare the simtime.” the Trump administration. moments have become such luand asynchronous methods—where the stuToday, live in ers, and journalists.” the comfort s of our failed to contain the pandemic. of“gotcha” cultures, ideas, and technology was digital ofRussian that period in ourHultquist, history. Forty eight corruption. each changing with every narrative. her represen a ve reques s f a cour “...One such example of this is the An expert, John senior execuresponsible for some of the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing mise digital devices, even entire systems, story to tell. As some noted writers and cially as the public schools open in a few has had the time to time, and where they perform other tasks on the colonizers ruled. Aspirations of responsible for some of the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing mise devices, even entire systems, educators w tire five-century colonial experience, even decades, and then having to shift to an o non n e e ence a so wo ks h ough wha eade Aung San Suu Ky and he comp e e lengthy track record. ng the internal In he rea wor d however and espeden s and eacher are presen a a he same If these latest hacking attempts on othIn the case of the Russian operations for crative, even highly sought and developed lengthy track record. rnal In the real world, however, and espedents and teacher present all at the same n to of Antonio years spurred to unprecedented heights. for financial nitely nothi after, those who have harangued Such is ease the nature of the beast, asthese weplain orders s re nstate re are agains on odays a starkly pend ng tive of the ous cybersecurity firm FireEye, has marked difference incyber the of retelling of the academics have been saying lately, the Duterte has vowed to continue his “war tive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from for financial or or just weeks, the situation could be difTen before Duterte imposed the lockhow blatantly it go their own, respectively—educators are trymuch different but still tive and aggressive operations of all two countries have been getting from or state gains or just plain self-determination were quashed, leadparents wil altogether new way teaching. has been ca ed he “ASEAN Way ” wh ch e u n o he p ev y ex s ng s a e o a not only under the Spaniards, with a An expert, John Hultquist, senior execuwhich has seen erwise secure organizations in USopen soil a y asschools he pub c schoo s open n a few re-election, reports coming outtasks undertakings in the past fewsenior years. Hack- Trump’s methe and where hey perform o her asks on expert, John Hultquist, execuseen cially asadministration. the cpublic in a of few acio brothers and time, and where they perform other on “...Not surprisingly, an eventual disconthrown tons of garbage then Presalarm bells over the at Russian hackers An work the used toofsay, that accounts of events or inciTONY LOPEZ case or a Children reques sdown made hrough he story Ferdinand An-their law years were not as dark andelectorut- on time.” ferent. may not have adequate the2020, Trump “gotcha” moments have become such lu-martial for transparency. Uc ing make do with available technology to time.” the Trump administration. “gotcha” moments have become such luport in their ing up ytoMagellan’s revolutions and wars.tools They could drugs” will be death. “aswith relentless and stive oers o to each consensus onthe con en ous a s n raised ha coun yThey commanders on March 15, there were only sober lens. We deny that tive of the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has involve the most hotly contested not just of the security establishment buty—educa ofthe are just around corner and masse. are here toArmy weeks he sesthey ua on cou ddifbe swhich ark dhave f- trouble challenging times. hed rcannot own respec ve ors are ryofyinreach the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has amar during They are here to weeks, the situation could be starkly nect thelurking narrative surrounding Spanish ident Marcos and those who presided noting that while multiple cyber-espionage their own, respectively—educators are trydents, whether personal or historical rests Ombudsman’s f e nves ga on off ce come from prosperous fam o beg n tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even decade terly useless as these guys are saying or functioning equipment. The home time to perfect his If connectivity, these latest hacking attempts on othIn case of the Russian operations for out to their students andcrative, enable them to crative, even highly sought and developed for this, so If these latest hacking attempts on othIn the case of the Russian operations for even highly sought and developed and with or they could also Strangely, in the period when we ssues away om he me gh The m a y un a aunched a coup on al race in the planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military hacking operations can be activated in no foreigners brought us many things to raised alarm bells over the Russian hackers hould serve as chilling onerwise the day it events began.” Hein wants In 2019 the over Human Rights Watch referen Chnot dren have adequa e the raised alarm bells the Russian hackers e as TWO confirmed cases. At this the ng opast make do w h ava e to echno ogy o writing, me a few, the over actors have targeted organizations associarrival in the notwithstanding Philippines developed as each thestay. country’s fate during those years ferent. Children may adequate heavily on the story teller. Inorganizations the case of he purpose of a ideal fac -fplace nd ng probe w hwant or may otoher bus ness nitmay eres sno ing tohave make do with available technology afind detailed journal of thetheir everybody believe. Like in may not be an to focus and ab towould altogether ing lifestyle chen learn, the great secure organizations US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the few years. HackIn findin it difficult to be effective at jobsof erwise secure organizations in ofUS soil Trump’s re-election, thehave reports coming outhave undertakings in the past few years. HackBu wha abou he a while ge have commun ychallenges o for yated 1 c with a m ng wupcoming desp ead election, aud n hethe exmost sophisticated methods available, iskept hackers targeted 200 US time at all. Indeed, become part stay. did enjoy freedom, we floundered, noting thatthey multiple cyber-espionage improve ourselves and advance our This noting that while multiple cyber-espionage death its uaiscould isbanks. is ofFeb or func on ng equ pmen The home I country went on to construct their own nareach ou o he r s uden s and enab e hem o not getthe over the fact that more and ported the Magellan expedition and subsequent or sources of ncome If a hese are nd Someone who reques s a copy of an death penalty, banned under the Constituthat “State security forces and govvoyage, wrote of how Magellan was beor functioning equipment. The home all distress and conflict situations as the Philippines is the pandemic epicenter in the reach out to their students and enable them to learn new things. Parents could be anx“Wealth does posed by these untested methods. IN A previous column I talked about PresiThey cou involve the most hotly contested electornot just of the security establishment but of ers are lurking just around the corner and member thn using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. involve the most hotly contested electornot just of the security establishment but of ers are lurking just around the corner and na ons? Novembe e ec on ha saw Suu Ky and he not quite knowing what to do. Filipino actors have targeted organizations associnment agencies way ofSALN life,where butanthese did not come pertspoints are “most concerned that of the er. this more the And eventual actors have targeted organizations associ-aoff cies tionalWhat identities. In these the practice of national of view, of actualwith accounts may no be an dea p ace o focus and o events thereafter article written by earn no w hs and ng he grea cha enges c a ’s mus presen a no ar zed ca ed n he SALN—assum ng we can s sieged by natives in Cebu while attemptcountry was at that time, there were misso ious about the next meal may come may not be an ideal place to focus and to he said before law The teachers themselves are having diflearn, notwithstanding the great challenges al race in the planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military hacking operations can be activated in no and commu be done anywhere at any time and against and with c and even the main Democratic fundraising makes activities dangerous tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to tion. 11-nation a total 265,888 cas-colonization Thewith cha ethe o upcoming hewith Un the edDuterte’s Na ons con aelection, nsex-operations po and ca Russian pa y hemilitary Na onaintelligence League o De al race in leaders the planet, usingamong as they doPresthe Microsoftwith itself is the thatof Russian hacking can be activated in no ASEAN Still, accounts ofmilitary our dent Rodrigo achievements. Now, fought themselves and ated upcoming the exgdsand essential free. The lessons abound. by Chinese cluded in the Otherwise the remaining election, the myth making, historical events are pewhat transpired during that period unit..which contra- ated Raisa Mabayo, Third Secretary etime er of au hor yifour from he owner of he have access oadversary. hem— hen we can very earn new hsuch ngs Paren sshortlist coumost d besophisticated anxing to help Rajah Humabon, a methods recently and lowhave points but there were high posed by hese un es ed metakes hods from, even they did not have toand worry Tuesday. In fact, ficult time adjusting to the new demands of learn new things. Parents could be anxany perceived Given an platform) for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice is when these are done in such a brazen posed by these untested methods. improve o available, it is hackers targeted 200 US organizations at all. Indeed, they have become part fo Meanwhile, students are also adjusting to find it diffi h s p ov s on moc acy NLD w n by an ove whe m ng most sophisticated methods available, it is hackers have targeted 200 US organizations time at all. Indeed, they have become part highlight more unpleasant experiences could not agree on how best to govern TO THE drug crimes. harass threaten arbitrarily arrest and ingran poses theof greatest threat toAnd the democratbly Demoperts are “mostwith concerned that of the a ng es. It quoted is 21 the world. The Philippines incumbent corner. this cident reminds terte imposed one thepresident’s earliest lockFilipino Catholics will noNo. doubt say der inMagelhere areafor his failures: rused, selected exclusion or inclusion vening their ‘construct’ have been com- And perts “most concerned that of with the SALN incumbent president’s corner. this inds Vice-Consul inBurt charge of Cultural DiploheThe reques No reques sinpoints we apprec adparties, ef-some con ex ident cannot legally appoint you asothers memCatholicized local ruler convert and celebratory ones as well. ous abou where he nex mea may come about COVID-19 infection. lifestyle eachers hemse ves ng aabout work. Sure, they be teaching environment, the security and stability of has been as sayandare wayward manner as what happened short-sighte ious where the next meal may come the much-changed demands ofaschoolwork. The Tom teachers themselves are having aare difnot farfetched to the think that theerning same canthe ch (political think tanks, consultants ofpresident everyday life. “No htheir ng con ned ncase hethe pmay esen Cha e to from mathe o ing yicBu hearound mas a ythey uneven aare oifgroup ejoined ed insist no by using on not farfetched to think that same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. c process.. this hacking has been side athav the hands of the foreigner. The abuses on their own. Russian military intelligence unit..which time Chinese ts in ingiven securing Juan Sebasthat religion was the single best thing by storytellers, in this states, and out. Their narrative they Russian military intelligence unit..which time around they are joined by Chinese ring But the people love the President for some instances attack and kill political acmacy inthethe Philippine Embassy in MaL fes y e checks however are here for for nspec ng or ak ng pho os of he dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely srofile the world Still even if it was the to Catholicism and loyalty to Spain. MaBut that would be another story. Back Everybody is trying his or her best to 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression nations and societies as well as the integrity intends to ask ing that initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking systhe comfort of their homes, but there is defifrom even f of hey dtoddone noThey have oTrustees worry ber the Board of of PhilHealth fthese cu dangerous me ad usnew ngand o even he new demands of cope, butCow may have grown up with technology, from, even if they did not have worry be done anywhere at any time and against and even the main Democratic fundraising What makes activities dangerous POINT sha au ho ze he Un ed Na ons o n e ficult time adjusting to the demands of ev dence o such aud and vowed ns ead o be anywhere at any time and against the main Democratic fundraising What makes these activities responsible for some of the most provocabashing tion. of the Spanish friars, then the face of reToday, we live in much different but poses the greatest threat to the democratand Iranian hackers inposes Demod in its wake vices. then told and retold—proselytized, realthat came out of our colonization. The as non-debatable has beenpresumably scrutinized drid provides an interesting insight and a the greatest threat to the democratand Iranian hackers presumably in Demoa reason “L v ng beyond one’s means” s SALN sha be a owed gellan believed that of2019, force Mabayo’s notes on the quincentennial and standing of companies institutions was “...specifically targeted by to tem. Or, companies providing still Philipbe ableSure, to learn this newteaching environHe takes issueew nitely nothing about doing your the “drugs war.” Indisplay May top environmentalists community leadabou aand COVID-19 nfec on sons 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. d’s longest and strictest lockdown but mostly for his recreation and socialization. he rdone work Sure hey may be each nghere, from vene nthe ma s process.. whsecond chcomfortable apeoples. easessen ahacking yisessential wwhen h group n2020, ho d new e cratic ec ons w h n the a yea any perceived adversary. Given such anthat platform) cyber attacks. Microsoft vice iscampaign when these in such aplatform) brazen Ineto the quarter of the about afor COVID-19 infection. much more as president and CEO tive and aggressive cyber operations oftivists allly—to neek getting from their work. they may be from any perceived adversary. Given such antwo for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice these are done inare such a inwe brazen Meanwhi ligion were well documented. The still challenging times. We are no longer or otherwise, ic this has been challenger Biden’s side given to comprotheir respective and found wanting. ItJoe is not the the only Spaniards brought Catholicism here; itcelebrations fresh perspective on will how should view We were hop ng ha Ombudsman Mar res no a fanc fu erm bu a s a emen of fac ic process.. as this hacking group has been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side given prowould be enough to accomplish those as posted in The Diplomat: of note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks goods and services such as those in food ment. Students learn their lessons, yond one’s mean work in the same manner for many years, sis isoffinall Today they have use technology to subsor allies ry ng hmade s answer or environment, her otothe hetheir comfor oftohappened he rSecretary homes bu here shas def - Burt he domes c such u sdexample c on ” ofor any s a eis o the sha time.” the security and stability president Tom has been quoted as sayand wayward manner as what todefiEverybody isEverybody trying his her best to itthebes handily into thecountry, Senate and journalists environment, security and stability president Tom Burt been quoted as saywayward manner as what happened the comfort homes, but there is Finance Carlos Dominguez says dentire to contain the pandemic Thus the toby question the much-ch pine economy slumped to its lowest ever in rrative. political leaders from looked upon another atelecleast “...One ofsome this responsible of the most provocasanctions and writers high profile bashing systems, story to tell. and Asimposed some noted and ers and even teach history in our and EMIL has had he me oof reflearn ec on h teach sschools dec sbetter, on and ha says expenses exceed one’s nremained vibrant and intact when they a“...On click ofMarch a one’s finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or and inof then power andand utilities tasks. Thatcolonized fateful decision and his mis- ofof responsible for some the most provocasanctions imposed high profile bashing ms, 16, 2021, weSpain will comeducators will to and may only have (U “d even decades, having to shift to an priceless. stitute theenv interactions and experiences theyintegrity If these latest hacking attempts on othoperations for equ e he Membe s o subm such ma e s s be ab e o earn n h s new ronn e y no h ng comfor ab e abou do ng your nations and societies as well as the ing that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking sysnations and societies as well as the integrity ing that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking sysstill be able to learn in this new environnitely nothing comfortable about doing your beast, as we They may h the and islands asher a source of whether spices and other marked difference incyber thehistory retelling of the academics have been saying lately, the tions which solidified Duterte’s power Duterte has vowed to continue his “war nominally. We have a purely Filipitive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from or just plain “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the younger generations. In this Mabayo nslain days before Duterte imposed the lockor not the appointment of Gierran how b a an y goes aga ns he avowed f gh come a o revenue aken oge her calculation of enemy forces, led by Lapu memorate the 500th anniversary of the left and has remained that way to the tive and aggressive operations of all these two countries have been getting from the country’s -a 16.5-percent conparents will learn how best they can supties.” This, he say altogether new way of teaching. erwise secure organizations in US soil ts coming out o se emen unde he p esen Cha e bu men S uden s w earn he r essons o and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem. Or, to companies providing essential work n he same manner for many years and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem. Or, to companies providing essential ment. Students will learn their lessons, JURADO work in the same manner for many years, vents or incistory of Ferdinand Magellan’s death. Anmartial law years were not as dark and utThis is an urgent resources, a place of savages who must but mostly time.” the Trump administration. piece, the oft-repeated note—history is come such luno set of leaders, our own system of for ransparency Unfor una e y he has used h s Spec f ca y f a governmen off c a s ab e Lapu, resulted in Magellan’s death. of Europeans in theaccordPhilippines. the administration. lupresent day.of The estimated Philippines remains port top their children. Nothing prepared usarrival agree have trouble their base. Longtime aide, Christopher Go,Weand on will be “as relentless and iswteach legal onnote whether his name was 1.3 to 3.5 million infections on March 2020 there were onlyelectorinvolve the most hotly contested shment but Trump of 15 traction in production. On htime.” s drugs” p nc pThey e which shacould no economic p e ud ce hewith app ca andtools of can indeed easily by that the Russian via attacks goods and services asfood those in food educa orsattacks ofor each be er and ofdepends note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian via phishing goods services such those inaga even decades and hen hav sh omeans anhackers storical rests educators will tophishing better, and tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even decades, andsuch then having to useless asRussian these are saying they written by the victors—which has been be educated, and alearn stomping me ofor perfec h sas argumen ns hoshift doan ve af BMW on ow mon hground yearn amorIf connectivity, these latest hacking attempts on othIn case ofguys the Russian operations for and developed Today government, our own set ofundermined rules. We He was struck in the face by abeMactan Ittong is adrohackers day that different things to this, so complaining will nothe help. Ifo these latest hacking attempts on othIn theterly case ofinthe operations for ped sarily equatethey toH and with or they could also significantly Catholic, with estimates al race the planet, using as they do chilling the sian military moral challenge for the in that shortlist for the Board of Trustees on en o cemen measu es ” Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela on the day it began ” He wants ing to researchers from our universities. The Onackconfirmed cases At this writing the a click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or in power and utilities the 0.7-percent contraction in the first quara click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or in power and utilities paren s w earn how bes hey can supthe case of Army commanders. a oge her new way of each ng kept a detailed journal of the events of the would want everybody to believe. Like in parents will learn how best they can supde rigueur for most people, gets a better altogether new way of teaching. ng of fes y e checks for governmen off c a s za on—we wonder where ha ex s s—or warrior using a local scimitar. After, the their licentious ways. Any attempts to erwise secure organizations in US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out different countries and their peoples. w years. Hackhave elections during which weshould choose stitute In finding stride, ittois86 best to renot the takecin find it adifficult to an beexcep effective at secure organizations inonUS soil jobs Trump’s most re-election, the reports coming out it erwise sophisticated methods available, isBu he organizations ranging from 82ourpercent percent UN so makes o their he InoHAVE requested toassert repeat reaIt’s pretty basic In 2019, the Rights Watch re-Spanish ds,and subsequent Rosa, initially spearheaded theWe “drug death penalty banned under the Constitupor hehealth rlater, ch dren No hwho ng prepared us voyage, wrote of how Magellan was electorbedistress conflict situations as lockdown enabled us reinforce our ppines is the pandemic epicenter in the They cou have roub w h to he rautonomy oo sHuman international than even counterpoint as farodas historical “Wea hpopulation does rans atrouble ebeen corrup on ” etools buys mu ptheir emy houses on aNothing m ed sa ary port children. prepared us ships retreated 2020, the 16.5 -percent growth drop “...To the Philippines, that first conThey could have with their involve the most hotly contested electornot justand ofcommunity. the security butaster of the corner andall and, independmember that one crisis affects families the people tofrom steerCebu. our government units. know that n m using the only available medium ofnGDP instrucnot farfetched to think thatestablishment thebut same consultants involve the most hotly contested not just of the security establishment ofthe can of the professing the Cathos ead u e on non n e e ence n he ported that “State and over govwritten by sieged bymost natives inin Cebu while attemptthat time, were sons for belief the appointment of for hy sforces so comp awar,” nhelp. ng no he p *learned * * haence, has no sa gn fsecurity can ncreased he w he sa and dand before awmakers ahmy aconnec budge hear ngor up and wsystem vbuild ythat hey cou dthis, so for so complaining will not al race the planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself isthere that Russian military activated in nocountry communities differently. This should were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa be donewas anywhere at any time andmisagainst with connectivity, or they could also fundraising tion for crimes to be reimposed for were met with harsh punishment, tion. We have so much about what to and our capacity to do widetion ASEAN with a total of 265 888 casal race in the planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself isatthat Russian military nic no means the country is now in recession with lic faith. Our customs and traditions e ing na to a ahelp s oRajah s a esHumabon, when comes o he ernment-backed paramilitaries ecretary and a methods recently takes and lowhave points butorganizations there were high facformer sa dbe ha he correct govyears serves redcontinue f In ag a was po Inas fastride, nd ng stoearlier rnde-named sdobes o reanyhackers adversary. Given Microsoft vice fhend dNational ffeffective cu oawbe effec ve a hen he obs improve our empathy and sophisticated it In targeted 200 USsuch organizations ve part of Investigation Inr ha finding our itour is best to re-column students also adjusting to including violence. find itislargely difficult to atBureau their jobs an I suggested that theday cluded and what not do,THE and every we in the most sophisticated methods available, it available, is Tuesday hackers have targeted 200 US part remain influenced—no, deterto head thetoTO Senate committee drug spread testing inourour communities. From just pan oCatholicized ec crimes on Meanwhile, o cmost vlocal ans n wadrop s are ua ons is become No 21 inpoints the perceived world The Philippines harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and inArmy first semester in economic output of 9 Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockltural DiploArmy commanders. p commanders. ruler convert others and celebratory ones as well. ident cannot ern ng fes y e checks s og ca and ha he er on where o ook more c ose y environment, the security and stability of quoted as sayNow, the lockdowns will make half of short-sightedness. In doing our best to member ha one cr s s affec s fam es the much-changed demands of schoolwork. us ng he on y ava ab e med um of ns rucnot farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants member that one crisis affects families And in the end, we were turned over to using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants are still learning. chief Dante Gierran as president and chief mined—by this religion. President should create a “jobs policy” in VIRTUAL Such was hepeople case o the nstoance n MaSy a n ends Meannations meyesterday he peop ebeand oanother Myanma aBack e instances attack and killconpolitical ac- In 2019, downs in the world. Still, even 1,282 if it wasactual the some charged with investigating police matters But the love the President for ber reof the B bassy inBiden’s Maaround PCR tests per day dged Germany is barely Inshou 2019, the Human Rights Watch to Catholicism and loyalty Spain. But that would story. the Human Rights Watch rePOINT percent. It is worst recession in our hisand societies as well as the integrity o ask Congress o amend How d ff cu s h s concep o grasp? mpt on the people poor. cope, but we should also pick out the lesThey may have grown up with technology, and commun es d fferen y Th s d be done anywhere at any time and against and even the main Democratic fundraising ities dangerous on communities differently. Thisofshould be done anywhere at any andnagainst and even the mainee Democratic fundraising rous tion. longest tivists,and environmentalists, community leade hebelieved Secu ythat Counc d time scussed 2011 vo aby ng to wand h standing he and ma ng he whe world’s strictest, the lockdown officer of PhilHealth isaghas illegalo hear wake sothat many jobless people asof aforces reinsight and gellan display of2019 force Mabayo’s on thech quincentennial ported that “State security gov-more a ported “State security forces and govof companies andoninstitutions y0such targeted Weof are hathe hese words akes ssueexecutive wand h he phrase vthe ng beand “drug war.” the war InREALITY May top Remittances—a mainstay the andmuch sons will come handy when this cri-week ducted last March, capacity cases below No 20 notes Italy 288 761 but mostly for” his recreation socialization. any perceived adversary. such anthat tory. platform) for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice aplatform) mprove ourand empa hythe and correc our anya “drugs perceived such antwoHe Meanwh e in s“also uden s are a ers, so us ng oourour cyber attacks. vice azen improve empathy correct our and journalists.” Meanwhile, students are adjusting to ad failed to contain the pandemic. eso uenough on adversary. demand ng Given ha and Sy those an auGiven sbrazen ee s celebrations ooffor Yangon o he cMicrosoft es demand Thus, EMIL shouldattacks view be to accomplish as posted The Diplomat: note canand indeed bein easily undermined abydwould shing Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 ernment-backed paramilitaries to the ernment-backed paramilitaries to continue ofoff the pandemic be ng has u vowed eredshor by very c4.aCOVID-19 yond one’s and That ns s swisdom ha a person economy because iscontinue the one that sis is finally over. would be are Today they to use to subenvironment, the stability ofmeans” president Tom Burt quoted as sayhat Failure contain communist inallies itthe into Senate elecenvironment, the security and stability ofeconomy president Tom Burt has been quoted as sayDuterte to continue his “war dschools tohappened -she ghsult edness In do ngto our to bes o thatthe nance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says he much-changed demands of schoo work Ten days before Duterte imposedofthe lockwhether or n short-sightedness. In doing our best esmade mmed ahandily ehave ydecision cease v technology osecurity athe ons oand the much-changed demands schoolwork. ng anto mmed aMarch ea end o Grabe. m ahas y ubeen e and For whole of 2020, the is exand a“...On click of finger mmunications That fateful and his mis16, 2021, we will com- hotasks. in the first quarter of 2020, by 16.5 perharass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in may on y have “d s or ed va ues and pr or whose ob s o champ on ransparency harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockDuterte imposed one of the earliest lockJURADO fuels consumption—fell by 4.2 perTONY LOPEZ priceless. (Universal Healthcare upon the recstitute the interactions and experiences theyintegrity Department andseparatist Employ-moveand societies asintegrity wellc as the that theand initial attempt Biden’s he sys-theoing onhdrugs” which will be “as relentless is legal depe down onmay March 15,grown 2020,have there were only nations ands nations societies as as the ingeedom that initial failed attempt syscope bu weThe shou9and dperathe so plesck ou of he Labor eshuman gh and he use owell oby ce10 aga ns They may grown up Act) wand echno ogy Suu Ky oanniversary hefailed eonecBiden’s edof c theon cope, but we also pick out have up with technology, Muslim tions which solidified Duterte’s power decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an thisbanking Mabayo calculation of enemy forces, led by Lapu memorate the 500th pected tostanding decline percent. BizNewsAsia cent in theinthe second quarter, and VIRTUAL es ”They Th sconfirmed heVIRTUAL says s none of this our bus ness accoun ab yshould nbegan.” governmen We instances attack and kill ac- short instances attack and kill political ac- political cent insome thethe first half. That 4.2 percent downs the world. even ifsurgency itsome was the and downs inchilling the world. Still, even ifStill, it ment was the in that on day itcome Heby wants TWO cases. At writing, the ommendation of the Board Trustees of Philand of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by viding essential will deny this for sure but a survey and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by ntial v ans The d a eso u on was no adop ed v an eade s sons ha w come handy when h s cr bu mos y for recrea on and soc a za on sons that will handy when this cribut mostly for recreation and socialization. —history Lapu,estimates resulted inthe Magellan’s death. Gofor arrival of Europeans in theaccordPhilippines. base Without a vaccine cent in the first half. We are having the We agree ha wea hREALITY doesepicenter no necesare much alongest armed over MrConstituMar res’ IisHAVE ment Longtime aide Christopher and tivists, environmentalists, community leadtivists, environmentalists, community leadequivalent to losing $1.4 billion of It’s 1the 3 isto 3 5 million infections world’s longest and strictest, the lockdown world’s and strictest, the lockdown been requested to repeat my reapretty ba GDP contraction the whole death penalty, banned under the REALITY Philippines is the pandemic in the IN A previous column I talked about Presiof note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks sated those in food of note can indeed be easily undermined by Russian hackers via phishing attacks ood ngwas o he negainvethe voface e o by woa pe manen sar yToday SoonItaisea day he m y un different a g abbedthings s a e to owHe President shall the agens spandemic. fThat nashowed ywisdom Tha wsons sdom wou d be thatand almost half of the theappointment country sof Today hey have o failed use ogy otohsubsis is finally would be ch has been have tothe use technology toechno substruck Mactan that ameans worst recession insover. our history. equa they eASEAN oHealth corrup Mar res sappoint or nk ng Because ’sover our for axes for myand belief that your dollar income. ers, journalists.” ers, journalists.” the pandemic. failed contain the tion fored most crimes, to be reimposed 11-nation with aon totalMr of 265,888 cas-todcontain The killings of political activists and alDavao’s former police chief Ronaldo dela dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, oer researchers from our universities The a click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications and utilities could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a a click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications ities membe s o he Counc powe Locs n ssued a s a emen e e a ng Army commanders. gets a better different countries and their peoples. pr ess athe sFin the uppresident enos hefor nThe erac ons and days exper ences hey warrior using a local scimitar. After, the priceless. for use, the cy’s and CEO from the Board’s the interactions and experiences they About 75 percent of the economy was adult force of 60 are jobless former National Bureau ofa eInvestigation shou dItno ake sgeneral mp e ons and our we -be ngthat hace are simposed ake labor here Rights reported “police and military ho es million mus nocu 260 000 F his p nos In an earl Isau there hope in that bleak scenario? has vowed to continue his “war Duterte has vowed to continue “war drug crimes. Ten before Duterte imposed lockTen days before Duterte theDuterte lockes.stitute is No. 21 world. Philippines hereep areesen hisinitially 2019, themembe Human Rights re-Spanish The aretreated ves o trillion he Russ an athemonth he po cy“...To o to hereinforce 10 Assoc a Watch on leged NPA leaders have failed to dentppthe who spearheaded “drug own enabled usIn our health as historical loss offailures: P1.5 forFede each lockships from Cebu. TONY LOPEZ the Philippines, that first con- Rosa TONY LOPEZ chief Dante Gierran president chief President down. Household consumption, We knowof ha many governmen off cbarely a s onsshut personnel killed nine activists andBanana arresteve yyes. day Asbe oas Ma ch be 9 and he Ph nesand sh very much our bus ness Well, Lift the lockdowns which But the people love the President for non-ex-officio members on drugs” which will “as relentless and on drugs” which will “as relentless dislodged Germany yesterday and is Santa they are the new poor! down March 15, 2020, there were only down on March 15, 2020, there were only 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression portedAsthat security and on and Ch naelected opposed to he the eso uSenate on as hey Sou up heas an “State Na ons o govofficer of illegal. could rage providing three-fourths of GDP, by 52-year old communist Muslim war ” down. were Dela Rosa edTWO six others during raids onThe March 7 in executive m and obuild our capacity to ASEAN doforces widehad nocu a on ed us insurgency. 44 abegan.” e athe week awake of have proved senseless and produced the “drugs war.” In this May 2019, two top 23,000 below No.recession 20, Italy, that 288,761. Thisnclockdown – thehe longest andcases severchilling on the day it PhilHealth began.” He wants chilling the day000 itisAct He othe wants TWO President confirmed cases. At writing, thefell confirmed cases. At this writing, the This means cannot apnewest of the “new are some v othe a essecond he p quarter p e oof 2020, espec theo Philipnon n e ernment-backed e ence n he n paramilitaries e na a a s ocontinue he satod In Under Section 1The ofpoor” Republic 11223 sult ofMARC thebee C cluded inSecretary the shortlist. Otherwise, thethe Pres- allies 15.5 percent in the Q2 for aSenate 7.8-percent made it handily into the electhe southern Luzon provinces of Laguna, a e o 6 285 abs pe day The US does 1 5 opposite effect. lockdowns were Finance Carlos Dominguez says I HAVE AS pine economy slumped to its lowest ever in death penalty, banned under the Constituterrorists are on the warpath marked by a was named to head the Senate committee death penalty, banned under the ConstituPhilippines is the pandemic epicenter in the Philippines is pandemic epicenter in the d testing in our communities From just IN previous I point talked about Presiarrest, inArmy IN Acolumn previous column I talked about Presiinthe the has for months. he earliest lock- sharass, (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the reconaest sove eArmy gnlockdowns yworld and e –will oTO a THE nrun egAhalf y ofseven membe a es buthreaten, w h a arbitrarily qua ca on ha and na The Depa commanders. Gierran unless he istions a member of the commanders. ident cannot legally appoint you as a mem119south 000 to 140 000 retrenched teachers well into 2021. Now, make decline in H1 2020, according to MaPRESIDENT Duterte has extended which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an Batangas, Cavite, and Rizal, of the m on vacc na ons da y and w ach eve ON OCTOBER 5, 2020, Pulse Asia resupposed to save 4,000 people from sons for my dark days the country’s history -a 16.5-percent contion phenomenon—suicide for crimes, toBoard be reimposed tion forof most crimes, to beoffor reimposed 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 11-nation ASEAN with a totalcasof 265,888 cas-most attack and killo political acdent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, ven 1 if 282 it was the dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, base. ommendation the Trustees Phil- The mentforwill B deo new bombers. with police matters ber of the Board of Trustees PhilHealth, o he an Athe ab Repub cRights and heWatch peconomic nc whaactual he sasome d PCR “ sinstances no atests b anke app ova ac charged nd per day conIninvestigating 2019, the Human Rights Watch reInSy 2019, Human reThis half ofPOINT the production the people poor. nila-based Asian Development Bank. the state of calamity for oneofyear until Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and and staff out of the more than 700 private estimated 1.3 to 3.5 of million infections accordcapital, Manila.” The police claimed the he d mmun y by ea y May 2021 leased the results its Sept.14-20, 2020 dying, people who would die anyway, former Nat traction inmeans economic production. On top of 21, they w drug crimes. tivists, environmentalists, community leaddrug crimes. es. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines t, the lockdown Health, the President shall appoint the agenes. It is No. 21 in the world. The PNP Philippines showed that here are failures: much more as Please president and That CEO.is up to Davao’s here his failures: th p eported othe non n e“State venby on udThat ng a yof n his consen o wofong o be done e” ported that security forces and govthat security forces and govhas its budget, and the “drug war ”nc“State former police chief, to Ronaldo dela Remittances—a mainstay the Unemployment more than tripled, Sept, 21, 2021. note: ingare to researchers from universities. The dc. in the last week March ourhecapacity contraction in m the first quarDante were meant arrest alleged A But 6remain 285 doses dfrom spensed pe day chief he for survey indicating that our amid thequestion pandemlockdown or noanti-insurgency lockdown, is0.7-percent gone now. cannot be recovered portraying which will closed These ers, and journalists.” cy’s president and CEO thebecause Board’s thetripled people love the President forPresident adult labor fM the people love the dislodged Germany yesterday and isschools barely Thus, thein answer to the of operations dislodged Germany yesterday and is But barely 1.one The Philippines’ greatest depression 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression EMIL an a2020, a sthe H s subsequen s a emen ca ng o Suu Syernment-backed ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to paramilitaries continue to th Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health economy because that is the that from 5.1 percent in April 2019 to 17.7 eight months just before the May 2022 • The Judicial Development Fund, the basis ter 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop most of had fatal discommunist New People’s rebels. The ppthem nes walready each heofMay dtwo mmun nexecutive 30But ic, in91 percent ofthe Filipinos approved of cases cluded inArmy the shortlist. Otherwise, the Prescluded in the shortlist. Otherwise, the Presdidof a288,761. worrying sign. to ycontain the communist non-ex-officio members. Duterte vowed toconsp continue his “war 4 Failure Santa has grown to23,000 about 32,000 average daily tests mposed the whether orofnot appointment of Gierran the “drugs war.” In May 2019, top four months. below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. the “drugs war.” In 2019, topBanan schools have lostPhincome because lack ofy two 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, In the second quarter 2020, thecapacity PhilipInand the second quarter of 2020, the Philipeca co ec arbitrarily bonow h he UN Gene awith Kylocks e ease dDuterte e has s one om he cuous inimposed the first quarter of 2020, bythe 16.5 perTO THE war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa TO THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, in harass, threaten, arrest, and in system and build up our to do wideimposed one of earliest lockDuterte of the earliest lockJURADO fuels consumption—fell by 4.2 perpercent in April 2020 “when lockdowns presidential elections when we choose of the financial benefits of the judiciary; means the country is in recession Under Se eases other than COVID. But several police had search warrants. yea s— ong a e Du e e s gone as p es President Duterte’s performance; only ident cannot legally appoint you as a memident cannot legally appoint you as a memthat men do This means that the President cannot apThe newe on drugs” which will be “as relentless and is legal depends on whether his name was there were only and appa en wa and see a ude o The are allies made allies it handily into the Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says most it handily intothe themilitary Senate elec5. Coddling ofmade the police and and the Muslim separatist moveSecretary Carlos Dominguez says pine economy slumped to slumped itsour lowest inreasons this (August).” pine economy toever its lowest ever in was Assemb ythe and he Secu y kill Counc have sdowns ence Finance Carlos Dominguez named to the Senate committee cent in on theinthe second quarter, 9surgency perTUAL spread testing in From just instances attack and kill acinstances attack and political ac-9political insome the first half. That 4.2 percent firstcent semester drop inSecretary economic output of downs theday world. even if itsome was the world. Still, even ifStill, it and was the were widespread and at their successor. •Finance The Amusement and Gaming Gierran he is a member the 119,000 toPH thousands more people are dying orofwill ber ofof the Board of Trustees ofden PhilHealth, ber ofPhilippine thehead Board Trustees of PhilHealth, The killings happened aenrollees day after Pres- point and punless obab yDuterte’s ong a e power COV D 19(Universal has 5Duterte’s percent disapproved. More than nine interred wit in that shortlist forcommunities. the Board of Trustees. it began.” Heby wants his writing, the inchilling POINT POINT tions which solidified “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the country’s history -a 16.5-percent cona eady app oved eso u ons ca ng o e oworld’s he ASEAN membe coun es w h he the country’s history -a 16.5-percent concharged with investigating police matters Without a vaccine cent in the first half. We are having the around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conDuterte has employed more generals, ment percent. It tivists, is been thethat worst recession inbillion our histivists, environmentalists, community leadenvironmentalists, community leadAdds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, equivalent to losing of much strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by year of state of calamity Corporation, which provides an additional The group representing these teachers andlongest strictest, thestrictest, lockdown world’s the lockdown and staff, ou IisHAVE requested to$1.4 repeat my reaommendatio It’s basic. explains “no matter how money much more as president and CEO. much more as president and CEO. die because of hunger, malnutrition, and ident issued a “kill the communist rebels” death penalty, bannedand under the Constitud sappea ed om he ace o he ea h W h outAnother ofpretty every 10 Filipinos trusted the This bri ALITY epicenter in the longest out in base. Longtime Christopher Go, and bhP estimated 1.3 topercent 3.5 million accordbase.aide, Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and the estimated 1.3 toinfections 3.5 million infections accordeconomic production. On top spelled of the “drug war.” s ers, aThe n and on he pa oand Myanma m appointment atraction y un a inand excep oncontain o failed ndones acrimes, andinMa a who for ducted incontinuing the lastclearly week of our capacity traction economic On top of and worst recession our history. tory. schools whi sons for my belief that the of your dollar income. journalists.” 21.4 inthethe first half. means restrictions and reguers, journalists.” source revenue to fund the *production. * March, *rate Health, failed the to pandemic. contain the pandemic. Thus, answer tomiscellaneous the question of tion for most to ays be reimposed Thus, the answer to the question of diseases spawned by the lockdowns. order. “Ifof there’s an encounter and you see l of 265,888 cas-to a p omp and e ec ve vacc ne o ou some Philippine leader. Marcos a from the military and the police, than any killings of political activists aland staff claim that the P500 million allothe of infections and deaths could have EMIL EMIL countries pump into their economies, their Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela ing to researchers from our universities. The Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela 4. Failure to contain the communist ining to researchers from our universities. The the 0.7-percent contraction in the first quarand he p o ec on o una med c v ans who have o e ed o ho d a d a ogue w h he m rThegeneral use, the About 75 percent of the economy was For the whole of 2020, the economy is exthe 0.7-percent contraction in the first quaro schools have former National Bureau of Investigation In an earlier column, I suggested that the Is there hope in that bleakhis scenario? Pricesthe of prime commodities, activities of or the government; has Duterte vowed to continue “war lations. has vowed to continue his “war drugbefore crimes. Ten days Duterte imposed theimposed lock- leged Ten days before Duterte theDuterte lockwhether not thethem, appointment of Gierran whether orcated not the appointment of Gierran Philippines acting Economic SecItpreside depen them armed, kill, kill don’t mind hu7not 000 F before preasons no veshim. w Planning be saved s yeacy’s The nearly incredible and stratospherlaw. to them isSaid enough other president More 45 NPA leaders have failed dent the The are been much worse. The latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drughthan surgency and the Muslim separatist movelockdown enabled us to reinforce our health Rosa, who initially spearheaded thenon-ex-offic “drug JURADO GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway. JURADO enrollees. LOPEZ lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health chief Dante president and have aunched da y Gierran pwill o10 esbe s as s“as nce Feb ua2020, yto 1 chief abarely y unon a shut oMarch nddown. a way ouHousehold olove he swere sPresident to decline by percent. BizNewsAsia ter theter 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop President should create a “jobs policy” in consumption, 2020, the 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop Well, yes. Lift the lockdowns which especially rice, corn, and fish, will be • The Export Processing Authority to atBut the people onpected drugs” which relentless and on drugs” which will be “as relentless and ay and is down is legal depends on whether his name was is legal depends on whether his name was 15, 2020, there only for retary Karl Kendrick Chua: down on March 15,cthe2020, there were only ble achieve man rights, I will be the one to go to prisThe Phto the pp nes s he asRosa and s owes ic trust Without and job approval ratings were the ment alittle vaccine war,” were elected Senate. The mean grou executive officer of isthe illegal. build upand our capacity to do widethe wake of so many jobless peoplesystem aspercent awith re-and tract the contraction for whole cession could rage war,” were elected toDela the Senate. Dela Rosa The that President Duterte aga ns It he mnot a GDP y day coup The ASEAN s and on non ncases. e writing, eof ence nthefell system build up capacity tojobs do wideproviding three-fourths GDP, byestimates means the country isever now infact, recession star-rank officers occupy cabinet 52-year old communist insurgency Muslim over 1laws, of all COVID-19 cases means the country is anow inwith recession clearly spelled out in have proved senseless and produced the the “drugs war.” In this May 2019, two top controlled. In under current This foreign investments; taly, 288,761. is the sheer size of stimulus package in that shortlist forour the Board of Trustees. chilling on the it PhilHealth began.” He wants in that shortlist for the Trustees. chilling on theRepublic day itthe began.” He wants “No one anticipated that the TWO confirmed cases. At he would TWO confirmed At this writing, the on, I killings don’t have qualms,” Duterte said in Board a policy nofhe en na on ASEAN oCOVID oand ou civila vac highest for any Philippine president. Gb The of political activists and aland staff cla Under Section 1 of Act 11223 sult of the COVID-19 pandemic. was named to head the Senate committee could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a Mr. President, lift spread testing in our communities. From just We be eve he n e na ona commun y was named to head the Senate committee he n e na a a s o o he membe coun es 15.5 percent in Q2 for a 7.8-percent first semester drop in economic output of 9 spread testing in our communities. From just allies made it handily into the Senate elecfor general use, the first semester drop in economic output of 9 opposite effect. The lockdowns were point Gierra the price of anything, and its supply, can Dominguez says has to adopt right away should not be an • The Movie and Television review and I HAVE been requested to repeat my reaAS MARCOS haters remembered “the I HAVE been requested to repeat my reaIt’s pretty basic. It’s pretty basic. death penalty, banned under the Constitupandemic will [strike] the global ian positions in the government. terrorists are on the warpath marked by a death penalty, banned under the Constituwho to envy Philippines is the pandemic the speech before the National Task Force to c na on p og am In fact, it is the highest for any leader of in the country are severe or critical. Our morPhilippines is theepicenter pandemicinepicenter in the Presiked about Presithat matters now but also whether it is actualthe law. cated them leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recThe Department of Labor and Employth loss of P1.5 trillion for each month of ell into 2021. with investigating police matters around 1,282 actual PCR tests per conshou d for nsupposed e most vene ncrimes, he Myanma po ca c be slocksfrom s paan and pa ce owith he ve of p according nc p es ocasdecline in H1 2020, to265,888 Mahas extended charged investigating matters tions which solidified Duterte’s power percent. It is the worst recession in our hisaround 1,282 actual PCR tests per conlped us avert to save 4,000 people be controlled by the government during sons for belief that the appointment of Classification Board; percent. Itwill ismy the worst recession inSeptember our his-appointment dark days of Martial Law,” on sons for my belief that the of *Armed *day *emergency * charged *day *inemployment the lockdowns. They economy. In the first ofpolice tion tothe be reimposed sight, Board of Trustees of PhilHealth and tion forof most crimes, to reimposed for End Local Communist Conflict 11-nation ASEAN a total 265,888 Why hewith ackthree o months aFor ac ysure nthemanag any democratic country in the world today, scheme 11-nation ASEAN with a total of casNow, recession could rage The and jobst evements. Now, ommendation the Board Trustees offor Phil52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim ment deny this, for sure, but aducted survey Despite the overwhelming dominance of new phenomenon—suicide bombers The tality ratio, on the other hand, isunless at In 2.5 people down. This lockdown – shown longest and severly saving the productive parts of the economy. and the “drug war.” s nce he m a y un a has no s gn ha in the last week of March, our capacity nila-based Asian Development Bank. one yearaccorduntil peace u coex s ence ag eed upon n he h s base. Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and and the “drug war.” nfections tory. ducted in the last week of March, our capacity dying, people who would die anyway, former National Bureau of Investigation a state of calamity. In a major election, • The Philippine Coconut Authority to 21, they went on the usual bashing spree, In an earlier column, I suggested that the former National Bureau of Investigation tory. an earlier column, I suggested that the quarantine, we prioritized saving lives definitely drug crimes. Cagayan deon Oro, southern Philippines. ng he wo s pandem c and he wohas s to adopa in history. The 91 percent drug crimes. es. It is No.es. 21 Itinisthe world. Health, the President shall appoint the agen-andshowed No. 21 inThe the Philippines world. The PNP Philippines that almost halfrecommended ofbeat the approval country's terrorists are thesense. warpath marked by a of the Board his appointment tocreate the ranks unemployed can only worsesthas in the world –its has runlockdown, for seven months. make no generals, the Duterte administration has not tripled anti-insurgency budget Davao’s former chief, Ronaldo delas w 4.athe Failure to the communist inwell into 2021. Unemployment than tripled, e: That isoupcThe toAs an ngthe opresident bend ove backwa dsfrom and accede A can Con police e encemore n Bandung universities. per a hundred thousand.” 4.contain Failure to contain the communist in- an chief Dante Gierran as president and chief For the whole of 2020, the economy is exlockdown or no because This is because the problem is not a systemic the price and supply of bellwether goods develop and enhance coconut production President should a “jobs policy” in chief Dante Gierran as president and chief portraying Marcos as the devil-incarnate. President shou d crea e “ obs po cy” n For the whole of 2020, the economy is exagainst COVID. We used this time to Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless emergency e cy’s and CEO the Board’s But people love the President for econom c c s s n a cen u y? We he ratings of world dictators Hitler, Mussolini, adult labor force of 60 million are jobless. But the people love the President for dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely new phenomenon—suicide bombers. The dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely nthe st depression This means halfo ofhethe economic production the President Th who initiallyThese spearheaded en the poverty problem of the country for force our health from 5.1 average percent indaily April 2019 toa17.7 May 2022 surgency and the Muslim separatist moveoworrying he key demands peop e o Myanma ndones aRosa, n Ap 1955 p nc pthe es “drug executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. surgency and the Muslim separatist movemost of them already had fatal dislike rice, corn, fish, fuel, even school the wake of so many jobless people as a repected to decline by 10 percent. BizNewsAsia and efforts; executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil the Board recommended his appointment to he wake of so many ob ess peop e as a reproven itself any more competent nor any sign the ranks ofd non-ex-officio members. pected to decline by 10 percent. BizNewsAsia improve our health system capacity.” Santa Banana, they are the new poor! He notes that per 100,000, the EU member rown to about 32 000 tests comp acency engende ed by Pu se As a s Saddam Hussein, and Muammar Khadaffy the “drugs war.” In May 2019, two top PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, neces23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. the “drugs war.” In May 2019, two top 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. hilipis gone by now. That cannot be recovered in 2020, the Philipwar,” Senate. acity to do Without vaccine percent April 2020 “when lockdowns en we choose ngs now s and he mPresident yBut uncannot aseveral s apa wideso nc ude muwere uainelected espec to otheeach o heDela s RosaAs heases Under 1 and of Republic Actcru11223 Thus before can be appointed as apandemic. vaccine the“By President. other than COVID. sult ofWithout theaCOVID-19 supplies, medicines, PPEs, are Under Section 1daily of Republic Act 11223 en the pove many years to come • The Philippine Authority asment one that men do lives after them. The good is oft This that the estimates the GDP contraction for the whole su Tourism of he COVID-19 pandem cn ment The newest of the “new poor” are some the of estimates the GDP forGierran the whole a worrying sign. ox camodels ng 91administrations. peUP cenandobAteneo, app ova and during their time incontraction power. Itaverage also beat the clearly has grown toSection about 32,000 average tests allies made itmeans handily into theaSenate elecSecretary Dominguez says most allies it handily intothe themilitary Senate elecless corrupt than past months. 5four Coddling ofcmade the police and Finance Secretary Dominguez says states 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61,men in From August) ”Finance serlowest Because of his sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate toCarlos head nities. just were widespread at their a eady comm ng mes aga nsa member human Thus, before Gierran can be appointed as eever o in a was n egnamed y and sove the e and gnSenate yCarlos mucommittee ua The killings of political activists and almany (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recpoint Gierran unless he is of the The Department of Labor and Employ119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers thousands more people are dying or will (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the reccial, especially in battleground regions, of the engines to serve as a source of revenue; interred with their bones.” The Depar of Labor and Emp oyThe killings of political activists and al-yearsfrI could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a we averted some 59,000 to 171,000 President and CEO of PhilHealth he must 5. Coddling of the police and the military could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a While the President President signed into thispower (August).” us chief a may ngsofohave Du enational e popularity and trust ratings of Jesus Christ tions which solidified Duterte’s power for general use, the Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez “thecondecisive (lockdown) helped us avert an us tions which solidified Duterte’s “the decisive (lockdown) helped avert an for general use, the con6.5-percent charged with matters sts day When the the capital’s Duterte has employed more generals and CEO of PhilHealth, he must Sweden 57, and the US 52. ds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown While the strict,” says yinvestigating ADB. Exports declined ofper calamity the law y by k ng una med p o es e s ven a ng nonconagg ess on equa and mu ua police bene and staff, out of the more than 700 private ommendation of the Board Trustees of Phildemand.” leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey die because of hunger, malnutrition, and ommendation of the Board Trustees of PhilHardest hit was Luzon island which and most especially, when the highest • Laws on socialized housing through a This brings me to ask, my gulay—Is men w deny h s for sure bu a survey leged NPA have failed dent loss ofand P1.5loss trillion for each month of lockpopularity, President deaths. Ourbillions death rates reduced from Duterte has employed more Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, of and P1.5 trillion each month of lock“We we easleaders exce en ”of en hused P es the C in his time. The 91for percent made Duterte explains that “no matter how much base. Longtime aide, Christopher Go,money be first appointed as aagenmember of the Board estimated topercent 3.5s million accordbase. Longtime aide, Christopher Go, lawgenerals, Bayanihan 2hecommunist the allotted for histo estimated 1.3 toinfections 3.5 million infections accordop the “drug war.” rch, capacity ction. On top of and be first appointed a member the Board law Bayanih schools which will remain closed. These hero 21.4 in the first half. onsofour and reguhe countries ma nGovernment demand o a e u n o demo and peace u1.3 co ex ence Health, the President shall appoint the recession could rage showed that almost half of the country's 52-year old insurgency. Muslim Health, the President shall appoint the agendiseases spawned by the lockdowns. produces 70 percent of total economic post of the land is at stake. series of legal issuances from the funding, showed ha a mos ha f of coun ry s Marcos a heel or a hero? police force was caught on social media from the military and the police than any recession could rage 3. Unprecedented human rights violations from the military and the police, than any tr ate of infections and deaths could have 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim down. This lockdown – the longest and severa high of 17 percent to just 1.6 percent the rate of infections and deaths could have economists earlier projected pumppolice intoformer their their den a Spokesman Hatoy alleRoque project on theschools world’s most popular trusted leader, down. This lockdown – theand longest and severDavao’s former chief,economies, Ronaldo dela ingFo to researchers from our universities. The police Ronaldo dela to contain thes communist to researchers from our universities. of Trustees. quarare o Duterte must have in the first quaroffor Trustees have lost income because of lack of other project are only stop-gap measures commodities, cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s c uThe ewould o Davao’s aacting sembshrunk ance omassively, Thest schief, s an Locs4.ing nFailure ASEAN membe shou d cin-a GDP adult labor force ofabor 60 million are jobless. cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s Said Economic Planning Secproduction and is home to 50 percent of What is not controlled during a state terrorists are on the warpath marked by a adu force of 60 m on are ob ess mortgage and collection ofMore loans; It depends. If you look at his remarkapresident before him. than 45 been much worse. The latest data suggest that or around 4,000 deaths. We averted terrorists are on the warpath marked by a in the world – has run seven months. have anyway. Ma ch 8 assess ng Du e e s pandem c bar none. having a breakfast birthday party with more other president before him More than 45 est in the world – has run for seven months. The reasons are What has made Duterte a strong president, much worse The latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug well into 2021. surgency and the Muslim separatist moveWhat is/are the legal requirements before Board enabled ushe to health viate the peo Rosa, who the “drug aretary recovery of o7initially percent to 8 percent in GDP enrollees. lockdown enabled toourreinforce health drop well into 2021. GDP growth fish, will beeady members. uour gen enge he n e spearheaded na ona Santa Banana, they are viate theand new poor! slockdown anddrop o ex end preinforce o heus peop e and What is/are the legal before non-ex-officio members. Karl Kendrick Chua: the population. of calamity how the disthe people’s needs San ahospitals—the Banana hey are hephenomenon—suicide newmanagemen poor! • thought Allofficers the specialty Philipstar-rank occupy cabinet civilble achievements and good performance, new bombers. The a non-ex-officio little over 1 is percent of allgovernment cases some 1.3 to phenomenon—suicide 3.5appointed million cases, of he was doing It ismo not athecha sheer size ofelected the stimulus package This means half of the economic production new bombers. Theof isTru A strict week a member e which say ng proha What The Pulse Asia rating, itCOVID-19 now turns out, requirements accine Gierran can be as alockdown of This means half of the economic production ment war,” were elected toave the Senate. Dela Rosa The group representing these teachers system and upand ourbuild capacity toocases do wide- star-rank war,” were to the Senate. Dela Rosa peq system capacity to do widethan 50 guests (despite officers occupy cabinet and civilthe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also enwith over gove 1laws, percent ofMyanma all COVID-19 recession with clearly spelled out in the Board current This means that the President cannot apgrowth rate in 2021. That is now overly optiThe newest of the “new poor” are some commun y When g v o a ons o n nmen obuild “Theupesour ASE This means that the President cannot apian positions in the government. “No one anticipated that the COVID The newes of he “new poor” are some Investments contracted by 53.5 perpenses money. The incumbent President pine Heart Center, Lunch Center, National he would be a hero. For those, however, in the country are severe or critical. Our morhas tripled anti-insurgency budget, thatnamed matterstonow but the alsoSenate whethercommittee it is actual68,000 would be severe critical Gierran can be appointed a member of mere What PNP is essential and urgent isand long- budget, is gone by now. That cannot bethat recovered inrecovered PNP has its anti-insurgency the Board ofits Trustees? Roque go htripled by COV Da has done more damage, than good, to allothein as just termLet jobs The killings of political activists and al-From and staff claim the P500 million is gone by now. That cannot be was head Mr. President, lift spread testing in our communities. From just was named to head the Senate committee fi ne. of 9 spread testing in our communities. just the the Presiden omic output of 9 point Gierran unless he is a member of the its supply, can Bp 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers e naly ona human athe angovernment and human gh s general Despite the overwhelming dominance ofa worrying ANare mussevere s and NPA byor Myanma ” he sa dmor“Th s ian point Gierran unless he is ahis member of the hibiting gatherings ofsign. ten or more people in tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people pandemic will [strike] the global positions in 119 000 oand 140 re renched eachers cent ingrown the second quarter by000 36.6 can get allthem the money hePhilippines. wants toand have Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine who envy his ingenuity, vision foregiven him one of major failures—massive country critical Our saving thelaw. productive parts of thefour economy. sign. cases on the peak day, which will overhas grown to about 32,000 average daily tests mistic. Without a vaccine for use, the Lazaro, wh Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governthe lem of pover months. a worrying cated to is not enough. leged leaders have failed to dent the Acco d ng o some sc en s s coun es Filipino people and to the has to about 32,000 average daily tests the Board of Trustees? four months. term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probcharged with investigating police matters around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day concharged with investigating police matters rrnment his- induring actual PCRThey tests perawday Thus, bef ssion our hisand the staff, out of more than 700 private Duterte administration hasinvestnot waconmes and c problem mes human per ahands hundred thousand.” shou d noother s around op now ”1,282 the lockdowns. and sthe ou of he more hanmus prCoddling vaapolice ee 60 economy. In firstaga three months of the Secretary percent in the first half. his on and deploy it rights to whoever Children’s Medical Center; sight, and those who desire revenge, he is generals, This isc because thethe isns not adominance systemic ance Act of5. 2011) mandates that an appointing in whelm our healthcare sector.” 5. Coddling ofnocu the and the gulay rate rage this (August).” The jobs policy that President Duterte old communist Muslimand one place at700 the same time), Duterte refused Despite the overwhelming of Finance Carlos Dominguez pe cen omilitary heandpopu aPresident onMyCouns Duterte thought he was doing just fine. of the police the military human violations. Critics say heaff“Private killed ratioelection, on the hand islast at shou 2insurgency. 5 our people this (August).” recession could rage well into 2021. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez the “drug war.” ducted in52-year the last week of March, capacity Section 13 RA 10149 (GOCC Governand the “drug war.” lem of poverty an ducted ineve the week of March, ourya capacity proven itselffirst any more competent nor any major schools which will remain closed. These He notes that per 100,000, theof EU member a e be ng comm ed he n e na ona “ ndeed mo e han we d he p a schoo s wh ch w rema n c osed These quarantine, we prioritized saving lives contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, necesment slumped in Q2 with outlays for inand wherever he wants to send it. • The nuclear power plant in Southdirector shall be appointed by the President definitely a heel. it’s an urgen has to adopt right away should not be an “What we find in the last six months, Duterte has employed more generals, beneficiarie terrorists are on the warpath marked by Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, n s x mon hs o p even new COV D 19 v us Pulse Asia said so. This gave him confidence explains that “no matter how much money b make no sense. Duterte has employed more generals, Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, explains that “no matter how much money to fire the erring general. generals the Duterte administration has not 4. Failure to contain the communist inmore than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating hundred thousand ” be first appo 4.restrictions Failure tohamper contain the communist incorrupt than past administrations. s economy ex- goods When the came to power in schools have lost income because of lack states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, less from a short-list prepared themissing Governance ance Act of 2011) mandates that anmachinery appointing elwether ex-e new saryBoard mobility aggregate commun y canno s mpof yPresident sh ug sthis shou he ismo Ou phenomenon—suicide appea s no om he bombers. ou s de The schoo scould have os8,equipncome of sack ofneu tatal Banana, I against We used time to ofCOVID. Trustees PhilHealth, and unless My gulay ifof there’s one element dustrial and transport Combine those powers—control of sure, the east Asia; emergency employment scheme. For is that the lower quarantine restriction event from the military and the police, than any the rate of infections and deaths have Inenrollees. Eastern Visayas, on March an elitebecause va an om a by zand ng he e police, ec veness oTrustees. toSweden do things he wanted done his way. He are countries pump into their economies, their from the military the than any the rate of infections and deaths could have The reasons are countries pump into their economies, their dow surgency and the Muslim separatist moveThe reasons When the chief of the national capital’s of 57, and the US 52. surgency and the Muslim separatist moveCommission for Government-owned or-Con,nt. even school sAsia Philippines the Board recommended his appointment to demand.” proven itself any more competent nor any theand ranks ofdirector theof unemployed can only worsenro ees de s and wa k2016, away shou d ake dec s ve the indulged bu ns100 dehas wha wethe citsa EU m s one am ybudget, BizNewsAsia improve our health system capacity.” the pervasive illegal drugs curse. ment 62.1 percent lower and for private price supply any commodity or connotes that om perPNP 000 member • A geothermal power plant, one of the July he stumbled into greatest and tripled anti-insurgency has actually opened more sectors of the shall be appointed by the President have fashio it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy Sanother president before him. More than 45 been much worse. The latest data suggest that team police snipers, wearing bonnets, amseve a vacc nes deve oped him. so aMore The than v ple us inhave his favorite pastime—killing GDP wouldGDP have shrunk massively, anyway. other president before 45 get beenof much worse. The latest data suggest thathese Without vaccine would shrunk massively, anyway. force was caught ongroup social media What is/a 3.clearly Unprecedented human rights Corporations (GCG). can Without vaccine The group representing these teachers the President. PPEs, are en the poverty problem of the violations country for police Government ment whole The represen ngtrolled eachers acment oncorrupt o end such veconomists opast a ons a cruam s o peop esaand o a gove “By the models of earlier UP andprojected Ateneo, construction 46.8 percent lower,” says sumer goods, redirecting taxpayers money first in thevan world, as an alternative source on fordaily the whole a worrying sign. spelled out in erage tests economy and helped bring back jobs.” barrage ofba biznewsasia@gmail.com than administrations clearly spelled out in star-rank officers occupy and civilHuman Rights Watch says many of the average 31y deaths UK 70 noSpain 61n less apackage little over 1the percent of all COVID-19 cases bushed the carrying Calbayog City Mayor s mu a ang as e cabinet han he vacc na on and a Gierran efinally o people, verbally, and brutally. from a short-list prepared by Governance longest economic expansion in the country’s Itappointed isand not the sheer size ofsheer the stimulus package ta Banana I foresee bleak future for the star-rank officers occupy cabinet civila little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases having a breakfast birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only be apUnder ends! It is not the size of the stimulus What has made Duterte a strong president, Thus, before Gierran can be as can The killings of political activists almany years to come. and staff claim that the P500 million alloa recovery of 7 percent to 8 percent in GDP ound regions, The killings of political activists and aling a and s aff c a m ha he P500 m on a omen s ageneral ee 5. ngfor he hu one o use, s mem we averted some 59,000 to 171,000 toThe ADB. Public construction slipped by a anyone or anywhere, and the restrictions of energy; Coddling ofnthe police and the the military ent -- assuming a Mr. President, lift the lockdowns. for use, the ident Marc Is he a heel or a ian positions in the government. general inactualthe country are severe orare critical. Our morRonaldo Aquino. The mayor died, alongOur withwithout mos es oincope h President harangued Vice President that matters now but also whether itlaw. ismay actualWhen theleaders chief ofleaders the national capital’s pointed bycoun the President as aw member of the the Board of ian positions the government. than guests (despite strict lockdown President and CEO ofrates he must 27,000 areitsigned “vigilante-style killings perpetratin50 country severe or critical. moren 57 and” the the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also While the President have into the Commission for Government-owned or-Conthat matters now but also whether is Philippines any assurance that peogrowth rate in 2021. That isPhilHealth, now overly optihistory—70 consecutive quarters of growth. cated to them ised not enough. leged NPA have failed to dent the the Hardest hit employed was Luzon island which the highest ca hem s noproenough leged NPA have failed to dent the lockernh @yahoo com deaths. Our death reduced from be LocsUS nDuterte po52 n edhas ou more generals, marginal 0.9 percent inatoQ2. on flow oflaw. goods and people under atality lock•the Exploration and drilling in Malampaya; ut the lockdown, hen month of slockThey make no sense. I think even They pursu Despite the overwhelming dominance of his driver, his bodyguard, and a civilian. HowThe e a eas h ee known g oba Leni Robredo, to near oblivion. It was ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was I don’t k be first appointed as a member of the Board ly saving the productive parts of the economy. hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in law Bayanihan 2, billions allotted for his given one of hisform major Despite overwhelming dominance of 13 hero? tality ratio, on the other hand, is atnation; 2.5 people Section mistic. Without a vaccine for use, the media could rage The jobs policy that President lydown saving the productive parts of the economy. 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim produces 70 percent ofpolice, total than economic .everpolice caught on1.6 social recession could rage The obs po cy ha Pres den in Du erlist ethe ed by police officers themselves or by killers Unprecedented human rights the military andviolations the any trolled Corporations (GCG) 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim a force high of was 17 percent to general just percent ple can get employed when this pandemic Duterte may not know itthe but heDuterte of whatever orfailures—massive acronym—and aths could have •thousand.” Laws on culture inescort the life of the Duterte himself added 14 quarters ofhim growth ongest andrecession sever- from without the lockdowns, you can win ard Maitlan included the prepared and submitted easing the o2 generals, the Duterte administration has not ever, a security vehicle of mayor arof Trustees. va an s he Un ed K ngdom B 1 1 7 he effective. Robredo is among the cellar project are only stop-gap measures to alleper a hundred one place at the same time), Duterte refused human rights violations. Critics say he killed This is because the problem is not a systemic c generals, the Duterte administration has not recession could rage well into 2021. ance Act of per a hundred thousand.” has to adopt right away should not be an This isby because the problem is to not a systemic production andbefore is home 50 percent of ora breakfast during amonths. state areterrorists on the warpath marked by amarked other president him.toMore thanhaving 45terrorists has oemployment adop gh ends! away shou dGCG no be an President. But the Presi- tocol data suggest that Duterte around 4,000 deaths. We achieved almost full durDuterte pick hislinked successor—without • the The Cultural Center offinally theofrPhilippines are onrequirements the warpath acan nths. anitself election. party with more or seven matter this law Gierran can only be apUnder the authorities.” hat has made a strong president by the the well into 2021. in shal pub What is/are thebirthday legal before viate the people’s before itPresident went negative inaverted the first quarter of immediately at the100,000, scene the EU ambush Sou h Atomore ca Bcompetent 1any 351more and nor he B az annor Ptial 1any dwellers in people’s presidential preferproven any any torived fire erring general. well into 2021. He notes that per 100,000, the EU member more than 27,000 in needs. the guise of eliminating When the came to power in contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, necesdirector Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless proven itself competent emergency employment scheme. For sure, He notes that per the member the population. vernment disBoard of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilm contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, necesnew phenomenon—suicide bombers. The emergency emp oymen scheme For sure COVID-19 cases some 1.3 to phenomenon—suicide 3.5appointed million cases, of which ing his an unprecedented regard to whether that guypeople is isa ageniand thepresidency, Philippine International Conven- dent The ction production new bombers. The cannot legally appoint but what worsen thepep Gierran can be alockdown member omic What isrecommended essential and urgent longand engaged police in pp nes s sapast dGierran oadministrations. havea mems own from va ences foras2022. Among the 11 Pulse pointed by the President as atothe member of the pervasive illegal drugs curse. less corrupt than past *Phy*corrupt * administrations. 50 guests (despite strict prostates 31 deaths, UK 70,assassins Spain 61, July 2016, he stumbled theasgreatest and of Authorities admit 7,000 deaths during icious illegal drugs campaign has also a short sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate the Board his appointment to ranks of the unemployed can only wors2020. less than states average 31the deaths, UK 70,daylight Spain 61, positions in thecontracted government. the recommended hisaverage appointment tothe Investments by 53.5than perbent President ritical. Our mor-in ian he ranks of hethat unemp oyed can on worssary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate PNP has tripled anti-insurgency budget, 68,000 would be into severe and critical achievement. Economists say when us, alisted technocrat, aBoard nincompoop, or even tion Center. Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” ber of the Board of Trustees, much more as ed PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, oa Mark my the Board ofits Trustees? biznewsasia@gmail.com term jobs policy to prevent amany bigger probLazaro beinrecovered biznewsasia@gmail.com Human Rights Watch says of the gunfight while scores of witnesses scampered an by h s me Asia in its Nov. 3-Dec. 2, 2022 surWhen the chief of the national capital’s longest economic expansion in the country’s Sweden 57, and the US 52. Commission the President. demand.” en the 57, problem ofIypracticalthe country Board of Government Trustees of PhilHealth ifpoverty he don’t know whoever idea of capital’s Despite the overwhelming dominance ofa worrying When thehad chiefthe ofmythe national gatherings ofsign. tenthe or more people in ,wants is at 2.5 people thewas President. ingrown the second quarter and byhibiting 36.6 tohas have Sweden and the US 52. enwas he pover prob em ofa for he coun ry for the campaign. Any numbers above that are him one of hiscent major failures—massive demand.” sign. cases on the peak day, which willGovernoverPhilHealth president/CEO, gulay! unemployment hits 5 percent, a dog. So today, the people must already grown to about 32,000 average daily tests Insofar as Martial law is concerned, it is Begun in 1999, expansion meant a 4.2COVID-19 Lazaro, who the CorpoSection 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC lem of poverty. a worrying ministration has to about 32,000 average daily tests m 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratsafety. Two of to the police assassins died. Acco dthat ng before o was hethe USGCG Cen e ssocial o Dmedia s Corpo as possible presidential candidates for consecutive quarters ofGovernment growth. vey,economists police force wassocial caught on social media 3. human rights violations Thus, before Gierran be appointed aslyto many years come. generals, the Duterte administration hasinvestnot history—70 projected Thus, before Gierran can be appointed asneeding force caught on percent in the first half. “Private it rights to whoever many years oits 3. Unprecedented human rights violations Takepolice note can in- trolled ofsought this nonse ance Act of5. mandates that anmilitary appointing included incan the list prepared and submitted whelm our healthcare sector.” easing one-meter distancing pro5. Coddling of2011) the police and the My gulay, ifearlier there’s one element missing, Government economists earlier projected everyone awithout job has acome job.the It’s decide—do they want more ofdismal Duterte, orUnprecedented needless to say that proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos era. “The thisviolations (August).” one place at the same time) Duterte refused Coddling of the police and theMay military classified as “homicides under investigation.” nguez Critics say he killed to this (August).” ed by police officers themselves or by killers fold increase in the size of Philippine econolos Dominguez NAKED Duterte himself added 14 quarters of growth Vice President Robredo denounced the ease Con o and P even on he UK va an 2022, Robredo ranked a sixth, and international, against France and then the having a breakfast birthday party with more thi Under President and CEO of PhilHealth, he must o What has made Duterte a strong While President may have signed into proven itself “Without anyinmore norfor anyin-Duterte the EU recovery ofless, 7 it’s percent toby percent GDP your name in shortlist for appointand CEO ofaccidenPhilHealth, he must They say mentAdds slumped Q2 competent with outlays send it.member director shall be appointed byasix the President Wh e president, he den mayclude havetransport shaving gned o the an breakfast birthday party with oblivion, more urgent and policy. SanWhat has made Duterte aPres strong president, “What we find in the last months, like having athe factory running at 95 peroran all? tion, the Philippines could now be under has employed more generals, beneficiaries of thelasting February 1986 recovery of 7at8President percent toin 8jobs percent inPresident GDP Adds Dominguez: the“Without lockdown, oney the GCG to the But the Presino Duterte has employed more generals, tocol in public To me itqu would linked tonone the authorities.” Dominguez: theto lockdown, before it(from went negative inbillion the first quarter of ato w much money fire the erring general SO killings, crying “the Filipino people deserve “sp eads mo e eas y and ck y han o he with voter preference of just 8 percent naAside from the drugs war killings, the than 27 000 in the guise of eliminating USA, which it defeated. Laos, Myanmar and pointed by t be first appointed as a member of the Board less corrupt than past administrations. than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prolaw Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his my $72.2 in 1998 $304.9 bilK 70, Spain 61, the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also ment as a member of the Board of Trustees and drivers from a short-list prepared by the Governance growth rate in 2021. That is now overly optibe first appointed as a member of the Board ta Banana, I foresee a bleak future for the dustrial machinery and could transport equip—control of the awThe Bayan han 2 hewere bhasons ed for s 50 hguests (despite strict lockdownedented pro- ach THOUGHT thecapacity. vicious rule. illegal drugs campaign, alsoa othan is the lower quarantine restriction cent Duterte has imposed longest and communist communists talany event of time, and personalities, from thethat military andmilitary the police, than any growth rate in 2021. That isthe now overly optirate of infections and deaths have Authorities admit toplace 7,000 deaths during their the from the and the police, than 2020. the rate of infections and deaths could have economies, their dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a membetter than this murderous regime.” va an s” and “may be assoc a ed w h an n tionwide—8 in the ABC class, 8 in D, and 8 worsen the problem Cambodia followed later such that by the turn Board of Tr When the chief of the national capital’s of Trustees. of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterproject are only stop-gap measures to allerior and Loc hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in Commission for Government-owned or-ConPhilippines without any assurance that peogiven him one of his major failures—massive of Trustees. Human Rights Watch has also noted the mistic. Without a vaccine for general use, the ervasive illegal drugs curse pro ec are on y s op-gap measures o a ement 62.1 percent lower and for private mmodity or conhibiting gatherings of ten or more people in lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, I SEE has actually opened more sectors of the But in April 2020, more than 7.3 milmost strict lockdown in the world—for given him one of his major failures—massive already all over the country—in the parliahave fashioned and sustained a litany and otherBegun president before him. before More than 45 id mistic. Without aAny vaccine for general use,are the been much worse. Thewas latest data suggest that campaign. numbers above that nation and yway. inCorporations 1999, the expansion a 4.2other president him. More than 45 get beenforce much worse. Theon latest suggest that ssively, anyway. More deaths could occur because of theplace eased sk owill deaqualified hbe compa ed o of othis he va inthe Eple income class voters. police caught socialdata media minecatwhether youtime), to hold ardo Año sa included in What is/are the legal requirements before ofsays the millennium, ASEAN had 10meant member ights violations trolled (GCG). viate the people’s needs. can employed when this pandemic one thethere same refused ber of the Board of Trustees much more Mark my words atime), surge human violations. Critics say he killed What is/are the requirements before vof a as ehis he peop e’seven needs construction percent xpayers money recession could rage well into 2021. CHARLIE V. one place atare the Duterte same Duterte refused economy helped bring back jobs.” lion people lost their jobs—“largely in more than six months now from March ment, media, academe, labor and thekilled barrage of adverse publicity to legal efface Pres-rights human rights violations. Critics say he biznewsasia@gmail com classified aswith “homicides under investigation.” star-rank officers occupy and civilpolitically motivated detention most man Rights Watch says many ofalllower,” the recession could rage well into 2021. apackage little over 1 little percent of46.8 all COVID-19 cases Imore could fold increase inand the size ofcabinet Philippine econoand middle-income status for Filipinos, kage president, Hw star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civila over 1 percent of COVID-19 cases office. add jee having a breakfast birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only be apUnder Duterte government’s failure to procure on an v uses ” The first five in Pulse Asia’s presidential finally ends! stimulus strong by the GCG Gierran can be appointed as a member of states. What is essential and urgent is a longto fire the erring general. Gierran can be appointed as a 27,000 member of more than in the guise of eliminating LITO Wha stransport, essenofaeliminating and urgen s fire athe ongADB.arePublic construction slipped byianmy a positions the restrictions When the 15, President came to power in a PhilHealth president/CEO my gulay! COVID-19 cases in country as a result Mr.$72.2 President, lift theato lockdowns. services—mainly trade, ac2020. And what do we get after clergy. The Supreme Court recognized this to the erring general. ident Marcos from the tapestry of history. Aside from the drugs war killings, the more than 27,000 in the guise in the government. (from billion in 1998 $304.9 bilWhen the President came to power in eloquently t MANALO in the country severe or critical. Our morMy gulay, it’s a long process! The Presctualof transporta pointed by the President as member of the ian positions in the government. * * * than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown proprominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, the 0 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratin the country are severe or critical. Our mormpaign, also marginal 0.9 percent in Q2. timeterm and in greatpolicy volume anti-COVID-19 vac-probThe az an P 1 was s den ed n cannotm had double digit ratings: dent the Boardsurvey ofthe Trustees? it has is actualto a enterbigger per capita income exceeding $3,000. Notetheir that the Philippines alwaysI played a hepreference Board ofbasic Trustees? erm obs po cyinsofar ononsense preven a bcannot gger Bprobthe pervasive illegal drugs curse. eether under atality lockJuly 2016, stumbled the greatest and They make no the sense. think commodation, restaurants, and giving up most ofwhoever our liberties? when it jobs ruled inillegal favor ofprevent Marcos as ident They pursued what notable poet Sir RichHuman Rights Watch has also noted the BANAYO thelem pervasive drugs curse. lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, Take note that before the GCG can inDespite the overwhelming dominance of beneficial to of this justom pick anybody towebee PhilJuly 2016, heinto stumbled into the greatest and ratio, on thegatherings other hand, is at more 2.5 people tancing proto Board of Trustees of PhilHealth ifthe heeven was I don’t know had the idea of omy. hibiting of ten or people in ilures—massive Despite overwhelming dominance of ber of the B tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governcines to inoculate up to 70 million adult Filipiave e s B az who es ed du Sara Duterte, 26 percent; Ferdinand “Bongof poverty. key role in the formation of ASEAN. At sacronym—and of the economy. Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governremoval in May 2018 of Chief Justice Mapoliceper officers themselves killers biznewsasia@gmail.com em of pover Duterte may or notbyknow it but heand included Human Rights Watch says many ofy themany Today, Duterte presides over worst ecolongest economic in the country’s politically motivated detention of his most without thethe lockdowns, you can winthe tainment—but also in industry, espeWell, nothing—but misery and poverty. ardexpansion Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned. middle-income status for Filipinos, with biznewsasia@gmail.com president Health exo Human Rights Watch says of Health the ng in list and submitted effacede easing the one-meter social distancing pro-shortlist thegenerals, Duterte administration has not longest economic expansion in the country’s a hundred thousand.” oneper place at the same time), Duterte refusedgenerals, ics sayahesystemic killed emic clude your name in the for appointThey say the idea to help operators theprepared Duterte administration has not a be PhilHealth ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing nos to achieve herdif immunity this 2021. Of an ou scand eenCEO. ng a The an athree po pern Japan bong” Marcos, 14; Senator Grace Poe, 14; My gulay, there’s one missing, a hundred thousand.” Magsaysay, Garcia and Macapagal were is not ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing My gu ay felement here’s one e emen m was ssneng achieved almost full employment time dur27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratprominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, the an election. history—70 consecutive quarters of growth. cially manufacturing. Lowerincome The Philippines today is the epicenter tial matter of history is not what happened I sincerely believe that in time, Marcos will their per capita income exceeding $3,000. manent Commissions of GCG and the two (www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amWhat can ha dessor—without to the authorities ” C by the GCG to the President. But the Presitocol in public transport. To me it would (www.manilastandard.net) triumphs in nomic performance of the Philippines ever. 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratproven itself any more competent nor any to fire the erring general. history—70 consecutive quarters of growth. He notes that per 100,000, the EU member e of eliminating ecesTake note director shall be appointed by the President proven itself any more competent nor any it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy. Sanannounced vaccine allocation of 148 million n ea y Janua y Th s va an con a ns a se Manila Mayor Isko Moreno 12; and Senator He notes that per 100,000, the EU member our presidents, the Philippines was yet the JUST about a decade ago, our country’s repment as a member of the Board of Trustees t.guy Simply, neces- ing his presidency, an unprecedented Today, and drivers utility vehiclesof Finance Inte- everything director shall be Justice appointed by and the President ’s ana or urgen and as ng of obspublic po cy San- (Secretary is a geniremoval inthe 2018 of Chief Maedgrowth by officers themselves by killers ex-officio members Duterte presides over the worstaecosemi-skilled workers, most ofor them of COVID pandemic in the whole ofpolice dent cannot legally appoint Gierran membut what people wrote or said about it.’” Duterte himself added 14May quarters growth be vindicated. He was visionary, born ahead worsen problem. isssecure. ed(now byBanana, police officers themselves by for killers rse. lessprogressive corrupt than past Bnw states average 31 deaths, UK 70,during Spain 61, Duterte himself added 14 quarters of given Senator retired) Antonio thorities admit toASEAN 7 average 000 deaths yourTh from a short-list prepared by the Governance egate ta I aforesee ahave bleak future thefu The slump isofadministrations. also worst in ASEAN. The doses, only 1.08 million arrived—on o ure add a ons ha may aof ecclude and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, 10oftothe less corrupt thanPhilippines past administrations. more economy with athe functioning states 31 deaths, UK 70,when Spain 61, resentatives to conferences, whether from anesty short-list prepared by Governance amper aggregate Banana I foresee a b eak foronahe muSecretary achievement. Economists say that mpoop, even rianegative Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amCarlos Dominguez and Department (www.manilastandard.net) ber of the Board Trustees, much more as of Philhealth the GCG first needs to deternomic performance the ever. Mark my words, there will be a surge linked the authorities.” rior and Local Government Edubiznewsasia@gmail.com employed only informally, were hit hard Asia, outside of India, Pakistan, and Lazaro also said that succeeding adof his time. Generations free from the blemish before it went in the first quarter of biznewsasia@gmail.com fit us. They ys manyorministerial of the linked to the authorities.” When in thethechief of the the chief national capital’s Sweden and the US 52. before itgiven went negative in the quarter of led asban am Commission for Government-owned or-ConSOby anwill Philippines without any assurance that peo-ab Secretary March 1few (thetohad 600,000 Chinese doses) and on y o peobe Wendel ecogn Avisado) zed bod es ment percent. h of the national capital’s democracy region, in large part or sub-ministerial levels, would Sweden 57,above and Trillanes IV who mutinies in 2002 and Any57, numbers that52. arepracticalCommission forfirst Government-owned or-ConPh pp nesardo w hou any assurance Budget also Thecontinu nesty Senator (now retired) aslump PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! unemployment hitsthe 5 US percent, eampaign mustperpetratalready collapse also makes the worst COVID-19 cases in the3,000 country asAntonio aare result Theeconomic is When also the thanks worst in ASEAN. The him Authorities admit 7,000 deaths during because the option to work from Bangladesh. With over cases daily, ministrations have used laws even as they of ple hate andhold revenge will look more kindly on 2020. mine whether you qualified to this llings and Año said that ifhathis is true we you should Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during police force was and caught on social media of Philhealth 3.or Unprecedented human rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG). 2020. can get employed when this pandemic March 4 (the 480,000 doses of AstraZeneca. Meanwhile, on March 10, the UN OfSO THE FIFTH I SEE to the reconstruction rehabilitation efforts police force was caught on social media joke about the way the Philippines was gradhave to vote whether to include or not “Undas” or 3. Unprecedented human rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG). Take note that before the GCG can inTrillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and p e can ge emp oyed when h s pandem c of this nonsense. earlier projected ly everyone needing a job has a job. It’s eected of Duterte, in economic collapse also makes him the worst notes ADB. we sough are reaching 300,000 2007, and the passage of a acknowledge new Anti-Terror fiedor as under investigation ” sought to destroy consign Marcos to thewill campaign. Any numbers above that are him, and his achievements and ooffice des oy oor cons gn and Ma cos o home,” Begun in 1999, the meant acases 4.2ves by “homicides killers has made president ever in shortlist terms ofmore economic perforMarcos’ the campaign. Any above that I numbers SEE having a breakfast birthday with this law, Gierran can only apUnder finally ends! add more jeepneys buses a@gma and other a strong president, Begun inexpansion 1999, the expansion meant a be 4.2To immunize 70 million inrescued nine months, inare the shortlist. b znewsas com means mine fice of the High Commissioner for Human GDP Day iswhethe no vis pr clude your name in the forperforappointPresidents Roxas Quirino. beinglike left having out inDuterte economic development They say the idea was tototal help operators having a breakfast birthday party with more 2007, and the passage of angnew Anti-Terror this law, Gierran can only be apUnder f na y ends! What has made Duterte a strong president, president ever inand terms of party economic a factory running at 95ofperpercentually inWhat GDP Ironically, Duterte had six be No. 20 in number of COVID LITO oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unpreccontribution to the nation. ob v on no w hs and h s so d unp ec classified as “homicides under investigation.” GOSPEL fold increase inpointed the drivers sizebyof Philippine econoforForgoverna Act (ATA). ide from thecountries drugs war killings thealso than President as President avehicles. member ofathe LITO classified as “homicides investigation.” * *under * transportation—not 50 guests (despite strict lockdown promance. The GCG is ease akin tothe the Judicial Bar office. many theother vicious illegal drugs campaign, CROSSROADS fold increase inthe the size of Philippine ment asthan a members member ofofthe Board of Trustees and of public utility InteoptiAct (ATA). The last four ASEAN were by in the region. My gulay it’s a econolong process! The Prespointed by the as member offrom the socialand dis50 guests (despite strict lockdown promance. the vicious illegal drugs has campaign, has also cent capacity. longest and now overly optiBANAYO million poverty—defined as*the*an*ideaCouncil. cases in the world countries. edented achievements for the the *BANAYO *whoever * ofwar eden ed ach evemen sPhilHealth o220 he good oof he 0e deaths during Aside fromAside the drugs war killings, thekillings, varied andCno my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 toamong $304.9 bilMy gulay Before you can be appointed as Board of Trustees of if he was cemeteries I don’t know had of of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterfrom the drugs the rior and Local Government Secretary Eduhibiting gatherings of ten or more people in given him one of his major failures—massive my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilRecently, there have been sensational Recently, there have been sensational an Rights Watch has also noted the e, the what the founding members would often call ASEAN was created in August 1967 when Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was And that is all due to the second biggest I don’ know whoever had he dea of hibiting gatherings of ten or more people inweand And thatyou isare allqualified due toto in the second biggest April 7.3 milworld—for giveninhim one2020, of hismore majorthan failures—massive ident cannot just pick anybody to behas JUDE rhegeneral use,arethe But tancing protocol above that income of $2 a Philday. Henoted was going tois member In fact, will be in Top 15, dislodging nation its people. Santa Banana, I cannot believe that this na on s that peop eprepared Human Rights Watch also the If only to lion 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, of the Board to any GOCC, Philother days. W mine whether hold this ident canno ardo Año said if this is true, we should included in the list and submitted easing the one-meter social distancing proHuman Rights Watch has also noted the one place at the same time), Duterte refused killings of known political activists, human human rights violations. Critics say he killedsay m continues to hound the country. sistance from China; itsan alignment with thea dCOVID-19 of the countries in the world, lion inwealthiest 2016), a well dramatic reduction inprepared poverty, failure. included inwhat thewhole list submitted thehe VLMC bloc. the new be-Duterte the foreign ministers oflost Malaysia, IndoneJ.A. ng he one-me er soc s ancLungs ng prooneAsplace at themillennium same time), refused lion people theirhis jobs—“largely in wocally from motivated March human rights violations. Critics killed killings of known political activists, human r investigation.” detention of most Opportunities 2021. bring down poverty to unheard of 12 even Bangladesh. and Imore could repeat Lazaro saidPresisoand coming from theeas Philippine National Police failure. politically motivated detention of his most Health president and CEO The three perHealthInincluded, you must pass through the Philipandand foresigh Health experts say this isbubbles dangerous ber pray ACIDRE office. and middle-income status for Filipinos, with add jeepneys, buses, and other means Health presi by the GCG to and the President. But the tocol in public transport. To me it would rights defenders, alleged New People’s Opportunities to fire the erring general. politically motivated detention of his most his speech, nicely entitled “The second wealthiest nation on earth a given. with its per-capita income higher than even 2. Pandemic mismanagement more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating and middle-income status for Filipinos, with by the GCG to the President. But the Presigan, they were also the least economically desia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines oco n pub c ranspor To me wou d er in Ho services—mainly trade, acwekillings, after to fireit’s theaerring general. ar theinSenator more than 27,000 in the transport, guise of eliminating DELA CRUZ percent by 2022, from 30s in the 2000s. The economy collapsed bydefenders, 0.7social percent that deeds, especially me toget power chief. He said that National Capital Region oquen ymanent ha “good deeds espec aprominent yathose hose wringerhere of theisGCG, you must lose be in- manent gone ahead My gulay, long process! ofeeloquently transportation—not ease the discritic, Senator de Lima, suances that rights and alleged New People’s inent critic Leila de Lima theirThe perPrescapita income exceeding $3,000. Com cannot legally appoint Gierran memworsen the problem. 2. Pandemic mismanagement Commissions ofGierran GCG and the two can thatand we could prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, and Vietnam: A Tale of Two Countries” Myanmar, with aLeila population halfthe ours buthappen a thepines some highly countries in$3,000. Europe. the pervasive drugs curse. dent cannot appoint a memworsen heWhat prob em velopedident within the ASEAN region. theirdent per capita exceeding signed its declaration to accelerate socialthe and tasic andgreatest commodation, restaurants, and enterliberties? also noted the theillegal pervasive illegal drugs curse. beneficial to the nation the people, cannot Police Office chief, Major General Debold bene cprotocol. adeveloped oincome he na on andlegally he peop e more canno cannot just pick anybody to be Philthe and w tancing removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Maex-officio m ber of the Board of Trustees, much as Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecoMark my words, there will be a surge of val May 2018 of Chief Justice Ma(borrowing from Charles Dickens famous contiguous area moremy twice larger, Malaysia, especially during the growth years biznewsasia@gmail.com removal inFinance May 2018 ofthan Chief Justice Maber of the Board of Trustees, more as ex-officio members (Secretary ofland Mark words here w be a surge of Human Rights Watch says many of economic progress and promote peace andthe everything we have gained Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecoion ofin his most tainment—but also in industry, espeyntry’s and poverty. president and CEO. The threeperformance perHealth experts say this ismy dangerous. Human Rights Watch says many of Health the biznewsasia@gmail.com expunged, survives Sinas, deserves a promotion because heas has be eeffaced aced oor expunged Good su vria ves and much in the country’s Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amCarlos Dom a PhilHealth president/CEO, gulay! COVID-19 cases in the country a result (www.manilastandard.net) nomic of the Philippines ever. Rolando G. Estabillo Publ “the best of times; the worst of can beLourdes a sleeping giant now, and oncen ithe gets under Mahathir, Thailand, with itscould tourism athe PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! COVID-19 cases ry as*with a*resu ria Sereno, therecruits. revocation ofcoun am-novel 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratinrevocation the “vigilante-style Southeast Asian re- income deepicenter Lima, the assistance nomic performance of the Philippines ever. owth. cially Lowersila the manent Commissions of GCG and net) the two (www man astandard ourdes Sereno the manufacturing. of amWhat can happen here is cos that we lose Carlos Dominguez Department ofnew *its(www.manilastandard.net) (www man astandard net) triumphs in end. Marcos’ in experience in training umphs nand he end Ma pplace ace n hhistory s and ogiven yin27,000 are killings perpetratarters ofmutual growth. Budget Secr Take note that before the GCG can nesty Senator (now retired) of this nonsense. The is also theagricultural worst in ASEAN. The Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member &Antonio Chief Legal Adviser Board Memberthe & Chief Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Take note that before the GCG intimes”), Salceda defined culprit as the 1987 past itscan political troubles, punctuated recently boom and growth in the 80s and Will this bloc be of h s openly nonsense hief Justice Manesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio gion. The signatory forthemselves the Philippines was ManilaStandard ed by police officers or by killers ex-officio members (Secretary of slump Finance everything we have gained. The slump also the worst in ASEAN. The and semi-skilled workers, most of them the whole of owth ManilaStandard canis beThe accessed at: Honor B Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor can be accessed at: is secure. Marcos laws beneWhat, when Sinas violated that s secu e Ma cos aws abound and bene Ramonch ed by police officers themselves or by killers Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also SO uarters of growth The ban going to Treasury cemeteries during giventhen Senator (now retired) Antonio to vote clude your name inyour the shortlist for appointsay thecoup, idea was to help operators Trillanes IV who led mutinies initmutinies 2002 and economicONLINE collapse also makes him the worst manilastandard.net SO Editors have clude inlegal the shortlist for appointmanilastandard.net Anita F.They Grefal Treasury Manager Constitution and its restrictive provisions, and Chin by another military can he rebound withof 90s, had already surpassed the Philippines, They say dea was oAnita he pF.Wong/Ray opera vocation of amCarlos Dominguez and Department of * *makes * name (www.manilastandard.net) Foreign Secretary Narciso Ramos,were the hit hard Trillanes IV who led in 2002 and Grefal ors Manager linked to employed thelinked authorities.” only informally, Pakistan, and ONLINE economic collapse also him the worst Jimbo O Chin S. Eñano Associate erfirst of quarter fit us us. are in our system Wo Enhanced Community Quarantine protocols They a e embedded n ou ega sys em I SEE the economically to the authorities.” Publishedleast Monday to Sunday by Philippine ManilaSO Standard enes of in the shortl ment as a member of the Board of Trustees and drivers of public utility vehicles. IntePublished Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror to whether to Baldwin include youthe or not All Saints’ Day and toAll IEditor SEEopening president ever in The terms ofhave economic perforIV who led mutinies in 2002 and Budget Secretary Wendel will also ment asinavote member the Board of Trustees ban of going cemeteries during etired) Antonio and dr vers pubReynato c uor Baldwin y S.veh cFelipe esPangco In e-ofPañares the many further ample natural resources. despite frequent changes stabifather of former President Fidel Ramos. Former Chief Justice Puno Board Member &Souls’ Chief Legal up Adviser R. he Felipe Solutions 2007, and passage of“Undas” aofnew Anti-Terror Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106Avisado) Paseo de Authorities admit 7,000 deaths M. because fewtohad theV. option toduring work fromPublishing 00 cases daily, Joyce News R.resistance Head—Ad president ever in of economic perforPublishing Inc. at 6/Fnue Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de MEMBER Joyce continue to govern guide the nation. when hadLocal aHead—Ad mañanita birthday party? and con oterms gove ntogovernment, and gu deof he na on itsat: ManilaStandard MEMBER LITO Solutions Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during TheLino GCG of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterrior and Government Secretary Educan be accessed Act (ATA). SO SEE Roxas,have corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone developed within the to vote whether to include you or not “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ mance. ies in 2002 and LITO Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.the Telephone of Philhealth, GCG first needs to deterr or and Loca Governmen Secre ary Eduthe economy, which promoted oligarchies enOf course, we can blame COVID-19 as lized only by the revered authority of its king, in the shortlist Day is no problem for me and my wife Philippine Press Institute The attempt atof organizing an economic andare Adelle Chua Opinion Editor home,” notes ADB. cases and will and the passage a new Anti-Terror Act (ATA). the campaign. Any numbers above that Philippine Press Institute Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager BANAYO mance. asion 4.2Marcos’ vision and foresight in lawmaking For PNP Chief Camilo Coscolan to say Ma cos v832-5556, sONLINE onyou ome es and gh my n to awmak ng Edgar M. Valmorida Treasury Circulation Manager numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all manilastandard.net Council. Be the campaign. Any numbers above that are I SEE mine whether are qualified hold this numbers 832-5554, 832-5558 (connecting all ardo Año said that if this is true, we should meant a 4.2The National Association Anita F. Grefal Manager BANAYO in the shortlist. Day is no problem for wife. Recently, there have been sensational The National Association new thatBhumibol isdepartments), allfor due tois the second biggest mine whether you qualified to hold this ardo dbeen haPresident fareh exs syears rue wewe shou d notcapture riched by regulatory the lack of much as want for theAño difficulties wemany Adulyadej. Oil rich with athe departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising)L832-5550. P.O. collaborative bloc was preceded byhad failedrescued atsix totalAnti-Terror COVID TO And Recently, there sensational (Editorial) 832-5554, 832-5550. P.O. 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every ngChief we have ga ned S.preceding er the worst eco-of Malaysia, and Indonesia’s Sukar- even as an authoritarian military regime in warned that unless we “open up” the econo- and started the process what looks &like a Legal contentious ofh*systemic reforms. Former Reynato Puno Board Member Chief Adviser and ria LourdesriaSereno, theSereno, revocation amManilaStandard of Dominguez and Department * * Justice ever. minister can be accessed at: Former Reynato S. Punopresidential Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Ramonch Rolando G.Carlos Estabillo Publisher Lourdes thetheof revocation of amCarlos Dominguez and Department of * *Chief * Justice Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher (www.manilastandard.net) ManilaStandard Philippines ever. broke off multi-personality election a year But Joey Salceda says these are not enough, my and become less restrictive, governed by can be accessed at: Myanmar stifled growth, and Cambodia was no, which almost as soon as ink manilastandard.net Anita F. 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Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Rolando G.Editor Estabillo Publisher Jimbo Owen Gulle City Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors anila Standard Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares& Chief News Editor MEMBER Board Member Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions 6 Paseo de Lino M. Santos Chief Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor ManilaStandard MEMBER can be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Photographer Philippine Press Institute Adelle Chua Opinion Editor Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager City. Telephone manilastandard.net Philippine Press Institute Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Adelle Chua Opinion Editor ONLINE The National Association Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors necting all Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard The National Association of Philippine Newspapers ng) 832-5550.Publishing P.O. Baldwin R. Felipe Head—AdEmil Solutions Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor of Philippine Newspapers MEMBER P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board Website: www. Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone Emil P. Jurado Chairman Board Philippine Press Institute AdelleEmeritus, Chua Editorial Opinion Editor Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all ManilaStandard

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

World

WHO experts to meet on AstraZeneca shot G ENEVA—World Health Organization safety experts prepared to meet Tuesday over the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine whose rollout has been halted in several European countries over blood clot fears, imperilling the pandemic fight as infection rates surge.

The three largest EU nations -- Germany, Italy and France -- joined others in suspending the shot Monday, dealing a blow to the global immunisation campaign against a disease that has killed more than 2.6 million people. The WHO, AstraZeneca, and the European Medicines Agency have insisted the shot is safe, and that there is no link between the vaccine and reported blood clots.

“We do not want people to panic and we would, for the time being, recommend that countries continue vaccinating with AstraZeneca,” WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said Monday. “So far, we do not find an association between these events and the vaccine.” WHO and EMA experts on Tuesday will separately discuss data from AstraZeneca vaccinations, and the European regulator

will hold an extraordinary meeting two days later to decide on any further action. AstraZeneca’s shot, among the cheapest available, was billed as the vaccine of choice for poorer nations and the clot reports have had an impact beyond Europe. Indonesia delayed its AstraZeneca rollout on Monday, and Venezuela announced it would not authorise the jab over fears of “complications”.

‘China’s military buildup poses Taiwan threat’ TOKYO—China’s accelerated military modernisation poses a clear and growing threat to Taiwan, and US intervention might only risk intensifying pressure from Beijing, US defence officials say. Washington’s top US military officer in Asia-Pacific Admiral Philip Davidson made waves last week by warning that Beijing could seek to invade Taiwan within six years. And as Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin makes Asia the target of his first overseas trip, US defence officials have hammered home the threat they see posed by Beijing’s rapid military build-up. “Preparing for Taiwan contingencies has been a focus in China’s mil-

itary modernisation for some time,” acting assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs David Helvey told reporters as Austin headed to Tokyo on Monday. “So as their capabilities are increasing, obviously we are paying very careful attention to the military balance in the Taiwan strait.” Beijing’s ambitions in the region are expected to top Defense Secretary Austin’s agenda in talks with allies in Tokyo, Seoul and New Delhi. Beijing claims Taiwan and surrounding waters as its own territory, and last week Davidson warned the threat of invasion there was “manifest during this decade, in fact, in the next six years”.

Beijing dismissed those claims, but a senior US defence official pointed Monday to China’s efforts to step up its naval capacity, despite the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. “Just in 2020, in the midst of all the Covid-related stuff, China still commissioned 25 major new ships -and these were not tug boats or patrol boats,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “These were cruisers, and destroyers and frigates and amphibs and ballistic-missile submarines.” Democratic and self-ruled Taiwan split from China at the end of a civil war in 1949 and exists under the constant threat of invasion by the mainland. AFP

STRONG ARMS.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin leave after their joint press conference with Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi after their 2+2 meeting at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on March 16. AFP

Nokor leaders’ sis warns of US ‘losing sleep’ SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s influential sister warned the United States against actions that could make it “lose sleep”, state media reported Tuesday, as top Biden administration officials began a visit to key allies Tokyo and Seoul. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Japan on Monday on their first overseas trip, aimed at rallying military alliances as a bulwark against China and cementing a united front against the nuclear-armed North. The statement by Kim Yo Jong, a key adviser to her brother, was Pyongyang’s first explicit reference to the new president in Washington, more than four

months after Joe Biden was elected to replace Donald Trump -- although it still did not mention the Democrat by name. The United States and South Korea began joint military exercises last week and Pyongyang’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried a statement from her offering “a word of advice to the new administration of the United States that is struggling to spread the smell of gunpowder on our land”. “If you wish to sleep well for the next four years, it would be better not to create work from the start that will make you lose sleep,” she said. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 91, Quezon City IN THE MATTER OF THE RECTIFICATION AND CORRECTION OF THE SIMULATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF PAUL MATHEW FONTECHA ESCOREAL AND CHANGE OF NAME TO MARCO FONTECHA ARAGON MC PAUL D. ARAGON and MARCO FONTECHA ARAGON, Petitioners, -versus-

SP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-20-08773-SP

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, PSA, QUEZON CITY, CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR, QUEZON CITY, CITY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, QUEZON CITY OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, MAKATI CITY, and PAUL MISOLA ESCOREAL. Respondents. x-------------------------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a verified petition filed by the petitioners praying that after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered ordering the public respondents the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority to cause the corresponding correction of entries in the Certificate of Liver Birth of Marco Fontecha Aragon, specifically: Entry No.: I; Details: Name of Child; From: Paul Mathew Fontecha Escoreal To: Marco Fontecha Aragon Entry No.: 13; Details: Name of Father; From: Paul Misola Escoreal To Mc Paul D. Aragon Entry No.: 18; Details: Date & Place of Marriage of Parents; From: January 10, 1980, Municipal Judge, San Narciso, Zambales To: N/A Entry No.: 20; Details: Informant’s Relationship to the Child; From: Father To: N/A Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby set for hearing on April 23, 2021 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at Room 403 Hall of Justice Building Annex, Elliptical Road, Quezon City. All interested parties are required to appear and show cause during the said hearing why the petition should or should not be granted. Let a copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioners once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of General Circulation to be selected by raffle pursuant to P.D. 1079. Furnish the Office of the Solicitor General, the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, Office of the City Prosecutors, Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority of this Order, together with the copy of the Petition and its Annexes. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, January 7, 2021. (Sgd.) KATHLEEN ROSARIO D. DELA CRUZ-ESPINOSA Presiding Judge Copy furnished: Atty. Eric Estella Ebarle Counsel for the Petitioners Ablola-Ebarle Law Office 2nd Floor, RHOI Bldg., Palanginan, Iba, Zambales Mr. Paul D. Aragon/Marco Fontecha Aragon Petitioners Brgy. Locloc, Paluaig, Zambales

(MStandard - Mar. 17, 24 & 31, 2021)

ANOTHER BODY. Family members mourn next to the body of protester Than Htike Oo, who died after being shot by security forces during a crackdown on demonstrations against the military coup, in Mandalay on March 15. AFP

Myanmar death toll grows; Locals flee martial law area YANGON—Residents of a protest flashpoint district in Myanmar’s biggest city fled on flatbed trucks and tuk-tuks Tuesday after security forces escalated the use of lethal force against anti-coup protesters, despite international appeals for restraint. Much of the country has been in uproar since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to demand a return to democracy. Police and soldiers have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to subdue crowds in near-daily crackdowns, along with blanket nightly internet shutdowns to stop protesters from mobilising. Monday saw fresh violence by security forces in several cities, leaving at least 20 dead, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring group that has been tracking arrests and fatalities. It followed the deadliest day so far in the six weeks since the army deposed Suu Kyi’s government, with the AAPP reporting 74 killed on Sunday after the violent suppression of anti-coup unrest across Myanmar. AFP

Business Nokia to slash up to 10,000 jobs by 2023 HELSINKI, Finland—Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia announced Tuesday it will slash up to 11 percent of its workforce within two years as the firm looks to cut costs and focus on a few key areas in the face of tough competition over super-fast 5G networks. Announcing a 600-million-euro ($715-million) cost-cutting program, it said it expects to become “an 80,000– 85,000 employee organization, over an 18–24-month period, instead of the approximately 90,000 employees Nokia has today.” The company said it is “too early to comment in detail” on where the job cuts will take place, but told AFP that “France is excluded due to previously announced planned restructuring.” The loss of over 1,000 jobs in France is still underway following Nokia’s 2016 takeover of Alcatel-Lucent. Finland, where the group is headquartered and where it last year recruited over 1,200 new 5G posts, is also expected to be largely spared, with Nokia saying that it expects the restructuring to have a “net positive” impact in the Nordic country. Market developments in the next two years will determine the exact number of job losses, the company said, adding that the firm will also streamline its portfolio and reduce “site fragmentation” in the long-term. Nokia has flagged in the three-way race against Ericsson and Huawei to dominate the 5G equipment market, losing out on a major Verizon contract in the US last year and failing to make inroads in China. The firm has in the past had difficulties competing on price against its rivals and has struggled to convert its existing 4G bases into 5G contracts. After chief executive Pekka Lundmark took the helm in August last year, he scrapped previous CEO Rajeev Suri’s “endto-end solutions” strategy, replacing it with a more focused approach and pledging to “invest whatever it takes to win in 5G”. The company will in future be structured around four business groups aligned with customer buying behaviur—Mobile Networks, IP and Fixed Networks, Cloud and Network Services and Nokia Technologies—each with its own profit and loss sheet. “In those areas where we choose to compete, we will play to win,” Lundmark said in Tuesday’s statement. The firm announced in February that predicted market share loss in North America in 5G and 4G along with price erosion meant the firm’s 2021 outlook remained unchanged, with a 7-10 percent operating margin target. AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market slightly rises; DITO, Ayala bounce back T HE stock market edged slightly higher Tuesday, with investors capping early gains on worries over a spike in COVID-19 cases and stricter quarantine rules.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 6.62 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,559.08 on a value turnover of P5.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 118 to 97, with 41 issues unchanged. DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone ﬁrm, rose 3.4 percent to P10.18, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. climbed 3.3 percent to P757. Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, advanced 3 percent to P125.50, while BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in terms of assets, gained 2.2 percent at P104.60. Meanwhile, optimism over the economic recovery helped push Asian markets higher Tuesday following another record on Wall Street, with focus on the Federal Reserve’s much-anticipated policy meeting this week. News that several European

countries had stopped administering the AstraZeneca vaccine on safety fears, dealing a blow to the continent’s already stuttering inoculation program, appeared to have little impact on sentiment. As the US vaccine program kicks on and Americans begin to get their government cash handouts as part of President Joe Biden’s mega-stimulus, investors are betting that months of pent-up spending will soon be let loose on the world’s top economy, a key driver of global growth. Expectations for a surge in activity in the second half of the year, backed by huge government rescue packages and central bank largesse, have helped power world markets to record or multi-year highs. However, the rocket-powered recovery has investors growing increasingly worried about soaring inﬂation that could force national banks to wind down the ultra-loose monetary policies that have helped send equities higher. US benchmark 10-year Treasury yields—a guide to future interest rates—have risen to a one-year high in recent weeks. Still, for now the positive economic beneﬁts were winning the tug of war with

inflation fears. Wall Street’s three main indexes chalked up healthy gains with the Dow and S&P 500 hitting new all-time highs and even the Nasdaq—which has suffered from a shift out of tech stocks over the past month—enjoying a healthy run-up. And Asia continued the run with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok, Wellington and Taipei all up. “On the heels of the reopening optimism, stocks again become a flatout buy as tailwinds from an expected stimulus-induced shopping bonanza will find their way into higher corporate profits and higher earnings per share,” said Axi strategist Stephen Innes. “Markets continue to move based on the expectation of a post-virus boom. At least that is the dominant narrative right now. The economy, boosted by another round of stimulus, will surge once the virus is under control and things return to normal.” Referring to Biden’s hope that Americans would be able to celebrate Independence Day together in July, Innes added: “I have some news for the Biden administration; the party has already started.” With AFP

TOP GAINERS 1 2

PRIM LRW

LAST PRICE 2.85 2.06

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.39 15.85% 0.25 13.81%

3 4

BHI NRCP

0.093 0.81

0.008 0.06

9.41% 8.00%

5 6 7

FERRO TCB2A CLI

3.25 0.85 5.5

0.2 0.05 0.32

6.56% 6.25% 6.18%

8 9 10

ABSP MARC PRMX

11.38 1.22 1.5

0.58 0.06 0.07

5.37% 5.17% 4.90%

TOP LOSERS 1 2

MVC JOH

LAST PRICE 3.5 4.2

% CHANGE CHANGE -0.75 -17.65% -0.52 -11.02%

3 4

SLF CHI

2300 6.5

-200 -0.49

-8.00% -7.01%

5 6 7

DWC NI AEV

5.05 2.09 35.6

-0.32 -0.13 -2.2

-5.96% -5.86% -5.82%

8 9 10

MB REG PA

0.425 2.39 3.43

-0.025 -0.14 -0.17

-5.56% -5.53% -4.72%

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

The headquarters of the Finnish telecoms company Nokia is pictured in Espoo, Finland, on March 16, 2021. Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia said it would slash up to 10,000 jobs over the next two years as part of a 600-million-euro ($715-million) cost-cutting program. AFP

One year after ALMOST exactly one year ago, on 16 March 2020, Luzon entered enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the most stringent of the four quarantine frames developed to address the COVID-19 epidemic. As we mark one year of living with COVID-19 and quarantine, we are dealing with a second wave of infections, with reported new cases on 16 March at 5,404, up from 2,885 just ﬁve days prior (10 March). The 7-day rolling average of new cases at 4,167. This seven-day rolling average approximates the 7-day rolling average in August of 2020, the peak of the ﬁrst wave. Where are we now? What have we learned and what should we be doing? What we have learned A year ago, we knew much less about COVID-19 than we know today. At the time, the consensus was that COVID-19 could only be transmitted through droplets and hence, transmission could occur from direct contact with the virus in droplets caused by sneezing or coughing of an infectious person or direct contact with an infectious surface. At the time, it was thought that COVID-19 was not capable of airborne transmission. What this means is that we thought that the virus did not remain infectious in air for a long time or over long distances. Today, we know that the COVID-19 virus is capable of airborne transmission. In fact, many of the earliest cases of airborne transmission occurred in hospitals during treatment of COVID-19 when health care workers were not yet adequately protected. Airborne transmission requires much more stringent requirements to control transmission. This explains current policy concerning face masks, face shields, social distancing and hygiene.

PSEi March 16, 2021

In the early days, the belief was that the patients became infectious when symptoms began. Now, we know that patients are infectious even before symptoms begin and are in fact most infectious in the early stages before and on the ﬁrst day of symptoms. In the early days, we knew that the average incubation was about 5 days. What we did not appreciate and what we understand better now is how variable incubation was. This explains the 14-day isolation period for travelers.

Controlling transmission is still job number one One year ago, estimates of case fatality rate (CFR) or mortality ranged from 2% to 4%. Current global and Philippine data indicates a 2% CFR. While this mortality rate is lower than other serious flus (60% for avian flu, 34.3% for MERS, and 9.6% for SARS), it is certainly much higher than the 0.1% mortality for the common flu. One year ago, we were not aware of the existence of long COVID-19 and the potential long-term debilitating effects of COVID, including permanent damage to the lungs or heart. One year ago, we thought that children were relatively safe fromCOVID-19, that they could catch the disease but would likely only get mild symptoms. Now we know that COVID-19 can cause multiple organ shock and failure in young children. In essence, we have learned that COVID-19 poses a much more difficult medical problem than we had originally believed. Most importantly, controlling transmission is job number one and that involves a few basic rules: the wearing of

protective equipment, especially faces masks and shields; distancing of between 1 and 2 meters depending on the situation; limiting close contact to 30 minutes; and hygiene (hand washing and disinfection of surfaces). What we have achieved As of 15 March, total global COVID-19 cases are about 119.6 million, 1.5 percent of the global population. The Philippine numbers are at 626,000, 0.5 percent of the population. The Philippines reports 12.837 deaths from COVID-19. 1.2 deaths per ten thousand population. The global number is 2.6 million, about 3.4 per ten thousand population. It is easy to look at the current surge in the country and the continued global epidemic and believe that we have accomplished nothing. That is not true. The COVID statistics, both worldwide and in the country, could have been much, much worse. They are not catastrophic simply because governments instituted safety measures. The difference between Avian Flu and COVID-19 is that Avian ﬂu kills most of the people it infects. That means these people have far less ability to infect others. Without non-pharmaceutical measures such as protective equipment and social distancing, COVID-19 can infect more people. Why? It is not just that the virus is airborne. Patients are infectious before they are symptomatic and the overwhelming majority (80 percent) of patients have only mild symptoms. Incubation periods can last up to 2 weeks and in rare cases, even more. This probably explains how the virus spread internationally so quickly. What experts have always tried to explain is that quarantine can only control transmission and that truly eliminating the virus was a matter of herd immunity. What the various lockdowns and

social distancing measures have achieved is to buy time. Time not just to learn about the disease but time to develop a vaccine. There is currently no vaccine for avian flu, or SARS, or MERS. There are, however, now many COVID-19 vaccines. What this pandemic has taught us is how much can be achieved when nations, companies, and scientists work together. Information on any new strain of the virus is made available to the global scientific community within days of discovery. Government and private sector have worked together. Companies have worked together across national borders. These vaccines have been made available to the public at what, under normal circumstances, would be considered blinding speed. Where we are and what we should do A second wave of the disease began making its way in Europe and other parts of the world in the latter part of 2020. This second wave was fueled by newer strains that proved more contagious than the original strain of the virus. In the Philippines, we are experiencing our second wave today. What we need to do now is to use what we have learned. We can flatten this new curve. We have in the past and we can do so again. We must continue social distancing and limit contacts. We should stay home, except for unavoidable activities. The vaccines are coming. We must wait for them. Even more importantly, we must remember there is not yet a vaccine for children. If you engage in dangerous behavior, you are putting our children at risk. Please don’t. Keep safe. Keep everyone else safe. Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations. tumblr.com.

DITO SM BDO ALI SMPH MBT TEL PHA ICT URC

VOLUME 52614800 304595 2948590 7751500 6297800 4802900 155930 88224000 1285320 1262720

VALUE (PHP) 526800991 305771085 304537051 280023695 223593235 218992620 200473980 197459110 160755322 157004095

Toys ‘R’ Us sold again to company offering expansion NEW York, United States—Iconic American toy store Toys “R” Us is changing hands once again, this time going to an investment firm that promises to expand the chain that once dominated the market. Leading brand acquisition and management company WHP Global announced on Monday it had taken control of the troubled business known for its Geoffrey the Giraffe mascot and backwards “R” in the name. The deal comes two years after the retailer along with the Babies “R” Us toy and clothing store was acquired in a liquidation sale by Tru Kids Inc. which New York-based WHP said it had taken a controlling interest in. “Our investment in Toys ‘R’ Us reflects our belief and passion for the brand,” WHP chairman and chief executive Yehuda Shmidman said. “This is a natural fit for WHP, as we can leverage our global network and digital platform to help grow Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us around the world.” He noted that the category is up 16 percent and “consumer demand for toys is at an all-time high.” In an interview with CNBC, he said he wanted to reopen Toys “R” Us stores in the United States, ideally by the next holiday season. Shmidman is familiar with the brand as he has served as vice president of Tru Brands since 2019. His company also manages the clothing brands Anne Klein and Joseph Abboud. Tru Brands had tried to reopen Toys “R” Us stores but was thwarted by low mall traffic and shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us generate over $2 billion in global retail sales annually through nearly 900 branded stores and ecommerce sites in over 25 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, the statement said. AFP

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, March 16, 2021

6.62 PTS. 6,559.08

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

3,297,890,886 115,771 5,897,722,567.38 118 97 41

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.4930

Japan

Yen

0.009164

0.4444

Pound

1.390500

67.4295

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128786

6.2452

Switzerland

Franc

1.078516

52.3005

Canada

Dollar

0.801603

38.8721

Singapore

Dollar

0.743163

36.0382

Australia

Dollar

0.775100

37.5869

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

128.7653

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9308

Brunei

Dollar

0.740412

35.9048

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032552

1.5785

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2033

Euro

1.192900

57.8473

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.153832

7.4598

India

Rupee

0.013787

0.6686

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243309

11.7988

New Zealand

Dollar

0.719800

34.9053

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035422

1.7177 Source: BSP

Aboitiz Group spending P48b in ‘21 to expand business units

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. said Tuesday it will spend P48 billion for its business units to support economic recovery this year. It said the amount represents a 69-percent increase from P29 billion in capital expenditures in 2020. AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would continue to rise above the challenge brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and deliver on its commitments. The Aboitiz Group supplies close to 20 percent of the country’s population through its critical businesses in power, banking and financial services, food, land and infrastructure and cement manufacturing. “We continue to invest in our country to support economic recovery and growth, as millions of Filipinos are relying on us—families and communities. Our team members take this responsibility to heart. We simply cannot fail. Over the next 10 years, we commit to investing in capacities to advance business and communities in the nine Asia Pacific countries where we operate,” said Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz. It said bulk of the budget amounting to P23 billion would be earmarked for Aboitiz Power Corp. for the completion of GNPower Dinginin coal plant project and the battery energy storage projects. The 1,336-megawatt GNPower Dinginin baseload power plant is being constructed in Mariveles, Bataan. Aboitiz Power is adding to its portfolio battery energy storage system projects that will help ensure grid stability through sufficient ancillary services, starting with the installation of a 49-MW facility of business unit Therma Marine Inc. in Maco, Davao de Oro. Aboitiz Power, in partnership with Wartsila Corp., a global leader in smart energy technologies, recently started the installation of its first BESS project in its Therma Marine Inc. facility with a capacity of 49 MW in Maco, Davao de Oro. Meanwhile, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. budgeted P13 billion to fund various projects including its common towers project and for the construction of Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.’s bulk water supply project with Davao City Water District and other water projects. About P2 billion would also be earmarked for Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc.

PDEx approves listing of Aboitiz Power bonds

PHILIPPINE Dealing and Exchange Corp. (PDEx) approved Tuesday the listing of Aboitiz Power Corp.’s (Aboitiz Power) Series “A” Bonds equivalent to P8 billion, including oversubscription. Aboitiz Power disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the PDEx approval paves the way for the secondary market trading of the Series “A” Bonds, with a fixed interest rate of 3.8224 percent per annum and a maturity date of 2026. The Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1 approved the public offer of Aboitiz Power’s fixed rate retail bonds in the aggregate principal amount of up to P30 billion to be issued in tranches. “The remaining balance of the P30 billion bonds was lodged under the shelf registration program of SEC and may be raised in future tranches,” the company said. Aboitiz Power may issue the debt securities in one or more series within three years. Aboitiz Power will use proceeds from the first tranche bonds for the redemption of bonds maturing 2021 and the early redemption of bonds maturing in 2026. Alena Mae S. Flores

D&L set offer to P5b worth of debt notes

SUSTAINABILITY AUDIT. The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation conducts a sustainability audit for its Marine Protection, Inspection and Conservation Guardians Program in Medina, Misamis Oriental to determine the impact of the three yearlong initiative. Attending the event are (front row, from left) Medina Vice Mayor Kim Michael Odchigue, lawyer Donn Kapunan, MPIF president Melody del Rosario, Medina Mayor Donato Chan and Benjie del Rosario.

Gov’t no longer accepting tenders to modernize NAIA By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE Department of Transportation said Tuesday it will no longer accept unsolicited proposals for the development and rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, however, clariﬁed while the government would not entertain offers from the private sector, it would handle the airport’s improvements. “No unsolicited proposal, correct. No improvements in NAIA, wrong. Because even without the unsolicited proposal. we are continuously doing improvements,” Tugade said during the Asia CEO virtual forum. “In fact, when we decided [that there would be] no more unsolicited pro-

posals, we upgraded and rehabilitated runway 13/31 [of NAIA] ... We will… address the requirements of NAIA terminal. We don’t address it not only in terms of passenger movements but more importantly in terms of convenience, in terms of security for the traveling public, for those inside the warehouse and the cargoes that go in and out of the airport,” he said. The Manila International Airport Authority, which operates the airport, revoked in December 2020 the original proponent status of Megawide Construction Corp. and foreign partner GMR Infrastructure Limited for the P109-billion proposal to rehabilitate and transform NAIA. Megawide offered to construct the project in three phases such as the improvement of airside and terminals and the connection via bus rapid transit. They also planned to build a new terminal, additional taxi lanes and an elevated railway. NAIA Consortium, a previous proponent, informed the government that it would no longer pursue the NAIA rehabilitation project because it was not conﬁdent about ﬁnancing the project.

NAIA Consortium members included Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. Aside from Megawide and NAIA Consortium, San Miguel Corp. also expressed interest to operate NAIA for 10 years while it was developing a bigger airport in Bulacan province. San Miguel’s proposed 10-year concession was designed to give the government a freer hand on what to do with NAIA, once the Bulacan Airport was completed and operational. “Our interest in NAIA does not intend to replicate what Megawide had in mind for NAIA. Our proposal is brought on only by the need to have it running effectively and safely for the Filipino people, until our Bulacan airport project is up,” SMC president and chief operating ofﬁcer Ramon Ang earlier said. “And until our airport is ready, that task needs to be done. We are also leaving it up to the government to decide on what to do with the NAIA in the future,” he said.

FOOD ingredients and plastics manufacturer D&L Industries Inc. plans to raise up to P5 billion from its maiden bond offering. D&L said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday its board of director approved the offering of between P3 billion and P5 billion worth of bonds with a tenure of 3 to 5 years. Final details of the issuance, including interest rates, will be finalized together with the company’s underwriters. Net proceeds from the bond issuance will primarily be used to finance the company’s expansion plans in Batangas costing P8 billion and requiring the corresponding working capital requirements. “With interest rates still remaining low, we believe it’s an opportune time to tap the debt market. Our maiden bond offering will be a useful financial exercise for the company and will allow flexibility for future opportunities we can potentially take advantage of,” D&L president and chief executive Alvin Lao said. Jenniffer B. Austria

DTI bares livelihood program for OFWs A MULTI-AGENCY program led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aims to give livelihood opportunities to about 700,000 returning Overseas Filipino Workers who were dislocated by the global pandemic. “Thus to be able to reach to as many (OFWs) as we can, we are implementing this program in ﬁve pilot regions Regions 1, 3, 4-A, 6, and 7. These are the provinces with the biggest number of our repatriated kababayans,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during the launch Tuesday of the “Agri-Negosyo Para sa OFWs” program. As of January 2021, there were 569,462 OFWs that have been repatriated to the country with estimates of some 100,000 more will be returning in the coming months. Aside from Metro Manila, repatriated OFWs are mostly based in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, Cebu, Iloilo, Rizal, Pangasinan and Pampanga. “This program aims to, ﬁrstly, immediately respond to the need for jobs and livelihood of our repatriated OFWs who have lost or left their jobs abroad because of the pandemic,” Lopez said. Othel V. Campos

Ayala Land infusing P15.5b worth of properties into REIT subsidiary By Jenniffer B. Austria

TRANSSHIPMENT HUB. ISL vessel Independiente makes a maiden call on TecPlata, International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s Argentinian subsidiary, with cargo from the Asunción Port in Paraguay. The cargo was transshipped to Brazil via the Log-In vessel Jacaranda on the right. The service, which made its first stopover in TecPlata on March 6, is jointly operated by Independencia Shipping Lines and Log-In Logistica Intermodal using regular maritime services that currently operate in the region.

Fruitas Holdings unveils target to broaden network to 50 community stores this month FRUITAS Holdings Inc., the Philippines’ leading food and beverage kiosk operator, said Tuesday it plans to build 50 community stores by the end of this month to remain on track of its target of 100 outlets before the end of 2021. Fruitas said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would open the ﬁrst stand-alone Fruitas Creamery, which would sell its line of Fruitas dairy-based ice cream and Soy & Bean soy-based ice cream. It said within the next few weeks, it would open Soy & Bean community stores in the cities of Las Piñas and Marikina, and its ﬁrst franchised community outletin Rizal province. It also recently launched its line of Fruitas Pure 100-percent cold pressed juices naturally

IN BRIEF

made from fresh fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. “The pandemic has required us to adapt to the demands of our customers. We will continue to expand and enhance CocoDelivery. Our community stores, which were conceptualized during these challenging times, now contribute approximately 10 percent of our revenues and we expect this to further increase moving forward,” Fruitas president and chief executive Lester Yu said. “We will also be offering a wider selection of products to our customers and get closer to them. As near-term risks from the pandemic remain, we will also further amplify the health beneﬁts of our key products,” Yu said. Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc. said Tuesday it is infusing P15.46 billion worth of properties into real estate investment trust company AREIT Inc. under a property- for-share-swap transaction. Ayala Land said in a disclosure to the stock change its executive committee approved the infusion of P15.46 billion worth of commercial properties into AREIT Inc. in exchange for 483.25 million shares in the company. Under the transaction, AREIT will increase its authorized capital stock to P29.5 billion from P11.74 billion. The property-for-share swap transaction and the increase in the capital stock are subject to the approval of regulatory bodies and AREIT shareholders during the annual meeting next month AREIT said the transaction with Ayala Land would increase the group’s leasing portfolio from 344,000 square meters to 549,000 sq. m. and deposited property value from P37 billion to P52 billion. AREIT is the ﬁrst REIT company to be listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange. When

it was listed, its property portfolio consisted only of three commercial buildings. These are Solaris One, a 24-story commercial building; Ayala North Exchange, a two-tower mixeduse development; and McKinley Exchange, a ﬁve-story mixed-use development. It said that in a span of less than a year, it added three more properties in its portfolio, including the Teleperformance Cebu Building, the 75,000-sq.m. commercial development in Pasig and a 98,0000-sq.m. land at Laguna Technopark which is leased by Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. for manufacturing business. Meanwhile, Ayala Land said it reached 91-percent carbon neutrality in its commercial properties and was on track to achieve its target of 100 percent by next year. This means that all of the greenhouse gases discharged by Ayala Land’s malls, ofﬁces, hotels and resorts because of its use of fossil fuels would be fully reduced and offset by the end of 2022 by switching to renewable energy and nurturing and protecting 586 hectares of land bank which it designated as carbon forests.

NGCP launches monitoring system to prepare for smart grid TRANSMISSION network operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Tuesday it launched its own central control and monitoring system as part of efforts to improve power transmission capabilities and bring the country closer to running on a smart grid. “NGCP is pleased with this development as it works to keep pace with the rising standards of power utility practices around the globe, as part of its commitment to realize a smarter, more efﬁcient power transmission grid,” the company said in a statement. CCMS is a technology used to automate certain functions of the power transmission grid, especially in substations. The system includes real-time monitoring software and hardware to be used for the acquisition, collection, centralized monitoring and analysis of power data and

equipment condition. NGCP said it would be able to remotely operate unmanned substations through the CCMS, thus improving the operational performance of transmission facilities. NGCP’s Cagayan de Oro and Cebu substations will pilot the CCMS, with the company targeting to expand CCMS-enabled facilities to 21 substations around the country by 2025. It said CCMS is part of the company’s commitment to introduce smart grid technology to the Philippines. A smart grid incorporates modern hardware and digital software to intuitively and intelligently automate the functions of the power system which translates to improved grid security and information management, efﬁcient integration of the connection between generators and load customers, effective response to the needs of the

transmission network and greater reliability and quality of power transmitted by the grid. NGCP said it continued its annual public consultation to present the 2021-2040 Transmission Development Plan to energy agencies and stakeholders from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao despite the ongoing pandemic. “This exercise is meant to provide updates on NGCP’s grid improvement projects and get substantial feedback from our stakeholders before ﬁnalizing and submitting to the Department of Energy. Our stakeholders’ inputs are vital as we map out our priority projects to address the growing demand for power in the country. This will ensure that the plans of NGCP for the coming years are in sync with the needs of our power customers and the entire energy industry,” the company said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Sports

Giannis reels off 3rd straight triple-double to carry Bucks LOS ANGELES—Giannis Antetokounmpo reeled off his third straight triple-double as the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to four games with a 133-122 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday. Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in another MVP-caliber performance that came two days after his 33-point triple double against the Wizards on Saturday. “We feel like we’ve said it a lot after games for a good stretch of time now -he’s been in a good place mentally for a while,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of Antetokounmpo’s performance at Washington’s Capital One Arena. “The way he’s playing, creating for others, creating for himself. He’s just playing great basketball,” Budenholzer added. Khris Middleton added 23 points for Milwaukee while center Brook Lopez finished with 22 as seven Bucks players cracked double figures. Bradley Beal led Washington’s scoring with 37 points after going 13-of-19 from the field with four three-pointers. Russell Westbrook finished with 23 points and 17 assists while Japan’s Rui Hachimura added 22 points for Washington. Milwaukee improved to 25-14 with the win and remain third in the Eastern Conference behind Brooklyn and leaders Philadelphia. Elsewhere Monday, James Harden bagged a triple double and Kyrie Irving added 34 points as the Brooklyn Nets rolled to a fifth consecutive victory with a 117-112 win over the New York Knicks. Harden finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a superb individual display at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Irving’s 34-point display was backed by Jeff Green (20 points) and Joe Harris with 13 points. The Knicks meanwhile fell just short of a fourth quarter comeback after coming within three points of Brooklyn with 10 seconds remaining having trailed by 18 points earlier in the half. Knicks forward Julius Randle needed to be restrained by team-mates at the buzzer after a controversial travelling call effectively handed Brooklyn the win. Randle, who finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, angrily kicked a chair over as he headed to the locker room following the loss. Meanwhile, LeBron James bagged his fourth triple-double of the season as the Los Angeles Lakers thrashed the Golden State Warriors 128-97 on Monday. James finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists as the Lakers dominated almost from start to finish for an impressive win on the road at the Chase Center. Stephen Curry led the Golden State scoring with 27 points but the much hoped-for duel with All-Star game team-mate James never materialised as the Dubs struggled to contain the Lakers’ offense. AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

Bradley Beal (center) of the Washington Wizards looks to pass between Giannis Antetokounmpo (right) and Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. AFP

Senate approves bills granting citizenship to Kouame, Marañon By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Senate has approved on third and final reading the measures granting Philippine citizenship to Ivorian basketball player Angelo “Ange” Kouame and Spanish football player Bienvenido Morejon Marañon that would allow them to play for the national basketball and football teams, respectively.

The addition of Kouame to the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team is a boost to the Philippines’ chances in qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, said Senator Sonny Angara. Angara, the chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is the principal author of Senate Bill 1892 granting Philippine citizenship to Kouame through naturalization. While waiting for the approval of his naturalization, the 6’10” Ivorian recruit Kouame has already been training with Gilas Pilipinas in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifying Windows. Once the bill is signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, Kouame will officially become a member of Gilas Pilipinas and provide the national squad with much needed support when it competes in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia this coming June 29 to July 4. The Philippines has been given anoth-

er shot to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics after New Zealand decided to pull out of the tournament in Belgrade. According to FIBA, the Philippines was selected to replace New Zealand by virtue of Gilas Pilipinas being the next best team in the Asia-Oceania Region in the FIBA world ranking for men’s basketball. Apart from the OQT, Gilas will also compete in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers scheduled for early June in Clark, Pampanga and the August 16 to 28 FIBA Asia Cup 2021 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Meanwhile, Marañon came to the Philippines in May 2015 and played for Ceres Negros Football Club, one of the teams in the Philippine Football League. He was named top scorer and best import in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In pushing for the approval of the measure, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who authored Senate Bill 1391,

Kouame

TO MAKE sure all bases are covered, the Premier Volleyball League is willing to push the date of its official restart to the latter part of May. “We can hold it towards the end of May,” PVL president Ricky Palou told Tuesday’s online version of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. Palou said 12 teams are seeing action in the PVL’s inaugural tournament as a professional league, set to kick off on May 8 at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna. But because of the extra-long layoff and other restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, teams have called on the PVL to give them more time to train. “There have not been a lot of play for over a year now and the players may be overexcited and hurt themselves,” Palou told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amuse-

ment and Gaming Corporation. The extra time will also enable the league to make sure that all health and safety protocols are put in place, including the testing of the close to 325 persons involved. Of the total number, 240 will make up the 12 teams, from players, coaches and other officials. Then the rest will be league officials, medical staff and even mediamen. Once it gets going, the tournament that will cost millions to stage will take two months to finish, with two games played six days a week. For the meantime, Palou urged all the 12 teams to “protect themselves and keep themselves safe.” As part of the protocols, the PVL will conduct swab or saliva testing five days before the delegation enters the bubble and another round once they get to the bubble. From thereon, weekly tests will be made. “It’s no joke,” said Palou.

improvement in the country’s chances in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers through his more than a decade of training in football during his childhood in the Ivory Coast. Maranon engages in community work, collaborating with local football clubs in Sagay and Bacolod in Negros Occidental, Boracay in Aklan, as well as in Manila. The footballer also wants to inspire and encourage the Filipino youth to play the sport that saved him from drugs, alcohol and other bad habits.

4 Basilan cagers get COVID-19; Davao makes finals vs San Juan

Ricky Palou at PSA online forum

Eala gets wild card at Miami Open FILIPINA tennis phenom and Globe ambassador Alex Eala has been given the rare chance to compete in one of tennis’ biggest stages after she received a wild card to the 2021 Miami Open qualifiers set on March 22 to April 4 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The unique development was announced on Tuesday by the Rafael Nadal Academy where the 15-year old is a scholar. The Miami Open has already drawn some of the most prominent names in women’s tennis. This includes the world’s top-ranked player Ashleigh Barty and the world no. 2 and recent Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka. Also slated to compete is the world no. 3 Simona Halep.

Marañon

said Marañon “has come to love the country and its people” in the five years that he has been playing football in the Philippines. “He also aspires to represent the Philippines as part of the national team vying in international competitions, and make the country known as one of the top teams in the world of football,” he added. Senator Richard J. Gordon, who sponsored the bills granting citizenship to the two, said they will boost the strength of the Philippine basketball and football teams. He said Kouame could also bring great

Premier Volley League to delay opening

Alex Eala: On to the big stage

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

Eala, who recently rose to no. 736 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings, is excited to strut her skills in this high-level competition. “Looking forward to an awesome experience!” Eala said on her Facebook page. This development is the latest feather in the youngster’s cap. She opened 2021 by winning her very first professional championship in the W15 Manacor back in January. She then followed that up with three straight quarterfinal finishes. However, she is looking to bounce back after suffering a first-round exit at the hands of Swiss netter Simona Waltert in the W15 Manacor in Mallorca, Spain last week.

HE Basilan squad lost the battle to Davao Occidental-Cocolife in the battle for a championship slot in the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan National Championship. Not one shot had been fired, though. This after four of its players tested positive for Covid-19 following a re-swab on Monday. During in the initial test, it was reported that one player from Basilan Steel tested positive for the virus. The whole squad was put in quarantine for seven days after which a second test was to be conducted, on the condition set by MPBL that the team will lose by default if more players will turn positive tests for Covid-19. Then on Tuesday the result came. “Update is four ang positive,” MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes was quoted as saying by a source. This prompted Duremdes to declare Davao Occidental the winner by default in what was supposed to be a division playoff between the two teams. The two squads were knotted at 1-1 when the pandemic forced the MPBL to stop play a year ago. Basilan drew first blood against the Tigers back on March 9 last year, 74-72 at the RDR Gymnasium in Tagum City, before Davao tied the series two days after, 81-76, at the Lamitan Capitol Gym. The Davao Occidental Tigers will advance against San Juan-Go for Gold in a championship rematch, this time in a bubble-type finale at the Subic Bay Gymnasium in Zambales. The quest for the Lakan championship trophy will begin at4 p.m. tomorrow (March 17). Randy Caluag

Sports

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

Medvedev takes 2nd spot in rankings behind Novak PARIS—Daniil Medvedev moved into second place in the ATP rankings on Monday, overtaking Rafael Nadal. The 25-year-old Russian, who was beaten by world number one Novak Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open final, was elevated to second thanks to his win in the final of the Marseille tournament on Sunday. His 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 victory against Pierre-Hugues Herbert made him just the fifth player to occupy the number two spot in the 16 years since July 2005. Apart from Djokovic and Nadal, only Roger Federer and Andy Murray have held the position in that time. Djokovic last week broke Federer’s record for the number of weeks spent in the top spot. Meanwhile, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza rose three places to 13th in the WTA rankings on Monday after winning the Dubai Open at the weekend. Former French Open and Wimbledon champion Muguruza ended a two-year title drought on Saturday by beating unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova. Australian Ashleigh Barty remains top but American Jennifer Bardy, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and Pole Iga Swiatek drop one spot. Belgian Elise Mertens, who lost in the semi-final to Muguruza, moves above Britain’s Johanna Konta to 17th. ATP rankings as of March 15: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 12008 pts; 2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 9940 (+1); 3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9670 (-1); 4. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 8625; 5. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6765; 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 6375; 7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5635; 8. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 5011; 9. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 3640; 10. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 3453; 11. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 2910 (+2); 12. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2865 (-1); 13. David Goffin (BEL) 2795 (+1); 14. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2770 (-2); 15. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 2630 (+1); 16. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2620 (+1); 17. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2530 (+1); 18. Felix AugerAliassime (CAN) 2516 (+1); 19. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2450 (-4); 20. Cristian Garin (CHI) 2385 (+2) WTA rankings as of March 15: 1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 9186 pts; 2. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7835; 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 7255; 4. Sofia Kenin (USA) 5760; 5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5370; 6. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5205; 7. Serena Williams (USA) 4915; 8. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 4815; 9. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4735; 10. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4571; 11. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4505; 12. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 4260; 13. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4235 (+3); 14. Jennifer Brady (USA) 3765 (-1); 15. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 3665 (-1); 16. Iga Swiatek (POL) 3570 (-1); 17. Elise Mertens (BEL) 3310 (+1); 18. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3206 (-1); 19. Madison Keys (USA) 3075; 20. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 2957 AFP

Quality and quantity for Rain or Shine A BIG man and six guards. Not only did Rain or Shine pick more than a handful of players, the team was able to get quality rookie picks as well as the Elasto Painters retooled both their front court and their guard rotation,

Joshua, Fury sign deal to unify titles

ONDON—Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will clash for the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion after signing a two-fight deal, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on Monday. The locations and dates for the muchanticipated all-British showdowns are yet to be announced. Confirming the agreement, Hearn told ESPN: “The hard part is always getting everybody to put pen to paper. “But this was a major effort from all parties to get this over the line. You had rival promoters, rival networks and rival fighters.” Hearn said a venue for the fights, in which Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO titles and Fury’s WBC belt will be on the line, is set to be confirmed “within the next month”. According to reports, Saudi Arabia, where Joshua won a rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019, is the frontrunner.

But Hearn told ESPN he “already had approaches from eight or nine sites” across the Middle East, Asia, eastern Europe and America. “We’d like to get a site deal confirmed in the next month,” he said. Both Joshua, 31, and Fury, 32, are expected to earn £100 million ($139 million) each, with the purse split 50-50 for the first fight and 60-40 for the rematch in favour of the defending champion. Since avenging a shock defeat to Ruiz, Joshua has defended his titles against Kubrat Pulev in London in December. Fury has not fought for more than a year since defeating Deontay Wilder in February 2020 to claim the WBC title.

Joshua previously stated he hoped the fight could take place as early as June. “(The coronavirus pandemic) is getting close to things being normal. We’re working on a date for around June,” the former Olympic champion told Sky News. “I’m ready. I’m really looking forward to competition -- all I want to do is fight, fight, fight.” Fury has consistently made jibes at Joshua’s expense, claiming in January that he would knock out his fellow Brit within two rounds. However, last week the self-styled “Gypsy King” said he had stopped training after becoming tired of waiting for the fight to be agreed. “I’m not training anymore,” Fury told ESPN. “I’m taking some time away from the game at the moment, because, like I said, I’ve been ready to fight since I beat Deontay Wilder last year. I’ve had no success in getting another fight.” Four belts

All four belts will be contested in a heavyweight bout for the first time. The last undisputed heavyweight champion was Britain’s Lennox Lewis, from 1999 to 2000. A boxer is now required to hold the WBO belt to be recognised as undisputed champion. Joshua has 24 wins and one defeat from 25 professional bouts. He lost his three world titles in a stunning defeat to Ruiz Jr in June 2019. Fury is unbeaten in his 31 professional fights. He was controversially denied victory in a draw with Wilder in 2018 before winning their rematch in February 2020. He beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to win the WBA, IBF and WBO belts before nearly three years out of the sport, during which he battled depression, drink and drug problems. Fury was cleared to fight again in December 2017 by UK Anti-Doping after accepting a backdated two-year ban for testing positive for steroid nandrolone. AFP

Messi celebrates levelling Xavi record with double vs Huesca

Both Tyson Fury (left) and Anthony Joshua are expected to earn $139 million each, with the purse split 50-50 for the first fight and 60-40 for the rematch in favour of the defending champion. AFP

James, Lakers top most popular jersey, merchandise list THE National Basketball Association on Tuesday announced that LeBron James and the 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers secured the top spots on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey and Team Merchandise lists in the Philippines. Results are based on sales from NBAStore.com.ph, the official online NBA Store in the Philippines, for the First Half of the 2020-21 NBA season. Rounding out the top five jerseys are the Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving (No. 2) and James Harden (No. 3)*, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (No. 4), and the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (No. 5). On the Team Merchandise list, the Lakers are followed by the Nets at No. 2, Houston Rockets at No. 3, Warriors at No. 4 and Bucks at No. 5. Top 10 Most Popular NBA Jerseys 1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; 2. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets; 3. James Harden, Houston Rockets**; 4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; 5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; 6. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets; 7. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets**; 8. Paul George, LA Clip-

while preparing for the PBA’s coming season. Let’s break it down. Rain or Shine selected Leonard Santillan, a 6’4” forward who’s as tough as nails inside the shaded lane. His game brings a new dimension to the Elasto Painters up front as players like Norbert Torres, Mark Borboran and sometimes Beau Belga, love to play the pick and pop game instead of rolling to the basket. Having Santillan in the line up will allow the Elasto Painters to have an inside and outside game among their big men and the promising rookie pick selected as fifth overall by the squad will also help 6’6” center Bradwyn Guinto and 6’5” center Jewel Ponferada in anchoring the interior defense of the squad. In the past All-Filipino tournaments, Rain or Shine has always

pers; 9. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks; 10. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers Top 5 Most Popular Team Merchandise 1. Los Angeles Lakers; 2. Brooklyn Nets; 3. Houston Rockets; 4. Golden State

Warriors; 5. Milwaukee Bucks (*Based on Harden’s Houston Rockets jersey sales before joining the Nets in January 2021; **Denotes player who changed teams during the 2020-21 NBA season). AFP

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. James and the 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers secured the top spots on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey and Team Merchandise lists in the Philippines. AFP

been lacking the inside presence to defend the dominant big men in the league like June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter and later on, Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar. Proof of this was the team’s two championships, which happened during import-laden conferences -- the 2012 Governors’ Cup and the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup -- when they had a solid force down low with reinforcements Jamelle Cornley and Pierre-Henderson Niles. Then came another quality haul of three guards in the second round. Franky Johnson, a high-scoring 6’2” guard, who played in the DLeague and toughened himself up more when he saw action in the Chooks-To-Go 3 x 3 tournament, was more like a big steal for the Elasto Painters in the second round. With Johnson, the Elasto Paint-

ers added a big, scoring guard. The next picks were more like addressing the team’s lack of a point guard and they selected Anton Asistio, a member of multiple Ateneo Blue Eagles champion teams, and Andrei Caracut, a cerebral guard from La Salle. Prior to the acquisition of these two players, only resident star Gabe Norwood has played the point guard spot for the team as Rey Nambatac and Adrian Wong are more like shooting guards. Then came the insurance selections. In the third round, Rain or Shine drafted Kenneth Mocon, brother of Javee Mocon, to give the team another guard, then took in point guard RJ Agramino, who played for Chris Gavina’s previous MPBL squad Valenzuela Classic, in the fourth round. The fifth round was another good time to pick a guard and the

MADRID—Lionel Messi scored a spectacular double the same night he equalled Xavi Hernandez’s appearance record for Barcelona, the Argentinian inspiring his team to a 4-1 win over Huesca on Monday. Messi tied Xavi’s 767 games in all competitions for Barca and marked yet another milestone with a brilliant brace, a curling effort in the first half flying in off the crossbar at Camp Nou before a late shot nestled in the corner. “He’s the most important man in the history of Barca,” said coach Ronald Koeman. “Even better that he’s still with us.” Antoine Griezmann had earlier followed suit with another impressive shot into the top corner before Huesca pulled one back, Rafa Mir converting a doubtful penalty on the stroke of half-time. But Messi helped Barca pull away, sending in a cross for Oscar Mingueza to head in and then scoring his second as the Catalans moved to within four points of league leaders Atletico Madrid. Messi’s performance had all the key elements of the 33-year-old’s genius. In a game that celebrated his longevity, he showed his class with perhaps his best goal of the season, his creativity with an assist and his consistency, by making it 13 consecutive campaigns that he has reached 20 La Liga goals. “He’s so decisive,” said Huesca’s Mir. “They play with one man extra.” Huesca stay bottom, four points adrift of safety, while Barcelona continue their own excellent form. They have now managed 11 wins and a draw from their last 12 matches, putting them within sight of Atletico, who they still have to play at home in May. Messi should break Xavi’s record on Sunday against Real Sociedad and the club toasted his achievement with a video that included tributes from numerous current and former team-mates including Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Andres Iniesta, Carlos Puyol and Xavi himself. “You’re still breaking records,” said Suarez. “I think this one says a lot about you as a player and what you represent for Barcelona.” AFP

Elasto Painters landed talented sentinel Philip Manalang from University of the East. Taking in all these picks won’t mean they will automatically be included in the line up. No guarantees. Looking at the new acquisitions, it looks like Gavina wanted to see the guards, primarily the four points guards -- Asistio, Caracut, Mocon, Agramino and Manalang -- to fight for roster spots. For Rain or Shine, it’s more of a good problem for the team as it had already addressed the need of improving the point guard and the front court. Silently, but effectively, the Elasto Painters are making an upgrade, one that can bring them a notch higher from being a consistent performer to becoming a legitimate title threat. Make no mistake about it, Rain or Shine is a no nonsense team.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

GMA continues to achieve massive growth in digital space

After ‘Kadenang Ginto,’ The Gold Squad members Seth Fedelin, Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, and Kyle Echarri reunite in inspirational drama ‘Huwag Kang Mangamba.’

VERY WANG

NICKIE WANG

T THE digital press launch of ABS-CBN’s “biggest drama” this year, the event host noted that the media company, amid the pandemic and network shutdown, made sure that The Gold Squad members Seth Fedelin, Kyle Echarri, Francine Diaz, and Andrea Brillantes would be taken care of, that the four teen stars would still have projects on their laps no matter what happens.

And with that, these teen multimedia celebrities could not thank their mother studio enough for ensuring their welfare as Kapamilya talents. “I’m thankful to all the people who had given me their support. I was worried after Kadenang Ginto bid television goodbye. I thought I wouldn’t be given any projects after that. But they took care of me, they are taking care of me,” Seth shared in Tagalog. “We, The Gold Squad, are also working hard and doing our best to meet the expectations of the people who gave us the opportunity to entertain our audience,” he added. The rest were equally thankful for every opportunity that lands on their doorsteps including the latest drama, Huwag Kang Mangamba, which they are headlining. “It’s such a big blessing,” said Kyle. “We are not just thankful to Dreamscape and ABS-CBN, we are also thankful to God. He put us in this position and we are very excited for the future.” “We have improved a lot from Kadenang Ginto and now in Huwag Kang Mangamba. Because of the projects that they give us, we learn a lot from the people we work with and we are able to hone our craft,” added Francine. Andrea is grateful for the trust that ABS-CBN gives them. “After our first drama series as

GOLD SQUAD

reunited in upcoming inspiration drama The Gold Squad, there were projects already lined up for us. But because of the network shutdown and the pandemic, we kind of understood that some of them were put on hold. So, I’m really surprised that we are doing this project. Nangamba ako sa umpisa pero nandoon pa rin yung tiwala ko sa ABS na hindi talaga kami pababayaan,” shared Andrea. The newest inspirational series that The Gold Squad is headlining premieres on March 20 on iWantTFC and on March 22 on Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, and Kapamilya Online Live. In the series, Andrea plays Mira, a blind orphan whose faith and trust in Bro gives her a positive outlook in life. Despite her situation, Mira travels to the town of Hermoso to search for her mother. Joy (Francine), on the other hand, is a rebellious daughter who has completely lost faith in God due to her personal pains and longing for her family’s love. The two cross paths when Joy accidentally runs over Mira after running away from her family. Both of them escape death and are immediately brought back to life by a miracle caused by Bro in order for them to fulfill His mission of rebuilding the church in Hermoso. As Mira and Joy try to settle their differences and work together, they will also have to restore the people’s faith in Bro since they refuse to believe in Him after experiencing endless hardships in their town. At the same time, Joy’s aunt Deborah (Eula Valdes), who is a prominent faith healer with a cult following, will add to the delusions and false hopes of Hermoso by claiming that she is the one who miraculously healed Joy. Apart from The Gold Squad, the powerhouse cast also includes Sylvia Sanchez, Nonie Buencamino, Mylene Dizon, RK Bagatsing, Dominic Ochoa, Diether Ocampo, Enchong Dee, Angeline Quinto, Matet De Leon, Soliman Cruz, Mercedes Cabral, Paolo Gumabao, and Alyanna Angeles. Created by Rondel Lindayag and Danica Domingo, under the direction of Emmanuel Q. Palo, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, and Darnel Villaflor, Huwag

Kang Mangamba ABS-CBN’s latest inspirational offering following May Bukas Pa, Starla, and 100 Days to Heaven. Angeline also recorded the series’ theme song of the same title, penned by Fr. Manoling V. Francisco, SJ. Viewers will be able to catch the pilot episode on March 20 on the iWantTFC app and website, and on March 22 at 8:40 p.m. after FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on TV5 and A2Z channel on free TV and via digital TV boxes like ABSCBN TVplus. Digital TV box users can scan and look for A2Z channel in Metro Manila and in some parts of Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, and Pampanga. Viewers can also catch the show from Monday to Friday on cable and satellite TV via Kapamilya Channel (SKYchannel 8 on SD and channel 167 on HD, Cablelink channel 8, G Sat Direct TV channel 22, and most cable operatormembers under Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association), on Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, and on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV.

Seasoned actress Sylvia Sanchez joins The Gold Squad in ‘Huwag Kang Mangamba’ playing yet another challenging role.

LEADING broadcast company GMA Network further strengthens delivering topnotch entertainment even beyond the small screen as it continues to achieve significant growth across various online platforms. For the first two months of 2021, GMA Network Entertainment website has already generated 198.7 million page views and 11.8 million users. This is equivalent to a year-on-year increase of 31.74 percent page views and 14.48 percent in terms of users, respectively. In 2020 alone, the GMA Network Entertainment website was able to accumulate 82.22 million users or 44.38 percent higher than the previous year. The site was also able to amass 1.31 billion page views which is higher by 1.83 percent compared to 2019. Video views also increased from 3.72 million in 2019 to 9.59 million which translates to an increase of 157.39 percent by the end of 2020. Keeping viewers entertained even at the height of the pandemic, the Kapuso Network launched GETS or GMA Entertainment Shows to offer fans 24/7 access to free online content on Facebook and on the GMA Network portal. Some of its notable executions include E-Date Mo Si Idol, Just In, Quiz Beh, and Cool Hub. Viewers were also able to take a closer look at the lives of their favorite Kapuso celebrities through Kapuso Words of Wisdom, Kapuso Quick Workouts, Kapuso Artistambayan, Give Me 5, Kapuso Showbiz News, and Kapuso Quick Questions. Stress-busting content that's popular among netizens is Kapuso Feels, a series of relatable video memes of unforgettable Kapuso characters and drama scenes. It recorded 362.7 million views from a total of 1,450 video clips since its initial launch in June 2020. For January and February this year, it has so far amassed 49.5 million video views. Since its launch last May 2020, YouLOL has grown its social media audience to 1.28M followers as it continues to provide funny and entertaining comedy content for netizens to enjoy. Meanwhile, Kapuso Rewind, featuring throwback highlight clips of favorite shows including fan favorites Kambal Karibal, Kara Mia, The Better Woman, Impostora, among others, have accumulated almost 352 million views from 579 clips published. During weekends, GMA brings

GMA Network posts significant growth on its online portals for the first two months of 2021 generating 198.7 million page views and 11.8 million users.

entertainment for the whole family through the Kapuso Weekend Watch Fest with full episodes of well-loved GMA programs with English subtitles uploaded on Facebook. It features Let the Love Begin, Someone to Watch Over Me, and The Rich Man’s Daughter. Since its launch in December, total views were already over 20 million by the end of the year and now has 49.7 million video views to date. In February 2020, due to popular demand, the Full Episodes page of the GMA Network portal started offering catch up episodes of on-going programs, allowing viewers to never miss their favorite teleseryes. Now, users can watch the latest episodes for free on their desktops or on the GMA Mobile App. K-pop fans were also overjoyed when GMA Hallypop was launched in September 2020. With 158,000 followers by December 2020, it has connected fans to the Asian Pop culture featuring K-pop and various lifestyle and entertainment shows in the Philippines. The first Philippine Network to achieve two Diamond Creator Awards, YouTube’s highest recognition to content creators, GMA Network’s Entertainment channel currently has more than 22 million subscribers. GMA’s main Facebook page has increased by over 2 million likes in just one year and now has over 20 million likes with over 1.07 billion total video views. The Network has also notably gained over 370,000 followers in only 10 months in the fast-rising social media platform Tiktok and was part of the top 6 most followed accounts on the platform for 2020. Get the latest updates on GMA Network’s official website www.gmanetwork.com or @gmanetwork on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok.

Megan Thee Stallion, fierce rap queen with a sizzling flow A SOCIAL media master with a magnetic, Texas-sized personality and razor-sharp flow, Megan Thee Stallion has established herself as a leading member of rap's vanguard. The 26-year-old queen of hotties -- the name she has flirtatiously bestowed on her devoted fans, having crowned 2019's steamiest season as "hot girl summer" as she exploded to fame -- now has Grammy cred to boot, with three wins on Sunday. Not that her singular talent ever needed industry backing to soar: the artist born Megan Pete in Houston boasts rare lyrical delivery that's at once juicy and crisp, simultaneously on lock and off-the-cuff. The artist behind the TikTok smash "Savage" -- which earned her two rap statuettes from the Recording Academy, in addition to the prestigious Best New Artist award -- spits out her bars with military precision, creating more pop than even her impressively strong twerks. She came up on social media but Megan Thee Stallion is every bit a child of oldschool hip-hop: her mother Holly Thomas, who rapped under the name Holly-Wood in a south Houston collective, trained her on the genre's finer points. Thomas raised her on classic southern

hip-hop acts UGK and Three Six Mafia, and managed Megan before her death of cancer in 2019. "Thank you, Mama, for pushing me and knowing that I was gonna be here," the rapper said through tears as she accepted her first award of the day, for Best Rap Performance. AFP Full story on manila standard.net

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion rose to the top of the 63rd annual Grammys, after a banner year that saw her soar to the pop-culture forefront.

Reader’s Digest’s virtual celebration honors Philippines’ most trusted brands, personalities READER’S Digest has launched a virtual celebration to publicly acknowledge its latest Philippines Trusted Brands and personality award winners. Due to the pandemic, the traditional awards ceremony could not be held, but Reader’s Digest was determined to recognize “success that deserves to be celebrated” says Asia Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson. The inaugural virtual awards for The Philippines (plus Singapore and Malaysia) streamed live on https://www.trustedbrands.asia/ philippines). Asia Reader’s Digest Advertising & Retail Director Sheron White says, for the first time in the award’s 23-year history the live celebration had to be canceled, but all is certainly not lost. “You can sit in the comfort of your own home and enjoy viewing the award winners – those voted the most trusted by the public,” she says. The awards recognize which brands, products, and services are best and above the

Ernest Acar receiving Reader’s Digest’s Platinum Award for PLDT Home Fibr

Jessica Soho is this year’s most trusted TV host/presenter of news and current affairs.

rest in the eyes of the community and cover a host of categories. Check out the video on the website to discover, for example, the companies most worthy of your trust when it comes to things as varied as baby stores, shopping centres/malls, pharmacies, TV networks, and eye centers. Reader’s Digest commissioned international leading research company,

Catalyst Consultancy and Research, to conduct the survey to determine the most excellent, remarkable, and outstanding companies. A total of 1,500 consumers throughout the country were asked to rank companies according to their trustworthiness and credibility, their quality and value, their understanding of consumer needs, their innovation, and social responsibility.

Sheron says the awards provide a great indicator for the general public. Purchasing from a company voted the best by Filipinos gives consumers the confidence that they are making the right choice. She says category winners included newcomers as well as many who had visited the podium on many occasions in the past, with recipients awarded gold and platinum medals. Baguio Oil, for example, has won the cooking oil category 16 times, while Citi has again enjoyed winning the credit card issuing bank category – for the 12th time. Also enjoying 12 consecutive years’ success is PLDT Home Fibr that took home a platinum medal in the broadband/ fiber internet category. While ACER Philippines won the award for the 11th time for the personal computer category. And it appears the most trusted company to buy meat from in the Philippines is Monterey – and consumers have known this for ten years now. A first-time winner in the investment fund category was BDO, but this company has enjoyed accolades

in the bank, and credit card issuing bank categories for many years and continues to do so. More than 50 categories featured in the trusted brands awards, some of which had multiple winners. New categories are added over the years, with milk tea being an inaugural addition this year. The virtual awards ceremony features a selection of the winners. The awards also included personality categories that judged: most trusted TV host/presenter of news and current affairs was won by Jessica Soho; most trusted entertainment and variety presenter Vice Ganda; most trusted radio presenter Mike Enriquez; and most trusted sports personality Sen. Manny Pacquiao. All this is also documented in the virtual awards with some of the winners making guest appearances. Celebrate your favorite brands and personality winners in the Inaugural Virtual Trusted Brands Awards Video(https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=OttMbnyrvjQ).

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021

The skincare brand with ‘nothing to hide’ By Bernadette Lunas

“W

E BASICALLY give away formulas,” Nils Johnson, founder of Good Molecules skincare brand, told select members of the press during a virtual conference held via Zoom.

Johnson was referring to the brand’s packaging which has a list of the ingredients that comprise each product, with percentage of amount also included—a bold but rewarding move. “We’re the first to put out our formulas,” he shared. He continued, “A lot of people try to be secretive about their products, but when we put our ingredients out there we get good feedback. Publishing our ingredients allows us to do a better job for our consumers; it’s important that Good Molecules’ products now available in the Philippines include (clockwise) Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel customers know what they’re putting Eye Patches, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Niacinamide Serum, Discoloration Correcting Serum, Pineapple Real people who use Good Molecules and see the difference in their skin. on their skin.” Exfoliating Powder, and Niacinamide Toner. When Johnson, who’s also the foundGood Molecules also does away with in the Philippines. (P375) draws moisture to the skin for products from Good Molecules will er of US-based e-commerce platform Select products from the brand long-lasting hydration, so much so that be here soon. Beautylish, first thought of launching fragrance, and uses recycled glass for are exclusively available on beau- after just one use, the brand Good Molecules, he said the intention the product packaging. Before Audrey Dy brought Good Mol- tymnl.com. Those who want to give says skin appears was to “take quality up and put prices down,” by means of using science- ecules to the Philippines, she said she Good Molecules a try can check out smooth, supple, and the Pineapple Exfoliating Powder well-hydrated. backed skincare solutions and doing first tried it and loved the results. “Usually my problem with skincare (P1,000) that gently exfoliates keraThe Caffeine Enaway with unnecessary add-ons that don’t work in improving skin and ad- is you don’t usually see a difference,” tin protein from the skin surface us- ergizing Hydrogel she lamented. “I’m very acne-prone, but ing fruit enzymes, vitamin C, and Eye Patches (P1,125) dressing problems. To keep prices down and still ensure when I used Good Molecules, I instantly rice powder. It can be used up to four is a quick pick-meup for tired-looking each product is effective, Johnson said saw a difference in my skin and thought times a week. The alcohol-free Niacinamide Toner eyes as each tub the key was using the right amount of in- this is exactly what the Philippine mar(P875), meanwhile, promotes bright, comes with 30 pairs gredients. “We try not to use the highest ket needed.” UPFRONT. Dy is the creative and marketing di- even skin and helps smoothen texture of caffeine-infused concentration of actives because it might With an aim to cause irritation,” and they instead use the rector of Painted Ladies Cosmetics, the and address enlarged pores, acne scars, patches that brightlet consumers local distributor of Good Molecules here and dark marks with its blend of niaci- en, hydrate, and re“concentration that’s still effective.” know what namide (vitamin B3), vitamin C, and duce puffiness in 10 they put naturally derived arbutin. minutes. on their skin, Good For higher concentration of niaciOther products Molecules lists namide, Johnson recommends one available on Beaudown all the of their bestsellers, the Niacinamide tyMNL include ingredients Serum (P375). With 10 percent niaci- Clarify and Cleanse that comprise namide, it helps improve skin texture, Bar, Instant Cleansits skincare minimize pores, and reveal healthier- ing Bar, Rosewater products. looking complexion. Daily Cleansing Gel, The Discoloration Correcting Serum Vitamin C Boost(P750) works best in addressing hyper- er Powder, Daily pigmentation, age spots, acne scars, and Brightening Serum, sun damage. “It’s gentle, non-irritating, Silicone-free Primand can be used morning and night,” ing Moisturizer, and said Johnson. Overnight ExfoliatFor skin that needs hydration, the ing Treatment. light-as-water Hyaluronic Acid Serum Dy said more

BAG IT!

Forever 21 celebrates the International Women’s Month with a limited edition collection of graphic tees.

Fierce feminine

IN CELEBRATION of International’s Women’s Month, American fashion retailer Forever 21 releases a limited edition collection of graphic tank tops and T-shirts that expresses the beauty and joy of being a woman. The collection is all inclusive— offering pieces for women of all ages and body types—as it aims to raise awareness of women empowerment with inspiring messages and versatile style. Forever 21 recommends wearing a

graphic tee with a tulle midi skirt and metallic stilettos for a dainty yet fierce ensemble, or give it a sporty look by simply pairing the tee with a pair of track pants and sneakers. The graphic tee collection is available at Forever 21 stores in SM Megamall, SM Makati, SM City Cebu, SM City North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Clark, and Robinson’s Magnolia, and via call to deliver service (0917-811-4777)

The Knot handbag comes in a variety of colors and in four sizes: mini, small, large, and extra large.

Colors and blooms spring forth Heart Evangelista on small things that make a big difference

EVEN the subtle changes that a person makes, Heart Evangelista says, reflect how they feel and care for themselves. “It’s the small choices, the little tweaks we make in our lives, that inevitably reflect how we feel and care for ourselves,” says the artist and celebrity, who’s also a proud self-love advocate. Small improvements, for instance, Kotex’s new luxe packaging, can make a Self-love advocate Heart Evangelista believes that even the little changes a person makes reflect how they feel and care for themselves.

person feel better and more valued. Kotex Luxe pads come in a new drawstring bag packaging aims to inject a luxurious feel, with a stylish design and reusable feature. “With Kotex’s new packaging, our pads are stylishly and properly kept in handy while we can be confident that we can experience luxurious skin comfort when we need it,” the actress remarks.

THE spring season brings with it bold colors and lively prints. Kate Spade New York first welcomed the season with its new Spade Flower Jacquard collection, with a campaign that features the brand hometown, New York. The collection consists of totes, handbags, and shoulder bags with the new print—four spades that make a flower—in navy blue all over off-white background. Upon joining Kate Spade New York in 2018, creative director Nicola Glass said she was immediately drawn to the spade symbol that is at the center of the brand’s iconography, and the different ways that the spade could be interpreted. Each season, the spade is used in many iterations across categories—both boldly and subtly, in almost secretive or surprising ways. The new collection was introduced in a campaign shot by photographer Gus Powell, featuring model Lindsey Wixson, Japanese comedian and Kate Spade brand ambassador Naomi Watanabe, and four local New Yorkers (and real-life couples): Claudine Boros and Clyde Griffin, Shireen Ahmed and Michael Wolever out

and about in New York. “This campaign captures the magic of New York in the very streets of the city itself…in the everyday interactions New Yorkers have together while they carry their lives down its busy sidewalks,” said Glass. In contrast to the neutral color of the Spade Flower Jacquard Collection is the vibrant pieces that comprise the new Knott Handbag group, also from Kate Spade. Created in beautiful pebbled leather with a subtle knot detail at the gusset, the assortment features cinched sides and multiple inside pockets. It comes in a variety of bold colors and classic prints, and in four sizes: mini, small, large, and extra large. “When designing the Knott handbag,” Glass said, “our top priority was to create a bag that would work for any woman—no matter if she’s starting a new job or exploring a new neighborhood.” She added, “The Knott reflects everyday style with a pop of color and clever design details, like the beautiful knot that cinches the gusset. It’s the bag that ties it all together.”

From top: Everything Spade Flower Jacquard Stripe large tote, Remedy Spade Flower Jacquard small top handle, Spade Flower Jacquard Locket large flap shoulder