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Enrile to Du30: Befriend China

Also advises not to rely on US for protection, mind not critics, focus on country’s interest

Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile

President Rodrigo Duterte

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

E DIPLOMATIC and friendly to China. Do not depend on the United States of America. And mind not your critics. These were the three key pieces of advice given by former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to President Rodrigo Duterte during the latter's address to the public Monday night—all of which the commanderin-chief agreed to adopt. "Our approach toward China should be friendly, not hard, assertive nor aggressive," said Enrile, who was invited by Duterte as "one of the best minds of our generation" to share his thoughts on the West Philippine Sea issue. "If we are in conflict with China, the interest of our people will be on the line. Our economy and security will also be affected," he added. Enrile also cautioned against depending on the US for protection in asserting the country's sovereign rights. "We cannot depend on our ally even if they are the strongest force on the planet. They have their own problems and interests," the former Defense chief said. "We have to strengthen our own economy and our military," he added.

VOL. XXXV • NO. 92• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH suspects UK variant as cause of spike in Tuguegarao By Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja THE Department of Health said Monday it had detected nine carriers of the B.1.1.7 variant -- first found in the United Kingdom -- in Cagayan Valley. "This might explain why cases are increasing in Tuguegarao," DOH Spokesperson and Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press conference. "We will submit samples for whole genome sequencing so we can see the trend why it is spiralling,” Vergeire said. As of May 16, the Cagayan region has reported 2,835 active cases, nearly all of whom are residents of Cagayan province and Isabela. Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 17)

1,149,925 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

5,979 54,235 NEW

ACTIVE

19,262

1,076,428

6,602

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

WEATHER Heat index in MM forecast at 41º C PEOPLE should stay indoors and stay hydrated while outdoors as the heat index in Metro Manila might reach 39 to 41 degrees Celsius in the next three to four days, the state weather bureau Next page said Monday.

QUEENS. Miss Mexico Andrea Meza waves to the crowd after triumphing at the Miss Universe 2021 Pageant at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on May 16. Meza defeated (clockwise from top left) Miss India Adline Castelino (third runner-up), Miss Brazil Julia Gama (first runner-up), Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jiménez (fourth runner-up), Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo (second runner-up), and the Philippines’ Rabiya Mateo (right), who shone in the swimsuit competition before exiting in the semifinals. AFP

Sanofi vax test shows potentials Duterte orders By Willie Casas FRENCH pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi and Britain's GSK reported on Monday "strong immune responses" in early tests of their COVID-19 vaccine, raising hopes it could join the fight against the pandemic. The companies said the results of the Phase 2 study will enable them to move to a late-stage trial in the coming weeks-a reversal of fortune after their research was dealt a setback late last year. The experimental vaccine "achieved strong rates of neutralizing antibody re-

sponses, in line with those measured in people who have recovered from COVID-19, in all adult age groups in a Phase 2 study with 722 volunteers," it said in a statement. "A global pivotal Phase 3 study is expected to start in the coming weeks." An earlier study in late 2020 showed the vaccine provided a low immune response in older adults. The companies said the vaccine would not be ready until the end of 2021. The initial failure was a setback that dented French pride as France is the only Next page

SC drops Esperon’s testimony By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Monday decided to discontinue the testimony of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon after he earlier linked several groups with terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army during last week’s oral argument on the 37 petitions challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. During the last day of the oral arguments on the petitions against anti-ter-

rorism law, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the high court would instead issue a resolution detailing the specific questions that the justices would like Esperon to answer. According to the top magistrate, Esperon’s response to the questions would have to be incorporated in the memorandum that would be submitted by the Office of the Solicitor within 30 days upon issuance of the resolution. The tribunal made the decision following the filing of a motion by several

repairs of PGH burned portion

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately repair the damaged portion of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) damaged by fire, saying he would use the President’s Social Fund (PSF) to help repair the hospital. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has advised PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi to inform the Palace what the hospital needs for its repair, because the President is willing to provide financial assistance. Roque said Duterte may use funds from the PSF for the repair and other needs of the hospital after it was hit by a fire of still unidentified origin early Sunday morning. In March 2017, Duterte gave PGH a check worth P100 million for the hospital’s poor patients who could not afford medical procedures and treatments. “Doc Legaspi, whatever you need, Next page

Miss Mexico wins as 69th Miss Universe By Nickie Wang FORMER Miss Universe winners Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018) sent their love to Philippine bet Rabiya Mateo after the Iloilo native failed to secure a slot in the finals of 69th Miss Universe on Sunday (Monday in Manila) in Hollywood, Florida. Mateo, 24, took the Philippines all

News

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House eyes halt to ivermectin probe

Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the motion during the commit- that hamper public health service delivery tee hearing into the alleged questionable to the Filipino people. guidelines and policies of the DOH and Herrera urged the PRC to stop look-

ing into the revocation of licenses of doctors prescribing the use of ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19. The investigation concerns doctors who took part in a medical mission in Quezon City and prescribed the unregistered drug to the patients. "I strongly move that we strongly recommend to the PRC to stop looking into revoking the licenses our doctors who are prescribing ivermectin due to lack of evidence on their part. They just want to make this medicine accessible to everyone," Herrera said. The motion was approved by the committee after it was seconded by Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.

The Quezon City local government is not endorsing the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin being distributed by two congressmen. In an interview over news channel ANC last week, Mayor Joy Belmonte said the debate on the use of ivermectin should remain within the medical realm to prevent it from being a political issue. “I think this is up to the regulating bodies. I want them to call them out. If they call them out for example, itong national government agency, sabihin na (if the national government agency says that) Mayor Joy, do something about this, order your police officers to do something about this, definitely I will do that,” Belmonte said. Maricel V. Cruz

the Sea, which was crafted by the United Nations," the former senator added. As for internal affairs, Enrile advised the President not to stoop down to the level of his critics. "In the first place, you were elected by the Filipino people to be the leader of this country. Nobody else can frame the foreign policy of the country except the President of this country. That is true to us and true to other countries. Not even the Supreme Court can interfere with your foreign policy. That’s the highest political act of a president," Enrile said. "No one else can frame or formulate the foreign policy of the Philippines except President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Not (former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio) Carpio, not (former Foreign Affairs Secretary) Albert Del Rosario or Juan Ponce Enrile. There is only one person -- that’s the President of the Philippines," he added. The President, who at one point challenged Carpio to a debate but eventually backed out upon the advice of his Cabinet, said his critics "have become irrel-

evant" after talking to Enrile. Earlier in the day, the Palace acknowledged that Duterte may have made some inaccurate statements about the West Philippine Sea, but said he has “always been consistent” in invoking the country’s sovereignty over the area. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Carpio initiated an online signature petition urging Duterte to retract his alleged “damaging” statements related to the West Philippine Sea. When Duterte claimed China was in possession of the West Philippine Sea, Roque said the President was actually referring to Scarborough Shoal, which was seized by Chinese forces in 2012 after the Aquino administration pulled out the country’s ships from the area. The Palace official also defended the President when the latter said the arbitral award was just a piece of paper, saying Duterte was referring to the lack of a mechanism to enforce the court victory. “Let’s put it in context and perhaps in the President’s language, he may not be

as accurate but his statements have been consistent,” Roque said in a press briefing. Carpio earlier demanded the President retract his statements. “These statements are contrary to the Constitution, waive our sovereign rights under the Arbitral Award and even concede to China possession of the West Philippine Sea when in fact China is not physically and legally in possession of the West Philippine Sea,” the petition read. Law professor Howard Calleja said the 2016 arbitral award is binding, and that China is a signatory to the UNCLOS, which allows arbitration as a dispute settlement mechanism. China has no choice but to abide by the ruling, he added. “It is up to the Philippines to enforce it and solicit the help and assistance not only of our friends but the entire international community,” Calleja said. Law professor Antonio Ligon said the decision of the arbitral tribunal has been recognized worldwide—except for China. With Vito Barcelo

monitored by the Department of Health. On Monday, the DOH said the seafarers are still confined in hospitals. Of the 12 carriers of the variant, one is still intubated, while three others continue to rely on oxygen support in some hospitals in Metro Manila, Vergeire said in an online press conference. She said studies earlier showed that the India variant carried dmutations that allowed it to get past the immune system and become more transmittable. She said the patients infected with the B.1.617 variant "are being retested today" to see if they have recuperated from COVID-19. Of the 12 known carriers of the India variant, 9 were seafarers aboard the MV Athens, 2 traveled from Belgium through a connecting flightfrom the United Arab Emirates, while another came from Oman. COVID updates The Philippines logged on Monday 5,979 new cases of coronavirus disease

2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total to 1,149,925, the Department of Health reported. All laboratories were operational on May 15, 2021 while five labs were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System. The DOH also reported 54,235 active cases, which is 4.7 percent of the total. Of the active cases, 93.3 percent were mild; 2 percent were asymptomatic; 1.4 percent were critical; 2 percent were severe; and 1.25 percent were moderate. The DOH also reported 72 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 19,262, or 1.68 percent of the total cases. Jabs in hot spots Meanwhile, the government now aims to inoculate 58 million people living in COVID-19 hotspots in a bid to achieve herd immunity. Malacañang identified these hotspots as Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, La-

guna, Batangas, and Rizal. The “expansion areas” include Regions 1 to 13, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo, General Santos, and Iligan. Local chief executives have also been bumped up to vaccination priority group A1.5. The vaccination of some mayors in March had caused controversy as they were not yet included in the priority sectors for COVID-19 inoculation at the time. Healthcare use The healthcare utilization rate in the National Capital Region has gone down after a spike in COVID-19 cases that overwhelmed hospitals in the region, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. Vergeire said Metro Manila’s healthcare utilization rate had gone down to 48 percent. The figure refers to the occupancy of intensive care units (ICU), isolation and ward beds.

the production of germ-killing antibodies, with GSK's adjuvant technology, a substance that bolsters the immune response triggered by a vaccine. Also on Monday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) moved mayors and governors up the vaccination priority, putting them in the A1.5 category. Local leaders were previously under the A4 category on the vaccine priority list. The country has around 1,634 provincial governors and city and municipal mayors. The country's 1.7 million health care workers make up the A1 category while senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities are part of A2 and A3 categories, respectively. To date, the Philippines has administered a total of 2,959,829 Covid-19 vaccine doses. Of this number, 2,245,397 have received their first dose of the vaccine, while 714,432 have received their second dose. The country now has four brands of COVID-19 vaccines in its inventory— Sinovac’s CoronaVac (China), AstraZeneca (UK), Sputnik V (Russia), and Pfizer (US).

Duterte...

nel, infrastructure, and supply aid to the PGH. “The PGH being the go-to hospital of our indigent countrymen, its operation’s disruption due to fire is a significant blow to our pandemic-suffering health care system,” said Ordanes. “Funds must be immediately mobilized and 24/7 reconstruction of the PGH must ensue so that normalcy can be attained in just a matter of days, not months,” Ordanes, chair of the House Committee on Seniors, stressed. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said government hospitals would be monitored closely to avoid similar fires. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH coordinated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) after the PGH fire Sunday morning. Vergeire also said the DOH accepted eight patients that needed to be transferred out of the PGH due to the fire and provided the hospital with K95 and N95 masks PGH’s Legaspi said they would resume accepting COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, May 18, after making the necessary adjustments.

lawyer and one of the counsel-petitioners Theodore Te for his statement posted in social media castigating the Court for allowing Esperon to red-tag several groups in open session last week. During the court proceedings, Esperon played a two-minute video of self-exiled CPP founder Jose Maria Sison wherein the latter can be heard mentioning the names of 18 organizations whom the latter called "allied organizations ." He also played a 1987 video of Sison supposedly naming the legal organizations in the supposed National Democratic Revolution. Esperon disclosed that about 75 organizations such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Anakbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Gabriela and several others were present in a meeting presided by Sison in Hongkong in 2020.

Weather...

HE House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday approved a motion to formally write a letter to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Office of the President (OP) to stop the investigation into the illegal distribution of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a COVID-19 medicine.

Enrile... From A1

Duterte agreed on Enrile's twin advice on foreign affairs, adding that he wanted nothing but friendship from China. The President also shared his reason for not accepting then US President Donald Trump's invitation for him to visit America. "You are only using us as your detachment. You‘re making the Philippines a sort of an early warning device detachment," the President said. Enrile, however, defended the UN arbitral ruling that invalidated China's massive nine-dash-line claim over the entire South China Sea after Duterte belittled it as a mere scrap of paper that deserved to be thrown in the wastebasket. While agreeing with the President that the arbitral ruling was difficult to enforce, Enrile said it was not a wasted decision. "That decision has been registered with the UN record. Our right emanates from the UN Convention on the Law of

DOH... From A1

Studies showed that the UK variant had a reproduction rate 1.35 times higher than normal coronavirus variants. Vergeire said adequate COVID-19 vaccines had been deployed to the region and their utilization rate was also high. As of May 11, Cagayan received 71,440 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the national government, according to data from the DOH. Cagayan region has used 94.7 percent of these doses, the DOH said. So far, 67,653 people from Cagayan have received their first jab, while 10,779 others have been fully vaccinated, it said. Intubated seaman The condition of four Filipinos infected with the COVID-19 variant first detected in India was being closely

Sanofi... From A1

permanent member of the UN Security Council not to have its own vaccine after successes for Britain, China, Russia and the United States. In the Philippines, Sanofi was also embroiled in controversy when the company announced that the dengue fever vaccine Dengvaxia was found to increase the risk of disease severity for some people who had received it— after more than 830,000 children in the Philippines had received at least one dose of the vaccine. But Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president and global head of Sanofi Pasteur, was upbeat about the company’s prospects. "Our Phase 2 data confirm the potential of this vaccine to play a role in addressing this ongoing global public health crisis," he said. "As we know multiple vaccines will be needed, especially as variants continue to emerge and the need for effective and booster vaccines, which can be stored at normal temperatures, increases," he said. The firms are combining a Sanofideveloped antigen, which stimulates

SC... From A1

petitioners seeking to expunge the testimony of Esperon and to delete from its records of the controversial videos that Esperon presented to the justices during oral arguments last Wednesday. “With regards (sic) to motion to expunge testimony, video presentation and annotations of respondent Hermogenes Esperon… the Court resolves to require respondent to comment,” Gesmundo ordered. “The Court also decided not to continue the interpellation of Secretary Esperon based on the compliance that they have submitted earlier,” the top magistrate said. On the other hand, Gesmundo said the SC agreed to issue a show cause order to Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)

From A1

just tell us. The President already offered a large amount in the past so whatever you need to repair the damage, we could tap from the President’s Social Fund because that has been offered to the PGH before,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing. The President also directed National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and NTF deputy chief implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon to visit the hospital to assess the damage. Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) investigators said a fire started at the operating room sanitization area at the third floor of PGH’s central block building. The fire was declared under control at 2:46 a.m. and was put out at 5:41 a.m. On Monday, Senior Citizen Partylist Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes filed House Resolution 1767, calling for the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Finance, and other relevant government agencies to provide the needed financial, person-

From A1

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) defines heat index as human discomfort index that gives the "apparent" temperature, or what humans perceive or feel as the temperature affecting their body. "As much as possible, if you're not going to do anything important outside, stay indoors," PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo. " Those who can't help to go outside because of the nature of their work, seek shade and drink water to keep hydrated," he added. Easterlies continue to prevail and may bring cloudy skies with isolated

rains over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, Perez said. Last Friday, PAGASA logged a dangerous 53 degrees Celsius heat index in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, the highest temperature in the province this year. Chief meteorological officer Jose Estrada Jr. of the PAGASA station in Dagupan said the high heat index was due to the easterlies prevailing at the east Pacific sea surface affecting the temperature in the province. “Almost all of earth’s surface is now concreted thus heat is refracted, increasing the heat index,” he said. The high heat index also results in localized thunderstorms, Estrada said. He added the presence of southwest monsoon or “habagat” next month is expected to lower the temperature in the province.

‘Bangsamoro transition time up to Congress’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will let Congress act on measures seeking for the extension of the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until June 30, 2025, instead of 2022, Malacañang said on Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this statement as more groups have asked Duterte to certify as urgent bills extending the Bangsamoro transition by another three years. While Duterte continues to be supportive of the initiative for the transition and even if he will certify the measures as urgent, Roque said Congress would have the final say whether to extend or not the Bangsamoro transition. “That is in progress ‘no and the important thing is that the President always repeats this, although he can certify anything as urgent, when the Congress is not really convinced, it will also be difficult,” he said in a Palace press briefing. “If there’s really no support, it would be a problem.” Roque, however, acknowledged the importance of Duterte’s urgent certification as it would mean these bills can be passed on the third reading immediately after the second reading. “Although of course a certification itself will be a signal that it’s important for this administration,” he added. He emphasized the need for lawmakers to hold consultations with Bangsamoro officials and people to get a better picture of the transition extension meant to sustain the gains of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. “From the very start, the President said let’s respect the right to self-determination of the people in that region. That is why senators should coordinate with the representatives of the provinces affected,” he added. Maricel V. Cruz

Miss... From A1

the way to the Top 21 and competed in the swimsuit round before ending her journey in the prestigious beauty contest when she did not advance in the Top 10. She and 72 other delegates were beaten out by Mexico’s Andrea Meza, who won for her country their third Miss Universe title. Meza, 26, finished first ahead of the Brazilian and Peruvian finalists in a flashy televised event, hosted by American actor Mario Lopez and television personality Olivia Culpo. “It was such a beautiful moment to represent you, Philippines. I am forever honored to be part of the legacy of our history,” Mateo wrote on Instagram, with a photo of her in the swimsuit round of the pageant. “In my heart, I did everything I can. I trained really hard to be physically fit. I would have sleepless nights trying to read articles to be updated. I made a lot of sacrifices people can’t sometimes see. Early calltime. Late night rest. Trying to be sane and motivated. It was a challenge but it made me so much stronger everyday,” she said. Following the announcement for the 10 finalists, Wurtzbach and Gray took to social media to still cheer for Mateo and thank the Ilongga beauty for doing a “great job” in representing the country. “Rabiya, we love you. Thank you for pouring your heart for the Philippines. We see your heart queen,” Wurtzbach said in a tweet. "I can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll do when you come back home, future as bright as the sun. You are our queen!" Pia added. “Sending Rabiya all of our love. She made our country proud. Eleven-year consecutive semi-streak, Pilipinas,” Gray said in her social media post. Apart from Wurtzbach and Gray, several Pinay beauty queens expressed upport for Mateo right to the very end of the pageant, also posting sweet messages for her on social media. Gazini Ganados, who represented the Philippines in the last Miss Universe pageant in 2019, also posted a message to Mateo, saying how proud she was of her. "You have represented the Philippines with beauty and grace. We love you," Gazini wrote in her Instagram story. Meanwhile, Miss Universe Philippines national director Shamcey Supsup told Mateo she was still a winner not just in her eyes but also "in the hearts of millions of Filipinos around the world." “You have shown us what it means to be relentless, unyielding, and unstoppable in the pursuit of your dreams. Despite the setbacks, critics and failures, you continued to wear the Philippine sash with pride and love,” Supsup wrote on Instagram. With AFP

News

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

GSIS accepts loan payments through Bayad THE Government Service Insurance System is now accepting loan payments from its member-borrowers through Bayad’s (formerly Bayad Center) payment touchpoints across the country. “Hangad namin na bigyan ng maginhawa, secure, at accessible channels ang aming borrowers sa pagbabayad ng kanilang loans. They may now pay their loans at the Bayad Centers nearest their home and need not go to the GSIS office,” GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said. Bayad now accepts payments for GSIS loans in advance; loans that are underpaid, delayed or unpaid; and loans that are already in default (unpaid for more than six months). The said channel is in addition to agency remittance and over-the-counter payment in any GSIS branch office. Members may pay at the nearest Bayad Centers and fill out a Bayad Form with their full name, business partner (BP) number, loan type, payment amount and date, and mobile number. The validated Bayad Form will serve as proof of payment and may view their payments through their eGSISMO accounts. “We want Bayad to be readily available for our hardworking kababayans, providing them more payment options for their loan payments, enabling safe, secure, and hassle-free over-the-counter financial transactions for GSIS borrowers,” said Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Ferrer. For more details, interested parties may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis. gov.ph or Facebook account, @gsis.ph; email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila), 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers), and 1-80010-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers).

Bill exempts honoraria of election servers from taxes

MISHAP.

Four persons who were on their way to attend a wedding were hurt after the passenger jeepney they were riding tilted on one side in Lamtagan in Bontoc, Mountain Province on May 17, 2021. According to the Bontoc Operations Center, the passengers were on their way to Madaymen when their vehicle suffered a mechanical failure, prompting the driver, 47-yearold Clifford Chamkas, to hit a boulder to prevent the vehicle from falling down a deep ravine. Dave Leprozo

Pangilinan: Lower tariffs to further burden farmers

OWERING tariffs will further burden Filipino farmers, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Monday.

“Our farmers will bear the brunt of this order. They are already hardpressed as it is with the non-stop arrival of imported rice and the pandemi,” Pangilinan said in reaction to the issuance of Executive Order 135 which lowers rice tariffs from 50 and 40 percent for in-quota and out-quota respectively to 35 percent for imports coming from so-called Most Favored Nations, particularly, India, Pakistan, and China. “Now, it is as if they are burying our farmers in more hardships with the tariff reduction,” said the former head of

the National Food Authority Council. Pangilinan said he found it odd that the government is slashing the tariff when economic managers have assured the public of a steady supply of rice in recent hearings at the Senate. He said rice farmers groups have been calling him up to seek his intervention on the executive action. “This is a double whammy for our rice farmers. They have reduced funds under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and now they have more competitors in the market,” he said. Pangilinan, who was also able to

AFTER THE JAB.

Some 400 senior citizens from various barangays in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan get their first dose of Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine on May 17, 2021. The World Health Organization recommends that for the Astrazeneca jabs, priority be given to health workers at high risk of exposure and older people, including those aged 65 and older. John Mark Pineda

save the government some P6 billion in public funds when he made the rice importation process transparent, accountable, and competitive during his stint as Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, pointed to a bigger problem with the continuing liberalization of food and agricultural products. “ur rice sufficiency level dropped from 95 percent in 2017 to 79.8 percent in 2019. We don’t have the figures for 2020 yet,” he said. “If this goes down further, or if rice farmers can no longer have decent earnings, we will lose our farmers. We will become dependent then on other countries for our agriculture sufficiency,” he said.

PRIORITY BILLS.

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means on Monday approved a still unnumbered substitute bill that exempts the honoraria paid to election servers from income tax and other withholding taxes. This applies to the pay given to members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), who are usually public school teachers. BEI members are given allowances for serving in national and local elections under Republic Act No. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act. “My mother was a teacher for 43 years, so I support this measure. The cost is very reasonable, at around P56.8 million. It’s worth apprehending just one bigtime tax evader. It’s an easy choice,” said Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the committee. Salceda added he will be a principal sponsor of the substitute bill to the measures filed by Rep. France Castro and Rep. Lloren Cuaresma. “As part of the House leadership team, I will help defend this bill so that the House can fast-track this in time for the 2022 elections,” Salceda said. According to data from the Commission on Elections, taxes withheld for the 2019 National and Local Elections amounted to P56.8 million.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (right) discusses with Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo (center) and Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo (left) the proposed Bayanihan 3 Economic Charter Change and other top priority measures during the opening of session at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

House panels approve hazard pay for state prosecutors By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives committee on justice and committee on ways and means have endorsed a bill granting hazard pay to government prosecutors. The proposed additional incentive, equivalent to 25 percent of basic salary, is contained in Bill No. 8675, authored by deputy speaker and seconddistrict Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. Rodriguez said at least eight public prosecutors in several parts of the country had been murdered since 2016, while two had fortunately survived attacks. These incidents “highlight the dangers that our prosecutors face in the discharge of their vital role in dispensing justice,” he said. “While there can never be a price that would ever be commensurate to their lives, additional compensation or hazard pay will be a good show of support and recognition of the importance of prosecutors,” he added. The government is already providing hazard pay equivalent to “at least 25 percent of monthly basic salary” to various government officials whose work entails “occupational risks or perils to life,” he added. Under the bill, funds needed for the proposed hazard pay would be charged against the current budget of the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice. Subsequently, the DOJ would include the needed amount in its annual budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management and Congress.

MVP Group supports community pantry efforts in Metro Manila THE companies and employees of the MVP Group have come together to support the countrywide movement of community pantries. Aid in the form of rice, produce, and other dried goods were mobilized by the group to initially benefit over 8,000 individuals and their families through select pantries that have been set-up across Metro Manila. Speaking for one of the communities

assisted by the MVP Group, barangay captain Joseph Mahusay of Pansol, Quezon City said around 5,000 families have benefited from the 10 community pantries near their area. “Most of the people lining up in community pantries are Barangay Pansol residents. We have also noticed that in some community pantries, residents from neighboring barangays such as

Barangay Loyola Heights, Barangay Krus na Ligas and Barangay UP Campus also joined the line,” said Mahusay. He said the barangay periodically does food pack distribution to underserved communities. “At the onset of the pandemic last year, the barangay distributed relief packs to all of our constituents, followed by the city government,” Mahusay said.

Over at Balara also in Quezon City, employees of MVP Group’s Maynilad mobilized resources to support the five-day pantry of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the government agency in charge of water privatization in Metro Manila in the Philippines. “The community pantry has helped us somehow,” said Barangay Pansol resident Elena Medina.

‘NPA committed 1,506 crimes, rights violations in past decade’ THE New People’s Army has committed a total of 1,506 atrocities and human right violations in the last 10 years beginning 2010, including the abduction of 544 children who were forced to become child warriors – 304 of them boys and 240 girls – according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This was revealed by Brig. Gen. Jose Alejandro Nacnac, director of AFP’s Center for Law of Armed Conflict, in the weekly virtual press conference of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Nacnac said this proved “a nationwide pattern of organized, orchestrated, continuing, deliberate and systematic scheme perpetrated by the communist terrorist group, which justifies their designation as a terrorist organization.” He said 464 of the child warriors were rescued by government troops. Of the rescued victims, Nacnac claimed 25 were abused by their NPA captors. “These are actually reports from our field units – verifiable, with names of these children who were used as child warriors,” Nacnac said.

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TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

CSC expands list of sexually offensive acts

HE Civil Service Commission has amended the rules on sexual harassment to include offfending acts such as text messaging or email, online or in streets and public places.

CSC Resolution No. 2100064 amends certain provisions in the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS), specifically those pertaining to the administrative proceedings for sexual harassment complaints where the offender is a government employee. The changes in the 2017 RACCS were primarily made to further deter sexual harassment in the public sector as well as to harmonize said rules with Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. Under the resolution, the definition of the term “sexual harassment” is expanded to include the following categories: sexual harassment in the workplace, sexual harassment in educational and training institution, sexual harassment in streets and public spaces, and online sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is defined as one that is “done verbally, physically, or through the use of technology such as text messaging or email… that has or could have a det-

rimental effect on the conditions of an individuals’ employment or education, job performance or opportunities”. It could also be a “conduct of sexual nature affecting the dignity of a person, which is unwelcome, unreasonable and offensive to the recipient”, or one that is “unwelcome and pervasive and creates an intimidating, hostile or humiliating environment for the recipient.” Sexual harassment committed by a government employee in a work-related, training, or education-related environment between peers, or by a subordinate to a superior, has long been recognized as an administrative offense, first under CSC Resolution No. 01-0940 (Administrative Disciplinary Rules on Sexual Harassment Cases) and under the 2017 RACCS. Consistent with the Safe Spaces Act, the amended rules consider as sexual harassment in streets and public spaces those acts such as catcalling, wolf-whistling, and misogynistic, transphobic or sexist slurs committed in alleys, roads, and similar types of public spaces.

The companies and employees of the MVP group have come together to support the countrywide movement of community pantries. Ric, dried goods were mobilized by the group to initially benefit over 8,000 individuals and their families through select pantries that have been set-up across Metro Manila.

CA: Minimum pay FDA rebuffed for ‘pakyaw’ workers over delays in THE Court of Appeals has ruled that bulk workers (pakyaw) in plantations are entitled to the minimum wage in their areas of work, in a decision involving seven sugarcane workers dismissed by a hacienda. In a resolution dated May 11, 2021, the appellate court denied for lack of merit a motion for reconsideration filed by Hacienda Amy/Elena Montinola in the labor case initiated by seven laborers hired to work as “kargatapas” (cutters-loaders) in sugarcane plantations. “Indeed, even if they are ‘pakyaw’ workers, they are still considered as regular employees who under the law should be receiving a salary in accordance with the minimum wage rate in effect at the time of their employment,” the decision read.

‘Balikbayan perks only for Filipinos’

(MS-MAY 18, 2021)

THE Bureau of Immigration clarified that foreign parents of Filipinos are not covered by the Balikbayan privilege and need to secure a visa and entry exemption document before travelling to the Philippines. In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said foreign parents must apply for an entry visa from the Philippine posts abroad. Morente added that they are likewise required to present an entry exemption document, which may be issued by the DFA or the National Task Force Against Covid-19 if they wish to come to the country. The BI chief said that even if the foreign parents are traveling with their Filipino children, they would still need to have a valid 9(a) visa and an entry exemption document. Vito Barcelo

permit renewal By Othel Campos THE Anti-Red Tape Authority has given the Food and Drug Authority’s Center for Drug Regulation and Research another week until Sunday, May 24, 2021, to explain why the agency has not acted on hundreds of applications for renewed permits and several new drug use applications by pharmaceutical companies. ARTA served the FDA office a “Show Cause Order” on May 10, 2021 after some drug companies reported delays on the approval of applications dating to as far back as 2014. ARTA director general Jeremiah Belgica decided to extend the time given to FDA-CDRR after a week has passed without feedback from the agency. In a congressional inquiry on Monday, May 17, Belgica said this case has always been of interest to him because there appears to be no reason for the delay in approval of applications since most of the applications are for renewal of permits or certificates. “Since I started in ARTA, this particular process of auto renewal has been a particular interest of ARTA since we observed that these applications rarely get the attention of the CDRR when these are mostly renewals only,” he said in the motu proprio

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TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

IN BRIEF China bans Everest climbs over COVID BEIJING—China has banned attempts to scale Everest from its side of the world’s highest peak, as Beijing takes its unflinching Covid-19 controls to the Roof of the World. The block on climbing was announced over concerns of the risk of Covid-19 infection by climbers starting out in Nepal, where the pandemic is raging. China was the first country hit by the pandemic in late 2019, but has since largely contained the disease with strict border controls. Beijing fears a rebound of infections could emerge from abroad. With borders all but closed since March 2020, China is now worried about risks at the snow-capped summit, which it shares with Nepal at 8,848 meters above sea level, as the spring climbing season roars to life. Nepal, India’s neighbour, has been hit hard by a second wave of the epidemic, just as the Himalayan state was planning to revive its tourism this summer after a wiped-out 2020 season. AFP

Over 200 dead after Gaza strikes G AZA CITY―Israeli air strikes hammered the Gaza Strip Monday, after a week of violence between the Jewish state and Palestinian militants left more than 200 people dead as international calls for deescalation went unheeded.

Overnight Sunday to Monday, Israel launched dozens of strikes in the space of a few minutes across the crowded coastal Palestinian enclave controlled by Islamist group Hamas, according to AFP journalists and the army. Flames lit up the sky as explosions shook Gaza city.

The strikes caused widespread power cuts and damaged hundreds of buildings, local authorities said. No casualties were immediately reported. West Gaza resident Mad Abed Rabbo, 39, expressed “horror and fear” at the intensity of the onslaught. “There have never been strikes of this

magnitude,” he said. Israel’s army said in a statement that it hit the homes of nine “high-ranking” Hamas commanders, without providing details on casualties. The overnight bombardment also included a third round of strikes on what the army calls the “Metro,” its term for a Hamas underground tunnel network. Fifty-four fighter jets pounded 15 kilometres (nine miles) of tunnels, which the army has previously acknowledged runs in part through civilian areas. Gazan Mani Qazaat said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “should realise we’re civilians, not fighters”,

adding “I felt like I was dying”. - ‘Legitimate’ The renewed strikes come a day after 42 Palestinians in Gaza -- including at least eight children and two doctors, according to the health ministry -- were killed in the worst daily death toll in the enclave since the bombardments began. In total, 197 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 58 children, and more than 1,200 wounded since Israel launched its air campaign against Hamas on May 10 after the group fired rockets. The heaviest exchange of fire in years was sparked by unrest in Jerusalem. AFP

Belgian envoy’s wife stirs trouble in Seoul SEOUL—The wife of Belgium’s ambassador to South Korea will exercise her diplomatic immunity to avoid criminal charges on accusations she hit two boutique staff in the head in a row over shoplifting, police said Monday. Ambassador Peter Lescouhier has previously said that he “sincerely regrets the incident involving his wife”, adding that he “wants to apologise on her behalf”. The Belgium embassy “has expressed it would maintain the right of immunity for the ambassador’s wife”, said a detective at Yongsan police station in central Seoul, adding that police would not pursue the case. South Korea is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, which gives accredited diplomats and their families immunity from criminal prosecution. Officers questioned the woman earlier this month after the embassy said she would cooperate with police. AFP

DOUSING A FIRE. Palestinian firefighters douse a huge fire at the Foamco mattress factory east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 17. AFP

UNICEF: G7, EU countries can donate over 150m jabs to others GENEVA—Countries belonging to the G7 and the European Union can afford to donate more than 150 million vaccines to countries in need without compromising their own goals, UNICEF said Monday. The world’s seven richest states and the EU could help close the world’s vaccine gap by sharing just 20 percent of their June, July and

INVITATION TO BID Bid No. 2021-02

August stocks with the Covax jab scheme for poorer nations, a study by British firm Airfinity showed. “And they could do this while still fulfilling their vaccination commitments to their own populations,” UNICEF director Henrietta Fore said. The UK is due to host its fellow G7 member states Canada, France,

Germany, Italy, Japan and the US for a summit in June. By that time UNICEF said the Covax programme being co-led by Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will find itself 190 million doses short of what it had planned to distribute. AFP

The office of the General Manager through duly constituted Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites all interested manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and authorized dealers to submit bids for 2020 OPERATION and MAINTENANCE intended for ISELCO ll’s requirements for Poles to wit:

LOT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

PARTICULARS Conductor, Bare, ACSR #1/0, AWG 6/1 (Meters) Conductor, Insulated, ACSR #1/0, AWG 6/1 (Meters) Conductor, Bare, ACSR #4/0, AWG 6/1 (Meters) Conductor, Bare, ACSR #336.4, MCM 26/7 STD, (Meters) Assorted Hardwares Fuse Cut-out, 15KV, Class 100 Fuse Cut-out, 15KV, Class 200 with load break Current Transformer 200 : 5,15KV, Extended Range Current Potential Transformer, 15KV, 70:1 Load Logger Qualistick Meter, KWHR, 1 Phase, Class 1, 240V, 5(100) A, Bottom Connected, Electronic Crossarrn Insulator

Approved Budget Cost (ABC)

NONREFUNDABLE FEE (Bid Documents)

PHP 3,720,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

PHP 6,970,000.00 PHP 15,000,000.00 PHP 6,093,600.00

PHP 10,000.00 PHP 25,000.00 PHP 10,000.00

PHP 1,330,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

PHP 5,253,000.00

PHP 10,000.00

PHP 2,750,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

PHP 22,500,000.00

PHP 25,000.00

PHP 3,250,000.00 PHP 1,996,000.00

PHP 5,000.00 PHP 5,000.00

Bidding documents are available in electronic data format for purchase. Interested bidders shall submit a letter of intent and comply with the following requirements: a.) Company Profile b.) DTI Business Name Registration or SEC Registration Certificate c.) Business Permit (Valid and Current Mayor’s Permit) d.) BIR/VAT Certificate which consist the TIN

e.) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) f.) List of Clients for 3 years g.) Latest Audited Annual Financial Statement

Italian Guardia Di Finanza law enforcement agency on May 17 to disembark on the southern Italian Pelagie Island of Lampedusa. More than 1,400 migrants arrived on the island of Lampedusa on the weekend amid fresh moves by Italian authorities against the rescue boats who operate in the central Mediterranean. AFP

h.) Location Map of the Office

The foregoing amounts are non-refundable and must be paid to the cashier at ISELCO II, Main Office, Government Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel Nos. (078) 323-0013 and (078) 323-0715 official receipt of payments must be presented during the Pre-Bid Conference. ACTIVITIES Release of Invitation to Bid (Publication) Selling and Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Submission of Eligibility Requirements and Bid Offer (Technical and Financial Documents) Evaluation of Eligibility Requirements (Technical Documents) Opening of Bids (Financial Documents) Post Qualification

SCHEDULE May 18, 2021 May 19-June 1,2021 June 9,2021 June 10 -16, 2021 June 17-22, 2021 June 28, 2021

ISELCO II hereby reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any formality therein, accepts proposal most advantageous to the Cooperative and assumes no obligation to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses or losses that may be incurred in the preparation of bid nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

JOSEPH S. PALATTAO BAC Chairman

RESCUED. Migrants warmed by emergency blankets arrive on a boat of the

DAVID SOLOMON M. SIQUIAN General Manager

MST – May 18, 2021

UN to call for suspension of Myanmar arms transfer UNITED NATIONS—The UN General Assembly on Tuesday is set to consider a draft non-binding resolution calling for “an immediate suspension” of the transfer of weapons to the military junta of Myanmar, a UN official said Sunday. Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are non-binding but carry strong political significance. If an approval by consensus cannot be reached then the full General Assembly -- 193 member states -- will vote on the measure. Introduced by Liechtenstein,

with support from the European Union, Britain, and the United States, the measure will be considered at the plenary meeting set for Tuesday at 1900 GMT. The draft resolution calls for “an immediate suspension of the direct and indirect supply, sale, or transfer of all weapons, munitions, and other military-related equipment to Myanmar.” “The meeting will be in person,” a UN spokesman told AFP. The draft, which has been under negotiation for weeks, is co-sponsored by 48 countries, with South Korea the sole Asian country. AFP

HK daily halts share trading as assets frozen HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy media group announced it was halting share trading Monday, two days after authorities froze the assets of its jailed owner Jimmy Lai under a new national security law. The announcement came the same day Lai -- who is already in jail -pleaded guilty alongside nine other activists to “unlawful assembly” charges, the latest in a string of prosecutions brought against the city’s democracy movement. Next Digital Limited -- which publishes the Apple Daily newspaper -said it would halt trading “pending the release of an announcement” about Lai’s frozen assets, in a statement to the city’s stock exchange. AFP

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TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise; Ayala Land, Puregold climb S TOCKS rose slightly Monday as optimism about the global recovery was offset by concerns about a spike in new infections in several countries that have officials battling to avert new lockdowns. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 14.22 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,283.58 on a value turnover of P5 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 99 to 85, with 58 issues unchanged. Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. climbed 5.6 percent to P32.95, while Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon

Lucio Co advanced 5.4 percent to P33.35. Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, climbed 5.2 percent to P3.85, but DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone firm, sank 9.9 percent to P8.10.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Monday. Wall Street provided another strong lead after data showed US retail sales were flat last month, which helped ease traders’ fears that a surge in inflation could force the Federal Reserve to wind back its ultra-loose monetary policies sooner than expected. However, a fall in consumer confidence owing to rising prices indicated the issue was unlikely to go away any time soon, and analysts said central bank officials had to tread a fine line between getting the economy back on its feet and keeping in-

flation under control. “On the one side, we have the Fed’s view, apparently embraced by equity investors, implying there is nothing to see here, given that base effects and reopening dynamics mean we should expect volatility in the data and no one said reopening was going to be cheap,” said National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril. “On the other side of the argument... (are) rising concerns that inflation is becoming unanchored with a decline in consumer sentiment a reflection of the negative impact inflation is having on disposable

income. So at what point does higher inflation become problematic for policy?” Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai and Wellington all rose. However, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta and Taipei were all lower as some governments in the region struggle to contain new coronavirus cases. The rise in infections has forced Taiwan to order stricter social distancing measures for the capital and surrounding areas, while Japan extended a state of emergency as calls grow for the Olympics to be scrapped. AFP

Two Indonesian unicorns set to merge, creating tech giant JAKARTA—Two of Indonesia’s most successful start-ups are to merge, the companies announced on Monday, creating the largest tech firm in the world’s fourth most populous country. Ride-hailing and payments giant Gojek and e-commerce firm Tokopedia—which generated transactions worth a combined $22 billion in 2020—agreed to form the GoTo Group, they said in a statement. The deal will form an Indonesian tech giant combining e-commerce and financial services with on-demand offerings such as ridesharing in what will be the first such platform in Southeast Asia. “The GoTo Group will tap into the huge potential of Southeast Asia’s largest economy with its fast-growing middle class and young, tech-savvy population,” the statement read. The companies did not disclose the expected value of the new firm, but said the combined past valuation of Gojek and Tokopedia

was $18 billion based on historical fundraising. The combined business of two of Indonesia’s top unicorns—start-ups with a valuation of more than $1 billion—will be led by Gojek’s Andre Soelistyo as GoTo Group CEO and Tokopedia’s Patrick Cao serving as GoTo Group president. “Today is a truly historic day as we mark the beginning of GoTo and the next phase of growth for Gojek, Tokopedia and GoTo Financial,” Soelistyo said in the statement. “Gojek drivers will deliver even more Tokopedia packages, merchant partners of all sizes will benefit from strengthened business solutions and we will use our combined scale to increase financial inclusion in an emerging region with untapped growth potential.” The new entity will seek to expand its services to reach underserved areas of Indonesia “where 140 million people have little or no access to the country’s financial system,” the statement added. AFP (MS-MAY 17 & 18, 2021)

(MS-MAY 17 & 18, 2021)

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

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, May 17, 2021

14.22 PTS. 6,283.58

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

2,312,959,423 88,737 5,017,098,374.54 85 99 58

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8250

Japan

Yen

0.009151

0.4376

Pound

1.410100

67.4380

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128750

6.1575

Switzerland

Franc

1.109508

53.0622

Canada

Dollar

0.825900

39.4987

Singapore

Dollar

0.750469

35.8912

Australia

Dollar

0.777300

37.1744

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655690

127.0084

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.7526

Brunei

Dollar

0.747664

35.7570

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031898

1.5255

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.0221

Euro

1.214300

58.0739

Korea

Won

0.000889

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.155340

7.4291

India

Rupee

0.013644

0.6525

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242542

11.5996

New Zealand

Dollar

0.724500

34.6492

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035755

1.7100 Source: BSP

DA revising rice harvest goal after strong Q1 output By Othel B. Campos THE Department of Agriculture plans to revise the 2021 rice production target after the country harvested a record 4.62 million metric tons in the first quarter. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the country may also post backto-back bountiful harvests after the bumper yields in 2020. “We are pleased to report that the country’s rice farmers harvested a total of 4.626 million MT for the first quarter of 2021, 8.6 percent more than in first quarter of 2020, and erasing the record harvest in first quarter 2018,” he said. The DA aims to surpass the 20.4-million MT of palay production in 2021, barring strong typhoons and other natural calamities. “We therefore commend millions of our rice farmers, and thousands of local government technicians and leaders, and industry stakeholders nationwide for this achievement. We also appreciate the efforts of our ‘OneDA’ team for vigorously implementing the various interventions that led to the improvements in yield,” Dar said. Philippine Rice Research Institute director John de Leon attributed the production growth to improvements in both area harvested and yield. Area harvested increased by 4.53 percent, while yield grew by 3.87 percent over the same three-month period in 2020. “Area harvested to rice expanded from 1.1 million hectares to 1.15 million hectares, while yield went up from 3.88 MT/ha to 4.03 MT/ ha. Overall, area harvested contributed 54 percent to the incremental first-quarter production, while the share of yield was 46 percent,” de Leon said. The first-quarter growth in palay output was observed in both irrigated and rainfed areas, he said. De Leon said the growth in area harvested could be attributed to the above-normal rainfall following a series of typhoons in the last quarter of 2020, which enabled farmers to do a quick turn-around planting.

Business PSEi May 17, 2021

TOP GAINERS

1 2

AXLM VVT

LAST PRICE 3.06 15

3 4

ALI SGP

32.95 410

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.21 7.37% 0.8 5.63% 1.75 21

Remittances up by 4.9% in March to $2.51b—BSP 5.61% 5.40%

5 PGOLD 33.35 1.7 5.37% 6 PRMX 3.37 0.17 5.31% 7 MPI 3.85 0.19 5.19% By Julito G. Rada 8 BKR 1.42 0.07 5.19% ONEY sent home by 9 PSB 57.85 2.85 5.18% Filipinos working 10 AB 8.8 0.42 5.01%

the first quarter came mostly from the United States, Malaysia and Singapore. Data showed the US registered the highest share to overall remittances at 40.8 percent in the first three months, overseas increased followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, 4.9 percent in March to $2.514 Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Taiwan billion from $2.397 billion and Malaysia. a year ago, on the The combined remittances from these LASTeasing of % restrictions and PRICE the rollout CHANGEof CHANGE top 10 countries accounted for 78.2 percent of total cash remittances. COVID-19 1 DITO vaccinations 8.1 -0.89in -9.90% Meanwhile, personal remittances, many advanced countries, the 2 MM 4.03 -0.35 -7.99% which include non-cash items, also inBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas creased 5.6 percent in March to $2.801 GEO 0.3 -0.025 -7.69% billion from $2.652 billion in the same said3Monday. 4 MAB 0.014 -0.001 -6.67% month last year. “This is the second consecutive month The BSP said in a statement cash remitACEXland-based 15.88 workers -1.12 grew -6.59% tances5 from 5 that remittances were higher than last percent March to 1.45 $1.948 billion, while 6 in LRW -0.1 -6.45% year’s levels, reflecting mainly the easthose from sea-based workers rose 4.5 ing of travel restrictions, re-opening of 7 to $566 PHR million. 1.76 -0.12 -6.38% borders to foreign workers and progress percent The8 latest fi gure brought cash remitEVER 0.155 -0.01 -6.06% in COVID-19 vaccine rollout in many tances in the first three months to $7.593 advanced countries,” the BSP said. 9 upCOAL 0.315from-0.02 Personal remittances from land-based billion, 2.6 percent $7.403 -5.97% bilworkers with work contracts of one year lion in the same period last year. 10 PXP 6.49 -0.41 -5.94% The growth in cash remittances in or more grew 5 percent to $2.115 billion

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ALI DITO BDO ACEN URC SM AC MEG BPI ICT

VOLUME 11,520,900 42,446,600 3,378,180 43,174,800 2,111,220 240,270 244,930 59,579,000 1,957,160 1,139,720

from $2.014 billion recorded in March 2020, while remittances from sea-based workers and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year rose 4.5 percent to $617 million in from $591 million a year ago. The BSP said that on a cumulative basis, remittances in the ﬁrst quarter reached $8.454 billion, up by 2.9 percent from $8.218 billion recorded in the same period in 2020. Cash remittances showed signs of recovery despite the pandemic last year, declining by just 0.8 percent to reach $29.903 billion from the record $30.133 billion in 2019. This was stronger than the BSP’s earlier projection of a 2-percent contraction for the year. This year, the BSP expects remittances to grow by 4 percent on expectation that the pandemic would be over soon. Remittances help support the country’s balance of payments position and offset the wide trade deﬁcit. This keeps the peso stable against the US dollar and allows the BSP maintain a strong GIR position.

VALUE (PHP) 367,087,200.00 360,968,441.00 357,059,467.00 305,250,876.00 283,714,645.00 222,608,635.00 176,049,250.00 161,272,970.00 157,769,863.00 156,876,614.00

RL COMMERCIAL REIT Inc. 1, the real estate investment trust company owned by Robinsons Land Corp., plans to raise up to P26.6 billion from an initial public offering scheduled by the second half of 2021. RLC said Monday in a disclosure to the stock exchange it ﬁled an IPO application with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer 3.34 million secondary shares with an over-allotment option for another 305.1 million shares. The shares will be sold at a price of up to P7.31 apiece. RLC REIT’s initial portfolio consists of 14 PEZA-accredited assets with over 400,000 square meters of gross leasable area across key Metro Manila central business districts and major commercial hubs outside Metro Manila. These include the Exxa-Zeta Towers in Quezon City, Robinsons Summit Center in Makati City, Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha and Robinsons Cyberscape Beta in Pasig City and Robinsons Cybergate Center 2 and 3 in Mandaluyong City. Net proceeds will be used by the RLC to fund real estate projects in accordance with its reinvestment plan. The company engaged BPI Capital Corp. and UBS AG Singapore Branch as the joint global coordinators, lead managers and joint bookrunners for the offering. CLSA Limited and Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. will serve as the international book runners while BPI Capital, China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp. and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. will be the local underwriters for the proposed offering. RLC is the fourth company to ﬁle for an REIT offering, after AREIT Inc. of Ayala Land Inc. and DDMP REIT Inc. of DoubleDragon Properties Corp. which successfully listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock exchange and Filinvest REIT of Filinvest Land Inc. which has a pending P14.9-billion IPO application with the SEC.

OSS-Center officers seeking SC certiorari

LCS Group builds new common tower NLEX Connector in Isabela in support of DICT’s initiative reaches Sampaloc, now 35% complete

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar leads the inspection of the North Luzon Expressway Connector Road, a P23-billion project under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program that will bring commuters from the north directly to the University Belt in Manila. Construction of the first 5-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector, between Caloocan and España Interchanges, is in full swing and has now reached Abad Santos Street and Blumentritt in Manila. The next 3-km. elevated section between España Interchange and the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila is ready for construction by June 2021.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

IN BRIEF

ETON’S VACCINATION HUB. Eton Properties transforms its event venue Centris Elements in the business process outsourcing-lifestyle hub Eton Centris along EDSA into a vaccination center to support the local government unit of Quezon City in reaching its objective of a COVID-free city. Almost 2,000 residents of Quezon City received the vaccine at Eton Centris. Eton Properties chief operating officer Karlu Tan says it is important for the private sector to work together with the local government for the welfare of their immediate community and for the economy.

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology issued guidelines on the construction of independent common towers in June 2020 to improve telecom services nationwide and many heeded the call. Common towers serve as carrier-neutral relay stations that telecommunications companies can share to reach more areas with more consistent signals. These towers are not built and owned by the telcos but by independent companies. Rather like a tollway, telcos will pay the common tower providers a fee to utilize the towers. One of these providers is the LCS Group, which has just built their 30th Common Tower, the latest of which is in Alicia, Isabella among hundreds more being constructed throughout the country. “We fully support the DICT’s directive in allowing independent providers to construct towers that will create opportunities for all three telcos to expand their service to more areas, ultimately improving Last Mile services through collaboration with our carrier-neutral Towers,” said LCS Group vice chairman and architect Richelle Singson-Michael. “What is known as the ‘sharing economy’ has disrupted tech markets, and the same principles can be applied in the telco industry saving them from having to invest and operate the towers themselves,” she said. LCS chief executive Aaron Tan said that “with our shared infrastructure, we have effectively shortened the network rollout and expansion periods of all the current and future service providers, hence expediting their go-to-the-market strategies.”.

RLC’s REIT unit launches IPO bid to raise P26.6b

By Darwin G Amojelar NLEX Corp. said Monday the construction of the ﬁrst 5-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector between Caloocan and España Interchanges is now 35-percent complete. “We are working together with NLEX to expedite the right-of-way delivery within the properties of the Philippine National Railways. Bored piling works and concrete casting of columns have started in the Manila area from Solis all the way to Dimasalang,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said. “The NLEX Connector is a P23-billion project under ‘the Build, Build, Build’ program and is expected to accommodate around 35,000 motorists daily. Upon completion, this section will bring NLEX commuters directly to the University Belt in Manila,” he said. The latest Metro Manila elevated expressway section is being constructed inside the Philippine National Railways tracks between Harbor Link-Caloocan Interchange along C3 Road/5th Ave. and España Blvd. in Sampaloc, Manila. This section will have on and off ramps in España Interchange and will make NLEX directly accessible to the heart of Manila. The next 3-km elevated section between España Interchange and the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila is ready for construction by June 2021. “We are doing everything we can to accelerate the completion of this high impact expressway that will beneﬁt the motoring public. The entire 8-km NLEX Connector is vital to ensure improved mobility within Metro Manila,” said NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista. Meanwhile, the Toll Regulatory Board authorized NLEX to collect a nominal 2-percent to 3-percent toll increase starting May 18. The adjustment is part of the approved periodic adjustments due 2012 and 2014, or seven years ago. TRB and NLEX agreed to implement the increase on a staggered basis to cushion the impact of the adjustments.

TWENTY one incumbent and former officers and employees of the One Stop Shop Interagency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center (OSS-Center) have asked the Supreme Court for certiorari and writ of prohibition after the OSS-Center had received from the Commission on Audit 11 batches of 578 Notices of Disallowances involving eight firms amounting to P2.216 billion. In their 168-page petition filed on May 3 before the High Court, the officers and staff of OSS-Center, an agency of the Department of Finance (DoF), said through their lawyer Marlon Mercado they were prompted to file the petition for certiorari and prohibition after the CoA had answered only two of the 11 petitions they field for review. They claimed the two answers were insufficient to address the points they had raised in their petitions for review. The petitioners have alleged CoA has not answered the nine others petitions for review. The petitioners have sought a writ of certiorari to set aside the 578 NDS and a separate writ of prohibition for CoA to set aside the special audit report from, on which the issuance of those NDs was based.

AC Energy investing $3b to boost capacity AC ENERGY Corp., a unit of Ayala Corp., plans to invest around $3 billion to boost its renewable energy generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts by 2025 in a bid to become the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia. “Our goal is to reach 5,000 MW of RE by 2025, so we are now at 1,900 MW,” ACEN president and chief executive officer Eric Francia said during a virtual briefing on Monday. ACEN currently has around 2,000 MW of RE projects. “For us to really close that gap between where we are today, which is close to 2000 MW to where we want to be which is 5,000 MW, which means we have to build another at least 3,000 MW,” Francia said. He said the company would need to spend about $3 billion for the additional 3,000 MW. “Our primary approach is to build greenfield projects, that’s our primary source of growth. However, we are still open to acquisitions so we will continuously explore acquisition opportunities around the region,” the official said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Emperador to raise 2021 capex to P1.5b EMPERADOR Inc., the largest global brandy company and owned by business tycoon Andrew Tan, will increase its capital spending this year to P1.5 billion as it expects the pandemic to ease on the back of the global vaccination program. Emperador president Winston Co said during the annual stockholders’ meeting the company would raise capital expenditures this year by 50 percent to further expand its global footprint “Last year, at the height of the pandemic, we held back on our capital expenditure so we spent around P1 billion. With the vaccinations underway, we expect some easing of pandemic restrictions this year and onwards with increased air travel, and overall, some form of normalcy,” Co said. “As a global company, we constantly adapt to changing consumer behavior especially in a challenging and difﬁcult environment. Consumers around the world react differently by region or country depending on how liquor is positioned or perceived as either an essential or non-essential product,” he added. Jenniffer B. Austria

Curry claims scoring title; Dubs win 6th straight LOS ANGELES—Stephen Curry scored 46 points and claimed his second NBA scoring title as the Golden State Warriors won their sixth straight by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 113101 on Sunday in San Francisco. Curry finished the regular season with a 32.0-point scoring average, claiming the league title over Washington’s Bradley Beal who scored 25 points earlier Sunday to finish at 31.3 points per game. “I had a lot of good looks all night,” Curry said. “We were in sync. The guys set great screens for me.” The 33-year old Curry won his first scoring title in 2016. He and Michael Jordan are the only NBA players to win a scoring title after turning 33. Curry also joins Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players with multiple scoring titles, most valuable players awards and NBA championships. “He’s like the Picasso of our time,” said teammate Juan Toscano-Anderson. “You can’t have a knock on him. He’s the best doing it right now.” Curry scored 17 of his game-high 46 points in the third quarter as the Warriors seized the Western Conference number eight spot in this week’s play-in tournament. Golden State will now play on Wednesday, at either Portland or the Los Angeles Lakers, both of whom took the court later Sunday. “He’s never been better, I can say that,” coach Steve Kerr said. Curry got plenty of help from his supporting cast, including Jordan Poole who halted a Grizzlies rally with a late three pointer. The Warriors outscored the Grizzlies 45-18 from three-point range and outshot their opponents 49.4 percent to 43.5 overall. “It is just confidence and the expectation and ability to know they are going to have opportunities,” said Curry of his teammates. “If I get a lot of attention we move the ball, they are out there to make plays. “Everybody has to be confident they are going to make an impact on both ends of the floor. We are going to need that.” Andrew Wiggins finished with 21-points and 10-rebounds, while Draymond Green just missed a tripledouble with 14 points, nine rebounds and a game-high-tying nine assists. Kevon Looney a team-high 11 rebounds for the Warriors. Jonas Valanciunas scored 29 points and delivered 16 rebounds for Memphis, who had all five starters in double figures. Brooks finished with 18 points, while Ja Morant tallied 16 and nine assists for the Grizzlies, who trailed 86-69 at the end of the third quarter. AFP

Sports

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

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors: I had a lot of good looks all night. We were in sync. The guys set great screens for me.

PH judoka Watanabe assured of Tokyo slot will not be dislodged,” added Carter. Further continental quotas, 13 men and 12 women for Europe, 12 of each ITH a month remaining before the ofﬁcial cutoff, gender for Africa, 10 men and 11 Filipino-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe is women for Pan America, 10 of each gender for Asia, and 5 of each gender already assured of a slot to the Tokyo Olympics. for Oceania are also available. The 24-year-old Watanabe has al- Cebu City-based Watanabe is listed as As for the women’s -63 kg class, ready made the cut through the con- no. 9 in Asia. She will be one of three among those who have made it ahead of tinental quota system, based on the judokas bound to replace any of the Watanabe are Clarisse Agbegnenou of current Olympic rankings of the Inter- three Japanese bets Nami Nabekura, France, who is the leading qualifier. national Judo Federation. Doi Masako and Aimi Nouchi, who Tina Trstenjak of Slovenia is listed, The 5’7” Watanabe is currently may be cut from qualififollowed by Miko Tashiranked at no. 38 and is among the top 10 cation because of eligibilro of Japan and Andreja Asians listed so far. ity rules. Leski of Slovenia. But since there is a limit of one of enAccording to the rules, So far, there are try per country, Watanabe has already each country is subject to four Japanese judokas bagged one seat in her weight class. a limit of one judoka per listed ahead of WataPhilippine Judo Federation president division. nabe and many other Dave Carter said they are now waiting If a country has more aspirants. Cuts will for a formal announcement from the IJF than a single athlete be made due to limitabefore they formally proclaim Wata- ranked in the top 18 of tions imposed. nabe as officially qualified. the world ranking list, the Despite her lofty sta“We have a slot to the Olympics. But NOC can decide which of tus, Watanabe will seek official announcement for those quali- their athletes will obtain to earn direct qualificafied will be sometime in the third week the quota places. tion when she joins the of June,” said Carter in a radio inter“She is already qualiWorld Championships view. fied via the continental in Budapest, Hungary Based on the official rankings, the quota system. And she Kiyomi Watanabe this June.

By Peter Atencio

Denice Zamboanga

Zamboanga oozing with renewed confidence FILIPINO atomweight star Denice “Lycan Queen” Zamboanga is primed and ready for what should be the biggest test of her young career thus far. The 24-year-old is one of eight women who will participate in the highly anticipated ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix. The first round of the tournament commences at ONE: EMPOWER, which broadcasts live on Friday, 28 May from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. Zamboanga, who is the division’s #1-ranked contender, is scheduled to face veteran “Arale Chan” Seo Hee Ham. With the stakes riding high, Zamboanga is determined to defeat Ham and win the tournament.

According to ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, the winner of the tournament will earn the right to challenge reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee for the world title later this year. “I’ve been preparing hard for this fight. A lot of pain, sweat, tears, and blood went into this training camp. I’m in the best shape of my career. Physically, mentally, and spiritually, I’m ready for this fight. I’m ready to give it 100%, and do anything it takes to win,” Zamboanga said. Zamboanga burst onto the scene in December 2019, defeating Malaysian star Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan. She went on to

beat two-time former ONE World Title challenger Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in 2020, in a massive upset which later earned her the top spot in the divisional rankings. She followed up that victory just a few months later, submitting Watsyapinya Kaewkhong impressively in the first round. When the tournament was announced, however, and Zamboanga’s first opponent was revealed, many hardcore mixed martial arts fans believed the Filipina drew the Grand Prix’s most dangerous entrant in Seo. Despite coming into this bout as the perceived underdog, Zamboanga remains confident in her preparations, and vows to take the fight right to her Korean counterpart.

Virus surge in Taiwan halts PH archers’ plans A SURGE of coronavirus infections in Taiwan will keep the Philippine national archery team from leaving the country. Arrangements were being finalized this week for the national team to fly over to Taiwan, which became known for having one of the world’s best success stories in pre- Clint Aranas venting the spread of the COVID-19 virus. But plans changed yesterday, according to World Archery Philippines president Clint Aranas following reports that there was a spike of more than 400 domestic cases over the last few days. “We have to cancel Taiwan because the government has raised its alert level on the pandemic. And they are not allowing our team to travel,” said Aranas in an interview with the Manila Standard. Because of this, the national team will have to return to Dumaguete to continue their preparations for an Olympic qualification tournament. Filipino archers were supposed to join the Olympic Qualifier in Paris, France from June 18 to 21. A six-man team, led by Ryan Silos, was supposed to leave next week for a month-long training stint in Taiwan. The rest of the contingent is made up of Jason Feliciano, Carson Hastie, Pia Elizabeth Bidaure, Phoebe Amistoso and Monica Bidaure, with coaches Clint Sayo and Joy Marino joining the team. The Taiwanese archery team for the games, led by two-time Olympian Tan Ya-ting and reigning world champion Lei Chien-ying in the women’s individual recurve, was initially scheduled to train with Filipino archers. Peter Atencio

Iligan City to showcase youth in VisMin Super Cup ILIGAN City’s homegrown talents will be showcased by the Archangels in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup’s Mindanao Leg. This as 12 of the 13 players that will be fielded by the Archangels are natives of Iligan. According to Iligan team manager Amador Baller, Mayor Celso Regencia made sure to have an all-homegrown squad so that the province’s youth will be able to relate with the team. “Iligan is very active in sports. It’s part of our campaigns here that will encourage the youth to get into sports and not into drugs,” said Baller, who is also the sports coordinator for the province. “We also have programs for the grassroots. It’s the point of Mayor to help them not be involved in bad vices.” Headlining the team is 6’2” swing-

man Jericho Montecalvo, who at just 20 years old will be the youngest player in the competition. Back in 2019, Montecalvo powered Southern Philippines College of Cagayan de Oro to the Sweet 16 of the Chooksto-Go NBTC National Finals. He would transfer to University of the East afterward, posting averages of 8.92 points, 5.77 rebounds, and 1.23 assists during the UAAP Season 82 High School Boys’ Basketball tournament. With him obtaining a special guest license (SGL) from the Games and Amusements Board, he will no longer be eligible to play in the UAAP. Three other guest players were tapped by the Archangels in University of Cebu’s Kyle Ordeniza, La Salle Academy’s Algeroh Benitez, and Pasig-Sta. Lucia’s Lester Tamayo.

Tamayo applied for an SGL so that he can still keep his amateur status when he returns to the Realtors for the 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Mumbaki Cup. GAB allows teams to have amateur players with SGLs for as long as it will not be more than 33-percent (1/3) of the total number of players in the team. Moreover, all amateur players with SGL in a professional team shall not be allowed to play simultaneously in the court. Completing the squad which has La Salle Iligan head coach Dane Lariosa as chief tactician are Edcor Marata, Iligan City Archangels an all-homegrown squad so that the province’s John Rabe, Roldan Piñas, Kenneth Ar- youth can relate to. diente, Dave Tagolimot, Philip Reyes, Harold Suarez, Magic Marata, and Jo“Some of our players played in the got them so that the kids will look up hari Andor. MPBL while others are varsity play- to them.” “We expect them to perform well in ers in known universities. Almost Iligan has been training under a full the upcoming tournament,” said Baller. the entire team is from Iligan. We bubble set-up at St. Michael College.

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

Fury-Joshua title duel set in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 14 L

ONDON—Tyson Fury said Sunday his long-awaited world heavyweight title uniﬁcation bout against Anthony Joshua would take place in Saudi Arabia on August 14. “Massive announcement FURY VS JOSHUA IS ON AUGUST 14 in The kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The worlds (sic) biggest sporting event all eyes on us,” Fury tweeted. Between them, the two British boxers hold all four major versions of the heavyweight title. Saudi Arabia staged the 31-year-old Joshua’s rematch against Andy Ruiz, when the Briton regained his WBA, IBF and WBO titles in December 2019, putting him on a collision course with Fury, who became the WBC champion shortly afterwards. In a video posted to Twitter, Fury said: “I have got some massive news. I have just got off the phone with Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia and he told me this fight is 100 percent on, August 14.” Fury, a year older than Joshua, added: “All eyes of the world will be on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “I cannot wait, I repeat, cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all-time. “This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet Earth. Do not miss it.” What is widely expected to be the richest fight in British boxing history started to loom into view when Fury stopped Deontay Wilder to win the WBC title in February last year after

Boxer Tyson Fury (left) said his long-awaited world heavyweight title unification bout against Anthony Joshua (right) would take place in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 14. AFP

Joshua had avenged the only loss of his professional career by defeating Ruiz. Joshua retained his three belts in December with a ninth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. Meanwhile a third fight between Fury and Wilder has failed to take place, meaning the ‘lineal champion’ has been inactive in more than 12 months since stopping

Wilder in Las Vegas. Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum recently said a fight in July or August was “dead in the water”. But earlier this week, Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, said the two camps were close to securing a date as well as a venue. “August 7, August 14,” Hearn told Sky Sports when asked about a date

Polish KO artist owes Brave CF for opportunity to live MMA dream SEEF DISTRICT—All Polish power-hitter Maciej “Magic Man” Gierszewski ever wanted to do in the prime years of his existence was to become a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete. From the moment he had his first glimpse of the sport’s enthralling nature, Gierszewski fell in love so hard with MMA and vowed to be a competitor who would alway put fans at the edge of their seats. Gierszewski did just that, building a reputation as a knockout artist from the amateur level to the pro ranks—shutting the lights out on opponents who dared to stand in front of him inside the cage. Despite having a bright future and potential, Gierszewski contemplated the idea of bidding farewell to the sport in 2018 as it was no longer financially viable to support his family. “I was already at the stage where I want to give up MMA,” he revealed. “Aside from doing MMA, I was working at a construction site. For years, I had to wake up at 4 am for training, and then I had to go to work after. Then after work, I had to train again in the gym. I got home very late.” “My wife then told me, ‘Maciej, your family misses you. You are out everyday working and training. You are never home.’ Then I started to realize what she’s saying because I wasn’t getting regular fights nor earning good purses from it,” Gierszewsk continued. As he was about to move on from his prizefighting career and hang up his four-ounce gloves for good, BRAVE Combat Federation gave him a call and offered him a short-notice bout in London against Irish

Maciej “Magic Man” Gierszewski

Justice of the gods FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ THERE is no mathematics to explain karma, and the basketball gods to whom we attribute unforeseen, albeit just and providential eventualities, they are faceless, nameless, and shapeless gods that demand neither devotion nor offering, just the fervor in sports, a fierce pursuit of athletic excellence, credit for fulfilling the wishes of the deserving, and if need be -- and more importantly -- dispensing justice that manifests in karmic circumstances. So to the gods, a prayer today in the day of schemers, a day that seldom comes, a day that will come again for sure, for every time it is here it feels opportune, so strong the temptation to abandon honor: let those who dishonor basketball be the first to feel your righteous wrath. Start with those who drop matches so that they can choose their opponents in the play-in and the play-offs,

consumed by the delusion they alone hold both the hammer and the chisel that shapes what becomes of them. I was never a believer in tanking. I don’t believe in the promise of reward of schemes. I believe in playing hard and that it brings with it triumph and moral victory. I don’t believe that willfully losing benefits anyone – the victor feels cheated with a hollow win, and the losing team loses both the match and their dignity. They say some moves require one step backward to advance two steps forward. That is just an elegant way to describe the work of a schemer. In truth, it is a shrewd way of manipulating a flaw in the system, plain and simple. Lose a game to match up against a team you feel you can beat? Such hubris! How many times have we seen weaker teams pull off an upset against stronger teams, especially when winning really mattered? That is the justice of the basketball gods. Victory is denied to those who have no esteem and respect for it. They say it is tactical, that some moves require one step backward to advance two steps forward. I disagree. This is poison, and it will kill everything

for Joshua-Fury. “It’s a very bad secret that the fight is happening in Saudi Arabia. I don’t mind giving that information, Bob Arum’s already done it.” Hearn added: “It’s the same people we did the deal with for Andy Ruiz, that event was spectacular. As partners, they were fantastic as well, so we’re very comfortable. AFP

standout Cian Cowley. “I got a call from BRAVE CF. I don’t know what to expect at first. But I was in shape, so I took the fight. They sent me the contract, but it’s for one fight. Regardless, I was happy to get that offer,” Gierszewski recalled. Gierszewski shined the brightest in his promotional debut at BRAVE CF 24 in July 2019, silencing the crowd at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as they were in awe of his one-punch knockout of Cowley in the second round. His impressive performance against the Irishman paved the way for him to earn a lucrative multi-year contract under the banner of the Bahrain-based MMA organization. “As soon as I got my contract, I left my day job. I focused 100 percent on MMA, training three times a day,” he shared. “I am finally in the spot where I wanted to be all my life.” Looking back, Gierszewski stressed that BRAVE CF is the main reason why he gets to live out his childhood dream to this day. “They gave me a second chance,” he said. “I am blessed they found me. I am a happy man. I can get to do what I love to do.” In his first assignment this year, Gierszewski made quite an impression yet again by stopping Brazilian veteran Felipe Silva in the first round at historic BRAVE CF 50 last April. The promotion has already lined up a follow-up to that monumental card as BRAVE CF 51: The Future Is Here is set to take place at the state-of-the-art Falcon Club Arena in Minsk, Belarus on June 4th. Belarus will be the seventh European country that BRAVE CF has visited since spearheading a strategic expansion in the continent in 2018. With the records that BRAVE CF has broken over the past few years, Gierszewski believes the balance of power in European MMA starts to favor the company that gave him a new lease on life. AFP

good in you as an athlete and competitor – the competitive fire, the sense of honor among combatants, the sense of moral conduct, and the appreciation for the privilege of being here when others are not so lucky to be given the chance to partake in this competition. Every time you make this step, you encourage your fear of an opponent you deem formidable, so you avoid or delay the task instead of facing it, despite the promise that this can and will make you stronger even if you fall on the first try. Scurrying through holes makes you weak and scared, and for what? So that you can take the route where you think there is a better chance of success? And when you fail regardless, that is karma for spitting at the core foundation of sports: competing to win. The basketball gods do not favor cowards and cowardice, and in one form or another, the basketball gods will dispense justice for this scrupulous behavior. They say this strategy - the move to take one step backward to advance two steps forward - is meant to win the bigger prize. I disagree. The only thing you can hope to win is the game you are slated to play. You cannot plan – or worse, hope to win a duel that hasn’t been promised to you yet. Win your battles, and the basketball gods will let you know if you’ve won the war.

They say it is a matter of necessity, to take one step backward to advance two steps forward. I disagree. You see this as a luxury – to cheat and find convenience without punishment. When you take into account how this mentality sows the seeds of undesirable qualities in the athlete, in the coach, and the system, you will realize that taking one step backward actually sets you back a hundred steps down the pit of shame and disgrace, further and further away from being a respectable person in the world of sports. By then every misfortune appears deserving. Call it karma. Call it the justice of the basketball gods. And even if you emerge victorious in the end, how can you call yourself a champion if you tried to sneak past enemies you made sure to avoid and let others vanquish? Where is the honor in that? A true champion honors the opponent and the sports by giving it their best and playing to win. And the faceless, nameless, shapeless gods of basketball reward them rightfully. There is no mathematics to explain karma but when it happens, it makes sense somehow. It feels reasonable and fitting. And it is through this that we can understand how the gods dispense justice for the things that are not right, like deliberately losing when the essence of sports is playing to win.

14th National Sports Summit takes up sports infrastructure THE Philippine Sports Commission features multi-awarded architect Gerard Lico in the 14th session of the National Sports Summit 2021 to explore sports infrastructure in the Philippines on May 19. Leading the team behind the renovation of the historical Rizal Coliseum, the esteemed professor from the University of the Philippines takes over 800 registered participants of the online sports conference into an overview of the sports edifices in the Philippines. Dr. Lico is also the brains behind the notable works on Philippine architecture and cultural studies such as “Edifice Complex: Power, Myth, and Marcos State Architecture” (2003) and “Arkitekturang Filipino: A History of Architecture and Urbanism in the Philippines” (2008) and bringing back the grandeur of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, and Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. “We are elated for the chance given to us by Dr. Lico to share his breadth of knowledge and skills to our summit stakeholders on this important topic. The improvement of sports facilities has always been part of the goal to provide a better sporting experience to our countrymen,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez. The migrated sports conference is now on its fourth batch featuring sports legislation, business and sports, public and private partnerships and sports infrastructure.

PSA Forum tackles 1v1, horse racing HORSE racing and the novelty 1v1 tournament of the National Basketball League take the spotlight in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum online edition on Tuesday. Philippine Racing Commission chairman Reli De Leon talks about the continuous adjustments the country’s horse racing industry is adopting during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic in the opening part of the weekly session presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. In the second half of the public sports program, basketball will be discussed with the launching of the NBL-IBC (Isolation Basketball Championship) 1v1 tournament to be held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga on May 22. To expound on the matter are NBL/WNBL (Women’s National Basketball League) Executive Vice President Rhose Montreal, IBC President and Deputy Commissioner Justin Tan, NBL 1v1 Commissioner Jerry Codinera, and WNBL 1v1 Commissioner Haydee Ong. The Forum starts at 10 a.m. Powered by Smart and Upstream Media as the official webcast partner, the Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page f b.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

Entertainment VERY WANG

NICKIE WANG

N A virtual thanksgiving party to celebrate the successful of the digital release of Dito at Doon, lead cast members Janine Gutierrez and JC Santos shared a fun night with the members of the press to thank them for their support. The movie, which is internationally released as Here and There, has been made available in over 60 countries, including the USA, Canada, and select territories in the Middle East, and North Africa via TBA Play, TBA Studio’s streaming platform. TBA Play is also partnered with international distribution and sales company, TVCO to bring TBA Play contents to key markets in Europe. “We’re so proud to be part of this film. Hearing what people say about our project makes me feel proud that I was given an opportunity to share a story with them through my character,” JC told Manila Standard Entertainment during the virtual event. “Our effort paid off when a lot of people started messaging us and talking about how they resonate with the story and the characters in it. Like JC, the feedback from the audience means a lot,” Janine said in turn. Joining Janine and JC in the virtual celebration were actors Victor Anastacio, Yesh Burce, Ms. Lotlot de Leon, and director JP Habac. Together with TBA Studios producers, they thanked the outpouring support from the public, press, bloggers, and distribution partners. “We are grateful to everyone who watched Dito at Doon. More than providing entertainment, we wanted the viewers to also find solace in these challenging times by experiencing the story of Dito at Doon,” the director said of the movie that is enjoying an extended run on KTX, Cinema '76 @Home, iWantTFC, Ticket2Me, and Upstream. TBA Studios’ first pandemic produc-

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

JANINE GUTIERREZ, JC SANTOS celebrate global premiere, success of

‘Dito at Doon’

JC Santos and Janine Gutierrez in a scene from the TBA Studios’ ‘pandemic rom-com’ ‘Dito at Doon.’

tion, Dito at Doon enjoyed a lot of firsts — it is the first local film released during the pandemic, the first to be released on five major streaming platforms, extended due to public demand with a simultaneous international release. It has been receiving rave reviews from critics and the public alike since its domestic online release on March 31, with the film being called a “touching and timely romantic tale” with “stellar performances from its lead cast Janine and JC.” Also during the event, TBA Studios shared exciting news to look out for. Quezon, the final installment of Jerrold Tarog’s historical trilogy, will begin preproduction in June with Tarog still helming the much-anticipated biopic. Meanwhile, JP Habac and Crisanto Aquino of Write About Love are already preparing for their respective follow up projects. The Hollywood action comedy The Comeback Trail top-billed by Robert de Niro and Morgan Freeman will also be released soon on TBA Play. International viewers will also enjoy

new award-winning titles via TBA Play which include crime drama Boundary, starring Ronnie Lazaro and Raymond Bagatsing and directed by Benito Bautista, the documentary A is for Agustin by Grace Simbulan, and short films Life Is What You Make It by Jhett Tolentino, The Interpreter by Benito Bautista, and Angelito by Jerrold Tarog. TBA Studios’ domestic digital platform Cinema ‘76 @ Home is set to release foreign titles like the dark comedy Devil Has A Name and award-winning arthouse film Show Me What You Got. Cinema ‘76 will also launch its eponymous café in Anonas, Quezon City, conveniently located right next to Cinema ’76 microcinema. Cinema ’76 Café will soon be open for delivery with the upcoming e-commerce launch of its appetizing selection of drinks and snacks. TBA Studios is likewise amping up its Youtube channel with a new series Sing Out Loud that features indie OPM artists. ***

gan with a limited offering featuring the hotel’s bestselling dishes. Following its success, the menu has since evolved into a smorgasbord of authentic Chinese rice toppings, comfort food favorites bannered by the popular Winfredo’s Pizza, and an array of sweet treats freshly prepared every morning in The Bakery at Winford Manila. “Due to strong demand, we have once again tapped the expertise of our F&B team and expanded our culinary offerings so that both members and the general public may continue to enjoy more food options while we remain temporarily closed,” said Jeff Evora, President & Chief Operating Officer, WMRC. “More than just providing them with exciting new items on our menu, we went the extra mile and launched Curbside Pickup as an alternative way for them to safely and conveniently enjoy their favorite Winford on Wheels dishes.” Through Curbside Pickup, guests who live in the vicinity of WMRC or happen to be in the area may now opt to takeout their orders without having to enter the premises or meet minimum delivery requirements. Orders are placed via WMRC’s official Facebook Messenger, where the hotel’s F&B reps are ready to assist from 6:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. daily. Once scheduled, customers simply proceed to the designated meeting place by the curb in front of WMRC, where their orders are served to them in their vehicle by a dedicated Curbside Pickup team. This month of May, WMRC is offering a 4+1 deal on Chinese rice toppings, wherein guests who order any four rice toppings get another one for free. To know more, call the WMRC hotline at (02) 8528 3600, or send a text message to (0917) 878 8670 or (0917) 872 8583.

(WMRC) continues to delight loyal patrons and guests with affordable gourmet cuisine available for delivery through Winford on Wheels and now via the new hassle-free takeout service, Curbside Pickup. These new dining concepts were inspired by WMRC’s unwavering commitment to safety during these difficult times, while complying with directives issued by health authorities that prohibit mass gatherings in line with the government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Until given the green light to fully reopen its doors to leisure guests, WMRC continues to accommodate only front-liners and OFWs to fulfill its role as a “quarantine and essential stay” hotel, a distinction it was awarded by the Department of Health (DOH). Launched last year, Win- Launched last year, Winford on Wheels is WMRC’s From Kitchen to car ford on Wheels is WMRC’s food delivery service that began with a limited Winford Manila Resort & Casino food delivery service that be- offering featuring the hotel’s bestselling dishes.

Kim Seon-ho encourages the youth to make a difference

RABIYA MATEO

reflects on her Miss Universe journey SHORTLY after the glitzy Miss Universe finals night that crowned Miss Mexico Andrea Meza, Miss Philippines Rabiya Mateo shared an Instagram Live with fellow candidate Miss Bolivia Lenka Nemer. The two beauties shared an empowering message to encourage other delegates and pageant fans to cheer up and consider their journey in the world's most prestigious pageant as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “This is a beautiful start for something new. One girl was crowned, but every one of us, we feel like queens already even without the title. And the impact that you make on other people, it’s not every day that we get to represent our country. It’s a great opportunity for us and we are happy to be here,” Mateo shared in an Instagram Live by Miss Bolivia who, on the other hand, said that the pageant has built a longlasting friendship among the delegates. Mateo ended her Miss Universe journey after failing to secure a spot in the Top 10 where delegates competed in their long gown. Miss Mexico, a 26-year-old make-up artist and model, who also has a degree in software engineering, edged out 73 other delegates vying for the Miss Universe crown in the pageant's 69th edition. A pageant veteran, Meza won first runner-up in Miss World 2017 and the third Mexican to win Miss Universe. The Mexican beauty advocates women's rights and inclusion and currently works with the Municipal Institute for Women that focuses on ending gender violence. A vegan and animal lover, she is the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for Chihuahuas, helping promote Mexico’s touristic attractions and rich culture. During the crucial Q & A portion, Meza was asked: “If you were the leader of your

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Miss Philippines Rabiya Mateo flaunts her sensational curves in the swimsuit segment of Miss Universe pageant.

country, how would you have handled the COVID-19 pandemic?” “I believe there is no perfect way to handle this hard situation such as COVID-19, but I believe what I would have done is to create the lockdown even before everything was that big, because we lost so many lives and we cannot afford that. We have to take care of our people, that's why I would've taken care of them since the beginning,” Meza replied. Meanwhile, in the final statement segment, where she picked the topic on “Changing Beauty Standards,” Meza underscored her speech with the powerful line, “Never let someone say that you are not valuable.” Miss Brazil Julia Gama, 26, who was Miss World 2014 Top 10 and co-winner of the “Beauty with a Purpose award,” finished first runner-up, while Miss Peru Janick Maceta del Castillo, 26, was named 2nd runner-up. Miss India Adline Castelino, 22, and Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez, 24, were named 3rd and 4th runners-up, respectively. Myanmar’s Thuzar Wint Lwin, the first-ever semi-finalist from her country won the National Costume award. Eton Concepcion

K-DRAMA star Kim Seon-ho is inviting students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs to join the country’s first and biggest 5G Hackathon by Globe and De La Salle University’s Animo Labs. In a video recently released by the telco featuring the Start-Up actor, everyone is invited to “look for answers, make choices,” “Join this year’s Globe 5G Hackathon so you can work on developing the uses of 5G in different sectors of the Philippine economy and society, through a series of workshops and mentorship,” Seon-ho said. Winning teams may get as much as P500,000 at the end of the competition and will have the chance to be part of Globe’s 917Ventures’ Velocity venture builders program, and work directly with Globe 5G Acceleration Lab. After a series of workshops, idea submission, mentorship, and pitching competition, the top 10 finalists will move on to develop their prototypes using Globe's 5G

#TeamGoodBoy. South Korean star Kim Seon-ho encourages youth to make a difference by joining 5G Hackathon.

‘Love of My Life' streams on Netflix

GMA Network's top-rating family drama series Love of My Life is set to capture the hearts of more viewers as it debuts on Netflix Philippines beginning May 28. Following its successful run on GMA since its premiere in February 2020, avid fans and viewers of the well-loved series requested that the program to be made available on the popular video streaming platform. Love of My Life joins the growing list of GMA shows on Netflix Philippines including the internationally-acclaimed primetime series Descendants of the Sun Philippines and the groundbreaking program I Can See You - further solidifying the network's online presence and mission of bringing world-class GMA content to more Filipinos. The original series is top-billed by Coney Reyes, Rhian Ramos, Carla Abellana, Mikael Daez, and Tom Rodriguez. Love of My Life dwells on the atypical relationship of the Gonzales family. Isabella (Coney), the matriarch, is a rich widow with high standards who would stop at nothing to get what’s best for her sons - Nikolai (Mikael), the youngest son who has grown into a rebellious man, and Stefano (Tom), the favorite son who also happens to father the child of his former lover, Kelly (Rhian).

Amidst his mother’s objection, Stefano pursues Adelle (Carla), a widow with a child who manages her own handicraft business. Their seemingly perfect life crumbles not only when Kelly barges into the picture along with the estranged Nikolai, but also when Stefano gets diagnosed with a terminal illness. Love of My Life is directed by Don Michael Perez.

The lead cast of the family drama ‘Love of My Life,’ which will be available on Netflix beginning May 28.

Marvel series casts spell on MTV awards

The oddball but acclaimed series 'WandaVision' set in a bizarre, sitcom-inspired world bagged best performance in a series for its star Elizabeth Olsen.

platforms. Top teams will get to enjoy a total of half a million in cash prizes, a chance to develop their own business ventures backed by 917Ventures, Globe’s corporate venture builder, and further develop their product with Globe acceleration lab. Globe 5G Hackathon will run for three months starting this month and will include interactive learning sessions with technology industry leaders Novare Technologies, Intel, AWS, 917 Ventures, Huawei, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Tech Mahindra, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and Cascadeo. The 5G Hackathon is part of the telco’s efforts to create a #FirstWorldNetwork in the country through a massive network upgrade and expansion program that includes the rigorous deployment of 5G sites to more areas nationwide, laying down at least one million Fiber-to-the-Home, and the rollout of more 4G LTE infrastructure. To know more about the 5G Hackathon, visit https://globe5ghackathon.com/.

Marvel superhero series WandaVision was the big winner at the MTV Movie and TV Awards on Sunday, as Sacha Baron Cohen poked fun at his recent Oscars loss —with a little help from Borat, Bruno and the gang. The series, which takes characters from Marvel's record-breaking superhero blockbuster films and shifts the action to the Disney+ streaming platform, won four awards at the Los Angeles ceremony, including best show. The oddball but acclaimed series set in a bizarre, sitcom-inspired world also bagged best performance in a series for its star Elizabeth Olsen, best villain for Kathryn Hahn, and "best fight."

"This is bananas, this whole thing -- this whole year has been so trippy," said Hahn, one of several stars to refer to the pandemic's impact, with the live in-person award show taking place in Hollywood a year after the previous edition was canceled. The late Chadwick Boseman -- who surprisingly failed to posthumously win best actor for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at last month's Oscars -- was honored for best performance in a movie. The awards do not differentiate between male and female actors, and have been honoring Hollywood since 1992 with "golden popcorn" statuettes for unconventional categories including "best kiss."

Taking place at the start of the summer blockbuster season, and voted for online by the public, the awards tend to recognize more mainstream and commercial favorites than other ceremonies. To All the Boys: Always and Forever—the conclusion to Netflix's trilogy of teenage romantic comedies adapted from Jenny Han's young adult novels—was named best movie. Baron Cohen won a non-competitive award—accepting in a video that saw him arguing with various of his own comic and frequently inappropriate personas such as Borat and Ali G. "Right before anyone else does it, I am officially canceling myself. I was actually really looking forward to this after losing at the Oscars. You can keep it. Go on, you're a caricature," joked Baron Cohen. AFP

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

WO companies, makers of beloved brands, bare their efforts and strides toward their environmental and sustainability goals. For the forest

During its recent virtually held Sustainability Summit anchored on the theme #ItsOurHome, Procter and Gamble (P&G) Philippines launched the Philippines Forests for Good program. Designed to support the company’s net zero emissions goal, Forests for Good aims to actively protect nature, beginning with 12 pilot programs in 12 months across its Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMA) region, by planting trees that help improve local ecosystems. The Philippines is one of the pilot countries supporting this natural climate solution, helping forestation efforts in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. It has entrusted each employee with trees, planted on their behalf by farmers in the Sierra Madre mountain range. Employees can name their tree, virtually travel to see it up close, check on it and learn more about it as it grows, and learn more about the farmer who planted it. According to the company, there are currently 5,000 trees and counting in the P&G Forest for Good in Sierra Madre. P&G’s climate goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of the decade, cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at P&G sites globally by buying 100 percent renewable electricity and increasing energy efficiency. Here at home, the company’s Cabuyao plant is already using renewable electricity and has successfully cut more than 80 percent of its manufacturing GHG emissions ahead of the company’s global target.

Water conservation

P&G, maker of several toiletries and household brands among others, also announced the progress its making to achieve its global water goals. Its 2030 goal is to promote and support water conservation and protection for people and nature. The P&G Cabuyao plant tracks its overall water consumption and recy-

Consumer goods company Procter and Gamble (P&G) Philippines launches the Forests for Good program to help in the reforestation efforts in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

The P&G Cabuyao plant has successfully cut more than 80 percent of its manufacturing greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the company’s global target.

Partners of the environment cles wastewater inside the plant. Aside from initiatives within its manufacturing plant, they are actively innovating on brands and products such as laundry brands Tide and Ariel to help reduce consumer in-home water use.

Reducing waste

Efforts in reducing and managing waste has been ongoing at P&G. According to Raffy Fajardo, president and general manager of P&G Philippines, “We will reduce the use of virgin plastic and start using alternative materials in our Philippines’ product bundling activities as well as point-of-sale materials found inside stores.” The company reported that the virgin plastic overwrap packaging on Safeguard multi-packs had been replaced by 100 percent recycled paper carton material, reducing about 8,500 kilometers of plastic wasted every year (one thousand times the length of Boracay shoreline). Its new Herbal Essences bio:renew collection likewise uses post-consumer recycled material for its bottle packaging.

Coasters and napkin rings made with recycled plastic waste by design and production studio Plastics by Manila Automat.

Breathing new life to plastics

Mondelez Philippines – whose brands include popular snack food items Oreo cookies, Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates, Eden cheese and sandwich spread, Tang powdered beverage, and more – supports recycling and reusing of packaging material in line with its goals toward zero waste to nature by 2030.

The virgin plastic overwrap packaging on Safeguard multi-packs has been replaced by 100 percent recycled paper carton material (left), while part of the Herbal Essences bio:renew collection’s packaging is made with post-consumer recycled material.

Christopher de Leon powers through the pandemic with 3 Ps ACTOR and COVID-19 survivor This is particularly important amid the Christopher de Leon experienced current pandemic, where many people firsthand how the disease can test a struggle with feelings of isolation and person’s resolve. When he battled the loneliness. Preparation. The actor also points virus last year in March, he shares the to keeping a three key factors healthy lifestyle that helped him as the key to his cope with stress recovery. At 64 and uncertainty. years old, De Prayers. Leon believes While confined in the basics of in the hospital, health and wellhe said that he ness – a balanced prayed deeply diet, regular and fervently, physical activdrawing strength ity, and a posifrom Bible pastive mindset. “As sages and from we grow older, his family memkeeping to these bers who were basics becomes praying just as more important intently at home. than ever,” he De Leon, said. along with his In this climate wife Sandy Anof uncertainty, dolong, has almany Filipinos ways believed are also learnin the power of ing to care for prayer. They be- Actor Christopher de Leon shares the three Ps that helped him cope with stress and anxiety their financial lieve that prayer during his battle against COVID-19 last year. health to protect is not only a themselves from source of comfort, it is also a source of strength. the burden of huge medical expenses if Praying has made their family closer, they get sick. For De Leon, this is an important and has helped them overcome the part of being prepared. “In addition to most difficult of times. Partner. Having found the right the support I received from family and partner in Sandy has helped him go friends, the assistance Pacific Cross through life’s ups and downs. “Dur- gave me allowed me to focus on my reing these difficult times, we are each covery. I’m proud to call Pacific Cross family!” he shared. other’s anchors,” said De Leon. The actor joins medical and travel Staying connected with a loved one – whether a person or a beloved pet– he insurer Pacific Cross in urging more said, was important for mental health. Filipinos to get insured.

The snacks maker works with Plastics by Manila Automat and Green Antz Builders to help promote and strengthen the circular economy of plastics in the Philippines. Plastics by Manila Automat is a collaborative design and production studio aimed at renewing the value of recycled plastic waste by encouraging people to become recyclers. Green Antz creates eco-bricks and construction materials made with recycled plastic. The move to partner with organizations that recycle plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills is also an innovative way to change the public’s perception that plastic is a problem. “Think of the circular economy of plastics and how recycling can indeed change a problem into an opportunity,” said Joseph Fabul, country manager for

corporate and government affairs of Mondelez Philippines. “We want to contribute to a circular economy where packaging material is recycled or reused, while minimizing food waste and the overall environmental impact of packaging, including on climate change,” he shared. Fabul continued, “To help achieve this, we are working to find solutions to the shared problem of packaging waste – fixing broken processes, policies, and perception. These include making all our packaging recycleready and labelled with recycling information for consumers by 2025. We also committed to invest in waste management projects where we are present and ensure that by 2025, 5 percent of our plastic packaging is from recycled content.”

The sleek and stylish Fitbit Luxe boasts a jewelrylike look and feel with features that support the wearer’s health goals.

Fitness meets style in new wellness tracker SLEEK, stylish, and packed with relevant features, Fitbit’s soon-to-be available fitness and wellness tracker is a fashionable addition to its lineup of wearables. Fitbit Luxe features a breakthrough design with soft, gentle shape inspired by the human body and a jewelry-like look and feel. According to Fitbit, a modern take on traditional jewelry-making techniques was applied using an innovative design process called metal injection molding to create Luxe’s stainless steel case, “providing the warmth expected of handcrafted jewelry, all while delivering a level of precision needed to enable its advanced sensor technology”. The company used a metal vaporizing technique on the soft gold and platinum finishes to provide a truly premium look and feel. It also partnered with Laguna Beach-based jewelry brand gorjana for Fitbit Luxe Special Edition in soft gold stainless steel and swim-proof silicone peony band. Other bands are available. The stylish tracker also features a sleek, buttonless design and the brand’s thinnest touchscreen to date. Its battery lasts up to five days, enabling users uninterrupted access to its tools and other features a couple days before it needs recharging. Its Stress Management Score provides daily assessment of the body’s ability to handle stress based on activity levels, sleep, and heart rate. Users with Fitbit Premium subscription receive a detailed breakdown on their score including information on exertion balance, sleep patterns, responsiveness (fight or flight). Luxe users also get insights into their well-being in the Fitbit app with the Health Metrics dashboard which tracks breathing rate, heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate (RHR), skin temperature variation, and, coming soon, oxygen saturation

Luxe features a sleek, buttonless design and Fitbit’s thinnest touchscreen to date.

(SpO2). Understand sleep quality with Sleep Score. Additional health tools include food, hydration, and weight logging, and menstrual health tracking. The new blood glucose logging feature in the Fitbit app allows users to track their blood glucose levels to see how they change throughout the day. In addition to health and fitness features, Luxe has key convenience and smart features like alarm, stopwatch, and timer. Stay connected and up-to-date with customizable call, text, and smartphone notifications, and set bedtime reminders or use do not disturb when it’s time to focus. Luxe will be available starting June at Fitbit.com and major retailers such as Digital Walker, Lazada, and Shopee at P8,490 with a six-month Fitbit Premium trial valued at P3,114. The gorjana for Fitbit Luxe Special Edition will be retailed at P12,990.