I
N
S
I
D
E
News ............................... World News .................... Business ......................... Features..........................
Ando secures Olympic slot for weightlifting
A2 A3 A4 B4
NEWS | A2
Eala clinches 2nd Grand Slam title with French Open victory NEWS | A2
www.manilastandard.net Vol. 35 35 n No.118 No.118
JUNE 13, 2021
2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES
18 .00 IN METRO MANILA
Rody bares monument for fallen medical frontliners
‘Be heroes in fight vs COVID-19’ n By VITO BARCELO and MARICEL CRUZ
P
RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos to be everyday heroes by doing their part to achieve freedom from COVID-19.
In his speech marking the country’s 123rd Independence Day at the Bulacan Capitol Grounds in Malolos Saturday, the President also announced the construction of a “Wall of Heroes” monument at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City dedicated to medical frontliners who died battling the virus. “The challenges of the past years attested our character as a nation. Each of us have been called upon to be heroes in our own rights in fighting for our survival and devoting ourselves to the common good just as our heroes did more than a century ago,” he said. DUTERTE “Those who perished – our doctors, our nurses, our medical attendants – will be honored. Their names will be inscribed on that wall. It is now being built... Let us honor our modern-day heroes – our healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and other frontliners who are instrumental in our fight against COVID-19. In the past year, they have risked their own lives and sacrificed their own comfort and security to ensure that our society will continue to function despite this crisis,” added the commander-in-chief. United States President Joe Biden, in a message addressing the Filipino people, said the US and the Philippines, as allies and friends, stand shoulder-to-shoulder in combatting the pandemic as well as other mutual challenges and threats. “As we honor this joyful of independence and friendship, let’s also look to the future, at the challenges our two countries must continue to work to take on together, from defeating this pandemic and strengthening the global preparedness for the next one, to advancing the free and open Indo-Pacific region for all peoples,” Biden said. “The Philippines and the United States share so much history, and our people are forever connected
through our deep bonds and shared sacrifices of valor, of family and of friendship,” he added, noting the contributions of over 4 million Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living in the US. “They make invaluable contributions to communities all across our country. They enrich the American character, making our nation stronger and more vibrant,” Biden added. For her part, Vice President Leni Robredo marked the occasion with a call to unity amid the pandemic. “This Independence Day is a reminder that no Filipino stands alone. We draw strength form each other. We will overcome, we will succeed, whatever the challenge of the times may be, and even in the face of a seemingly impossible situation,” she said. Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the freedom paid by the blood of martyrs over a hundred years ago is now under threat as a result of the global health crisis. “The ravages of COVID-19 have forced nations around the world, including the Philippines, to restrict the movement of their citizens as they battle the spread of the virus that has so far claimed the lives of millions of people.Many of us are unable to go to work, schools remain closed, millions have lost their jobs and livelihoods, and a lot of people can’t avail of medical care because hospitals are filled with COVID-19 patients. Indeed, some of our basic rights have been momentarily taken away due to the coronavirus,” he said. “To win against COVID-19, we need to work together and build on our strengths, just like what our forefathers did almost a century and a quarter ago. Together, there are no challenges we can’t overcome,” the House leader added. Meanwhile, over 30,000 jobseekers trooped to the Independence Day job fair of the Labor department, albeit online. At least 300 of the online applicants were hired on the spot, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
MORE STORIES, NEWS
1Sambayan bares 6 nominees for president, VP; Poe, Recto decline
POE
ROBREDO
TRILLANES
COVID-19 PH AT
A
GLANCE
1,308,352 8,027
60,341
22,652
8,940
1,225,359
145
New
Death
Recoveries
VILLANUEVA
DIOKNO
page 2
SANTOSRECTO
The monument of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal is lit in shades of red and blue as part of celebrations for the country’s 123rd Independence Day. Beside it is the Independence Flagpole, the highest flagpole in the country at 45.72 meters tall. NORMAN CRUZ
Whale of a tale: US fisherman swallowed by humpback page 3
Active
New New
(AS OF 4 PM, JUNE 12) facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH
Philtwitter.com/ MlaStandard
manilastandard.net
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net
Vol. 35 n No.118
JUNE 13, 2021
2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES
BUSINESS
Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser: Former Chief Justice REYNATO S. PUNO; Treasury Manager: ANITA F. GREFAL; Ad Solutions Head: BALDWIN R. FELIPE; Circulation Manager: EDGAR M. VALMORIDA EDITORIAL
Publisher: ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO; Managing Editor: RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN; Associate Editors: CHIN WONG & RAY S. EÑANO; News Editor: JOYCE PANGCO PAÑARES; Opinion Editor: ADELLE CHUA; Night Editor: HONOR BLANCO CABIE; City Editor: JIMBO OWEN GULLE; Art Director: ELMER T. ALITAGTAG; Chief Photographer: LINO M. SANTOS Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board: EMIL P. JURADO Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 8325554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net
NEWS
1Sambayan bares 6 nominees for president, VP; Poe, Recto decline n By MARICEL CRUZ and JOEL ZURBANO
T
HE OPPOSITION Coalition 1Sambayan yesterday bared its six nominees for president and vice-president for the 2022 polls, but this early, two of the possible candidates have already turned down the offer.
Coalition convenor and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the following are the group’s nominees for the two highest positions in the upcoming polls: Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Grace Poe, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Batangas Representative Vilma Santos-Recto, CIBAC party-list Rep. Eduardo Villanueva and lawyer Chel Diokno While she has yet to make a decision on her 2022 bid, Robredo cited the need for a leader who will be able to identify the “root cause” of the complex problems besetting the country as she thanked the coalition for considering them as possible opposition standard bearers. “I believe the solution to our problems is not just one person but all of us. The first step is to identify the root cause of our problems. Filipinos have become frustrated for the longest time, and some have used this frustration to sow division. Bayanihan is key to whatever response,” the Vice President said. Poe and Santos-Recto, however, said they have no plans of seeking the presidency in next year’s elections.
“I am grateful for the continued trust of our countrymen but I have no plans to run for president in the coming election,” Poe said in a statement released minutes after the announcement. “To the best of my ability as a senator, I want to focus on the recovery of our countrymen from this pandemic,” she added. Poe ran for president in the May 2016 elections but lost to then Davao City mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte. Santos-Recto, who represents Batangas’ sixth district, said she has no political plans for 2022. “I sincerely thank 1Sambayan for considering me. I have no plans for 2022. I am focused on assisting Lipa City in its vaccination program and in providing assistance to families who need it most. Furthermore, I have my legislative duties to attend to,” she said. Sen. Joel Villanueva, for his part, said he believes his father – the representative of the CIBAC party-list and evangelist – will decline the offer due to the recent tragedies in their family.
“I can’t speak for my dad but obviously we are not interested in embarking on a journey to the presidency after the tragedy that the family has gone through the past year,” the younger Villanueva said. Bro. Eddie’s wife, Dory, passed away in March last year. Barely three months later, his eldest daughter, Bocaue Mayor Eleanor Villanueva, also passed away. Diokno said he was very honored by the nomination even if he never aspired for the position. “Right now, I am focused on my Free Legal Helpdesk, and I hope to serve our country, especially the youth and the ordinary Filipino, in justice, accountability, and relief from the pandemic,” he said in a tweet. Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he turned down 1Sambayan’s nomination due to his “personal and political convictions.” Lacson cited being the author of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which was challenged by several of the coalition’s convenors before the Supreme Court. Trillanes, on the other hand, underscored the need for pro-democracy forces to win in next year’s polls. “Our country’s survival depends on this. And we believe that the one vehicle for this success is the 1Sambayan coalition.
Ando secures Olympic slot for weightlifting
can be accessed at: manilastandard.net MEMBER
PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE, The National Association of Philippine Newspapers
n By PETER ATENCIO CEBUANA weightlifter Elreen Ando is joining Hidilyn Diaz at the Tokyo Olympics. Ando, who is from Carreta, Cebu City, qualified to the quadrennial meet after claiming three medals in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in April in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Her participation and podium finishes allowed her to snare a continental allocation slot. The 22-year old Ando became the second Filipino weightlifter in the Olympic delegation next to Diaz, who is on her fourth stint to the Olympiad. Ando, who is considered as one of the best weightlifters of the University of Cebu, finished the Tashkent meet with two silver medals and one bronze medal in the 64-kilogram division. The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas got confirmation on the status of Diaz and Ando from the International Weightlifting Federation on Friday. There are now 11 official qualifiers to the Olympics from the Philippines. The others are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, and skateboarder Margielyn Didal.
PH logs 8,027 COVID cases as more vaccine doses arrive n By WILLIE CASAS THE Philippines on Saturday logged 8,027 new cases of COVID-19 – the highest number for the month and second highest since NCR Plus shifted to a more relaxed general community quarantine on May 15. The new infections brought the total number of COVID-19 cases to 1,308,352, the Department of Health said. The DOH also reported 145 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 22,652, while 8,940 patients recovered from the disease. Active cases stood at 60,341, of which 90.7 percent were mild, 5percent were asymptomatic, 1.3 percent were critical, 1.7 percent weresevere, and 1.24 percent were moderate. Meanwhile, another shipment of Sputnik V vaccines arrived in ManilaFriday evening from Russia. The latest shipment of 100,000 doses was immediately transferred tothe designated cold storage facility of Pharmaserv Express in BarangaySan Roque in Marikina City. The government will distribute the newly-arrived Sputnik V vaccines,which require 18 degrees Celsius storage temperature, to cities with ahigh number of COVID-19 cases. “We are ready to deliver 20 million doses of Sputnik V according to the contracts that have been signed between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Government of the Philippines,” RussianAmbassador to Manila Marat Pavlov said.
JCI’s #AmbagKo campaign urges Pinoy youth to exercise right to vote n By MARICEL CRUZ
and KRISTINE AGUSTIN
Eala clinches 2nd Grand Slam title with French Open victory n By PETER ATENCIO
Alex Eala clinched her second Grand Slam title Saturday after she and her Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva took home the 2021 French Open girls doubles champions at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France. The top seeded Eala and Selekhmeteva started strong and finished off Russian Maria Bondarenko and Amarisa Toth of Hungary, 6-0, 7-5, to capture the doubles crown. The victory was an exciting one for the 16-year old Eala, who reached the semifinals of the girls singles last year. “As I say, I am really excited for this tournament and being here brings back memories from last year’s Roland Garros when I progressed to the last four and made a bit of history,” said Eala in her blog before the start of the competition. By making the singles semis last year and claiming the doubles crown this year, Eala earned the distinction of being the first player from the Philippines to make ripples in a Grand Slam event in 35 years, ever since Felix Barrientos was at Wimbledon back in 1985. The world no. 3 ITF junior ranked Eala and Selekhmeteva (world no. 10) took 47 minutes to get past Bondarenko and Toth.
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY.
Members of the Kawit police disperse a protest rally attended by some 40 members of Bayan Southern Tagalog to mark the country’s 123rd Independence Day. In Manila, a protester waves a Philippine flag on a makeshift wooden fishing boat atop a passenger jeepney prior to their motorcade protest at the Chinese consulate. JR JOSUE, AFP
THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines National has officially launched its #AmbagKo. Rehistro. Boto. initiative to encourage young voters to register and make their votes count in next year’s presidential polls. “We believe in the strong potential of the Filipino youth in charting a new path for the country by choosing our next set of leaders. As an organization with young members ourselves, we at JCI want to use our platforms to encourage fellow Filipinos to register and vote,” said JCI President Jude Acidre. Acidre, second nominee of the Tingog party-list represented by House committee on welfare of children chairperson Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez in the 18th Congress, said the campaign primarily targets millennials and Gen Zs. Numbering 40 million or 37 percent of the entire electorate eligible to vote in 2022 according to the Philippine Statistics Authority and Commission on Elections, Acidre said Filipinos 18 to 35 years old will play a key role in shaping the future of the country. Latest Comelec data show there are 3.48 million voter registration applications filed between January 2020 and May 15, 2021. Of these, 1.5 million are new registrants, still short of the 4 million target by the poll body.
“While the campaign will mostly be done online, we at JCI will do our best to reach the Filipino youth and every eligible voter wherever they are. We are mobilizing all JCI chapters nationwide to reach more areas and more voters,” Acidre added. Former JCI Regatta president Charie Ginete-Ilon said the campaign will have two phases – Rehistro and Boto – that will run from June to October this year and from November to April 2022, respectively. “There are people who change their mind after they have registered. They will not vote anymore. That is why our campaign will not stop at registering, but will also include encouraging young people to vote,” she said. The #AmbagKo Rehistro. Boto. initiative will also incorporate a gamification system wherein netizens can send their entries such as photos and videos related to the elections and be rewarded with points that could be exchanged for exclusive vouchers from their sponsors. “We pray that with this campaign, we can increase not only the awareness but also the understanding of our fellow Filipino on what the right to vote means for our country’s future and inspire them to make that choice that will bring our nation forward as the election draws near,” Acidre said. “Our hope lies within everyone’s ultimate ambag, and it is our thumb mark for registration and our votes that will make possible a better future for all,” he added.
CHR probes forced head shaving on LGBTQs n By MARICEL V. CRUZ
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Region XII has started its investigation on a news report showing LGBTQI individuals in Ampatuan, Maguindanao being forced to have their heads shaved. In a social media post by a local news organization, the forced head shaving was allegedly done because of religious beliefs prohibiting homosexuality. “CHR finds this incident deeply con-
cerning, especially as the country celebrates Pride Month this June. As the country’s Gender Ombud and independent national human rights institution, CHR continues to stress that no person should ever suffer discrimination and harm on the basis of one’s affiliation or creed, or because of one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC),” CHR chairperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement Saturday.“All persons are free and equal in dignity and rights. LGBTQI rights are human rights,” she
added. De Guia said “not even a religious belief can justify a human rights violation.” “Religious freedom, while it includes the absolute right to believe in a dogma, cannot transgress on the rights of others nor be used to justify harm and violence. This is especially so when current laws, such as the Safe Spaces Act, uphold the right of all persons from harassment, including protection from remarks and slurs that betray hatred and fear of members of the LGBTQI community,” De Guia added.
The CHR said ending the stigma, discrimination, and violence faced bythe LGBTQI community should be a concern of all. “The LGBTQI community is very much part of our society and theydeserve equal right to safety and security in private and public spaces. The right to dignity includes the right of every person to be able to live their truths as to their identity; to be able to express; to be recognised; and to be respected as humans with rights,” she said.
WORLD
JUNE 13, 2021
3A
Start-up launches India’s first COVID home test kit
Eight-year-old Danny gives a rose to a Muslim woman while two children hold a signage ‘Love for all. Hatred for none’ as members of the Muslim community and supporters gather for a multi-faith ‘March to End Hatred’ in London, Ontario, Canada. The march was held to unite Londoners in condemning the racially-motivated terror attack on Sunday that killed four members of a local Muslim family. (Inset) A teddy bear and a note for Fayez, the nine year old still recovering in hospital, are left at the London Muslim Mosque. AFP
Interfaith march honors Muslim family killed in truck attack SEVERAL thousand people joined an interfaith marched on Friday evening honoring the four members of a Muslim family who were killed in an attack that has shocked Canada. The procession started at the site where three generations of a family out for a Sunday evening stroll – 46-year-old Salman Afzaal, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Salman and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal – were killed in London, southern Ontario, as they were waiting to cross the street. The couple’s nine-year-old son Fayez suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The march against racism and Islamophobia culminated at London’s mosque, about 7 kilometers away. The demonstrators, who included families with children, banged on drums while others sang John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” They held posters with messages like “Hate kills” and “We’re all human.” After a moment of silence marking the time of the tragedy, representatives from several religions gave speeches denouncing hatred and saluting the outpouring of support for London’s 30,000-strong Muslim community. Other rallies or vigils in Canada on Friday took place in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec, where a shooting in a mosque left six dead in 2017. The Afzaal family’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Nathaniel Veltman, 20, has been charged with four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the truck attack. If found guilty he faces life in prison. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the assault – in which Veltman’s truck mounted a curb and struck the Afzaal family – a “terrorist attack.” Detective Superintendent Paul Waight, who is leading the investigation, has said there was evidence “that this was a planned, premeditated act, motivated by hate.” AFP
SEEING RED.
Members of the Guardian Angels participate in a safety patrol in a subway train for preventing crime in New York. The citizen law enforcement group, formed in 1979 to help combat violence and crime on the city’s subway system, had stepped up their patrol due to the rising number of hate crimes against Asian communities. AFP
Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow released on pro-democracy protest anniversary
H
ONG Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow was released Saturday from prison on the second anniversary of the city’s huge democracy rallies, with police out in force and protests now all but banned.
Two thousand officers have been placed on standby after social media calls for residents to commemorate the failed democracy demonstrations. Authorities have kept a coronavirus prohibition on public gatherings despite the city recording just three local infections in the last month. A Beijing-imposed national security has also criminalized much dissent and most of the city’s democracy leaders have been arrested, jailed or fled overseas. On Saturday morning, one of those figures walked free from prison. Chow, 24, was mobbed by waiting media but made no comment. She wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “You are doing so great.” Chow hails from a generation of activists who cut their teeth in politics as teenagers and became an inspiration for those who chafe under Beijing’s increasingly authoritarian rule. She spent around seven months behind bars for her role in a 2019 protest outside the city’s police headquarters. Fellow youth activists Joshua Wong and Ivan Lam were sentenced in the same case. Chow’s release comes at a sensitive time. Two years ago on June 12, thousands of protesters surrounded the city’s legislature in an attempt to stop the pas-
sage of a bill that could have allowed extraditions to mainland China’s opaque judicial system. Riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the huge crowds. Footage of the clashes deepened public anger, and fuelled what became an increasingly violent movement calling for full democracy that raged for seven straight months. Huge crowds rallied week after week in the most serious challenge to China’s rule since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover. Beijing’s leaders have dismissed the call for democracy, portraying those who protested as stooges of “foreign forces” trying to undermine China. They have since overseen a sweeping crackdown that has successfully curbed dissent and radically transformed the once outspoken semi-autonomous city. The spear tip of that crackdown is the national security law. More than 100 people have been arrested under the new law, including Chow. She has not yet been charged but dozens of others have, including jailed pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Most have been denied bail and they face up to life in jail if convicted. Protests have been all but illegal for the last year in Hong Kong but anniversary events can focus attention. AFP
INDIAN start-up Mylab Discovery Solutions hopes that its inexpensive COVID-19 home test kit – the country’s first – will help the massive South Asian nation better track the pandemic’s spread among its 1.3-billion people. CoviSelf was launched earlier this month and is the first home testing kit to be approved in India, which is slowly emerging from a brutal second wave that overwhelmed its hospitals and crematoriums, with almost 30 million infected so far and over 350,000 dead. But many experts suspect that the real numbers are much higher, blaming insufficient testing and inaccurate recording of the cause of patient deaths. The start-up, which also makes PCR tests to detect HIV infections, says that widespread access to CoviSelf – sold for 250 rupees ($3.40) – would reduce pressure on overburdened laboratories and improve infection tracking. The kit uses a nasal swab and a QR code to connect to a mobile app which reveals results in 15 minutes, and sends the details to the Indian Council for Medical Research, the scientific agency leading the government’s response. “It has been designed so people can do it at home. So the contents of the kit are simple, the way to dispose of it is simple, the way to perform it is simple,” said Shrikant Pawar, Head of Serology & Microbiome at Mylab. At the firm’s factory in the hillside resort town of Lonavla in western India, masked and gloved workers ran detailed quality checks on the kit’s components before shipping them out to pharmacies across the country. “Our current production capacity is 10 million tests in a week”, Pawar told AFP, with the kit also sold on Flipkart, a Walmart-backed online behemoth. “If the market demand goes high, we will be able to cater to more tests a week and yes, we are also planning to go overseas, so it will be available in international markets as well.” But with the kit only accessible to smartphone users, its impact may be limited, especially as the pandemic makes deeper forays into rural India, where mobile networks are weak and internet penetration remains low. AFP
Whale of a tale: US fisherman swallowed by humpback IT SOUNDS like a real-life take on “Pinocchio” – a US lobster fisherman says he was scooped into the mouth of a humpback whale Friday and yet lived to tell the story. “I was in his closed mouth for about 30 to 40 seconds before he rose to the surface and spit me out,” Michael Packard wrote on Facebook hours after his brush with the depths. “A humpback whale tried to eat me,” he added. “I am very bruised up but have no broken bones.” Packard’s beyond-belief big fish yarn began, he told local paper Cape Cod Times, when he was diving for lobster off the coast of the northeastern state of
Massachusetts. “All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black,” he said after being released from the hospital. He was about 10 meters and his first thought was that he had been attacked by a shark, but the lack of teeth and obvious wounds made him reconsider. Packard said he began to struggle – but unlike in the classic children’s tale “Pinocchio” there was no need to build a fire to secure his escape. “I saw light, and he started throwing his head side-to-side and the next thing I knew I was outside (in the water),” Packard told the paper.
The story says Packard’s fishing mate Josiah Mayo “saw the explosion of water as the whale surfaced and Packard was ejected,” but doesn’t include any quotes attributed to him. Jooke Robbins, director of humpback whale studies at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, said she had no reason to doubt the account. “I didn’t think it was a hoax because I knew the people involved... So I have every reason to believe that what they say is true,” she told AFP. Robbins said she had never heard of an “accident” of this type, but “it may be that he (Packard) was just in the wrong
place at the wrong time.” “When they (whales) fish... they rush forward, open their mouths and engulf the fish and the water very quickly,” she said, adding they have large mouths, but throats so narrow they wouldn’t be able to swallow a human. The whale, which according to Mayo’s description was on the young side, “may not be able to detect quickly enough that something is in the way.” Even if all the details weren’t yet known, one thing was clear for Robbins: “It is important for people to be quite aware... And when they see a whale, keep a good distance. It’s really important to give whales their space.” AFP
US: 60 million J&J vaccine doses from troubled plant can’t be used The US Food and Drug Administration said Friday it had told Johnson & Johnson that millions of doses of COVID vaccine produced at a troubled plant can’t be used because of possible contamination issues. In a statement, the FDA said “several” batches of vaccine manufactured at the Emergent BioSolutions facility in the city of Baltimore are not suitable for use. Each batch is known to correspond to several million doses. Neither the agency nor J&J revealed the precise number of doses, but The New York Times placed the number at 60 million, quoting people familiar with the matter. “These actions followed an extensive review of records, including the production history of the facility and the test-
ing performed to evaluate the quality of the product,” said FDA scientist Peter Marks. The Emergent plant was ordered to pause production in April several weeks after it was determined that batches of substance used to produce the J&J vaccine were cross-contaminated with ingredients from the AstraZeneca vaccine, ruining a reported 15 million J&J doses. The FDA is still deciding whether to allow the factory to reopen. Sixty million AstraZeneca doses produced there and earmarked to be donated abroad are currently being inspected for quality before they can be shipped. All of the J&J vaccines distributed and used in the United States so far were made in the Netherlands, not in Baltimore. AFP
4A
JUNE 13, 2021
BUSINESS
n Editor: RODERICK DELA CRUZ | email: roderick_delacruz@yahoo.com
TransUnion monitors digital fraud attempts reported by businesses in varied industries.
Digital fraud attempts on the rise in PH AS MORE consumers go online for banking and other financial transactions, new research from TransUnion found that fraudsters are ramping up their efforts in the financial service industry. When comparing the last four months of 2020 (Sept. 1 to Dec. 31) and the first four months of 2021 (Jan. 1 – May 1), the company found the percentage of suspected digital fraud attempts coming from the Philippines in financial services increased 50 percent, the highest among all industries analyzed. Globally, the rate of digital financial services fraud attempts increased 149 percent. Across industries, the rate of suspected digital fraud attempts globally rose 24 percent when comparing the first four months of 2021 with the last four months of 2020. The percentage of digital fraud attempts coming from the Philippines increased 19 percent during the same time. TransUnion monitors digital fraud attempts reported by businesses in varied industries such as communities, financial services, gambling, gaming, retail, and telecommunications, among others. The conclusions are based on intelligence from billions of transactions and more than 40,000 websites and apps contained in its flagship identity proofing, risk-based authentication and fraud analytics solution suite—TransUnion TruValidate. “The rate of fraud attempts was up globally and especially in the financial services industry because fraudsters understand this is where the most high-value transactions are taking place. While this industry is traditionally known for in-person transactions, fraudsters have recognized its rapid digital acceleration and are trying to capitalize,” said TransUnion Philippines president and chief executive Pia Arellano.
PH EdTech startup
goes global
A
N EDUCATIONAL technology startup, established by a son of an overseas Filipino worker, won contracts with large foreign universities amid the pandemic, becoming one of the first local “camels” to have global presence and achieving revenue-based growth, instead of relying on investor funds. “This is what differentiates CloudSwyft from the unicorn status that other start-ups aspire for. We position CloudSwyft as a ‘camel,’ a more sustainable model where we rely on client revenue to sustain us, instead of investor funds,” says Dann Angelo De Guzman, the 31-year-old founder and chief executive of CloudSwyft Global Systems Inc. De Guzman, who graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology in 2011 with a degree in Electronics Engineering, established CloudSwyft as an EdTech startup in 2015, building on the foundation of his first startup—RocketLabs Software, which he put up in 2012 at the age of 22. The eldest among three siblings, he was born in Laguna but spent most of his childhood in Carmona, Cavite. His father is an OFW in the Middle East while his mother stays at home to take care of the family. He attended high school at La Consolacion College in Laguna and studied at Mapua Institute of Technology. Before graduating, he had an eight-month engineering internship in Singapore where he worked on building laser systems for one of the largest electronic manufacturing services companies in the world. After graduation and his internship, de Guzman
started his career in Accenture where he became the youngest consultant to become part of Accenture Philippines’ Cloud Computing team. At age 22, he started his very first tech startup—RocketLabs Software which was also an EdTech company. In 2014, he became an entrepreneur-in-residence in Future Now Ventures while he was still running his first company. Then he went on to establish CloudSwyft. CloudSwyft is now one of the fastest-growing EdTech startups with positive cashflow as it sustains operations almost purely from revenues. De Guzman is optimistic that CloudSwyft can hit the $10-million revenue milestone without raising any further capital, for now. “We are cash flow positive, heavily customer-revenue funded for the past 2 plus years now, and we think we can hit the $10-million revenue milestone without raising any further external capital for now,” says Guzman. “With what we have achieved, we think we have the right to claim that we are the top EdTech company in the Philippines and the very first enterprise software startup in the Philippines that has ever gone global this way. We aim to be the ‘Atlassian’ or the ‘upGrad’ story of the Philippines or the rising startup camel of the Philippines,” he says.
Mountain resort provides safe, reliable WFH setting IMAGINE being transported from a sleek corner office in a posh high-rise to a tranquil work-from-home setting with a view of green nature and a golf course. Picture this idyllic setting as the country continues to adapt to the “new normal”. With the health situation showing little or no sign of abating anytime soon, well-heeled Filipinos are seeking safe havens for their families and finding these down south in Tagaytay Highlands—an exclusive mountain resort complex just 90 minutes’ drive from the metropolis. Perched 2,500 feet above sea level, Tagaytay Highlands is a luxury residential and recreational estate sprawled over 1,200 hectares of rolling terrain, affording homeowners stunning views
of placid Taal Lake and majestic Mt. Makiling. Apart from offering its signature log cabins to forward-thinking families, Tagaytay Highlands provides elegantly themed residential enclaves designed to serve as alternative primary homes for discerning property seekers. Having culled lessons from the global health threat that has lasted for more than a year now, companies are looking at physical, emotional and mental wellness as part of the adaptive restructuring of workplaces. Business owners are also looking to the suburbs for short- and even longterm retreats that have been proven conducive to “working from home”. With such in mind, expect Tagaytay Highlands to tout its best features as
a natural therapeutic refuge: wideopen, low-density spaces, serene and relaxing environs, breathtaking vistas, garden parks, and fresh, mountain air—all long-lasting deterrents to viral transmission.
With its tranquil and calming environment set amid wide open spaces, Tagaytay Highlands’ lowdensity communities serve as a natural therapeutic refuge when physical distancing is called for.
Developer offers viable housing options outside NCR PEOPLE have long held the notion that success means making it big in metropolitan cities. Over the years, many Filipinos have left their hometowns to find better opportunities in the metropolis. That is, until a global health crisis upended their lives. For some Filipinos, adapting to the pandemic’s post-2020 landscape has been painfully challenging but most have handled this with remarkable resilience. With quarantine protocols changing the way people live and work, an increasing number of so-called “probinsyanos” are heading back to the provinces to reclaim the idyllic lifestyles they once had. And by a twist of circumstances, jaded cityfolk are following suit.
CloudSwyft Technologies CEO Dann Angelo de Guzman
As constantly evolving technology supports flexible work and study arrangements, more Metro Manila residents are moving to the suburbs or even farther in the countryside. Out there, wide-open, tranquil spaces ensure compliance with safety measures as they ride out the pandemic. The Philippine real estate industry is casting its sights on this growing market—with Bria Homes enjoying a strategic advantage. Having committed to providing Filipinos with stylish, comfortable and affordable dwellings, Bria Homes now counts more than 50 projects across the country. This has given Bria an enormous headstart in offering property seekers prime residential locations outside NCR.
As constantly evolving technology supports flexible work and study arrangements, more Metro Manila residents are moving to the suburbs.
The first Philippine Republic cinco-pesos note, which is about the size of the present-day banknote, and dos-centimos coin, which is similar in size to the current cinco-pesos coin
BSP features numismatic collection for 123rd Independence Day rites n By JAMES PAUL R. GOMEZ THE Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas is featuring a numismatic and art collection to celebrate the country’s 123rd Independence Day on June 12. On its Facebook page, BSP features the 100,000-piso Philippine Centennial Commemorative Banknote, the first Philippine Republic cinco-pesos note, and dos-centimos coin. The commemorative banknote, paper money and coins are showcased in the agency’s latest publication, “Yaman: History and Heritage in Philippine Money.” The 100,000-piso Philippine Centennial Commemorative Banknote honors historic victories during the Philippine Revolution where its obverse side shows the “Sigaw ng Himagsikan” on Aug. 24, 1896, while its reverse side showcases a scene of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. “Only 1,000 pieces of these were printed. With dimensions similar to a legal-size bond paper or 8.5 x 14 inches, it is, so far, the biggest legal tender note issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, both in terms of face value and size,” the BSP said. The cinco-pesos note is about the same size as the present-day banknote, while the dos-centimos coin is near the size of the current five-piso coin. In the last weeks of 1989, the Malolos Congress approved the issuance of paper banknotes. Pedro Paterno, Telesforo Chuidian and Mariano Limjap signed the notes individually to avoid counterfeiting. “The issuance of coins and paper money was a way for the government to project its identity as a sovereign authority,” the BSP said in another Facebook post. Only the un-peso and Cinco-pesos banknotes were printed by Z. Fajardo press in Manila. Both circulated to some areas but only lasted by the end of the short-lived First Philippine Republic.
@MStandardLife
manilastandardlife
n Life Editor: BERNADETTE LUNAS | email: manilastandardlife@gmail.com
Pride adidas jersey in black
JUNE 13, 2021
1B
5 local online stores selling LGBTQ+ merch
Love Unites Ultraboost 5.0
n By ELLICIA FRENTZEN C. DEL MUNDO OUR fellow LGBTQ+ siblings may not be able to march in the streets yet this year but there are other ways to celebrate and show those Pride colors: support small, local businesses selling Pride-related products that honor the love that is for all.
The Gay Agenda PH
Love Unites AdiZero
T IS ONE thing to wear a shirt or shoes with a rainbow flag on, it is quite another to wear them with pride and truly embody the message they convey.
........................................................................................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
In celebration of Pride 2021, several fashion brands join the fight (for LGBTQ+ rights) and the festivities.
Love unites
of Sport Pride Badge nk pi in s jersey
BOSS Pride T-shirts
Adidas takes its long-running “Love Unites” platform global for this year’s Pride celebration. The brand released on June 1 the 30+-piece Pride collection alongside a global campaign spotlighting influential members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, including Layshia Clarendon, Amanda Zahui B, Chelsea Gray, Collin Martin, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, Rachel Daly, Tom Daley, Aleia Hobbs, Pabllo Vittar, Rich Mnisi, Thebe Magugu, Chinae Alexander, Jessamyn Stanley, and Cody Rigsby. Comprising the collection are style and performance wear pieces that hero a Do It Yourself (DIY) visual aesthetic born from the
Pride sweatshirts
LGBTQ+ communities that had sought to create their own spaces for self-expression. The DIY aesthetic is what inspires the fluid geometries as well as the expressive and layered graphics seen throughout the collection, which includes special Pride colorways of classic adidas silhouettes like Nizza, Forum, UltraBoost 5.0 DNA, and AdiZero Pro V1, as well as a colorful lineup of apparel from bucket hats and jumpsuits to sports bras, shorts, and jerseys. “What was hugely important and continues to be, is that we not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but also give back. By funding and creating multi-year partnerships with organizations devoted to ending homophobia and transphobia in sport—like Athlete Ally and Stonewall UK—we have been able to elevate existing work as well as co-create new programs to break down barriers for LGBTQ+ communities,” adidas said in a statement. Check out the collection at www.adidas. com/loveunites.
Love for all
German label BOSS celebrates Pride Month with a capsule collection created in support of ILGA World, a worldwide federation of more than 1,700 organizations from over 160 countries and territories campaigning for equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people. Currently available in the Philippines are the unisex T-shirts emblazoned with Pride flag colors and slogans, such as “Love for all”. Other pieces from the collection are coming soon. “We are proud to partner with ILGA World, an organization that has been fighting for equal rights for more than 40 years,” said Ingo Wilts, Hugo Boss AG chief brand officer. “As a company, we want to support causes that contribute to an inclusive society, and that’s what stands behind the message ‘Love for all’. All of us can make a difference.” Launched alongside the collection is a Pride campaign featuring actor, writer, director, photographer, and activist Tommy Dorfman, and Peter Zurkuhlen, who is chief of staff of Get Help and programming board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of StartOut which champions LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. Wearing pieces from the new capsule collection, Tommy and Peter are captured together to share their stories and speak about pride, freedom, and hope. BOSS is located at Greenbelt 5, Shangri-La East Wing, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Makati, City of Dreams, 158 Designer’s Blvd. Newport Mall, and Rustan’s Cebu.
Facebook/Instagram: @thegayagendaph The online store, which actively supports various advocacies, has exclusive Pride bundles for sale this month. Those looking for Pride Essentials, the first package consists of a Pride flag and pin priced at P400. Those who want to wear their Pride daily, the Everyday Pride bundle, priced at P350, comes with a rainbow face mask, Pride bracelet, and pin. Pride Those planning to celebrate bundles Pride Month online may avail of The Gay Agenda PH’s Virtual Pride P a r t y package consisting of a Pride flag, bracelet, and pin for P500. The Pride Outside bundle has a rainbow face mask, wristband, cap, and socks for P500. The 400-peso Pride From Home package comes with a rainbow lanyard, Pride bracelet, rainbow wristband, and small Pride flag.
The Lemon Badger
Instagram/Twitter: @thelemonbadger Those who love stickers should not miss The Lemon Badger’s Pride Waves sticker set inspired by ‘The Great Wave Off Kanagawa’ by Japanese artist Hokusai. The series consists of stickers based on the colors of Transgender Flag, Genderqueer Flag, Intersex Flag, Gay Flag, Lesbian Flag, Bisexual Flag, Asexual Flag, Pansexual Pride Waves Flag, Non-Binary Flag, sticker series LGBTQA+ Rainbow Flag, Progress Pride Flag created by Daniel Quasar, and the original Pride Flag designed by Gilbert Baker. According to the brand, the waves in Pride Waves Series “represent the changing tides in the hopes of one day seeing a better and more accepting world for all”.
The CommHUEnity
Instagram: @thecommhuenity With a trans woman and an ally behind the brand, it does not only offer Pride merch but is also vocal in promoting equality and gender rights. Check out The CommHUEnity’s cute rainbow pins available in 11 designs. It also offers a variety of Pride T-shirts, rainbow tote bags, Pride masks, Rainbow caps, and Pride flags such as pins Transgender Flag, Pansexual Flag, Ally Pride Flag, Bisexual Flag, and Rainbow Flag.
IKATLO by Magara Clothing PH
Rainbow shirt and bandana
Queerears.ph
Instagram: @ikatloph Known for its iconic and trendy socks, Magara Clothing created Ikatlo PH to feature its collection of Pride-related items. This LGBTQ+ friendly business offers rainbow shirts, bandanas, and Pride socks. In addition, they also sell Pride and Bisexual flags, rainbow shoelaces, and bracelets.
Instagram: @queerears.ph In addition to their popular acrylic food earrings, this online store also has a collection of queer earrings featuring the rainbow colors. The accessories are priced at P199 and below.
Pride earrings
Art and discussions about the LGBTQIA+ community A PRIVATE college in Manila staged a series of events for Pride 2021 in a bid to encourage the public to recognize and embrace the wonderful aspects that make LGBTQIA+ community members unique. Hosted by BHive of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the first accredited LGBTQIA+ student-organization in the De La Salle Philippines, the Benilde PRIDE 2021 Sari-Saring Sarili: Pagmamasid, Pagmamahal, at Pagdiriwang ng Kanya-kanyang Katangian presented video podcast, webinars, and an online art exhibition. “Ilahad”, a virtual exhibition of sketches, mixed media, and digital artworks, showcased the talent of promising LGBTQIA+ creatives as they utilized art as a platform to express their individuality, and shed light on the beauty of each person’s distinct characteristic.
Digital art showcased during the virtual exhibition ‘Ilahad.’
‘Kape Tayo’ video podcast’s special guests Marquis Bolima and Shein Capila of BAHAGHARI.
A six-part comic series entitled “Kinaiya”, named after the Filipino word for character or the good attributes and complexities that make a person’s identity, shared personal heartwarming stories of the diverse members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Reminiscent of the pre-pandemic
coffee dates with friends, a video podcast entitled “Kape Tayo!” provided insightful conversations and friendly debates on the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ amid the ongoing pandemic. The talk featured BAHAGHARI member and student activist Shein Capila, together with Benilde Hive
president and gender and equality head Bryce de Vera, vice president for external affairs and advocacy coordinator Immah Toledana, cultural diversity head Paulette Constantino, and mental health head Camy Caridad. Marquis Bolima, who champions gender and social justice, likewise
recounted the memory of being one of the 20 protesters arrested during the Pride March in Mendiola in June 2020. The webinar “Bekines” explained the shared terminologies and meanings of the gay lingo and how its culture provides a sense of protection, privacy, identity, and belongingness among members of the community. It likewise covered the historical context of the language, from the so-called Swardspeak in the 1970s to the latest Filipino gay slangs. The session was facilitated by Vince Liban, the national convener of PANTAY, a youth network that pushes for the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in Congress. Benilde’s Pride 2021 event was co-presented by the Austrian Embassy Manila, PUP Kasarianlan, and Bulsu Bahaghari.
2B
n Entertainment Editor: NICKIE WANG | email: nickie_standard@gmail.com
LL-OUT Sundays’s Christian Bautista, Julie Anne San Jose, Barbie Forteza, and Ruru Madrid have recently joined the entertainment press in a virtual junket to talk about their show’s special episode this Sunday. ............................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................
n By The four stars promised that the audiNICKIE ences are in for a treat with a virtual party WANG with the biggest and brightest Kapuso stars as they convene and usher in the celebration of GMA Network’s 71st anniversary in the hit musical-comedy-variety program. “A lot of the Kapuso artists are going to be with us. We’re trying to get them all. Of course, there will be messages and numbers from everybody and we’re going to put them all together in one jampacked show,” Chris-
tian said talking about what to expect on the show that kicks off GMA’s anniversary celebration. “Most of the production numbers are inspirational. It’s going to be an inspirational week because we wanted to impart the message that COVID-19, the pandemic, is still here and the struggle that we are going through is not a joke pero ang pinaka totoo talaga sa atin ay ang pag-asa at yung nais nating magtulungan,” Julie Anne added sharing the theme of the show. Spearheading the spectacle are Dingdong Dantes, Heart Evangelista, Jennylyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo, Alden Richards, Lovi Poe, Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez, Aiai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo, and Michael V. Also gracing the show are the stars of Bubble Gang, Pepito Manaloto, Daddy’s Gurl, Dear Uge, Catch Me Out Philippines, iBilib, Centerstage, Mars Pa More, Sarap ‘Di Ba, Taste Buddies, Farm To Table, and Eat Bulaga; plus the cast of First Yaya and upcoming series Legal Wives, Nagbabagang Luha, Las Hermanas, and The World Between Us. GMA News pillars Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, Vicky Morales, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino, and Jessica Soho will also share their anniversary greetings to our loyal Kapuso viewers. Kicking off the party with a medley of all-time favorite OPM dance music are Lani Misalucha, Julie Anne, Christian, Mark Bautista, Ken Chan, Rita Daniella, Ruru, Miguel Tanfelix, Kyline Alcantara, Mavy Legaspi, Kim de Leon with stars Rhian Ramos, Benjamin Alves, Sanya Lopez, Katrina Halili, Winwyn Marquez, Jeric Gonzales, Kate Valdez, Ysabel Ortega, and Cassy Legaspi. Meanwhile, GMA Telebabad’s First Yaya Sanya Lopez takes the spotlight as she goes all-out on her first concert on the AOS stage. The Queendom Divas - Julie
Anne, Aicelle Santos, Rita, Jessica Villarubin, Thea Astley, Jennie Gabriel, Hannah Precillas, and Lani - will also spice up the party as they give their flavor and rendition to classic OPM hits. Watch out for the new comedy-fantasy-musical series “I’m Byerna” that follows the story of Virna, a young woman who shifts into her ugly and ill-tempered alter-ego Byerna every time she gets infuriated. Byerna is forced to become a superhero when supervillain Chillax begins to sow terror in the city. “I’m Byerna” features Denice Barbacena as Virna, Buboy Villar as Byerna, together with Edgar Allan Guzman, Yasser Marta, and comedians Mike “Pekto” Nacua, Tuesday Vargas, and Kakai Bautista. And finally, tune in for great deals, special promos, and a lot of big prizes that await Kapuso viewers. Join in the fun and catch All-Out Sundays today 12:00 nn, only on GMA-7. Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV.
All-Out Sundays’ Christian Bautista, Julie Anne San Jose, Ruru Madrid, and Barbie Forteza join other Kapuso stars as the show kicks off the network’s 71st anniversary celebration.
Lorde has risen with new single ‘Solar Power’ n By MARIA KATRINA SEGUI AFTER months of hinting at new music, Lorde’s first single in four years, “Solar Power,” has arrived coinciding with the solar eclipse. The feel-good summer anthem was accompanied by a music video that featured Lorde as the leader of a pastel-clad hipster cult, co-directed by the pop-star herself along with Joel Kefali. With cheeky lyrics and groovy vibes, the uplifting summer track encourages listeners to leave their worries behind and enjoy the heat of summer. Clairo and Phoebe Bridges were also credited as background vocalists for the track. “Lead the boys and girls onto the beaches / Come one, come all, I’ll tell you my secrets / I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus,” she daringly sings.
Lorde frolicking around New Zealand sand in a bright yellow dress for ‘Solar Power.’
The 24-year-old singer-songwriter shared with her fans in a newsletter on Friday that it is her “divine pleasure to be introducing you, at long last, to my third studio album, Solar Power.” The highly-anticipated album is a collaboration with Grammy award-winning producer Jack Antonoff, whom Lorde had worked with in her 2017 album Melodrama. Lorde described
the new album as “a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors.” Lorde already created buzz on the Internet earlier this week when she first
teased a cover art for her album that featured her bare bum blocking the sun along with a short message: “Arriving in 2021... Patience is a virtue.” While no official date for the album release has been disclosed yet, Lorde urged her fans to figure it out by looking at the natural calendar for clues. The New Zealand singer first rose to fame back in 2013 with her Grammy award-winning hit ‘Royals,’ making her the youngest Grammy recipient at 17.
Jessie J tackles self love in latest summer anthem MAKING a grand entrance with highly anticipated new music, Grammy Award-nominated multi-platinum pop superstar Jessie J returns with a brand-new single entitled “I Want Love” via LAVA/Republic Records. To bring the track to life, she worked with three-time Grammy Award-winning producer Ryan Tedder [Beyoncé, Adele] who serves as producer and co-writer. “I wanted to come back with a song that felt classic but modern. Big vocals and get everyone on the dance floor. I cannot wait for the world to hear this song and to dance and sing along loud,” Jessie J says. As she celebrates the tenth anniversary of her platinum-certified 2011 first LP Who You Are, she continues to also look forward. “I Want Love” sets the stage for her anxiously awaited fifth fulllength album, coming later this year, co-written with and executive produced by Tedder. Back in 2011, Jessie J quietly emerged with the biggest voice in pop. The UK-born powerhouse introduced herself with Who You Are, which not only went platinum, but also yielded the quadruple-platinum “Price Tag” and platinum “Domino.” Not to mention, the record made history as “the first album by a British female artist to produce six or more Top 10 hits in the UK,” while she picked up the 2011 Critics’ Choice BRIT Award and BBC’s Sound of 2011. On its heels, 2014’s Sweet Talker crashed the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 and housed the eight-times platinum “Bang Bang” with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. Throughout 2018, she revealed R.O.S.E. in four parts to critical acclaim and supported it with a sold-out world tour. The same year Jessie J traveled to China and joined the TV show Singer, a singing competition where she performed each week in front of a television audience of 250 million with a grand finale viewership of a 1 billion. Not only was Jessie J the first international artist to ever compete alongside the biggest artists in Asia, but also the first to ever win.
Showbiz scion Jayda braces for first major concert SINGER-SONGWRITER Jayda will hold her first major concert on June 26 at 8:00 p.m. with a re-run the next day, at 10 a.m.. Title Jayda in Concert, the show is happening on digital via KTX.ph, iWanTTFC, and TFC IPTV, the event will showcase the multi-talented artist’s music and her awaited rendition of a JAYDA AVANZADO is gearing up for a major concert on June 26, the teen singer’s show is entitled ‘Jayda In Concert.’
variety of hits in a grand musical show. A joint production of ABS-CBN Events and Phenomenal Entertainment, Jayda in Concert will be directed by Frank Mamaril together with Iean Iñigo as the musical director. Last February, the teen star launched her self-penned single “Paano Kung Naging Tayo.” Its music video also served as her directorial debut. The ABS-CBN Music artist is also part of the all-female multinational collaboration “HEAL” released in 2020.
Her other hits include “Perfectly Imperfect,” which is a collaboration with Jeremy G, her duet with Darren Espanto entitled “Sana Tayo Na,” and her solo single “Happy For You,” which earned her the Awit Award for Best Performance by a New Female Recording Artist in 2019. Tickets for Jayda in Concert are now available on KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV for only P499. KTX also offers limited VIP tickets for P799, which includes exclusive access to the VIP party with Jayda via Zoom.
With a once-in-a-generation voice, confessional writing style, and stadium-shaking charisma, she’s back in 2021 with ‘I Want Love.’
JUNE 13, 2021 n Editor: JOEL LACSAMANA | email: jdlacsamana@gmail.com
3B
Sprucing up Iloilo
Home is where you can experience life’s many firsts: your first home-cooked meal, your baby’s first steps, where your first ever car is parked, and where your life’s most important milestones and firsts unfold. Iloilo City is known as one of the safest cities in the Philippines, a healthy mix of life’s advanced necessities, and simple luxuries of laidback, suburban living. One of the city’s firsts is the WV Towers by the B&P Property Group™. Located inside the Mandurriao Garden Residences, WV Towers is home to condo features such as a suspended infinity pool for swimming, and the first slew of 28.41 sq.m. studio units. The frontage and road island landscape of the development have been completed, with the mini golf course scheduled for completion by the end of this month.
Home base in Pampanga
Badan Building Materials Corporation (Badan) recently set up the country’s first quartz production facility at Alviera Industrial Park. As one of the first “move-ins” in the park, Badan’s decision to locate in Pampanga was ostensibly influenced by its strategic location at the heart of Central Luzon—with its proximity to major transport and infrastructure hubs such as the Subic Bay Freeport, the Clark International Airport and the North to South Expressways. “We considered the location for the logistic service, since we are exporting to the US, we need to look
for a location near the port,” explained Spark Lin, Badan’s chief operating officer. “Porac is also near Angeles and San Fernando and we believe the location is the best for our needs.” Recognizing Central Luzon’s potential as a growth powerhouse, Ayala Land, Inc., together with partner Leonio Land Holdings Inc., developed Alviera - a 1,800-hectare master-planned estate in Pampanga which houses, among others, economic zones that offer its locators economic incentives, tax holidays, and a wide range of support amenities.
Shelter from the storm
Rent-to-own in Davao
Good news for homebuyers in Davao City. DMCI Homes recently launched a rent-to-own promotion for its Verdon Parc condominium community along Ecoland Drive corner Peacock Street, Brgy. Talomo. The promo runs until June 30, 2021, and rolls out a lease with option to pur-
chase to those who will rent a unit through DMCI Homes Leasing Services. By settling the one month’s rent advance payment and the two months’ deposit requirement for a 24-month lease contract, lessees can already move into Verdon Parc. Verdon Parc offers spacious units (Seen in photo) as well as
wide-open spaces where residents can gather and relax. Almost half of the project’s three-hectare land area is devoted to lush greenery and resort-inspired amenities such as a clubhouse and swimming pool complex..To learn more, log on to https://leasing.dmcihomes. com.
REENFIELD Development Corp. is building a masmaster-planned township in the heart of Mandaluyong CenCentral Business District.
......................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................
The 15-hectare, mixed-use township includes modern high-rise buildings such as the Twin Oaks Place and Zitan Condominiums, including lifestyle centers like The Hub and The Portal, which offer a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. The township likewise features a unique integration of fiber-to-
the-home or FTTH technology within its masterplan—effectively incorporating technology into daily living. Greenfield is one of larglargest property ownership and land holding companies, backed by its heritage from Unilab and a 50-year legacy of land stewardship and city building.
Century Properties Group (CPG) recently partnered with mental wellness organization Shelter from the Storm, Inc. (SFTS) to open a therapy clinic in CPG’s outpatient medical facility Centuria Medical in Century City, Makati. CPG is providing SFTS free clinic spaces for three years including dues to expand its psycho-social health and resiliency programs in these trying times. SFTS will give CPG employees, and their immediate family members, free
mental health consultation or assessment sessions, plus free quarterly seminars covering a range of topics on mental wellbeing. “Most of us focus on physical health, preventing COVID, and financial health,” explained CPG Managing Director Jose Carlo R. Antonio. “Although these are all important, a stronger mental health is also a core component of wellbeing. By focusing on mental health, one can better manage one’s physical health and financial issues.” At the virtual signing between Century CPG and SFTS were (clockwise from left) Centuria Medical Makati general manager Rey Dimaano; CPG corporate communications head Terrie Fucanan-Yu; Katrina Corpuz and Cenen Enrique Corpuz, SFTS; executive director; CPG human resources group head Ritchelle Cordero; and CPG managing director Jose Carlo R. Antonio.
Precast technology in Batulao Megawide Construction Corporation, in Phirst Park Homes Inc. (PPHI), will supply precast materials to build 1,974 housing units in PPHI’s Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas project site. An onsite precast facility and batching plant will be built, to manufacture precast housing units and concrete, respectively. The Batulao site is Megawide’s sixth project with the developer, as the two companies continue to collaborate for the construction of housing units in Phirst Park’s locations in San Pablo and
Calamba, Laguna; Pandi, Bulacan; Tanza, Cavite; and Lipa, Batangas, where almost 9,400 housing units are currently in various stages of construction. “Developers are now acknowledging the advantages of using precast especially under the current scenario,” said Markus Hennig, Megawide executive vice president. “With a more efficient process, less manpower needs, and more cost-efficient structure, our clients can turn over more units and realize higher revenues in a shorter period of time.”
JUNE 13, 2021
4B
Neglected creator of ‘Bambi’ celebrated in Vienna show
n Editor: JOYCE PANGCO PAÑARES
This photo shows people sitting in a train carriage that was converted into a cafe at a railway station in Phnom Penh. Train travel has largely ground to a halt in Cambodia amid the coronavirus pandemic but now passengers can get their locomotive and selfie fix as well as a cool drink aboard a stationary carriage converted into a hipster cafe. AFP
All aboard
WHILE the 1942 Disney film “Bambi” is world famous as a classic of animated cinema, the man behind the story – an eminent writer in pre-war Vienna who had to flee the Nazis – is little known. Felix Salten was a product of the cultural blossoming in the capital of the then Austro-Hungarian empire around the turn of the 20th Century. As a Vienna exhibition which shines a spotlight on the neglected creator shows, he was a prolific writer who moved in the same circles as the likes of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. Salten wrote the iconic and poignant tale of the fawn bereaved of his mother by hunters in 1922 under the title “Bambi: A Life In The Woods.” On its publication the following year, it did not enjoy immediate success among the reading public. However, in the 1930s, Salten – himself a hunter – sold the film rights for the text for $1,000 to an American producer, who in turn sold them to Disney. As for the book itself, “Felix Salten changed publishers and from then on it became much more successful,” said Ursula Storch, curator of the exhibition at the Wien Museum dedicated to the city’s history. “Of course it was made even more famous by the film adaptation in 1942,” Storch told AFP. But by then, “Bambi,” along with the rest of Salten’s work, had been banned because he was Jewish, first in Germany and then in Austria after Hitler’s annexation of the country in 1938. The film’s success, however, was enough to give rise to numerous retellings A man passes by a poster of Felix Salten (left) as he enof the story. ters the exhibition ‘Beyond Bambi - Felix Salten and the Storch says Discovery of Viennese Modernism’ at the Wien Museum that while Salten in Vienna. himself never offered a commentary on the meaning of the book, it is a powerful evocation of the dark side of human nature and the relationship between humans and the environment. “It’s a book which is deeply anchored in its time and is much more than a simple children’s story about the loss of one’s mother,” said philosopher Maxime Rovere, author of the preface to a new French edition. Given “the impression of fear, the way the animals must constantly escape,” Rovere says it is “impossible not to make the link with (Salten’s) personal experience,” living as he did through an era of rising anti-Semitism. But as the exhibition makes clear, there is much more to the work of Salten than “Bambi.” Born in 1869 in Budapest, he and his family moved to the imperial capital the following year. At around the age of 20, he began a career as a journalist, which remained his staple source of income for around 50 years, according to Marcel Atze, head of the manuscripts department at Vienna City Library. However, Salten’s oeuvre of some 50 books spans opera librettos, poetry, art criticism, film scripts and even a pornographic novel under the title of “Josefine Mutzenbacher.” He won a reputation as a versatile literary “chameleon.” Storch says that his social life was no less notable, with Freud and composer Richard Strauss among his acquaintances. But the Anschluss shattered that world, with Salten later writing of his “contempt for the Viennese and for Austrians in general” after many of them joyfully welcomed Hitler’s takeover of their country. His diaries record an ever-growing anxiety. “His writings are very moving,” Atze, who spent several weeks poring over the journals with colleagues, said. “When you read them you can absolutely imagine what was happening,” he added. Atze says that only a few such documents survive from this tumultuous period, making Salten “an unbelievably valuable witness.” In March 1939, Salten fled to Switzerland, taking with him a library comprising thousands of volumes. Two years later, the Nazis stripped him of his nationality. Atze notes that this news is written in red in Salten’s diary instead of the usual blue or black and that the attendant possibility of being deported from Switzerland as a stateless individual must have left him “trembling” until his death in 1945. His Swiss granddaughter Lea Wyler never knew him personally but says that accounts handed down through the family tell of a “broken man” marked by successive tragedies. “He had lost his only son in a car accident, he lost his home, Vienna, friends,” she told AFP by phone. She laments the fact that out of work left by her “loving, humorous, cheeky” grandfather, only “Bambi” is remembered – and that the Disney adaptation has eclipsed the original. “The crazy thing is that everybody thinks that Disney wrote it. He did not even get that credit, that is really annoying,” she said. Nevertheless, Wyler adds the fact that Vienna is now celebrating Salten has brought “a feeling of redemption.” AFP
RAIN travel has largely ground to a halt in Cambodia due to the coronavirus but railway fans can still get their fix aboard a stationary carriage converted into a hipster cafe.
...................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................
As authorities relax virus restrictions following a three-week lockdown in the capital, patrons have flocked to the cafe for impromptu photoshoots and iced coffees.
The country has more than 600 kilometers of track extending from its northern border with Thailand to the southern coast, but decades of war and neglect have left vast stretches damaged and coronavirus has shut many remaining services. A new airport rail link was closed last year and passenger trains to the seaport of Sihanoukville have been suspended since March when Cambodia was hit with the worst of its COVID-19 outbreak. But a new train cafe – located at Phnom Penh railway station – has become a hub for Instagrammers and Facebookers looking for a selfie location and cold drink. As authorities relax virus restrictions following a three-week lockdown in the capital, patrons have flocked to the cafe for impromptu photoshoots and iced coffees. Among them is Chan Thol, a 19-year-old student, who along with her friends has made the cafe a regular haunt. She said it was a delightful change of scenery after weeks of boredom staying home.
“I come for leisure and to take pictures with my friends and enjoy the coffee,” she said. “It helps reduce my stress.” Se Sokunaphors, 27, said the train cafe concept was unique. “I never took a train before. And this is fun,” she said. The carriage only required minor modifications including ripping out old sticky seats and replacing them with comfy chairs, said Sak Vanny, manager of passenger operations for Royal Railway Cambodia. “We had the idea to turn a train carriage into a train cafe in order to generate some income for the company and help staff members with work during the pandemic,” she said. “We did not make a lot of changes to it so that its original look wouldn’t disappear... When guests come here they can have the same feeling like they are riding a train.” AFP
Looking for love, white rhino ‘Emma’ lands in Japan
LIKE many of us, Emma has had her travel plans derailed by coronavirus. But after months of delay, the white rhino has arrived in Japan and is looking for love. The mild-mannered five-yearold comes by way of Taiwan’s Leofoo Safari Park, where she beat a herd of competitors for the chance to find a companion and breed. She had been scheduled for transfer to the Saitama Tobu zoo outside Tokyo in March, but complications caused by the pandemic pushed back her departure. “After some delays due to the coronavirus, Emma, a southern white rhino, arrived at our zoo on the evening of 8th June,” the Saitama Tobu zoo said in a statement. “We slowly opened the shipping container which was placed in front of her sleeping room. Emma, without showing any signs of shyness, went straight into the sleeping room,” it added. The rhino used the extra time in Taiwan to prepare for the move, with keepers using Japanese for words like “come” and “no” to get her ready for her new home. Emma, a southern white five-year-old female rhino, stands in front of other rhinos before her travel from Taiwan Hsinchu’s Leofoo Village Zoo to Japan’s Tobu Zoo for breeding. AFP
Safari staff said she was picked from a herd of 23 rhinos because of her even temper and slender physique. “Emma was chosen because of her mild personality... and her smaller size also makes it easier to ship overseas,” Sean Wu, the park’s chief veterinarian and animal manager, told AFP earlier this year. “She seldom gets into fights with other rhinos or snatches others’ food.” She is expected to be on show to the public in Japan for several weeks, but she also has the more serious business of getting acquainted with her first suitor: 10-year-old Moran. Zoo breeding programs have played a key role in repopulating southern white rhino herds. The species currently numbers around 19,000, found in the wild across southern Africa, according to the conservation group Save the Rhino. They were nearly wiped out in the last century but managed to recover thanks to conservation efforts. Their northern cousins were not so lucky. Only two remain, both female, rendering the species functionally extinct. Leofoo Safari Park imported eight rhinos from Africa in 1979 and now has the most successful breeding programme in Asia, with 23 animals in its herd. Rhino poaching is fuelled by a market for their horns in Asia – especially China and Vietnam. Horns are made of nothing more than keratin, the same material as fingernails and hair. But scammers erroneously market horns as an aphrodisiac or cancer cure. AFP