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A4) TIMEOUT—PCP Roque snipes at critics DOCTORS, TIRED AND EXHAUSTED,(Story CALLonFOR over COVID response By Macon Ramos-

Medical front liners and their patients make do with available space in a hospital that has reached full capacity, meaning no wards or beds, for COVID-9 victims. Tired and exhausted, frontliners overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases are calling for a timeout.

other way, saying that health workers were exhausted by the Araneta and Willie Casas crush of COVID-19 cases that are filling up hospitals. A DAY before Metro Manila "Are we not going to have was due to slip into a less a timeout?" said Dr. Maricar stringentquarantine level, doctors Limpin, president of the Philippine urged the government to go the Next page

By Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas MALACAÑANG on Tuesday hit back at a group of health workers criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte’s COVID-19 response, saying they were in the minority.

MECQ stays until Sept. 15

Duterte defers shift to GCQ until clear-cut guidelines are in place

Palace insists: COA can look into PRC books THE Palace on Tuesday said the Commission on Audit (COA) can conduct a “special” audit of the Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) spending, even though the agency has said it has no jurisdiction over the non-government organization. In an online press briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte had a basis to urge COA to audit funds received by PRC. Citing Section 4.8 of COA Circular No. 93-003, Roque said PRC can be audited once the government requests COA to carry out a “special audit” of NGOs like PRC “on case to case basis.” “Does the President have a basis to ask COA to conduct a special audit of PRC? Next page He has,” Roque said.

VOL. XXXV • NO. 205 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

4 Chinese dead, P3.4-b seized in drug bust

2,121,308 18,012

158,637

34,498

161

1,928,173 18,945 (As of 4 PM, SEPTEMBER 7)

By Jun David FOUR Chinese nationals were killed Tuesday in a joint drug bust operation of police, military, and antinarcotics agents in Zambales that yielded over 500 kilos of suspected methamphetamine or “shabu” worth P3.4 billion—the government's biggest Next page drug haul for the year.

BIG BUST. At least 500 kilos of methamphetamine or shabu – valued at P3.4 billion – are spread neatly on the ground following a joint operation of police, military and anti-narcotics agents Tuesday in Zambales. Four Chinese nationals were killed during the operation that authorities described as the 'biggest drug haul of the year'.

Senators grill Senate issues arrest order Duque anew on vs. Yang, Pharmally execs double payment SENATORS on Tuesday grilled Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on the alleged double payment made for medical supplies after P42 billion in funds were transferred by the Department of Health to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management. After the PS-DBM, then under Usec. Christopher Lao, bought face shields on behalf of the DOH, the latter then purchased the same face shields from the Budget office, senators speculated. “Did the PS-DBM sell to DOH the same face shields, which the agency already paid for?" asked Minority Leader

INFLATION RATE UP, JOBLESSNESS DOWN BUSINESS / B4

A WARRANT of arrest has been issued against former presidentialeconomic adviser Michael Yang after he was cited for contempt for snubbing twice the subpoenas issued by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. The committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, also moved for the issuance of arrest warrants against the five officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical

Corp., the small company that bagged over P8 billion in contracts from the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). The Pharmally officials are Mohit Dargani, Twinkle Dargani, Justine Garado, Linconn Ong and Krizle Grace Mago. Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed signing the arrest warrants late Next page Tuesday.

WEATHER

’Jolina’ weakens, ‘Kiko’ enters PAR By Rio N. Araja and Alena Mae Flores SEVERE Tropical Storm “Jolina” further weakened while moving over the Sibuyan Sea in the central Philippines on Tuesday afternoon – but not after making landfall six times, ravaging areas in Luzon and Visayas, triggering flash floods, and strand-

ing passengers at ports. This was just as another weather disturbance named “Kiko” entered the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather bureau PAGASA said. Weathermen estimated its center at 60 kms west northwest of Masbate City, or 90 km east of Romblon, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 km/hr near Next page

ETRO Manila will stay under the second strictest lockdown level, a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), for another week or until Sept. 15 as the government postponed the region's supposed shift to a looser lockdown.

Malacañang said on Tuesday the National Capital Region shall remain under MECQ or until the pilot general community quarantine (GCQ) with alert level system is implemented, whichever comes first. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government is ironing out guidelines for the shift to granular lockdowns in Metro Manila – which were supposed to start today, Sept. 8 -- to support the economy despite the continuing pandemic. This developed as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country’s biggest business organization, is pushing for the full reopening of the economy, arguing that any form of lockdown was disruptive to businesses. In a statement, PCCI acting president Edgardo Lacson said the group wished for the full opening of the economy even if the herd immunity threshold was not met as yet due to the moving and elusive target of 50 percent to 100 percent inoculation of the population. “Many health experts claim it is impossible to achieve herd immunity as the virus keeps mutating and the vaccine is always behind the curve,” Lacson said. “The COVID-19 virus and its variants will be here forever, but it can be

Typhoon Jolina inundated vast areas in Santa Rita, Samar, spawned giant waves that crumpled several pump boats in Sto. Nino, also in Samar and made several landfalls before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

News

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

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Makati assures residents of aid T “Makati is the first local government unit to implement a localized or granular lockdown last March. As we shift from modified enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine on Wednesday, I would like to assure Makatizens that our city

will provide food packs, COVID-19 home care kits, and swab tests for them in case their street or barangay is placed under granular lockdown,” said Mayor Abigail Binay. Binay said her administration first implemented a 14-day localized community

lockdown in Barangay Pio del Pilar earlier this year when there was a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. Apart from food packs and free delivery of medicines, the local government did house-to-house swab tests during the first 48 hours to determine and isolate positive patients. After the results were out after a day or two, the lockdown was lifted in areas where people tested negative. There was also a designated station or ‘concierge’ for those who needed to buy medicines and other essentials. The city government has also started providing a home care kit to COVID-19

MECQ...

Region-wide lockdowns have proved to be costly for the economy, which is now expected to grow less than previously thought after the capital region was placed under the strictest ECQ level last month, which were later eased. "The truth of the matter is the ECQ as we practice, it may not be enough, we need to come up with a new strategy," Roque said on Monday. The Philippines exited recession in the second quarter of 2021 after five consecutive quarters of GDP contraction. But a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases forced authorities to impose stricter curbs in August, leading to a cut in this year's economic growth outlook to 4.0 to 5.0 percent, from 6.0 to 7.0 percent previously. Daily cases in the past 30 days alone accounted for more than a fifth of the country's total infections of over 2.1 million, while deaths have exceeded 34,000. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization supports the government's decision to shift to a looser quarantine status and to implement granular lockdowns in localities, with some recommendations to make the new policy efficient. "If we are now considering moving from a very stringent quarantine to a more relaxed quarantine with very granular lockdowns, which is something that the WHO advocates and supports, the critically important element is that those granular lockdowns, those actions need to be influenced by very accurate, very up-to-date data," WHO country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday.

Abeyasinghe noted that timely and accurate data on the COVID-19 cases, their severity, and the clustering of infections would help in determining the success of the granular or "pocket area" lockdowns that will be implemented in most parts of Metro Manila. The Philippine College of Physicians earlier raised concern on the alleged discrepancies in the Department of Health's data, particularly on available ICU beds in the country. But the Department of Health said these things would really happen when reporting COVID-19 cases on a national and local scale. Abeyasinghe also recommended increasing the current average 70,000 COVID-19 tests per day. He also said the tests must be conducted in localities to detect clusters and other sources of transmission, since testing only the close contacts of infected persons "does not give the full benefit of the investment in testing." In related developments, the UP Pandemic Response team said granular lockdowns must be accompanied with immediate detection of active cases, effective contact tracing and intensified vaccination. “Granular lockdown will be successful if well-organized, immediate detection is there...If we have testing, contact tracing, and an expansion of vaccination in areas with high cases, maybe these all together can help in decreasing COVID-10 cases,” Prof. Jomar Rabajante told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo. “Lockdown in itself is just to slow down the transmission, it shouldn't be the

only strategy,” he added. In Metro Manila, the DOH will determine a city's alert level based on three factors: hospital care utilization rate, level of cases or infection, and the type of variant present in the area, said MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos. "I would like to clarify it’s not actually GCQ, it’s GCQ with heightened restrictions and primarily this concept was done because three sectors are always affected in GCQ," he told ANC's Headstart. These sectors are crowded areas such as churches, conferences; businesses involved in close personal contact such as spas, barbershops; and closed spaces like restaurants and gyms, Abalos said. "It’s a more flexible, friendlier policy on their part so they could be easily opened with this kind of system," he said. PCCI's Lacson stressed the importance of massive and continuing vaccination, tracing, and testing, and fast-tracking the development of alternative and cheap medicines against COVID-19. “We must remove our overblown fear of this virus and the even greater fear of another lockdown,” Lacson argued. Any form of a lockdown, whether region-wide or granular, is disruptive to business, the PCCI chief emphasized. “It is a tacit admission by authorities that they will henceforth abandon the intermittent and harmful regional lockdown protocol. Yet, it must be recognized by authorities that a lockdown, whether regionwide or granular, remains disruptive and a disincentive to business operations,” he said. Willie Casas, Joel Zurbano, Macon amos-Araneta

Palace decided to extend the ECQ to Sept. 15 instead (see banner story for details – Editors). Limpin disclosed that some doctors in private hospitals were calling in sick as they were overworked from a high number of COVID-19 patients. "Our doctors are really tired. We are seeing so many cases. Our ER, ICU and all of the wards are full," she said. Limpin said doctors were also treating non-COVID-19 cases. Some, she said, had contracted the coronavirus, aggravating the staffing shortage. "Many doctors had to undergo quarantine, and many got infected with COVID-19," said Limpin. She said doctors were serving long hours at the hospitals due to soaring infections. This is aside from experiencing emotional burden for not being able to accept new patients, she added. Except for the city of Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) placed the

entire National Capital Region under the highest alert level due to the increase in new cases and the high rates of hospitalizations. Alert Level 4 is raised if more than 70 percent of hospital bed capacity is occupied, and the area is under moderate to critical risk for COVID-19. The Philippines logged 18,012 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,121,308. There were 161 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 34,498. The DOH also reported 18,945 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 1,928,173. This left 158,637 active cases, of which 92 percent were mild, 3.4 percent were asymptomatic, 0.7 percent were critical, 1.4 percent were severe, and 2.49 percent were moderate. Nationwide, 76 percent of ICU beds, 67 percent of isolation beds, 74 percent of ward beds, and 58 percent of ventilators, were in use.

Roque...

chairman Michael Aguinaldo told the House committee on appropriations during the budget briefing last Friday. “The only thing we can audit is Philhealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) payments to Red Cross,” Aguinaldo said, referring to the state health insurer. “We're auditing PhilHealth and not the Red Cross.” Roque said COA can look into the PRC’s memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Metro Manila mayors for COVID-19 testing, as well as its MOA to get advance payment of P100 million from PhilHealth for its testing service. “The PRC Charter clearly states that it cannot earn money while it is fulfilling

its mandate,” Roque said in Filipino. Roque added that the advance payment clause under the MOA violates the PRC Charter and Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which states that only reimbursement, not advance payment, in the distribution of goods and services, is allowed. Roque also questioned the PRC’s move to impose a rate of P3,500 per COVID-19 test, even if the machines used for the testing were donated. He said the cost of COVID-19 testing is higher compared to the P2,077 that PRC should have charged for each test since the machines it is using were donated. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

“I don't know what planet they're on, the health workers who don't like the President,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. "The whole world is experiencing this problem. We're not the only ones in the third wave; the Delta variant is widespread,” he added. In related developments: • Roque, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora are facing a complaint of violating quarantine rules before the Office of the Ombudsman. BenCyrus Ellorin, convenor of Aksyon Pinoy, a non-profit organization and think tank, on Tuesday led the filing of eight cases against government officials for various violations of COVID-19 response protocols. • The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said on Tuesday the reported P14 billion the Department of Health (DOH) claimed to have disbursed to pay the delayed health workers’ benefits was “grossly inadequate and just enough to pay about 21 percent of deserving health workers.” Roque was responding to the statement of Medical Action Group (MAG) chairperson Dr. Nemuel Fajutagana, who said the President and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, have no right to run for national posts in the May 2022 polls. This was considering that the Duterte administration's pandemic response has been marred by issues such as the misuse and underutilization of funds, the snailpaced vaccination rate, and the delayed release of health workers’ special risk allowances, Fajutagana said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

swer this question, but the health chief only“committed to look into it and sought for a little more time to verify this.” "When you moved P42 billion to PSDBM, did you move it so they can purchase medical supplies and equipment for you, which are now common-use supplies and equipment?” Drilon questioned Duque. “Or did you transfer the P42 billion so PS-DBM can build an inventory from

where public hospitals can get their supplies?” the opposition senator asked. He said the funds from DOH “were used to buy these items. They bought these items again with very large profits," said Drilon. Lacson also demanded from Duque if there was any truth about the supposed double payment. "You shelled out money to buy the

items, then you buy those using your own money again?” said Lacson. Sotto inquired from Duque on the need for the PS-DBM to sell to the DOH regional offices the face shields they bought -- from the money that came from the health department. "The DOH Regional Offices did not want to buy them because they were too pricey," said Sotto. Macon Ramos-Araneta

the center, gustiness of up to 125 km/hr, and was moving west northwestward at 15 km/hr. In its 8 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Jolina may make landfall or pass near or over the Bondoc Peninsula-Marinduque area today. It may make another landfall over the Quezon-Batangas area on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Chanthu entered the country's territory at 5:30 p.m. and was assigned the local name Kiko. The local weather bureau said the storm, located over 1,500 km east of southern Luzon, was less likely to make landfall over any part of the country. Jolina brought strong winds and rain over Zumarraga, Samar, where several tents were swept away. Extreme flooding brought about by the storm also engulfed several Leyte homes, according to a 24 Oras report. In Ormoc, Leyte, 40 residents living near a river were forced to evacuate due to Jolina. A spillway in San Francisco, Quezon was also destroyed due to the heavy rain and winds. Over 100 passengers were also stuck at ports in Sorsogon and other provinces. Several transmission lines in Samar and Leyte were affected by Jolina, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said, but the grid remained in normal condition. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

“So, we have a very peculiar situation here, an oath has been administered on a person who is outside of the jurisdiction of the country,” said Drilon. “The only remedy that I can think of is, probably, Mr. Huang stating on the record that he is willing to reaffirm whatever the testimony will be in these proceedings and go to the [Philippine] embassy and submit the statement in affirmation of his statements here, in order that he can be bound under oath by the statements he makes,” Drilon said. In response, Huang said he was willing to reaffirm his oath to an official of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

4 Chinese...

as Gao Manzhu, Hong Jianshe, and Eddie Tan from Fujian, China, and Youhua Xu, a resident of Quezon City. Eleazar said the Chinese in the resort had been under surveillance for a long time prior to Tuesday's bust. "Based on information we have gathered, the drugs are being unloaded in international waters and then pulled back to shore through strings attached to the sacks," Eleazar said. Authorities recovered in the resort some 25 sacks of alleged drugs, each weighing 20 kilos. These were set to be repacked in tea bags and would be distributed all over the Philippines, the PNP said. Also seized at the crime scene were four guns, four cell phones, two Chinese

passports, and one sport utility vehicle. Police are finding out where the drugs are supposed to be sent. The operation was conducted at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when government anti-narcotics operatives managed to negotiate the purchase of shabu. The four Chinese died on the spot after they allegedly tried to fight it out with the police, military, and PDEA operatives in a bid to escape. PNP Region 3 chief Gen. Valeriano De Leon once again lauded the law enforcers for the successful operation, saying they will continuously conduct proactive operations to achieve their quest for a drug-free Central Luzon.

By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

HE Makati City government has given assurances it is ready to provide essential needs to residents who will be affected by the granular lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus disease and its Delta variant in the

From A1

contained by simply observing prescribed health protocols of masking, handwashing, and social distancing,” he added. Roque, however, said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) deferred the pilot of the GCQ with Alert Levels System – keeping indoor and al-fresco dine-in services and personal care services, including beauty salons, beauty parlors and nail spas, shut for now. Religious services performed through online video recording and transmission shall be allowed, Roque said. Also, immediate family members are allowed to attend necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals, as long as the deceased died of non-COVID-19 causes. However, they need to show satisfactory proof of their relationship with the deceased and have to comply with the minimum public health standards. Roque said: “If the guidelines will not be released today (Tuesday), the effectivity will have to be the day after tomorrow, to be fair, because the people do not know what will happen, especially which industries can reopen.” Previously, Malacanang announced that Metro Manila will be under GCQ from Sept. 8 to 30, the second lowest quarantine level, even as the country continued to log new record highs in daily COVID-19 tallies. Roque said Metro Manila’s 16 cities and lone town might have various alert levels in the same period.

Doctors,... From A1

College of Physicians (PCP), referring to a similar request the medical community made last year for two weeks under more stringent restrictions amid a surge of COVID-19 cases. "I hope the President will consider our situation as health care workers because what we are seeing is already extreme," she said. If the government cannot provide a timeout, Limpin called for a stricter curb on the movement of people. "At the very least, maintain MECQ but the real MECQ," she said in an interview on ABS-CBN TeleRadyo, referring to a modified enhanced community quarantine. Metro Manila was supposed to go under the less restrictive general community quarantine (GCQ), the country's secondloosest lockdown level, by Sept. 8, but the

Palace... From A1

Roque also said under Article 9 of the 1987 Constitution, COA has the power to examine on a post-audit basis all accounts pertaining to the expenditure or uses of funds by NGOs “receiving subsidy or equity, directly or indirectly, from or through the government.” “Does the COA have jurisdiction over the Philippine Red Cross? The answer is it has,” he said, contradicting the head of the agency. “We do not have the jurisdiction to audit the Philippine Red Cross,” COA

Senators... From A1

Franklin Drilon, Senator Panfilo, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. During the fourth Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing in the DOH's alleged misuse of COVID-19 pandemic response funds, the senators pressed Duque to an-

Senate... From A1

Huang Tzu Yen, chairman and president of Pharmally, and the firm’s accountant, Iluminada Sebial, were the only ones who appeared virtually in the fourth Blue Ribbon hearing on the Department of Health's procurement of overpriced medical supplies such as face shields and face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), all coursed through the PS-DBM. Asked by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon about his current location, Huang said he is in Singapore.

From A1

Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 3 and the Philippine National Police Regional Office 3 raided a resort in Barangay Libertador, Candelaria, Zambales that led to a shootout between the Chinese suspects and authorities, the PNP said. “During the operation, the suspects fired shots at the operatives that forced them to fight back. This resulted in the death of the 4 Chinese nationals," PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said. The foreigners killed were identified

positive residents with mild symptoms. It includes a home care handbook, alcohol, oral antiseptic, sore throat spray, fever pad, medical infrared thermometer, pulse oximeter, washable and disposable face masks, vitamins, and medicine for fever. With the right equipment, residents will be able to closely monitor their health and report medical emergencies to the Makati City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit to prevent their condition from getting worse. “Since Metro Manila is under Alert Level 4, our goal is to help Makatizens recover so that they will not need to be hospitalized,” Binay noted. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Dutch gov’t urged to hand Joma Sison over to PH

From A1

TWO local groups on Tuesday asked the Netherlands to hand over Jose Maria Sison to the Philippine government, saying the European country was coddling the Communist Party of the Philippines founder who was responsible for the deaths of child soldiers recruited by the New People’s Army. In a letter to Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Saskia de Lang, the Liga Independencia Pilipinas and the League of Parents of the Philippines said the Dutch government continued to harbor “the chief architect of this violent insurgency who committed unspeakable acts, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Filipinos and destroying the economic livelihood of thousands more.” The groups said Sison should face justice in Manila for violating the AntiTerrorism Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and the Special Protection of Women and Children Against Abuse Act. LIPI Secretary General Jose Antonio Goitia and LPP President Remedios Rosario told de Lang that the local Anti-Terrorism Council had designated Sison and 18 CPP members as terrorists and that they violated five sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

DOH enlists 10,000 health professionals THE Department of Health on Tuesday supported the call of medical professionals and health worker groups for a better COVID-19 response by households, communities, and local and national governments, even as it hired 10,000 health professionals for the second half of the year. This developed as the utilization rate of temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) in the country stood at 33% percent, but the figure in Metro Manila was substantially higher, the DOH reported. Meanwhile, the government has offered home care packages to patients suffering mild symptoms of COVID-19 due to a shortage in hospital beds amid a surge in infections. The One Hospital Command Center said they were receiving between 480 to 560 calls for help daily. The Philippines averaged 131 COVID-19 deaths per day last August when the country experienced an uptick in cases due to the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the department said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Weather... From A1

News Cops, narcs on shootout: Gray areas now known THE Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday both welcomed the National Bureau of Investigation’s move to file charges against their members who figured in a firefight in Quezon City in February. PNP chief, Guillermo Eleazar thanked the NBI for its painstaking work on the incident. PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva, for his part, said the agency will fully cooperate with the legal process and exhaust all legal remedies available relative to the filing of cases against the PNP. “All the PNP personnel involved are fully accounted for and would be made available should the Department of Justice (DOJ) require their participation in the conduct of its own review with regard to the findings submitted by the NBI,” Eleazar said. Eleazar added that the PNP Internal Affairs Service is already finalizing the result of its own investigation in relation to the administrative cases that were filed against the police personnel involved in the incident. Eleazar said the PNP will continue to cooperate with the DOJ regarding the case. “While the February 24 incident in Quezon City involving PDEA agents and PNP personnel was indeed unfortunate and tragic, this also paved the way for the identification of the gray areas in the coordination protocol and subsequent outlining of improvements and institutionalization of measures to prevent the repeat of the incident through the Memorandum Circular, entitled Unified Coordination Guidelines in the Conduct of Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations, that was signed by the Chief PNP and the PDEA Director General (Wilkins Villanueva) last July,” he added. Eleazar said the PNP is committed to honoring and institutionalizing the PDEA-PNP memorandum circular signed in July, which is aimed at forging stronger cooperation between the two agencies in pursuing the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. Villanueva said the filing of cases against erring police officers and antinarcotics agents is an opportunity for them to answer all allegations. “This also allows the legal process to ensure and ultimately determine the accountability of those involved and eventually obtain justice,” he added. Last June 29, PDEA filed separate charges against the members of the PNP who were involved in the incident. Villanueva assured the public that this will not hinder the national antidrug campaign. On Monday, the NBI filed various charges against members of PDEA and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace warns tax-dodging POGOs N By Macon Ramos Araneta

O TAX payments, no gaming. That sums up the Malacanang decision to bar Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) from resuming operations until they have settled their unpaid taxes.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque emphasized during a virtual presser that the government would not tolerate taxevading POGOs. On Wednesday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said his ofﬁce is now looking into reports that some POGOs have reopened despite their failure to pay the tax payments required by the government. The Finance department’s probe began following Senator Joel Villanueva’s recent revelation that only two POGOs were able to settle their tax liabilities, but many more already resumed their operations. The Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (PAGCOR) in March sus-

pended POGO operations due to the threat posed by COVID-19. However, the government allowed them in May to reopen offshore gaming ﬁrms on condition that they ﬁrst settle taxes and obtain clearance from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, pay fees required by PAGCOR, and shoulder the COVID-19 testing of its employees. Only 30 percent of the POGO workforce is allowed to report for work. Dominguez said his department is already monitoring the tax-evading POGOs that are reportedly operating amid the nationwide implementation of community quarantine. There are 60 licensed POGO operators

in the Philippines. From 2016 to 2019, the revenues collected by PAGCOR from POGOs a ready reached over P18 billion. Dominguez’s ofﬁce has also estimated that the government would be able to collect up to P20 billion a year in corporate and personal income taxes from POGOs. Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva yesterday challenged the Commission of Audit (COA) or the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to name the 15 delinquent POGOs. “PAGCOR and COA should publicly name the 15 delinquent POGOs. They do not have the right to remain anonymous,” said Villanueva, the Senate labor committee chair who spearheaded the Upper Chamber’s series of inquiries into the proliferation of illegal foreign workers in offshore gaming ﬁrms in the country. “For those who have swindled the government, all the more that their identities be known,” he said.

The senator said he does not understand why COA and PAGCOR did not name these delinquent POGOs, considering what happened was akin to a “hit and run.” “If names of owners of real estate with unpaid taxes are routinely published in newspapers, then why can’t the same treatment be extended to foreign gambling operators whose arrears are far bigger?” the senator from Bulacan said. According to Villaneuva, he sees no reason why COA or PAGCOR should withhold the names of the POGOs who owe the government some P1.365 billion in unpaid license fees. He noted that the government should not allow these 15 POGOs to deprive PAGCOR of much-needed revenues, half of which goes to the national coffers and a signiﬁcant amount is used to fund public programs. According to PAGCOR, the licenses of eight of the 15 delinquent POGOs have already been canceled, one is under suspension and three are under review.

NCR courts, except SC, stay closed By Rey E. Requejo

CATCHING UP. Residents of Quezon City gather at the Quezon City Hall Lobby for vaccine registration on September 7,2021. Walk-ins are not allowed, city authorities said, emphasizing that it would be unfair for those who queued up only to be sidelined. The city has one of the most populous areas in Metro Manila. Manny Palmero

10 cops accused of teener’s slay cleared THE Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police has cleared the 10 policemen in the June 16 operation that led to the killing of a 16-yearold boy in Laguna. The PNP said the IAS probe found “no indication that the two suspects were killed in cold blood.” The PNP said no witness surfaced to attest to the alleged execution of the two. It also said not even the family of Jhondy Maglinte Helis, the teenage fatality, cooperated with the investigation.

PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar expressed conﬁdence in the ﬁndings. With the release of the investigation, it was again proven that there is no truth in the allegations that the drugrelated operations of PNP are stained with abuses like what others want it to appear, Eleazar said. On June 16, Laguna Police Intelligence Unit operatives conducted an anti-illegal drug operation against drug suspect Antonio Dalit in Biñan City. Police said Dalit and his companion,

Helis, engaged the operatives in a firefight and were subsequently killed. Helis’ family had denied the police’s claim that the teenager fought it out with the policemen who were serving an arrest warrant against Dalit. They said they were informed that Helis was handcuffed and begging the police not to kill him. According to a relative of Dalit, the suspect had no firearm contrary to the claim of the police, adding that the weapon that the police presented was an airsoft gun.

THE Supreme Court has ordered that all courts in National Capital Region, except its offices along Padre Faura Street in Manila, will remain physically closed until September 30 due to the “surge of confirmed” coronavirus disease cases in different variants and the proposal to enforce “granular or localized lockdown” in Metro Manila. The national government placed NCR under GCQ from the modified enhanced community quarantine, only to push back the next day and reinstate the MECQ status. In a memorandum circular issued by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez upon instruction of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, all courts in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and MECQ are also physically closed. In areas under modified GCQ or MGCQ, courts are open with at least 50 per cent of total workforce reporting physically for work, unless the court is located in an area that is declared under granular lockdown. Physically closed courts should continue operating online and may be reached through hotlines and email addresses posted in the SC website – sc.judiciary.gov.ph. In all physically closed courts, filing of pleadings and motions is suspended and will resume seven calendar days counted from the first day of the physical reopening of the relevant court “unless otherwise expressly ordered by the relevant court which shall consider the physical closure of the courts and the granular lockdowns.” In NCR, also physically closed are the Court of Appeals in Manila, the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals. While physically closed, judges and appellate court justices are mandated to act on urgent cases such as those pertaining to applications for bail, habeas corpus cases, and applications for temporary protection orders for Violence Against Women and Children.

PCG chief retires, four contenders named PHILIPPINE Coast Guard Commandant Adm. George Ursabia Jr. will retire today Sept. 8 after almost 38 years in service, with four candidates as his possible replacement. “The PCG will conduct a simple retirement and turnover ceremony for PCG Admiral Ursabia on Wednesday,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said in a Viber message to reporters. Ursabia’s possible successors are Leopoldo Laroya, Eduardo Fabricante, Oscar Endona Jr., and Artemio Abu, all PCG vice admirals. The most senior among the candidates is Laroya, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988 who currently serves as the

NEWBIES.

Police recruits line up during formation at the NCR Police Office in Taguig City. They form part of the second cycle of recruitment process targetting those who want to serve the public in this time of the COVID pandemic.

PCG’s deputy commandant for operations. Fabricante, a member of the PMA Class of 1989, is currently the PCG deputy commandant for administration. Endona currently serves as the commander of the PCG Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command and is a member of the PMA Class of 1990. Abu, a member of PMA Class of 1992, is the current commander of the PCG Maritime Safety Services Command. Balilo said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has already submitted his recommendation for the next PCG commandant to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Cops lauded for the arrest of two who faked vax cards

CONTROLLED DELIVERY. The Bureau of CustomsPort of NAIA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group conducted a controlled delivery operation which led to the arrest of a claimant of kush (semi-processed marijuana) which is an illegal drug.

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday lauded the Manila Police District or the arrest of two persons allegedly involved in the manufacturing and sale of fake vaccination cards and negative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) swab test results in a recent operation in Quiapo. Despite our stern warnings, these people remain unfazed so it is just right for us to hold them liable for their unscrupulous acts because lives and the welfare of the country are at stake right now, Eleazar said in a statement. The MPD identiﬁed the sus-

pects as Jimmy Santisima and Edito Pan, who were arrested last Sept. 3. The operation stemmed from an intelligence report about a shop in Quiapo which has been selling fake vaccination cards and negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results. During the raid, MPD personnel discovered the computers used in the illegal activity and the template for the fake swab test results from San Lazaro Hospital and vaccination cards from Pasay City. The suspects are also alleged to be involved in making fake birth certiﬁcates and other

documents as the raiding teams also found some fake dry seals of universities and government agencies. The suspects were brought to the MPD headquarters to face appropriate criminal charges. A negative RT-PCR test result is among documents required by local government units (LGUs) from travelers entering their respective areas. Meanwhile, some LGUs also require a vaccination card for travelers while some business establishments are also offering discounts and other privileges for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

TODAY

ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA) for its consent on the nominations of the following General/Flag Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to the rank opposite their names, to wit: 1. JOSE C. FAUSTINO JR. to the rank of General, PA 2. ROMMEL ANTHONY SD REYES to the rank of Rear Admiral, PN 3. FERNANDO V. FELIPE to the rank of Major General, PA The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above nominations in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila. For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 88342706 and 8551-1989. 7 September 2021. HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-SEPT. 8, 2021)

News

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Comelec asked to lift restrictions on local source code review

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Rey E. Requejo A GROUP of Information Technology experts on Tuesday asked the Commission on Elections to remove the so-called “Non-Disclosure Agreement” in the guidelines for Local Source Code Review (LSCR) as it erodes confidence in the country’s Automated Election System. Leo Querubin, chairman of the Philippine Computer Society Foundation (PCSF) said Comelec’s decision to include an NDA is “inconsistent’ with the objective to build public trust, promote transparency and build confidence in the AES. In an advisory released last month, Comelec invited stakeholders to submit their applications online from Aug. 16 to Sept. 10 through forms available in the poll body’s official website. The LSCR provides interested parties an opportunity to inspect and examine the “source code” of the Automated Election System. Source codes are human readable instructions that define what a computer will do. Political parties or coalition of parties registered and/or accredited by the Comelec, including parties and organizations registered under the Omnibus Election Code and the party-list system of representation are allowed to participate in the review. Also included are known IT groups from the IT community recommended by the Comelec Advisory Council and/or the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Inday Sara not an option yet for PDP faction By Macon Ramos-Araneta A FACTION of the PDP-Laban said it was not considering Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for its standard bearer in the 2022 elections. Not yet, at least, until the camp of presidential daughter reaches out to the ruling party, said the PDP-Laban faction’s president, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi ahead of tomorrow’s (Wednesday) national convention. “The party has not discussed [it]. They have not reached to us, so we have no basis to even discuss it this time,” Cusi said. The Cusi-led wing earlier endorsed President Duterte’s former longtime aide Sen. Christopher Go as its standard bearer, but the lawmaker has already declined the nomination. Asked whether PDP-Laban was open to adopting Duterte-Carpio, Cusi declined to answer the question, saying so many things have to be considered. “I don’t like to answer that because there are a lot of things to be taken into consideration, and it’s not only me that would make the decision. As the say, the possibility of raining and the possibility of not raining are always on the table,” Cusi said. He said the party is not yet ruling out convincing Go to run for president next year. “When he said he should be the last among our options, he did not close the door. We are not discounting Bong Go,” Cusi said.

Hire 18,000 honest cops, Romualdez tells DILG

EXTRA PROTECTION. People wear face masks and shields to protect themselves against COVID-19 in Manila on September 7, 2021. AFP

Don’t lift face shield policy amid surge in cases–WHO T HE World Health Organization yesterday said the Philippines should retain its policy on the use of face shields after logging a record-high daily tally of COVID-19 cases on Monday. “In a situation where face shields are considered an additional layer of protection and the country [on Monday] reported the highest number of cases, I think we shouldn’t be even talking about changing the position now because we may in the process give the wrong message to the public,” WHO country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe told CNN Philippines. The logged 22,415 new COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,103,331. The tally overtook the previous record high of 22,366 new cases logged on Aug. 30. Abeyasinghe said the government could discuss policy changes once the

COVID-19 situation is already under control. “You as a country have decided that face shields should be worn. You shouldn’t change that position now when the country is experiencing the highest number of cases. That will send a wrong signal to people,” Abeyasinghe said. Earlier, the Palace said wearing of face shields will remain mandatory for a longer time as an “added protection” for Filipinos until the virus is no longer a threat. “As of now, there are no plans yet from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

to remove the face shields,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. The IATF position was reiterated despite the growing questions regarding its usefulness, as well as corruption allegations pertaining to its procurement. The Philippines is one of the few countries advocating the use of face shields in addition to a mask as protection against the virus. Abeyasinghe earlier said there was no sufficient evidence yet to show that the use of face shields has helped the country delay the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant. “It’s interesting that we have been able to sort of delay the speed by which the Delta variant is spreading, but we don’t know if the face shields are a contributory factor. While we are understanding all of these issues, it’s best to look for evidence and make our decisions based on that,” he said.

Marcos: Enforce tripartite deals to boost vax supply

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK. A

man earns his keep of P5 per commuter as he navigates a makeshift raft to ferry a passenger across the river that separates Brgy. La Huerta and Brgy. Sto. Nino in Parañaque City. Danny Pata

Robredo clarifies presidential bid still on the table VICE President Leni Robredo clarified Tuesday that she remains open to running for president in next year’s elections. “I want to clarify that I am yet to decide on the 2022 elections and I am yet to endorse anybody,” Robredo said. On Monday, Robredo said she was open to supporting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for president if he secures the endorsement of the broad coalition against the Duterte administration. “Yes, if that will be the result of the dis-

cussions of the broadest coalition that we can form,” Robredo said in a television interview. “I am open to anything that will stop this kind of governance already,” she added. A day after, though, Robredo said she was just emphasizing the need to elect leaders who will come from the administration in next year’s polls. “The goal is clear for those who believe in humane and good governance and that

is to replace the existing system,” the Vice President said. “We need to be ready to work together and stand united with our goal to attain success,” she added. Robredo earlier expressed gratitude to the over 200 groups from all over the country pushing for her presidential bid. “I’m very, very grateful for the trust and support. As I’ve been saying, I don’t take this trust lightly and I continue to give serious thought to this,” Robredo said.

P623m tax relief for QC firms pushed By Rio N. Araja

FOOD INSECURITY. Two fishermen, living from hand to mouth, hold a pushing net or sakag to catch krill shrimp (alamang) in Noveleta, Cavite on September 7, 2021. JR Josue

HOUSE Majority Leader Martin Romualdez has asked Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año to ensure that only honest and dedicated personnel will fill-up the 30,914 vacant positions allocated for his department in the proposed 2022 national budget. Romualdez, representative of chairman of the House Committee on Rules, said the budget will include allocation for 18,279 unformed policemen; 1,601 civilian Philippine National Police personnel; 5,397 firemen; and 4,533 jail guards. “You are doing a good job in booting out of service a few bad eggs in the police force. Please continue with this noble mission and keep helping us eradicate corruption and unprofessionalism in public service,” Romualdez told Año. The Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary paid Romualdez a courtesy call Monday night with his officials after they attended the budget briefing in the House of Representatives for the 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP). “We are ready to help the PNP in its war against crime. Our only appeal, please see to it only those fit for public service, the honest and dedicated ones, make it to the police force and to the DILG,” Romualdez said. Año was joined by Undersecretaries Epimaco Densing III and Bernardo Florece, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, and Acting Assistant Sec. Director Sarah Jane Serezo during the courtesy call. Romualdez noted that more than 76 percent of the 2022 proposed national budget of the DILG (P190.67 billion) will go to the PNP. The Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) will have a 10.7 percent share (P26.79 billion) while the other eight agencies comprise the remaining 13 percent share. “This is in line with President Duterte’s directive to go all-out in the war against crime and illegal drugs. The Philippine National Police needs to intensify law enforcement operations, including military support, to fight criminality, trafficking, and terrorism,” Romualdez said. “The government is making sure that all forms of criminality are reduced through police presence and law enforcement operations. We are also allocating funds for anti-criminality intelligence, case recording and tracking, detection and investigation services, case filing and arrest, capacity building, operational readiness, and disaster and emergency response,” he added.

DISTRICT 2 Councilor Winston Castelo is batting for a tax holiday and a tax relief amounting to P623 million for all registered enterprises in Quezon City regardless of the size and nature of business. He filed his proposed Ordinance No. 469 to ease the burden of economic losses due to the pandemic and to enable business investors to “hopefully recover.: He said business establishments have contributed P12,452,104,602.99 billion to the city’s coffers in 2020. Councilors Karl Edgar Castelo of District 5 and Melencio Castelo Jr. of District 6 are co-authors of the proposed ordinance. Based on the collection level, the proposed tax relief would amount to P623 mil-

lion, Castelo said. He, however, clarified that the suggested discount would cover only business taxes. The continued lockdowns have badly affected all businesses from malls to variety stores, he said. “Those that could not bear the difficulties have been forced to close shop. Others opted to downsize their staff or limit their employees’ workdays. Many malls offered to waive rentals to avoid the closure of their tenant-stores,” he said. A tax holiday would be “an effective fiscal policy measure that will help the business sector minimize costs and expenses. “It is also a means for the city government to give back to various businesses, big, medium or small, and their workers,” Castelo said.

FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday sought the immediate signing and enforcement of the multi-party agreements (MPAs) entered into by local government units and private entities with the national government to boost the importation of coronavirus vaccines. Marcos said the MPAs should be acted upon with urgency and immediately enforced in light of the alarming warning of the World Health Organization that the highly contagious Delta variant now sweeps through the country as the dominant virus strain. “We need to have more people vaccinated, more so now because the Delta variant is now the driving force behind the recent ballooning of COVID cases across the country. And we could only do that if the MPAs are enforced because it would widen the gateway of incoming vaccine supplies,” he said. Marcos was referring to the tripartite accord among the national and local governments and the private sector in the acquisition of vaccine supplies which appeared to have been set aside. Under Republic Act 11525, or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, LGUs and private entities may procure their own vaccine supplies through a multi-party agreement with the national government. The former senator earlier lamented the arrangement appears to have been mothballed despite persistent appeals by local officials and leaders of the private sector to have the MPA signed by their counterpart in the national government. He said a resolution has been filed with the Senate urging the Committee of the Whole to look into the MPAs which have reportedly been submitted to the national government but remained unsigned by its representatives. “We have already seen that the LGUs are ready and capable of handling the vaccine rollout. But the roll out is turning on and off with the shortage of vaccines, here in Metro Manila, especially in the provinces,” Marcos said. Rey E. Requejo

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O SAY that the tions have already started the school year. wou d o he w se have n c ass oom Today the Trump organization. ber elections, with the and a of that this could not have hapbut more intensely against the all over again in the the Novemyou so. are even going to the extent priceless. 5, but many priv O SAY that the but against all workagain in the run-up Novemso. Others even going to the extent Russ a s m a y agency, n e you agency GRU en a mos goveve yone gov Russia’s military intelligence agency, GRU. ney toward nation-building. theare story ofUS this voyage been punctu“...To the rest of the Father Rannie Aquino wrote in his In ofan ideal world, the present intelligence GRU. for h click scampaigns comp a amore nwo ng w nothis hewas p the A ber everyone, nthe an dea wo dso he esen kintensely memorandum on have Sept and w hhas connec vover yAs or hey cou d toawo so of finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing orhelp. in power and utilities a Russia’s race nmilitary he pany aneinsider us ng asgence hey do he M crosof ha Russ an m ary DELA CRUZse f s Raisa Through mix ofworld, so-called synchronous But say Democrats Moscow isdthe adversary number security experts insisting pened without In fact, DELA CRUZ tions Trump organization. berexperts elections, with the Democrats and aorganization. of insinuating that this could not have hapnhas an dea he wo kpa Mabayo should COVID-19 pandemic tions havestitute already star COVID-19 pandemic DELA CRUZ Trump ber elections, with the and apaesen of insinuating that this could not have hapthese continuing attacks mimAppa en ymonarch hese con nu ngasahas acks m m d s atg straws asp ng a s aws Apparently, “...To Spain, whose commisated by a number of conflicting, slanted COVID-19 pandemic has arguably a key milestone in the history column on the martial law years, every from-home set-up would allow parents Apparently, these continuing attacks mimthe three conditions in the whi ping om home se up wou d a ow pa en s thatnumber worries them therse most, given Russia’s that the Russian hackers are backInin the the narrative goes, itme couldhods have been simand asynchronous methods—where the stuThrough a But experts say Moscow is the adversary of US security experts insisting In f nd ng our s r de s bes o repened without any insider help. fact, as om home up wou d a ow pa en s f nd d ff cu o be effec ve a he obs mos soph s ca ed ava ab e s hackers have arge ed 200 US organ za ons ic the “sustained hacking and information Through a mix of so But experts say Moscow is the adversary number of US security experts insisting pened without any insider help. In fact, as c he “sus a ned hack ng and n o ma on sioned the voyage that set sail in 1519, nd o unds us o s ay greatly altered people’s accounts often dependent on the story make the storytellers of globalization; thereafter, the exchange story teller has his or her own “construct” greatly altered people’s to pay closer attention to their children’s could be released: If the off ic the hacking and information ds just to stay lengthy record. ply “sustained an inside job considering the internal the narrative greatly In the real ho oahackers pay con ose ahe enthat on odents he ch teacher d the en smost, and are present all at the sameRussia’s altered people’s that worries them the most, given that otrack the Russian are back in worries the goes, it could have been simandworld, asynch pay c ose en o ch d en s warfare carried out in the 2016 presidenilize communities. them given Russia’s that the Russian hackers are back in the the narrative goes, it could have been simMarch 16,u 2021 topar bewhich exand asynchronous meth this means a celebration of its role in the member ha one cr s s affec s fam es wa a e ca ed ou n he 2016 p es den wh ch can mmob ze en e commun es sdisheartening. s entire yca d shea enesngcan us ng he on y ava ab e med um of ns rucno farfe ched o h nk ha he same can (po hpause. nk anks consu an s teller. Much like many facets of our hisof cultures, ideas, and technology was of that period in ourHultquist, history. Forty “Dowarfare noproblems nves ga eout p og wh chpresidena eseen work habits. Thisofiswould true Ombudsman for some families her requests lives would beams an which understatement. Andealt expert,another John senior execurocking UCPB, has carried in the 2016 entire communities. cially as thedents public scho and where theyrecord. perform other tasks on representative ks hab s eight Th s slengthy ue o track some am track es lives be an understatement HE Offi ce the has not lengthy an inside job considering the internal tialimmobilize race favor of sthen and most insidious and wo k hab who s wo Thblow, s FireEye, ue otosome am time, es lives would be understatement ommemorating the 500th record. ply an inside job considering the internal technological nautical dents andtheteacher arecou pt a development nayou avo o de hen cand daply etory T ump S inand hemost andcandidate mos nsTrump dbe ous hack eught oand be ough ohackus ce such as the assassination of Antonio spurred to es unprecedented heights. after, those have enough toan keep a job and pro-years orders its release in relation tive of the cybersecurity firmharangued has its top officials resigning enofmasse. ongo ng You w de aace w ayTrump and commun d fferen y Th s shou d tial race in favor of clearest then candidate Still, worst insidious hackdone anywhere any me and aga nsfortunate totobjustice even he ma nthe Democra cwofundra s ng They are here to weeks, situation on their own, respectively—educators are try- execuOne of the manifestations o una e enough o keep a ob and p o against his Democratic rival, former US done subvertaspolitical An expert, John Hultquist, senior problems rocking UCPB, which has seen time, and w eeeas quincentennial histocorruption in government which would have been good, but o tons una e enough othen keep a to ob the and p o surprisingly, An expert, John Hultquist, senior execuproblems rocking UCPB, which has seen One of the clearest manifestations science and the will of its leaders to reach Luna, the death of the Bonifacio brothers aga ns h s Democ a c va o me US ng ope a ons a e done o subve po ca time, and where they pe wha eve s e o “...Not an eventual disconand thrown of garbage at Presraised alarm bells over the Russian hackers In any event, this heist should serve as vide their children their learning tools. case, or of a request is mad One of the clearest manifestations you ncessan penchan o isrival, nves gaeducation ng US Children may n against Democratic former ing operations are of done to subvertv political ver is aleft of it, for ing make do with available technology to ferent. Secretary State Hillary Clinton’s camndermine societies. The commanders. any perce ved adversary G ven such an parrival form) cyber ap acks M crosof ce by vare de he chmprove dto enArmy he ea nto ng oo sthe our empa and correc our tive ofhy cybersecurity firm FireEye, has its top officials resigning en masse. Meanwh e s uden s are a so ad us ng o stay. ofhis that change in the the of Europeans They here their own, previously unknown lands and recreate tive of the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has its top officials resigning en masse. v de he ch d en he ea n ng oo s and the mass murders in Samar during They are here to Sec e a y o S a e H a y C n on s cam ocesses and unde m ne soc e es The nect in the narrative surrounding Spanish sa d ha we shou d pu ident Marcos and those who presided noting that while multiple cyber-espionage a wake-up call not only for banks. This is their own, respectively fi ght against corruption which is downright bad. Ombudsman’s field invest ofthisthat change is in as the education or functioning equipm Secretary of State processespaign.” and undermine societies. The reach raised out to their students and enable them tohackers should put interfergove nmen ogeography. ces YouItHillary wan oClinton’s stheckbeginyoucamrwethe Russian that change isserve inshould the education alarm bells over the Russian any event, heist serve s. In edness 2019, the Human Rights Watch reworld marked Given the debate over the ronmen secur y and ab event, yInofof pres Tom Bur has been quoRussian edspotted ashesayalarm bells the Russian hackers Insany this heist should as to mak the Fil-American war, to name a few, thedemands actors have targeted organizations associshor -sraised gh Inover dodeveloped ng our bes ofor the for regulators, government agencies arrival in the notwithstanding Philippines as each over thestay. country’s fate work during those years pang gnhe ”You con ovecontinuing sy ove Russ anenv esystem. ce ha den h s in UCPB cape he much-changed of schoo purpose a ideal fact-find ing to not make do with av may beofing an pla learn, the great challenges paign.” controversy over the interferUCPB caper Microsoft has also state-sponelections favor of nose nnning oealso eve y h e no unn ng stay. system noting that while multiple cyber-espionage a wake-up call not only for banks. This is ysUS known as the landing of one of the most powerful empires martial law years, Mabayo’s notes should noting that while cyber-espionage the flotilla the death its could a spo wake-up call not only for banks. isha ofOm ated not withgetthe upcoming election, the ported exandoand other soc companies doing and Jus asof week we and eaThis ned country went onthese tomultiple construct their own nareach out to over the fact that more and M cealso oso has aessential so edn segr aarrival esystem spon ence nUS hein 2016 US eIran, ec ons n avo be ng heTrump as Someone who requests that “State security forces and govna ons es as we as he y ha he n a fa ed a emp on B den’s reach to things. their studen learnout new Pare posed by untested methods. sored hackers China and targeting onald lingers. In cope bu we shou d a so p ck ou he esLessons from Microsoft has spotted state-sponence in the 2016 elections in favor of They may have grown up w h echno ogy h s gove nmen a one s no s o en actors have targeted organizations associalso regulators, government agencies nary flotilla led ebyhPorinsensitive defined by The its smaritime force make the storytellers pause, a deep nge perts are “most concerned with that of the others That inaofficial’s itself isSALN anothincumbent president’s corner. And this services. incident reminds leader, Magellan, as well as eventual budsman Samue Ma es hadthe 11 m edis henot actors have targeted organizations associalso for regulators, government agencies tional identities. In than the practice of national more points of view, of actual accounts learn, notw so ed hacke n Iran, Ch na andns an aons geforng must the prese hen cand daTrump earge Dona dtake Tby ump shistory, n Public w condemnab s nc school are set to reopen on OctoEPTEMBER just a date. It has become Lessons from Mr. Martires’ ious about where ne individuals involved in ed both presidential key issue against Trump The teachers themselves are having diflearn, notwithstanding sored hackers in China and targeting then-candidate Donald lingers. In able this inciLessons from ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to and s and ng of compan es and u campa gn was “ spec f ca y why a eand youCatholicism, ask ng? The money he e other sons wwith come handy when hthe selection, cr -one r Ferdinand Magellan this episode will be atedupcoming with theevents upcoming the and other and bu mos y and for recrea on andonmilitary soc zathaton one that swas tosecuring Russian time around they are joined by their efforts in widen their horizons. There landing the remaining cden sPub access o expedition’s he ac se emen oeopen s oOc Pub schoo aChinese eAsse seon eopen Ocduring oa intelligence ated the election, exand essential myth making, pewhat transpired period unit..which contra- ha authority the berto5,double butv and many learning nd dua sinprivate nvo ved nlast bo instituh pub pcompanies es a ofcompanies acanda key ema ns aagainst key ssue aga nsthe Tthem ump oups a e say ngNovemWe oit dbreath posed by th er arbitrarily kind of terror If letter is exunlucky campaigns but more intensely against the run-up to the from, even if from they did cdoing schoo aSedoing oessential o recent ficult timehistorical adjusting to the are new demands of of these untested involved both remains issue Trump aying: pronouncement this episode will be agallanes) intold Homonhon, unspen ssystems s already eagns ng sypresidential he eense ” y year. harass, threaten, arrest, and in poses thethis threat toAnd the democratsynonymous terror, destruction, death, hate, and and Iranian presumably inMageltheir digital and devices. of individuals no enobody can ndeed be eas underm ned by heWe Russ anhefact, hackers v ove aorganization. ph sh ng ameets acks four centuries. perts are “most concerned with thatposed of theby incumbent president’s corner. And this sensitive services. The incident reminds is more to the events than thesoeye. Duterte one ofgreatest the earliest lockship, Victoria, in Spain under and Lns ab esbuhackers oToday gove nmen omany cto a Demospimposed episode will be rused, selected for exclusion or inclusion vening their ‘construct’ have been comperts are “most concerned with that of the incumbent president’s corner. this sensitive services. The incident reminds be 5 bu va e ea n ng ns u s s s f na y over Tha w sdom wou d be SALN granting theThe request tions have started the school hey have o use echno ogy o subTrump the Democrats and a campa bu mo e n aga he a aga n n he un up he Novem eth even go ng o ex en priceless. about a COVID-19 infec teac their work. Sure, they may be teaching from be 5 many p va e ea n ng ns u campaigns but more intensely against the all overAs again in the run-up to the Novemg to thehas extent The teachers themse enough to live in a place where the ic process.. as this hacking group has been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side given the After all, activities that seek to comprovoyage been punctu“...To the rest of the world, this was Father Rannie Aquino wrote in hehisaumed Russian military intelligence unit..which time around they are joined bysome Chinese them tosecond-in-command, their efforts in Alan’s memo andum onindowns Sep 1 in a Sebasd securing down BY Hhe Shave own admBut ss on was P den VIRTUAL by storytellers, in this casehomes, the states, ing Their narrative ifChinese they insist frustrates not corruption, Russian intelligence unit..which time around they are joined by to double their efforts securing instances attack and kill political ac-Everybody ck of a Tf nger ns gn’s commun for inspecting or taking Through a mix of za so-called synchronous experts say Democrats Moscow isons the adversary experts insisting world. Still, even if even ithey was the have aJuan s aons ed heout. schoo yea ump oGrabe gan on them be e ec ons w eshca he Democ s and aorganization. aecurity haga shave cou d no hap is trying priceless themilitary comfort of their but and there is defificult time ons have a ons s sense a profile ed hethe schoo yea adouble general of insecurity about our world. pr ce in ess bercampa elections, with the and aEaacTrump der not happriceless. sdevices. ueady eand he nineady erac exper ences ficult time adjusting top responsible for some the most provocasanctions imposed and mise digital devices, even systems, of conflicting, slanted milestone in entire the history on the martial lawzed years, every response iscommunity unenlightened and even poses the greatest threat to theyour democratand Iranian hackers presumably Demotian Elcano, has engendered itsbashing wake their systems devices. he h digital ee cond ons nhigh wh chm he SALN earguably Du e aasynchronous ekey aBu so s ammed wha hedigital then told and retold—proselytized, realasand non-debatable has of been Rod go ethat h numbe mse who au ho worries them thesecu most, given Russia’s poses the greatest threat to the democrathackers are back inDu thee ascolumn and Iranian hackers presumably inscrutinized Demotheir systems and SALN shall be allowed. and methods—where thehestustill be able to learn in Th ough a x o so ca ed synch onous expe s say Moscow s adve sa y o US y expe s ns s ng ny ns de he p n ac nitely nothing comfortable about doing tivists, environmentalists, leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown but the fi ght against their work. Th ough a m x o so ca ed synch onous But experts say Moscow is the adversary number of US security experts insisting elp. In fact, as tivecratic and aggressive cyber operations of given allly—to these countries have been financial orthereafter, state gains orsay just plain cou their work. Sure, they m REALITY dependent ha on pub the story offor globalization; the story tellerspensed has his orwherh own “construct” aRuss of accounts, written or dtrove betwo esthe eased hethat ohowever, c getting aotherwise, o and hfrom s hods—whe o challenger process.. as this hacking group has been challenger Biden’s side the After all, activities seek to comprotheiric respective peoples. and found wanting. is not the the only lengthy record. bed “pos and uhang” byessena o sexchange ng In real world, espewere hoping thatcomfor Ombu dents teacher arehem present at the same ic process.. as this hacking group been cratic Biden’s side given After activities that seek to comproadvantage ofyears, toWe advance the c bsdd be n he ment. Students will le work in the taken same manner forhas many wothe he all mos g all, ven aasynch had track he Russ an hacke sina desc e back nas he smany cou d simhave been m ng and asynch onous me e Joe he s u ItJoe the that worries them most, given Russia’s that hackers are back the have been time.” the Trump administration. moments have become such luand onous mesnarrative. hods—whe e he s upandemic. ers, and journalists.” thethe comfort ofreflect their on hom facets of our his- the failed to contain the of“gotcha” cultures, ideas, and technology was ofRussian that period in ourHultquist, history. Forty eight corruption. each changing with every he ep esen a ve eques a cou “...One such example of this is the An expert, John senior execuresponsible for some of the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing mise digital devices, even entire systems, story to tell. As some noted writers and cially as the public schools open in a few has had time to time, and where they perform other tasks on responsible for some of the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing mise digital devices, even entire systems, he nves ga ons usua y esu n no h ng educators will learn toh case o he con ove s a pu chase o P8 9 even decades, and then having to shift to an eng hy ack eco d bng cons de ngof Antonio he n e nayears after, those who have harangued lengthy n he ea wo d howeve and espe Twenty years after the coorden s and eache a e p esen a a he same interests of a few then one faces a If these latest hacking attempts on othIn the case of the Russian operations for crative, even highly sought and developed track record. the internal n he ea wo d howeve and espe nitely nothi den s and eache a e p esen a a he same assassination toounprecedented heights. nitely comforta Such the the beast, asthese weplain otryde sfinancial s ise ease nstate e of agains onplain odays a starkly pend ngtwo tive of the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has marked difference incyber the of retelling of the academics have been saying lately, the Duterte hasnand vowed to continue his “war tive aggressive cyber operations of allnothing thesesecure two countries have been getting from for ornature or just are here to weeks, the situation could be Ten before Duterte imposed the lockhow blatantly itwill goes against their own, and operations of all countries have been from forqu financial or state gains orthe just parents learn howthb espurred y ng mudd eHultquist, up eve ysenior hyears. ng by new way teaching. on wo o and supp es otonsCOV D 19 e then “You An expe John Hu s are sen oTrump’s execu g the UCPB ch has hseen erwise organizations in US soil a getting y asschoo he pub ctive schoo s aggressive open agreater ew re-election, reports outdifundertakings inrespectively—educators the past few Hackme and whe emough hey othe m o helaw on expert, John execuwhich hasb wh seen c aasks y asadministration. he cpub sutopen nall a altogether of Bonifacio brothers work th dinated on US me and whe e have hey pe ohave osoil hepe asks on “...Not surprisingly, an eventual discondanger atheir higher risk thrown of garbage raised alarm bells over the at RussianPreshackers An work in the sameinman used toosay, that accounts of events or inciTONY LOPEZ case oferent. a attacks eques sdown made hcoming he COVID-19 story ofew Ferdinand Magellan’s death. Anmartial years were not ascdark andwith time.” Children may not adequate the2020, Trump “gotcha” moments become such lufor transparency. Unfortunately ing to make dohewith available technology to time.” the Trump administration. “gotcha” moments have become such luport their children. No They could have trouble with tools on drugs” which will be “as relentless and Army commanders ques on ng eve y me how o why he mon on March 15, there were only involve the most hotly contested electorve o cybe secu y m F eEye has not just of the security establishment but of ers are lurking just around the corner and es gn ng en masse sponse— ace masks ace sh e ds pe sona They are here to tive he ua on cou ddPigafetta, be s a kthe y dItalian scholar who own espec ve y—educa o weeks s om a as e these yhe the firm and FireEye, has masse.in Samar during ident urders They are here to sweeks uaare onsaying couses doperations be sbeg atonio knythese nectofinreach thecybersecurity narrative surrounding Spanish Marcos and those who presided noting that while multiple cyber-espionage even he own espec ve shome eterly yuseless dents, whether personal ory—educa historical rests Ombudsman s highly ehe d that nves ga onThe oo is ceathe come pplanet, ospe ous am o the even decades, anddecad thena guys they or functioning equipment. world not just Americans factime to perfect his argument If these latest hacking attempts on othIn case of the Russian for out to their students enable them to crative, even sought and developed The events of 2001 set in mofor this, so complaining If latest hacking attempts on othIn case of the Russian operations for crative, even highly sought and developed and with connectivity, or they could also al race in the using as they do Microsoft itself is Russian military hacking operations can be activated in no wasraised spen don usRussian sed aHuman ayou mdeveloped be swa oveas he Russ anheavily hacke smake hwar, s he sname dve sethe ve as p shou o as ec equ pmen and estargeted k fate s—s nce those ey variants has sowed chilling the day it events began.” Heingwants In 2019 he over R ghun schallenges Wa ch reen Ch d en have adequa e the alarm bells the hackers TWO confirmed cases. At this the ng opast make do hechno ava ab e Trump’s ogy o dwriting, nhould toserve a few, actors have organizations associarrival inwhy the anotwithstanding Philippines each over thestay country’s during years en Ch may no adequa eon on the story teller. Inorganizations the of w hwant oeits may oetoen he bus ness nitmay eerwise sno he puonew pose ofew a ideal ac nd ng pw obe altogether do w h place ava ab ecase oechno kept afind detailed journal of ofUS thetheir everybody believe. Like in may not be an to focus and ogy towould altogether new waygover of tn of lifestyle checks for learn, great secure organizations US soil re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the few years. HackIn finding our stride iterwise difficult to be effective at jobs secure organizations in of soil in Trump’s re-election, thehave reports coming outhave undertakings inng the past years. Hackmost sophisticated methods available, ises hackers have targeted 200 US time at all. Indeed, become part oing stay. aMagellan kind of even as tion a mix gains and losses in no ng ha mu pnae cybe esp onage otilla onand y This o banks comp ewhile ed he p they o wh ec have oethe un he was doneofTh du a med ca eme gency noting that multiple cyber-espionage the death its sngscould banks. is ated with upcoming election, the have exongsituations unc on ng equ pmen Theof banned home Inot HAVE country went onthese to construct their own each ou oterror he senab uden s hem and enab eces hem o not getthe over the fact that morehey and the expedition and subsequent o sou o ncome a hese a e nd Someone who eques s a copy o an death penalty, under the Constitupor ed ha “S a e secur y forces and govvoyage, wrote how Magellan was beo unc on equ pmen The home all distress and conflict as the Philippines is the pandemic epicenter in the They cob each ou o he s uden s and e o learn new things. Parents could be anx“Wealth does translate posed by untested methods. IN A previous column I talked about PresiThey could havecrisi tro involve the most hotly contested electornot just of the security establishment but of ers are lurking just around the corner and member that one fear in people’s hearts. using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. involve the most hotly contested electornot just of the security establishment but of ers are lurking just around the corner and ac o s have a ge ed o gan za ons assoc odent’s s gove nmen agenc es p oofecthe s em na ed ha s of wha you perts are “most concerned corner. this ha the old one has not yet been comas well as O the And eventual actors have targeted organizations associ-aodifment agencies the international scene What is for cou se a points gumen may va with d that tional identities. Inhope thethemselves practice national more of view, ofbe actual accounts may no an p ace oomost ocus and othe events thereafter an article written by ea nand win hs and ng he gbe ea enges c aea snSALN mus pno esen afundraising aMicrosoft zed ca ed cha nanywhere he SALN—assum ng we can ssieged by natives in Cebu while attemptcountry was at that there were missons ious about the next meal may come may no betime, an dea pbe ace odea ocus and he said before lawmakers atm ac The teachers are having no wwhere hsDemocratic ng he gno ea cha enges and with al race in planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military and communities differ hacking operations can be activated in no done at any time and against and with connectivity, and even the main What makes these activities dangerous tion for crimes, to be reimposed for ernmen -backed param ar es con nue o tion. 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 casal race in the planet, using as they do the itself is that Russian military hacking operations can be activated no dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, aoedupcoming w h ” heevents upcom ngthe e ec he ex an es do ngand essen andwhat Russian intelligence yexpedition’s are joined by cen uded ning s sophisticated O herw se he Presremaining do ou ated omyth hem with the election, ex- on essential making, are petranspired that period contraas a Chinese as agove nmen pmilitary ocuduring emen u es unit..which Mabayo, Third Secretary epletely eRaisa ofrom, au ho yifour om he owne ohackers he have access oadversary. hem— hen we can yhe n 200 new hsuch ngs Pa en sshor coumost d be anx to help Rajah Humabon, a methods recently takes and lownhave points but there posed by hese un es ed methe hods eradicated and even as even they did not have toand worry fact, he empathy said tha happening now looks toitInitisbedifficult doficult timehistorical adjusting new demands of ea new hea ngs Pawere shigh coudrug dve be anx any perceived Given an platform) for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice isespec when these are arb done to in the such aarres brazen posed by hese un es ed me hods find it be diff improve our hackers targeted US organizations time at all. Indeed, they have become part former Na Meanwhile, students are also adjusting to find to e most sophisticated methods available, it available, is Tuesday. have targeted 200 US organizations time atwthe all. Indeed, they have become part TO THE crimes. harass hrea en rar y and n poses the greatest threat to the democraters presumably in Demope s a e “mos conce ned h ha o he es. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines ncumben p es den s co ne And h s Thereminds nc den em nds Du er e mposed one of he ear es ocknsident Spain under Magelhere are his failures: rused, selected for exclusion or inclusion vening their ‘construct’ have been comperts are “most concerned with that of incumbent president’s corner. And this We nd Du ework. e smanner emathey kswhat d shappened u bteaching ng to from Vice-Consul inBurt charge of Cultural DiploSALN g anTom ng hesThe eques No eques s points we app ecsowed adparties, e some con ex den ega ylocal appo you asothers memCatholicized rulerndemands convert and celebratory ones as well. a e conce ned as he na on ea y aces a ous abou whe ecanno he nex mea may come about aeache COVID-19 infection. erning lifestyle checks isDant illog eache s ahemse ves aenvironment, e(political hav ng aabou Sure, may be the security and stability of president has been quoted as sayand their wayward as short-sightedness. In od ous whe econsultants he nex mea may come the much-changed ofaschoolwork. The hemse ves e hav ng a d using the not farfetched to think that the same can think tanks, consultants of everyday life. consequences of the fight against it has fear in people’s hearts using the only available not farfetched to think that the same can ing the same—a combination of (political parties, think tanks, of everyday life. chief ic process.. as this hacking group has been Joe Biden’s side given the Russ an m a y n e gence un wh ch me a ound hey a e o ned by Ch nese he e o s n secu ng command, Juan byUCPB storytellers, in this casehomes, the and ingdout. Their narrative even ifChinese theyhe insist some Russian military unit..which timewor around joined by ts indowns securing But the people love the President for ns ances aintelligence ack and kbut posysca acmacy inthethe Philippine Embassy in Mao ing nspec ng o these ng os oGermany esand ywould esocieties checks aBack eof he he edto dislodged yesterday and is barely n Sebashe Sthey even f of was Catholicism loyalty toof Spain. Mabecause hey be1. ay an appa ng mstates, sunde But that another story. Everybody isaktrying his or her best The Philippines’ greatest depression med ca eme gency due o are he co onav us nations ashoweve well as integrity to ask to als am that initial failed attempt on Biden’s which can unhinge the banking the comfort of their there ismakes defiom even hey noThey have oand woat yees ber Board of Trus Ph Hea hintends cu me adheus ng ohe heto new demands obe cope, butCongress wetion. should may have grown up with technology, om even hey d dthe no have ododone wo yrebe done anywhere at any time and against and even the main Democratic fundraising POINT What activities dangerous cu me ad us ng opho new demands oL be anywhere any time and against and even main Democratic fundraising What these activities dangerous responsible some most provocadms andand high profile tion. have not yet been fully tallied Measures to contain it have poses he g ea esthe hdemocratea o he democ amakes and anfor an sthe pinesumab y nng Demo engendered in itsbashing wake dev ces breakthroughs and missteps that executive o then told and retold—proselytized, realashand non-debatable has been scrutinized drid provides interesting insight and aby poses the greatest threat to and Iranian hackers presumably Demoices. SALN sha be aan owed athe eason “L vcompanies ng beyond one sMicrosoft means” s“drugs gellan believed that his display of2019, force tobe Mabayo’s notes on the quincentennial and standing of and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted Or, to companies providing essential still be able to learn in this new environs and otem. checks and ba ances n acommun dem He takes issue with the phr nitely nothing comfortable about doing your the war.” In May two top v s s env ronmen a s s y eadBu he ssue a and sr aggressive no hehacke manne by abou a COV D 19 n ec on sons that will come han 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. wor d’s onges s c es he ockdown but mostly for recreation and socialization. he wo k Su e hey may each ng om any perceived adversary. Given such an platform) for cyber attacks. vice is when these are done in such a brazen In the second quarter of 2020, the Philipabou a COV D 19 n ec on much more as pres den and CEO tive and cyber operations of all es have been getting from he wo k Su e hey may be each ng om perceived adversary. Given such an Meanwh platform) foracyber attacks. Microsoft vice o any ishas when these are done in ha such a we brazen Meanwhile,Under studentsS nts,eswritten or otherwise, crespective pthis ocess as hgroup sthose hack ngbeen g oup has been a c Joe cha enge ItJoe Bgiven den s de gcicven he ha seek o comp ochallenger ly—to their peoples. and cfound wanting. is not thesoc only fresh perspective on how should view We we e hop ng Ombudsman Ma es no anc u e m bu a s a emen ac process.. as hacking cratic Biden’s side the eek to comprowould be enough to accomplish those celebrations as posted in The Diplomat: of note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks goods and services such as in food These days an unseen enemy has sulted in economic hardship and ment. Students will learn their lessons, affects different people in many yond one’s means” and insist work in the same manner for many years, a sys em o gove nmen As one ha sis is finally over. That Today they have to use technology to subwh ch he pu chase was conduc ed was Eve ybody s y ng h s o he bes o he he com owhat o tohappened he homes bu heBurt e Eve shas de time.” istration. environment, the security of president Tom Burt been quoted ashe say- answer and wayward manner ashomes ybody s hasyexceed ng hThus s one o allies he itthehandily into themisSenate elecand ourna s bsinof environment, security andques stability ofofstability president Tom quoted as sayand wayward manner asocampaign’s what happened he com bus on he e to s de Secretary Carlos Dominguez says the much-c faeven ed aems n story he pandem o he onand the much-changed pine economy slumped tohe its lowest ever in ith narrative. “...One such example thisandis the espons e”then oofsome oprovocamos pand ovoca sanc ons mposed and writers hbashing gh p and o ers eresponsible bash cesevery eno con e sys to tell. As c some noted even teach our and EMIL ha says sbeen expenses stasks. nbesmade has had he me oohistory e altering ec in onFinance h teach sschools dec and a“...On click ofMarch a one finger Grabe. against the communications manufacturing or and utilities That fateful decision and his for the most sanctions and high entire systems, 16, 2021, we will comeducators will learn to better, and may only have (Universal “distorteddem val even having to shift to an priceless. theenv interactions and experiences theyintegrity o on he eg sng a vedecades, b some anch o power gove nmen succeeded in the of the widening of the gap between Ifha these latest hacking attempts othhe Russian operations forp ceimposed profound ways We remember go ossas ove a have ended heprofile deahave sus be ean ea nBiden’s n hstitute s new on n unhinge eaga y“the no ng oway ab e abou do ng you nations and societies as well as the ing the initial failed attempt on UCPB which can the banking sysnations and societies as well as Duterte’s the integrity ing that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can the banking syssthat be ab e anniversary oevenue ea nab naken hosthe new env on n parents eunhinge y no hgenerations. ng com o hInhe ab ecom abou do ng you They mayof ature of thehe beast, we They may have grown marked difference incyber thehistory retelling of the tions which solidified power academics been saying lately, the Du er e has vowed o con nue h s “war ve and agg ess ve cybe ope a ons o a hese wo coun es been ge ng om s a e ga ns us p a n decisive (lockdown) helped avert the younger this Mabayo Ten days before Du er e mposed he ockwhe her or no he appo n men of G erran how b a an y goes ns avowed gh come and a o he oge he calculation of enemy forces, led by Lapu memorate the 500th of tive and aggressive operations of all these two countries have been getting from or just plain the country’s -a 16.5-percent conwill learn how best they can supties.” This, he says, is none altogether new way of teaching. erwise secure organizations in US soil on, the reports coming out he Sena e s an ndependen en y ha s F om wha we ve ga he ed n he cou se men S uden s w ea n he essons ommendat and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem. Or, to companies providing essential wo k n he same manne o many yea s of companies andthink campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem. Or, toolife companies providing essential we had grown accustomed toSpec rich and poor The has men S auden w Philippines. ncpandemic essons JURADO and we never see wo kthe n oft-repeated he same manne many yea s of ccounts ofbecome events orsuch inci-Trump but mostly story of They Ferdinand An-their law years were asa dark ut- on but mostly for recreati me ” Magellan’s he2020 Tthe ump adm nnot s contested ononand is s have umartial anspa ency Un o una enote—history y he hasoprepared used h s 3.5 caEuropeans yinfections gove nmen oea ahebase. sand ab estanding Lapu, resulted in9/11 Magellan’s death. may arrival in sthe time.” the administration. come such luport their children. Nothing us agree that wealth do could have with toolspiece, Longtime aide, Christopher Go,We and drugs” wh ch w bytrouble behedeath. “as re en ess and sw each ega on her hundermined sbeinstitutions name was estimated 1.3 to million accorddown on March here were yelectorinvolve most hotly urity establishment but of traction in economic production. On top of asked Cons of note can indeed easily undermined by they the Russian via attacks goods asfood those he deve ongo ng p15 obe educa on attacks smon ndepends each be ewhe and of note can indeed be easily by the phishing goods and services such those inaga even decades and hen hav sh omeans an ersonal orohistorical rests educa ovia shackers w ophishing be eo was and Health, the tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even andsuch hen hav nghe oin terly useless asRussian these are saying they Today by the victors—which has been me ofor pe ecservices h sas a gumen ns hoshfood dRussian oan ve a BMW on a eaow h to yeaamo hese a es hack ng aothemp swritten on oand hdecades ninthe he case oguys he Russ an for ope atheons oand his ythat sough and oped Today have tothey us He struck in the face by a Mactan Itong is adohackers day that different things and has brought untold grief and caused hardship for students and a similar event ever again We this, so complaining will not help. If these latest hacking attempts on In the case of operations and developed sarily equate to corruption. with connectivity, or they could also al race the planet, using as they do Russian military n ha shor s for he Board of Trus ees Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela ch ng on he day began ” He wan s ing to researchers from our universities. The TWO conf rmed cases A h s wr ng he u on no on y w h a click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or in power and utilities the 0.7-percent contraction in the first quara click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or in power and utilities pa en s w ea n how bes hey can sup by he Sena e B ue ory teller. In the case of Army commanders. a oge he new way o each ng afind detailed of be the events theons to Like pa en swonde wand their eawhe npeoples. how besex hey can supusing a local scimitar. After, the de fornot most people, gets aobest better a rigueur oge he new way o each ng oUS es e checks oto gove nmen c atos re-different za on—we e ha s s—o stitute thefo i warrior wjournal se secu e effective o gan nsuffering so T want ump everybody s the e ereports ecmethods onbelieve. heavailable, epo com ng ou countries heyears. pas ew yea sTrump’s Hackwould cy’s presid stitute interactions Iny finding our stride, itone isng should not take Filipinos ite difficult to at their secure organizations in ofza US soil jobs re-election, coming outsin w Hackmost sophisticated it erwise iskept eted 200 US organizations any country teachers alike the think ofCebu. COVID-19 and saythe may InoHAVE reques repea reaI threatening ’s pre ySpanish cships awmak ngunder powe s GDP 2019, Rights Watch repedition and subsequent spearheaded theWe “drug dea pena yofonly banned he Cons uhehealth ch deden No hwho ng p initially epa ed usfrom voyage, wrote how Magellan wasyelectorbedistress as the can Rpp bbon ee lockdown usosInhto reinforce our Ph nes s just heall pandem ep censituations ery esthe n but oub e oo w he oo sHuman than even counterpoint as far historical ho does ans acou ebeen odas co upenabled on buys mu pthe emy houses on aNo m sa a bas yed po he chpo d that en hconng pRosa, epa us retreated 2020, the -percent growth drop “...To the Philippines, first They cou d They have oub ehave w hfamilies he” ed nvo ve he16.5 mos ho con es ed“Wea e ec no usand oc conflict he secu abhe shmen buh ter ousing us acorner ound he co not neComm and member that one crisis affects know that non-ex-off many govern the available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that same think tanks, consultants involve the most hotly contested of the security establishment of the and Duterte’s remarks orsagroup ofawmake people but to nearly learning of an generation ported govbeat soon Dela and may ancan article byn no bu ahesowhile sus sieged bymos natives Cebu that were sons ef haodall he appo nsas gn men o of hya sforces so comp awar,” nheng noelected he * *pwe * to pvaes den acountry dand be he ocommunities ehwith svahmy ayconnec budge hea ha has nodh“State can nc eased hepw and for wsystem vbuild yng cou so othat so security comp nentire ng wand ove no a planet, ace n using poane ng as he hey do M setime, sthere hamilitary Russ an al m ameans yin differently. This should behe ed were the itSenate. Rosawe learnThis me be done anywhere at any time andmisagainst and w connec o be hey cou ahey soour nrnsDemocratic fundraising on for crin country mes be regh mposed for tion. and up capacity to do wide11-na on ASEAN wm hcwas aoso of 265 888 casrace the asove they do the Microsoft itself isoata that Russian activated inacwritten no the isattemptnow in recession ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to nde us sall our Third Secretary and ing ons to help Rajahunc Humabon, a me recently takes and low points but there were high ons Th s n cluded in the it shortlist. O Tuesday n ac he sa d ha he aw gov yea s hen ha se ves as a ed ag a po nations albeit in varying degrees It is the same virus terrorizing n nd ng ou s bes o e well from the painful lessons anyhacke perceived adversary. Given such an p ma u o go ahead er attacks. Microsoft vice betray an appalling nd d cu o be e ec ve a he obs improve our empathy and correct our mos soph s ca ed hods ava ab e s s have a ge ed 200 US o gan za de become hey have become pa former Na ona Bureau of Inves ga on n nd ng ou s de s bes o e Meanwhile, students are also adjusting to nd d cu o be e ec ve a he obs In an ear er co umn I sugges ed ha he most sophisticated methods available, it is hackers have targeted 200 US organizations part named to head theTO Senate committee drug cr messemester testing in our communities. From just esof Cultural I quoted s Noas 21 n environment, he and wor d the The Ph asand pp nes THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily andwas inArmy first drop in output ofchecks 9 ngone Duterte of the earliest lockharge commanders. point Catholicized ruler convert others ident cannot legallyGier appo ng es yheeimposed sspread ogon ca and ha euc on whe eand o ook mo e ccarrest, ose security stability of rt has been say- bpoints vo among oeconomic he Now, the lockdowns willits make half of short-sightedness. In doing our best to pres membe ha sto acommanders. sArmy am es demands of schoolwork. w h heDiplomu on usyef he yG ava ab ehe med um oden ns uc nolocal a think eves ched o the h nk hacanhee nsame can po celebratory ca pa tanks, esones hconsultants nkwell. anks consu anthe s much-changed membe ha one spolitical s yaone ecacsc sam esec us ng on ava ab e med um o ns not farfetched to that same (political parties, think COVID-19 with all its variants but some have been better able cope leaves in destructive path ch Dan e erran as ch ef Pres den shou d crea e a “ obs po cy” n VIRTUAL some instances attack and kill downs in the world. Still, even if it was the misunderstanding of charged with investigating police hebe peop eanywhe ove he Pres den for ber reof the Board of Trus ippine inBiden’s Ma1,282 PCR day conddangerous sEmbassy odged Germany yes erday and s bare yc undbetoBu Inshou 2019, the Human Rights Watch Catholicism and loyalty tomon Spain. MaBut that would another story. In 2019, the Human Rights Watch re-matters POINT It is the worst recession inon hisnations and societies asn well as thea Back integrity n ends oour essaround o also amend How d tests cu sper hand s es concep o g yes asp? failed attempt the people poor. cope, butCong we on should pick out theactual les- tivists, h ngs oany ng They may have grown up with technology, commun d e en y Th s d done e aand me and aga nsask and even hebe ma Democ adone s percent. ng hese ac v chase esondange ouspub pu sans cmain and commun d e en Th s shou d anywhere at any time against and even the Democratic fundraising ties environmentalists, community leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown ve off cervthe oflast Ph Hea saghas egao heacapacity hehese wake of sothat many ob ess peop eand asof aforces reREALITY interesting insight andbe a ow gellan believed that his display of force Mabayo’s on the quincentennial ported that “State security gov-more as president a security forces govand institutions ..specifically targeted akes ssueexecu w Meanwh h he ph ase when ng be ahmp eMarch, woported dsthe and war.” he war May 2019 woHe op Remittances—a mainstay the andmuch sons will come handy ducted of 23a brazen 000 cases No Iofoacompanies ycybe 288 but mostly for”ce recreation and socialization. pub cIn spend ngsa any pe ved adve yon Ganven such anthat tory. pstanding acyber o20 mnotes a 761 acks M c oso vperceived ce e done such b by azentoand mp oveha empa hy and co“State ec ou any “drugs adversary. Given such s“auden s us acrieweek a ers, soWe us ng oouour platform) for attacks. Microsoft vice such bn dd ng aview opened he checks and balances in ove empa hyou and co ec ou“drug and journalists.” Meanwh eUnder s uden s ae ein so this ad ng o ad failed to contain the pandemic. Thus, EMIL on how should be enough to accomplish those to yond posted The Diplomat: of note can as indeed bein easily undermined bywouldToday kers via we phishing attacks celebrations Sec on 1 of Repub c Ac 11223 ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to the answer to ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to su of he COVID-19 pandem c a e be ng u e ed by he ve y o c a one s means” and ns s s ha a pe son economy because that is the one that sis is finally over. That wisdom would be they have to use technology subenv onmen he secu y and s ab y o p es den Tom Bu has been quo ed as say nne as wha happened o vasecurity ousy pof ec s misoSena Failure the communist inaenvironment, es made noo2020, he e e ecthehand and stability president Tom Burt has been quoted as sayhas vowed to continue his “war at happened to es sho s gh edness n4.bes do ngo ou to bescontain o nance Secre Car Dom nguez says he Duterte much changed demands schoo wo k edness Tenmuch days imposedo the lock-wookDuterte oodga ove whether or not the appoi sho squarter gh n do ng ouperhe changed demands schoo Forfateful the whole theofeconomy is before existory inFour schools and o ary a“...On click ofMarch aos finger Grabe. paign’s communications tasks.stitute That decision and his 16, 2021, we will comin the first of 2020, by 16.5 harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in may on y have “d s o ed va ues and p o whose ob s o champ on anspa ency harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockDuterte imposed one of the earliest locka democratic system of JURADO fuels consumption—fell by 4.2 perTONY LOPEZ priceless. (Un versa Hea hcare Ac ) upon he recthe interactions and experiences they The Depar men of Labor and Emp oyna and soc eases asintegrity we as he nThey eg onymay ng hafailed nattempt ausa aver ed Biden’s a emp B den wh sand ch ng(that sys onhdrugs” which will be “as is legal depends on whe down March 15,g may 2020, there only societies as the ing thecan initial on eunh banking syshe na gove n e’s cope bu we dpera he so pesckand ou the he es Th They gwere up w echno ogy c bank ng ha wememorate cope bu we d relentless a and sonmen pshou ck9and ou have own up w hown echno ogy Muslim separatist moveons so d well f ona edby Du er power “nge heInp he dec s ve ockdown) hehe500th ped antheonnations erations. this Mabayo calculation of enemy forces, led10 by Lapu the anniversary of pected toons decline percent. BizNewsAsia cent in theinthe second quarter, VIRTUAL es ” Th sconfirmed heVIRTUAL says s none o have ou bus ness and accoun ab yshou nbegan.” gove We some instances attack and kill ac- shortlist for the instances attack and kill political ac- political cent the first half. That 4.2 percent downs the world. even ifsurgency itsome was the in downs in the world. Still, even ifStill, it men was the in that B chilling on itcome Heby wants TWO cases. At this writing, the ommenda on of he Board Trus ees ofday Ph -We and andMagellan’s ng o and compan es and ns u ons campa gn was “in spec ca by y a ge edstanding by resulted pan es essential pnote—history ov y d ng essen aarrival w deny h s for sure bu a survey and of scompanies institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted iding men sons ha w come handy when h s c bu mos y o ec ea on and soc a za on sons ha w handy when h s c on guess ook p ace government. bu mos y o ec ea on and soc a za on peated is Lapu, in death. of Europeans the Philippines. Without a vaccine cent in the first half. are having the We ag ee ha wea h does no neces a e much a a med ove M Ma es base Long mecolumn a de sabout opher GomPhilippines and tivists,IisHAVE environmentalists, community leadtivists, community leadequivalent to losing billion of It’s es inma ed 1the 3n oRussian 3 5 mhehackers on nfec onss accordworld’s longest andlongest strictest, thestrictest, lockdown world’s and thement lockdown been environmentalists, requested to$1.4 repeat my reapretty basic. estimates the GDP contraction thebywhole death penalty, banned under theyConstituREALITY REALITY isHea the pandemic epicenter in the IN Acan previous IpChr talked o no can ndeed eas unde ned v aattacks ph shtong acks ces such asfood hose ood ofaHe note indeed be easily undermined by safor viahacke phishing those clearl h he Pres den sha appo n he agenTo even heyPresis s s na ove Tha w sdom wou d be showed ha a mos ha f of he coun ry s Today hey have o use echno ogy o sub s s s na y ove Tha w sdom wou d be ictors—which hascove been unde o Itda Today hey have o use echno ogy o sub was struck inethe face by abeMactan is ak dayRuss that an means different things worst recession history. y equa o co with up aon Ma failed es todcontain s failed ofored nk ngin our Because s ou foraxes sons for myand belief that the appointment of alyour dollar income. ers, and journalists.” ers, journalists.” *** the tohpandemic. contain the tion most crimes, to pandemic. be reimposed totalM of 265,888 casThe killings of political activists and Davao’s ch ef Rona de au e eASEAN dent Duterte’s achievements. ng ogets researchers from our he unand vers ess The a cbe opo ascimitar. nge abepercent aga ns campa commun ons npeople, powe and u pe esdifferent could as large asGAfter, 30 --11-nation assuming ae uac a ca click ofRodrigo aformer finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications rostand utilities Army commanders. aO better Sena e ce om ook ngNow,do pimposed ess enos he den nThe esgeneral ac ons and days expe ences hey warrior using ack local the pEsgue ce ess countries theirgn peoples. for use, the ness haps cy’s and CEO from he Board’s sdItno he nsF ons expe ences hey About 75 percent of economy was abor force 60 minto on are ob ess his former National Bureau of Investigation shou ake ppres oand mp e ons and ou we be ng hace athe e athe simposed ake etheDuterte phope essed by ” bleak A ehis he won wou ua ycolumn, I abefore You Du eadu elocksuhe name how sof Indanacearlier Is there that scenario? has vowed continue “war Duterte has vowed to continue “war drug crimes. Ten before Duterte Ten days Duterte lockes. is No. 21 in the world. Philippines here are his failures: the la In 2019, the Human Rights Watch releged NPA leaders have failed to dent the Rosa spearheaded “drug us othe rePhilippines, nforce rpointockdown as far ofsnretreated P1.5 for lockSpanish from Cebu. TONY LOPEZ “...To thathea first h TONY chief Dante Gierran as president and chief ncono cu en 1.loss pwho oships ec be angytrillion mp emen ed each by hemonth Household consumption, We knowof ha many gove nmen o is down cbarely a s onsshut moasehistorical p enab aus b yedunde he ab e beour ween ve y down. much oung bus ness Well, Lift the which pu ou blockdowns un y be ke—”he k sPresident peop and createJ ha a15, ecMarch you? But the people love the2020, President for non-ex-off cLOPEZ oandmembers on drugs” which will be “as relentless and onyes. drugs” which will “as relentless and e” should dislodged Germany yesterday San a Banana hey are he new poor! March 2020, there were only down on 15, there were only The Philippines’ greatest depression ported that “State security forces and govexecutive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. the wake of so many jobl recession could rage providing three-fourths of GDP, fell by 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim war ” were e ec ed o he Sena e De a Rosa va ous gove nmen agenc es sof an amoun sys em d up our y o men do w continue dehave senseless produced the He the TWO “drugscases. war.”yAt In May 2019, two top he Pand ocu bu emen Se v ce capac o he Depa 23,000 below 20, Italy, 288,761. down. This lockdown –thethePhiliplongest andcases severusua ha and s ops he conve sa wants on and hey ecen moved he e The New Zea and chilling onproved the day ity began.” He wants chilling on the day it Act began.” In the second quarter 2020, TWO confirmed this writing, thewriting, confirmed cases. At this the ThNo. s means hathe he Pres den canno apnewes of he “new are some ernment-backed paramilitaries to Under Section 1The ofpoor” Republic 11223 Isult ofMARCOS thebeen COVID-19 pa cluded inSecretary the shortlist. Otherwise, Pres15.5 percent in the for 7.8-percent allies made it handily into Senate elecopposite effect. lockdowns cuwas ng sin espons b to y–its oSena ensu ecomm Finance Carlos Dominguez says HAVE requested AS haters I eHAVE be pine economy slumped lowest in seven Budge and DBM hearrest, penalty, banned under theupon Constituterrorists are on the marked by aThe named omy head he eAever eeprevious death penalty, banned under Constitudon eawarpath yAct), wan o the awere kthe abou me anymo Philippines iswas the epicenter inepicenter the ppandemic ev ous yQ2 vpandemic ngthena119 New Yo kdeath and ha — Philippines is in(Universal the spread es ng nManagemen our commun es and From uso and IN previous column Ing talked about PresiTO THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily ina IN A column I talked about PresiTHE o ow s he ed ed ranscr p o est the world has run for months. ed one ofothe earliest lockHealthcare recDepartment of L A commande s po n G erran un ess he s a member of he Army commanders. ident cannot legally appoint you as a mem000 o 140 000 re renched eachers well into 2021. Now, the lockdowns will make half of decline in H1 2020, according to MaPRESIDENT Duterte has extended tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an supposed to save 4,000 people from sons for my belief that dark days of Martial L sons for my the country’s history -a 16.5-percent conanspa ency and accoun ab y on he pa tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for Board of T tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for Depa men o Hea h DOH on he one 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 cas11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 cassome instances attack and kill political aconce say ha yeah was he e du ng ha 2016 e ec ons dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, rld. Still, even if it was the dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, ommendation of the Board Trustees of Philment will deny this, for new phenomenon—suicide bombers. The Fac s F rs —Chr s an Esguerra s pod charged w h nves ga ng po ce ma ers ber of the Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, around 1 282 ac ua PCR es s per day connHuman 2019 heofPOINT Human R gh s Wa chstate e 1.3 In This 2019, the Rights rehalf theWatch economic production poor. nila-based Asian Development Bank. the of to calamity forinfections one yearaccorduntil base. Longtime aide, Christopher Go, anddrug and s aff ou of he more han 700 pr va e estimated 3.5 million dying, people who would die anyway, former National Burea insmeans economic production. On top of 21, they went on the u former Nat o pub ctraction o the cthat apeople As pa o s cons u crimes. environmentalists, community lead-ported drug crimes. es. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines and strictest, lockdown Health, the President shall appoint the agenhandtheand on he otivists, he Pha ma y Pha ma es. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines showed that almost hal here are his failures: They d dn con nue o engage w h me bo h he US and Ph pp ne e ec ons much more aswPlease president and CEO. here are his failures: the Board cas n erv ew h Dr Nue e Du er e po ed ha “S a e secu y o ces and gov “State security forces and govPNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, and he “drug war ” Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela Remittances—a mainstay of the Unemployment more than tripled, Sept, 21, 2021. note: That is up to ing to researchers from our universities. The ducceu ed ca n he as week of journalists.” March our capac yona manda the is 0.7-percent in the first quarchief Dante Gierran lockdown or the no n lockdown, because bycontraction now. cannot be recovered chief portraying Marcos as thm schoo s hwh ch rema c osed These and cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s But thew people love the President forPresident the pandemic. adult labor force ofDante 60as But people love the for egone hee nmen Sena ebacked has That eve ycontinue gh dislodged yesterday and is barely Thus, thein answer to the question of Germany dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression Co p Th sers, company s sa d o have 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression EMIL Pa ang conve sa on k e s ya pag s nab A s was ea y ha d o de ha he pa am a es con nue o Sep 6 2021 ernment-backed paramilitaries to the Preside Rosa, initially the “drug lockdown enabled usbefore to reinforce our health economy is growth the onedrop that seight from 5.1 percent in April 2019 tothe months justthe the May 2022 The Judicial Development Fund, basis 2020, the 16.5 -percent executive ofare Phil most them had fatal discspearheaded uded he show shave O “drugs he w seof he PIn esalready executive o c•who uded n 20, he sho sn 20, O he se he Pnon-ex-officio es But didofficer not Shakespe a17.7 worrying sign. ure obecause con athat nGDP he commun nmembers. hasy vowed to continue his nqu “war 4eternFa they th has grown to23,000 about 32,000 average daily tests re Dutertebeen imposed the lockwhether orofnot appointment of Gierran the war.” May 2019, top four months. cases below No. Italy, 288,761. the “drugs war.” In May 2019, topBanana, schoo os ncome because ack ofao two 23,000 cases below No. Italy, ohe o threaten, gthe oss mass suse oea pub cbby unds quarter 2020, thecapacity PhilipInand the second quarter of 2020, Philipes ab shed winimposed hDuterte aDu meas P625 000 as o bylockpumapa ayof stwo ya ng aSanta agang o oo Rod go Du eega was unn ngys288,761. da mem dn e other the first of 2020, 16.5 perTO THE war,” were to thee Senate. Dela Rosa TO THE ha en arecession aIn ywith a second es presidential n depends harass, arbitrarily and in system build upaon our tothe do wideewhich equarter mposed one eaand esmeans ock Duterte one of Ch s and an Esgue JURADO fuels consumption—fell 4.2the perpercent inelected April 2020 “when lockdowns elections when we choose of the benefits the judiciary; country ish now inarrest, Under Section 1 of Thus, be eases than COVID. But several den canno appo nsays you as akong mem Under Se denfinancial canno yof appo nega you as that men do lives after thR This means that the President cannot apThe newest of the “ne on drugs” willthe be earliest “as relentless is legal whether his name was 15, 2020, there were only The reasons are allies made it handily into the Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says allies made it handily into the Senate elec5. Coddling of the police and the military surgency and he Mus m separa s moveFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez pine economy slumped its lowest in From this (August).” bythe co9 perup o cent cFinance ainssome economy toever its lowest ever in was enro pa d up cap athe nin2019 Carlos Dominguez tohe head the committee cent in on thenthe second quarter, V RTUAL TUAL yun hen hey orsay—ah a aga Okey spread in anamed ywidespread eve ned shou dPh Hea nsinSecretary ances a ack and kof ca actesting some instances attack and kill political ac-9popine thedrop first half. That 4.2 percent first semester economic output downs heday wo even was he downs the world. Still, even ifS it and was were and atus their most Duterte’s successor. • The Amusement and Gaming We wou dto slumped keour ocommunities. ask you ejust us Healthcare A point unless he isare a member ofwill the (Universal 119,000 toPresident 140,000 rea thousands more people dying be ooSenate he Boa dea Ttions usHea ees hAnd be obePhilippine Boa dSo Tesson ees ooees Ph ho Gierran (Universal interred with their bones in that shortlist for the Board ofs Trustees. chilling it dbegan.” Heby wants cases. At this writing, POINT POINT which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert anrepresen the country’s history -- abasic. 16.5-percent conthe country’s history -a tests 16.5-percent concharged with investigating police matters We mus bea on co Without vaccine cent in the first half. We are having the around 1,282 actual PCR per day conDuterte has employed more generals, Sena M Leade ank n and Dunder on percent. Itdown isvbeen the worst recession insbillion our histivists, environmentalists, community leads that s ha env onmen aup son commun yAnother Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, equivalent todlosing ofsome nex op c be eve h ngs ha … was o d abou strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by year of state of calamity Corporation, which provides an additional The group ng hese eachers strictest, the woa dand sF onges s lockdown c esConstituhemen ockdown and staff, out of the mor Iis HAVE requested to$1.4 repeat my reaommendation of the Boa It’s pretty explains “no matter how much money much mo e as p es den and CEO much mo e as p es den and CEO die because of hunger, malnutrition, and ommendati head ng abou you se and how a e you death penalty, banned the This brings me to a REAL TYe world’s eLITY pandemic epicenter in no the ylongest out in base. Longtime Christopher Go, and be first app estimated 1.3 topercent 3.5 accordbase.aide, Longtime Christopher Go, and which estimated 1.3 toinfections 3.5 million infections accordtraction in oftraction economic production. On top spelled of the “drug war.” ducted incontinuing the lastclearly week of our capacity economic On top of and worst history. asc such sys ema cngs age ona tory. schools will rem sons for belief the your dollar income. and journalists.” 21.4 inhethe first half. means restrictions and regube ofeves ha hetoove crecession ng ocrimes, COV 19reimposed e my sp and ouothat nahe s sna ”appointment source of revenue to fund the miscellaneous *production. * March, *e? Health, President sha failed contain the apfored o pandemic. con ainn our he H oand ndbys the aaide, nan wa a a than back nmillion 2013 by some om Davao Thus answe opeop hes eaff ques tion most toDpandem be forers, Thus he answe oon heoformer ques on Health, the diseases spawned lockdowns. N with a total 265,888 casMarcosthe a heel or a hero? from the military the police, any The k of po ca ac v s s and a and c a m ha he P500 m on oe a ed o P es den Du e the rate of infections and deaths could have EMIL EMIL countries pump into their economies, their Davao’s police chief, Ronaldo dela ing to researchers from our universities. The Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela 4. Failure to contain the communist ining to researchers from our universities. The incolumn, theprime firstI suggested quarfor general use, the About 75 percent economy For the whole of the economy is exthe 0.7-percent contraction in the first of schools have lost former Bureau Investigation In anPrices thatquarthe hope that bleak scenario? easu was y he no onIs ythere eNational odes he ccontinue ed bof the yhis lations. commodities, activities government; Duterte has vowed to “war and CEO Du e 2020, ein has vowed o o0.7-percent con nue hNue scontraction “wa drug crimes. Ten days before Duterte locksupp es “seems o have p anned Tenbeen days be oimposed eof Duthe e the e mposed ock whehe heof otheno he n ed men o hem G nepresident an whe heoappo oun no heother men oacting G ebefore an bahim. preside n the world. The Philippines Said Economic Planning SecYung medyo na ah m k cy’s H nd na scy’s aTrustees Itpresident depends. Ifincome you lo ha was go ng e Duearlier eshould e of the law. ca osappo s no enough More than 45 eged NPA eaders have fa ed oand den he The reasons are been worse. latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug surgency and the Muslim separatist movelockdown enabled us to reinforce our health Rosa, who initially spearheaded thenon-ex-officio “drug JURADO GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway. JURADO LOPEZ enrollees. TONY lockdown enabled us to reinforce our chief Dante as president and chief by 10 percent. ter 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop President create a much “jobs policy” shut Household consumption, terespecially 2020, the rice, 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop Well, yes. Lift lockdowns which corn, and fish, will bein The •sThe Export Processing Authority to at-health members But the people love the2020 President onpected which will be “as relentless ugs” wh ch wBizNewsAsia be2020, ethe en ess and he nmen non hed Gierran eyes othe ou peop e“as any yesterday barely on ega depends on whe he h name was What is/g s ega depends on whe he h s name was non-ex-offi March 15, 2020, there were only retary Karl Kendrick Chua: down on Ma 15have he gove efor we edrugs” on yto decline ble achievements and heLOPEZ eands pis down emed a ed mudown. de he e ch we masyadong nag a anong abou h m pe o yung g ew up n Davao C y ved he e n Without a vaccine ment war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa The group representi executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. system and build up our capacity to do widethe wake of so many jobless people as a reestimates the GDP contraction for the whole recession could rage war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa The obs po cy ha Pres den Du er e system and build up our capacity to do wideproviding three-fourths of GDP, fell by means the country is now in recession with star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civil52-year o d commun s nsurgency Mus m a little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases means the country is now in recession with clearly spelled out inCOVID have proved and the the TWO “drugs war.”med May 2019, two top controlled. In fact, under current laws, This means the tract foreign investments; ow No. 20,pItaly, 288,761. is sheer size of stimulus package nkillings ha sho he Boa do oal-he T us ees onnot thethe it began.” He ns hao activists sho s and Boa d o one T us ees This mea ch ng on heRepublic day began ” He wan s yea “No anticipated the confirmed At this writing, he would be athat hero. FP con cases A bu hthe s aw ng It he sochilling dep ves ma nday ysenseless he oproduced v the awants emed aTWO ed p unde Fo cases. me gInven he Gierran ca ba btheb to nahead bthat bcommittee pa n The of political and staff claim that the s of 24 sHAVE oinhaters epandemic. sofud ed spread he eoreaUnder Section ofpoo Act 11223 the COVID-19 was named toaway head Senate could be as large as 301The percent -- first assuming a my Mr. lift our communities. just named the Senate committee 15.5 percent in Q2 for semester drop economic output 9output spread From just allies it handily into the aSenate for general use, the semester drop economic of 9testing opposite effect. lockdowns were point Gierran unless he the price of anything, and its supply, can tary Carlospandem Dominguez says has o ian adop rthe ghwas shou d no be andun •in The Movie and Television and Iitsult HAVE been requested to repeat my AS MARCOS remembered “the been eques ed epea my ea sor p testing eleaders y President, basin csour pOur ecommunities. yFrom bas creview point Gierra death penalty, banned under the Constitupandemic will [strike] the global positions in the government. error s s are he warpa h marked by a deaon h pena ypbut banned unde hefirst Cons uin who envy his ingenuit Philippines is made the pandemic epicenter in theelecin the country are severe critical. morPh pp nes s he pandem c7.8-percent ep cen e loss nthat he soc a se v ces ha cou d he hem m about Presioked umn a ked abou P es matters now also whether is actuallaw. c h s s eache y ” Here is the transcript cated to them is not enou leged NPA have failed to dent the Me on akong co eague sa New Yo k (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recThe Department of Labor and Employthe Board of P1.5 trillion for each month of lockn shed med ca schoo he e and a e ha well into with investigating police matters around 1,282 tests per con-per decline inwith 2020,of according to265 MaDuterte has usextended charged with investigating matters tions solidified Duterte’s power percent. is the worst recession in our hisaround 1,282 actual PCR tests conckdown) helped avert an 2021. supposed tooofsave 4,000 people from be controlled by theoof government during sons belief that the appointment of Classification percent. Itwill ismy the worst recession our his-appo dark days of Martial Law,” on sons my be e inSeptember ha he n actual men oPCRun * *day *emergency * charged *day * emp the They economy. Insathe first three months ofpolice the tion for moston crimes, toBoard be sight, those who Board Trus ees of Ph Hea holdlockdowns. and ess mos clongest mes o be eItofmposed ofor 11-nation ASEAN total 265,888 oymen scheme For sure 11 which nacha onH1 ASEAN w h a o apcasoove 888 cas evements. Now, recession could rage The jobs policy thatde e e s for ach evemen s until Now he ves ommendation the Trustees offor Phil52-year communist insurgency. Muslim ment deny this, for sure, but aducted survey Despite the overwhelming dominance of new phenomenon—su creimposed de bombers The Senyear R accordcha d Go don oaaide, heChristopher com tality ratio, on the other hand, isBoard; at 2.5 people hea hca e na a agang b b na b band a aga down. This lockdown – the and severly saving the productive parts the economy. and the “drug war.” o Man a and he US the last of March, our capacity nila-based Asian Development Bank. amity one base. Longtime Go, and Section and the “drug war.” 3.5 million infections tory. ducted in the last week of March, our capacity dying, people who would die anyway, Bureau ofbashing Investigation ae former state of National calamity. InNa ausual major election, • of The Philippine Coconut Authority toha 21, they went onhen the spree, nweek an ea e warpath co umn sugges ed he oalmost me ona Bu eau ointerrorists nves ga on tory. n an ea e co umn sugges ed ha he an interview given by quarantine, we prioritized saving lives definitely a heel. drug crimes. d ug c mes es. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines has to adopt right away Health, the President shall appoint the agenes s No 21 n he wo d The Ph pp nes showed that half of the country's are on the marked by a es he Board recommended h s appo n men o ound o have pa c pa ed n p un he ranks of he unemp oyed can on y worsest in the world – has run for seven months. make no sense. muniversities. ee ead ng p obe kew sepolice seesmore “co Ronaldo hanggang ngayon Fee ng n ya dapa s Sa a generals, the Duterte administration has not PNP has r p ed s an nsurgency budge former chief, dela 4. Failure to contain the communist inwell into 2021. Unemployment than Those tripled, note: That is up tohe Davao’s sPlease from our The per a hundred thousand.” m e a ed o h m because he Rod go 4.cy” Failure toused contain the communist in- ance chief Gierran and chief For the ofsystemic 2020, isG exlockdown no CEO lockdown, because is because the problem isP whole not aportraying the price andthe supply of bellwether and enhance P esch den c coconut eabombers. eshou a “production poe cy” n ofpo ch e2020, epresident e an as es den and e shou Marcos as the devil-incarnate. P esd den dobs cThe ea a Board “ obs nof Act of For the whole ofeconomy the economy isp exagainst COVID. We thisand time to emergency Trustees PhilHealth, unless employment cy’s from the Board’s the people love theespec for adult labor force ofDan 60as million are goods jobless. Bunor he peop ePresident ove es den oDante Germany yesterday and barely newdevelop phenomenon—suicide d s who odged Ge many yesise2019 day and sThis baThis emeans yhapresident tddepression nes grea es on half of the economic production de “drug shou dBut be ed oand cou afatal yhe he Pres den up on” ndislodged he ansac ons Rosa, initially spearheaded the he pover yitself prob em he coun ry for the President’s niece. usbefore to reinforce ouro health ang mag phisMuslim esappointment denmoveeseparatist nex from 5.1 percent inda April to 17.7 ust thedepress May 2022 surgency and Muslim separatist Th executive officer PhilHealth isPh illegal. surgency andng the movemost of them already had disDu eSanta erice, snecesmy dad sBizNewsAsia bofare ove he like corn, fish, fuel, even school he wakethe oitsso ob essbudget, peop eobasess athe epeop pected to decline by 10 percent. efforts; execu o new ce opoor! Hea hPNP sand ega But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil Board recommended to any hemany wake oenso many ethe as ahealth eof proven any more competent nor a288 worry ng swar.” gn the ranksThe ofdirector the reaso unemploy non-ex-officio members. pected to decline by 10 percent. BizNewsAsia improve our system capacity.” Banana, they the He notes that per 100,000, EU member has grown abou 32 000 average y es s the “drugs In May 2019, two top has tripled anti-insurgency contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. he “d ugs wa ” n May 2019 wo op sh 23 000 cases be ow No 20 a y 761 020, the Philipis gone by now. That cannot be recovered in qua e o 2020 he Ph p were the Sen Senate. Rosagh oeases n he eveother a ons hathe hose beh ndseveral up our capacity to do wideWithout vaccine percent inelected April 2020 “whenDela lockdowns ctions when choose Beswe des he e s war,” he ac check ngto ha Esgue a UPs and h s you cho ceenclearly othe come ouspelled Under Section 1 oand of Republic Act 11223 Thus before G erran can be appo ed as a vaccine the President. than COVID. But su oWithout heanCOV D pandem cless supplies, medicines, PPEs, are cruUnde Sec on 1daily oboys Repub cworrying Ac 11223 poverty problem many o “By come • The Philippine Authority asment one that men do lives after them. The good is oft This means that President cannot apestimates the GDP contraction for the whole su Tourism o 19 he COV Dyears 19 pandem c ment The newest the “new poor” are some The Pec es den sof he des oaverage he the models of Ateneo, estimates the GDP contraction for the whole a sign. has grown to about 32,000 average tests allies made it handily into the Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says a es made hand y n o he Sena e e corrupt than past administrations. four months. 5 Codd ng o he po ce and he m ary clearly F nance Sec e a y Ca os Dom nguez says states 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, sssor. lowest ever in h s (Augus ) ” umped o s owes eve n from a sho mobility restrictions hamper aggregate was named to head theand Senate our communities. From just Pha ma y sary have quesmore onab ehecisare eden a s were widespread at committee their most Thus, before Gierran can be appointed as The killings of political activists and almany years to come. (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recpoint Gierran unless a member of the R sa Hon ve os d d ha uncove ed connec The Depa men o Labo and Emp oy 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers thousands people dying or will Un ve sa Hea hca e Ac upon he ec cial, especially in battleground regions, of the engines serve as Depa a source of revenue; pub interred with bones.” The men Labo and Emp oyc y? The killings of political activists alcould beeasecould large as 30 percent assuming we averted some 59,000 to 171,000 Pres den ofhas Ph Hea hgeneral he was mo hetheir s30on y and ch d--aCEO My dad 5. Coddling of to themus police and theWh military bemy as large as -percent assuming ageneral eo When he Pres den may have s gned nmust o and which solidified Duterte’s for use, the Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez IsPresident he a he “the decisive (lockdown) helped uspolice avert an ustions ons wh choyed so d more ed power Du sthis powe ““W he dec s investigating ve he ockdown he ped ave ane has for the 6.5-percent con-Dom o yofPCR a tests 16 pecalamity cen con charged with matters day conthe of the national capital’s Du er emp genera s(August).” and CEO ofrates PhilHealth, hethe Sweden 57, and the Adds nguez ockdown While the ma strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by rual state the Commissio and staff, outommenda of the more than 700 ommendation of the Board Trustees of and a e base. ug ves om us ce demand.” NPA have to dent men w deny hw suse, odeny sugenerals, ethrough bu ao su vey die because of hunger, malnutrition, andaloss onb othe he Boa dPhilT usUS ees oLaws Hardest was island and most especially, when the highest • 52. onke—”No socialized housing asuPresident This brings me to my gulay—Is menLuzon s leged ehap buleaders achief suNPA vey ons5ofper be ween “shady” nd vhou dua s and Pha leged have failed to someone dent the law. loss ofsand P1.5 trillion for each month ofask, lockDu e leaders efailed Yes hough ha had othe law saPh dhit No Tha shwhich no gonna deaths. Our death reduced from Duterte has employed more Adds Dominguez: “Without lockdown, ofnow P1.5 trillion for each month ofprivate lockson So have a ha o he explains that “no matter how much money Longtime aide, Christopher Go, be f rs appo n ed as a member of he Board estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accordbase Long me a de Ch ophe Go and aw Bayan han 2 he b ons a o ed for h s es ma ed 1 3 o 3 5 m on n ec ons acco d tion. On top of and the “drug war.” week of March, our capacity m c p oduc on On op o be first appointed as a member of the Board law Bayanihan 2, theCorp billi schools which will remain closed. These hero? 21.4 percent inhs thecou first half. ng restrictions and regu- ons Health, the President shall appoint the agenrecession could rage showed ha a mos ha o he coun y s 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim Hea h he P es den sha appo n he agen diseases spawned by the lockdowns. produces 70 percent of total economic post of the land is at stake. series of legal issuances from the funding, The Sena e B ue R bbon Comm ee showed ha a mos ha o he coun y s Marcos a heel or a hero? police force was caught on social media from he m ary and he po ce han any recession could rage 3. Unprecedented human rights violations from the military and the police, than any trolled he ra e of nfec and dea d have ma y ha bagged he con ac s o supp y pan 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim down. This lockdown – the longest and severa high of 17 percent to just 1.6 percent the rate of infections and deaths could have yungare Face pen ” Pe o yun pa a o oo—my gosh of Trustees.speak up was ead ng— ba pa Government economists earlier projected countries pump into economies, their down. This –esthe severLas me melost Pincome denlongest Du eand e lack was former police chief, Ronaldo to researchers our The Davao s otheir me po ce ch edela Rona do de a lockdown 4.ng Failure to contain o from esea che universities. s the omcommunist ou un veinsDavao’s es The nofthe first only stop-gap on ac on quarncommodities, he ing s qua of Trus ees schools have because of of other pro ec are on yaround s op-gap measures oaverted a amarked e- project prime cy’s and CEO from Board’s ona cehim. o abo 60 moko onsohaving a45 eof ess cy sIf pyou es den and CEO headu Boa dabo s before Said acting Economic Planning production and home to 50 percent What isrun not during aremarkastate terrorists are the marked by mortgage and collection of loans; ce 60 m on eonob esswarpath Itpresident depends. look at histhe president More than been much worse. The latest data suggest that om shouceodou peGDP sapres swho n initially ge ngbefore o 7he om oin“drug or 4,000 deaths. We are onrequirements the warpath by othe a d people’s est the world –ethe has for seven months. would have shrunk anyway. dem c g eow aworse ed goods ha sa nssugges s us weseparatist e eha book ko noon eh—2016— my FaceUnder May ba aisadu um ko ya a ob ound heaterrorists aWhat breakfast party with more her habom More han 45 esthe in world –controlled has run for seven months. th The reasons What has made Duterte a strong president, been much asena es Rosa, spearheaded the well into 2021. surgency and the Muslim is/are thebirthday legal beforewas de n y way be o e u ned 10 maybe lockdown enabled usoda to reinforce health viate needs. Rosa who nmassively, y are spea headed “d ug recovery of percent to 8Secpercent in GDP enrollees. ockdown enab ed oour n omovehea h den DP drop well into 2021. pegrowth cenand GDP h dbeopThe corn, fish, will Board of Trustees of Ph non-ex-officio members. San a Banana hey a e he new poo Wha s are he ega requ remen s before non ex o c o membe s retary Karl Kendrick Chua: the coun population. of calamity how the dis- star-rank v campa aandehey he e’spoo needs Sanang ahospitals—the Banana agn epeop hephenomenon—suicide new Board ofand Tr • Allofficers the specialty Philipoccupy cabinet civilble achievements and good performance, new bombers. The a little over 1 is percent of allgovernment COVID-19 cases some 1.3 to 3.5appointed million cases, ofwas which It isous not the sheer size stimulus package This means half of the economic production new phenomenon—suicide bombers. The he yscanda ove p ” ce oofethe supp es oSena eae yecess ovesystem p percen ced C em pub c deco ds out a vaccine Gierran can be as alockdown member of proThis means half ofrepresenting the economic production ment book accoun whe e connec ed w h a o y na pa so kumbaga What isrecommended essential war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa The group these teachers build upand ourbu capacity tocases do widewa we e ec ed o he e De a Rosa e gh —maybe younge pointed by sys up ou capac do wgrowth de than 50 guests (despite strict nyact, recession soar-rank off cers occupy cab ne and c v the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also over 1on of ang COVID-19 s anow nwith w hand clearly spelled out in the Board under current laws, This means that the President cannot aprate is now overly optioThe “new a“new e essen some sincumbent means ha he P es canno apnewes ianpine positions inCenter, thecontracted government. “No one anticipated thatThat the COVID newes opoo he”perpoo ”PNP eits some the Board re Investments by Wha 53.5 penses money. The President Heart Lunch Center, National he would aTh hero. those, however, in the country are severe orFor critical. Our morhas tripled that matters but also whether it is actual68,000 be severe critical Gbe erran can be appo ninden ed as aThe member ofhe me policy quote Justice sak aawould urgen sandabudget, ong- budget, is gone bye now. That cannot be recovered in has tripled the Board of Trustees? he gove nmen s COV Din 192021. de termLet jobs to prev killings political activists and al-Fwas staff claim that the P500 million allois gone by now. That cannot be recovered Hon ve sa he The cha man oof Pha macommun yFromlift named tonow head the Senate committee Mr. President, oand canti-insurgency assma esitsoranti-insurgency om Davao nagpapak ao a119 So may saPNP nung spread our communities. just was oesponse head he Sena comm ee mic output of 9ouosry sp in ead es ng n ou es om us ons gand ew up ke maybe bmember ocks away al the President. p nuse, csupply, pu od 9testing point Gierran unless isve a at the thing, and its can Board of T 119 000 140 000 enched eache s on Despite the overwhelming dominance of pois ningenuity, G ehe un ess he sofahis membe othe he hibiting gatherings ten more peoplethe in tality ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people pandemic will [strike] the global ancharged pos nannamed he governmen 000 oenagsab 140 en enched eache sofsign. thewas Presiden cent ingrown second quarter and by000 36.6 can get all the money hean wants toand have Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine who envy his vision foregiven him one of major failures—massive neconom he coun are severe or crPCR ca Our morly saving the productive parts ofothe economy. a worrying sign. cases the peak day, which willproboverhas grown to about 32,000 average daily tests mistic. Without a vaccine for general use, the Lazaro, who the G Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governthe law. lem of poverty. four months. a worrying cated to them not enough. leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the has to about 32,000 average daily tests sp e Ma acañang s c e o s douse he Board of Trus ees? four months. erm obs po cy o preven a b gger n e na ona Ho d ngs s wan ed n Ta wan with investigating police matters around 1,282 actual tests per day conAnd was that ea anyappointing ho y ng o Thus, see pos s naThus, 2013 was abou namoyung nga cha In ged wfirst h three nves ga ngofpotheceom masight, e as So sion our hisathe oundlockdowns. 1 282 ac ua PCRThey es s pe day before Gierran Lo ng s house So ha sDuterte whe ywo thes in government ecess on nduring ou h s 52-year and the s athe ou oadministration he mo 700 peCoddling va eAct Duterte hasinvestnot per ahands hundred thousand.” and she a Decembe oue ohan he han 700 pCoddling vapolice e time), bef economy. months percent in first half. “Private his on and deploy it rights to whoever Children’s Medical Center; and those who desire revenge, he ise generals, Thiscon is because thethe problem is not adom systemic ance of 2011) mandates included in whelm our healthcare sector.” 5. of the and the military My gulay, if there’s on rate Counsel during the could rage this (August).” The jobs policy that President old communist insurgency. Muslim one place at the same Duterte refused Desp e he overwhe m ng nance of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 5. of the police and the military human violations. Critics say killed a y ra o on he o her hand s a 2 5 peop e this (August).” recession could rage well into 2021. Finance Secretary Dominguez w hquarantine, nnuendo and ame the “drug a eged secuin the esduc aud ock pu ducted last week of March, our Sec onCarlos 13 10149 (GOCC Govern“dprioritized ug wa excuses ” saving nak kappointed pag away nsu o President was nand ceof daw—yun ang kan pu push em of pover CEO ofaP ed nson he asman week o capacity Mahe ch by oueaand capac y and proven itselffirst any any mity. In a omajor election, schoo s“Without wh ch wcompetent ema cfor osed These He that per 100,000, theof EU member wou dnotes seeadopt some owants he cous ns e abe ves schoo sang wh chnnor win ema ny“What c osed These we lives contraction orwar.” a he cyclical bust. Simply, necesment slumped inmore Q2 with outlays inand wherever to send it.RA •Adds The nuclear power plant Southdirector shall be by nang the President definitely a he heel. it’s anno urgent and has to right away should not an Dominguez: we find in the last six months, Duterte has employed more generals, beneficiaries thelasting Febr terrorists thesense. warpath marked Adds the lockdown, that “no how much money byPresident the make Duterte has employed moreo generals, Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, explains “no matter how much money to fire the erring general. genera sWhen Du erb ure eofWe adm n athis sexplains on has no Failure contain the communist inWe shou d4.no a he ow he azen pcon unde ocame 2021. more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating per ahe ” are be first appointed asGC aishundred on embezz emen A eno a ve o h sbombers. 4restrictions Fa ohamper nra he commun s matter nthat less corrupt than past administrations. economy ex- andgoods the President to power in schoo s have os ncome because o ack o of bellwether states average 31 usua deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, es And hen nung— he news he Ko ean bus He s go ng o be he nex p es den m ke— from a short-list prepared by the Governance ance Ac of 2011) manda ha an appo n ng opply 2020 economy shousand ex new mobility aggregate schoo s have os ncome because o ack o be first appo ta Banana, I foresee aa m b against COVID. used time to ofto Trustees PhilHealth, and unless My gu ay f here’s one e emen m ss ng dustrial machinery and transport equipCombine those powers—control of the east Asia; Tha was whe e y saw h m anyway emergency employment scheme. For sure, is that the lower quarantine restriction phenomenon—suicide The saryBoard tal event of time, place from the military and the police, than any the their rateare of When infections and deaths could have countries pump into 57, their economies, their from for theGovernment-owned military and the or-Conpolice, than any dent the rate of infections and deaths could have The reasons are countries pump into their economies, canno and separatist moveThe reasons the chief of the national capital’s of Trustees. c surgency unds haBoard ched n Muslim he hstumbled ghes eaches Sweden and the US 52. surgency and he m separa sgreatest move en o ees Commission even school nt. BizNewsAsia pe no son who po a tripled o o he Pha ma member y s pub Philippines without any a the recommended hisMus appointment to demand.” proven se f the any more compe en nor any the ranks of the unemployed can only worsnessman who was k ed by he po ce sa Camp en o ees ”No mpos b e ” Bu appa en y pwede pa a of Trustees. byfish, 10 pefuel, cen B es zNewsAs anco improve our health system capacity.” the pervasive illegal drugs curse. ment 62.1 percent lower and for private price and supply of any commodity or conHe has anper 100 • A geothermal power plant, one of the Tha was he p ace emembe ed see ng July 2016, he into the and PNP has000 its EU anti-insurgency budget, has actually opened more sectors of the d rec or sha be appo n ed by he Pres den have fashioned and sus ’s an urgen and as ng obs po cy Sanother president before him. More than 45 been much worse. The latest data suggest that GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway. other president before him. More than 45 been much worse. The latest data suggest that a70vaccine GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway. force caught ongalternative social media ment What is/are the 3.clearly Unprecedented human rights ple can get employed w Without an vaccine The gworld, oup epha esen ng hese eache sbeCorporations the“By President. ines, PPEs, are en the poverty problem of the violations country for police Government economists projected o gove nmen o men be swep unde ug ber of legal the on fors and the whole The oup ep esen ngtrolled hese eache s (GCG). What is/a aaverage so wan ed cruo31 s eWithout ock man puUK a on the models of earlier UPhe and Ateneo, construction 46.8 percent lower,” says sumer goods, redirecting taxpayers money first in the as an source P con aces onaverage o daily he who C ame A e ha was ea y ke somebody dGovernance dnwas know he was qua ed o a worrying sign. spelled out in ut 32,000 tests economy and helped bring back jobs.” barrage of adverse publ biznewsasia@gmail.com h m as ess corrup han pas adm n s ra ons clearly spelled out in star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilHuman Rights Watch says many of the a dea hs Spa 61 a little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases from a shor s prepared by he longest economic expansion in the country’s It is not the sheer size of the stimulus package aaP500 Banana Icases foresee boofficers eak fuoccupy ureonly for cabinet civil- ends! a little percent of COVID-19 aPublic breakfast party with more thisaalaw, Gierran can behe ap-and Under finally not the sheer size of the package having What made Duterte a stimulus strong president, Thus, can beto appointed Gierran can be appoint killings political activists and many years come. and sover a c1construction abirthday m ha he m amou oMr. aThe recovery of 7of to 8o percent in GDP in-battleground regions, The kGierran po ca acal-vasIts to sis and a has nt assuming a assum and s aus call m ha he P500 mhstar-rank can he p obe evea sbefore hapercent he ngs case nvo ves we averted some 59,000 171,000 ADB. slipped byian a spositions anyone orAnd anywhere, and thebased restrictions of energy; 5. for Coddling of the police and the the military as 30 pe cenV deo ng oo ageageneral heuse, Sena ethe heause a Gierran PhilHeal hasPresident o save Wa alockdowns. a aga ofhathe saw omMarcos Davao President, lift the esguests den And —know ng hon for ident from* *the IstoPresident he a heel or a inon the government. Esgue alaw. you aitss eis now New inn the country are severe orare critical. Our morthat matters but whether actualWhen heleaders ch ef ofof he ona capthat aof ’s pointed by the as agovernment. member ian positions in the * than 50 strict lockdown proand CEO PhilHealth, he must 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratinp-owned the severe orincritical. Our morSweden 57 and heshown US 52n general the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also While the may have into the Comm on for Governmen or-Conthe Board ofthe Trustees? matters now but also whether itsigned is actualPh pp nes w hou any assurance ha peogrowth rate in 2021. That is now overly consecutive quarters growth. ca edcountry o (despite hem sed no enough leged NPA have failed to dent the the law Hardest hit was island cially, when the ca o hem s no enough Board eged NPA eade sna have aoptied onow den healso month ofng lockdeaths. Our death rates reduced from generals, marginal 0.9 percent in Q2. on flow of goods and people under a lock• Exploration and drilling Malampaya; uez: the lockdown, nd vwhich dua s history—70 oPresident he han hose n he DBM on o“Without each mon hhighest o Pha ock maDuterte They make no sense. I think even showed y o chas a semployed be ngLuzon pemore They pursued what not was say ng any h ng excep p va e y how ha wou d be on a na ona sca e— n e Take noo1 Despite the overwhelming dominance of tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Zea and gh ? Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was I don’t know whoeve be first appointed as a member of the Board ly saving the productive parts of the economy. hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in law Bayanihan 2, billions allotted for his given him one of his major failures—massive Despite the overwhelming dominance of hero? tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Section 13 of RA 101 mistic. Without a vaccine for general use, the med recession could rage The obs po cy ha P es den Du e e ly saving the productive parts of the economy. 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim produces 70 percent of total economic is at stake. po ce force was caugh on soc a a recession could rage The obs po cy ha P es den Du e e Section ed by police officers themselves or by killers 3 Unpreceden ed human r gh s v o a ons from the military and the police, than any ro ed Corpora ons (GCG) 52 yea o d commun s nsu gency Mus m ngest and severa high of 17 percent to just 1.6 percent p e can ge emp oyed when h s pandem c Duterte may not know it but he down of whatever form or acronym—and ions and deaths could have • Laws on culture in the life of the nation; Duterte himself added 14 quarters of growth own – hesona ongesy and seve without thetheSo lockdowns, you can win go on hen shourage d do so no2021. ma e is because ardnot Maitland sharply ob n oduced o P es den Du e e n and DOHrecession hough Th snot can Somebody na sca ethousand.” pa youshou mag ne ha ?anthegenerals, included in list and submitted easing the one-meter soc generals, Duterte administration has of Trustees. are violations. only stop-gap per a hundred thousand.” oneper place atothe same time), Duterte refused Duproject erights Co ec woasuccessor—without kCritics asmeasures psych ato sallehuman sayahesystemic killed This the problem is not systemic your theprepared Duterteno administration has could well into ance Act ofclude 2011) mandat aona hundred has adop ghoCan away no be This iseby because the problem isasto not production is home 50who percent during amon state are on the marked by other president before him.toMore thanhav 45terrorists has adop ghydends! away shou dGCG no be an ance Act of The latest suggest that oraWhat around 4,000 achieved almost full employment durDuterte pick his • the The Cultural Center offthe Philippines eis/are oobe sthe sshou alegal edeaths. on wain h ama ked acanpeople’s r. has seven months. an election. ng breakfas bwarpath rnegative hday par yaverted w hfirst more –controlled un odata seven tial matter of history is hnecesaw G erran can on yonce be apUnder na linked the authorities.” Wha made er e2021. aadv sand rong pres den ge sofhu The pitPresident drequirements ehe eWe oupa by the tomore the President. But theany Presiwell into tocol insoshall public transport before viate the needs. Ma chhas 2017 byhshDu sthe opopulation. me seoccupy on2021 eco before went the quarter of proven itself anyhas competent nor toh fire erring general. o say some h ng and has o be me o d well into was o d by one o my h gh schoo He notes that per 100,000, the EU member more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating When the came to power in contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, director be appoint Esgue a We e you c ose o he P es den ? Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless proven itself any more competent nor any eme gency emp oymen scheme Fo su e He notes that per 100,000, the EU member how the government disBoa d o T us ees o Ph Hea and un ess star-rank officers cabinet and civilment as a contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, necesnew phenomenon—suicide bombers. The eme gency emp oymen scheme Fo su e director sha all COVID-19 caseson some 1.3 toby 3.5appointed million cases, ingand his an unprecedented as to whether that guy is isa agenithepresidency, Philippine International Conven- dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a memworsen omic production new phenomenon—su cofdewhich bombe s pervasive The but what people wrote om the problem. Gierran can be as aona member of regard ocentheof econom c ap oduc What isrecommended essential and urgent longhe u h and be gu ded he cons u po n ed by he Pres den as a member of he the illegal drugs curse. less corrupt than past administrations. nom c a s M chae Yang * * * han 50 gues s (desp e s r c ockdown prostates average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, July 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during my mom be o e s a ed Nag usap muna kam c assma es who asked me abou h m sa d he v c ous ega drugs campa gn has a so from a short-list prepared sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate the Board his appointment to he anks o he unemp oyed can on y wo s 2020. less corrupt than past administrations. Du e e No No c ose states average 31 deaths, UK 70,when Spain 61, ianInvestments positions in thecontracted government.by 53.5 perhe aBoa d hamper ecommended h s appo n men o Economists incumbent President eThe severe or critical. Our morhe anks osay hethat unemp oyed can on Board y wo sof Trustees, much more as from a there shor sary mobility restrictions aggregate PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, 68,000 bep severe achievement. us, a Let technocrat, nincompoop, or tion Center. me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” ber of the be recovered PNP anand nsu gency budge ofalso Philheal Mark my words, the Board Trustees? biznewsasia@gmail.com term jobs policy to prevent amany bigger probLazaro said th Tha canno bein ed n ha biznewsasia@gmail.com Human Rights Watch says ofeven manda ong hega Ssign. a would eofngs ohas “ma ned a ninsor hones ycritical When thecoun chief thehad national capital’s longest economic expansion the country’s Sweden and US 52. s ecove un ohave una d second damn ngquarter ev daily Commission for Governm sab hchief s s wha mnational go of ng ocapital’s do “en eathe y—hanggang Davao ang dapa aga demand.” pove ywas p5he ob em oIypracticalheobcoun ohe Board of Trus eesalready of Ph57, Hea hhe f above he whoever he dea Despite the overwhelming dominance ofe When ofmythe h36.6 her ofsday, en more peop ethe nPresident. emoney other 2.5 people P es den inam and by he wants tohas Sweden 57, and the US don ea yheknow h Government m pe sona y the ha en pove pdon’ em oya aPhilHealth yofko othe the campaign. Any numbers that are Commission g hand, ven his atm one of hescent ma fa ve demand.” abworrying cases on the peak which willGovernoverpresident/CEO, gulay! unemployment hits percent, ameant dog. So today, the people must grown to about 32,000 average tests Insofar as Martial law is52. concerned, it isknow Begun 1999, the expansion a 4.2COVID-19 cases in the Lazaro, who was the CorpoSection 13in of RA 10149 (GOCC lem of poverty. a wo y ng gn ministrations have used has gorthe own oures—mass abou 32 000 ave age da y es s mine whet 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetrathistory—70 consecutive quarters of growth. police force was caught on social media and nnoteg 5. yCoddling n Act pub c police se v ce and ake 3. human violations (GC Thus, Gierran be aslyappo s many othat come dence owhoever co Du e the has asked sen“Private generals, Duterte administration hasinvestGovernment economists projected ousand.” Esgue a sHow abou hsocial ea s?trolled smany yaunder Heyea drights no y has mo e pa ” one-me Thus be oearlier ehe GDuterte, eappointed an can nUnprecedented ed asshou force caught media percent ine the nd deploy it rtogh yea so oits 3. human rights violations trolled Corp Takepolice note that the GCG can inof thisCorporations nonsense. ance of mandates that anmilitary appointing nc uded ncan sera. prepared and subm ed we hea dbefore sthey oeconomists es when was ow ng upbe whelm our healthcare sector.” eas ng he er soc abefore dwas anc ngon prothe the My gulay, ifearlier there’s one element missing, Government projected everyone needing awithout job acome job. It’s want more of orUnprecedented needless to say proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos “The this (August).” one p fold ace ahe he same me) Du erand e refused Dominguez 5of2011) Codd ngthe oand he po ce hedecide—do mPresident ary classified “homicides investigation.” s vup o aon ons Cr csfirst he k ed sought to destroy or c h s itself Augus ”sayhalf. ed by police officers themselves orgas by killers increase in14 size of Philippine econoeosa 100,000, yhuman Caa oos NAKED added quarters of growth having birthday party with more this law, Under and CEO of PhilHealth, he must office. What has Duterte Wh ea ahe Pa strong es den may have sunder gned na obreakfast proven any competent norfor any pos vein-Duterte and e himself ec ve measu es aga ns per the asix recovery ofom 7 it’s percent to 8Pepercent percent in GDP s EU oDom e anguez n om nves ga“Without ng ongo ng clude your name in shortlist for appointes den and CEO oaccidenPh Hea hmade he mus They say the ideaGierr was ment slumped inmore Q2 with outlays e wants tomoney send it.member director shall be appointed by the President Wh euspresident, he Pstrong esbe den may have shaving gned o the an breakfast birthday party with more Ewan ko kung o s o ea peop e bu yung th Under Esgue Ta k o abou you n e es ng an urgent and lasting jobs policy. SanWhat has made Duterte a president, “What we find in the last months, like having factory running at 95 perless, or none at all? tion, the Philippines could now Duterte has employed more generals, beneficiaries of the February 1986 a recovery of 7 to 8 percent in GDP ou o he a ves Adds Dominguez: the lockdown, w much by he GCG o he Pres den Bu he Pres oblivion, notwithstandin Du e e has emp oyed mo e gene a s oco n pub c ranspor To me wou d linked to the authorities.” Adds Dom nguez “W hou he ockdown before it went negative in the first quarter of ma e how much money o f re he err ng genera SO Aside from the drugs war killings, the more han 27 000 n he gu se of e m na ng pointed by the President be firs appo n ed as a membe o he Boa d less corrupt than past administrations. than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown proaw Bayan han 2 he b ons a o ed o h s my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bil1 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also ment as a member of the Board of Trustees and drivers of public utit from a short-list prepared by the Governance g a and co up on ” growth rate in 2021. That is now overly optibe s appo n ed as a membe o he Boa d ta Banana, I foresee a bleak future for the dustrial machinery and transport equipse powers—control of the aw Bayan han 2 he b ons a o ed o h s My gula pointed by p og ams o gove nmen agenc es as h s than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown proTHOUGHT the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also sa soc a med a you know e ng me o shu exchanges w h peop e is that the lower quarantine restriction cent capacity. Duterte has imposed the longest and communist rule. The communists were tal event of time, place and personalities, from the military and the police, than any growth rate in 2021. That is now overly optithe rate of infections and deaths could have Esgue a A e you happy be ng a Du e e? edented achievements f Authorities admitcanno to 7,000 ega deaths yduring conomies, their es he om he m a y and he po ce han any he athe e ochief n ec onsnational and dea hs cou2020. d have nofoUS he econom den appo n G erran a memworsen he prob em Board of Trustees of When of the capital’s o T us ees of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterp o ec a e on y s op gap measu es o a e he 52. rior and Local Governme hibiting gatherings tenawan or more in people Commission for Government-owned or-ConPhilippines without any assurance that peogiven him one of his major failures—massive oaAny T and us ees Human Rights Watch has also noted the mistic. Without ahave vaccine for general use, the hecommodity pervas ega drugs curse pof oohis ec aFe than on ythe s op gap measu es up o aoofgatherings ed 62.1 percent lower for private any or conBoard of P T hibiting of people ten oreve more in and lion in 2016), aden dramatic reduction in poverty, has actually opened more sectors of themistic. endsveoyve “mudd e ment up” and cause de ays naand But in April more 7.3 milmost strict lockdown inbe the world—for given him one2020, major failures—massive already all over the country—in parliafashioned sustained aDu litany and I SEE ka wha Du e e A o p nos n New Yo k otherBegun president before him. More than 45 ident cann Without vaccine for general use, the been much worse. The latest data suggest that the campaign. numbers above that are nation its people. Du e e Yes Because ng a e e o ssively, anyway. in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2o he p es be o e h m Mo e han 45 been much wo se The es da a sugges ha sh unk mass anyway police force was caught on social media mine whether you are qualified to hold this ardo Añoin said that this included the listifprep Wha ssix a employed emonths he ega equ emen s equ be o emen elion ted humantaxpayers rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG). vviolations. e rights peop needs ple can get when this pandemic one place at one the same time), refused ber ofwell he of Trus ees much more as Mark my words here w surge human Critics say Wha snow aBoard e investigation.” he ega sabe oheelost vof aeby eshis he peop e seven needs construction 46.8 percent directing included inw recession could rage well into 2021. place the Duterte same refused ernh @yahoo com economy helped bring back jobs.” people their jobs—“largely in more from March ment, academe, labor and thekilled CHARLIE V. barrage of“homicides publicity to efface Pres-rights human violations. Critics say he bDsays znewsas a@gma com emen alittle classified aswith under star-rank officers occupy cabinet civilpolitically motivated detention most Human Rmoney ghonsover Wa says many ofalower,” he recession could rage 2021. Waat ang hbeeaastime), o haDuterte mofYung a the apackage percent all cases we emedia, mp essed she y killed Iang—d could well repeat fold increase inand the size of Philippine econoand middle-income status for Filipinos, package Health pre s athis ank o Gierran ce s occupy cab and ce vthan me was some hadverse nge appo made myse When a1 ch ebreakfast oveof1construction peCOVID-19 cen oparty COV 19 cases office. addthe more jeepneys, buse having aPublic birthday with more law, canand only bene apUnder finally ends! stimulus ze o and he sstrong us ewhere, Duterte amp president, by GCG to Presi G an can be ninto ed asinappo a membe oa 27,000 Wha s guise essen ahe and ue ogenha s to sspeech afire the G an can be nafter ed as membe othe more than in of eliminating Wha stransport, essen and uong generring snfire a general. ong ADB. slipped byian a positions themu restrictions by the GCG When the President came to power LITO a Ph Hea h pres den CEO my gu ay! COVID-19 cases he coun ry as a resu Mr. President, lift the lockdowns. services—mainly trade, ac15, 2020. And what do we get clergy. The Supreme Court recognized this to the erring general. ident Marcos from the tapestry of history. Aside from the drugs war killings, the more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating in the government. my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilWhen the President came to power in eloquently that “good de in the country are severe or critical. Our morwan umah m k The ka Presngg kaof ang Hang sobs un po e cy ed He us says whapeve My sgulay, it’s ka a long process! ether itsoiscampaign, actualtransportation—not e MANALO pointedper by pos the President member of the an onsincome n as heagove nmen * *d*o T us strict lockdown pro-Ou mo prominent critic, Senator de Lima, the 000 are has “v guaanthan e-sn50yheguests ecoun k (despite yngs a e perpe seve e orac - ca was g ow nBoa Davao wasn —you al drugs cannot legally appo he Boang d ouphe Tthe us ees? bu a27 whe he acalso eHe mLeila oof pMarcos even a enterb gge ob their capita exceeding $3,000. manent Co ees? efavor m obs po cyinsofar p even a bcannot gge pjust obpick anybody to be Phil- dent the pervasive illegal drugs curse. cannot marginal 0.9 percent inatQ2. s and people under astality lockhe stumbled greatest and They make noe of sense. I July think commodation, restaurants, and giving most ofwhoever our liberties? when ruled inillegal as They pursued what notable poet Sir RichHuman Rights Watch hasbasic also noted the the pervasive drugs curse. in 2016), a dramatic in m poverty, Take no ha before GCG can Despite overwhelming dominance of beneficial todent the nation an of s ononsense ident July 2016, heinto stumbled into greatest and ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people tancing protocol. BANAYO Board of Trustees PhilHealth if2016, heeven was I bdon’t know had the idea of of the hibiting of ten orkmore people gang dun ang a aga onem hitosChief mpove nd They ppove obab yhthe vo edbiznewsasia@gmail.com o T ump hisform major Desp hereduction ove whe ng dom nance oup ahemse ygatherings a omay on he obyhe hand sbut a in 2 he 5lion peop e the ber of the Board ofthe Trus Sec 13 oin 10149 GOCC Gove n he y nknow gon dea …RA be o eethe he Rod go2018 uc ve paby sacronym—and opohece economy Sec on 13 o RA 10149 GOCC Gove n removal in May of Justice Maedeconomy. off cers ves or ers em o y ber of Duterte not know it er orfailures—massive ex-officio Human Rights Watch says many of Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecolongest economic expansion the country’s politically motivated detention of his most without the lockdowns, you can win tainment—but also in industry, espeWell, nothing—but misery and poverty. ard Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned. and included middle-income status foreFilipinos, biznewsasia@gmail.com president Health experts say B t Human Rights many of Health the in the submitted be effaced orpresident/C expunged, easing the one-meter social prothegene Duterte administration has not longest economic expansion indistancing the country’s per a hundred thousand.” place at the ed same time), Duterte refusedgenerals, Critics sayahesys killed se not systemic cquarters ude your name n27,000 he shor s My for nheWatch - gu dea heGCG p The opera a slist heprepared Du eand adm nwith s a Du onprominent PhilHealth ance Ac ocritic, 2011 manda es ha an appo nha ngan“vigilante-style sand noo CEO. as bad as othree he ors cper- csahave go en nPhilHealth oo— m su o says hThey oe ssay gu ay e—come e sperpetratone enk emen m ng pe a hund housand ” phisobanked em s no em c one ehas e no even en eSenator ed po cs know ha ance Ac oisgrowth. 2011 manda es appo nrevocation ngappo My ay he onessmanent ehe emen m was ss ng athe achieved almost full employment durklations. successor—without are killings Leila deme Lima, the an election. history—70 consecutive of cially manufacturing. Lowerincome The Philippines today is the epicenter tial matter of history not what happened I sincerely believe that in time, Marcos will their per capita income exceeding $3,000. Commissions of and the two (www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes Sereno, the of amWhat can happen here is o he au hor es ” Carlos Do by the GCG to the President. But the Presitocol in public transport. To it would (www.manilastandard.net) triumphs in end. Mar nomic performance of the Philippines ever. 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratproven itself any more competent nor any to fire the erring general. history—70 consecutive quarters of growth. He notes that per 100,000, the EU member 0.ycSimply, in ca the guise of eliminating necesTake note that befor d ec o sha be appo n ed by he P es den p oven se any mo e compe en no any s an u gen and as ng obs po cy San He no es ha pe 100 000 he EU membe e ms o ac ua h ea s na “sana ma ape ka o A o o ques ons ha go we e—”wow men as a member of he Board of Trus ees bus S mp y neces and dr vers of pub c u y veh c es In ed ec o sha be appo n ed by he P es den s an u gen and as ng obs po cy San he a he was he gove no Bu neve Take not hether thatcurse. guy is a geni- ing his presidency, an unprecedented removal inthe 2018 of or Chief Maby police officers themselves or by killers ex-officio members (Secretary of Finance everything we Marcos have gaine Duterte presides over the worstaecoand semi-skilled workers, most ofor them of COVID pandemic the Justice whole of dent cannot legally appoint Gierran membut what people said about it.’” Duterte himself added 14May quarters growth be vindicated. He was aAntonio visionary, born ahead worsen problem. is secure. The law ed police officers themselves by killers gal drugs less nToday, corrupt than past administrations. Sec states average 31 deaths, UK 70,dur Spain 61, himself added 14in quarters ofedgrowth nesty Senator (now retired) Au hor agg es adm 7 ave 000 dea ngthat clude name inyour the s om a sho s as pwrote ed he nance mper aggregate abyBanana esee a b eak u ump oeak heunau Dominguez The slump isup also the worst ASEAN. The essBoard co hanPhilippines pas much adm more never. sinaasDuterte ons s oa es age 31hs dea hs UK 70when Spa 61biznewsasia@gmail.com kaary d oEdumama ka”yourBudget kamag anak mo?” Oh om aepa sho pbe epa ed by nance ons hampe ega e biznewsasia@gmail.com aoBanana othe esee ae bessed e “Kapag o he umuw clude achievement. Economists say ac nincompoop, rianegative Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amCarlos and Department of ay den ed myse hethat daugh eaGove oand —o * * *n ber of the Trustees, of Ph hea hbysgiven he GCG rsGove needs o authorities.” de ernomic performance of the Mark my words, there will surge oftofhe linked the authorities.” rwere orgosh and Loca Governmen Secre employed only informally, hit hard Asia, outside of India, Pakistan, Lazaro also said succeeding adof his (www.manilastandard.net) time. Generations freemy from blemish before it went in the first quarter of fit us. They are embedded s, Watch says manyorSweden ofeven the 57, linked to the When the chief of the national capital’s and the US 52. before it went negative in the first quarter of ment as a member of th Comm ss on o Gove nmen owned o Con SO Ph pp nes w hou any assu ance ha peo have to vo When he ch e o he na ona cap a s Sweden 57 above and he US 52are Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and campa gn Any numbers ha Comm ss on o Gove nmen owned o Con Ph pp nes w hou any assu ance ha peo Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also ment as a m The ban of going to nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio mp essed s a And m— ea y? No h ng o a PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! unemployment hits 5 percent, practical,ante-style the he people must already economic collapse also makes him the worst COVID-19 cases in the country as a result The slump is also the worst in ASEAN. The he—cous n o —o he—n ece o —o he— Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during because few had the option to work from Bangladesh. With over 3,000 cases daily, have used lawsyou even are as they country.police That force daringwas bombing run levelled and revenge look more deaths kindly on 2020. m whe her qua off phate ed o ho hwill sSOto killings perpetratand continue to govern a ardo Año sa d has pandem f h s c s to rueI SEE we shou d “Undas” Authorities 7,000 during caught on the social media Philhealth, the GCGD human rights violations oministrations edaCo po aone ons GCG 2020. emp can ge demp oyed h s pandem projected po cethat oTHE ce caugh on soc awe med havech to vote whether orinAll Saints’ 3 under Unpreceden edaga human r”agh s vIt’s o economic a president onsTakethe ed Co a4.2ons note before can inTrillanes IVeto who led mutinies in 2002 and padmit e above can empare oyed when of this nonsense. ofthe Philhealt conom s s ea e as p “hom o 3. ecorUnprecedented ed clydes everyone needing job hasthe job. yearlier want more Duterte, collapse also makes himGCG the worst To be coninclude nuedyou or not of beof essed by w hwhen m FIFTH notes ADB. are reaching 300,000 and will 2007, and the passage ayacknowledge new Anti-Terror c ass fofedor nves on sought destroy consign Marcos to the campaign. Any numbers that him, and hishge achievements and sough ohoff oy oorepo cons gn Ma cos o home,” g1999, anddaugh odes — was us Nue eGCG Twin Towers, most recent universalBegun in theperforexpansion meant acases cers themselves by killers ever inwas terms ofmore economic Marcos’ vision andshor fore the campaign. Any above that are I numbers SEE mine whether you are q having a breakfast birthday party with s aw G an can on y be ap Unde ce na ends add more eepneys buses and o her means What has made Duterte a strong president, Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2in the shortlist. percent in GDP Day is no problem for me clude your name in the shortlist for appointThey say the idea was to help operators hav ng a b eak as b hday pa y w h mo e 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror h s aw G e an can on y be ap Unde na y ends Wha has made Du e e a s ong p es den mine wheth ever in terms of economic perfor95 per-president all? eorities.” cen o 8 pe cen n GDP like having a factory runninglyataccepted Ironically, had be No. 20 in number of total EsgueastoaDuterte Anong mo sasix kan a? GCG is akin to theLITO oblivion, notwithstanding solid unprecthe nation. ob vNue on no wP ehs and ng hhis s membe so dclassified unp ec heascontribution “homicides under investigation.” The GC fold increase inpo the size Philippine economade Du egu my den yCOVID forForgovernance arewe richl symbol of American engineering Act (ATA). As delongest from he cent drugs war campaign, k dngs healso byof es den as ohad LITO classified under investigation.” *s *nasab * rescued 50 guests strict lockdown mance. Judicial many office. years, ha vicious illegal fold increase inehe the of Philippine ment as han a (despite member of sthe Board GOSPEL and drivers of public utility vehicles. Intenow overly optiAct (ATA). My ay ’sgood aSoeconoong process! The Prespo nsize ed by Pahe es den as a membe owou hed “homicides ranspor on—no ease he soc a and d Bar s- office. * *an*o abe The 50 gues desp e sof Trustees cproockdown pnin oeded mance. hecapacity. v c drugs ous ega ugs has campa gn than has a so mposed the 21 Tha s now ovethe yand op BANAYO CROSSROADS million from poverty—defined as cases the world among 220 countries. edented achievements for the the *BANAYO *whoeve * eof eden ach evemen swha ohe oof he mit to 7,000 deaths during Aside fromAside the drugs war killings, the b znewsas a@gma com say “ he s no h ng m varied and numerous lega my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilea y ve y e o do w h eve Council. B knowhow, killing 3,000 people and shattering My gulay, it’s a long Council. Before you can be appointed as Boa d o T us ees o Ph Hea h he was cemeteries on those two don know had he dea o of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterfrom the drugs war killings, the rior and Local Government Secretary Eduhibiting gatherings of ten or more people in given him one of his major failures—massive my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilRecently, there have been sensational Recently, there have been sensational Human R gh s Wa ch has a so no ed he general use, the Boa d o T us ees o Ph Hea h he was And that is all due to the second biggest don know whoeve had he dea o My gula h b ng ga he ngs o en o mo e peop e n And that is all due to the second biggest But in April 2020, more than 7.3 milkdown in the world—for g ven h m one o h s ma o a u es—mass ve den canno us p ck anybody o be Ph vacc ne o gene a use he anc ng pro oco ny numbers above that are income ofBanana, $2 a day. wasa going In fact, weand will be 15, dislodging nation people. Santa I cannot believe thistong is member na on s that peop epTop Human Rights Watch alsoHe noted the If cannot only member to show an ex lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction poverty, thep Board to any GOCC, Phil- ident other days. What mine whether youtime), are qualified to hold this justmatters pick a ardo Año said this is true, we should nc uded na its he sinifin epa ed and subm ed eas ng he has one me e he soc dthat s eanc pthe o s ancofng the US’ image of invincibility. JUDE Human Rights Watch has also noted one place at the same Duterte refused killings of known political activists, human human rights violations. Critics say he killed o lion in 2016), dramatic reduction in poverty, failure. nc uded n he s p epa ed and subm ed o 2021. eas ng one me soc a d o ident canno one p ace a he same me Du e e e used lion people lost their jobs—“largely in months now from March gh o ahons C cs say he kfailure. ed of known political activists, human micides pounder y mo va edhuman de en ons vof s mos Opportunities age we n ocainvestigation.” 2021 bring down poverty toanspo an unheard of 12exper even Bangladesh. Lungs and bubbles Imore could well repeat what Lazaro saidPCEO so coming from the Philippine National Police politically motivated detention of his most Hea hkillings pres den and The hree perHealth included, you must pass through the Health andand foresight of Marcos, Hea h s say h s s dangerous ber pray for our lov J.A. office. and in middle-income status for Filipinos, with add jeepneys, buses, and other means president and C by he GCG o he P es den Bu he es oco n pub c To me wou d rights defenders, and alleged New People’s Opportunities That a second plane subsequently landed to fire the erring general. politically motivated detention of his most 2. Pandemic mismanagement more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating and middle-income status for Filipinos, with by he GCG o he P es den Bu he P es oco n pub c anspo To me wou d e to power in Health pres Health inc services—mainly dowarnen wekillings, o eit’s heaACIDRE elong ngprocess! genetheir a The he drugs the moor e Le han 27 000trade, he transport, guhe se o e acm na ng percent by 2022, from 30s in thethe2000s. The economy collapsed by 0.7ess percent that deeds, especially s what den came oget powe chief. He said that National Capital Region oquen yincludes ha “good deeds espec aprominent yathose hose of the sGCG, must in- manent gone ahead ofstill us.apply My gulay, ofeeloquently transportation—not ease the social dissuances that ano critic, Senator de Lima, defenders, New People’s prom crafter c nSena a de Ln ma perPrescapita income exceeding $3,000. Commissions den ega yrights appo nega G an wo sen he pLeila ob em 2. Pandemic mismanagement er allies are now saying looking back, towringer have here manen Comm ons ofGand and he wo 9/11 wars (this the Iraq and Syria encan happen ha and weyou cou d be ose DELA CRUZ prominent critic, Senator de Lima, the drugs curse. thesePentagon, the seat ofjust America’s military den canno y$3,000. appo nmem eGCG analleged a mem wo sen heWha pLeila ob em their per canno capita exceeding manent Com the greatest andgliberties? and enter- ident t ofed our Watch has also noted the heillegal pe vas ve restaurants, ega d ugs cu beneficial to the nation the people, cannot Police Office chief, Major General Debold bene che a Boa oincome hedna on and he peop e mo canno cannot pick anybody to be Philmb n obasic he eathe es pervasive and commodation, wringer of tancing protocol. removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Maex-officio members (Se be o o T us ees much e as Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecoMa k my wo ds he e w be a su ge o spent those to the economies gagements which continue todthe the moment), remova nhis May 2018 of Ch efgh Jus cech Mabiznewsasia@gmail.com removal inFamounts May 2018 ofevery Chief Justice Mabe o say Boa osu Tv us ees modeserves e as ex-off cheoup members (Secre ary of nance Ma k enhancing my wo dsh hehas ewe w be a su o Human Rights Watch says many ofmight, themany ex-officio m ng have gagened Duterte presides over worst ecothen a he thirdbpresident one barely missing the in the country’s ated detention most also in industry, espe—but misery znewsas a@gma com and CEO. The threeperformance per- Today, Health experts this ismy dangerous. Human R s Wa says o Health expunged, survives Sinas, a promotion because heas be eeffaced aced oor expunged Good ves and much expans on and n of hepoverty. coun y s tainment—but ria Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amCarlos Dominguez an a Ph Hea h p es den CEO gu ay COV D 19 cases n he coun y a esu (www.manilastandard.net) nomic of the Philippines ever. Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher of these countries, their infrastructures, mainly for the Department Defense THIS coming Saturday, September is supPhend Hea hcos p es den CEO gu ay COV Dthe 19recruits. cases n heofcoun ria Lourdes Sereno, revocation am- y as*a* esu Carlos Do “vigilante-style Senator Leila Lima, the nomic performance of the Philippines ever. rters of growth. cially manufacturing. income nes today is the House before crashing PennsylCommissions ofaGCG and net the two www maninto astandard rve a qua Lourdes revoca on amWhat can happen here isof that we could lose Car os Dom nguez Depar men ofbuilding * (www.manilastandard.net) man astandard net) triumphs in end. Marcos’ in in training new umphs neathe he Ma pplace ace nand hhistory s and othe ynmyexperience 27he 000 a e “v 11, gkillings an eof sLoweryperpetrate kWhie ngs pe pemanent a (www ecu edes epicenter o 27,000 gSereno ow hare Budget Secretary Wende Take no ha be o e he GCG can nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio o h s nonsense The slump is also the worst in ASEAN. The Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Take no e ha be o e he GCG can n o h s nonsense Budget Sec 2018 of Chief Justice Manesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio ManilaStandard getting toSinas theirThe own food, military establishment, the US StateWende departposed to US Joere date edgSena by officers themselves or by killers members (Secretary of Finance we have gained. Theceverything slump also thenat: worst in ASEAN. The and semi-skilled workers, most ndemic whole ofpolice arters growth ManilaStandard canis beThe accessed Honor Blanco Cabieto Ramonchito Managing Editor vania cornfield, worldwide condemcanthem be accessed at:so is secure. Marcos laws beneWhat, when openly violated that rehabils secu emakes Ma cos aws abound and bene Ramonchito L. Tomeld ed(now by po ceBiden’s ored) ce sAn hemse by k ex-officio e smerited Budge Secre ary sado) w aproduce SO er es ddednes 14in qua s obe ow hPresident ban of oL. Tomeldan ceme dur ng y the geven or on ovesofothem to vote whether ude you name he sho sn ohe appo nsAv say he dea was oand he ope aooAnita sgopF.ng Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002he economicONLINE collapse also him the worst manilastandard.net SO Editors have Jimbo c eude you sho oitating appo nCommunity manilastandard.net Anita F.They Grefal Treasury Manager They say dea was he ope sS. Eñano eno, the revocation of am-this have toS. vot Carlos Dominguez andan Department of *counter-terror *makes * name Trillanes IV who led mutinies inp 2002 Grefala oTreasury Manager linked to employed the authorities.” only informally, were hit hard offirst India, Pakistan, and their cities and basically getting theirand peoONLINE ment, intelligence and related with history. On day, so(www.manilastandard.net) the original White economic collapse also him the worst Owen Gulle Chin Wong/Ray Associate ega quarter ofs qua fit us us. in our legal system Chin Wong/Ray Eña Enhanced Quarantine protocols They aare embedded nBoa ou ega sys em nation pouring into already I SEE nked o he au ho es ” Publishedhigh-octane Monday to Sunday bygas Philippine ManilaSO Standard ve n he e o in the shortlist. men as a membe o he d o T us ees and d ve s o pub c u y veh c es n e Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror have o vo e whe her o nc ude you or no “Undas” or A Sa n s’ Day and A Sou s’ I SEE president ever in terms of economic perforTr anes IV who ed mu n toes n 2002 and Budget Secretary Wendel will also men ascare, aof othe he Boa d when o2007, TR.out us eespoverty The ban of going tomembe cemeteries during ator (now retired) Antonio and dChief veofsof pubReynato c usuch yhuge esPangco n Head—Ad e Pañares in the short Former Justice S.veh Puno Board Member & Editor Chief Legal Adviser Baldwin Felipe Head—Ad Solutions and the passage ao spending new Anti-Terror Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106Avisado) Paseo de Authorities admit 7,000 deaths during Lino M. Santos because few had the option to000 work from th over 3,000 cases daily, Joyce News Baldwin R.cFelipe Solutions president ever in terms economic perforple of instead costs, costs for veterans US Department House narrative suggested, Biden would fiPublishing Inc. at 6/Fnue Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de MEMBER Joyce Pangco Paña continue to govern guide nation. he had a mañanita birthday party? and con o gove n and gu de he na on ManilaStandard MEMBER seething American fury. Grief had to give way LITO Au ho es adm o 7 dea hs du ng The GCG is akin to t o Ph hea h he GCG s needs o de e o and Loca Gove nmen Sec e a y Edu can be accessed at: Ramonc (ATA). SO Roxas,have corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.SEE Telephone to vote whether to include you or not Roxas, “Undas” All Saints’ Day andGCG AllAct Souls’ mance. led2007 mutinies in 2002 and LITO corner Perea or St., Village, Makati oon Ph hea hCity. he sngneeds o(ATA). de emilitary oadventures. andManager Loca Gove Sec a yAdelle Edu TheChua GCG nLegaspi he shor Day s nonmen prob eme for meCirculation and my w fe Philippine Press Institute Chua Opinion Editor home,” notes ADB. goion 300,000 and and he passage a numbers new An -Terror Act thewill campaign. Any above Philippine Press Institute Valmorida Circulation BANAYO Adelle acases 4.2Marcos’ foresight in For PNP Chief Camilo Coscolan say Ma cos vvision sONLINE and esinterest ghsTelephone n lawmaking awmak sums to ofmance. Homeland Security payments nally ambition asAny the ul- thatto Edgar M. Manager 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all manilastandard.net Council. Before you Bc heof campa gn s are above hado, a the e calls I numbe SEE m ne whe he you aand eome qua ed oe ho dEdgar hed s M. numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all athere do Año sa dbeen haAño hsa s ds haue towe shou dueValmorida derringnumbers to of crushing terrorists hemeant expans on cement mean ahis 4 2lifelong The National Association Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager BANAYO in shortlist. Day is no problem for and my wife. Recently, have sensational The National Association assage of a new Anti-Terror And that is all due to the second biggest m ne whe he you a qua o ho d h s a do h s s we shou d Council. Chin Wo departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising)L832-5550. Ironically, Duterte hadunde rescued number total COVID TO P.O. Manila Recently, there have been sensational departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, 832-5550. classified under investigation.” The GCG s ak nbiggest Jud apolitical Bar Philippine Newspapers For years we have no gone o he member of the Board t And that isnance all due to the second hilippine econofor governance richly illustrated the iscamo big insult to us all. Even President oofFor gove aare e(Advertising) ch ypurpose. us a P.O. ed byothe hehe of Philippine Newspapers Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine That withdrawal fiasco could not come onStandard the allocated for the timate maker,asthe foreign Aco of (ATA) o funds ce add eand eepneys buses and omany hehave means LITO c“homicides ass ed aspolicy “hom cguru. des nvessix ga onThe ” GCG is Office, akin to the Judicial many years, we have not gone to he ze Ph pppeace ne econo worldwide who vowed Boxparticularly 2933, Manila Central those Post Manila. Website: www.toand Bar killings of this known activists, human Box 2933, Manila Centralo Post Offi ce, Manila. Website: www. ceous failure. Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial BoardofE add mo e eepneys buses and o he means member BANAYO million from poverty—defined rldstoamong 220 countries. OPEN Baldwin R.rose Felipe Head—Ad Solutions killings of not known political activists, human Aside from the drugs war killings, thekas an Opportunities BANAYO Publishing Inc. at 6/F you Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo dethe Joyc varied and numerous legal issuances.” Duterte did even reprimand Sinas. va ed nume ega ssuances ” failure. 98 $304.9 bilmanilastandard.net Counc Before you can be appo n ed as you m MEMBER manilastandard.net My gu ay s a ong p ocess The P es ceme er es on hose We go on Health included, Council. Before can be appointed as o anspo a on—no ease he soc a d s cemeteries on those two days. We go on at the worst time. Not only has the Taliban Of US$8 trillion cost, about one fourth or Where others failed to bring home the troops As de om he d ugs wa ngs he Opportunities on n 1998 o $304 9 b re have been sensational Recen y Human here Rights haveWatch sensa ona the Satan” and its accomplices rights defenders, alleged New People’s My an gu example ay s aof ong p ocess The Pand es be o and anspo a on—no ease he soc a wo d s days Health inclu 2. Pandemic mismanagement income ofbeen $2 has a day. Henoted wasdestroy going to “Great be ininTop 15, dislodging Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone also the rights defenders, alleged New People’s If only to show the vision I won’t surprised if one day Sinas ction poverty, 2. Pandemic mismanagement member of the Board to any GOCC, Philother days. What matters is that we rememwringer of the GCG, a den canno us p ck anybody o be Ph anc ng p o oco Philippine Press Institute Human R gh s Wa ch has a so no ed he from the ashes and recaptured Afghanistan it has US$2.3 trillion was attributed to the Afghanistan/ and end the last of America’s “ forever wars,” n political activists, human member of he Board o any GOCC Ph ama c educ on n pove y o her days Wha ma ers s ha we rememTHOUGHTS Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager den canno us p ck anybody o be Ph anywhere. And so, from the ashes of the Twin (www man astandard net) anc ng p o oco wringer of numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all k ngs of known po ca ac v s s human bring downOpportunities poverty to of an his unheard of 12 Health included, Lungs and bubb es the Hea politically motivated detention most you must pass through Marcos, hereones isbecomes PNP chiefreputation and o pes ghden oof Ma cos he eNational aare e hhis s hlegal ega s ber and pray for our loved who have The Association rh.and Filipinos, with hforesight es and CEO The ee pe Hea h expe shimself. say hAas spromotion, sdependable dangeh ous alleged New People’s Opportunities po ca y mo va ed de en on o h s mos stained America’s a ally Pakistan war zone. The rest went to other segas many have come to describe the 20-year me s a us o F p nos w h Hea h p es den and CEO The h ee pe Hea h expe s say s s dange ous departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Hea h nc uded you mus pass hrough he Towers on that fateful September ber and pray for our oved ones who have by 2022, fromPeop 30s ine’s thethe2000s. yding collapsed 0.7 percent ofaare Philippine wringer of morning the GCG,ofand you must be in- manen gone ahead us. that apply being used: huh? What’s next, I wonder. prominentpercent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, suances ha ofsstill app y and e sstill and be ngNewspapers used ghUS sbydefenders New Comm ss ons oincluding GCG wo and Wha can he s hathat we osewe cou d ose ORLANDO p aomeged nen che c Sena a 2001, de L ma comer$3,000. exceed ng $3 000 inand 2933,on Manila Central Postborn. Office,And Manila. Website: manen Comm ss GCG ons o heGCG he wo happen and peacekeeper no end. And putting mentswww. of the total war effort payments engagement Afghanistan, would beo Le Wha cane happen heiscou ejust s dof ha 11, theBox “he War Terror” was wr nger of he and you mus be ngone ahead us 2018 of Chief Justice Maex o c o membe s Sec e a y o F nance eve y h ng we have ga ned er the worst eco- removal in May manilastandard.net emova n May 2018 o Ch e Jus ce Ma ex o c o membe s Sec e a y o F nance number of US secur y exper s ns s ng ha he Russ an hackers are back n he

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man lives lost and societies broken which Presca outNaofona the Great oof lives, ves pproperties, ope es The Assoc Dea on pression 1930s s o Ph ppin nethe Newspape institutions, nations societies. ns u ons na ons and soc e es A report ident Biden highlighted in that defiant speech of being the “ world’s policeman”, the go-to Em G.Pcountry Jurado Cha rman Emer tusnoEd tor abeBoard toPublisher change the world may longer and presided over America’s heroic role as the from the Costs of War Project at Brown justifying the incredibly chaotic and traumatic Rolando Estabillo dec s ons hen so be Hum y neve k ed Ro ando G Es ab o Pub he Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser properHonor and sustainable. withdrawal frome Kabul and, of course, his indelynchpin of Allied can victory in World WarFormer II. Chief anyone Ou gove nmen ex s s o he p hem ManilaStandard University in Providence, Rhode Island noted be accessed at: Blanco Cabie Night Editor Fo me Ch e us ce Reyna o S Puno Boa d Membe & Ch e Lega Adv Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor M an be a e as edfate a anco Cabadministrae N gh Ed o They mus be escued whe eve hey a e we o L Tome danandManagAs ng for Ed oPresidentHono manilastandard.net BidenBCity andEditor his fensible decisions andRamonch conduct before, during It was a plan made in heaven. But, Anita F. Treasury Manager ONLINE that “ 20 years ofGrefal post-An9/11 cost Jimbo Owen Gulle Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors man a anda d ne a F wars G e ahave T ea u ythe Manage ONLINE nila Standard mboand Owen Gu eintellectual C y Ed o have o gh ou way o hem we gh ou n Wong/Ray Sthe Eñano a e the Ed onoted essayist b hdepp n would M n nd d it, Biden’s legacy-sealing opertion, public ofChUS troops and takeo-A oc have R. Felipe Head—Ad 6 Paseo United Baldwin States an estimated US$8Solutions trillion and after the withdrawal Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor MEMBER Ba dw n R Fe pe Head—Ad So u on Bu d n 106 d M to San osin her Ch e Pho og aphe oyce Pangco Paña es NewPeggy Ed o Noonan hadL no Ma MB R City. Telephone this say August ver of Afghanistan by the Taliban. ation turned into nightmare. Not only for way Don be d den and a a s c Don Philippine Press Institute Adelle Chua Opinion Editor killedEdgar moreM.than 900, 000Circulation people.” Manager Valmorida p V all M C ph n necting Ph pp ne P e n u e Ade e Chua Op n on Ed o The National Association Edga M Va mo da C cu a on Manage 56 832 5558 nn n But even that pivot to the dollar cost of Amer- 19, 2021 piece at the Wall Street journal: “ “ be equ voca Don be o ced by even s Take him and his administration g) 832-5550. P.O. Thebut Na the ona American A o a on “The war has been long and complex and of Philippine Newspapers 2 5554 www. Ad n 832 5550 O o Ph pp ne New pape Website: Emilunder P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board path now is the hu..the only right political fire.Em Most au ho y Th s s o y s no go ng away ” O ﬁ M npeople W b and wwwits allies and all those who cheered horrific and unsuccessful and the war continues ica’s interventions post 9/11 was P u ado Cha man Eme u Ed o a Boa d when then-President George W. Bush decid- indefinitely, “ said Catherine Lutz, a professor of nations where America has been preaching the mane one. It’s also the path to at least some These a e essons we have o ea n ou ed to invade Afghanistan after the bombing international and public affairs at Brown Uni- values of freedom and nation building have come partial redemption. Mr. Biden should see that se ves as we abo on w h h s pandem c and of New York’s twin powers by Al Qaeda and versity and co-director with Stephanie Savell to question the value of dedicating such humon- his job now is saving the lives of Americans he o he bu dens wh ch have come ou way gous sums to a war effort no matter how noble in Afghanistan and their friends in a major and as we ge n o ano he ound o se ec ng ou its relations who were housed and sheltered and Neta Crawford of the Costs of War Project. by the Taliban, a Islamist movement who eade s o he nex s x yea s s ou hope we The report advised that the US$8-trilllion and necessary. It would have been a hundred declared rescue operation. If that means emwas then holding the reins of power in that cost estimate was for direct costs of the post- times better, peoples in many of America’s poor- barrassing himself temporarily by reversing w now ea n ou essons we

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

In world first, Cuba starts COVID jabs for toddlers up to 2 yrs. old HAVANA—Cuba on Monday became the first country in the world to vaccinate children from the age of two against Covid-19, using home-grown jabs not recognized by the World Health Organization. The communist island of 11.2 million people aims to inoculate all its children before reopening schools that have been closed for the most part since March 2020. The new school year started on Monday, but from home via television programs, as most Cuban homes do not have internet access. Having completed clinical trials on minors with its Abdala and Soberana vaccines, Cuba kicked off its inoculation campaign for children on Friday, starting with those 12 and older. On Monday, it started distributing jabs in the 2-11 age group in the central province of Cienfuegos.

SAND, MAN. A man covered in sand relaxes on the beach in Miami Beach, Florida, on September 6 during the Labor Day holiday in the United States. AFP

Several other countries in the world are vaccinating children from the age of 12, and some are conducting trials in younger kids. Countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela have announced they plan to vaccinate younger children, but Cuba is the first to do so. Chile on Monday approved the Chinese Sinovac vaccines for children between six and 12. The Cuban vaccines, the first developed in Latin America, have not undergone international, scientific peer review. They are based on recombinant protein technology—the same used by the United States’ Novavax and France’s Sanofi jabs also awaiting WHO approval. Unlike many other shots in use, recombinant vaccines do not require extreme refrigeration. AFP

Trial of 9/11 ‘brains’, 4 others restarts

UBA—The prosecution of alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others restarts Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, stirring new hopes for justice and retribution. Mohammed and his co-defendants, who have been locked up at the “War on Terror” prison at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for nearly 15 years, will appear in the military tribunal here for the first time since early 2019.

Taliban claims total control after Panjshir victory KABUL—The Taliban on Monday claimed total control over Afghanistan, saying they had won the key battle for the Panjshir Valley, the last remaining holdout of resistance against their rule. Following their lightning-fast victory in mid-August over the former Afghan government’s security forces and the withdrawal of US troops after 20 years of war, the Taliban turned to fighting the forces defending the mountainous Panjshir Valley. As the Islamist hardliners claimed victory, their chief spokesman warned against any further attempts to rise up against their rule while urging former members of the security forces to join their regime’s ranks. “With this victory, our country is completely taken out of the quagmire of war,” chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. “Anyone who tries to start an insurgency will be hit hard. We will not allow another,” he later added at a press conference in Kabul. The Taliban published a video of their flag being raised over the governor’s house in Panjshir—underscoring a historic win that has seen the anti-Taliban bastion defeated for the first time during 40 years of conflict. AFP

Boy, 3, with autism survives three days in Aussie outback SYDNEY—An Australian mother said Tuesday she felt “blessed” after her three-year-old son with autism was found alive, scooping muddy water from a creek in dense outback terrain after a three-day hunt that gripped the country. Police sent a helicopter with thermal imaging equipment but failed to spot the little boy in the hours after he was first reported missing on Friday morning at his family’s remote property in the eastern state of New South Wales, 150 kilometres (90 miles) northwest of Sydney. Rescue workers and police, including some on horseback, searched through the weekend before finally spotting the boy, AJ Elfalak, during a helicopter sweep of the area on Monday. “He is with us. He is safe and well and healthy. That is all that matters,” his mother Kelly Elfalak told television reporters Tuesday at the family home in the village of Putty. “I want to thank everyone. I am so blessed,” she said. AFP

But after a 17-month halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, the proceedings appear likely to continue where they left off, mired in the defense’s efforts to disqualify most of the government’s evidence as tainted by the torture the defendants underwent in CIA custody.

On Sunday, the new military judge, Air Force Colonel Matthew McCall -the case’s eighth—signaled a slow start, deciding that an initial hearing focused on his own qualifications will take place on Tuesday. Lawyers for both sides are allowed in a war crimes tribunal to question a new judge for possible bias. The rest of the week will mostly involve meetings with the military prosecutors and defense teams. With scores of motions lined up to demand evidence that military prosecutors refuse to hand over, defense attorneys said the pretrial phase could easily last

another year, placing far over the horizon any hope for a jury trial and verdict. Asked if the case could ever reach that point, one defense attorney, James Connell, replied, “I don’t know.” Attorneys say the five defendants— Mohammed, Ammar al-Baluchi, Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi—are all weak and suffer the lasting effects of severe torture endured in secretive CIA “black” sites between 2002 and 2006. Added to that, the attorneys say, is the cumulative impact of 15 years in harsh, isolated conditions since arriving. AFP

NIGHT LIGHT. A

fireball rises following an air strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip late on September 6. Israel launched airstrikes against Gaza on Monday night, the army said, retaliating after incendiary balloons launched from the blockaded Palestinian enclave had started fires. AFP

Blinken meets Qatar emir in Doha for Afghanistan crisis DOHA—US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Qatar’s emir in Doha on Monday for crisis talks on Afghanistan after the Taliban claimed to have full control over the country. Blinken, accompanied by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is the most senior US official to visit the region since the Taliban’s lightning takeover of Afghanistan on August 15. In his meeting with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Blinken thanked the Gulf state ruler for “Qatar’s extraordinary support in facilitating the safe transit of US citizens, our partners, and other Afghans at-risk” during the United States’ chaotic military pullout from Afghanistan. They also “discussed other important

bilateral issues”, according to a brief State Department statement. The top diplomat was not due to meet any of the Taliban’s Doha representatives, but State Department official Dean Thompson said Washington would continue to engage with the Islamist group “to ensure our messaging with them is clear”. Qatar, which hosts a major US airbase, has been the gateway for 55,000 people airlifted out of Afghanistan, nearly half the total number evacuated by US-led forces after the Taliban’s takeover. Before his arrival, Blinken said that in Qatar he would “express our deep gratitude for all that they’re doing to support the evacuation effort,” and meet rescued Afghans.

He will also meet US diplomats, after Washington relocated its embassy in Kabul to Doha, along with a number of allies including Britain and the Netherlands. The State Department said Blinken would discuss with Qatar its efforts, alongside Turkey, to reopen Kabul’s airport—essential to fly in badly needed humanitarian aid and to evacuate remaining Afghans. Qatar invited the Taliban to open a political office in Doha in 2013, subsequently hosting talks between Washington and the Taliban that concluded in 2020 with a troop withdrawal agreement. It was followed by direct negotiations between the former insurgents and the Afghan government. AFP

For spreading virus, Viet man gets 5 years in slammer HANOI—A Vietnamese man has been sentenced to five years in jail for spreading Covid-19 after he breached home quarantine rules. Le Van Tri was convicted of “spreading dangerous infectious diseases to other people” after he travelled to his home province Ca Mau from coronavirus hotspot Ho Chi Minh City in July, according to a report on the website of the provincial People’s Court. The 28-year old was accused of breaching a 21-day home quarantine regulation in the southern province, which had a lower case rate than Ho Chi Minh City, and he tested positive for Covid-19 on July 7. “Tri’s breach of the home medical quarantine regulation led to many people becoming infected with Covid-19 and one person died on 7 August 2021,” according to the court report. State media said eight people became infected because of Tri. After keeping case numbers low last year, Vietnam is now dealing with its most serious Covid-19 outbreak so far, with nearly 540,000 infections and more than 13,000 deaths recorded. The vast majority of infections and deaths have been reported since the end of April, and Vietnam’s capital Hanoi and commercial hub Ho Chi Minh city have been in strict lockdown for most of the past few months. Several people have been sentenced for spreading Covid-19 to others in Vietnam. A 32-year old man in Hai Duong was sentenced to 18 months in prison in July and a Vietnam Airlines flight attendant was handed a two-year suspended jail term in March for the same charge. AFP

Irish gang, 5 others in France trial for alleged rhino horn smuggling RENNES—Four alleged members of an Irish crime gang and five other defendants went on trial in France Monday accused of trafficking rhino horn and ivory to markets in east Asia. French prosecutors started a probe in 2015 after police discovered several elephant tusks and 32,800 euros ($38,900) in cash in a BMW during a random motorway traffic inspection. Prosecutors say the occupants of the car, who claimed they were antique dealers, were members of the Rathkeale Rovers, an Irish crime gang with roots in the Traveller community. The nine defendants on trial in the town of Rennes, which include alleged traders of Chinese and Vietnamese origin, face up to 10 years in jail and heavy fines, although two of those charged are

on the run. “We’re hoping for heavy sentences including fines to dissuade people from taking part in smuggling activities which encourage the cruelty of poaching,” Charlotte Nithart, head of French anti-poaching charity Robin des Bois, told AFP. Nichart, who was in court as an observer, said that the case files and the first day of hearings had underlined how Europe, and European auction houses, played a role in supplying east Asia with horns and tusks. “What you can see in the intercepted telephone records is that the supply comes from lots of different towns in France and around Europe. The networks are well structured,” she added. AFP

RAINCOAT. Vendors cover the idols of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha displayed for sale with plastic sheets ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on the outskirts of Hyderabad, India on September 7. AFP

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European tourists boost sector, but cannot top Asian, American travelers PARIS, France—European travelers helped plug a gap left by Asian and North American tourists stranded at home by the pandemic, staving off a total washout this year for Europe’s hospitality industry. After a disastrous 2020 tourism season, the sector had banked on vaccination campaigns and the easing of travel restrictions to see brighter days this summer. While European visitors might have shored up numbers, the recovery was patchy with tourists spending in different places, on different things -and not with the same largesse as the big-spending Chinese or Americans. Fears over suddenly changing COVID travel restrictions and— for the UK, especially—the cost of mandatory Covid-19 tests have also driven the disruption to travel patterns this summer. Tourism-dependent Greece hosted more than two million visitors in July and August -- “something we haven’t seen since 2019,” said Haris Theocharis, the tourism minister until a cabinet reshuffle in late August. Napolean, the owner of a bar in Athen’s Plaka tourist hot-spot, said he had exceeded his targets “by more than 50 percent” this summer. But at the nearby Byron Hotel, comanager Zimi Mistiopoulos said they only had 10 days of full occupancy. Two years ago, there wasn’t a room to be had all season, he said. “Even if the tourists were there, they didn’t buy that much,” said Dimitris Papachristodoulou, owner of several souvenir shops, lamenting the loss of Americans and Chinese, “who consume the most”. Not quite there Those groups were also absent from Italy, where the Hotel Cosmopolita in the heart of Rome has had “an average of three or five occupied rooms out of 82”, said Walter Pecoraro, the owner and president of the hoteliers’ association of Lazio, the capital region. “Roman tourism is 80 percent foreign, 80 percent of which are Americans and Asians,” he told AFP. According to the association, 600 hotels out of 1,200 in Rome were open this summer, with average occupancy at only 30 percent to 35 percent. AFP

PSEi September 7, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stock market advances; Monde Nissin, Globe rise

TOCKS rose Tuesday, extending recent gains on optimism about the global outlook, though rising Delta coronavirus cases and worries about a slowdown in the economic recovery continue to cast a shadow.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark gained 35 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 6,912.71. The broader all-share index rose 20 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 4,275.76 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Advancers led gainers, 119 to 76, while 41 issues were unchanged. Eight of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Monde Nissin Corp. which climbed 5.7 percent to P17.68

and Globe Telecom which went up 3.3 percent to P2,790. Meanwhile, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 briefly broke 30,000 for the first time in five months on growing expectations for a fresh injection of stimulus after Japan’s prime minister said he would step aside, paving the way for a new big-spending successor. The blockbuster growth that characterized the start of the year has tailed off in recent months as the Delta variant sends new infections spiking around the world, tempering consumer spending and forcing some countries to impose strict containment measures. However, several markets have continued to press to new records or multiyear highs owing to the ultra-loose monetary policies of central banks around the world—particularly the US Federal Reserve—that have kept borrowing costs down. While there is a general expectation that that largesse will come to an end

soon as economies emerge from the pandemic crisis, officials have indicated they are in no rush to taper just yet as they track the impact of Delta. And Friday’s massive miss on US jobs creation provided a big boost to markets as it meant the Fed’s planned policy tightening will not likely start until November or December, instead of the September that had been suggested. Trading began the day cautious on Tuesday but most of Asia extended recent gains. With US traders off Monday for a public holiday, Asia had few catalysts but Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Manila, Mumbai and Bangkok all posted gains. Seoul, Taipei and Jakarta were the only stragglers. Hong Kong tourism-linked firms were given an extra lift by news that the city’s government planned to partially open the border with China next week, allowing 2,000 nonresidents a day to enter. With AFP

In world first, bitcoin becomes legal tender in El Salvador SAN SALVADOR—El Salvador on Tuesday becomes the first country in the world to accept bitcoin as legal tender, despite widespread domestic skepticism and international warnings of risks for consumers. President Nayib Bukele’s government claims the move will give many Salvadorans access to bank services for the first time and save some $400 million in fees on remittances sent home from abroad every year. “Tomorrow, for the first time in history, all the eyes of the world will be on El Salvador. #Bitcoin did this,” Bukele said on Twitter Monday. He started the ball rolling Monday evening by announcing El Salvador had bought its first 400 bitcoins, in two tranches of 200, and promised more were coming. The 400 bitcoins were trading at around $21 million, according to the cryptocurrency exchange app Gemini. Recent opinion polls showed a majority of El Salvador’s 6.5 million people reject the idea and will continue using the US dollar, the country’s legal currency for the last 20 years. “This bitcoin is a currency that does not exist, a currency that will not benefit the poor but the rich,” said skeptic Jose Santos Melara, who took part in a protest by several hundred people in the capital San Salvador last week. “How will a poor person invest (in bitcoin) if they barely have enough to eat?” In June, El Salvador’s parliament approved a law to allow the crypto money to be accepted as tender for all goods and services in the small Central American nation, along with the US dollar. The bill, an initiative of Bukele, was approved within 24 hours of being presented to Congress – where the president’s allies have held a majority since March. Experts and regulators have highlighted concerns about the cryptocurrency’s notorious volatility and the lack of any protections for its users. Skepticism The government is installing more than 200 bitcoin teller machines, some guarded by soldiers to prevent possible arson by opponents.

People are seen in a store where bitcoins are accepted in El Zonte, La Libertad, El Salvador on Sept. 4, 2021. The Congress of El Salvador approved in June a law that will make bitcoin legal tender in the country from Sept. 7, with the aim of boosting its economy although analysts warn of a negative impact. AFP

And Bukele has promised $30 for each citizen who adopts the currency. “These are decisions the administration and lawmakers have taken without consulting” the population, said Laura Andrade, director of the Public Opinion Institute of the Central American University, which found in a poll that 70 percent of Salvadorans opposed the move. “We see that people do not perceive a positive impact to significantly transform their living conditions,” she told AFP. Nearly two-thirds of Salvadorans questioned for the poll said they had no interest in downloading the “Chivo” electronic wallet that will allow users to buy and spend bitcoin. Oscar Cabrera, an economist at the University of El Salvador, said the currency’s high volatility will have a “negative impact” on consumers, affecting the price of goods and services. The currency fell beneath $30,000 in June, less than half its all-time high of more than $64,000 just two months earlier. For its part, the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADE) said it was “unconstitutional” to make it compulsory for merchants to accept bitcoin as a form of payment. ‘Malign actors’ Bukele, who is popular but under fire in sev-

eral quarters for moves to tighten his grip on power, has accused opponents of seeking to “sow fear” among Salvadorans, few of whom have access to formal banking services. Remittances account for more than a fifth of GDP in the dollarized economy, mainly sent in dollars via agencies such as Western Union by an estimated 1.5 million expats. According to World Bank data, El Salvador received more than $5.9 billion in 2020 from nationals living abroad, mainly in the United States. And the country is relying on this money to boost a struggling economy that contracted 7.9 percent in 2020 due in large part to the coronavirus pandemic. Economists and international bodies such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank have expressed concerns about El Salvador’s bitcoin adoption. The United States has urged El Salvador to ensure a “regulated,” “transparent” and “responsible” use of bitcoin, and to protect itself from “malign actors” such as hackers seeking ransom money. Bitcoin is criticized by regulators for its potential for illegal use—notably in laundering money from criminal activities and financing terrorism. AFP

CHANGE 0.15 9.05 4.4 0.035 1.65 0.96 0.07 0.09 12.6 0.68

% CHANGE 22.39% 16.85% 8.80% 8.14% 5.85% 5.74% 5.69% 5.63% 5.45% 5.35%

TOP LOSERS

RECORD-LOW INTEREST.

A man walks past a sign advertising a house for sale in Melbourne on Sept. 7, 2021, as Australia’s Reserve Bank holds interest rates at a record low level of 0.1 per cent with banks lowering their variable rates to attract customers in a booming pandemic property market. AFP

LODE CAB CA EVER LFM MONDE CHP SUN PSE GMA7

LAST PRICE 0.82 62.75 54.4 0.465 29.85 17.68 1.3 1.69 243.6 13.38

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BCOR I FFI OPM MWP2A TECHW MJIC BKR SLI IPM

LAST PRICE 5.7 1.21 6.3 0.011 100.1 1.45 1.38 1.11 2.94 6.85

CHANGE -0.8 -0.14 -0.7 -0.001 -7.2 -0.1 -0.09 -0.05 -0.13 -0.25

% CHANGE -12.31% -10.37% -10.00% -8.33% -6.71% -6.45% -6.12% -4.31% -4.23% -3.52%

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

MONDE ACEN CNVRG GLO AC CNPF DITO ALI GTCAP TEL

VOLUME 37,789,100 37,367,900 10,294,100 93,775 315,250 6,719,500 19,760,200 4,815,100 277,200 103,470

VALUE (PHP) 650,788,038 375,352,630 328,749,790 261,056,830 254,385,145 178,017,775 176,207,373 161,393,965 159,505,705 153,519,785

China trade surged in August on improved overseas demand BEIJING—China’s exports and imports enjoyed forecast-beating growth in August, with data on Tuesday showing overseas demand for cars, electronics and consumer goods surged as a domestic coronavirus outbreak was brought to heel. The figures follow a recent spate of weak numbers that had suggested the recovery in the world’s second-biggest economy was flattening owing to a spike in the Delta variant that has forced some countries to impose containment measures and hit consumer sentiment. They also came despite the shutdown of a major port caused by the virus outbreak, which observers had expected to hit shipments. Exports jumped 25.6 percent on-year, while imports rose 33.1 percent, according to China customs authorities. The readings were both sharply up from July and far better than estimates in a Bloomberg survey of 17.3 percent and 26.9 percent, respectively. The eye-popping numbers were boosted by last year’s low base of comparison when the virus was rapidly spreading. Analysts said outbound shipments were helped by improving overseas demand for consumer goods. A rebound in electronics, furniture and recreational products likely reflected that retailers were “replenishing their inventories ahead of the Christmas shopping season”, said Capital Economics assistant economist Sheana Yue. ING’s chief economist for Greater China Iris Pang added that a sharp jump in car exports was an “amazing” feat, given a global Manila semiconductor shortage that has weighed on the auto industry. Standard TODAY “It shows that (China) has the production capacity for semiconductors and also cars, and therefore can grow its exports,” she told AFP. Exports of electronic products rose over the first eight months of the year, the customs administration said in a statement. AFP

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING To All Stockholders: Please be informed that the annual meeting of stockholders of PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. (the “Corporation”) for the year 2021 which is scheduled to be held on 22 September 2021 (Wednesday) has been postponed and reset to 13 October 2021 (Wednesday). The purpose of the postponement is to give the Management more time to prepare for additional matters that will be presented to the stockholders at the meeting, including amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and the By-laws. A Notice of Meeting will be issued in relation to the new meeting date on 13 October 2021. Makati City, 7 September, 2021.

(MS-SEPT. 7 & 8, 2021)

MAILA G. DE CASTRO Corporate Secretary

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Jobless rate in July fell to 6.9%, lowest during pandemic UNEMPLOYMENT rate in July fell to 6.9 percent, the lowest since the record-high 17.6 percent registered in April 2020 when the government imposed the strictest quarantine restrictions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday. National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Dennis Mapa said in an online briefing there were 3.1 million unemployed persons 15 years old and over in July 2021, lower by 1.5 million than the 4.6 million reported in July 2020. The July 2021 figure was also lower by 700,000 than the 3.8 million reported in June 2021. “The country’s employment rate in July 2021 was placed at 93.1 percent. This is the highest employment rate since the pandemic in April 2020. The employment rate in July 2020 was reported at 90.0 percent,” Mapa said. Employed persons were estimated at 41.7 million as of July, or 3.4 million lower than the estimate in June (45.1 million) and 400,000 more than the estimate for July 2020 at 41.3 million. Economic managers composed of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua and Budget Department officer in charge Tina Rose Marie Canda said in a joint statement that the labor force continued to recover, building on the 11.8-percent economic growth in the second quarter. “The unemployment rate fell to its lowest since the start of the pandemic due to more relaxed quarantines, but risk aversion and precautionary behavior led to a decrease in the labor force participation rate,” they said. They said the government would continue to strengthen the country’s health capacity, accelerate the vaccination program, and impose more targeted granular lockdowns “to enable more people to safely join the labor force and earn a living.” Julito G. Rada

Fort Pilar Energy buys Davao del Sur solar plant for P1.5b By Alena Mae S. Flores FORT Pilar Energy Inc., a company owned by the family of Rep. Mikee Romero, acquired Alterpower Digos Solar Inc. which owns a 28.59-megawatt solar plant in Davao del Sur for P1.5 billion. Fort Pilar acquired the solar plant from the joint venture of Hanwha Global Asset Corp. and Alterpower Specialist Inc. The solar plant has been operating since March 2016. “Our acquisition of ADSI signals our company’s pivot to the power industry. While we remain committed to our legacy businesses in infrastructure and transportation, we believe that our company’s shift to the energy industry is a logical transition given our track record in building successful enterprises in challenging industries,” Fort Pilar chairperson Sheila Romero said in a statement. Fort Pilar plans to increase plant capacity to 40 MW to reach its full capacity under its solar service contract and is allocating P500 million to finance the expansion. “Our investment in a solar power plant in Mindanao reflects our firm belief that the growth of the Philippines lies in the development of our rural areas,” Romero said. Expansion plans include the upgrade of its electrical systems, acquiring more powerful photovoltaic cells and increasing its footprint in the Digos area. The company said the location of the Digos Solar Power Plant is a prime area for solar irradiation. The power plant produces irradiation of 1,872.4 kilowatt-hours per square meter. It harnesses UV rays from the sun through 92,232 polycrystalline PV Modules. The plant produces up to 43 million kwh annually. Fort Pilar is also building a battery energy storage system in Zamboanga city. The battery site is set to be commissioned by February 2022.

Business

August inflation accelerated to 4.9% as food prices surged By Julito G. Rada

NFLATION rate accelerated to 4.9 percent in August from 4 percent in July, on higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Data from the PSA showed that the August inflation was the fastest since December 2018 when it hit 5.1 percent. It was also faster than 2.4 percent in August 2020. The PSA said inflation in the first eight months averaged 4.4 percent, above the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the government for the year. National Statistician Dennis Mapa said in an online briefing that prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 6.5 percent in August, compared to the 4.9-percent rise in July. He said food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for a 77-percent share in nationwide inflation. Recreation and culture index went up by 0.5 percent in August 2021, after recording annual decreases since August 2020. The government would continue

to ensure a stable food supply to ease prices of fish, vegetables and pork to address the recent uptick in inflation, according to the National Economic and Development Authority. Food inflation continued its uptrend at 6.9 percent in August. Fish inflation accelerated to 12.4 percent from 9.3 percent, while vegetable inflation rose to 15.7 percent from 5.0 percent on the impact of the southwest monsoon and onset of the rainy season. Meat inflation reached 16.4 percent in August, up from 16 percent in July. On a month-on-month basis, meat inflation slowed down to -0.4 percent, suggesting some price stabilization. “We are beginning to see the impact of our proactive interventions to ease food prices, especially pork and rice. The government will continue to adjust and strengthen its policies to ensure that the people have access to affordable

food amid the pandemic,” said NEDA director-general Karl Kendrick Chua. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the latest inflation was within the BSP’s forecast range of 4.1 percent to 4.9 percent for August. “The latest outturn is consistent with the BSP’s assessment that inflation could settle close to the high end of the target range in the near term before decelerating back to within the target range by yearend,” Diokno said. Diokno said in 2022-2023, inflation would likely fall towards the midpoint of the target range, supported by the continued and timely implementation of non-monetary measures and reforms to address directly supply-side pressures on key food items. “The risks to the inflation outlook remain broadly balanced over the policy horizon. The uptick in international commodity prices due to supply-chain bottlenecks and the recovery in global demand could lend upside pressures on inflation,” he said. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the BSP might look past this price spike as Diokno continued to vow support for the fledgling economic recovery.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, September 7, 2021 35.61 PTS. 6,912.71

TOTAL VOLUME

1,958,148,471

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

77,505 5,398,243,322.50

ADVANCES

119

DECLINES UNCHANGED

76 41

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9300

Japan

Yen

0.009105

0.4546

Pound

1.384200

69.1131

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128642

6.4231

Switzerland

Franc

1.092061

54.5266

Canada

Dollar

0.797830

39.8357

Singapore

Dollar

0.745156

37.2056

Australia

Dollar

0.743800

37.1379

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653717

132.5001

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

13.3136

Brunei

Dollar

0.742390

37.0675

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030799

1.5378

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5953

Euro

1.187300

59.2819

Korea

Won

0.000865

0.0432

China

Yuan

0.154847

7.7315

India

Rupee

0.013685

0.6833

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241196

12.0429

New Zealand

Dollar

0.713500

35.6251

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036320

1.8135 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Japan firms invited to double investments

TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez encouraged Japanese companies to increase, if not double their investments in the Philippines particularly in the manufacturing and services sectors. Lopez, speaking at the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. Group Japan Virtual Roadshow, highlighted the industries where Japanese investments would likely thrive and have a good run on their investments. “There is wide scope of business opportunities for prospective and existing Japanese investors, particularly in manufacturing, construction, services and renewable energy, among others,” he said Tuesday during the forum. “We are also happy to note that there are Japanese electronics companies in the Philippines that have been with us for more than 20 years such as ROHM, Sharp (41), Panasonic, Tsukiden, Nidec, Epson, and Canon,” he said. Among the industries he highlighted are the semiconductor and electronics industry; medical devices electronics manufacturing; and electronics manufacturing services and original design manufacturing. Othel V. Campos

Cavitex completing two new segments

APMC’s ISO. Ayala Property Management Corp., the property management arm of Ayala Land Inc., is awarded with ISO 50001:2018, which certifies that its Energy Management System is at par with international standards. APMC is the first property management business in the country to receive the ISO 50001 certification. Showing the award are (from left) APMC technical group director Sherwin Vinoya, malls and office group director Benjamin Borja III, safety group director John Judilla, associate director for energy and sustainability Hamed Hashemi Sohi, president and chief executive Laurent Lamasuta, compliance lead Karla De Jesus, human resources director Ma. Paz Guadalupe Peñaflorida, chief operating officer and chief engineer Michael Magpusao, estates group director Ivan Konstantin Daguio, chief finance officer Michael Molinyawe and research and development and energu manager Romar Angelo Ponce.

DITO Telecom passes second technical audit conducted by NTC By Darwin G. Amojelar DITO Telecommunity Corp., the joint venture of Dennis Uy and China Telecom, passed the second technical audit conducted by the National Telecommunications Commission. Dito CME Holdings Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange subsidiary DITO Tel received a notice from the NTC that it passed the technical audit for its commitments with the agency such as national population coverage and minimum average broadband speed for the second year. The NTC, quoting the findings of an independent auditor, said DITO’s

national population coverage reached 52.75 percent and minimum average broadband speeds of 89.13 Mbps and 853.96 Mbps for all 4G and 5G sites, respectively. DITO Tel, as part of the issuance of its certificate of public convenience and necessity in July 2019, committed to deliver national population coverage of 51.01 percent and minimum average broadband speed of 55 Mbps in the second year of its commitment period. The third major telecom player, which started commercial operations in March, had over 2 million subscribers. Its telecom services are available in 20 cities and municipalities nationwide.

DITO is now available in Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong and Maramag in Bukidnon; City of Gingoog and Lugait in Misamis Oriental; San Simon, Pampanga; San Carlos City and Lingayen in Pangasinan; and Pura, Tarlac. It is also available in Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan and Tuy in Batangas; and Magallanes in Cavite. The company spent over P150 billion for the initial rollout of its infrastructure and other operating expenses as part of its commitment to invest P250 billion over a five-year period to achieve 55 mbps of internet speed, covering 84 percent of the population.

CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said Tuesday it expects to complete two new segments of the Manila-Cavite Expressway C-5 Link Expressway Project by the end of 2022. “Despite the challenges of stricter mobility and the surging cases of COVID, we are happy to report that the project is moving. We are now about 18 percent complete for Segment 2 and about 30 percent complete for Segment 3A-2,” said CIC president and general manager Roberto Bontia in a virtual briefing. CIC aims to complete the construction of the P6.56-billion Segment 2 and the P2.32billion Segment 3A-2 of C5 Link Expressway by the first quarter and fourth quarter of 2022, respectively. Segment 2 is a 1.9-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway from Cavitex Expressway to a proposed interchange at Sucat. Segment 3A2, a sub-section of Segment 3, is a 1.6-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway from Merville to RSG (Airport View) Subdivision in Parañaque. Darwin G. Amojelar

Megawide taps German technology developer

MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. teamed up with German concrete technology developer MultiCON to bring in more efficient and environment-friendly concrete mixing technology to the country. Megawide said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the partnership would enable it to have an exclusive use of MultiCON’s advanced concrete mixing system, OptiCon, for its own projects amd commercially. Opticon is being used in Europe for various horizontal and vertical developments. “As part of our thrust of helping build first-world Philippines, we are always looking for first-world expertise and technologies that we can introduce and utilize for our operations, projects, and products. We chose MultiCON because we have examined firsthand the numerous advantages of its concrete mixing technology for our business and the environment,” said Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra. “Aside from promising higher concrete performance, the technology also has financial and environmental advantages. We plan to introduce a new way to manufacture concrete in the Philippines that has a more efficient and durable quality,” Saavedra said. Jenniffer B. Austria

SMC signs deal with 7 Bulacan water districts By Jenniffer B. Austria

ILLEGAL LPG TANKS. Liquefied petroleum gas company Solane ramps up its bust operations—having confiscated almost P1 million worth of illegally refilled and counterfeit LPG tanks in the first half of the year. Since the start of 2021, Solane conducted more than 30 busts nationwide, confiscating 439 tanks. With the passage of the LPG Bill, Solane is looking forward to plucking out more counterfeit tanks in the market.

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Tuesday it signed an agreement with seven water districts in Bulacan province under phase 3 of the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project. San Miguel said in a statement said the agreement would enable residents of Norzagaray, Hagonoy, Pandi, Baliwag, San Rafael, San Miguel and San Ildefonso to have access to affordable and reliable potable water supply. “We are targeting start of operations by January 2023. With these agreements signed with the seven water districts, and with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System having approved the updated business plan, we can now start preliminary engineering design, and then construction,” said San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. “We anticipate that in just a year-and-

a-half, we can start operating these new water facilities, and all our countrymen in these areas in Bulacan will finally have reliable access to safe, affordable potable water,” Ang said. Aside from these seven towns, San Miguel is hoping to forge agreements with the water districts of Pulilan, Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad and Bustos. BBWSP supplies water to 13 areas, covered by phase 1 and 2 development of the facility, which started commercial operations in January 2019. These include San Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Obando, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Calumpit, Bulakan, Plaridel, Sta. Maria, Paombong and Malolos. Many households in Bulacan relied for decades on deep wells that tapped into groundwater sources, despite the province’s close proximity to Angat Dam.

Sports

FIDE Online Olympiad turns down PH appeal

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

By Peter Atencio AN appeal not to punish the entire 11-member Philippine chess team has been turned down by organizers of the 2021 FIDE Online Olympiad after 13-year-old female player Jersey Marticio was sanctioned on Monday. The plea came after the Team Philippines was disqualified from the Online Olympiad for violating rules of play. Delegation head Jayson Gonzales said this after he wrote a second letter of reconsideration to officials of the world chess body, FIDE. “Hindi pabor sa atin ang desisyon. Ito ay suporta sa unang findings doon sa naunang desisyon ng panel na ang buong team ay disqualified kahit isa lang ang nagkasala,” said Gonzales. Gonzales added in his letter to FIDE Global Strategy Commission Secretary Pavel Tregubov that the NCFP is “one with FIDE in dealing with this fair-play policy issue for online competition.” “As explained in our previous letter, we have already sanctioned the player in stripping her title and disallowing her to play in our National Online events,” explained Gonzales to Tregbunov. Marticio, a replacement player to junior girls’ division woodpusher Jerlyn San Diego, played in the last four rounds of the Philippines’ nineround assignment in Division 2. The kid, who is based in Cabuyao, Laguna, allegedly used a chess engine for her matches in the last four rounds in Pool B. And officials believe that there may have been a lapse in supervision by arbiters using a video conference system involving two cameras positioned near the computer unit used by the player involved. “The FPP (Fair Play Policy) decision cannot be revised and unfortunately, the Philippine team will not be able to continue the competition. But we sincerely hope that such strong measures will help all of us in fighting cheating in online as well as in OTB (over the board) events,” said Tregbunov in his reply to Gonzales. During pool B play, the Philippines settled for second overall behind Indonesia with 39.5 points. The top three finishers in the pool will advance to the Top Division. Because of this Indonesia, and Shenzen, China advanced with Australia, which has 29 points in fourth place, taking the spot that was supposed to belong to the Philippines.

SENATE HONORS TOKYO OLYMPICS HEROES. Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz (center), bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial (third from left) and silver

medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio (fourth and eighth from left) are honored on Tuesday with Medals of Excellence by the Philippine Senate. The Senate also commends Philippine Olympic Committee President rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for his excellent leadership in the country’s Tokyo Olympics campaign. With the Olympic heroes are (from left) Senators Joel Villanueva, Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Tito Sotto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Tolentino and Rolando de la Rosa.

4 Tokyo Olympic medalists receive Congressional Medals By Maricel V. Cruz

HE four Filipino athletes who made history by bagging medals during the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo were conferred with the highest honor from the House of Representatives. The lower chamber conferred the first Congressional Medal of Excellence to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympiad, while boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial were awarded with the Congressional Medal of Distinction. The four Olympic medalists personally went to the House of Representatives to receive their awards from House leaders, led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco after

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, acting floor leader, read the resolutions of their citations that were earlier adopted by the House. “These sports heroes deserve to be recognized and commended for bringing pride, honor and inspiration especially to young Filipinos who want to excel in their fields,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said. “Their achievements inspired many to soar to greater heights and achieve great success in life. They have over-

come many trials and challenges thru hard work and determination, thereby contributing to, if not restoring, national pride, dignity and self-respect. Salamat po sa inyong mga sakripisyo at pagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa,” Romualdez added. The House leaders also acknowledged the presence of Deputy Speaker Abraham Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee; and dedicated trainees and coaches led by 1996 Atlanta Olympics Silver Medalist Mansueto Velasco, Jr.; Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez; 2020 Tokyo Olympics Chef De Mission Mariano Araneta, Jr.; PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram; PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco; the Boxing Team, led by Olympic Head Coach Donald Walter Abnett; Head Coach for Men Ronald Chavez; Head Coach for Women Nolito Velasco;

Paralympians want longer preparation THE Philippine Paralympic team is hoping to calendar a longer preparation and training period as it looks forward of competing in two major events by 2022. Swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, along with swimming coach Tony Ong shared the same sentiment in an attempt not to repeat the same misfortune the team experienced in its recent campaign in the Tokyo Paralympics. Due to strict quarantine and safety protocols owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Filipino Paralympians didn’t have the benefit of training for a longer period of time going to the quadrennial meet. With lessons learned, the Filipino Para Athletes hope a change in their training environment moving forward can be arranged as they gear up for the Asian Para Games and the ASEAN Para Games, respectively next year. “Nagkataon sa atin hindi tayo nakapagbubble (training) for 2020. Kung sa akin kinuha na natin ‘yung potential and ‘yung ating mga atleta na magka-qualify or nagqualify sa Paralympics and do the training

Swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, along with swimming coach Tony Ong are shown during their appearance at the PSA Forum.

(camp) na hindi na sila aalis doon. Sanay naman sila doon,” said Ong as he joined the three Paralympians in the online edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

“But hopefully, magawan na ‘yun ng paraan so we can start training again for the Asian Games and ASEAN Games next year,” he added in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation,

MILO, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. “Ang assessment ko ay talagang mahabang training period.” Mangliwan, who made the finals of all his events in the Tokyo Games, agreed with the Paralympics swimming coach during the same forum powered by Smart and Upstream Media as official webcast partner. “Mas maganda talaga na magkaroon kami ng ganu’ng sitwasyon (bubble) or ganu’ng training (camp) para ma-maintain pa rin namin ‘yung ganu’ng level ng laro. Napakalaking bagay talaga nu’n,” said the 41-year-old wheelchair racer who advanced to the men’s finals of the 100m, 400m, 1500m T52 classification. Despite the limited training time and the challenges they faced as some members of the team tested positive of COVID-19, the Filipinos still fought their hearts out and made the most of the opportunity in Tokyo. Aside from Mangliwan, Gawilan, 30, also made the finals of his two events in the men’s 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle S7 competitions, respectively.

Tiongson sparks Dyip, earns week’s Best Player award JUST when Terrafirma was in desperate search for a spark after a flat start in the PBA Philippine Cup, Juami Tiongson readily stepped up to the plate and personally took matters into his own hands in leading the team’s rejuvenated drive in the Bacolor bubble. Tiongson put on a string of career-best performances in the league return from a monthlong hiatus and helped the Dyip turned their fortunes around with three straight victories including gigantic upsets against former fivetime titlist San Miguel Beer and reigning champion Barangay Ginebra. In the three Terrafirma wins, the 5’10” guard averaged 23.0 points spiked by 15 triples behind a high 50-percent clip, along with 5.3 assists, 3.0. rebounds, and 2.0 steals, to earn himself the Cignal Play—PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Sept. 1-5. With prized rookie Joshua Munzon out for

the conference due to a dislocated finger, the no-fear Tiongson took over and hit a careerhigh 28 points and seven assists in the team’s 114-110 overtime escape act against SMB. Tiongson won’t cool down two days later as he reset his career-best at 31 markers, spiked by nine triples, six assists, and three steals as the Dyip caught another giant in the defending champion Kings, 95-90. He was then limited to a 10-3-3- outing the next game, but still enough for Terrafirma to pull off a 96-84 comeback win over Blackwater, for its third straight victory and improve to 3-4 overall for solo seventh place. But Tiongson refused to take all the credit, deflecting everything to coach Johnedel Cardel and his teammates for giving him the greenlight to let it fly. “Coach John and the coaching staff put

in new plays to help the shooters get free. Pinapabayaan niya lang ako. He lets me make mistakes and be creative,” he said. “I just had to do what we had to do. It would not be possible without them (coaches and my teammates).” Tiongson bested TNT Fil-Am rookie Mikey Williams and RR Pogoy, NLEX’s Jericho Cruz, JR Quinahan, and Kevin Alas as well as teammate Aldrech Ramos for the weekly citation being handed out by the group covering the PBA beat.

Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson drives against CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer.

Coaches Elmer Pamisa and Reynaldo Galido; Mental Performance Coach Marcus Jarwin Manalo; and Weightlifting Team that includes Sports Psychologist Karen Katrina Trinidad; Coaches Kaiwen Gao and Julius Irvin Hikaru Takamura Naranjo; and Nutritionist for both Boxing and Weightlifting Jeaneth Aro. On August 2, 2021, Romualdez said the House adopted House Resolution 198 “to express its congratulations and deepest gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the Philippine Olympic Delegation for the highly successful and historic performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.” Romualdez said the House adopted HR 193 on August 2, 2021 to congratulate, commend, and confer the first Congressional Medal of Excellence to Diaz for winning the country’s first ever Olympic gold.

PH boxers strut stuff in Dubai By Randy Caluag DUBAI is slowly becoming a destination for Filipino boxers in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two Filipinos are entered in a boxing promotion dubbed “Countdown to the Middle East Crown” featuring a horde of international fighters set on Sunday, Sept. 12, at the At La Perle Al Habtoor City. The fight card is the second of a 10-event series organized by DJMC Events that aims to popularize boxing in this city in the United Arab Emirates. Featured fighters come from the USA, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Philippines, Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba and Azerbajian. The large Filipino community will definitely cheer for KJ Natuplag of the Philippines as he takes on Colombian Argel Berrio Zuniga in an 8-round featherweight bout while another Filipino, Murphy De Gay, tests the mettle of Mostafa Elhamy of Egypt in a fourround featherweight fight. Boxing events in the Philippines and other parts of Asia have become scarce due to restriction brought about by the pandemic. Australian Garry Connolly, who has Filipina boxers under his wings, acknowledged the growing interest for boxing in Dubai even as he advised up-and-coming promoters to come up with better marketing and business plans to become successful. He believes that they should look at the large Filipino community in Dubai as one of the focus markets. “The focus needs to be on the 1 million Filipinos in UAE, get them to come to shows. Once you get a thousand plus attending then everyone starts to notice.”

Sports

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Djokovic rallies past foe, books quarterfinal seat

EW YORK—Novak Djokovic struggled but advanced within three matches of completing the ﬁrst men’s singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years on Monday by outlasting American Jenson Brooksby at the US Open.

World number one Djokovic rallied past 99th-ranked Brooksby 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to book a quarter-final encounter with Italian sixth seed Matteo Berrettini in a rematch of July’s Wimbledon final. “It’s going to be exciting,” Djokovic said. “He loves the big stage. Big serve, big game overall. I know what to expect. Going to try to prepare a good game plan and hope for the best.” The 34-year-old Serbian star would become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to sweep all four major titles in the same year by capturing his fourth career US Open crown.

FIFA ‘regrets’ chaos at abandoned BRA-ARG tiff LAUSANNE—FIFA said Monday it regretted the chaotic scenes that preceded the suspension of the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina and a decision on possible disciplinary action would be taken “in due course”. The match at Sao Paulo’s Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday was halted when Brazilian health officials ran onto the pitch seven minutes after kick-off, triggering a melee involving team officials and players from both sides. The officials intervened just hours after health authorities in Brazil said four England-based players in Argentina’s squad should be placed in “immediate quarantine” for breaching Covid-19 protocols. “FIFA regrets the scenes preceding the suspension of the match between Brazil and Argentina for the CONMEBOL qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2022 which prevented millions of fans from enjoying a match between two of the most important football nations in the world,” football’s world governing body said in a statement. “The first match official reports have been sent to FIFA. This information will be analysed by the competent disciplinary bodies and a decision will be taken in due course,” FIFA added. Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) said the Argentinian Premier League players—Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia—had given “false information” when they entered Brazil. Romero, Lo Celso and Martinez were all in Argentina’s starting line-up for Sunday’s game, prompting the intervention of ANVISA officials. In scenes of confusion on the pitch, Argentina captain Lionel Messi and his teammates left the field while Brazil’s squad began a practice game. After the game was abandoned, Messi criticised the intervention of the Brazilian officials. “We’ve been here for three days, why are you doing this just now?” he said on Argentina’s TyC network. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters that “at no time were we told that they could not play the game”. The Argentina team arrived back in Buenos Aires early Monday. AFP

Djokovic also seeks a men’s singles record 21st Slam trophy, which would boost him one ahead of “Big Three” rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent with injuries. An epic shocker seemed possible when Brooksby, a 20-year-old American wildcard who hadn’t played Djokovic before, broke in the second and sixth games and fired a service winner to claim the first set in 29 minutes. “He just played a perfect first set,” Djokovic said. “I could do nothing. I was still finding my footing on the court. “I must say it wasn’t a great start. Jenson was pumped. He had a clear game

plan. He was executing his shots tremendously. I was on my back foot. He was reading the play well for a set and a half.” Djokovic broke in the second game of the second set, but was broken in a electrifying 20-minute fifth game, netting a backhand on Brooksby’s sixth break chance. “Definitely I had confidence I could beat him,” Brooksby said. But Djokovic broke back in the sixth game, ripping a cross-court forehand winner for a 4-2 lead, and held from there to take the 68-minute set. “After that, I started hitting more cleanly and through the court,” said Djokovic. “Whenever I needed a serve I found my spot well. It was physical, a lot of exhausting rallies.” In all, Djokovic won 15 of the last 20 games, rolling to victory in the stamina test after two hours and 59 minutes. Berrettini advanced by defeating 144th-ranked German qualifier Oscar

Otte 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Olympic champs advance Tokyo Olympic champions Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic advanced with straight-set triumphs, as did British 18-year-old qualifier Emma Raducanu. German fourth seed Zverev stretched his win streak to 15 matches by beating Italian 13th seed Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7). Swiss 11th seed Bencic eliminated Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek, last year’s French Open champion, 7-6 (14/12), 6-3. And 150th-ranked Raducanu ripped 43rd-ranked American Shelby Rogers 6-2, 6-1 in 66 minutes. Raducanu is only the third qualifier to reach the US Open women’s quarter-finals after Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi in 2017 and American Barbara Gerken in 1981. Zverev, last year’s US Open runner-up, reached his seventh career Slam quarter-final and fourth in the past five Slams. AFP

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his win over USA’s Jenson Brooksby during their 2021 US Open Tennis tournament men’s singles fourth round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. AFP

Holyfield replaces virus-stricken De La Hoya LOS ANGELES—Evander Holyfield will step in to face Vitor Belfort on Saturday after former boxing great Oscar De La Hoya was forced out of a one-off comeback bout because of COVID-19. But the bout has been moved from Los Angeles’ Staples Center to Florida after California boxing authorities refused to sanction a battle between Brazilian mixed martial arts star Belfort and former heavyweight world champion Holyfield—who will be a month shy of his 59th birthday on fight night. Holyfield hasn’t fought since 2011, but he had signed to fight Kevin McBride earlier this year—with a possible future fight against his old nemesis Mike Tyson on the horizon. After the proposed McBride fight failed to materialize, Holyfield posted on Instagram in August that he’d been “training hard for months” and added: “I promise my fans I will step back in the ring at least one more time before I lay my gloves to rest for good.” De La Hoya, 48, said in a video posted on Twitter that he had been admitted to hospital for treatment despite being fully vaccinated. “Wanted you to hear directly from me that despite being fully vaccinated, I have contracted Covid and am not going to be able to fight next weekend,” De La Hoya said. “Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, & I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support.” De La Hoya indicated he hoped to reschedule his return to the ring for later this year. “I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up,” he said. De La Hoya last fought in 2008, when he was subjected to a beating by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas over eight onesided rounds. AFP

Fil-Canadian Fernandez brings football spark to US Open tennis NEW YORK—When Leylah Fernandez was cut from a Canadian youth tennis development program, her father Jorge, an Ecuadorian soccer player, became her coach in a sport he knew almost nothing about. What he did know was how to be a professional athlete and he infused his daughter with mental toughness, patience, focus and confidence—the same attributes he learned the hard way on the football field. The results have made his daughter, a left-hander who turned 19 on Monday, a formidable force at this year’s US Open. Leylah ousted third-seeded defending champion Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, and 16th seed Angelique Kerber, a left-hander with three Slam titles, to reach the last eight in her best Grand Slam run. “With him being my coach, him teaching me, just being competitive in sports has definitely impacted my game and my mentality,” Fernandez said. “I’ve been working hard, training super well. My coach, my dad, is saying be patient, have confidence in your game, it will show in matches. I’m glad it finally did.” World number 73 Fernandez, who will face Ukraine’s fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina in a Tuesday quarter-final, won her first WTA title in March at Monterrey.

Fernandez, whose mother is of Filipino heritage, is also guided by pro coach Romain Deridder. Her father is at home but still sending in plans for matches. “My dad, he would tell me what to do, like for tennis-wise, just give me a game plan, and I try to execute it as much as possible,” she said. “He’s at home with my younger sister. He has been calling every day, telling me what to do, so it has been great. “He’s just telling me what to do in the day before and then he trusts in me and my game that I’m going to execute it as much as I can. “He decided to stay back, but he has his reasons, and obviously his reasons are working tremendously right now.” Fernandez has a confidence built upon years of work, running sprints when she made too many errant shots to hone her skills and toughen her for the challenges she now faces. “From a very young age, I knew I was able to beat anyone who is in front of me,” she said. “Even playing different sports, I was always that competitive, saying I’m going to win against them, I’m going to win against my dad in soccer, even though that’s like impossible. “I’ve always had that belief. I’ve always tried to use that in every match that I go on.”

‘Pinch myself a little’ Fernandez has her mother and fitness coach in her box cheering her on, as well as having become a fan darling with crowds at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “Having them cheering me on every point has been very helpful. In those tough moments when I’m feeling down, with their positivity I was able to get back into it and forget about the mistake that I just did,” she said. “Keep fighting, keep pushing through. Just, like I said, have fun on the court and trusting my game. Having fun on the court, I think that’s the key to anybody’s success.” T h e upsets she has pulled off have added to the joy she feels at living the tennis dream that once seemed dead. AFP

Leylah Fernandez of Canada is interviewed after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany during her Women’s Singles round of 16 match on Day Seven at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. AFP

Pacio exudes confidence in retaining strap against Saruta Joshua Pacio

ONE can only imagine how pumped Joshua “The Passion” Pacio is. The reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion finally marks his return inside the ONE Circle at ONE: REVOLUTION on September 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and he’s doing that against an opponent he has long asked for. Pacio gets his long awaited trilogy match against fierce rival Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta as they bookend their trifecta of fights and prove who truly is the king of the strawweights. And rightfully so, the 25-year-old World Champion is grinning from ear to ear. “I’m so fired up to get back inside the ONE Circle. It’s been a year and a half since my last outing and I really miss the feeling of being inside that Circle and defending the belt,” he said. “Adding to my excitement is that

my wish was granted, with Saruta topping the contender’s list and he really is deserving to face me again for the third time.” Saruta has indeed staked his claim to get another go-round with Pacio as the Japanese currently is the no. 1 ranked challenger in the ONE Athlete Rankings. It also helps that he has an unfinished business with Pacio, with the two fighters splitting their first two fights. Saruta came out of nowhere and took the ONE Strawweight World Championship from Pacio in a stunning split decision win at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY in January 2019. Roughly three months later, Pacio redeemed himself in emphatic fashion, catching Saruta with a brutal knee to the head to score the fourth round knockout win and reclaim his crown at ONE ROOTS OF HONOR in April. Although the decisive finish was enough to prove that his first loss to Saruta was nothing more but a fluke, the Team Lakay stalwart has never gotten over that misstep that whenever he’s

asked who he wants to face next, it’s only the Japanese’s name which he has repeatedly answered. As he approaches this third fight, Pacio has his full belief that he’s not just a better version of the fighter who fought Saruta two years back, he’s at his best this time out. “We focused on all facets of my game. Remember that our goal is to become a well rounded athlete, so that covers everything from striking to grappling to wrestling and defense,” he said. “I’m a more confident Joshua Pacio now and I sure am well more equipped. We’ve exchanged swords twice already and in those encounters, we’ve gauged each other pretty well.” Pacio’s last two title defenses against Rene “The Challenger” Catalan at ONE: MASTERS OF FATE in November 2019 and Alex “Little Rock” Silva at ONE: FIRE AND FURY in January 2020 certainly helped him hone his skills and he has continuously developed his game since then. It also gave the Filipino fighter a

chance to be more methodical and analytical in his attack, knowing when to use his aggression and when to wisely pick his spots. “Honestly, I’ve learned that I should not seek for a knockout win as it naturally presents itself when an opportunity opens. Instead, I should just have to follow the game plan, focus on executing it, and just show what I am capable of,” he said. But Pacio also knows that Saruta has also improved ten-fold from the last time they faced each other. That’s why he remains wary of the dangers that his pesky foe has planned for him. “I know that each of us will bring something new to the table and we’re sure to give it our all the moment we enter that circle. So I expect nothing but fireworks in this third fight,” he said. That’s just the nature in this loaded strawweight division, with the continuous influx of elite talent forcing the headliners like Pacio to keep on reinventing himself to remain at the peak of the mountain.

Life

@manilastandardlife

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com

FASHION AND BEAUTY

@MStandardLIFE

Beauty Addict celebrates 9th year with digital events, special offers

Coco Capitán’s capsule collection for Cos consists of three unisex T-shirts with text graphics that spread love and inclusivity.

COS brings Coco Capitán-designed T-shirt to Manila LONDON-BASED artist and photographer Coco Capitán says, “ALWAYS LOVE BECAUSE LOVE IS ALWAYS LOVE” on a T-shirt that celebrates love, freedom, and inclusivity. COS brings the T-shirt, part of its capsule collection in collaboration with Capitán, to its Philippine store at SM Aura Premier in Taguig. The design is embroidered onto an organic heavyweight cotton T-shirt in boxy fit and unisex sizing. A special edition repurposed cotton

Vanessa Matsunaga-Sunga

USTAN’S loyalty program Beauty Addict celebrates its 9th anniversary with a series of events that promotes beauty from within.

Titled “Beauty Addict 2021: Transcend”, the celebration kicked off on Sept. 3 with live unboxing videos on filmmaker Bella Manzano and model Vanessa Matsunaga-Sunga’s Instagram accounts. Matsunaga-Sunga and Manzano will return in the three-part beauty event on Sept. 10 hosted by Tim Yap. Other special guests include Stephanie Zubiri, Elvira “Tootsy” Angara, and Paolo Valenciano. It will air live on Rustan’s The Beauty Source’s Facebook page at 4:00 p.m. The program will include a performance from Kiana Valenciano, exciting games, and inspiring discussions about the featured guests’ advocacies.

tote featuring the colors of the Progress flag will also be available. The tote, COS says, is made with excess cotton from its production process. All proceeds from the sale of the Coco Capitán-designed T-shirt and Pride tote bag will be donated to LGBTQ+ organizations Galang and Love Yourself. Galang is a nonprofit working with and for economically disadvantaged LGBTQI. Nonprofit Love Yourself provides safe spaces and services for sexual, mental, and transgender health.

VANITY CORNER Pain-free glow Beauty Addict members enjoy special deals during the loyalty program’s 9th anniversary celebration.

On Sept. 17 at 5:00 p.m., Zubiri will be live on her Instagram account to prepare an easy and guilt-free recipe, and share tips on how to be beautiful inside and out while helping others. Participating brands on Sept. 10 will be offering deals and discounts applicable at Rustan’s stores, rustans. com, and through personal shopper on call. Go to this link to see the promos: bit.ly/RTBSTranscendDeals. Metrobank cardholders will get an additional 10 percent off using the code

MBRTBS10 plus the first six digits of their cards. Beauty Addict members enjoy x5 points on all purchases in stores and through personal shopper on Sept. 1-9 and 11-30. They can also get a Viajecito Splashkit Sport Set for a minimum purchase of P20,000 today until Nov. 30. Every P2,500 worth of purchase today until Oct. 31 entitles customers to one electronic raffle for a chance to win the grand prize of P50,000 shopping spree at Rustan’s The Beauty Source.

A NEW skincare line makes a case for pain-free rejuvenating, or “rejuv”. Hello Glow’s Advanced Rejuvenating Set harnesses the power of professionally compounded active ingredients AHAs, PHAs, bakuchiol, niacinamide, and micro-encapsulated retinol to effectively rejuvenate skin, balanced with hexylresorcinol, Centella asiatica, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to prevent irritation, improve and clarify skin texture, unclog pores, and treat acne. The painless rejuvenating regimen Hello Glow Advanced Rejuvenating Set starts with cleansing face with the Low pH Hydrating Cleanser (leave on for two to three minutes before rinsing), followed with Get Bright Toner applied using cotton pads. In daytime, apply the oil-free Ultralight ++ Matte Sunscreen with SPF 30 at least 15 minutes before heading outside. Before bed, use a pea-sized amount of the Nourishing Night Cream to apply on the face down to the base of the neck. The set is available at Watsons and Hello Glow’s stores on Shopee and Lazada for P360.

In-TEN-sive moisture

NIVEA highlights the 10 benefits the Intensive Moisture Milk provides to skin. With vitamin E from avocado skin nutrients, the body lotion moisturizes, hydrates, nourishes, softens, repairs (with antioxidant), makes skin supple, plumps up, rejuvenates, revitalizes, and smoothens. Nivea Intensive Moisture Milk also contains Deep Moisture Essence, combining HydraIQ and glycerin to nourish and intensively reduce roughness of dry skin. It comes in four sizes: 75ml (P89), 125ml (P119), 250ml (P209), and 400ml (P309), available in leading supermarkets nationwide and on e-commerce platforms.

Made of the good stuff

Select skincare and makeup brands at Rustan’s The Beauty Source offer discounts and other promos.

Viajecito Splashkit Sport Set

HOMEGROWN personal and home care products label Human Nature launches its newest and “most affordable” line of “genuinely natural” essentials. The first batch of Pure and Sure products includes the 100 percent natural, non-drying Pure and Sure Lemon Squeeze hand sanitizer, clinically proven to kill 99.99 percent of germs with 60 percent alcohol content. In lieu of triclosan and other toxic ingredients, the 99.75 percent natural Pure and Sure Grapefruit Squeeze hand soap contains gentle, plant-derived cleansers. Both 99.75 percent natural and free from harmful chemicals, Pure Sure Fresh Bloom feminine wash and Pure and Sure Cool Fresh Tea feminine wash gently clean with mild, plantbased cleansers. The aforementioned and other Human Nature products are available at Human Nature branches, on its website, through dealers, on Lazada, and at Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace, and Shopwise. Pure and Sure feminine wash, hand soap, and hand sanitizer.

Paolo Valenciano

Tootsy Angara

BEAUTY WITH A PURPOSE Skin whitening soap turns 20, launches scholarship program IN CELEBRATION of its 20th anniversary on Sept. 8, skin whitening brand Silka is giving deserving college students support to finish their degrees. The ALAGA (Academic, Learning, and Achievement Grant Awardees) Scholarship Program is open to incoming and current college students of any level. Silka will be awarding 20 college scholars – five each from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila – a fixed amount for their

tuition plus allowances. “Silka ALAGA scholars are bound to uplift, not only themselves, but also their families, their communities, and their country. In the same way that they experienced ‘alaga’, they too can pass on the same to those who follow in their footsteps,” the brand said in a statement. Submission of application starts on Sept. 15. Go to www.alagangsilka.com or its Facebook and Instagram accounts to know more.

Silka launches ALAGA Scholarship Program in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Entertainment

After ‘Init sa Magdamag,’ JM de Guzman focuses on ‘Ang Probinsyano’ AWARD-WINNING actor JM de Guzman invites fans not to miss the season 1 finale of hit television series Init Sa Magdamag. The Kapamilya show, which he co-stars with Yam Concepcion and Gerald Anderson, deals with controversial themes and often trends on social media. With only a few episodes to go, the actor teases that viewers should watch out for unexpected twists and more shocking scenes until its finale on Sept. 10. Recently, JM also announced that he will be actively supporting Ang Probinsyano Party-list in the upcoming election season. He said that he was eager to volunteer as an ambassador for the partylist as this gives him another platform to reach out and help more people. He also spoke candidly about why he is lending his voice and his time for the partylist, “I admire Congressman Alfred delos Santos, and the Ang Probinsyano Party-list he represents. We are about the same age, and yet, through his leadership, he has developed a group that provides a voice for marginalized groups in the

provinces.” “I’m inspired to do more. And, I encourage everyone, especially the youth to register and vote in this coming election,” he added. The actor further shared that he will be specifically involved with the Alagang Probinsyano program of the partylist that provides free house-to-house medical checkups for partner communities. “I have already expressed my willingness to go to the provinces with them. Sasama ako sa kanila to bring public service to various communities. I prefer to genuinely help. So, in the coming months, mag-iikot kami sa mga probinsya, at dito rin sa Metro Manila, para magdala ng ayuda, gamot at iba pa na pwedeng makagaan ng buhay kahit paano ngayong pandemya. Gusto kong personal na ipakita sa tao na Ang Probinsyano Party-list ay tumutulong at patuloy na tutulong sa kanila.” Follow JM de Guzman on Instagram @1migueldeguzman and Ang Probinsyano Party-list on Facebook for more details on Alagang Probinsyano.

Director Yam Laranas (inset) is back with romance drama ‘Paraluman,’ a film that revolves around a forbidden relationship starring Jao Mapa and Rhen Escaño.

Yam Laranas is back with ‘Paraluman’

W JM de guzman as Peterson Alvarez in ‘Init sa Magdamag.’ The actor with Rep. Alfred delos Santos of Ang Probinsyano Party-list (inset).

E’VE been hearing the word paraluman of late. For some, it’s part of the lyric for an Eraserheads classic song alluding to the immaculate beauty of a post-war screen actress. For the younger generation, it’s the title of the song popularized by a young music artist named Adie.

Heart Evangelista joins XTREME Appliances as the face of modern Filipino lifestyle XTREME Appliances, the country’s leading one-stop shop appliance brand, has tapped actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista to become its newest face. She joins current XTREME Appliances ambassadors Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso. “I am so excited about my endorsement with XTREME Appliances. It is such a good collaboration,” Heart said during her endorsement shoot. As XTREME Appliances gears up to maintain its standing as the leading one-stop shop appliance brand—a milestone achieved in just three years— Heart becomes the ambassadress who will promote the brand’s mission: to provide quality yet affordable appliances for every Filipino and to leverage the Filipino lifestyle through technology and innovation.

From left: XTREME Appliances vice president for business development Mark del Mundo, XTREME Appliances president Adrian Lim, SGC CEO Richard Lim, SGC vice president Kevin Richard Lim, and XTREME Appliances vice president for marketing Stephen Cheng

Just like any of us, Heart considers two factors before purchasing an appliance or any product— quality and affordability. As a brand that prioritizes quality and affordability, Heart is confident that she is endorsing the right brand. “Quality and affordability make XTREME Appliances the perfect choice for every Filipino. You know, at the end of the day, you need quality and you also want to make sure that it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. So it is pasok sa budget and at the same time, it is classy, it is lux, and it is beautiful. I just love XTREME Appliances products so much,” Heart explained. Since 2016, XTREME Appliances has grown into a household brand that caters to the everchanging demands of the Filipino market. This year, XTREME Appliances is now ready to elevate its brand by introducing a new

ambassadress who truly embodies a modern Filipino lifestyle. “Heart Evangelista-Escudero is an icon and we believe in her star quality and impact on Filipinos. As we continue to grow as a brand, we want to solidify our name to be a brand fit for a modern Filipino lifestyle. Times are changing and things are constantly evolving and we are glad to have Heart as the brand’s newest face. We are just so excited to continue our mission in bringing comfort, convenience, and efficiency to every Filipino household with our new brand ambassadress,” says Stephen Cheng, vice president for marketing. To keep updated on the latest news and happenings of XTREME Appliances, like and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok accounts and join their official online community on Facebook, XTREME Fam. For the full list of products and exclusive discounts, please visit XTREME on Website, Lazada, and Shopee e-commerce

“Paraluman means muse, a woman with extraordinary beauty, ang babaeng pinakamaganda sa lahat,” director Yam Laranas said in a recent virtual junket that launched his latest film, Paraluman. The award-winning thriller and horror film director is back, this time for a new romance movie starring the onscreen pairing of one of this generation’s most promising stars, Rhen Escaño, and ‘90s heartthrob Jao Mapa. “This is not your usual romance. There is something deeper. Note that Jao’s Peter and Rhen’s Mia have a huge age gap and that Peter is actually already in a relationship. It’s thrilling. It’s exciting,” the director promised. Laranas is more known for his awardwinning thriller and horror films such as Sigaw, Aurora, and Death of a Girlfriend. With Paraluman, he traversed a road he hadn’t gone to for a long time—the romance genre. The last romance movie he directed was the 2002 blokcbuster hit Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon starring Regine Velasquez and Richard Gomez. “I’d like to do different genres. My goal actually is to mix genres. I’ve done that in Death of a Girlfriend. Paraluman is a sexy love story, it’s not tragic. So, this is the path that I wanted to achieve,” he said.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

“Paraluman is a story of a guy and a much younger woman,” he added. In the story, Jao Mapa is Peter, a man who lives in with his partner Giselle (Gwen Garci), a barangay worker. They will meet Mia (Rhen Escaño), the younger sister of one of their friends. Not long after, Mia falls in love with Peter and before everything goes wrong, Peter must choose between Mia, who’s very much younger than him and who just came into his life very recently, or Giselle who has been with him for the longest time and wants nothing but to be with him for the rest of her life. According to Laranas, the film tackles a relationship, which foundation is merely sex. The film wanted to answer the question 'what happens when sex is the foundation of a relationship, and a forbidden one at that.' “It all started as a sexual attraction between the main characters. Then it became flirtation. Then it blossomed into a love affair. That’s their journey. All the scenes that contain nudity were integrated into the story. But that’s not the core of the film, it’s the journey of the characters,” the director concluded. Paraluman streams on Vivamax on Sept. 24.

#FlexMoNa campaign encourages public to get vaccinated GMAArtist Center promotes the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine via the launch of #FlexMoNa online awareness campaign. Through this timely initiative launched on Aug. 19, the talent arm of GMA Network aims to encourage action among Filipinos, and create a bandwagon effect through the help of the artists by asking their fans to join the movement in preventing the spread of the virus. Using #FlexMoNa on social media, GMA Artist Center talents will post their vaccination photos and tell their own story on what made them decide to get vaccinated. According to GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President for Talent Imaging and Marketing Simoun Ferrer, they’re hoping that this will help those who are still hesitant about getting the jab, "There is still a majority of Filipinos who are unwilling or hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccines for various reasons, like fear of side effects, waiting for their preferred brands, or some are intimidated by the whole process. With the emergence of new and more contagious COVID-19 variants, vaccination, aside from practicing safety protocols like wearing masks and social distancing, will help us reach herd immunity and prevent further spread of the disease."

Various Kapuso stars are involved in #FlexMoNa including Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, Sanya Lopez, Bianca Umali, Ken Chan, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos, Barbie Forteza, and Jak Roberto, to name a few. They all took to their personal social media accounts their own stories and experiences of being vaccinated in hopes of minimizing vaccine hesitancy and fighting against the emergence of more contagious COVID-19 variants in the country.

Alden Richards and other stars encourage the public to get vaccinated via #FlexMoNa campaign.