Manila Standard - 2021 November 2 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

Pay up! Hospitals demand

P20b in unpaid claims by PhilHealth; PHAP sets Nov. 15 as ultimatum By Willie Casas

RIVATE hospitals said Monday they are set to sever ties with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by the second week of November, after the state-owned insurance company missed its October deadline to make good on P20 billion worth of unpaid claims.

“As early as August, they owed us (PHAPi), which has about 700 membermore or less P20 billion, and this is all hospitals. over the country,” said Jose Rene de “And it’s continuous. Let’s say that Grano, president of the Private Hospi- they are saying they paid P10 billion altals Association of the Philippines, Inc Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 260 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DUTERTE CALLS FOR PRAYERS, REFLECTION ON ALL SOULS DAY

PH logs lowest daily infections, malls OK to open longer hours HOLIDAY CONTRAST. A couple enjoys riding a zipline overlooking the majestic Taal Volcano in Tagaytay City on Monday as people spent their All Saints Day at the park -- because they were denied a chance to visit their dearly departed in places like Manila South Cemetery, where a groundskeeper examines the tombs (inset). Danny Pata and Norman Cruz

New gas, LPG 2,790,375 price increases hit consumers 3,117 43,185

By Willie Casas, Joel E. Zurbano 2,703,914. Amid the decline in cases, mall ownand Othel V. Campos THE Philippines logged 3,117 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest daily infections reported since May 23, bringing the total number of cases to 2,790,375. There were 104 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 43,276. The Department of Health (DOH) also reported 5,124 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to

ers agreed to a proposal from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to extend their operating hours to 11 p.m. or midnight during the peak buying season to ease road congestion. There were 43,185 active cases, of which 72.6 percent were mild, 4.9 percent were asymptomatic, 3 percent were critical, 7.2 percent were severe, Next page

104

2,703,914

5,124

(As of 4 PM, NOVEMBER 1)

List of schools in face-to-face classes bared LIMITED in-person classes will begin in chosen schools on November 15, marking the country’s basic education system’s return to classroom instruction for the first time since the coronavirus forced

By Alena Mae S. Flores

43,276

I JOIN all Filipino Catholics in the Philippines and around the world in commemorating All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This centuries-old tradition of honoring those who have come before us and led virtuous lives, as well as remembering our dearly departed, is a strong pillar of our faith and identity as a people. As we follow the example of the saints and pray for our loved ones who have passed on, let us also pray for each other, especially during this pandemic. We pray for those who have died because of COVID-19, and we also pray for those who have sacrificed life and limb to save more lives and keep us safe. This occasion offers us a time to reflect and be grateful for the gift of life and the promise of eternity. With the grace of the Almighty, I have full trust that we will brave these trying times and emerge as a stronger nation. May we all have a blessed and meaningful observance.

CONSUMERS are facing a double whammy with gasoline prices shooting up by P1.15 per liter and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rising by P3.10 per kilo to reflect the higher prices in the world oil market. Oil companies raised the price of

Netflix deletes show episodes on 9-dash line

ON GUARD. Philippine Coast Guard personnel patrol a beach in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte

to ensure that minimum health standards are followed during the Undas holiday, while others distribute purified drinking water to passengers waiting for a trip at the Manila North Harbor Port Passenger Terminal. PCG photos

NETFLIX has removed two episodes of an Australian spy show from its streaming service in the Philippines after Manila objected to scenes showing a map with Beijing’s claims to the disputed South China Sea. China has long used its so-called nine-dash line to justify its claims over most of the resource-rich South China Sea, where the Philippines has Next page

Court voids arrest of activist in ‘Bloody Sunday’ raid By Rey E. Requejo CLIMATE MURAL. A drone image shows a street mural with the theme ‘Pangarap Hindi Panaginip Activism for Climate Justice,’ an activism-anchored project for Greenpeace’s 50th anniversary globally in Marikina and in time for the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. (See story on A2) Greenpeace photo

A REGIONAL trial court has dismissed the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against an activist who was arrested during the “Bloody Sunday” raid on March 7 that resulted in the death of

nine other activists. Tanauan City RTC Branch 6 Presiding Judge Ricuerdo Flores ordered the immediate release from jail of Erlindo Baez Custodio, unless he is being detained for other lawful reasons. In dismissing the case, Flores said the search warrant issued by a Manila RTC

judge that was the basis for Custodio’s arrest was null and void as it failed to specifically and sufficiently describe the place to be searched—one of the requisites of a valid warrant. The warrant failed to include a description of the accused’s house that Next page

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Sotto: Budget passed by December By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Senate aims to pass the proposed P.024-trillion 2022 national budget by the first week of December, Senate President Vicente Sotto III told reporters Monday.

stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.” Herrera thanked Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Appropriations Committee Chair Eric Go Yap, and all the members of both the majority and minority blocs for the swift and smooth passage of the budget bill. “This really shows the collective commitment and resolve of the House of Representatives to help Filipinos and the economy recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic by ensuring uninterrupted delivery of government services,” Herrera said. She added: “The House of the People has done its job. We now await our friends from the Senate to do theirs.” Herrera expressed optimism “the Senate, under the able leadership of Fi-

nance Committee Chair Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, will be able to pass its own version in a timely manner.” “The ideal timeline is for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the budget bill into law before Christmas,” Herrera added. Herrera echoed an earlier statement by Velasco about the importance of enacting the national budget before January 1, 2022, as a reenacted budget will surely dampen the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The government’s pandemic response and economic recovery plan for the country remain the top priorities in the proposed 2022 General Appropriations Act, the last budget under the Duterte administration.

Sotto said the plenary deliberations on the budget would begin once session resumes on November 8. The House of Representatives on October 25 forwarded to the Senate its version of the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for next year. In the House’s version, some key amendments to the budget bill were made, including an allocation of P20 billion for the procurement of COV-

ID-19 vaccines and booster shots and P4.5 billion for the special risk allowance of qualified public and private health workers. In the House, Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera urged the Senate to take quick action on national budget, saying “We appeal to our senators to swiftly pass the 2022 national budget that is expected to help the country recover and emerge

PH... From A1

Save humanity, leaders urged at COP26 summit

and 12.32 percent were moderate. Nationwide, 45 percent of ICU beds, 34 percent of isolation beds, 31 percent of ward beds, and 31 percent of ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 39 percent of ICU beds, 27 percent of isolation beds, 30 percent of ward beds, and 29 percent of ventilators, were in use. The positivity rate was at 7.5 percent based on samples of 41,712 people tested on Oct. 30. The MMDA has had an annual agreement with mall operators to extend their operating hours ahead of the Christmas season to decongest traffic. The MMDA is also suggesting that malls schedule sales on weekends and holidays only and not during weekdays. MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the Metro Manila Council, composed of the 17 mayors in the National Capital Region, is also set to come up with a resolution to cut or remove curfew hours. Mall operators had expressed concern about the curfew and the limited capacity allowed in public transportation. Last month, Metro Manila mayors agreed to cut the curfew to midnight to 4 a.m., two hours shorter than the previous curfew. Shopping mall business hours are usually from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. The MMDA also advised the public to do their Christmas shopping early to avoid the holiday rush and the expected traffic jams, especially around shopping malls and commercial centers. Records showed that traffic volume rises 15 percent to 20 percent between November and December. They also showed that “midnight sales” or extended mall hours contributed to traffic jams during the Meanwhile, an infectious disease expert said the number of COVID-19 cases will not be as high as they were in August or September—at about 20,000 a day--even as the protection from vaccines wanes. “I believe that there will be cases because of the waning protection, but I don’t think it will be as high as what we experienced in August or September,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante in an interview with radio dzBB. “Because even if it wanes… there’s still some element of protection that you cannot be a severe case and you will not be hospitalized.,” he added, talking in Filipino. The DOH has applied for emergency use authorization (EUA) for booster shots and additional doses with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Booster shots are given when immunity is starting to wane after several months since receiving the vaccine. Additional doses, or third doses, on the other hand, are given to people who cannot mount the appropriate immunity against the sickness. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire previously said the EUA of the vaccines must be amended to allow booster and third shots. The DOH approved booster and additional shots of COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers, immunocompromised people, and the elderly within the year.

gasoline by P1.15 per liter effective Tuesday, Nov. 2, but cut the price of diesel by P0.35 per liter. However, the oil firms raised the price of LPG or cooking gas by P34.10 per 11-kilo tank effective 4 p.m. Nov. 1. LPG prices have risen a total of P21.90 per kilo since June, equivalent to an increase of P240.90 per 11-kilo tank. “Petron will implement a P3.10 per kg increase (VAT-inclusive) in LPG prices ef-

By Joel E. Zurbano SECRETARY Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer, said vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 would start once local authorities had completed the necessary assessments and safety protocols on the measure. “(The) 5 to 11 age bracket, most likely, it takes time for the assessment and also we will also look at the experience in the United States. Once Pfizer submits the dossier for its approval here, I believe it will take only take a few weeks before the (Philippines) FDA (Food and Drug Administration) can announce its decision. More or less, they might approve it by December,” Galvez told reporters. He said this shortly after the arrival of 2,098,980 doses of Pfizer vaccine donated by the US, through the COVAX Facility at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Sunday night. He made the remark after the US Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 -- the first vaccine brand to get such approval for younger children in the US.

GLASGOW -- World leaders must act to “save humanity”, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Monday as they met for the historic COP26 climate summit with code-red warnings from scientists ringing in their ears. More than 120 heads of state and government are gathering in Glasgow for a two-day summit at the start of the UN’s COP26 conference, which organisers say is crucial for charting humanity’s path away from catastrophic global warming. US President Joe Biden, India’s Narendra Modi and Germany’s Angela Merkel were all set to deliver speeches expected

to reiterate the need for urgency. “It’s one minute to midnight... and we need to act now,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said to start proceedings on an at-times chaotic opening day. COP26 is being billed as vital for the continued viability of the Paris Agreement, which countries signed in 2015 by promising to limit global temperature rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius, and to work for a safer 1.5C cap. With a little over 1C of warming since the Industrial Revolution, Earth is being battered by ever more extreme heat-

waves, flooding and tropical storms supercharged by rising seas. Pressure is on governments to redouble their emissions-cutting commitments to bring them in line with the Paris goals, and to stump up long-promised cash to help developing nations green their grids and protect themselves against future disasters. “It’s time to say: enough,” Guterres said. “Enough of brutalizing biodiversity. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature like a toilet. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper. We are digging our own graves.” AFP

Pay... From A1

erations will continue,” he said. For months, hospitals have been consulting with their members on whether to sever their affiliation with PhilHealth. De Grano said some hospitals in Iloilo, General Santos City, Cagayan Valley, and the National Capital Region have already signified their intention to break ties with PhilHealth. “By this week, next week, or another two weeks, some hospitals will be announcing... what they plan to do in 2022 on whether.. to renew or stop accreditation with PhilHealth,” he added. In October, De Grano said an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of nurses in private hospitals in the country have left their jobs in the last two to three weeks. “What we are doing in hospitals now is, of course, we are looking for replacements for our registered nurses. We are

training under-board nurses, we are training nursing attendants,” he said. De Grano said they are also urging nurses and health care workers to stay in the country. “Of course, we are also trying to give them the best salary offer that we can give, but we can’t match the big offers of foreign companies or foreign hospitals,” he said. In a Senate hearing earlier, the state insurer admitted to delays in processing of claims for COVID-19 cases. “We are so swamped with an increase in claims. Can you just imagine, in 2020, we had an average of daily claims of 31,000, and the average number of claims now is 39,000. Which means that is a job increase of 26 percent,” PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran had said. PhilHealth is also facing a manpower shortage, he added. “We blame it again on the pandemic

would distinguish it from other houses in Barangay San Vicente, Santo Tomas City, Batangas, the court said. The prosecution also failed to present photos or documents to prove that Custodio’s house was the one specified in the search warrant. Flores added there was nothing in the records that Judge Jason Zapanta, who issued the warrant, personally and thoroughly examined the applicant and the witnesses to justify the determination of probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant. “There is nothing from which the court can infer whether the requisite examination was made and from which the factual basis for the probable cause to issue the search warrant was derived,” Flores said. The defects in the warrant meant the search conducted on Custodio’s house was also null and void, the judge added.

Longos Elementary School --Ilocos Norte Alao-ao Elementary School Padaggan Elementary School Bicbica Elementary School (Pinili) Buanga Elementary School (Pinili) Godogod Elementary School (Pinili) Dumalneg Elementary School Dumalneg National High School San Isidro Elementary School Cacafean Elementary School

CENTRAL VISAYAS --Cebu Basak Elementary School Mahanlud Elementary School Cabagdalan Elementary School Luyongbaybay Elementary School Cañang-Marcelo Luna National High School Busay National High School Pilar National High School Siocon Elementary School

Tambacon Integrated School Marcela T. Mabanta National High School

CENTRAL LUZON --Zambales San Marcelino National High School Burgos Elementary School Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School Moraza Elementary School Belbel Elementary School Maguisguis Integrated School Nacolcol Integrated School Palis Integrated School Baliwet Elementary School Banawen Elementary School

EASTERN VISAYAS --Leyte Palo I Central School Bato Central School Dolho Elementary School --Samar (Western) Dawo Integrated School Macatingog Integrated School Mawacat Elementary School Pilar National Agricultural National High School Motiong Central Elementary School San Sebastian Central Elementary School Clarencio Calagos Memorial School of Fisheries

ready, then where are these payments?” De Grano said, noting that some hospitals are reporting they have yet to receive any payments from PhilHealth. He said some hospitals will be announcing their plans for 2022 by midNovember, a few weeks after the October deadline given to the agency. Though PhilHealth had been paying recent claims of private hospitals, the agency has yet to pay for claims of COVID-19 cases in 2020, De Grano said. The PHAPi president said some hospitals were forced to downsize to continue operating amid the agency’s nonpayment of claims. “What hospitals do is they downsize, they reduce working hours, just so op-

List... From A1 unprecedented online classes nationwide with increasing infections and deaths from COVID-19. President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed up to 100 public schools and 20 private schools to join the pilot run, the first in a three-phased plan to gradually reopen schools and resume in-person classes. It will cover students in Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 3, and Senior High School. No schools in Metro Manila were included in the initial list of at least 90 public schools for the pilot implementation. The Department of Education and the Department of Health disclosed plans on trying in-person classes as the pandemic continued to check population mobility and social distancing. The plan aims to address the limitations of distance learning, which has been implemented as an alternative to physical classes during the health crisis. DepEd and DOH have cleared for the pilot classes 10 schools in the Ilocos Region, 10 in Central Luzon, five in Calabarzon, three in Bicol, three in Western Visayas, eight in Central Visayas, 10 in Eastern Visayas, eight in Zamboanga Peninsula, six in Northern Mindanao, eight in Davao Region, five in Soccsksargen, and 14 in Caraga region. The list of schools is below: ILOCOS REGION --Pangasinan

New... From A1

Younger kids’ vax hinges on LGUs, says vaccine czar

fective 4 p.m. Nov. 1. AutoLPG prices will likewise increase by P1.73 per liter at the same time. These reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of November,” Petron Corp. said in its advisory. The Department of Energy (DOE) said crude prices continued to strengthen with Europe Brent reaching $85 per barrel recently, the highest since October 2018 amid soaring prices of nearly all commodities. The strength is supported by recovering demand, particularly in Asia, which has been outpacing supply growth cautiously managed by the Organization

CALABARZON --Quezon Province Lagmak Elementary School Lumutan Elementary School Dinigman Elementary School Pablo D. Maningas National High School Tamulaya Elementary School BICOL REGION --Masbate Sinalongan Elementary School Gutusan Elementary School Mary B. Perpetua National High School WESTERN VISAYAS --Antique Mayabay Elementary School Igsoro Elementary School --Aklan Laserna Integrated School

of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. Asian gasoline consumption continues to strengthen on increasing regional demand and tightening supply as the COVID-19 pandemic eases. The re-opening of borders and resumption of interstate travel in Southeast Asia also added to bullish market sentiment, the DOE said. On Oct. 26, the oil companies implemented a price increase in domestic oil products -- P1.10 to P1.15 per liter for gasoline, P0.35 to P0.45 per liter for diesel and P0.55 per liter for kerosene.

ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA --Zamboanga Sibugay Siloh Elementary School San Vicente Elementary School --Zamboanga del Sur Manga National High School Manga Elementary School Lala Elementary School Sominot National High School Tabina Central Elementary School Guipos National High School NORTHERN MINDANAO --Lanao del Norte Dalama Central Elementary School Babalaya Elementary School Napo Elementary School Masibay Integrated School

Netflix... From A1 rival claims. The Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday it had lodged a complaint over the map which included the line -- shown briefly in the drama “Pine Gap” -- with the Philippines’ broadcasting authority. Episodes two and three of the show had been tagged “This episode removed by government demand”. It was not clear when they were pulled. Netflix did not immediately respond

Court... From A1

DAVAO REGION --Davao del Sur Tacub Elementary School Clib Primary School Nodilla Elementary School Zosimo S. Magdadadro National High School --Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) Parasan Integrated School Lower Panansalan Elementary School (Jacinto Extension) Maugat Elementary School Digaynon Integrated School (Manurigao Extension) SOCCSKSARGEN --North Cotabato Paco National High School Bato Elementary School --South Cotabato Nelmida Elementary School Ned National High School Aspang Elementary School CARAGA --Surigao del Norte Sapao National High School (JHS with SHS) Nonoc National High School San Jose Elementary School Cawilan National High School Lakandula National High School Lasicam-Perral National High School Balite National High School Alegria Stand Alone Senior High School Capalayan National High School Sugbay Elementary School Anajawan Elementary School Dao Primary School Mabuhay Elementary School Cabawa Elementary School

to a request for comment. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board ruled in September that certain episodes of the show violated Philippine sovereignty and were “unfit for public exhibition”, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “The portrayal of the illegal ninedash line in Pine Gap is no accident as it was consciously designed and calculated to specifically convey a message that China’s nine-dash line legitimately exists,” the department said, citing the broadcasting authority’s decision. AFP

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Leonardia: World Cities Day highlights environment, climate resilience actions

SQUID GAME HALLOWEEN. SM City Trece Martires gets into the Halloween spirit with its workers in costumes. Squid Game Pink Soldiers welcomed shoppers and allowed customers to experience the thrill of being a player in the store’s version of Squid Game Ddjaki and Dalgona Challenge. NORMAN CRUZ

THE 2021 World Cities Day (WCD) celebration will center on climate resilience and top city executives in the Philippines had an opportunity to discuss environmental and climate action-related initiatives with experts in the field on Friday, October 29. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, concurrent national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), who presided over the virtual Friday WCD commemoration jointly organized by the LCP and the United Nations-Habitat Philippines, said this year’s WCD and Urban October celebrations anchored on the theme, “Better Cities, Better Life: Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience.” “The Urban October provides an avenue for stakeholders to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the fast rate of changes in our cities and towns as more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas and all have a stake in and

Davao journalist killing likely ‘election-related’ By Willie Casas

HE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Monday said it is looking into an election-related angle in the killing of community journalist Orlando “Don Don” Dinoy in Davao del Sur. Dinoy was shot dead Saturday night inside his residence in Bansalan town. He was a Newsline.ph reporter, a former Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Sunstar Davao

correspondent, and an Energy FM blocktime anchor in Digos City. “What I can confirm is that it’s one of the angles that we’re looking at. Siguro ganto lang (Maybe I’ll put it this way): He was actually planning to run for vice mayor,” PTFOMS chief Joel Sy Egco said in an interview on ANC’s “Rundown.” “Tapos kinausap lang siya nung mga kaibigan, ‘Wag na, ‘wag ka nang tumuloy’. Then, hindi nga siya nag-file. So we’re looking at it, we’re looking at it, kung sino yung mga kaaway niya d’yan (Then his friends talked to him, and told him not to push through with it. So, he did not file for his candidacy. So we’re looking at it. We’re looking at his enemies there),” said Egco. Egco said violence against members of the media, including those who choose to

shift from journalism to politics, tends to spike six months before and after an election. “Alam ninyo, ang masakit po sa’kin, last week lang, nag-webinar kami, with Davao-based media ano… Ang ating webinar is about how to safely cover during the pandemic and the 2022 elections because, on our inventory, based on our study, yung sa task force, six months before and six months after every elections, tumataas, ‘no, may spike sa media violence, harassment, etc. (What’s painful is that just last week, we held a webinar with Dava-based media... It was about how to safely cover during the pandemic and the 2022 elections because, on our inventory, based on our study, by the task force, six months before and six months after every elections, there’s a spike in media vio-

lence, harassment, etc.),” he said. “It’s a pattern, actually. That is why every elections, nagha-heightened alert ang task force. So we discuss with the PNP, with the AFP, the NBI, bantayan nating mabuti. Ang una po nating binabantayan, yung mga media halimbawa na tumatakbo (That is why every elections, the task force goes on heightened alert. So we discuss with the PNP, the AFP, the NBI to be on alert. And we watch out for for media personalities who run for public office.),” Egco said. However, Egco said that they are not ruling out the possibility that Dinoy’s death was also work-related. Egco said he spoke with Edith Caduaya, a Mindanao-based journalist who worked with Dinoy, who, according to him, said she does not know of anyone who might have had it in for the late pressman.

Disqualification of Kabataan, Gabriela party-lists sought THE Liga Independencia Pilipinas Inc. (LIPI) on Monday called for the disqualification of the Kabataan and Gabriela partylist groups for violating Section 6 of the Party-list System Act or Republic Act 7941. In a statement, Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia, LIPI Secretary-General, said both Kabataan and Gabriela are known legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) identified by the government as a terrorist organization. The groups have filed their manifestation of intent to vie for seats in the 2022 elections, Goitia noted. “Gabriela has been accused of supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, and receiving foreign funding,” he said. The Kabataan party-list, he added, has been recruiting students to fight in the New People’s Army. “Based on the testimony of former Kabataan party-list members and communist criminal organization cadres, there is compelling evidence that Sara Elago and her associates are active members of the Communist Carty of the Philippines,” Goitia said. “The Kabataan and Gabriela Party-lists are in breach of Section 6 of RA 7941. We urge that the Commission on Elections disqualify these groups for their ties to the CPPNPA, which attempts to destabilize the government with the ultimate goal of creating a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist tyranny to replace our democratic way of life,” he said.

KA PEP. Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia, LIPI Secretary General, talks to the media outside the Commission on Elections offices in Intramuros, Manila.

PhilHealth reminds seniors of automatic membership

IN LINE with the recent observance of the “Filipino Elderly Week,” the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has again reminded Filipinos 60 years old and above that they are mandatorily covered under the National Health Insurance Program according to Republic Act (RA) 10645, and as reiterated under RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Law of 2019. Under Section 5 of RA 10645, all senior citizens shall be covered by PhilHealth. Their annual premium contributions shall be borne by the National Government from the proceeds of RA No. 10351 (Sin Tax Law), provided that they are not currently covered by any existing (membership) category of PhilHealth. Likewise,

a senior citizen must not have a regular source of income to be granted this privilege under the law. PhilHealth President and CEO Dante A. Gierran invited senior citizens to ensure that they are duly registered or are updated in their records with PhilHealth. “We have partnered with the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the local government units so that elderly Filipinos can be registered with PhilHealth conveniently,” Gierran said, adding that “qualified senior citizens should only submit two duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) to the OSCA where they reside and await notification if their Member Data Record

is already sent by PhilHealth.” If a senior citizen opts to register at any PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office, they must also present and submit a copy of their Senior Citizens’ ID or any proof of age together with a 1x1 photo taken within the last six months, in addition to their filled-out PMRF. As of June 2021, some 8.4 million Senior Citizen Members and 1.3 million Lifetime Members were registered with PhilHealth, with a combined qualified dependents of 3.3 million. From January to June 2021, PhilHealth has paid a total of P9.408 billion in benefits representing some 988,000 claims filed by elderly members nationwide.

Maynilad extends water interruptions By Rio N. Araja

MINORS ON THE STREET. Young street vendors selling wiping cloth or “basahan” to motorists along Quezon Ave. Quezon City, after being restricted to their homes due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The government aims to finish inoculating the target population to minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 nationwide. MANNY PALMERO

THE west zone of Maynilad Water Services Inc. on Monday announced the extension of water interruptions in some barangays in the cities of Manila, Makati, Paranaque, and Pasay due to pipe realignment in Sampaloc, Manila. The interruption was prolonged until Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Maynilad earlier announced its water interruption from Oct. 29 to Nov.1 in parts of Las Piñas,

Makati, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, and Cavite due to the flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways. The project caused water service interruptions ranging from 25 hours to 85 hours. According to Maynilad, several physical works of cross-under pipe were already been completed on Sobriedad yesterday at 3 p.m. It said water services would be restored in several parts of the affected areas.

can contribute to improving our urban environment,” an LCP project brief said. According to the LCP brief, every October, everyone interested in sustainable urbanization, from national and local governments to universities, non-government organizations, and communities are encouraged to hold or participate in virtual or physical activities, events and discussions. The UN-Habitat campaign, on the other hand, has adopted the theme, #ClimateActions4Cities, for the Urban October event. All told, the twin virtual event--WCD and Urban October—hopes to provide an avenue to showcase climate actions in cities and highlight how cities can benefit from partnerships with development advocates in achieving local climate goals, Leonardia explained. Expected to attend the World Cities Day online celebration are city mayors, local policymakers, technical staff, national government agencies, development partners, and other key stakeholders.

Govt hails killing of Ka Oris, calls on NPAs to surrender By Willie Casas THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has lauded on Monday the neutralization of George Madlos, alias “Ka Oris,” commander and spokesperson of the NPA’s National Operations Command and Spokesperson of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindanao and most wanted CPP NPA NDF leader. “We do not rejoice that a Filipino was killed, yet again, by fellow Filipinos. Nor do we rejoice that superior military action was what it took to stop this man from hurting our people. Not a peaceful dialogue between brothers, but a most decisive show of force in neutralizing a butcher who was directly responsible for so much death and destruction,” Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy Spokesperson for Sectoral Concerns, NTF ELCAC, said in a statement. Badoy said Madlos had blood dripping off his hands at the countless crimes against humanity he himself strategized and implemented. The official said Madlos also played a lead role in the recruitment and radicalization of the helpless, the most gullible among us, mutating them into violent extremists of the NPA that brought them deeper into poverty or ended their lives. “What we rejoice in is that now this terrorist who was a cut above all terrorists can no longer harm the Filipino people. And that his death will send the clear signal to those who persist in the futility of fighting the government that the only sensible option left for them is to lay down their arms peacefully and rejoin civil society,” Badoy said.

Passenger arrivals down 72% in first nine months—BI By Vito Barcelo

THE number of passengers who arrived in the Philippines from abroad dropped to 72 percent during the first nine months this year as the country continues to grapple with the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international travel industry. Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed that only a total of 893,886 international travelers arrived from January to September. In 2020, a total of 3.2 million arrived during the same period. “This is a far cry from our pre-pandemic figures, wherein we reached 12.6 million arrivals already by the third quarter,” Morente said. Morente explained that although the pandemic started in 2020, it was in late March that the country closed its borders, so there were already 2.8 million arrivals recorded at the beginning of the year. “Statistics show that since January the volume of arrivals in our international ports has been averaging at only around 90,000 to 100,000 a month so we foresee this trend to persist until the end of this year,” he added. The low figures, according to Morente, are due to the daily cap on passenger arrivals as well as the imposed travel restrictions. Morente also reported a 68-percent drop in the number of passengers who departed for abroad during the first three quarters of the year. He bared that a total of 1.1 million travelers left the country during the period, compared to the 3.6 million who departed a year ago.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Marcos: Fund more research to back fight against COVID By Rey E. Requejo

NO ONE SHALL PASS. Manila Police District personnel man the gate of the Manila North Cemetery and the Manila Bay Walk dolomite beach (inset) on November 1, 2021 to bar visitors from entering. Danny Pata and Andrew Rabulan

Isko top choice for president in new survey FORTY days after formally launching his presidential bid under the banner of the Aksyon Demokratiko last Sept. 21, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s popularity is continuously gaining ground as he emerged as the top choice among the candidates gunning for the highest position in the land, a recent survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) showed. The poll, held from October 17 to 26 with a total of 10,000 respondents, has a +/-2% margin of error. Domagoso got 25.39 percent and dominated the survey in three geographic areas: National Capital Region (NCR) at 30.53 percent; Visayas at 24.63 percent and Mindanao at 22.70 percent. It was only in Balance Luzon that Moreno landed a close second at 25.84 percent, with former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. taking the lead at 30.33 percent. Nationwide, in close second was Marcos Jr. at 23.10%; followed by Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo at 18.31%; Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao at 17.88%; Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson at 7.08%; and Senator Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa at 3.41%. Given the margin of error, Robredo and Pacquiao were statistically tied at third place. Interpreting the spike in Moreno’s popularity rating, Angelito Banayo, political strategist of Team Isko-Will, said the surge in the numbers is an indication that his message of “cutting by 50 percent taxes from fuel and electricity to ease the hardship of the people” has been resonating with the public. “Mayor Isko bared his tax-cut plan in a dialogue with farmers in Tarlac City last October 21, which was within the survey period. This means that his plan if he becomes president resonated well with the people,” Banayo said. Rey E. Requejo

Go: Choose bets based on track record as leader PDP-Laban vice presidential candidate Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go has exhorted voters to look beyond personalities and measure leaders based on the kind of service they have provided to the people they committed to serve. He also warned the public against selling their votes as he urged them to choose candidates who they believe can fight for their welfare and best serve them. “Do not sell your votes. That is your right. Do not sell the future of your children and our country,” said Go, who is running under a faction of the ruling party led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. He said Filipinos must keep in mind the privilege of elected officials to lead comes directly from the consent of the people. Despite having filed his candidacy for vice president for the upcoming national elections, Go said his focus remains on fulfilling his mandate as a senator and on ensuring public service delivery amid the ongoing crisis. Instead of discussing politics, he would want to focus on finding solutions to the challenges posed by the pandemic, including the setting up of Malasakit centers. Go commended the Duterte administration’s efforts to close gaps in health care access, particularly for the urban poor, as the 146th Malasakit Center opened on October 27 at the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center in Las Piñas City. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Comelec signs P535-m deal for ’22 poll logistics T HE Commission on Elections has signed a P535.99million contract with F2 Logistics, a firm linked to businessman Dennis Uy, for the distribution of vote-counting machines, ballots and other election paraphernalia for next year’s synchronized polls. The 32-page contract was signed on October 29 by Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas and F2 Logistics president Efren Uy, president of F2 Logistics. F2 bested LBC Express, 2Go Express, and Airspeed International in securing the logistics deal. Uy, a major contributor to President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign, is the chairman of F2 logistics.

The agreement covers four areas: the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon for P106 million; Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region for P123 million; Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas for P120.9 million; and Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga and

Bangsamoro region for P185.9 million. Poll watchdog Kontra Daya earlier appealed to Comelec to pull out from the contract because of the company’s links to a Duterte ally, which it said could pose a “potential conflict of interest.” “This is different because it is the presidential election. Like what was said before, Dennis Uy contributed P30 million to Duterte’s presidential campaign in 2016. This isn’t an issue of legality. It’s an issue of propriety. It should be canceled so that there will be no potential conflict of interest,” said Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao. Detained senator Leila de Lima earlier filed a Senate resolution seeking an inquiry into Comelec’s decision to award the contract to F2 Logistics.

Tingog party-list nominee Jude Acidre (second from left), event host Boobsie Wonderland (left), Hope Christian High School Principal Angeline Tan (center), Aref Usman, representing Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (second from right), and Yolanda first responder and Batch 8 Brotherhood Inc. officer Johnny Yu Uy (right) pose for a souvenir photo during the successful vaccination of 1,100 teachers, medical practitioners, and members of 60 various firefighter brigades in Tondo, Manila Sunday.

Tingog party-list leads Tondo pneumococcal vaccination By Maricel V. Cruz THE Tingog party-list group led by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez has partnered with Batch 8 Brotherhood and Manila Batch 8 Lions Club to administer at least 1,100 pneumococcal vaccines to teachers, medical practitioners, and members of 60 various firefighter brigades at the Hope Christian High School in Tondo, Manila Sunday. In partnership with the Tingog party-list group, Labor and Employment Sec. Silvestre Bello III, who was represented by Mr. Aref Usman, awarded 30 “kabuhayan package” worth P20,000 each to provide alter-

native livelihood to the poorest of the poor families reeling from the continued devastating effects of COVID-19. Jude Acidre, Tingog nominee and chief of staff of Romualdez, said most of the vaccination beneficiaries were part of the so-called first responders who showed “malasakit” (compassion) during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Tacloban City and other parts of Eastern Visayas almost eight years ago. “Our special activity was a way of honoring the first responders. They were there when our kababayans in Region VIII needed them most. We thank the malasakit of all

volunteers,” said Acidre, who is also the national president of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines. Romualdez and her spouse, House Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez, along with actress-singer Karla Estrada, a nominee of Tingog who hails from Tacloban City, also thanked the first responders as the nation marks the 8th anniversary of the Yolanda devastation. The Tingog party-list also provided protection to the teachers by including them as among the beneficiaries of the vaccination program as they prepare for the second quarter of school year.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Monday said the government should allocate more funds for medical research, which has become significantly necessary during crucial times like the ongoing pandemic. Marcos, standard-bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, which was created in the 1980s, has shown its excellence when it became the only laboratory in the country that can test the COVID-19 in the early months of the pandemic. He, however, lamented that the low budget of the research center caused many missed opportunities for RITM since it was tasked to plan and implement research programs for infectious and tropical diseases only. “The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is very relevant now to the COVID study. But in the past, these institutes were not given importance,” he said. “It’s a pity and there were many missed opportunities, but we still have a chance. We already know the problem. We already know where we are lacking. Let’s build up the facilities of our research. It’s very important now because we didn’t think about it before because there was no pandemic. But now that there is a pandemic, we are reminded that we have to do all this,” he added. Marcos also emphasized the need to strengthen the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, noting that the country should be able to produce its own vaccine. “We used to make our own flu vaccine. We made it at UPLB and vaccinated 60 percent of the population. That’s why we can do it but we need to strengthen and improve the system. There are many new technologies that can be taken advantage of,” he said.

Lacson open to safe atomic energy option By Macon Ramos-Araneta GIVEN the rising prices of oil and gas in the global market and the volatile output of some renewable energy sources, Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is open to considering safe atomic power as a viable option. Lacson said for as long as safety measures are put in place, safe and clean atomic energy can be an option under his future-proof economic strategy for the country. “Nuclear? Yes. Provided all the safety measures are in place, then, why not? Because other countries are into nuclear power plants. We should take a second look at this opportunity to reopen provided all the safety measures are in place. That is my position,” he said. He said the operation of nuclear power plants in the future, as seen in other countries, will address potential surges in electricity demand by households and industries while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Despite earning mixed reviews, if not generally negative responses, among stakeholders over the years, nuclear energy, Lacson said, remains a viable option to generate maximum electricity at relatively lower cost to consumers. Unlike coal-based power plants and other non-renewable energy sources, he said nuclear reactors do not pollute the air or emit greenhouse gases. However, they produce extremely toxic radioactive waste materials in the process that are challenging to manage and contain, Lacson said. “This is a complicated problem because there are dangers, there are risks involved. We don’t have the technical expertise to analyze all these, and we should learn from the mistakes of other countries,” he added.

‘Give tax perks to local COVID backliners’ SENATOR Francis Pangilinan has pushed for the extension of tax perks to Filipino manufacturers of COVID-19 medical supplies to ensure adequate products that are not overpriced. “As much as we are protecting the welfare of our frontliners, we must not forget our backliners who make critical COVID-19 supplies available,” he said. He said the government should encourage them to stay the course to protect the livelihood of their employees as well. Pangilinan is author of Senate Bill 1759 or the Pandemic Protection Act that gives incentives to local manufacturers and producers of some of the products critical amid the pandemic, such as personal protective equipment, test kits, ventilators, face shields, face masks and other supplies. Under the bill, the importation of capital equipment, spare and accessories, raw materials and other needed articles will be exempt from customs duties, value added tax (VAT), other taxes and fees such as import processing fees and other fees imposed by

the Bureau of Customs, Food and Drug Administration and other relevant agencies. It will also exempt the local sales of critical products and services from VAT. The bill also requires businesses that produce and export critical products or services to supply up to 80 percent of their daily production to government institutions, hospitals, and private establishments for local and domestic use. “We were forced to import and pay more for the COVID-19 supplies, and this is hurting our budget, the people’s money,” said the running mate of Vice President Leni Robredo in next year’s national elections. At a recent Senate hearing, members of the Coalition of Philippine Manufacturers of PPE and the Confederation of Wearables Exporters of the Philippines also pushed for the passage of the Pandemic Protection Act. In a joint statement, the two groups said: “We are here today, in aid of legislation, and to plead that the Senate act with immediacy on the proposed Pandemic Protection Act pending before both Houses of Congress.”

Vice President Leni Robredo visits the Lambaklad Site at Brgy. Agñas, San Miguel Island with Tabaco Mayor Krisel Lagman (right). Tabaco City is among the beneficiaries of Robredo’s Angat Buhay Program. Norman Cruz

Opinion Charges vs. Ongpin should be dismissed THIS is a follow up to a previous column on Julian Ongpin. This young man is accused of possession of more than 10 grams of cocaine. It is a non-bailable offense. There are actually three elements which any lawyer worth his salt can use to move for the dismissal of the case, which has been filed before the San Fernando City, La Union Regional Trial Court. First, there was denial of due process. The prosecutors of the Department of Justice were so quick to file a resolution against Julian for his indictment and arrest. This was splashed all over the media — clearly in violation of the customary 15-day period to file for a Motion for Reconsideration.

I am a lawyer and here is what I think. Santa Banana, without examining all the facts, the DOJ rushed to judgment and recommended Ongpin’s indictment on drug charges simply because cocaine was found in the room he shared with a young artist! Second, it turns out that the girl had a black pouch that contained the cocaine. This was not in the possession of Julian. This led Julian, through his lawyers, to claim “the DOJ should not have easily been swayed to accept the justification given the high possibility of planting, tampering or alteration of the evidence on account of the absence of the accused in the alleged crime scene during the conduct of the physical inventory and photographing of the subject drug.” Ongpin claims the authorities broke the chain of custody under Republic Act No. 9165 as there was no attempt to summon the accused from any other possible mandatory witnesses such as an elected public official, a representative of the National Prosecution Service or from the media. As a lawyer myself, I know that when a criminal case is filed against an accused, the evidence must be beyond reasonable doubt. In this case, considering all elements and circumstances, there is reasonable doubt.

GLOBAL migration dynamics constantly shift but one thing is certain: the adverse impacts of the climate crisis are shaping migration patterns everywhere, including here in the Philippines. Globally, tens of millions of people are displaced every year by extreme climate events, while many others look to migration as a deliberate strategy to adapt to the impacts of climate change. President Rodrigo Duterte, in his address during the 76th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, acknowledged that “just as COVID-19 has had an uneven impact on peoples, climate change has also exposed the varying vulnerabilities of countries around the globe. The risks and burden of a warming climate are simply not the same for everyone. The greatest injustice here is that those who suffer the most are those the least responsible for this existential crisis. But here we are now at a critical tipping point, where failure to act leads to cataclysmic consequences for the whole of humankind.” Included in these ‘cataclysmic consequences’ are estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that with a 1.5°C global temperature rise, 30 to 60 million people will be living in areas where the average heat in the hottest month will be too high for a human body to function. With a 2°C rise, that number increases to more than 100 million. The World Meteorological Organization reported that we are perilously close to hitting the internationally agreed threshold in 2020, with a global mean surface temperature (GMST) of 1.2°C warmer than the pre-industrial baseline (1850-1900). “The alarm bells are deafening,” declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Based on Global Climate Risk Index 2020, the Philippines ranked the second most vulnerable country in the world affected by climate change despite being one of

I believe all these should be considered for the immediate dismissal of the case. ••• The Comelec has proposed a debate among the presidential candidates. This will be critical — voters will find out how a would-be president would address a particular problem. Still, the Comelec should consider many factors in organizing this debate. First of all, the ground rules must be established and agreed upon by all the candidates. Will it be online or face to face? Who will moderate the debate, ask the questions, keep track of time? Will it be a face-off between two candidates or will all candidates be present? Will there be a panel of interrogators? If there are, then it should not be a debate but a Q&A. The Comelec must be very specific. There are so many formats of argumentation and debate. If the rules are not established clearly, it could become a circus. I also think it should be conducted in English, which is the language of heads of state. If there is a candidate who wishes to speak in Filipino, there should be an interpreter. ••• It’s the season for black propaganda and fake news. Usually, it is the election frontrunner who is targeted by critics and fake news purveyors. In this case, that would be Bongbong Marcos. It’s also that time for vote-buying in the name of trying to help people, especially the poor. The Comelec must realize that vote-buying takes many forms. The most common form is when candidates claim to help people in times of need. My gulay, even if the candidate tries to spend his money to help the poor and the hungry, and even if the candidate claims that he is not asking for their vote, it’s still vote-buying in any language. The law on vote-buying is not very clear. Vote-buying is peculiar to the Philippines because of poverty. Take the case of Senator Pacquiao going to Benguet and handing out money to strawberry farmers whose crops have been devastated by a recent typhoon. My gulay, isn’t that vote-buying? ••• All members of my household continue to take the utmost precaution even when we have all been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We must remember we can still contract the virus even though we may be fully vaccinated. Filipinos need to be informed of this.

the smallest contributors to CO2 emissions. The recent Global Report on Internal Displacement also revealed that over 4 million Filipinos were displaced in 2020 alone, the majority of which was caused by typhoons. Further, more than 60 percent of the Filipino population resides in coastal areas and will be forced to move with one-meter sea rise brought about by global warming— that equates to 60 million people having to move by the end of this century. This stark reality demands that urgent actions be taken now to avert and minimize the adverse impacts of the climate crisis. The human costs are too high not to act.

How are we confronting the transformational impact that climate and environment-induced population movements are having? Individual lifestyle trends are moving toward eco-conscious choices from offsetting carbon to eating less meat, but how are we confronting the transformational impact that climate and environment-induced population movements are having and will have on peoples and societies across the globe? According to the International Organization for Migration Philippines’ recent report, Framing the Human Narrative of Migration in the Context of Climate Change, migration is one of the coping mechanisms of affected Filipinos facing climate crisis, either as a choice or a force of circumstance. Acknowledging that the protection of the most vulnerable should be at the forefront of our climate action, it is imperative to ensure that adaptive migration as a solution is safe, informed, and desired. For instance, planned relocation can be a pathway towards man-

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EDITORIAL

The climate crisis is a game changer when it comes to migration By Gustavo Gonzales and Kristin Dadey

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

A grim reminder

ESS than three weeks after the Presidential Task Force on Media Security celebrated its fifth anniversary, a reporter for an online news service was shot dead in his home in Bansalan town in Davao del Sur. Orlando Dinoy, a reporter for Newsline Philippines and anchor for Energy FM, was shot six times by a gunman who barged into his apartment, local police said. It was a grim reminder that much more needs to be done to make this country safe for journalists, who play a key role in holding government officials accountable in a democracy. Dinoy was the 21st journalist killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took power in 2016, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said. The killing came a day after the international watchdog group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) included the Philippines again in its annual Impunity Index, which highlights countries where journalists have been killed and the perpetrators remain free. The Philippines ranked seventh on the list this year, joining war-torn states and authoritarian regimes topped by Somalia with 25 unsolved cases. Next in descending order based on the number of deaths are Syria, Iraq, South

Sudan, and Afghanistan. At sixth place is Mexico, while in the eighth to 12th spot are Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, Bangladesh, and India.

The spirit of impunity has been with us for many, many years. The executive director of the task force on media security, Undersecretary Joel Egco, vows that justice will be done in the Dinoy case, but also says the country’s inclusion in the CPJ Impunity Index was not surprising, given that court case against the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre—in which 32 journalists were killed in 2009—remains unresolved. The CPJ report covered a 10-year period from August 2009 to August this year, hence the inclusion of the Maguindanao massacre, he added. Next year, he said, “the massacre case

will be out of the equation,” either because it will no longer be under the CPJ’s 10-year period or if a verdict is finally promulgated—leading to a “much better and improved ranking for the Philippines.” All this may be true, but an improved ranking in the Impunity Index is no consolation to the families of the 21 journalists who have been killed under the Duterte administration. The paroxysm of violence that was the Maguindanao massacre was an aberration in its sheer scale and audacity on the part of the killers, but the spirit of impunity that made it possible has been with us for many, many years—and moving it out of some arbitrary review period does nothing to change the situation on the ground. What the task force should address is the recent finding that state agents— including the police and military, and local and national officials—were linked to more than half of the 223 cases and threats against members of the media since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016, based on consolidated data from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. While we listen to the government vows to bring Dinoy’s killer to justice, these are the statistics that worry us most.

Grief, fear, and love where God is.” For the Holy Father, the two significant days are united, making up “hope that does not disappoint.” It has been a difficult last three months; seeing so many sicknesses and deaths (not all from COVID) – of colleagues, friends, relatives, young and old, has been debilitating and paralyzing. Like many, Myrna La Viña Alonso, Dinky Soliman, Chito Gascon, Tito Remy, Tita Inday, Bien Lumbera, Kerima Tariman, Bobing Venida, Bobby Lucila, Ed Go, Ghaye Alegrio, Paolo Ansaldo, Nina Canoy, Mercedita Aboniawan, Emma San Andres, Cora Jayme, Ruben Balane, Baging Arguelles, Carmen Valero, the earlier deaths of Gemma Narisma, Fr Sergio Su, and Fr Roque Ferriols, Mom’s death last year - have filled me with grief, sorrow, and yes fear.

ALL Saints’ Day is the feast day to recall the heroic virtues and piety of all the saints in heaven. Thus, this is the day to call for the living to imitate the holy lives of the saints — men and women who offered everything in order to follow and live the will of the Father. All Souls’ Day is the day for Christians to commemorate the memory of their dearly departed brethren, asking God’s mercy, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints in heaven, to grant them the consolation of eternal repose in the company of their Creator, the saints and His angels. The spiritual and religious significance of these feast days is the reason why we offer masses for our departed brothers and sisters, visit the cemetery to offer prayers for them and for most, another occasion to celebrate. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still underway and with restrictions on gatherings still in place, cemeteries being off-limits to gatherings, we are not able to celebrate these holidays like we used to. In his homily last year, Pope Francis said - “These are days of hope . . . On the day of the saints and on the day of the dead, it is necessary to think a little about the hope that accompanies us in life . . . The early Christians depicted hope with an anchor, as if life were the anchor thrown onto the shore of heaven and all of us walked toward the shore, clinging to the anchor’s rope . . . This is a beautiful image of hope: to have the heart anchored where our ancestors are, where the saints are, where Jesus is, aging climate vulnerabilities when done in a contextually grounded manner and with strong community engagement. To realign its capacities, knowledge, and resources in response to climate change and its impact on the most vulnerable sectors of society, the UN in the Philippines updated its Socio-economic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in 2020 to facilitate coherent approaches to address the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity, as well as accelerate the low carbon transition while creating green jobs and improving human health. Guided by the Global Compact for Migration adopted in 2018, the UN Philippines Network on Migration highlights the need to take action at the local, national, and regional levels to avert, minimize, and address displacement, while also facilitating regular migration pathways. Such action will help key stakeholders to continue developing migrant-centered policies and programs. Nevertheless, we can and should do more. At COP26, the international community should strive for a stronger commit-

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

We act and love despite the fear. With every death of a person close to me I was reminded of these familiar words from the Book of Job: “I left my mother’s womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken. May the name of the Lord be blessed.” To be honest, I struggle to accept this truth. To be clear, it is difficult to utter the last line. But we can accept that and still proclaim Yahweh’s faithfulness. As Job did. Job was the righteous, suffering servant. He rightly rejected his friends’ arguments that he was being punished by God for misdeeds. Surely, they said, Job must have sinned big to have all his children killed, his properties destroyed, and his skin disfigured. Before his friends said this, Job actually accepted his misment to recognize that human mobility is inextricably linked to climate change. More importantly, we need to advocate that national and regional policies include more migration adaptation measures, and that resources are allocated to address and prevent displacements while increasing people’s resilience, especially in the most vulnerable countries. As we see a devastating portrait of climate crisis unfold before our eyes, it is easy to walk away in despair and give up—but this is not an option. Our fight against climate change is far from over and we are not powerless in the face of this global threat. Robust scientific data point us to critical areas for climate action and offer doable solutions that include adaptive migration. As the cost of the climate crisis is reaching irreversible highs, we can only come out on top with nothing less than bold collective action. Gustavo Gonzalez is the UN Philippines Resident Coordinator. Kristin Dadey is the IOM Chief of Mission in the Philippines

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fortune. But when he heard them, knowing that in fact he did not sin, he finally rebelled and protested. The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, introduced to me by the late Padre Roque, describes what happened — “Job endured everything — until his friends came to comfort him, then he grew impatient.” And then it became clear to Jobmas it is clear to me now: The Lord does not have to explain to me His ways, the reasons for all of these. Once we truly understood this, there will be a creative repetition, a correction as we see in the final chapter of Job: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before . . . The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. . . After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years.” I am consoled by the words of Saint Augustine. He says that, when you realize God’s presence in your life, love becomes more evident than fear. Indeed, quoting from the letters of Saint John, Augustine calls us to grow in charity – because perfect love drives out fear. Certainly this is what I see in Hec Soliman and Dinky’s family as well as in how Melissa Gascon and her daughter with Chito, Ciara, have shown in their mourning. Maybe we do not conquer all fear, as a friend I am close to has told me, but act and love we must despite the fear. And in the foxholes that we find ourselves through the many struggles of life, let us love each other and share our courage with each other. Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

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Japan’s PM Kishida declares win after ‘very tough’ election TOKYO—Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared victory on Monday after leading his ruling coalition to a strong majority in national elections. Kishida, a soft-spoken centrist who has been in office for a month, vowed to boost the world’s third-biggest economy with a fresh pandemic spending package which he said he would draft this month. He also said Japan would “take a leading role in working towards zero emissions in Asia”, a day before he heads to Glasgow for the COP26 summit. The long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito won 293 of the 465 seats in parliament’s lower house, local media reported while the official result was finalized. “It was a very tough election, but the people’s will—that they want us to create this country’s future under the stable LDP-Komeito government and the Kishida administration—was shown,” the prime minister said.

“We received a precious 261 seats for the LDP. As a responsible party... we will meet the public mandate.” Investors cheered the results, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index rising more than two percent after the ruling bloc limited its losses to beat exit poll predictions. The coalition had previously held 305 seats in parliament, and the LDP 276 on its own. Kishida took office a month ago after his predecessor Yoshihide Suga resigned just a year into the job, partly due to public discontent over his response to the COVID-19 crisis. ‘Large-scale’ stimulus Japan has recorded around 18,000 virus deaths, a comparatively low toll for its population of 126 million and has never imposed a blanket lockdown. But many businesses, especially bars and restaurants, have suffered through prolonged periods of restrictions on commercial activity. AFP

VICTORIOUS.

Japan’s Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at their headquarters in Tokyo on November 1 after the ruling party claimed a majority victory in the parliamentary elections. AFP

‘Last, best hope’ climate summit starts Biden lauds G Pope, calls LASGOW—More than 120 world leaders meet in Glasgow on Monday in a “last, best hope” to tackle the climate crisis and avert a looming global disaster.

“It’s one minute to midnight and we need to act now,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to tell them, according to extracts from his speech. “If we don’t get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow.” Observers had hoped a weekend meeting in Rome of leaders of the G20 nations, which between them emit nearly 80 percent of global carbon emissions, would give a strong impetus to the Glasgow COP26 summit, which

was postponed for a year due to the pandemic. The G20 major economies committed on Sunday to the key goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- the most ambitious target of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. They also agreed to end funding for new unabated coal plants abroad— those whose emissions have not gone through any filtering process—by the end of 2021.

But this did not convince NGOs, the British prime minister, or the United Nations. “While I welcome the G20’s recommitment to global solutions, I leave Rome with my hopes unfulfilled -- but at least they are not buried,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. - ‘Going to be very difficult’ “We’ve inched forward (at the G20). We’ve put ourselves in a reasonable position for COP in Glasgow but it’s going to be very difficult in the next few days,” Johnson said Sunday, before warning: “If Glasgow fails, then the whole thing fails.” The Glasgow gathering, which runs until November 12, comes as an accel-

erating onslaught of extreme weather events across the world underscores the devastating impacts of climate change from 150 years of burning fossil fuels. The current commitments of the signatories of the Paris agreement -- if they were followed -- would still lead to a “catastrophic” warming of 2.7 Celsius, according to the UN. COP26 marks the “last, best hope to keep 1.5C in reach”, summit president Alok Sharma said as he opened the meeting on Sunday. “If we act now and we act together, we can protect our precious planet,” he said. Climate advocacy groups expressed disappointment at the statement released at the end of the G20 summit. AFP

South Africa holds local elections set to challenge ANC JOHANNESBURG—South Africans will vote Monday in local elections expected to reflect growing discontent with the African National Congress party, which was losing popularity even before deadly unrest ravaged the country in July. The historic ANC is no longer basking in the glory of its struggle against whiteminority rule, which ended with Nelson Mandela’s election in 1994. High-placed party members, including ex-president Jacob Zuma, have been fingered in a number of corruption scandals -- the latest linked to coronavirus spending. Africa’s most industrialized nation was in recession even before the pandemic, and unemployment hit a record 34.4 percent in recent months. In July, Zuma’s imprisonment sparked riots and looting that left at least 354 dead and hammered the economy. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the violence was instigated to “provoke a popular insurrection”. Decades of mismanagement have meanwhile corroded state utilities, causing water cuts and rolling blackouts that even interrupted the ANC’s own campaigning. Polls suggest a majority of voters could for the first time turn against the party that has governed South Africa since the advent of democracy 27 years ago. “It’s a watermark for the ANC, and also a watermark for South Africa,” said William Gumede of the Democracy Works think tank. Just over 26.2 million people are registered to vote out of an eligible population of around 40 million. AFP

FACING CLIMATE. A visitor disguised as a Halloween character stands in front of a COP26 UN Climate Change Conference’ poster on the first day of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 31. The biggest climate conference since the 2015 Paris summit is seen as crucial in setting worldwide emission targets to slow global warming. AFP

Macron: Australian PM lied to me over submarine spat ROME—French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said Australia’s prime minister outright lied to him over a cancelled submarine deal, deepening an already fraught diplomatic crisis. “I don’t think. I know,” Macron said when asked by Australian media if Scott Morrison was untruthful in their private dealings. Both leaders are attending the G20 in Rome and a major UN-backed climate summit in Glasgow, but the weeks-long spat continues to trail them. In September, Australia’s leader without warning tore up a decade-old multibillion-dollar contract with France to build a new fleet of submarines.

At the same time, Morrison revealed he had been in secret talks to acquire US or British nuclear subs. Furious, Paris denounced the decision as a “stab in the back” and recalled its ambassador, who is only now getting back to work Down Under. Australian media asked Macron on the sidelines of the G20 summit whether he thought the Australian leader had been untruthful to him in private meetings. The French president left little doubt about his view, stressing the need for mutual “respect”. “You have to behave in line and consistently with this value,” he said.

Macron crossed paths with Morrison at the G20, and spoke on the phone earlier this week, telling him that a “relationship of trust” had been broken between France and Australia. The pair are yet to sit down for formal talks, although the French ambassador is set to meet Australia’s foreign minister in Sydney on Monday. In Rome, the French leader seemed to have made more progress in clearing the air with US President Joe Biden. On Friday, Biden admitted to his French counterpart that Washington had been “clumsy” in the way it handled the deal, and said, “We have no better ally than France.” AFP

Francis man ‘of great empathy’

ROME—US President Joe Biden praised Pope Francis on Sunday for his empathy and humanity, calling the pontiff “a fine, decent, honorable man”. “This is a man who is someone who is looking to establish peace and decency and honor, not just in the Catholic Church but just generically,” Biden said during a press conference at the culmination of the two-day G20 summit in Rome. Biden, a devout Catholic who regularly attends church, choked up while describing how the pope comforted his family following the 2015 death from cancer of his son, Beau, when Biden was vice president. During a visit by the pope to the United States later that year, Francis asked if he could meet with Biden’s family, the president recalled. “And we met in a hangar at the Philadelphia airport, and he came in and met with my family for a considerable amount of time... and he talked about my son Beau,” said Biden. “And he didn’t just generically talk about him, he knew about him... he knew what a man he was,” he said. “It had such a cathartic impact on his children, on my wife and our family. It meant a great deal.” On Friday ahead of the G20 talks, Biden met Francis for more than an hour at the Vatican, where he presented the pontiff with a presidential coin recalling the regiment in which Beau served. The pope, Biden said later, had told him he was “happy I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving Communion”. Biden said on Sunday that the pope was “everything I learned about Catholicism from the time I was a kid going from grade school through high school”. “I have great respect for people who have other religious views but he’s just a fine, decent, honorable man, and we keep in touch.” AFP

Tokyo shaken by Halloween ‘Joker’ stab, fire attack on train TOKYO— The suspect in a Halloween stabbing and fire attack on a Tokyo train expressed admiration for infamous comic villain the Joker, Japanese media reported, with authorities describing the incident as “atrocious and brutal” on Monday. Police said they arrested a 24-yearold man for attempted murder over the Sunday evening attack which caused 18 people to be hospitalized, as videos aired of officers surrounding a man in a purple suit with a bright green shirt and tie, reminiscent of the Batman villain. The incident sparked panic and chaos in a country where violent crime is rare, and TV footage showed terrified passengers running through the train as smoke filled the carriage. “With a knife he was carrying, the

man stabbed the right side of the chest of a male passenger in his 70s sitting in the train, but couldn’t achieve his aim (of murder),” a Tokyo police spokesman told AFP. “He told police he wanted to receive a death sentence by killing someone,” the spokesman added. The elderly man is in a critical condition after being stabbed, according to media reports. Top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno described the incident as “atrocious and brutal” on Monday. The attacker told police he admired the Joker, Kyodo News and the Sankei Shimbun daily reported. He said he had “failed in jobs and friendship and wanted to die but couldn’t die himself”, the Sankei said.

Batman’s arch-nemesis is regarded as one of the most notorious psychopaths in comic book history. The 2019 film “Joker” sparked criticism of its portrayal of the murderous villain as an outcast hero, with US authorities warning of copycat attacks after the movie’s release. Before Sunday’s attack, the suspect walked around Tokyo’s Shibuya district, a busy area full of young people in Halloween costumes, the Sankei reported. He said he had worn the outfit especially for the attack, it added. “First I thought it was something like a Halloween event. But I rushed away as a man carrying a long knife came in. I was very fortunate not to be injured,” a man who was on the train told NHK. AFP

BACK TO SCHOOL. Children hold balloons as they enter their school in New Delhi on November 1, as schools reopen after months due to the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Business

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Tokyo leads Asian market rally; HK drops H TOP GAINERS PSEi October 29, 2021

BKR

LAST PRICE 1.79

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.39 27.86%

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

OPM PBB FPI ZHI FJP NI PTC CNPF

0.011 9.09 0.31 0.185 2.7 1.06 104.9 28.3

0.001 0.59 0.02 0.011 0.16 0.06 4.9 1.3

10.00% 6.94% 6.90% 6.32% 6.30% 6.00% 4.90% 4.81%

MWC

26.5

3.92%

ONG KONG, China—Most Asian and European markets rose Monday, with Tokyo leading the way as a win for Japan’s ruling party in a weekend general election fueled hopes it will push ahead with a fresh stimulus, though Hong Kong was hit by data showing further weakness in China’s economy.

News that inflation had hit a 30-year high in the United States and a 13-year peak in the eurozone added to longrunning concerns that price rises are in danger of running out of control, while piling more pressure on central banks to tighten monetary policy. The spotlight is now on the Federal Reserve’s meeting this week, where it is expected to unveil a timetable for ta-

pering its vast bond-buying program, while boss Jerome Powell’s statement afterwards will be followed for an idea about when it will start hiking interest rates. “Given (the beginning of tapering) is well expected, more interest is likely to be in Chair Powell’s press conference and whether this hints the Fed is becoming less comfortable with the inflation

picture and whether they are starting to see the case for multiple hikes in 2022 as the market is pricing,” said National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril. Expectations for higher US rates have rallied the dollar and put it on course for 115 yen for the first time since early 2017. The decision comes as the Bank of England is tipped to lift rates this week, following in the footsteps of other financial authorities in South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore, among others. While investors are coming to terms with the prospect of rising borrowing costs, markets continue to press higher, with all three main indexes on Wall Street ending at records on Friday, thanks to a largely healthy

Saudi Aramco says Q3 profits soared 158% on higher oil prices

TOP LOSERS 1

PRMX

LAST PRICE 1.84

% CHANGE CHANGE -0.26 -12.38%

2 3 4 5 6 7

MVC MAB I ABG VMC CAB

4 0.0089 1.07 5.5 2.31 58.9

-0.5 -0.001 -0.12 -0.5 -0.16 -4.05

-11.11% -10.10% -10.08% -8.33% -6.48% -6.43%

8 9 10

SOC MACAY ICT

0.65 6.35 180

-0.04 -0.35 -9

-5.80% -5.22% -4.76%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2

SMPH SM

VOLUME 19,175,400 520,640

VALUE (PHP) 639,810,120 503,509,130

3 4 5

ALI ICT BDO

12,187,700 1,905,220 2,721,290

428,129,670 345,355,106 340,518,855

6 7 8 9

ACEN GLO AC DMC

26,650,600 100,895 345,390 33,318,900

328,205,222 302,759,850 295,782,425 266,766,969

BPI

3,069,830

263,707,808

NEW NORMAL. Commuters walk along a railway platform after stepping out from a suburban local train in Kolkata on

November 1, 2021 as the train services resumed normalcy after plying with restrictions imposed earlier to curb the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. AFP

Record inflation stains Eurozone economic recovery BRUSSELS, Belgium—Eurozone inflation surged to a record rate this month as energy prices jumped and supply chain woes bit, Eurostat said Friday, threatening growth just as economies nearly reached their pre-pandemic levels. Year-on-year inflation hit 4.1 percent in October, more than double the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target and tying the top level last seen in July 2008, as energy prices jumped 23.5 percent, the agency said. Overall the eurozone economy was so far maintaining its steady recovery from COVID-19 restrictions, growing at 2.2 percent in the third quarter of the year, Eurostat said, beating expectations. But analysts warned that global sup-

ply chain problems look set to put the brakes on growth just as the eurozone had nearly overcome its pandemic-induced downturn. “The solid increase in eurozone GDP in the third quarter means that the recovery phase is almost complete in most of the eurozone,” analysis firm Capital Economics said. But it warned that “growth will be much slower in the final quarter as supply chain disruption, slowing global demand and some labor shortages hamper production.” The bottlenecks already appeared to be taking their toll on the eurozone’s largest economy Germany, which grew by just 1.8 percent.

The increase was less than analysts had expected as German manufacturers wrestled with a lack of raw materials, including plastics, metals and paper. But that contrasted with a strong performance from second-biggest economy, France, which expanded strongly at 3.0 percent, powered by a sharp increase in household spending and the reopening of key sectors. Italy also beat expectations with 2.6 percent growth, while tourism-reliant Spain underperformed at 2.0 percent. The third-quarter increase brought the eurozone economy back to within half a percent of its pre-pandemic level, with France just 0.1 percent off and Germany 1.2 percent back. AFP

British, French leaders agree to declare truce in post-Brexit fishing row ROME, Italy—The French and British leaders agreed on Sunday to defuse days of sniping over post-Brexit fishing rights, according to Paris, potentially averting a full-blown trade war that would embroil the entire EU. President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Boris Johnson met for about 25 minutes on the margins of a G20 summit in Rome, aides said, a day after Johnson complained to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen that French threats to trigger reprisals over the row

earnings season. Tokyo took up the mantle in Asia on Monday, rallying more than two percent after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida won a strong majority in the weekend poll, giving him the freedom to push through a big-spending spending program to kick-start the stuttering economy. He has previously said he would pursue a program worth tens of trillions of yen. The win for Kishida also provided some optimism for stability. There were also gains in Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Mumbai, while London, Paris and Frankfurt opened higher. Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta dipped. With AFP

were “completely unjustified.” They agreed to work on “practical and operational measures” to resolve the dispute in the coming days, Macron’s office said. They were united on the need for a “de-escalation” with concrete action to come “as soon as possible,” it said. There was no immediate comment from Downing Street. Johnson has been stressing at the G20 that all sides must focus on the bigger picture of climate change as he prepares to host more than 120 world leaders at

the COP26 summit from Monday. But both the UK and French governments had been intensifying their angry rhetoric, and France last week detained a British trawler that was allegedly fishing illegally in its waters. The two sides have also been at loggerheads over a nuclear submarine alliance involving Australia, Britain and the United States, dubbed AUKUS, that left France in the cold. France is incensed that Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey

have not issued some French boats licenses to fish in their waters since Brexit took full effect at the start of 2021. Paris had vowed that unless more licenses are approved, it would ban UK boats from unloading their catches at French ports from Tuesday, and even impose checks on all products brought to France from Britain. On Friday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a leaked letter to von der Leyen that Britain should be shown “it causes more damage to leave the EU than to stay in.” AFP

RIYADH—Saudi Aramco’s earnings rose 158 percent year-on-year in the third quarter on higher oil prices and volumes sold as the global economy recovered, it said on Sunday. Aramco’s profits surge comes as world leaders prepare for the UN’s COP26 climate summit starting in Glasgow later on Sunday, a key meeting in the battle against global warming. Aramco’s net income was $30.4 billion in the third quarter, up from $11.8 billion in Q3 last year, with free cash flow more than doubling to $28.7 billion. Shareholders will receive $18.8 billion in dividends. The profits are the biggest since Aramco listed on the Saudi stock exchange in December 2019, before suffering a 44.4-percent slump in 2020. “The increase in net income was primarily the result of higher crude oil prices and volumes sold,” the Saudi oil giant said in its earnings statement. It also cited “stronger refining and chemicals margins in Q3, which were underpinned by rebounding global energy demand and increased economic activity in key markets.” The latest rise comes after profits nearly quadrupled in Q2 as the world economy bounced back from the COVID crisis, lifting demand and pushing oil prices back above $80 a barrel. “Some headwinds still exist for the global economy, partly due to supply chain bottlenecks, but we are optimistic that energy demand will remain healthy for the foreseeable future,” Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser said. Nasser claimed that Aramco will “build on our track record of low-cost and low-carbon intensity performance” after announcing last week that it intends to achieve net zero carbon emissions in its operations by 2050. The carbon-neutrality pledge by Aramco, the world’s biggest oil producer, was met by skepticism by environmentalists as it excludes emissions from the company’s products. Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s biggest polluters as well as the top oil exporter, has also pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060. AFP

Manhattan office workers are coming back to their cubicles, but slowly By Juliette Michel NEW YORK—There is still a ways to go, but Robert Byrnes has been heartened by signs that more New Yorkers are getting back to the office after the coronavirus pandemic. “The subway train was absolutely packed this morning,” he said. “I’m back to waiting in lines at lunchtime.” Still, Byrnes, who heads the East Midtown Partnership, a trade group whose offices are near Grand Central Station, estimated that only about one third of the neighborhood’s workforce has come back to their cubicles. “Quick meal-type restaurants are still suffering a severe financial impact,” he said. “It’s slowly getting better.” Other benchmarks corroborate Byrnes’s sense of the lag in New York office employees’ return to in-person workdays. In May, 62 percent of large employers surveyed by the Partnership for New York City estimated that their workers would be back in the office by September. But in August, only 41 percent gave that same timeframe. Building security company Kastle estimates that New York’s buildings

are currently at 32 percent of their normal levels, putting it behind the 37 percent average of the nation’s 10 largest cities. The upshot is that around 30 percent of the stores near Grand Central remain vacant, according to a report published in early October from the Real Estate Board of New York. The casualties include some longtime institutions, such as the Marriott hotel on Lexington Avenue, which opened in 1924. Lasting change? Other New York neighborhoods hit hard by lockdowns to combat COVID-19 are coming back more quickly. The catch is they tend not to rely on office workers. This includes Times Square, which has seen more tourists of late as Broadway theaters have reopened. Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, said the neighborhood now sees about 225,000 people a day, up from 145,000 a day in May. The hotel occupancy rate of the quarter stood at 82.5 on October 9th, Harris said. “With 12 more Broadway shows opening up in the next couple of

People commute in Manhattan in this file photo taken on May 17, 2021, as the subway returns to 24-hour service in New York City. AFP

months, with the return of international visitors in November and the office workers going to return a little bit more in 2022, we’re very optimistic about the way Times Square has been recovering,” he said. But a recent report from commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield paints a mixed picture about Manhat-

tan. Overall, new office leasing in the famous New York City borough rose in August and September to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic. Despite that, Manhattan’s vacancy rate reached a record 19 percent due to the arrival of additional properties on the market, the Cushman report said.

Rent for newly available office real estate is down about five percent below the levels from a year ago. Byrnes is among those who think the New York real estate market has experienced lasting change. He questions whether some of the open space may be converted to residential use. “It’ll never be like it was before the pandemic,” he said, adding that a minority of companies have permanently shuttered their offices in favor of remote work. Sam Stovall of CFRA Research has shifted his office to his home in Pennsylvania. Stovall’s firm has shut its 40-person office in southern Manhattan, while keeping a headquarters in the state of Maryland and another office in Malaysia. “Our management felt that we were equally, if not more productive by eliminating commutes on a daily basis,” Stovall said. “They can save money on real estate.” Stovall still sees his colleagues on Zoom calls, but says he misses regular business lunches and the chance to go out for drinks on Friday nights. AFP

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Korea to finance bridge connecting 3 Visayas islands By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Korean government agreed to help finance the construction of the 32-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge Project which is envisioned to be the longest in the country, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways. Public Works Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the Korean government committed an official development assistance loan to the Philippines through the KEXIM Bank-Economic Development Cooperation Fund to finance the detailed engineering design of the immense bridge project. The loan will be formalized with the signing ceremony scheduled next month. The proposed island bridges, connecting Panay Island, Guimaras Island and Negros Island, would have two components. These are the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras or Section A that will have a seacrossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers; and Guimaras-Negros or Section B or with a total length of 19.47 kilometers including seacrossing bridge length of 13.11 kilometers. The supplementary feasibility study report and engineering service provision for the project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee in August 2021. Sadain said the bridge is a large and complex project which requires comprehensive and high-standard engineering works that service by consultants who have extensive experience in long-span bridge will help DPWH prepare the construction in an efficient and timely manner. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Korean government-funded flagship infrastructure projects in the Philippines are steadily moving forward.

Business New Zealand firm to invest $100m in Batangas tourism By Jenniffer B. Austria

NEW Zealand conglomerate plans to invest $100 million in a tourism project in Batangas City as the country reopens to local and foreign tourists, a Philippine partner said over the weekend.

Starfleet Innotech Inc. plans to infuse $100 million to develop at least 500 condotel units in partnership with a unit controlled by listed Abacore Capital Holdings Inc. Abacore said in a disclosure to the stock exchange SFIO Monday it signed a joint venture agreement with Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center Inc. to develop the project. Omnicor is 100-percent owned by Philippine Re-

gional Investment Development Corp., which in turn is wholly-owned by Abacore. The planned condotel project will rise on a two-hectare parcel of land on a strategic tourist spot in Montemaria, Batangas City that overlooks Batangas Bay. “The property is set to be structured as a resort condotel, with a timeshare concept, targeting tourists, pilgrims, expats and the Filipino global community who may be returning to the country for a short vacation post-pandemic or for retirement,” the company said. It said the property would be equipped with state-of-the-art smart-building technology to be developed by SFIO. The technology will enhance the health, wellness, safety and security of future guests—suited to the new normal of a COVID-19 world. The project received an environmental compliance certificate from the Department and Environment and Natural

Resources, which allows for the immediate commencement of preliminary survey and design. The whole project is expected to be completed within the next three years. Pre-selling of the units will commence once the permit to pre-sell is approved by the concerned government agencies. Abacore owns over 200 hectares of land around the area. “This joint venture between SFIO and ABA will be the first of many, according to a 10-year development plan where SFIO and Abacore have agreed to be the preferred developer of future projects,” the company said. SFIO, formerly known as SmokefreeInnotec, is an asset management company and a conglomerate with investment in franchising, food manufacturing and distribution, coffee business, property development and technology and software development. SFIO has strong presence in New Zealand and Australia.

COMMUNITY PANTRY.

Clark Development Corp. chairman Edgardo Pamintuan (third from right), along with CDC vice president for administration and finance Mariza Mandocdoc (second from right) and CDC assistant vice president for external affairs Rommel Narciso (right), leads the turnover ceremony of the community pantry at Barangay Margot, Angeles City. About 500 indigents, including 150 selected senior citizens from Barangay Margot in Angeles City, benefit from CDC’s community pantry, a joint project of CDC and Clark locators.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III called for urgent global climate action, especially from developed countries, to meet their climate change commitments during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties that opened in Glasgow, United Kingdom on Oct. 31. Prior to the COP26 meeting, Dominguez, in separate international fora, stressed the need to accelerate the mobilization and provision of funds to assist the most climate-vulnerable countries in climate adaptation and mitigation. Dominguez, who heads the Philippine delegation to COP26, first made the call at the opening of the 2021 Annual

Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, where he asked Western economies largely responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions to act now in significantly reducing their carbon footprints. Likewise at the meeting of the Group of 77 and China held on Oct. 29, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella restated the Philippines’ position, and cited the need for transparency and accountability on the use of funds for climate financing. “We stated that every dollar or every peso spent should be quantified, as well as its impact towards our common goal, and reported to the people of the receiving country and the people of the participating country for full transparency,”

INFRASTRUCTURE-ORIENTED think tank Infrawatch PH said candidates running for public office should brush up on economic policies and reconsider proposals such as the government takeover of public utilities which may not be feasible. “Even assuming that government has at least P300 billion to buy out a single public utility, there is no certainty that utility prices will be lower after a takeover,” said Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor and former House energy committee member. “In the power industry, the biggest chunk of consumers’ monthly bills do not come from distribution charges, but from generation fees, which are charged not by public utilities but by private generating companies. In other words, even the grandest of takeovers will not work to control utility prices,” Ridon said.

Ridon said these candidates, especially those running for Senate seats, wanted “to raise their populist profile.” He said Senate bets should study the power industry issues more. “Had Senate bets studied the power industry better, they would know that the main intervention on electricity prices should be on the generation side, which had in fact achieved significant reforms through the competitive selection process. Another initiative includes further reducing the feed-in-tariff for renewables as prices in the sector had already dropped in recent years,” he said. Ridon said another intervention should be to rationalize taxes imposed on electricity. “Aside from VAT, consumers are also paying other taxes specific to the power sector. If Senate bets really wanted to have a solid platform to serve electricity consumers, it should first focus on reducing taxes on our electricity bills,” he said.

7,054.70

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,115,518,585 88,018 7,701,089,988.18 84 107 45

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7700

Japan

Yen

0.008807

0.4471

Pound

1.380000

70.0626

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128576

6.5278

Switzerland

Franc

1.096972

55.6933

Canada

Dollar

0.810045

41.1260

Singapore

Dollar

0.743771

37.7613

Australia

Dollar

0.754100

38.2857

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

134.6756

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.5358

Brunei

Dollar

0.741015

37.6213

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030066

1.5265

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.8232

Euro

1.168400

59.3197

Korea

Won

0.000855

0.0434

China

Yuan

0.156450

7.9430

India

Rupee

0.013371

0.6788

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241080

12.2396

New Zealand

Dollar

0.720000

36.5544

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036072

1.8314 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

ICTSI taps Smart for 5G intelligent port INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. teamed up with Smart Communications Inc. to operate the country’s first 5G-enabled intelligent port at the Manila International Container Terminal. “It’s very important to us that we constantly drive efficiency and optimization in the cargo flows. And to do that, we also need to push that optimization, beyond the boundaries of the fence of the container terminal,” said ICTSI vice president and chief information officer Brian Mark Hibbert. “To really drive this journey forward, we wanted to deploy a unified backbone of communication across the port. Hence our partnership with PLDT around 5G technology,” he said. “We see many opportunities with 5G to provide rich communication, not just to the multitude of technologies that we’re deploying inside the port, but to reach out to our customers and partners across the supply chain,” Hibbert said. The ICTSI partnership is under the broad program of PLDT and Smart to develop worldclass 5G technology use cases for industry and enterprise. Darwin G. Amojelar

THE government is closely watching the proliferation of illicit cigarettes that comprises around 7 percent to 10 percent of the domestic market, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said. “We’ll keep on looking for these guys. And I must say the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] and the BOC [Bureau of Customs] have been catching these guys. Whether they catch them all or not, I’m not sure. But I’m pretty sure they don’t catch everybody. But the big majority, I think, are caught,” Dominguez said in an online briefing. Dominguez said prior to the government’s cracking down on the illicit trade, illegal cigarettes comprised around 35 percent of the domestic market. “Somebody told me, also from the industry, that in some European countries, the illicit cigarettes are more than 60 percent. ASEAN countries are also in that level. So in our case, I think we’re down, this is what they told me, between 7 and 10 percent. Not good, but it’s a lot better than before,” Dominguez said. Julito G. Rada

Fuentebella said. The G-77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations. This group advances the interests of developing countries; articulates and promotes their collective economic interests and enhances their joint negotiating capacity on all major issues within the UN system. The Philippines, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, contributes only 0.3 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, but has made the bold commitment of reducing these emissions by 75 percent over the next decade as its Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement.

Among the expected outcomes of COP26 is the finalization of the rules to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement in which all countries agreed to step up efforts to try and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and boost climate action financing. Signatories to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that started the annual Conference of the Parties are classified into three groups: Annex I, Annex II and developing countries. Annex I parties are those that agree to reduce their emissions below their 1990 emission levels, and if they cannot do so, they must buy emission credits or invest in conservation.

Think tank warns political aspirants on moves to take over public utilities By Alena Mae S. Flores

Friday, October 29, 2021

-103.03 PTS.

Illicit cigarettes found in local market

Dominguez urges developed countries to meet climate change goals By Julito G. Rada

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Mall vacancy seen rising to 17% in 2022 MALL vacancy is expected to rise to 17 percent in 2022 with the completion of new centers and Filipinos’ growing preference for online shopping, according to property consultancy firm Colliers International Philippines. Colliers, however, expects rents to slightly recover next year on the back of an improved vaccination program and a government-projected economic recovery that should spur spending. “We are optimistic that the relaxation of lockdowns across Metro Manila will encourage more consumers to visit malls and spend. In our view, holiday spending, higher OFW remittances, and the reopening of more businesses are likely to pump-prime the retail sector beyond 2021,” Collier associate director Joey Roi Bondoc said. “Consumer traffic is unlikely to revert to pre-pandemic levels by fourth quarter of 2021, but the improving inoculation program should inject a much-needed boost to and jumpstart the retail segment’s much-awaited recovery. Revenge shopping and dining should anchor mall operations’ rebound,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

25M VACCINES. Cebu Pacific has transported over 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses across the country since March 2021. Over the past three weeks, CEB airlifted vaccine doses to 17 areas, including Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Kalibo, Masbate, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Roxas, Tacloban, Zamboanga and Naga. CEB also carried vaccines to other destinations in the past months, including Boracay, Bohol, Cauayan, Cebu, Cotabato, Puerto Princesa, San Jose, Siargao, Tuguegarao, Tawi-Tawi and Virac.

WHO tobacco conference marginalizes farmers—former DA chief FORMER Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor asked the Philippine representatives to the forthcoming conference on the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to uphold the rights of tobacco farmers, who he said, were repeatedly marginalized in previous meetings. The FCTC is the first global treaty on tobacco control negotiated under the auspices of the WHO. The COP,

the governing body of the WHO FCTC composed of representatives from all parties to the treaty, is scheduled to hold its Ninth Conference of the Parties virtually on Nov. 8 to 13. “Millions of farmers depend on tobacco. We hope the discussions and policy recommendations that will be crafted during COP 9 will consider this reality. There are pragmatic approaches to address the smoking epidemic that will not drastically and adversely im-

pact our farmers,” said Montemayor. He issued the appeal to consider the interest of the farmers following a report that the Department of Health is marshaling the composition of the COP 9 delegation. Montemayor, who is now the board chairman of the Federation of Free Farmers, also warned against the participation of a vested group in the upcoming conference to ignore the rights of farmers and consumers.

Lakers rout Rockets to go above .500 for 1st time in new season

Sports

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

By Argie Paul Candare THE Los Angeles Lakers now hold an above .500 record for the first time this season after beating the young Houston Rockets, 95-85. Carmelo Anthony led the team with 23 points, three rebounds and four blocks, while Russell Westbrook almost recorded a triple double with his 20 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists Anthony Davis and LeBron James pitched in 16 and 15 markers, respectively. After trailing by 28 points, 8456, in the fourth, the Rockets made a final run, inching to within 81-93 before surrendering to the more experienced squad. The Lakers dominated the first half, 54-35, behind the hot-shooting of Anthony, who also previously led the bench assault against Cleveland. Eric Gordon scored 17 points, while Christian Wood tallied a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds in a losing effort for the Pistons. Rookie guard Jalen Green could only contribute 7 points and 5 assists. The error-prone Rockets recorded 25 turnovers, which the Lakers converted into 32 points. The loss was Houston’s fifth in six games. The Lakers, owners now of two straight wins, will try to string a third one when they face the same team again this Wednesday.

50 girls join Zumbarangay PH: On-Cam Challenge A NATIONWIDE campaign to promote good physical and mental health for every Filipino child in time of pandemic, Zumbarangay Pilipinas: Solo Exercise On-Cam Challenge was launched by the Philippine Sports Commission Women in Sports mid this year to avert the increasing number of physical, emotional and mental health issues worldwide. The contest, which was open to women, girls and LGBTQI, encourages regular solo dancing at home. With that, the PSC produced original music “Igalaw-galaw ating Katawan” for the public to use. “The lyrics of the song itself is our campaign for the public to start fitness at home,” said PSC chair William Ramirez. The song goes: “Galaw galaw tayo na’t mag-ehersisyo, hindi lang tayo dapat ay nakaupo, lalo na sa ating mga anak, physical activity di puro gadget ang hawak; kay ate kay nanay pati na kay lola, igalaw ang katawan para sumigla; sa mga kababaihan dapat na saluduhan, ginagawa nila, para sating lipunan. Si nanay flexible sa tahanan, lahat ng gawain ginagampanan, nananatili naring haligi sila sa kanilang mga anak. Talagang bilib sa kanila, bayaning maituturing sila ay modelo ng bawat kabataan; Sila’y nirerespeto, kababaihan sila’y iangat maganda silang ehemplo para sa ating lahat. “At the height of pandemic mid this year, we cannot afford to just sit down and watch the rising concerns about the mental health of a generation of children caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Oversight Commissioner for Women in Sports, Celia Kiram. “With powerful emotions like anxiety, uncertainty, grief and loneliness affecting the lives of our children, we need to be creative in ways to drastically get them moving through dancing.” The Girls Open is just one of the categories of Zumbarangay Pilipinas, open to 6-17 years old girls under the supervision of a parent/guardian. Zumbarangay Pilipinas Production Director and Women in Sports Consultant Marilou Cantancio announced that by mid-November, the best 25 video entries will be selected from among 50 entries in the quarterfinal rounds. Winners in the semifinals will get P1,000 each. Winners here will advance to the Finals Round with the 1st Placer per category getting P30,000; 2nd placer per category getting P20,000; 3rd placer per category getting P10,000. Ten (10) Special Awardees per category will be selected, and each gets P3,000.00.

Kevin Porter Jr. of the Houston Rockets plays defense on LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Malaysia, Indonesia interested to host ‘21 ASEAN Para Games By Randy Caluag

HILIPPINE Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo expressed his disappointment amid reports that 2021 Southeast Asian Games organizer Vietnam is not keen on hosting the ASEAN Para Games.

Mike Barredo

In a report over Radyo Pilipinas Dos, Barredo said it will be a big blow to the ASEAN para-sport community if the Para Games will be canceled for the second straight time. Normally held within a month following the SEA Games, the ASEAN Para Games was scrapped by the Philippines, host of the 2019 SEA Games, as the COVID-19 virus was beginning to hit the country in the early part of 2020. Barredo, vice president of the Asian Paralympic Committee, bared though that Malaysia and Indonesia are reportedly interested in hosting the Para Games if Vietnam will not push through with the hosting of the competition for the differently-abled athletes. The Filipino official is confident that sports officials will slowly learn how to manage COVID-19 and that 2022 will again be a busy year for Paralympic athletes as they brace for the Asian Paralympic Games in October in Hangzhou, China. The 2023 SEA Games is set in February with Cambodia as host and the Paralympic community expects the ASEAN Para Games to be back in the normal calendar.

In a recent official announcement by the Vietnam SEA Games Organizing Committee (VIESGOC), it confirmed that the 2021 SEA Games will be held in May next year after it was reset from its original schedule in March this year. “The VIESGOC has adjusted the games’ master plan, schedules, timelines …and reported to the Vietnamese government for approval,” said VIESGOC Deputy Chairman Tran Duc Phan in a letter sent to SEA Games Federation COO Dato Seri Chaiyapak Seriwak of Thailand. “Once again, we would like to officially confirm [that the] 31st SEA Games will be held in mid-May 2022,” added Phan. POC president Rep. Bambol Tolentino said VIESGOC’s confirmation officially triggers all pre-SEA Games preparations by Team Philippines. “Now, we can safely and officially say that our journey to the Vietnam SEA Games is on,” Tolentino said. “This is the bell for all national sports associations involved and the Philippine Sports Commission to buckle down to work.” The POC earlier pegged a delegation of 626 athletes, who will compete in 29 of the 30 sports in the Vietnam Games’ program.

With discipline, anything is possible for Yulo By Peter Atencio OLYMPIAN Carlos Yulo said it is not impossible for him to win more than one gold medal in major international events with discipline. Through the years, the 21-yearold Yulo said his learnings from the Japanese culture of discipline and humanity have contributed to his quest for excellence in the sport of gymnastics. “Disiplina, kung paano ka magiging makatao. Kahit hindi ka magaling sa sport mo. Basta mauuna lagi ang pagiging makatao mo,” said Yulo a week after he finished with a gold and a silver medal at the end of his routines at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2021 in Kitakyushu, Japan recently. A left elbow injury sustained during practice three months ago did not prevent Yulo from coming up with great performances in the world tourney. Good rehabilitation therapy, focus on his training and inspiration drawn from his younger sister’s birthday kept Yulo right on track. Yulo said his interactions with Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama have molded his outlook during his journey to do well. Now that the Tokyo Olympics is behind him, he kept reminding him-

self that he can’t repeat the same mistakes that he committed while competing in the world championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. “Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang nangyari sa akin sa Olympics. Palagi ko pa rin nire-remind sarili ko na paano kung nandiyan ulit ang Olympics,” said Yulo, whose high average score of 14.916 proved difficult to overtake as he remained unchallenged all afternoon in the vault finals. His huge effort earned him his second World Championship title since grabbing the floor exercise gold in Stuttgart, Germany back in 2019. The judges liked what they saw on his first of two attempts, which consisted of a well-executed running approach to the vault, followed by two stiff front flips and a flawless half flip on his way down. Yulo’s routine was one of the many popular routines in men’s gymnastics, known as the “Dragulescu”, a handspring double front somersault vault with a half twist. Later, Yulo took the lead in the parallel bars and held it until it was Chinese rival Hu Xuwei’s turn to do his thing. The 24-year-old

Hu then came up with a more difficult routine to win the gold medal. Hu, who was the sixth performer on the floor, averaged 15.46 points to claim first place, snatching the lead from Yulo, who settled for the silver with 15.3. With his feat, Yulo earned a total incentive worth P750,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission. His many years in Japan has taught Yulo the values that are the ingredients for a winning performance at the world stage. “Simple siya at hindi k u mpli kado ( l e a r n i n g s) . May respeto,

may disiplina,” added Yulo. Since it was his sister Issa’s birthday when he won his gold medal, Yulo offered his medals to her as a gift. Issa quickly learned of his brother’s achievement back in their home in Leveriza, Manila through an online message he sent. Yulo said he is still far from where he needs to be. But with more preparation, he may be able to win more medals in a single tournament. “Sobrang layo pa na kaya kong sabihing imposible na magkamedal ako sa tatlo. Mahirap ang mga tournaments ko dahil maraming malalakas sa buong mundo,” said Yulo in describing his chances of getting medals in the parallel bars, the vaults and the floor excercises. While he feels that he needs to spend more years in training, Yulo said he is confident in his chances in all-around events. As for the three events that he excelled in Kitakyushu, he needs to refine his techniques even more.

The Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo displays his gold medal during the medal ceremony for vault event at the men’s apparatus finals during the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Kitakyushu City Gymnasium in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka prefecture. AFP

Sports

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Novak adopts wait-and-see attitude to Aussie Open PARIS—Novak Djokovic says he will make his mind up about whether he defends his Australian Open title when an official decision is made regarding the rules surrounding players and COVID-19 vaccinations. The world number one added he would be making no further comment until then as he does not “want to be part of the story” revolving around assumptions or “what ifs.” There have been mixed messages over who will be allowed to play in the first Grand Slam of next year which runs from January 17-30 in Melbourne. A leaked email last week from the WTA suggested unvaccinated players would be allowed to compete provided they quarantined for 14 days and submitted to regular coronavirus testing. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison then said unvaccinated players would be permitted to enter the country if they received an exemption, which the host state Victoria would need to apply for on behalf of players. But Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews quickly ruled that out. Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic said despite Andrews’s statement he would await official confirmation on the requirements from Tennis Australia. “I am going to decide on whether I go to Australia after I see an official statement from Tennis Australia,” Djokovic said at his press conference on Sunday on the eve of the Paris Masters. “There has been no official announcement or statement and until that is out I won’t be talking about this any more. “I do not want to be part of the stories about the assumptions and what ifs. “When the official conditions and requirements to travel and play in Austarlia are out I will see what I personally do and also the bigger group of players as obviously the situation is different in Australia to most parts of the world.” ‘Touched my heart’ Djokovic was keener to focus on ending the season as world number one as he makes his return to the circuit for the first time since Daniil Medvedev ended his hopes of a Grand Slam sweep in September’s US Open final. Medvedev, the defending champion in Paris, is seeking to topple 20-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic from the number one spot. Both of them enjoyed a training session together last week and Djokovic says the ‘Octopus’ as Medvedev is referred to has really tightened up his game. “The biggest weapon of his (Medvedev) game is his backhand, he is as strong as a wall from that side, he just does not miss,” said 34-year-old Djokovic. “His forehand side has been weaker in previous years but he has improved that a lot and it is not a big weakness. “He is very professional and a very smart player on court, he is game savvy.” Djokovic says he has been training well but admits a “a lack of match play could be dangerous” although he believes he has not been damaged mentally by dreams of being the first man to sweep a calendar Grand Slam since 1969 dashed. “Well I have learned over the years to deal with losses in such a way as to treat them as opportunities for growth,” he said. AFP “The loss in the US Open final has ar-

Coca-Cola to buy out BodyArmor sports drink

Alex Bregman (2) and Yuli Gurriel of the Houston Astros celebrate the team’s 9-5 win against the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

Astros whip Braves, extend World Series ASHINGTON—Rallying from a four-run deficit in an elimination game, the Houston Astros kept their World Series title hopes alive on Sunday by defeating the Atlanta Braves 9-5.

Martin Maldonado drove in three runs while Carlos Correa went 3-for5 and drove in two runs as the Astros pulled within 3-2 in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final, which continues with game six on Tuesday in Houston. “I’m just glad we get to go back to Houston,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “One game at a time now. Still alive.” Maldonado, a 35-year-old Puerto Rican catcher, became the first player in a World Series game to plate runs with a single, walk and sacrifice fly while Houston pitchers silenced Braves batters, allowing only one run after the first inning. “The bullpen was great for us,” said Maldonado. “They got beaten yesterday but came back stronger today. It was a must-win game. Now we’re going back to Houston.”

Atlanta’s Adam Duvall smashed a grand slam home run in the first inning but the host Braves squandered the 4-0 lead as the Astros matched the 1919 Chicago White Sox for the largest deficit overcome to win a World Series game when facing elimination. “I was trying to figure out how we could chip away at that, just trying to figure out how we could keep them from running away on us,” Baker said. Baker had already done what he needed as the Astros, trying to solve their hitting woes, shuffled their batting lineup and it paid off. “We got punched in the mouth and came back to win,” Astros slugger Alex Bregman said. “Just wanted to go out and play hard. Nothing to lose.” The Braves, who had won their first seven home games in this year’s playoffs, remain one win shy of their first World Series title since 1995.

“We’re all right,” Braves pitcher A.J. Minter said. “We’re right where we want to be. We’re in a really good spot.” The Astros are in their third World Series in five seasons, having won the 2017 title and lost to Washington in 2019. The Braves jumped on Houston starting left-hander Framber Valdez in the first inning when Jorge Soler singled, advanced on a ground out and reached third on Austin Riley’s single before Eddie Rosario walked to load the bases. Duvall followed by smashing a grand slam home run into the rightfield stands to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead as a sellout crowd roared with delight. “We celebrated it. We got excited. That’s what you do when you hit home runs,” Duvall said. “But it’s a long game. They didn’t quit. They kept fighting. “We weren’t able to get it going again and keep the pressure on. Hats off to their pitchers.” It was the first World Series grand slam in an opening inning since Bobby Richardson of the New York Yankees hit one in 1960. AFP

WASHINGTON—Coca-Cola is preparing to take full control of the sports drink group BodyArmor in a deal worth $5.6 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Coca-Cola already holds a 30 percent stake in the sports drink group. The buyout, which would value BodyArmor at about $8 billion, would see the soda giant buy the remaining 70 percent from BodyArmor’s founders and investors, as well as a group of professional athletes who have invested in the company. BodyArmor was backed at its founding in 2011 by basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in early 2020 and had invested $6 million in the company. The Journal reported that Bryant’s estate should collect about $400 million from the deal, citing people close to the case. Coca-Cola declined to comment when contacted by AFP. BodyArmor is a competitor to industry giant Gatorade, which is owned by PepsiCo, Coca-Cola’s main business rival. BodyArmor expects sales to reach $1.4 billion this year, compared to $250 billion in 2018 when Coca-Cola first invested in the company. AFP

No online PSA Forum Tuesday IN observance of All Souls Day, the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum won’t be having its regular session on Nov. 2. The public sports program will resume next week (Nov. 9).

Football brings hope to Iraqi girls in ex-IS town BARTALLA, Iraq—Spurred on by their coach, Christian girls kick the ball around a field in Iraq’s Bartalla, a former jihadist stronghold where football is helping them dream of a better future. In 2014, the Islamic State group seized control of the town in its sweep through the northern province of Nineveh, before subjecting women and girls to a harsh interpretation of Islam. Four years on from IS’s defeat the roughly 1,500 families who returned have been trying to restore a semblance of normality to Bartalla, about 12 kilometres (seven miles) east of Mosul, once the jihadists’ de facto capital in Iraq. A football academy opened its doors to girls six months ago equipped with artificial turf, thanks to funding from Lara, an Iraqi Christian non-governmental organizat ion. “Here we do everything to teach young girls the basics of football,” said coach Joanne Yusef Chaba. The coach, a 22-year-old physical education graduate, said her dream was “to start a women’s team that will compete in the future” in one of two already established women’s leagues in Iraq. Dressed in brightly coloured bibs,

Iraqi girls take part in a training session at the Bartalla sports club, in Bartalla town east of the city of Mosul in the northern province of Nineveh. Spurred on by their coach, Christian girls kick the ball around a field in Iraq’s Bartalla, a former jihadist stronghold where football is helping them dream of a better future. AFP

the girls do stretching exercises on the freshly laid pitch before Yusef Chaba blows a whistle for the start of practice. After an exchange of passes, one of the players brings a ball under control before dribbling the length of the 40-metre (yard) pitch and unleashing a shot that rattles the post. ‘Lack of support’ “Being here allows us to forget hard

times,” said Yusef Chaba, who fled to Arbil with her family two hours before the jihadists arrived in her hometown. “Today when people see us, it raises their hopes and gives them confidence,” added the recent graduate who is looking for a job. “Here we forget about our daily worries.” About 50 girls aged between 10 and 15 are enrolled at the academy where

they attend two-hour training sessions twice a week. Miral Jamal was six years old when she fled Bartalla with her family to escape the jihadists. Now aged 13, she is passionate about football. “The players here feel good,” said the schoolgirl. “Football relieves us... there’s nothing else to do in the city. I look forward to the training sessions.” The families’ modest monthly contributions—between 5,000 and 10,000 Iraqi dinars ($3 and $7)—go towards renting the field on land owned by a church. For other expenses, the four founders from local families dip into their own pockets. Hala Thomas, who helped to launch the academy, recently travelled to Baghdad to meet with government officials and seek funding. She received promises, but nothing concrete. “We don’t have enough money to buy more balls, outfits or what we need for training,” said the 55-yearold, who opted to stay in her hometown rather than join her sons in the Netherlands. AFP

AUBF honors former FIBA president Dr. Ching By Graham C. Lim DR. Carl Men Ky Ching is a man of a few words, but as a longtime sportsman-businessman-Philanthropist, he has been able to accomplish the things that he set to do during his lifetime. His selfless leadership has been impeccable and his achievements as a basketball sports executive have been immeasurable. The Hong Kong-based Dr. Ching has loved the game of basketball like nobody else. His dedication to the sport as a basketball leader and organizer has brought Asian countries to the forefront of the international map. “For the love of basketball” has been Dr. Ching’s mantra all his life. In that respect, the Asian University Basketball Federation

Carl Ching (second from the right) with Basketball Association of the Philippines and FIBA officials during his election as FIBA president in Indianapolis, USA, in 2002.

has honored Dr. Carl as its Chairman in Indianapolis, USA. Emeritus for more than a decade when His much-respected stature has he was elected as the International brought the AUBF to greater heights. Basketball Federation President in Established in 1998, the AUBF 2002 during the FIBA Congress held is Asia’s only university federation

duly recognized by the Asian University Sports Federation, which was led by president Dr. Enoch Markum and Secretary-General Ekodjatmiko Sukarso, both from Indonesia, during its inception. The AUBF later became an independent organization and joined the Asia Pacific University Sports Union, furthering expanding to the Asia Pacific regions. Dr. Ching is a hands-on sports leader. His persistence and perseverance, coupled with his innovative ideas, helped produce the first Asian professional league known as the Asian Basketball Association. He took a creative-mind approach to this seldom-tapped field, particularly in basketball. His novel formula for success and excellence spurred him to become the president of the International Basketball Federation from

2002 to 2006. Dr. Ching was then the head of the Asian Basketball Confederation, which has since been rebranded to FIBA-Asia Championship and then FIBA Asia Cup, during its formative years. The AUBF organizes the Asian University Basketball Championship once in two years, if not annually when a country wishes to host the universitylevel event. The AUBF will not have grown big without the presence of Dr. Ching. For this selfless effort to prop up the AUBF through the years, it has been recommended to the Executive Board of the Asian University Basketball Federation that the succeeding Asian University Basketball Championships be named the Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching Classic Cup in his honor.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Is TNT Boys’ Keifer Sanchez going solo? M AK Entertainment Services (MAKES) signs world-class Fili Fili-pino singers Keifer Sanchez and Froilan Canlas. The official contract signing happened at H Café in Quezon City with an intimate press conference for the dynamic singing sensations.

Talking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Sanchez clarified that although he’s launching a solo career, this doesn’t mean he’s departing from TNT Boys, his group with Mackie Empuerto, and Francis Conc e p cion.

Keifer Sanchez wishes to launch an international career and follow in the footsteps of former One Direction member Harry Styles.

MAK Entertainment Services, headed and owned by power couple Ferdie Mak and Debbie Mak, is a US-based artist management and concert production company. The company’s first venture into concert production was a digital concert and it was a co-production between ABS-CBN and Mak Entertainment Services called Sheryn Regis: Love United where Sanchez performed with Empuerto and Concepcion as the solid vocal group TNT Boys. “They [Empuerto and Concepcion] have their own talent management. I’m not part of it that’s why I’m grateful that Mak Entertainment is giving me an opportunity to explore my artistry as a singer,” Sanchez said adding that he would want to launch an international career and follow in the footsteps of Harry Styles. The 16-year-old singer, who is known for his highpitched vocals, is learning to tame his voice by performing songs in lower register. “My voice is still adjusting. Before this current stage that I’m in, I could whistle and hit high notes with ease. Now, due to puberty, I am in the process of discovering my new strengths as a singer. I believe that I am a good storyteller when I sing,” he admitted. “So my goal is to reinvent my voice by singing songs appropriate for my age and the notes that I can decently hit,” he said. Before carving a niche and making an impact in the world of entertainment, Sanchez won first place in “Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids,” and Grand Champion as part of TNT Boys in Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids (TNT BOYS Grand Champion).

Reintroducing Eduard Bañez FORMER Star Magic artist and Net25 newscaster Eduard Bañez, who is known for his cover of Sharon Cuneta’s “Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko,” penned by Rey Valera, is currently in Manila. Eduard started singing at the early age of 5. However, it wasn’t until he was 17 years old when he decided to pursue a musical career. Eduard eventually became a member of Star Magic Batch 15 and was launched in 2006. His notable batchmates were Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Bela Padilla, and Jessy Mendiola. Eduard was given a chance to co-anchor a tele-radio show with Arnell Ignacio on Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM. He also had a stint as a newscaster on Net25. Fortunately, Eduard managed to pursue his undergraduate nursing course at the New Era University. Then, a chance to work in the US came. For five years in California, he had an opportunity to work with Ed Sheeran

and Justin Bieber in the music video, “I Don’t Care.” He also relished the opportunity of working with Sia and her team for the music video, “Chandelier.” They used a lot of antique furniture from Africa in the shoot. Eduard was so honored to have worked with Sia, that he intends to bring the artist to perform in Manila. However, that is set to happen when the pandemic tapers off and entertainment performances return to normal. Eduard even expressed his plan to release a single for Sia and other international artists, like R&B, pop, and soul singer-songwriter Cassie Ventura, in the near future. Eduard remains undaunted with pursuing his Hollywood dream. He started with his small breakthrough, but he intends to continue until he makes his mark. While in the US, Eduard had the chance to pursue his studies in political arts and media history at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

Actors Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet pose as they arrive for a screening of sci-fi thriller ‘Dune’ on Sept. 3 at the Venice Film Festival.

Eduard Bañez is a former Star Magic artist and Net25 newscaster.

In the meantime, Eduard has been busy with an upcoming sitcom for the children’s cable network, Nickelodeon. He also has a regular job at the popular California theme park, Six Flags, best known for the largest roller coasters in the world.

opus lost 62 percent from its debut weekend, a sizable drop but less so than suffered by other recent big releases, as many fans opted to take in the visually spectacular Denis Villeneuve film on big Imax screens. Starring Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, and Oscar Isaac, Dune follows a family in the distant future fighting for survival on a desert planet plagued by monstrous sandworms but also a valuable resource called spice. Globally, the film is nearing $300 million in ticket sales. The Halloween weekend is typically slow for moviegoing, as people opt for costume parties and trick-or-treating, but Universal’s well-timed horror flick Halloween Kills retained second place, taking in $8.5 million for the Fridaythrough-Sunday period. Sticking in third was United Artists’ James Bond installment No Time to Die, at $7.8 million. Daniel Craig stars as suave spy 007 — for the last time, the studio says. In what analysts deemed the weekend’s biggest surprise, fourth place went to a Japanese anime movie with a headscratching title: My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission, at $6.4 million. The Funimation film is a sequel to My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. And in fifth was Sony’s superhero movie Venom: Let There Be Carnage, at $5.8 million. Tom Hardy plays a journalist whose symbiotic link to an alien gives him superpowers.

RGMA launches ‘Barangay Blockout Season 2’ RGMA once again makes winning easy and fun as it launches the second season of its nationwide digital send-in promo – Barangay Blockout. Addressing the challenges of sending actual POPs and the boredom of getting locked down during the pandemic, RGMA came up with Barangay Blockout which launched early this year. Consumers and Sari-sari store owners will just need to take a picture of their Supermarket receipts, register online and play their virtual cards during the Quiz show on FB Live to win as much as thirty thousand pesos each playing week. There will be five raffle winners of two thousand pesos and blockout prizes of up to

P30,000 per participating station each playing week! In cases where there is no blockout winner, the prize is added to the pot for the following playing week. Participants must watch out for the drawing of numbers during the Block-

His two memorable TV moments include the interpretation of his 2nd Place Winning Song: “Shine” by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid as well as his time in the international singing competition World’s Best, where he and the rest of TNT Boys delighted and wowed the global audiences with their renditions of “Listen,” “And I Am Telling You,” and “Flashlight.” Sanchez and Canlas will join fellow artist Kaela Francheska in the MAKES family and are indeed a welcome addition to this budding and progressive company. “I know that with the guidance, love, and support from my MAKES family, I am sure I have more to offer as a singer and performer,” Sanchez shared. Meanwhile, Mak Entertainment’s second signee, Froilan Canlas, is considered by many as one of the better contenders of the maiden season of “Tawag Ng Tanghalan.” His Kuh Ledesma medley was a truly memorable pop performance. Read full story on manilastandard. net

Vocal coach Froilan Canlas finds another opportunity to relaunch his career as a singer.

Maine Mendoza, speechless over compliments from Vic Sotto

‘Dune’ loses spice but still leads box office SCI-FI thriller Dune saw its ticket sales drop in its second weekend out but still held its lead in the North American box office, with an estimated take of $15.5 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. The Warner Bros. version of the classic Frank Herbert

out Game show, hosted by Papa Dudut to play their virtual cards. Virtual cards are secured by buying sponsor’s products, taking photo of the grocery receipt, and registering online. GMA artists, performers, and Barangay FM DJs will once again take turns as studio contestants adding fun and laughter to the game shows. RGMA participating stations are Barangay FM Manila, Baguio, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos. Sponsors of Barangay Blockout Season 2 are Knorr, Surf, Sunsilk, Milo and Bear Brand. Promo runs until Jan. 25, 2022. For inquiries, participants may call the promo hotline at 0970-247-5000 or 0916-165-6650, or visit the official promo website at www.facebook. com/RGMABarangayBlockout.

IN THE recent virtual media conference for the third anniversary celebration of the hit GMA sitcom Daddy’s Gurl, Maine Mendoza admitted to being speechless when she heard Vic Sotto’s comment that she is a natural comedienne. “Of course, coming from Bossing, I don’t know how to react,” she said. “In most cases, we’re always critical. If we are to do something, we feel that our efforts are not enough. And it brings warmth to the heart knowing that there’s someone who appreciates what we do. Thank you Bossing for the kind words,” Maine gushes. Until now, the Phenomenal Star cannot say that she’s already an excellent comedienne. “Yes, honestly, I don’t! Every time that we are going to do something, we are always the critic. You don’t know if you’re delivering it right. If they say that I’m doing

a good job, or whatever growth that I achieved, I owe it to Bossing Vic. In the first place, it’s because of them why I’m in my present state. They bring out the best in me,” she states. Interestingly, Maine reveals that until now, she still feels nervous when doing scenes with Vic. “It’s always there. It won’t fade away. But it’s not his fault if he’s intimidating. His charm and natural presence is just so strong. When he’s around, you don’t know how to react,” Maine admits. In another light, the bubbly star is thankful that even if we’re still in pandemic times, her workload is still full, something that cannot be said of other showbiz denizens. Apart from her television shows, she has numerous endorsements. “I’m simply blessed! It’s just a matter of time management and mindset as well. Even if I have lots of projects to attend to, I’m still able to do all of them. I’m grateful to Triple A for the smooth flow in my load. They give me balanced work. At the end of the day, I’m thankful that I remain busy despite the challenging times,” she says. “At this point, the more I appreciate my work. There are lots of my fellow actors who don’t have projects. In these pandemic times, we just have to make the most of the opportunities that we are given. Even if at times, you feel so tired and things get physically taxing, just remember those who are jobless. We must learn how to value whatever it is that we have right now,” Maine ended. Maine Mendoza is described by co-star Vic Sotto as a ‘natural comedienne.’

AC Bonifacio unleashes creativity with Crocs as canvas for self-expression CROCS is showcasing the best of its classic collection for this season 2021, creating a variety of opportunities for personalization and creative self-expression. A global leader in innovative casual footwear for all, Crocs Philippines invited fast-rising dancefloor sweetheart AC Bonifacio to use Crocs as a canvas for self-expression with Jibbitz™ charms and hailing all to “Come As You Are.” Artist AC Bonifacio showcases her infinite freedom of expression with classic collection and Jibbitz™ charms with her dance moves, “I’ve always loved Crocs,

it allows me to express myself and to feature my creativity, and just be myself that matches with my uniqueness and personality,” AC enthuses. Her visuals and video content are shared on Crocs Philippines Official Facebook and Instagram. #CrocsPH #GirlRocks. Along with AC, Crocs unveils the latest addition to the Crocs Classic collection featuring the popular Unisex Classic Bleach Dye Clog, Women Classic Platform Clog, Unisex Classic Crocs Sandals, and Women Classic Crocs Slide. Dancer and TV personality AC Bonifacio showcases her freedom of expression by using footwear as her canvass.

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Life

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY. BYS Philippines launches the digital platform Break Your Stigma to help Filipinos gain access to a directory of mental health professionals.

‘The way out is in’ Breaking the stigma of mental health

By Bernadette Lunas

T WAS easier to set aside and drown out unpleasant feelings before the pandemic than it is now, according to a mental health expert. Before all the restrictions and the fear of catching a virulent disease, we could simply shop or travel or drink our anxieties away. “[But] now, we cannot shop, we cannot travel; we are forced to look inside ourselves,” says Dr. Honey Carandang, clinical psychologist and founder of the Mindfulness, Love, and Compassion Institute for Psychosocial Services, Inc. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many people’s mental health across the globe. Here at home, the National Center for Mental Health received more distressed calls per day since the pandemic started in March 2020, surging to as many as 700 a month from 400 within a six-month period a year before. During the third quarter of last year, the calls doubled to 1,400 a month. “It is normal to be anxious during these abnormal times,” says Dr. Carandang. While the circumstances are far from ideal, the psychologist sees the increase in people asking for help from experts as a good thing in terms of our openness to deal with our mental health problems. “Because of the challenges of this pandemic, some good things happened – people were forced

Health experts encourage individuals who may be struggling with mental health problems to seek help from professionals, or as Dr. Carandang puts it: ‘To face it, to own it, and to ask for help’.

Banana ketchup fortified with B vitamins A HOMEGROWN banana ketchup brand introduces a new formula fortified with B vitamins that help boost health and well-being. The new Papa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine), part of the B-complex of vitamins that perform vital tasks in the body. B1 helps release energy from the food we eat, B2 converts the food we eat into glucose to give us energy, and B6 is essential for the healthy functioning of the nervous system and the immune system. With kids – who love the sweet dip – in mind, the new and improved ketchup aims to help address the inadequate nutrient intake among Filipino schoolchildren and adolescents. “Papa hopes to make every Filipino mealtime healthy through B-vitamin fortification, as well as more delicious through the sweet sarap taste,” the brand says in a statement, adding that combined with a balanced food spread, it can solidify every Pinggang Pinoy as

a delicious and healthy meal for every Filipino kid. Papa’s decision to enrich its ketchup formula with B vitamins also comes amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “This is part of the reason,” it says, “Papa is proud to have a new ketchup formula that not only tastes good, but is sure to boost kids’ energy and immunity. Papa understands that even if staying healthy can be very tricky, every Filipino mom deserves the opportunity to keep their kids effortlessly healthy.” The brand will soon initiate PapaSigla, Papa-Bibo, Papa-Protektado, a nutrition education campaign with support through TV, digital, and trade mediums, as well as on-ground activations. The campaign will see the brand proactively educating parents and kids about the benefits of micronutrients, healthy eating, and proper nutrition. Papa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup fortified with B-vitamins is available in supermarkets nationwide.

The new Papa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup is fortified with B vitamins that help boost health and well-being.

to talk about their feelings; the amount of people that consult with us has tripled,” she shares. Howeve r, fundamental lack of understanding as well as prejudice and discrimination contribute to the stigma that still surrounds mental health. And it Dr. Ma. Lourdes ‘Honey’ certainly doesn’t Carandang, founder of help when people the Mindfulness, Love, and Compassion Institute dismiss the health issue as a “lack of for Psychosocial Services faith” that can be “prayed away”. These challenges discourage many to seek professional help. But Dr. Carandang cautions, “Mental health has a way of handling you if you don’t handle it.” “It is very smart to know what’s going on inside you, to face it, to look at it, to own it, and to ask for help.” To aid people seek the help they need, BYS Philippines celebrated its ninth anniversary by launching a website designed to help Filipinos gain access to a directory of mental health professionals and other resources that can empower them to take con-

trol of their own healing. The website is called Break Your Stigma (breakyourstigma.com). “We should normalize talking about mental health the way we talk about skin care,” says Angie Goyena, president of iFace, Inc., the exclusive distributor of BYS cosmetics and skincare in the Philippines. Goyena continues, “It’s okay for your skin and your mental health to not be perfect. And to seek help for both. It’s as perfectly acceptable to have a psychiatrist as it is to have a dermatologist. If you don’t feel guilty when your skin or makeup isn’t flawless, you shouldn’t feel guilty when your mental health isn’t either.” BYS Philippines has sought help from Dr. Carandang as well as from licensed psychologist Gisa Paredes of Healing Minds and the creative team of Where To Next for this initiative. According to Goyena, the directory will be updated regularly and will soon offer more services including podcasts, sponsorships packages, and discounted – if possible, free – consultations. “The vision we have for the website is not only to give access to people but also we will be negotiating and talking to the doctors if they can help patients by giving discounts and better fees. Next step is coming up with funds to sponsor patients who can’t afford help,” she says. Break Your Stigma is the brand’s way to give everyone a safe and secure platform to seek help and to encourage those who need help to get it. “If you don’t deal with it, you can have it for the rest of your life (not just during a stressful time like a pandemic),” says Dr. Carandang. “We have to deal with what’s inside of us. The only way out is in.”

Orthopedic doctor’s tips for avoiding back pain Get up Sitting is the new smoking, they say, as studies have linked longer sitting time with higher risk of death, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Standing for long periods has also been associated with varicose veins and back pain. Dr. GanalAntonio shares, “A Cornell UniAn orthopedic doctor says poor position of work equipment and versity professor of ergonomics sitting for long periods in chairs not designed for desk jobs may suggests following the rule of 20make a person prone to injury and fatigue. 8-2: Sit for 20 minutes, get up for 8 minutes, and move around for at least WORKING from home, while helpful in box, and invest in an 2 minutes.” preventing the spread of COVID-19, has external keyboard and Use the break to stretch, roll the given rise to other health problems such as mouse. Your forearms Dr. Anne Kathleen Ganal-Antonio shoulders, do arm circles, or touch chronic pain in the neck and lower back. and hands must be level the toes. “You can also give your“Poor positioning of work equip- and straight when you ment and sitting longer in chairs that use the keyboard, and your arm must be self a reason to stand up and move,” were not designed for desk jobs can close to the side of your body when using the doctor adds. “Place the printer or phone on the other side of the room so cause health issues that may get in the mouse,” she says. your day-to-day tasks and affect your “The more your arm is stretched to the you have no choice but to get up and productivity, and even make you more side, the greater the chance of straining walk when you need them.” prone to injury and fatigue,” says your neck and shoulder.” Work out in your workplace Anne Kathleen Ganal-Antonio, MD As for the way to sit, hips and knees Working from home offers us the freeof the Department of Orthopedics of should be level, or the hips are slightly above Makati Medical Center. the knees. “Avoid slouching or leaning for- dom to squeeze in activities like stretchWith many people still conducting their ward. Instead, sit with your upper back ing or exercising before and after (or even businesses from their homes, the orthope- straight and your lower back curving to the during) work. Dr. Ganal-Antonio recommends dic doctor offers practical tips and simple shape of the chair. Use a pillow to support adjustments that can help get the work your lower back. Make sure too that your starting and ending a workday with simple yet effective exercises that done minus the unnecessary aches and feet touch the floor.” pains. Dr. Ganal-Antonio also recommends strengthen the core and target the using standing tables or a foot stool. muscles on the back and shoulders. Create an ergonomic workspace “According to the pioneering study con- “Begin with 10 squats, 10 tricep dips There’s no need to buy expensive of- ducted by Swedish spine researcher and using a stable chair, and 10 wall pushfice furnishings to be comfortable while orthopedic surgeon Alf Nachemson, ups. You can also do jumping jacks, working from home, “just improvise,” ad- when we flex forward, more stress is push-ups, and crunches to stimulate vises Dr. Ganal-Antonio. concentrated at the discs, which are the circulation.” Those who experience chronic body “Make sure your computer screen is shock absorbers of the spine.” in front of you at a comfortable viewing “It’s best to be slightly reclined, about pain and other health concerns are recomheight, not in a place where you have to 110 degrees. You can use standing tables mended to contact MakatiMed On-Call look down. If you use a laptop, prop it up to lessen the stress. Adding a foot stool to at (02) 8888-8999 or email mmc@makatimed.net.ph. to eye level on a stack of books or a sturdy alternately rest each foot can also help.”