Issuu

RODY ENDS TALK OF VP RUN, FILES FOR SENATE RACE INSTEAD By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

DUTERTE PROXIES.

the Chief Executive’s representative, tramuros, Manila. filed the certificate of candidacy on beDuterte replaced Mona Liza Visorde half of Duterte on Monday at the Com- under the Partido Pederalismo ng DuPRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will mission on Elections main office in In- gong Dakilang Samahan, PDP Laban Secretary General Melvin seek a seat in the Senate next Matibag said. year, ending speculation that Duterte is not eligible to he would run for vice presirun for president again, but dent against his own daughhe can run for other posts. ter, Davao City Mayor Sara In his televised Talk to the Duterte-Carpio. NEWS / A5 Next page Melchor Jaemond Aranas,

Lawyer Mel Arana shows the certificate of candidacy for senator of President Rodrigo Duterte that he filed at the Commission on Elections in Intramuros on Monday. Outside the Comelec, supporters of Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio hold placards urging the politician to run for president, instead of vice president as she did. Danny Pata and Norman Cruz

Lakas: Arroyo did not have hand in Sara VP substitution

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Duterte lifts face shield use Still mandatory in hospitals, quarantine setting, areas under Alert Level 5 By Joyce Pañares and Willie Casas

FIRST DAY BACK. A boy looks

burdened by the face shield and face mask he is wearing on the first day of pilot face-to-face classes at Longos Elementary School in Alaminos City, Pangasinan on Monday. In Milagros, Masbate (right photo), a teacher hears a student reciting from her seat protected with plastic borders as Grade 11 and 12 learners of Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School in Tigbao returned to school for the first time in 20 months. DepEd Photos

2,818,511 1,547

27,025

45,709

128

2,745,777

2,601

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has scrapped the mandatory use of face shields in areas under Alert Level 3 and lower, including Metro Manila, except in hospital and quarantine settings. “Remove the face shield,” Duterte said in his talk to the people aired Monday evening. “You dispense with the shield, but not the mask.” In a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea yesterday, the use of face shields will remain mandatory for areas under Alert Level 5 and granular lockdown. For areas under Alert Level 4, local government units and private establishments are given discretion to mandate the use of face shields. For areas under Alert Levels 1, 2 and 3, the use of face shields shall be voluntary.

(As of 4 PM, NOVEMBER 15)

Bakers retain price freeze on budget breads

No malling for unvaxxed kids below 12 years

By Othel V. Campos

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte yesterday urged local government units to pass an ordinance barring unvaccinated children aged 11 years old and below from going to malls. “I am calling on all LGUs to consider

LOCAL bakers decided to continue the price freeze on budget bread Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal to keep affordable breads at arm’s reach for every Filipino family, while the country is still in a state of crisis. Philippine Baking Industry Group (Philbaking) president Johnlu Koa said the practice has been a tradition by its members composed of Classic Bakers, Creative Bakers (Walter), The French Baker, Gardenia Bakeries, Julie’s Bakeshop, Marby, MLM (Fortune), Tiffany and Uncle George, notwithstanding the increasing cost of imported flour. “We are absorbing the increased cost for as long as we can. We are selling at marginal profits, enough

passing ordinances for age restriction for minors who can be allowed to go to the malls,” he said in his talk to the people aired late Monday evening. Next page

Marcos leads SWS survey for president By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo

Prelim on DQ petition vs. Marcos next week

FORMER senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr emerged as the most preferred candidate for president in the NEWS / A5 coming 2022 national elections, according to the ed by SWS from Oct. 20 to 23, which showed Marlatest Social Weather Stations survey. The Stratbase ADR Institute Inc. confirmed the cos and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is Next page results of the survey it commissioned and conduct-

Trepidation marks first day of kids in in-person classes THOUSANDS of children were allowed to return to classrooms Monday for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a pilot re-opening of schools got under way. While nearly every country in the world has already partially or fully re-opened their schools to face-to-face learning, the Philippines has kept them closed since March 2020. Kindergarten teacher Zyrex Damayo said he was “a bit nervous” as he greeted eight of his students at the Siocon Elementary School in Bogo city in the central island province Next page

Pharmally execs nabbed aboard private plane bound for Malaysia By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo SENATORS Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson stressed Monday that the arrest of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executives Mohit and Twinkle Dargani while about to leave for Malaysia from

Davao City only proved that the city was not a “safe haven” for them. The siblings were arrested at around 5 p.m. at Davao City Airport by the office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms. But Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the arrest of the Dargani siblings in Next page Antonio Parlade

Guillermo Eleazar

Harry Roque

Spox of gov’t anti-Red agency joins prexy derby

By Vito Barcelo

DETAINED. Officers of the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau conduct a medical checkup on arrested Pharmally executives Mohit Dargani (left) and sister Twinkle Dargani (seated) following their arrival at the Senate on Sunday evening. Senate PRIB

RETIRED military general Antonio Parlade, known for being the mouthpiece of the government’s anti-insurgency task force, on Monday filed his candidacy for president next year as a substitute of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP) party. “Let me clarify: I am not a politician, I am a soldier... With this circus that’s happening now, I don ‘t see any good hope for the country,” Parlade told reporters at the Commission on Elections

on the last day of accepting authorized changes among candidates of political parties for the 2022 polls. Also on the last day for filing for substitution and withdrawal, former national police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar filed his candidacy for senator, substituting for senatorial aspirant Paolo Capino. Parlade said he would like to seek the country’s No. 1 job, following the recent cut on the 2022 budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Next page

‘MANCHURIAN BET’ WARNING NEWS / A3

COURT JUNKS ONGPIN CASE NEWS / A3

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Ex-envoy: Unite vs. Manchurian bets F

ILIPINOS need to “strongly unite against Manchurian candidates” in the 2022 elections, former Ambassador Albert Del Rosario said Monday.

an candidates would be enough to give away our West Philippine Sea to a foreign aggressor and to callously forsake the livelihoods of our fishermen,” Del Rosario said. “We are grimly aware of President Duterte’s self-professed love for Chinese President Xi Jinping, his devil’s pact with China for loans and investments that never materialized until today, and the reliable information that high officials from China are bragging that they have been able to influence the 2016 Philippine elections so that President Duterte won,” he said. The above information about Beijing officials “was based on personal

knowledge from a source in the New York Times,” Del Rosario asserted. He said Filipinos should also view “with grave concern the fact that candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has been visiting Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian around the time that Marcos Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy for President in October 2021.” “Based on press releases, Marcos, Jr. and the Chinese ambassador are not hiding this fact,” he said. Filipinos should also equally view with grave concern “the fact that President Duterte’s daughter, Sara DuterteCarpio, is being supported by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Del Rosario said.

In a press statement, Del Rosario said the Filipino people cannot afford to elect another set of candidates beholden to China. “For the past six years, President Rodrigo Duterte, under the influence of China, has squandered the 2016 Hague ruling won by our country in the West Philippine Sea and, as in the case of Pharmally, allowed his Chinese friends to profit from the sufferings of our fellow countrymen amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“There is no doubt that these callous actions have prejudiced our countrymen. Another six years of our country run by a set of candidates under the thumb of China would be incomprehensibly catastrophic,” the former Foreign Affairs secretary added. He said it would be catastrophic “not only for us, but for our children and grandchildren who have no choice but to bear the terrible burden of our benighted decisions.” “Another six years led by Manchuri-

Trepidation... From A1

Fully-vaccinated in healthcare may get booster shots

of Cebu. “I was expecting some of them to cry... (but) it went smoothly and we did not have any problems,” Damayo said. “They were quiet -- they’re still a bit shy.” A hundred public schools out of more than 61,000 have been selected for the two-month trial, which is expected to be expanded in the coming weeks, education officials said. Many of the schools are located in remote, mountainous or island communities considered to be low risk for virus transmission. “I cannot guarantee that this will be 100 percent successful, but in our assessment, we have high hopes that this pilot will be a success,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said last week. Students in kindergarten, grades one to three, and senior high school are eligible to take part in the trial. Class sizes are capped and time in the classroom limited, with strict rules on mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing. A “blended learning” program, which involves online classes, printed materials and lessons broadcast on television and social media, will continue. Schools in the National Capital Region also have been pushing to resume face-to-face lessons, but so far they have not received the green light. Oliver Sanchez, principal of Filemon T. Lizan Senior High School in Navotas City, said most parents wanted their children back in the classroom. “I think they got tired of teaching their children,” Sanchez said. The Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to pick a school in Metro Manila where face-to-face classes can be pilot-tested, Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said. Willie Casas with AFP

Rody... From A1 People late Monday, the President also defended longtime aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who is running for president on Duterte’s advice after initially lining up as a vice presidential bet for the ruling party PDP-Laban. “(Go) does not control anybody. He does not control me,” Duterte said, in re-

for the primary series,” the DOH said. Sinovac will also be offered as a booster for those that had Sinovac as primary series, the Health department added, noting guidelines will be released today by the National Vaccine Operations Center. Meanwhile, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said the vaccination days set on Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 will be declared as

working holidays. Galvez said during this nationwide activity, the government aims to administer 15 million jabs. Galvez said the National Vaccination Days will set the momentum for the administration of millions of COVID-19 jabs daily until the end of the year and enable the national government to achieve its target of fully inoculating at least 54 million Filipinos. With Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until Nov. 30. “The protocols are without prejudice to the continuing mandatory use of face shields in medical and quarantine facility settings, and the required use of face shields by healthcare workers in healthcare settings,” Medialdea said. Several cities, including Manila, Davao City, and Iloilo City had lifted the face shield requirement, without waiting for the national government to make an announcement. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who resigned yesterday to seek a senatorial post in next year’s elections, contradicted Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, who was quoted as saying that mayors need not wait for the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) before lifting the face shield requirement. “You cannot have everybody go their own way during a pandemic,” Roque said in Filipino. The Philippines logged 1,547 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing

the total number of cases to 2,818,511. This number of new COVID-19 cases is the lowest since Feb. 24, which logged 1,557 new virus cases. There were 128 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 45,709. The DOH also reported 2,601 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,745,777. There were 27,025 active cases, the lowest since Jan. 15, 2021, which reported a 27,033 active case count. Of the active cases, 61 percent were mild, 5.9 percent were asymptomatic, 4.6 percent were critical, 10.8 percent were severe, and 17.59 percent were moderate. The COVID-19 positivity rate was at 4.1 percent, based on samples of 39,147 people on Nov. 13. This the lowest positivity rate since Jan. 24, 2021, which posted a 4.3 percent positivity rate. Nationwide, 35 percent of ICU beds, 28 percent of isolation beds, 21 percent of ward beds, and 22 percent of ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 30 percent of ICU beds, 26 percent of isolation beds, 24 percent of ward beds, and 23 percent of ventilators, were in use. Also on Monday, the DOH said hospitals and local government units (LGUs) are already authorized to pro-

cure COVID-19 investigational drugs which have been granted emergency use authorization (EUA) in the country. At present, only the antibody treatment Ronapreve has received an EUA from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The DOH also said it was “not impossible” that Metro Manila would slide to Alert Level 1 by December. For an area to be deescalated to Alert Level 1, it must sustain a low-risk classification for two incubation periods and have sufficient vaccine coverage, Vergeire said. Both the Philippines and NCR were classified as low risk on Nov. 2. “This means that if we classified an area as low risk on Nov. 1, we need to observe if it can sustain the low-risk classification for two incubation periods until the end of November,” she said in Filipino. Meanwhile, an area must have vaccinated 70 percent of its senior citizens and persons with comorbidities as well as 50 percent of its target population. Vergeire said NCR has vaccinated more than 70 percent of its seniors and over 50 percent of its target population. But, it has yet to meet the 70 percent vaccination requirement for persons with comorbidities.

ply to critics who said the senator was manipulating the President for his own ends. Duterte on Sunday said that he may seek for the country’s second highest position following the decision of his daughter to run for vice president instead of president. Duterte-Carpio was adopted by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the political party of presidential aspirant and son of late dictator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Matibag said Duterte will run under PDDS to avoid “legal complications” in light of the infighting within the ruling PDP-Laban. He said this is the same reason Senator Go filed his COC for president, also under PDDS. “PDP Laban fully supports President Duterte. Him (sic) using the PDDS… is a strategic decision,” he added. On Monday, Go said he did not want Duterte to run for vice president be-

cause he didn’t want to see bad blood between father and daughter. On Saturday, Duterte-Carpio filed her candidacy for vice president under Lakas-NUCD after she left Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party she founded. That same day, the President accompanied Go, long-time aide to the Comelec headquarters to drop his candidacy for the vice presidency and to replace Lyle Uy in his bid for the presidency.

By Joel E. Zurbano ALL fully-vaccinated healthcare workers may avail of booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine starting Wednesday, Nov. 17, the Department of Health said in an advisory Monday. “Based on the Emergency Use Authorization issued by the Food and Drug Authority, the DOH recommends using either Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac as booster doses regardless of the brand used

Duterte... From A1

‘Excise tax cut to hurt rebound from COVID-19’ By Julito G. Rada THE proposed suspension of excise taxes on fuel will affect the country’s road to recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said Monday. “The unrealized public spending and investments from the foregone revenues will be detrimental to our economic recovery and long-term growth,” Beltran said. Meanwhile, the country’s oil firms cut pump prices by P0.90 per liter for gasoline and P0.10 per liter for kerosene effective 6am Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market. The oil firms, however, did not move diesel prices. Also, the House of Representatives is scheduled to approve this week a consolidated bill seeking to reduce excise taxes on diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other oil products for six months. Earlier, there were calls for the government to suspend the excise tax on fuel to address the recent spiral in oil prices. Beltran said a more equitable way to address the impact of higher fuel prices “is to provide targeted support to the vulnerable groups, particularly the transportation sector, which the government has already committed to do.” The Department of Finance (DoF) estimates that suspending all fuel excise taxes and value-added tax on fuel excise will result in foregone revenues amounting to P147.1 billion or around 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product in 2022. With Alena Mae S. Flores and Maricel V. Cruz

Spox... From A1 Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC). “I cannot align with SBG (Sen. Bong Go), I’m sorry. But he is with the country’s problems... I just don’t like the way he does things, including controlling the decisions of the President,” Parlade said. Parlade, who retired as head of the military’s Southern Luzon Command in July, was recently appointed as deputy directorgeneral of the National Security Council. The Comelec tentative list of aspirants for the 2022 polls suggests that KDP is not a recognized party. Parlade said the issue was being resolved by the poll body’s en banc. Based on the Comelec’s list of individuals who filed their COCs on Oct. 1-8, the KDP’s presidential bet is Antonio Valdes. On Saturday, he withdrew his candidacy. Asked for his comment about Parlade’s bid, labor leader Leody De Guzman said the retired military general could use his position to continue advocating for violence. Even though he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the sixth PNP chief under his administration, Eleazar will run under Partido Reforma, led by the tandem of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III. Lacson is also a former PNP chief.

Duterte said there was nothing to hide in Davao City and that the local government supported all efforts to enforce the law. “We should really support the duties of the government. We have nothing to hide here in Davao City,” Duterte added. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, meanwhile, said, the executive branch deserved credit for the arrest of the Dargani siblings, adding it could have allowed the two to leave the Philippines if it wanted to.

“The important thing is, it’s the executive branch that halted them from leaving the Philippines. I don’t think it can be done without the cooperation of the executive branch because the airport is under the executive branch,” Roque said in a press briefing. “They could have been allowed to fly if the executive wanted it. But they weren’t allowed to fly. We abided with the rule of law. We followed the contempt powers of the Senate. That’s why I’m saying, it’s the executive also that should be attributed to this act,” he added.

The rule of thumb is bread prices should increase by P1 per pack or loaf for every P50 increase in flour prices. At this point, the impact of imported flour price hike is already at 10 percent of the current P35 per loaf for Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal, which retails at P21.50 per bag of 10 pieces. While Philbaking is taking the brunt of the rising prices of raw materials, it said that eventually there’s no salvation for bakers who con-

tinue to be on the losing end. “If we keep this rate of unprofitability, we might as well close our bakeries. We’ve been keeping marginal profits and the price of Pinoy breads has not moved in 5 years,” Koa said. To maintain the current pricing of Pinoy breads, he disclosed that the group will be increasing the price of their own brands by 3 to 5 percent to partially cover the increases in basic ingredients like flour, sugar, vegetable oil, and milk.

Duterte said while the economy has reopened as cases remain on the downtrend, unvaccinated minors should not be allowed to go outdoors because they do not have the means to fight the virus. “To the parents and guardians of minors Earlier in the day, the Philippine Medical Assowho are unvaccinated, please be mindful of the ciation (PMA) also urged parents and guardians risk. I hope no one among our children will get not to bring children aged 11 years old and below COVID-19,” the President added. inside malls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Benito Atienza, PMA president, made the call despite the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, which has prompted calls to ease more quarantine restrictions. “Regardless of alert levels, we ask the parents not to bring their children inside malls, especially those aged 11 and below,” Atienza said in Filipino. Joyce Pangco Pañares

Marcos... From A1

Pharmally... From A1

running for vice president, leading the survey. The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer’s chief of staff, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, said Marcos remained humble and focused on creating plans to help the Filipino people emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Unifying presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos is humbled by the very encouraging results showing him lead survey after survey but has remained focus (sic) on the delicate task ahead of how to navigate and get us all out of this crisis brought by the pandemic when given the chance to lead the country in 2022,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez also thanked the “Kababayans” for their continued trust and called on each Filipino to reject gutter politics and end the culture of character assassination. “Let us instead elevate the level of political discourse and talk about nation building,” said Rodriguez. “It is clear to Bongbong Marcos that this election is all about the future, the future of every Filipino and the future of our nation,” he added. The SWS survey showed that Marcos got 47 percent of the votes, while Vice-President Leni Robredo was far behind him with 18 percent. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno came in third with 13 percent. Senator Manny Pacquiao was fourth with 9 percent. The tie for fifth place is between Senators Panfilo Lacson and Bato Dela Rosa with 5 percent. The report did not mention how many respondents were in the survey and did not include the name of another presidential candidate, Labor leader Leody de Guzman.

her turf only showed the city government remained open and would not discriminate against anyone when it came to law enforcement. “Our city is not closed to the things that need to be enforced by the government, whether it’s from the judiciary or legislative branches of the government,” the mayor said.

Bakers... From A1 to keep manufacturing going and to keep our workers,” Koa said. Budget bread makers have been absorbing the added cost when it should be imposing at least P3.50 per loaf as the price of imported flour continues to fluctuate upwards, he said.

No malling... From A1

News

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Court dismisses drug case vs. Ongpin By Rey E. Requejo

HE La Union Regional Trial Court, Branch 27 dismissed the controversial drug case ﬁled by the Department of Justice against Julian Roberto Ongpin.

The court said the failure of police authorities to comply with the mandatory policy in drug cases governing the maintenance of the chain of custody to preserve the integrity and evidentiary value of seized illegal drugs and other drug-related items has prompted it to dismiss the drug. In a 12-page order dated Nov. 15, 2012, presiding judge RomeoAgacita Jr. of RTC, Branch 27, San Fernando City, dismissed the case against Ongpin for violating Section 11 of Republic Act

No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for lack of probable cause. “Wherefore, premises considered, after an independent assessment of the evidence on record . . . and supporting evidence, the Court is constrained to dismiss Criminal Case No. 14154 for lack of probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against the accused Julian Roberto Ongpin y Stone, in view of the utter non-compliance of the requirements of Section 21 of RA 9165,” Agacita said, in his resolution.

The lower court also ordered the lifting of the Precautionary Hold Department Order (PHDO) it issued against Ongpin. “The precautionary Hold Departure Order dated October 8, 2021, issued against the accused . . . is hereby lifted and set aside,” the resolution said. The court rejected the contention of the prosecution that the apprehending ofﬁcers were not able to comply with the provision of Section 21 of RA 9165 in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case “is unmeritorious.” “The repeated breach of the chain of custody rule here had cast serious uncertainty on the identity and integrity of the corpus delicti. Verily, invocation of the saving clause is unwarranted,” the trial court stressed. “Presumption of regularity does not ap-

ply if proper procedure is not observed . . . The failure to observe the proper procedure negates the operation of the regularity accorded to the police ofﬁcers,” it said. The court reminded the prosecution and the police ofﬁcers that to allow presumption of regularity “to prevail notwithstanding clear lapses of established procedure is to negate the safeguards precisely placed by law to ensure that no abuse is committed.” “As succinctly stated in several cases, the procedure enshrined in Section 21, Article II of RA No. 9165 is a matter of substantive law, and cannot be brushed aside as a simple procedural technicality ; or worse, ignored,” the judge said, citing Supreme Court cases upholding the mandatory compliance of the pertinent provision.

‘Zero vote for supporters of NTF-ELCAC budget cut’ LAWMAKERS who will support the budget cut on the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Barangay Development Program (BDP) could face “zero votes” and could be declared persona non grata in areas affected by the budget cuts. At the weekly virtual press brieﬁng of the NTF-ELCAC on Monday, two governors from the south, a mayor from the Mountain Province, and a former rebel leader were united in pledging for “zero vote” for any lawmaker who will push for ‘defunding’ the BDP and NTF-ELCAC. These include Senators Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Franklin Drilon and Grace Poe. “We see this (BDP) as a kind of reward. After liberating our communities of insurgents since 1986, this (BDP) is

a big thing,” Sadanga Municipal Mayor Gabino Ganggangan from the Mountain Province said, referring to the fund received by barangays in his municipality in the amount of P20 million each from the task force’s BDP which can be used for basic necessities of their communities such as farm-to-market roads. “This (BDP) is P20 million for a barangay alone.” Ganggangan pointed out that the funds from the BDP is much higher than the 20-percent Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of about P18 million given annually by the national government to his 3rd class municipality. He vowed that if the budget cut will be pursued by Congressmen and Senators, he will spearhead a traditional Ifugao ritual that will put a curse to lawmakers so that they will lose in next year’s elections, aside from pushing for “zero votes”.

PLASTIC FIRE. Black some rises as fire rage at a warehouse for plastic products in Rubber Master Rd., Brgy. Lingunan in Valenzuela City. Firemen and rescuers are at the scene. Andrew Rabulan

Manila receives equipment for COVID-19 efforts By Willie Casas THE City Government of Manila has received on Monday a set of Cold Chain Equipment from the Government of Japan, through the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) during a handover ceremony at the Manila City Hall. The Department of Health (DOH) said the enhancement of the Philippine government’s cold chain capacity will enable the country to further extend and reach the national COVID-19 vaccination program goals, which has so far allowed to fully inoculate almost more than 40 million Filipinos nationwide, and minimize COVID-19 impact to the health care system. Among the equipment donated to the City of Manila were solar-powered and ice-lined refrigerators. The equipment is expected to help the city government in its vaccination efforts. Acting City Health Ofﬁcer Dr. Arnold Pangan said the Manila Health Department (MHD) has already achieved more than a 100-percent coverage on the vaccination against COVID-19. For pediatric COVID-19 vaccination, the City of Manila has conducted a pilot inoculation of children ages 12-17 years old in schools. For the past two weeks, the MHD has been doing vaccination in the six district hospitals of Manila and various malls in the city, Dr. Pangan said. “Our target is around 170,000 children. As of November 14, Manila has achieved an inoculation of more than 52,000 for our COVID-19 pediatric cases,” Pangan said.

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It’s all up to the people now It was on the same occasion that Inday Sara resigned as chairperson of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) and joined the Lakas-CMD as officiated by Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and party chairman Sen. Revilla. After all, the 43-year old Davao City Mayor could not bear the tearful frustration of her die-hard supporters who wished for her to run for president, and she decided vying for the vice presidency may be the most appropriate stepping stone for the Presidency in 2028. She proved true to her word that she is not interested in pursuing the presidency at this time. Clearly, with Inday Sara as “adoptive running-mate” of BBM who runs under the banner Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and vice-versa BBM being Lakas-CMD’s adoptive standard-bearer, the “Dream Team” has come about with the support from both the Solid North and the South. BBM and Inday Sara have alternately led various surveys on presidentiables. But it is now up to the Filipino people to decide on their choices as to which top government executives would lead us through full rehabilitation and recovery from the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. There is no doubt BBM and Inday Sara both are capable leaders, backed by experience and guided by a vision of unifying the nation amid daunting post-pandemic global economic challenges. BBM has assured us of his intention to continue the programs and projects of the Duterte administration, particularly the job generating Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, agricultural development and electrification program, among others. Not to be discounted, the equally capable Senator Bong Go has also accepted PDPLaban’s nomination as its standard-bearer awaiting his supposed running-mate, Manong Digong, to file his COC as of this writing. It’s all up to the people to choose wisely now.

THERE was no assurance, as of this writing Monday morning, that the scenario for the presidential and vice-presidential races would have been all settled with hours remaining until the actual Commission on Elections deadline for substitutions of candidates for the May 9, 2022 elections. I would have missed my own deadline for this column if I waited all day for President Duterte’s supposed filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice-president as awaited for by people intrigued by the possibility of him going head-to-head with his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

We should choose wisely. Call it what you want, “farcical” or “lampoon” as the yellow and pink camps put it, but the turn of events have captivated national attention to the emergence of the formidable tandem of former-senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM) and Inday Sara. Inday Sara’s dramatic moves towards the realization of the “marriage made in heaven” have effectively drawn away public attention from the gutter politics, Cinderella tales and trash-talking of rival candidates at least for the weekend. The BBM-Inday Sara partnership pushed through not without the romantic motif as it was sealed during the resplendent wedding of Sen. Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado’s daughter Gianna in which BBM and Inday Sara stood as principal sponsors.

EDITORIAL

ROM where we sit, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is dead wrong when he says “nothing has changed” in the ruling party’s objectives for the upcoming elections. Everything has changed. Cusi, the president of one faction of the ruling PDP-Laban, urged members of his party to remain steadfast, one day after his party’s candidate for vice president, Senator Christopher Go, revised his certificate of candidacy to run for president—under a different political group. At the same time, the The PDP-Laban’s dummy candidate for president, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, simply withdrew from the race, saying it was “a party decision” – presumably on Cusi’s orders. Cusi, who has been trying desperately to get President Duterte to run for any office—holding out a run at the vice presidency and then for the Senate—sent an open letter to his colleagues that suggests his faction is nothing more than a platform for one man, Mr. Duterte. “We urge you to toe the party line and remain steadfast. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will personally lead our campaign and is committed to

THE untimely death of former La Salette priest Bob Garon reminds so much of DARE (Drugs and Alcohol Rehabilitation Foundation), a nongovernment foundation which primarily is dedicated to rehabilitate drug users and addicts. I used to be its vice-president. Bob Garon took me in to promote DARE to the business community. He needed help in his efforts to promote DARE which needed funding assistance. San Miguel Corporation became DARE’s main financier. All that the government could do to help DARE with the growing problem of illegal drugs was to get assistance from the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. In fact, if I recall correctly, there were special judges commissioned by the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court to accept drugrelated cases. When there was a need for it, to have drug users get rehabilitated at DARE. These special judges were also commissioned to accept voluntary commitment by parents who wanted their children drug users and addicts into DARE. In fact, the government set aside a two-hectare lot somewhere in Quezon City for the DARE Foundation.

He was an advocate of rehabilitation. I recall Garon used to get assistance from big hospitals in Metro Manila to set aside their basements to confine drug users and addicts. But soon, Garon gave that up because drug pushers and syndicates also penetrated those hospital basements. Commitment of drug users and addicts at DARE depended on how much parents could afford to take care of board and lodging. Garon did not have a big staff simply because that would lose money of having helpers and nurses, doctors, and specialists on psychology and psychiatry. There was a La Salette priest, George Loiselle, helping Garon occasionally, but not permanently. DARE did not only isolate drug users, but provided treatment which was a Herculean effort since drug addiction is a physical and psychological problem and admittedly a big job to tackle. Knowing the profile of drug users and addicts, Garon adopted a cure from the United States and Europe on how to break open that shell that drug addicts built for themselves to continue with their addiction. First, you have to know the profile of drug users and drug addicts. When a boy or girl starts isolating himself or herself from his family, you must know that there is a problem. And when the boy or girl starts to have failing grades in school, there must be a big problem. When he

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support all our candidates. “We shall call a National Council meeting before the end of this year. We shall campaign hard and we will not rest until our objective is attained. “GO for continuity! GO for victory!”

The ruling party isn’t the only one going through this. he said, apparently referring to the party’s erstwhile candidate for vice president, who decided to run for president under a different party. The letter and the recent machinations of the President’s men suggest that the PDP-Laban is little more than a political tool to be used for the benefit of the President and his hangers-on, and bears no allegiance to the socialist principles upon which the party was originally founded in 1982.

Meanwhile, the leader of the other PDP-Laban faction, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, supports erstwhile party president Senator Manny Pacquiao— who also filed his certificate of candidacy under a different party, the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or PROMDI. All this points, not only to a party in disarray, but to a system of political organization that has become meaningless. The ruling party isn’t the only one going through this—it simply is the most visible example. This is the expected result when party leaders lose sight of their founding principles and make election victory the only measure of success. The costs to society, as our recent history teaches us, can be high. In the book “Strong Patronage, Weak Politics,” Paul D. Hutchcroft of the Australian National University argues that as long as parties are weak and lacking in coherence, the primary focus of political contention is much more likely to be on patronage and pork than on policies and programs. That is certainly something to bear in mind as the 2022 election circus rolls into town.

Disappointed, not defeated, over Glasgow

A tribute to Bob Garon or she starts stealing things from the house to sell and finance his or her habit, then there is a big problem because sooner or later, a drug addict becomes also a drug pusher to finance the addiction. Peer pressure or “barkada” contributes a lot. The principal targets of drug pushers and drug syndicates were usually exclusive schools like La Salle, Ateneo and girls schools like Assumption, Miriam College, then known as Maryknoll, St. Theresa and gated villages in Makati where the rich and famous used party drugs, like cocaine, ecstasy mostly for fun. Marijuana, which was then principally grown in the Cordilleras, was the cheapest illegal drug, until the Chinese cartels and syndicates manufactured deadlier but cheaper drugs from “the golden triangle,” like “shabu.” And soon enough, shabu proliferated as the street drug that was even imported from China through the Bureau of Customs. If you wonder why shabu is more often than not the drug used until this date nationwide, it is because shabu from China continues to be smuggled through Customs in cooperation between drug syndicates and corrupt Customs people. Billions of pesos come in from wellknown cartels and syndicates “Bamboo,” “Triad,” and even Mexico’s “Sinaloa.” The drug business is a multi-billion dollar industry that affects not only Southeast Asia, but the US and Europe. Illegal drug use in the Philippines was at its height during the regime of President PNoy Aquino when the country even became a transhipment point to the US and Europe. It was only President Duterte who declared war on illegal drugs, which resonated with the people that elected him into office. His campaign promise was to end illegal drugs, criminality and government corruption. Big words indeed, but he soon realized that illegal drugs, criminality and government corruption could not be easily ended and eradicated. Why? Because Duterte made a big mistake in fighting change. Duterte’s war on illegal drugs was based on killing all pushers, users and even the drug addict, some 8 to 9 million of them, which became a war of impunity in almost every barangay nationwide. War on drugs is to Duterte, for which has become his biggest fear before the International Court of Justice which blamed him for crimes against humanity because of extra-judicial killings (EJK). The approach of Duterte in his war against illegal drugs is wrong since experts in other countries know in fighting illegal drugs, there are four components, prevention, law enforcement, prosecution and rehabilitation, the last one rehabilitation.. For as long as there is a demand for illegal drugs, the cartels and drug syndicates will always provide the supply. It’s a matter of supply and demand, my gulay! It’s for this reason why I am writing this column, a tribute to former priest Bob Garon, who showed us how important rehabilitation is in an attempt to fight or have a war on illegal drugs. Drug users and drug addicts are the victims, not the culprits. Going back to DARE Foundation, which was the first attempt of a non-government

A system in shambles

FOR the 26th time, the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change convened and concluded its annual Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, Scotland. COP 26, as popularly known, was supposed to be held last year but was postponed due to the pandemic. Now numbering 200 Parties, thousands of international and national leaders, diplomats and government officials, and representatives of stakeholder groups – from indigenous peoples, the youth, environmental organizations, development groups, women, people with disabilities, industry and business, scientific and other academic organizations, local governments, etc – came together to address the global climate crisis. I did not go to Glasgow, the first time I missed a COP in the last 12 years and one of five I did not attend out of the 26. But the Manila Observatory, where I serve as Associate Director for Climate Policy and International Relations, sent a four-person team to participate in the meeting. We are an active member of Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025), a consortium that convenes key stakeholders to discuss, identify and guide ambitious outcomes at UN climate negotiations as we successfully did in Glasgow. For two weeks, speeches were delivered, promises were made, and ideas on how to move forward were debated, while young protesters marched in the streets of Glasgow. At the end of the two weeks, we have an outcome – The organization to end the illegal drug scourge, for somebody who has been there and seen it all, then former priest Garon adopted a drastic method to break that shell that drug addicts surround them with. He would invite the parents of the addict to a closed-door meeting where Garon asked the addict why he or she took drugs. It was a heart-rending confrontation between parents and addicts where the latter would tell the parents why they went to drugs because while his father was busy working, his mother would spend the whole day playing mah-jong with her friends. Worse still, when an addict blames his father for having a mistress. The addicts often take drugs as some kind of retaliation to the father. After that confrontation would come reconciliation, which solves 50 percent of the problem. Often, it’s “barkada” or peer pressure why boys and girls take drugs. At times it would take some more months for an addict to stay at DARE for about a year, to “graduate.” Graduating from DARE, however, was no assurance that the addict won’t go to drugs again. I would say that our batting average of total rehabilitation was 75 percent. I have known former graduates of DARE dying of drug overdose. Rehabilitation is no guarantee that the addict won’t go back to drugs. But at least, there’s a chance to make addicts to be useful productive citizens. It is for this reason why in my previous

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

Glasgow Climate Pact. Let me be clear. I am disappointed with the outcome of Glasgow. It was not a total disaster, like the 2009 Copenhagen meeting when I was a negotiator for the Philippines. But the outcome, except for some good advances, is the bare minimum and not the maximum of what could have been achieved.

At least the theme of just transition has now entered the mainstream. At the same time, we have made enough progress to leave Glasgow knowing that those of us who care about people and the planet have not been defeated. The agreement to come back next year with stronger commitments on reducing emissions is something we must hold governments accountable to. I am also satisfied with the performance of the Philippine delegation in Glasgow. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez delivered a strong country statement, promising to be a climate leader given our vulnerability to climate change. Our negotiators – especially Director Albert Magalang and Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella – gave strong interventions in critical moments of the negotiations. The biggest disappointment are the decisions on climate finance, adaptation, and the creation of the loss and damage facility. Once again, these issues are punted to the future, although from the looks of it, we could get good outcomes on this in a few years. Unlike the Green Climate Fund (GCF) which took 16 COPs to finally create, I sense that we will have a loss and damage facility in a couple of years. columns, I have been advocating for a private-public partnership in the building of community-based drug rehab centers. Why community-based drug rehab centers? It’s because rehabilitation of drug users depends a lot on family support. That’s why there is a need for community based centers. I recall that I even went to New York to learn more about drug rehabilitation. I met Charlie Devlin, president of Daytop Village Rehabilitation Center under then New York Monsignor William O’Brien, Bishop of New York who later came to the Philippines to visit DARE to learn more about drug rehabilitation. Santa Banana, I spent a weekend at upstate New York Daytop Village Rehab Center with drug addicts to learn more about the drug problem and rehabilitation. In other words, the problem of illegal drugs is more than killing drug pushers and drug addicts. It’s even more than going after the cartels and syndicates. It’s an effort of both the government and society itself. Even rehabilitation is not a perfect solution, but it stops the demand. As I said, this column is dedicated to the late priest Bob Garon, who fell in love with his female assistant. Garon sought dispensation from the Vatican and Garon married his assistant. They had two lovely daughters. Bob then for sometime wrote columns for newspapers and went on advocating drug rehabilitation over television as a means of battling the illegal drug scourge.

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No military pivot to China

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In this regard, we are thankful to a Filipino lawyer, Vice Yu, for leading this effort for developing countries. Like the late Bernaditas Muller, the influential Filipino negotiator who led the fight to create the GCF, Vice has been instrumental in achieving the progress on operationalizing the Santiago Network, a body that aims to build technical expertise on dealing with loss and damage. As his early mentor from his UP Law days and as a colleague in the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center and the climate change delegations of the Philippines for many years, I am grateful for his work. My hope is that the Philippine government would recognize this and invite Vice and other civil society experts to assist them in future negotiations. Unlike many, I am not too concerned that the word “phase-out” of coal power was replaced by “phasedown” as the latter is anyway a step toward phase out. The fact that coal and fossil fuel subsidies are included and targeted for phase-out for the first time in an agreed text by 200 governments is a big victory already in itself. The text calls for “the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies, to transition towards low-emission energy systems, including by rapidly scaling up the deployment of clean power generation and energy efficiency measures’, “accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”, and “providing targeted support to the poorest and most vulnerable in line with national circumstances and recognizing the need for support towards a just transition.” One big advance in Glasgow is that the theme of just transition has now entered the mainstream of discussions. This is clear from the preamble of the Glasgow Climate Pact, which include the following clause: “Recognizes the need to ensure just transitions that promote sustainable development and eradication of poverty, and the creation of decent work and quality jobs, including through making financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emission and climate-resilient development, including through deployment and transfer of technology, and provision of support to developing country Parties.” In the next column, I will point to other advances and suggest concrete actions so next year’s conference in Egypt will produce a better result.

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News Lacson admin to be tough vs. criminality By Macon Ramos-Araneta SHOULD he win the presidential election in 2022, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson vowed on Monday to implement an iron-fisted approach against criminality but in accordance with the rule of law. Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, said criminals—including abusive policemen involved in criminal activities—should be neutralized due to the threat they pose. “Against criminals, yes – but in accordance with the rule of law. We will always observe the rule of law,” Lacson, the standard bearer of Partido Reporma, said in an interview on ANC when asked if he will be “iron-fisted” against criminals if he wins. He said this will entail disciplining law enforcers so they do not become abusive. When he led the PNP, Lacson instilled such discipline in the PNP and booted out abusive policemen, especially the “kotong cops.” Lacson made clear that the only time law enforcers can kill criminals is in self-defense and in the performance of their duties as law enforcers. Under a Lacson presidency, he said policemen who engage in criminal practices such as recycling and selling illegal drugs will not be tolerated. He said such practices caused the Duterte administration war on drugs to start off on the wrong foot. “It started on the wrong foot. If you tolerate something like that it grows bigger and the problem becomes more serious. We should nip them in the bud to make them more answerable,” he said. Meanwhile, Lacson also defended the right of his supporters in the city of Manila to wear face masks promoting his presidential candidacy. He also lauded the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for looking into the incident where members of the Manila Police District reportedly harassed tricycle drivers sporting face masks backing the tandem of Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Lacson said he was surprised by the reaction of fellow presidential bet and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on the issue. According to Lacson, Domagoso said in an interview in Laguna that he was not “tsismoso” (gossip) when the mayor was queried about MPD cops asking tricycle drivers to take off or turn around face masks given by Lacson and Sotto recently. “The least that I would want from him (Domagoso) is to say that we will look into this, and if this is wrong and if it’s true, then make those who did it responsible. That’s the least that I expected from a gentleman like Isko,” the veteran senator said.

Go vows to sustain pandemic recovery push, Rody’s legacy PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday vowed to continue efforts towards pandemic recovery, solidifying the Duterte legacy and protecting the future of the nation. He also reminded his fellow candidates to “take into heart” the reason why they chose to seek public office —to provide genuine public service to the people. “There is nothing greater than serving our fellow Filipinos with utmost sincerity and loyalty,” he said. “When the dust settles and after all has been said and done, what is important is that the Filipino people should eventually be the winner in this exercise of democracy,” he added. On Nov. 13, Go substituted for Grepor Belgica and filed his candidacy as the standard-bearer of the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan for the presidency in the 2022 polls. He was personally accompanied by President Rodrigo Duterte in the Commission on Elections main office in Intramuros, Manila. He said the challenge is to “save the legacy of President Duterte, pursue further the positive change we have started, and protect the future of our people.” “The Duterte Administration has made many significant milestones that have benefitted our nation: from his decisive leadership, to the projects that commenced and completed under his watch, to the many programs that have improved the lives especially of those who need our help the most — the poor, the needy, the hopeless, and the helpless —all of them being our priority in our endeavors in public service,” added Go. Macon Ramos-Araneta

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Prelim on petition vs. Marcos next week

HE Commission on Elections has scheduled the preliminary conference on the petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Nov. 26. Director Elaiza Sabile-David of the Comelec Education and Information Department said the Clerk of the Commission has scheduled the initial discussion next week. “I was told by the director of the Office of the Clerk of Commission that when they issued the summons, the preliminary conference was al-

ready included. The preliminary conference is scheduled on Nov. 26,” she said in an interview on Monday. After the conference, the parties will be directed to submit their respective memoranda. “If there are no more questions, it (the case) would be submitted for

resolution,” she added. When asked how soon the Comelec second division can issue a ruling, David said commissioners might need more time to resolve. “We cannot tell. Hopefully, within the year,” she said. Early this month, a petition was filed before the Comelec seeking to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy. The petitioners claimed that Marcos’ COC contained multiple false material representations. In response, Marcos’ spokesperson, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, said they would address “this predictable

nuisance petition” at the proper time and forum. Meanwhile, petitions have been filed by the Comelec to declare a total of 205 aspirants for national posts as nuisance candidates, David said. David said that if candidates don’t have a legitimate intention or platform to run, they are considered a “nuisance” and are seen to cause a “mockery” of the electoral process. “These are the ones who were filed petitions to declare as nuisance candidates by the Comelec,” she added.

Lakas: Arroyo did not have hand in Sara VP substitution

FESTIVE LIGHTS. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog party-list Rep Yedda Romualdez, lead the ceremonial Christmas lighting at the Price Mansion in Tacloban City Sunday night. Ver Noveno

By Maricel V. Cruz

Isko: Access to jobs to solve communist insurgency By Rey E. Requejo AKSYON Demokratiko presidential bet Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday said if he wins the presidency in next year’s elections, his administration will provide people in farflung areas with more job opportunities and easy access to other minimum basic necessities to stop the decades-old insurgency problem. “The insurgency (problem), it boils down to employment. If the person has no job, he is pushed against the wall. Just like in a highly-urbanized city, Manila for

that matter, when a person is hungry, the tendency is to disturb his fellow man,” Moreno said during his “Listening Tour” in Calapan City, Orientral Mindoro. The Philippine communist insurgency is the longest running armed rebellion in the world that began in 1968. Efforts to put an end to the communist rebellion through peace negotiations have been tried by different administrations after the fall of the Marcos regime in 1986, but all attempts to forge a just and lasting peace have failed so far. “I think as long as the person has a job, has access to education, better health

care, nobody in his right mind will go against the government. I think that’s the way to do it, to give opportunity to our countrymen, especially in far-flung areas, because they are the ones who are easy to convince,” Moreno said. Providing for the minimum basic needs that include job opportunities, mass housing, and free health programs are included in his Bilis Kilos 10-Point Agenda for Governance. “What matters most to me, if given the chance, in the coming months is to create more business. With business, we can create more jobs. With jobs, people’s living will be secured,” Moreno said.

FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has nothing to do with the decision of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for vice president, the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) said in a statement Monday. “From the beginning, Lakas-CMD, chaired by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. with House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as President, was publicly committed to any national aspirations of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio,” the party statement read. “The idea of her running as Vice President did not originate from Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” it added. The Lakas-CMD issued the statement following reports that Arroyo and other lawmakers met with the President’s daughter in Balesin last week with regard to the latter’s supposed decision to file as substitute candidate for a national post. “There was no meeting, planned or cancelled, between former President Arroyo and Mayor Duterte in Balesin. There was no summons for former Senator Bongbong Marcos to go to Balesin,” Lakas-CMD said. “As earlier stated by party President Romualdez, LAKAS-CMD is elated with Sara joining Lakas because of her ‘sterling qualities as a leader and we saw up close her exemplary work ethic as chief executive of Davao City,’” the party added.

Dutertes’ move to seek national posts expected, well within their right—Leni VICE President Leni Robredo said it is well within the right of President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to run as substitute bets for national posts in the 2022 elections. Their decisions, however, will not distract her from her goal of winning the presidency next year, Robredo said. “We expected that a Duterte will run either for president or vice president. So, because it is expected, it does not affect us in any way. It is their right [to seek public office],” Robredo said in an interview during her visit to calamansi farmers in Nueva Ecija. “It is their right to decide for themselves. As for our team, we soldier on. We are focused on our activities, thanking our supporters, and we won’t let ourselves get caught up with what is happening with our opponents,” she added. On Sunday, Robredo took a dig at the Duterte administration, saying drug lords continue to operate with impunity

despite the bloody anti-narcotics campaign. She made the statement as her critics predicted she would fail to solve the country’s drug problem should she be elected as president. Only small-time drug pushers were intimidated under the government’s war on drugs, she added. “That would be easy to tell since our society looks down at women as weak,” she said. “But this is my question. The number one priority of this administration is the drug war, and the President is a man. But were the drug lords afraid of them? Perhaps, the small-time pushers are the ones afraid because authorities run after them,” Robredo added. As a former co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, she said despite the numerous drug-related deaths, the government’s anti-narcotics campaign was still a failure.

SEA OF PINK. Vice President Leni Robredo meets Novo Ecijanos in a people’s assembly in Cabanatuan City on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.

LRTA administrator Berroya passes away LIGHT Rail Transport Authority (LRTA) administrator and retired police general Reynaldo Berroya passed away on Monday, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said. Berroya was 74. In a Facebook post, Tugade conveyed his condolences to Berroya’s family and noted that the late general was “one of the most courageous and dedicated public servant and defender of the Republic.” “His was an exceptional leadership, which he proudly exhibited throughout his term and management at the LRTA,” Tugade said. Tugade said Berroya was “instrumental” in revitalizing the country’s transport system, particularly the railway Manila REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES sector. Standard COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS TODAY “I will always remember Gen. Rey as the officer who commandANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the ed with authority, but also with irCommission on Appointments (CA) for its consent on the nomination of: reverence, wit and humor just to lighten and brighten the issue at COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS hand. At his very core is the esMr. REY ECHAVARRIA BULAY as Commissioner, Commission on Elections, for a term expiring sential trait of discipline which on 02 February 2027, vice Luie Tito F. Guia enabled him to lead with distincThe public may submit any information, written report, or tion,” Tugade said. sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above nomination in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6 Floor, PNB Financial Berroya was appointed as the Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila. LRTA’s — the operator and mainFor the schedule of the public hearings, the CA tenance provider of the Light Rail Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 8834-2706 Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) — adand 8551-1989. ministrator in 2017, was general 11 November 2021. manager of the Metro Rail TranFOR THE COMMISSION: sit Line 3 (MRT-3) in 2013 and By: served as undersecretary and asJOEY C. FLAMINIANO Officer-in-Charge sistant secretary of the DOTr th

SCHOOL INSPECTION. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and officials from the department of building and school division inspect the Payatas B Annex Elementary School and the Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Quezon City to ensure that health protocols are observed in preparation for the possible resumption of face-to-face classes in Metro Manila. Manny Palmero

(MS-NOV. 16, 2021)

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US warns Cuba of ‘intimidation tactics’ on eve of mass actions

CUBA LIBRE.

Demonstrators rally in Miami to support Cuban anti-government protesters on November 14. The US urged Cuban authorities on Sunday to lift a ban on protests ahead of planned antigovernment demonstrations, the State Department said in a statement. AFP

HAVANA—Cuban security forces encircled the home of a leading dissident Sunday ahead of planned anti-government rallies, as Washington slammed Havana’s “intimidation tactics” and called for a ban on the demonstrations to be lifted. “We call on the Cuban government to respect Cubans’ rights, by allowing them to peacefully assemble and use their voices without fear of government reprisal or violence,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The Cuban opposition has called for demonstrations Monday in Havana and six provinces as it demands the release of more than 650 prisoners jailed since history-making protests in July. Blinken condemned Havana’s “intimidation tactics” of blocking protests, firing opposition supporters, and threatening them with detention. Security forces on Sunday stepped up the pressure, surrounding the home of a

leading dissident as he was preparing to set off on a solo protest march. “I woke up this morning with my home under siege,” 39-year-old playwright Yunior Garcia said in a video on Facebook. AFP journalists witnessed numerous state agents in civilian clothing blocking Garcia’s street or stationed on rooftops in his working-class neighborhood, where they unfurled huge Cuban flags. Garcia, who has been portrayed in official media as “Enemy Number One,” said state agents had told him earlier that “they will not allow me to protest,” adding, “they even told me which prison they were going to take me to.” At least six other coordinators of Archipielago, a Facebook protest group created by Garcia, were earlier prevented from leaving their homes, while one dissident, Guillermo Farinas, was arrested, the group said. AFP

6 dead, TV chief jailed in Sudan protests K HARTOUM—Sudanese security forces have arrested the bureau chief of Qatari-based Al Jazeera TV, the network said Sunday, a day after the latest crackdown on anti-coup protesters left at least six dead. Among those killed were two teenagers, according to a medics’ union. Five were shot dead, while one died from “suffocation by tear gas”, the medics said, who have recorded a total of 21 killed since

the coup almost three weeks ago. The army’s October 25 power grab has derailed a transition to full civilian rule, sparked international condemnation and provoked regular protests. The European Union on Sunday called on the junta “to return to the path City,

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Municipal Registry of Quezon Metro Manila. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL Other just and equitable reliefs REGION under the premises are likewise most BRANCH 229, QUEZON CITY

of a fair and open dialogue with civilians”, demanding “the release of all detainees including journalists” arrested since the putsch. “Security forces raided the house of AlMusalami al-Kabbashi, the Al Jazeera bureau chief in Sudan, and detained him,” the network said on Twitter without elaborating. Sudan has a long history of military coups, enjoying only rare interludes of democratic rule since independence in 1956. “Over 50 people were arrested during the protests on Saturday,” lawyer Enaam Attik said Sunday. “Prosecutors ordered their release, but the police have taken

them to an unknown location.” Media crackdown Al Jazeera has given prominent coverage to demonstrations against the October 25 power grab, but last week it also aired a detailed interview with top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The protests, including by tens of thousands of people on Saturday, have continued despite internet outages forcing demonstrators to communicate via graffiti and SMS messages. Among those killed on Saturday was Alsheikh Yasser Ali, 18, who was protest-

Fortnite ends run in China as developer pulls plug

Respectfully prayed for.

IN THE MATTER OF THE CANCELLATION Finding the verified petition sufficient OF ANNOTATION AND THE REGISTERED in form and substance, the Court gives AFFIDAVIT OF LEGITIMATION IN THE due course thereto. CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ANTHONY FANUGAO ABALOS, WHEREFORE, let a copy of this Order be published in a newspaper ANTHONY FANUGAO ABALOS a.k.a. of national circulation once a week ANTHONY CABATBAT FANUGAO, for three (3) consecutive weeks at Petitioner, the expense of the petitioner, upon coordination with the office of the -versusClerk of Court, Regional Trial Court of Case No. R-QZN-21-05839-SP Quezon City. Hearing on the Petition is hereby set before this Court on CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, LOCAL December 1, 2021 at 8:30 o’clock CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY in the morning, at which time and THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, place, any person having interest in the RODENCIO C. ABALOS, VICTORIA F. Petition may appear. ABALOS AND ALL OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE OR CLAIM ANY INTEREST IN THE SO ORDERED. INSTANT PETITION, Respondents. July 27, 2021, Quezon City, Metro x------------------------------------------------------x Manila.

ORDER OF HEARING AND PUBLICATION

(Sgd.) CLETO R. VILLACORTA, III Presiding Judge

A verified petition was filed on June 28, 2021 by petitioner through counsel praying that after notice, publication, and hearing, judgment be rendered ordering the respondent Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City and Civil Registrar General to CANCEL the registration of the affidavit of Legitimation of Anthony Fanugao Abalos aka Anthony Cabatbat Fanugao registered at the City /

Cc: Atty. Dongil T. Calugay – PAO, QC Anthony Fanugao Abalos – Door B Iglesia Cruz Compound corner Gutierrez Compound, Sitio Burol, Brgy. San Juan, Taytay, Rizal RTC-OCC, QC

(MStandard-Nov. 16, 23 & 30, 2021)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF MANDALUYONG CITY PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee, -versus-

FRE-MC21-1318 EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMENDED BY 4118

MALAY MEISIN DE LEON TAN, Mortgagor, X----------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Upon Extra-Judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee, against MALAY MEISIN DE LEON TAN, Mortgagor, with given address at (a) Blk 3 Lot 1 Monterey St., Sta. Monica 2 Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal (b) Unit 2702 Acqua Private Residences, Dettifoss Tower, Coronado, Hulo, Mandaluyong City, to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which as of October 7, 2021, amounts to NINE MILLION NINETY FIVE THOUSAND AND EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE PESOS and 15/100 (Php 9,095,879.15) ONLY, Philippine Currency, plus accruing interest, penalty and other charges, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Mandaluyong City or his duly authorized deputy will at PUBLIC AUCTION to the HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH OR MANAGERS CHECK and in Philippine Currency on the 15th day of December, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter in front of the main entrance of the Hall of Justice Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, the Condominium unit together with all the improvements existing thereon to wit: CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 008-2021000050 Registry of Deeds – City of Mandaluyong IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the unit identified and described as: DETTIFOSS TOWER FLOOR NUMBER: 27 UNIT NUMBER: 2702 TOTAL UNIT AREA: 110.89 SQM. OF “ACQUA PRIVATE RESIDENCES” CONDOMINIUM PROJECT In the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on Transfer Certificate of Title 2011001016 which embraces and describes the land located at MANDALUYONG CITY with an area of TWO THOUSAND SEVENTY-TWO (2.072) Square Meter, xxxxxx “All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date” “In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on December 22, 2021 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter without further notice.” Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the said property and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

DROUGHT EFFECT. Moroccan ecologist Mohamed Benata holds a handful of clay that has turned to sand due to a large presence of salt in the land since the water of the sea enters in the river of Moulouya near the city of Saidia in northeastern Morocco. Benata stood taking photos of what should be the mouth of the Moulouya—one of the longest rivers in the North African kingdom and a vital lifeline for farmers in the area—but after years of drought and over-pumping, it comes to a halt just short of the sea near the Algerian border. AFP

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

NAME

ADDRESS

ATTY. REUBEN DASAY A. LlNGATING ATTY. MARLON P. BOSANTOG MS. JEORGELYN V. LARGADO MR. RAMCY C. ASTOVEZA MR. ENGWAN S. ALA

0266 F Consolacion St. Balangasan District, Pagadian City Sinipsip,Buguias, Benguet Brgy. Carol-an, Kabankalan City, Negross Occidental Brgy. San Marcelino, Gen. Nakar, Quezon Province P2 Pantukan, Carascal, Surigao Del Sur

NOMINEE NUMBER FIRST NOMINEE SECOND NOMINEE THIRD NOMINEE FOURTH NOMINEE FIFTH NOMINEE

The foregoing is in compliance with Par. 2 Section 11 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10717 Series 2021.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF BY: (Sgd.) GERMAN R.REYES

Malay Meisin De Leon Tan (a) Blk 3 Lot 1 Monterey St., Sta. Monica Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal (b) Unit 2702 Acqua Private Residences, Dettifoss Tower Coronado, Hulo, Mandaluyong City WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriffs Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law.

(MStandard-Nov. 16, 23 & 30, 2021)

BEIJING—Epic Games pulled the plug on its Chinese version of Fortnite on Monday, with its three-year effort to penetrate the world’s biggest gaming market derailed by Communist Party crackdowns against online addiction and the broader tech sector. Epic had announced two weeks ago that it would shut down the Chinese version of the game on November 15, noting that “Fortnite China’s Beta test has reached an end” and that servers would be closed. Chinese players said they could no longer access the game on Monday, posting goodbyes on social media platform Weibo. A discussion board on the game had been viewed 470 million times. “It’s a pity,” a user who gave only her surname Ding told AFP. “I don’t understand why it ended so quickly.” Another player surnamed Zheng, 24, told AFP he would “first cry for a little” over the game he had played for more than two years while at university. The move ends a long-running test of Fortnite created for China, where content is policed for excessive violence. The action-packed shooter and world-building game is one of the most popular in the world, boasting more than 350 million users. Its Chinese test version was released in 2018, but “Fortnite” never received the government’s green light to be formally launched and monetized as approvals for new games slowed. The Chinese government has pressed a broad crackdown on the wider technology sector over the past year, citing concerns that tech giants were getting too big and powerful. AFP

This is to notify the general public that the complete list of nominees of IPEACE Epanaw Party List for the May 9, 2022 National Elections are the following:

Mandaluyong City, Philippines, November 8, 2021.

Sheriff IV Copy furnished: Philippine Savings Bank PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeño Street Makati City

ing in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman to demand civilian rule. “I attended the body’s autopsy, which showed that he took a bullet to the shoulder which hit the heart and the lungs,” his uncle Zaher Ali told AFP. “I almost collapsed in the morgue.” Other media outlets besides Al Jazeera have been targeted since the putsch, when Burhan declared a state of emergency, detained the civilian leadership, and removed the government installed after the April 2019 military ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. AFP

JOEL A. UNAD CHAIRMAN IPEACE Epanaw Party List (MS-NOV. 16, 2021)

JACOB LANES SECRETARY GENERAL IPEACE Epanaw Party List

BRIT BLAST. A police officer stands guard outside the Women’s

Hospital in Liverpool on November 15, following a car blast. British police announced the arrest of three men after a car exploded in front of Women’s Hospital in the city centre, killing one man and injuring another. AFP

Invasive airport searches in Qatar hit SYDNEY—A group of women subjected to invasive gynecological searches at Doha airport will sue Qatari authorities, seeking redress for an ordeal that sparked global condemnation, their lawyer told AFP Monday. Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights from Doha, including 13 Australians, were subjected to the examinations late last year as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn found abandoned in an airport bathroom. The incident caused outrage, and fueled concerns about Qatar’s treatment of women as the Gulf state prepares to receive thousands of foreign visitors for the 2022 football World Cup. Damian Sturzaker, from Sydney-based firm Marque Lawyers, said seven affected passengers now plan legal action to “send a message to Qatari authorities that you can’t treat women... in this manner”. “The group of women have suffered enormous distress on the evening concerned, now just over a year ago, and they continue to suffer distress and ill effects and trauma as a result of what occurred,” he told AFP. Sturzaker said the women were seeking a formal apology, compensation, and protection for future passengers transiting through the airport. Qatar is an ultra-conservative Muslim monarchy, where sex and childbirth outside of marriage are punishable by jail. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Rodgers wins in return from COVID; Bucs implode in loss LOS ANGELES—AJ Dillon ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Green Bay Packers shut out the Seattle Seahawks 17-0 on Sunday in a game where both clubs welcomed back their starting quarterbacks. Playing in a light snowfall, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned from a tumultuous 10 days and delivered a mediocre performance, but did just enough to get the Packers victory. The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player missed last week’s 13-7 loss to Kansas City after testing positive for Covid-19. He came in for criticism when it emerged he hadn’t received the Covid-19 vaccine, despite saying in August he was “immunized.” Rodgers was activated from the Covid-19 list on Saturday after a 10-day quarantine and completed 23 of 37 passes for 292 yards with one interception in front of a crowd of 54,300 at Lambeau Field. He received a loud ovation by the Packers fans at the start of the game. “I don’t take these things for granted, walking off the field as a winner,” Rodgers told reporters. Asked why he didn’t seem more excited, he replied, “It’s been a long 10 days.” Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson also returned Sunday after missing three games after finger surgery—the first missed games of his career. Wilson looked rusty, completing 20 of 40 passes for 161 yards with two in-

terceptions as the battle between the NFC teams turned into a defensive struggle. Both of Wilson’s interceptions took place in the end zone as the Seahawks were held scoreless for the first time since 2011. Running back Dillon finished with 66 yards on 21 carries, scoring touchdowns with a three-yard run at 10:37 of the fourth and from two yards with just under two minutes remaining. Washington stun Brady Elsewhere, Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady threw two interceptions in the first quarter as the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers were shocked 29-19 by the Washington Football Team. The Bucs’ second straight NFL defeat came in the wake of their bye week and was made more painful by the lategame departure of injured defender Vita Vea. Superstar signal-caller Brady threw two interceptions, connecting on 23 of 34 passing attempts for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke completed 26 of 32 passing attempts for 256 yards and a TD, his team improving to 3-6 as the Bucs fell to 6-3. The Buccaneers’ bad day included a welter of penalties in the first half, when for just the fifth time since Brady arrived last season they failed to score a touchdown before the break. Washington’s 13-point halftime lead was their biggest of the season. AFP

MPBL, Esports Varsity Cup to be tackled at PSA Forum THE coming MPBL Invitationals and the Collegiate Center for Esports Mobile Legends Varsity Cup will be discussed in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday. Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes is going to talk about the Dec. 11 to 21 special tournament of the MPBL and backed by Chooks-To-Go. Meanwhile, CCE spokesperson Waiyip Chong will be with finance head Stanley Lao as they discuss the ongoing Mobile Legends Varsity Cup involving schools from.the NCAA. The public sports program starts at 11 a.m and is presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Daily Tribune, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The weekly Forum is being livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page f b.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning Brazil’s Formula One Sao Paulo Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, or Interlagos racetrack, in Sao Paulo. AFP

Hamilton hails Brazil triumph as ‘the best’ S AO PAOLO— If Lewis Hamilton clinches a record eighth world title it will be in no small part due to Sunday’s against-all-odds Brazil win he ranked as “the best weekend I have experienced in probably my whole career”.

On Friday night that looked a fanciful idea, when he was hit with disqualification from pole in Saturday’s sprint after the stewards had detected a minor infringement on his car. Setting off 20th he produced a vintage overtaking masterclass to take fifth, which dropped to 10th in the grand prix grid after a penalty for an engine change. With championship leader Max Verstappen on the front row alongside Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas on pole, a win looked improbable. “Coming here 19 points behind, only one point ahead in the teams championship, we really needed a solid, solid result, but then obviously we had all these penalties,” he said. “Mentally you can just think it’s over, it’s impossible, but then nothing is if you

Bolt: I could have won Tokyo Olympics 100m DUBAI—Sprint legend Usain Bolt said he could have emerged from retirement to win a fourth straight Olympic 100m title in Tokyo this year, insisting the winning time was within his reach. Bolt, 35, told AFP that it was frustrating to watch the delayed 2020 Games from his home in Jamaica as his male countrymen flopped and Italy’s Lamont Jacobs claimed a shock victory. “I really missed it. I was like, I wish I was there,” he said in an interview at the Dubai offices of his sponsor PepsiCo on Sunday. “Because for me, I live for those moments. So it was hard to watch.” Bolt dominated sprinting for a generation, winning eight Olympic gold medals and only losing a ninth when his 2008 4x100m relay team-mate Nesta Carter failed a retrospective drugs test. The first Olympic 100m final since Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt arrives for a charity run at the Expo 2020, in the Gulf emirate of the great showman’s departure was a Dubai. AFP subdued affair, with Jacobs clocking “And it’s the facts because a lot of 9.80sec at a Covid-emptied Tokyo Na- end of my career. He said, ‘People are not getting faster. I was getting slower.’ guys don’t really get faster. Because tional Stadium. I have pushed the barrier so far and “My coach said something to me at the I never looked at it that way,” said Bolt.

Failure SPORTS—it is a long journey—a lifetime for most, regardless of whether you identify as a casual, a hobbyist, a weekend warrior, an amateur, or a professional. You don’t just play one time and then stop doing it again. Sports will be part of the best years of your life, and if you are lucky, you still get to play the sports you love close to your twilight years, for as long as your mental and physical faculties continue to crave, demand one more game. It is a love affair that promises the excitement of victory, but not without the inescapable sorrow of defeat. It is inevitable. And recurring. Likes waves crashing against a boat fighting to make its way towards the open sea. Once you’ve won, it is rapturous. But winning does not come instantly or on the first try, and for many athletes, victory at a high level is the peak that remains unascended, but once you are in the summit, you are jubilant beyond words you can al-

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ most see the color of happiness. If victory is always a blur of balloons and confetti, medals and trophies, high fives and hugging, and in pro sports, cigar and champagne, what do we see in failure? Some people see in failure the end. Finite are the chances and each one exhausted. In failure, they come face to face with the truth they tried so hard to defy: not everyone will win, and so in failure, they see surrender and acceptance. It’s not that they did not try hard enough, but the truth is many allowed themselves to be deceived by the idea that hard work is always rewarded with success, convinced they paid the cost of passage towards that side of the river where glory awaits, only to arrive on the banks of hopelessness, forced to reconcile with what you’ve known all along, feared all along: not everyone gets

the coveted award. Those forced by fate to feast on a steady diet of failure will hopefully put the concept of success in a more amenable context. Your improvement—physically, socially—is, in a way, a success, because you are a better version of yourself now. Your milestones and achievements are your successes, too. At least you tried, even when others wouldn’t even attempt, and that is a personal win. So even if failure brings the end, it is not without consolation. Some people see in failure a fork in the road. It is not the end; not quite and not exactly, but a reminder to consider a pivot. Pick a new strategy. Change the way you play the game. Or pick a new sport. It is almost the same as the people who see, in failure, opportunities. While some, in defeat, fall in the arms of despair that comforts the fallen, others gravitate towards optimism. Or revenge. Against a rival, or sometimes, even against one’s weak self. Ja Morant’s tweet comes to mind: failure builds character. Not the first time someone has framed failure like this, but testament nonetheless to refusing to be deterred by failure. Nothing less is ex-

put your mind to it. “That’s really why we just cultivated a positive mental attitude and went in fighting, guns blazing,” he added after climbing the podium draped in a Brazilian flag, the Interlagos fans chanting his name. Enjoying faster speed on the straights courtesy of his new engine, the 36-yearold picked off the cars in front of him one by one - only Bottas under orders to swop places proved light work for all the racecraft knowledge the seven-time world champion has accumulated between his ears. Verstappen inevitably proved an altogether tougher assignment. He got ahead of his arch-rival at turn four on lap 48, but Verstappen forced him wide to hold his position.

The stewards investigated and determined Verstappen had acted within the rules. Another failed attempt followed before he succeeded on his third, at the start of lap 59. While Hamilton played the diplomatic card when asked about Verstappen’s tactics Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was livid by that and all the obstacles thrown at his team in Brazil. “I think we’ve just had many, many punches in the face this weekend with decisions that could have swung either side against us or for us,” he fumed. “It’s just something that I’m just angry about and I will defend my team, my drivers to what comes. I’ve been always very diplomatic in how I discuss things, but diplomacy has ended today.” He described the decision to disqualify over a broken part on a rear wing “we couldn’t look at, couldn’t analyse” as “very harsh”. Especially he said when Red Bull repaired a wing three times in parc ferme “without consequence”. AFP

then I started going backwards timewise, so for me 9.80 was possible to get done.” But Bolt, who has dabbled in football and music since retiring, said it was “all about motivation” when he was considering a potential comeback in Tokyo. “For the Olympics, it was gonna be different,” said the father of three. “I always show up ready because I think this is the highest level, but I’ve already done everything in the sport so it was all about motivation.” ‘Lightning Bolt’ loses sparkle With a rueful shake of the head, Bolt said it was “not looking good” for Jamaica’s men’s sprinters after they failed to reach the Tokyo 100m final and were fifth in the 4x100m relay. And he said none of the current athletes looked capable of beating his 100m and 200m world records of 9.58 and 19.19, rarely threatened since he set them in 2009. “I don’t think I’ve seen anybody in this generation right now which I personally feel will break the records,” he said. “So I think I have a couple more years before somebody will actually break my world records.”

Bolt, instantly recognizable worldwide, said he’d “love” to help World Athletics promote the sport and had approached its leader, Sebastian Coe, about a formal role. But he said he had no designs on the presidency. “No, I don’t want that job. That’s a lot of stress and a lot of work,” he said. He added that he would “definitely” have taken the knee to protest against racism on the Tokyo podium, where it was banned under International Olympic Committee rules. “I understand what it’s about. Racism, we’ve been through it so I understand the necessary aspect of it and what is needed,” he said. But he revealed that after years of striking the ‘Lightning Bolt’, his signature pose was beginning to grate. “Sometimes it gets a little bit, I wouldn’t say annoying. But I understand that I’ve done it to myself,” he said with a chuckle. “People really enjoy it and it’s for the fans, you know. I mean, it’s a picture that they will treasure forever. “So for me, I’m not always happy doing it, but I do it anyways because it’s for them and it makes them happy.” AFP

pected of him, and those with long years of health and fitness ahead of them. You have to try and try again, and train yourself to be relentless and undeterred. Why? Because some people see in failure the same obstacles, only bigger and bigger. You try to be better but you are not alone. You are not the only one who was defeated. Your adversaries are also changing and improving, becoming more and more capable of putting a more difficult challenge. Your adversaries change and so is the world around you and the conditions that influence your pursuit of athletic triumph. You’d think this is hopeless because there is no winning despite changing how you approach the game. But continue to battle and learn from people who find in failure the feeling that a corner has been turned. Getting there, but not there yet. Everything about failure—as a word, a concept, a notion, an experience—has always been framed negatively. When we lose, those who seek to console us tell us not to think about it, that we should forget it, that we shouldn’t talk about it. Over

time, our brains became hardwired to feel repulsed by failure. We look away thinking that by ignoring it, failure will simply wither or disappear. We think of failure as something filthy and disgusting. Don’t touch it. Don’t examine it. Some see in failure frustration and faultfinding. But failure is not always a cause of torment and finger-pointing. Failure does not always come as a pall of gloom. Sometimes, failure can be a good thing. It is the door to introspection. It can be transformative and empowering. Failure is imperative. It is necessary sometimes. Failure wears many faces. The one you see depends on where you are on your journey. As a Chicago Bulls fan, I was excited at this year’s roster: finally, a winning unit. I know they will play well. I was so focused on savoring the games they will win, I didn’t account for the fact that they will still lose games—important games even. I know they will be great when they are winning. But what will become of them in defeat? What will the team—and us fans, too— see in failure?

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Sports

Blackwater sends Magat to NLEX for 2 players By Argie Paul Candare MARION Magat is expected to bolster the big-man rotation of the NLEX Road Warriors as the team re-acquired his services in a trade sending Mike Ayonayon and Will McAloney to Blackwater Bossing. The 6’7” National Universitystandout formerly played for the franchise before being flipped for Jericho Cruz from the TNT Tropang Giga in 2019. Coincidentally, the 18th overall pick was also involved in a three-team transaction that sent the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, Poy Erram, to Giga’s side. The Road Warriors will need the stalwart as they are set to miss for a few games highly-improved center Raul Suyod, who underwent an arthroscopic operation. On the other hand, 2019 Draft batchmates Mike Ayonayon and Will McAloney will now suit up for Bossing, a squad which struggled to record a win during the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

Already blessed with a battery of world-class coaches, EJ Obiena wants a complete, all-out “Team Obiena” that will work full throttle towards his goal—win a medal, possibly gold in the Olympics.

Obiena starts forming own team for Paris ‘24 By Randy Caluag

HE work has begun for top filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena in his bid to qualify, compete and emerge victorious in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Already blessed with a battery of world-class coaches, Obiena wants a complete, all-out “Team Obiena” that will work full throttle towards his goal—win a medal, possibly gold in the Olympics. In a post on his social media account, Obiena is seeking a “capable and motivated personal assistant to be part of our winning team.” The Asian champion and record holder said the PA’s role “will play a critical part on Team Obiena, coordinating among the various members of the team (coaches, sponsors, agents, etc.) as well as representing the athlete for key responsibilities and tasks required

in Manila.” But he/she will also be required to travel extensively in various parts of the world, especially in Europe, where Obiena is training and competing. The ideal candidate, according to the post, should possess the following: • A college graduate, based in Manila. The role is location-free • Articulate and fully fluent in Filipino and English. • IT literate with a strong command of Excel, PowerPoint, Word. • Good command of financial management and facts and figures. • Strong interpersonal skills; able to build relationships. This role will

require interfacing with various sports officials and organizations. Applicants may send their resume with a cover letter to hrobiena@ yahoo.com. Having a complete team has proven to be the perfect recipe for success, like Hidilyn Diaz who won the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with her triumph in women’s weightlifting. She heaped praises to the men and women behind her Team HD, composed of Chinese coach Gao Kaiwan for the overall strategy, strength, and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and sports psychologist Karen Trinidad. Obiena is training with worldrenowned mentor Vitaly Petrov, conditioning coach James Michael Lafferty and nutritionist Carol Lafferty. With a personal best of 5.87 meters, he competed for the first time in the

Marion Magat (right) vs Greg Slaughter

Olympics this year in Tokyo, but breaks didn’t go his way as he missed the medal round. Still, it was a decent performance even as he failed to clear the 5.8-meter bar in the finals. Armand Duplantis won the gold when he cleared 6.02 in his first attempt, while American Chris Nilsen came in at second for silver. Brazil’s Thiago Braz, Obiena’s longtime training partner in Italy, settled for the bronze after only clearing 5.87 meters, which was the Filipino’s personal best at that time. The athletes who won medals are within striking distance of Obiena’s latest personal best. Last September 12 in Austria, Obiena set a new Asian record in the pole vault when he soared to his best vault of 5.93 meters at the International Golden Roof Challenge to top the tournament. “I still know I can win. I will be back, and I will be back to win,” said Obiena in a recent interview.

16 players join Gilas training for FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Tab Baldwin

SIXTEEN players have join the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team, which started training for the February window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. They were led by Gilas draftees Isaac Go, Tzaddy Rangel and William Navarro, who reported for duty when practices resumed Saturday evening at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center in Quezon City. Naturalized Filipino Angelo Kouame was around along with Carl Tamayo, Geo Chiu and Justine Baltazar. Making up the backcourt are Matt and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi and Jaydee Tungcab, along with SJ Belangel, Jason Credo, and Dave Ildefonso.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin is also getting the national squad ready for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. In the FIBA qualifiers, Team Pilipinas was drawn in the same bracket with Korea, which is one of its toughest opponents in the international meet. The squad missed RJ Abarrientos, a cager seeing action for Far Eastern University. Baldwin accepted a new player, Ladis Lepalam, a 21-year-old, 6-foot-8 center playing out of College of Saint Benilde. The college junior has played 11 games during the 95th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Peter Atencio

PH gymnastics’ chief elected to world body By Peter Atencio A CHANCE to help Southeast Asian countries that are in need has presented itself to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia CarrionNorton. The Philippines’ gymnastics’ chief was recently elected as one of the new members of the 21-seat board of the International Gymnastics Federations, which recently held its elections in Antalya, Turkey. The council is the second highest authority of the FIG, an annual legislative assembly of 45 delegates from five continents. She received 25 nods during the poll’s first round of voting and will represent the Southeast Asian region, with Patanasak Srayuth of Thailand and Indone-

sia’s Ita Yuliati. “Now, I can really help the federation as a council member. I’m happy with the appointment,” said Carrion-Norton following her return to the country this week. Carrion-Norton said assisting countries, who are still new with gymnastics as a sport and the concern of female athletes will be among her focus as a council member. During the polls, Morinari Watanabe of Japan was re-elected president of the FIG by 81 votes. Watanabe, who received support from Carrion-Norton, was challenged for the presidency by Farid Gayibov of Azerbaijan, who drew 47 votes. Watanabe will serve as president for three years following a motion approved at the congress limiting the term

of elected officials. The Japanese official will serve his second term from January 1 to December 31, 2024. He earlier faced criticism in the build-up to the election after Japanese embassies campaigned on his behalf. Elections for the posts of vice presidents were also held with Ali Al-Hitmi of Qatar, Nellie Kim of Belarus earning seats as well. United States’ Li Li Leung, China’s Miao Zhongyi, Romania’s Maria Fumea, Finland’s Jani Tanskanen and Titov were elected to the FIG Executive Committee. Some 130 countries were reportedly present at the Turkish resort Antalya for the Congress.

Cynthia CarrionNorton

Burlington, Medical Depot boost seedings for quarterfinals MEDICAL Depot and Burlington EOG Sports thrashed their opponents Sunday to strengthen their respective quarterfinal seedings in the FilBasket Subic Championship at the Subic gym. Medical Depot routed 7A Primus, 86-72, while Burlington ripped FSD Makati-Army, 105-85, to end the round-robin eliminations with identical 6-4 marks at joint fourth. The final quarters seeding will be known late Monday after the triple-header pitting Nueva Ecija Bespren against MTrans Batangas City, Pasig Sta. Lucia versus Muntinlupa Defenders, and the San Juan Knights over AICC Manila. Patrick Cabahug erupted for 31 points highlighted by nine threepointers and grabbed eight rebounds for Medical Depot, who led by as many as 20 points, 83-63, in the last 2:55 of the game. Simon Camacho also paced Medical Depot with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Kevin Villafranca added nine points and 10 boards. 7A Primus, who was already out of contention, finished the tournament with two wins against eight losses despite the combined 34-point output of Achie Iñigo and Marc Paolo Javillonar. Medical Depot leaned on its outside shooting by draining 14 triples, while also outrebounding 7A Primus, 63-38. They also banked on their 27 secondchance points. Meanwhile, Burlington waxed hot in the opening quarter, 32-19, and dictated the game throughout with Jett Vidal, Enoch Valdez, Jeymark Mallari and Bryan Hilario spearheading the assault. Vidal and Valdez fired 17 points apiece while Mallari and Hilario chipped in 14 and 12 points. Burlington turned Makati’s 19 turnovers into 24 points and managed 12 steals. Ezer Rosopa and Jay Motol finished with 14 and 12 points for Makati, who tied with 7A Primus near the bottom standings with 2-8.

Business

IN BRIEF

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

September remittances rose 5.2% to $2.73b Alliance Global, Lopez Holdings and GT Capital register profits By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATES Alliance Global Group Inc., Lopez Holdings Corp., GT Capital Corp. and Cosco Capital Inc. reported strong profit growth this year as their diverse businesses allowed them to navigate the bumpy ride towards economic recovery. AGI, the holding company of businessman Andrew Tan, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net income climbed 73 percent in the third quarter to P3.5 billion from the same period last year, as consolidated revenues rose 28 percent to P38.9 billion. The company attributed the strong third quarter performance to continued recovery of core subsidiaries and cost management efforts. “AGI delivered these strong results even amid the health crisis while tapping on its internal strengths—its differentiated products and services, extensive distribution network, diversified operations, massive landbank and healthy balance sheet,” AGI chief executive Kevin Tan said. GT Capital of the Ty family reported a 307-percent increase in third-quarter net income to P2 billion from P490 million posted in the same period last year on higher revenues. Third-quarter revenues jumped 21 percent to P39.84 billion from P32.97 billion a year earlier, on higher sales from automotive and real estate businesses and equity in net income from associates and joint ventures. With Alena Mae S. Flores

By Julito G. Rada

ONEY sent home by Filipinos working overseas grew 5.2 percent in September to $2.737 billion from $2.601 billion a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.

The BSP in a statement attributed the increase in cash remittances to higher receipts from land-based and sea-based workers, which rose 6.2 percent to $2.156 billion from $2.031 billion and 1.9 percent to $581 million from $570 million, respectively. The figures brought cash remittances in the first nine months to $23.117 bil-

lion, or 5.6 percent higher than the yearago level of $21.886 billion. “The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea contributed largely to the increase in remittances in January to September 2021,” the BSP said. The US registered the highest share of overall remittances at 40.8 percent in the first nine months, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar and South Korea. The combined remittances from these top ten countries accounted for 78.9 percent of total cash remittances. Personal remittances, which include noncash items, reached $3.026 billion in September, or 4.8 percent higher than the $2.888 billion recorded in the same month last year. This resulted in cumulative personal

remittances rising by 5.7 percent in the first nine months to $25.699 billion from $24.302 billion a year earlier. “The increase in personal remittances in September was due to remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, which grew by 6.2 percent to $2.341 billion from $2.205 billion in the same month last year, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year, which increased by 1.7 percent to $633 million from $623 million a year ago,” the BSP said. Cash remittances slightly declined by 0.8 percent in 2020 to $29.903 billion from the record $30.133 billion in 2019 as the pandemic impacted the deployment of overseas Filipino workers and many countries implemented stricter quarantine restrictions.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, November 15, 2021 -40.47 PTS. 7,342.37

TOTAL VOLUME

1,301,326,583

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

101,734 7,955,950,084.46

ADVANCES

DECLINES

124

UNCHANGED

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2021

LITER OF LIGHT. SM Mall of Asia, in partnership with Liter of Light, a Filipino-

born global grassroots solar lighting movement, holds a large-scale installation for its latest initiative to raise awareness for climate action coinciding with the dates of the COP26, conference in Glasgow, Scotland. The installations at the Concert Grounds of SM Mall of Asia with the most number of bottle lights are part of a series of pop-up artworks that Liter of Light is building in November to raise awareness and urgency for climate action. It highlights how people, especially young people, are leading the call for change in climate policies, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES INC.

NAC Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila, 1634 Philippines NOTICE is hereby given that the Special Meeting of Stockholders of ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES INC. (the “Company”) will be held on December 10, 2021, Friday at 1:00 p.m. (the “2021 SSM”). The meeting will be conducted virtually from the Company’s principal office at NAC Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City and through the link that is provided in the Company’s website at https://aboitiz.com/2021ssm (the “SSM Portal”). The Agenda* of the meeting is as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Proof of Notice of Meeting and Determination of Quorum 3. Approval and Ratification of the Sale of 1,840,334,941 Common Shares, Equivalent to 25.01% Equity Interest in Aboitiz Power Corporation 4. Ratification of the Acts, Resolutions, and Proceedings of the Board of Directors, Corporate Officers, and Management 5. Other Business 6. Adjournment

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.0020

Japan

Yen

0.008778

0.4389

Pound

1.342000

67.1027

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128361

6.4183

Switzerland

Franc

1.086248

54.3146

Canada

Dollar

0.797257

39.8644

Singapore

Dollar

0.739645

36.9837

Australia

Dollar

0.732000

36.6015

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

132.6489

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

13.3324

Brunei

Dollar

0.736920

36.8475

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030479

1.5240

UAE

Dirham

0.013451

0.6726

Euro

0.240154

12.0082

Korea

Won

0.703800

35.1914

China

Yuan

0.035983

1.7992

India

Rupee

0.013482

0.6807

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240500

12.1426

New Zealand

Dollar

0.710300

35.8623

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035920

1.8136 Source: BSP

MPIC wins 2021 PR, marketing awards METRO Pacific Investments Corp. earned laurels from the Business Intelligence Group’s 2021 Public Relations and Marketing Excellence Awards as the PR Department of the Year, while MPIC vice-president for PR and corporate communications Melody Del Rosario was recognized as PR Executive of the Year. Acclaimed alongside 27 other winners, MPIC’s PR and Corporate Communications team led by Del Rosario was acknowledged for their integral role in building and maintaining MPIC’s brand image, creating unified messaging across the holding company, its subsidiaries and the rest of the Manuel V. Pangilinan Group of Companies, and integrating corporate social responsibility into its communication framework as the primary working team for Metro Pacific Investments Foundation. With the interweaved roles of their department in communications, public and media relations and corporate social responsibility, MPIC’s PR and Corporate Communications team creates holistic messaging that keeps them top of mind as a leading infrastructure company that builds the country towards progress and builds up the lives of every Filipino.

Cashalo expands presence in Visayas CASHALO, supported by the Gokongwei Group, said Monday it is expanding its presence in the Visayas with the introduction of its pioneering Shop Now, Pay Later service in Cebu to support the growing demand for financial technology services in the region. Cashalo teamed up with Robinsons Department Store-Fuente Cebu, Robinsons Department Store-Galleria Cebu, Gear Up-Jakosalem Cebu, Spyder-SM Cebu, Moto Inspira-SM Cebu, SM Department Store-Seaside City Cebu and SM Department Store-Consolacion to initially roll out Shop Now, Pay Later in Cebu. “Cebu is a very important market for Cashalo and we view it as our next frontier. We see a huge growth opportunity in Cebu’s very vibrant market. Our expansion in Cebu also reflects Cashalo’s optimism in the Visayas region, and down the line, in Mindanao,” Cashalo general manager Chino Flor said. “This initiative also strengthens our commitment of enabling more Filipinos to gain access to financial tools and services that were previously unavailable to them,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

SM Prime lists P10-b retail bonds SM PRIME Holdings Inc., one of the leading integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, held a virtual listing ceremony for its latest retail bond Series O offering worth P10 billion. SM Prime chief finance officer John Nai Peng Ong and Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. president and chief executive Antonio Nakpil led the ceremonial event along with joint issue managers, BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp., who are also acting as joint lead underwriters along with BPI Capital Corp., East West Banking Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Investment Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. SM Prime’s peso-denominated Series O is set at 5.0994 percent due 2028. The issuance is the third tranche of debt securities to be issued from SM Prime’s P100-billion debt securities program registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under shelf registration pursuant to SEC MSRD Order No. 6 Series of 2020.

Definitive Information Statement Dear Valued Stockholders, In line with the Aboitiz Group’s sustainability efforts, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV or the “Company”) is delivering its Definitive Information Statement (SEC Form 20-IS) for the 2021 Special Stockholders Meeting (2021 SSM) via QR code, which is accessible below:

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on November 5, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at this meeting. In light of the continuing COVID-19 global pandemic and government-imposed restrictions on mass gathering, the Company will conduct the 2021 SSM virtually through an online platform and streamed live at 1:00 p.m. (Philippine time) on December 10, 2021. Stockholders may attend by registering at the SSM Portal beginning November 8, 2021 until 10:00 a.m. on December 10, 2021. Once registered, stockholders may send in their questions or remarks through the SSM Portal. Stockholders may vote through proxy, or remotely in absentia. Registered stockholders may cast their votes by remote communication or in absentia using the online voting platform available at the SSM Portal, which was activated on November 8, 2021. Votes cast by registered stockholders until 10:00 a.m. of December 10, 2021, will be tabulated and presented during the 2021 SSM. Stockholders may still vote after the cut-off time, and the final votes received through proxy and through the SSM Portal after the adjournment of the meeting will be included in the minutes of the 2021 SSM. The procedures for attendance and voting during the 2021 SSM will be included in the Information Statement to be distributed to the stockholders and will be published in the Company’s website at www.aboitiz.com. Stockholders may send their duly accomplished proxies on or before the close of business hours on December 3, 2021 to the Corporate Secretary through email at aboitizboardsecretariat@aboitiz.com and hard copies at the 18th Floor, NAC Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Validation of proxies will be on December 7, 2021 at the Office of the Corporate Secretary. WE ARE NOT SOLICITING PROXIES. For the Board of Directors, (sgd.) MANUEL ALBERTO R. COLAYCO Corporate Secretary *The rationale for each Agenda item is explained in the Information Statement and may also be viewed at AEV’s website at https://aboitiz. com/2021ssm under Special Stockholders’ Meeting in the Investor Relations Page.

How to access the Information Statement: • Open a QR code reader on your smartphone • Allow the QR code reader to scan the code • Press OK or click the link to view the Information Statement • QR Code also includes the Notice and Agenda, sample proxy forms, and other details about the 2021 SSM

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS We are very fortunate to have been able to declare and distribute dividends to all our stockholders annually since 1999. However, we note that some of you have not encashed or altogether failed to claim your dividend checks. We want to ensure that you receive your dividend checks as well as other pertinent information or materials from the Company on time by strengthening our communication channels. In this regard, please allow us to assist you in any of your concerns regarding unclaimed dividend checks and updating of your contact details and other relevant information by contacting: For Luzon-based stockholders STOCK TRANSFER SERVICE, INC. Attention: Mr. Michael C. Capoy Unit 34-D Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Telephone No.: (632) 8403-3798 (632) 8403-2410 (632) 8403-2412 Fax No.: (632) 8403-2414 Email address: mccapoy@stocktransfer.com.ph We appreciate your continued support and trust in our Company.

For Visayas and Mindanao-based stockholders ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES INC. Attention: Ms. Marinel Mangubat Aboitiz Corporate Center, Gov. Manuel A. Cuenco Avenue, Kasambagan, Cebu City 6000 Telephone No. : (6332) 411-1757 (632) 8886-2800 local 21757 Fax No.: (632) 8886-2407 Email address: marinel.mangubat@aboitiz.com aboitiz.shareholder.services@aboitiz.com

These documents (Information Statement, Notice and Agenda, sample proxy forms, and other details about the 2021 SSM) are also available at https://aboitiz.com/2021ssm. If you wish to receive hard copies of the Information Statement, you may send your request through email to aboitizboardsecretariat@aboitiz.com, or contact Ms. Marinel Mangubat at marinel.mangubat@aboitiz.com. We encourage stockholders to take advantage of all online and electronic opportunities to receive their copies of the Information Statement and other documents related to the 2021 SSM. Thank you and we appreciate your continued support and trust in the Company.

Business

B2 || TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSEi November 15, 2021

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

LBC OPM

22.5 0.011

2.45 0.001

12.22% 10.00%

SGP

15.94

1.44

9.93%

PHR

0.95

0.08

9.20%

5 6

ACEX ACR

19.98 1.17

1.2 0.06

6.39% 5.41%

ALLHC

5.78

0.28

5.09%

8 9

IPO MVC

7.5 4.46

0.3 0.16

4.17% 3.72%

MAC

6.09

0.21

3.57%

Market retreats; Synergy Grid surges

HE stock market fell Monday on profit taking as investors stayed on the sidelines amid the political jockeying among next year’s presidential bets. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 40.47 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,342.37 on a value turnover of nearly P8 billion. Losers beat gainers, 124 to 71, with 42 issues unchanged. DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third mobile player, dropped 4.6 percent to P6.04, while Semirara Mining and Power Corp., the largest coal miner, declined

4.5 percent to P21.10. Synergy Grid & Development Phils. Inc., operator of the country’s electricity grid, however, surged 9.9 percent to P15.94, while noodles maker Monde Nissin Corp. rose 2.5 percent to P17.38. The rest of Asian equity markets mostly rose Monday to build on a recent run-up following another healthy showing on Wall Street, though inflation concerns continue to dampen the mood. While optimism about the global economic recovery remains intact, the rise in prices at rates not seen for decades has traders increasingly worried that central banks will have to tighten monetary policy quicker and more sharply than previously thought. And data out of the United States last

week showing consumer sentiment at a 10-year low indicated that the issue is being felt more in people’s pockets, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to step in. However, for now officials are sticking to their view that the inflation spike will be temporary and peter out as supply chain problems are resolved. National Australia Bank’s Ray Attrill warned US President Joe Biden—who is seeing his popularity take a hit because of the issue—could suffer. “If consumer confidence, and (real) spending is seen to be suffering under the weight of six percent consumer price inflation, then it suddenly becomes a political problem for the White House, not just a headache for the Fed,” he said in a note. Still, Wall Street’s three main indexes

Thailand’s GDP shrinks as virus restricts tourism

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

PHA MBC

0.61 8.89

-0.05 -0.61

-7.58% -6.42%

MFIN

2.4

-0.15

-5.88%

LCB

0.134

-0.008

-5.63%

5 6 7

ATN APL VUL

0.475 0.076 1.17

-0.025 -0.004 -0.06

-5.00% -5.00% -4.88%

8 9 10

ORE NI MB

0.8 1.01 0.405

-0.04 -0.05 -0.02

-4.76% -4.72% -4.71%

MOST ACTIVE 1

SGP

VOLUME 76,724,500

VALUE (PHP) 1,187,376,608

2 3

MONDE ACEN

56,462,600 42,092,600

981,458,270 501,517,546

4 5

ALLDY CNVRG

434,372,000 353,636,810 6,935,800 246,912,145

6 7

AC URC

229,870 1,501,770

202,547,945 200,374,892

8 9 10

GLO TEL ICT

57,095 107,490 907,360

192,874,050 183,034,900 173,427,309

POMEGRANATE FESTIVAL. A woman picks pomegranates from a basket during the Pomegranate Festival in Iran’s capital Tehran on November 14, 2021. The festival is scheduled to run until November 22. AFP

COVID hit Japan economy harder than expected in Q3 TOKYO, Japan—Japan’s economy shrank far more than expected in the three months to September, as a surge in virus cases hit spending and supply chain issues hampered business, data showed Monday. The world’s third largest economy shrank 0.8 percent quarter-on-quarter, much worse than the 0.2 percent economists had forecast. The contraction was driven in part by a 1.2-percent dip in household consumption that tracked the imposition of a virus state of emergency over the summer, when Japan saw its worst-ever COVID surge. Also weighing heavily was a drop in non-residential investment, which

plunged 3.8 percent on a chip shortage and supply chain issues that weighed on factory output. Exports, another key factor driving Japan’s economy, were also down, with vehicle exports stalling over a shortage of semiconductor components, though imports of goods and services also dropped, making net trade a slight positive overall for GDP growth. The data, issued by the Cabinet Office, revised the figure for the second quarter to June to 0.4 percent growth. Virus cases surged in Japan over the summer, after a slow start to the country’s vaccination campaign, and the government imposed a virus state of emergency that limited restaurant and

bar opening hours and alcohol sales. The Olympics went ahead during the period, despite calls for its cancellation, but foreign spectators and almost all domestic fans were barred. Analysts said that the slowdown was likely short-lived as Japan’s vaccination program has picked up speed, with the government lifting virus restrictions in October. “For the fourth quarter, if the virus cases are kept low, consumption will probably bounce back strongly,” said Takashi Miwa, economist at Nomura Securities. He warned though that “some companies say the impact on production from the supply issues may continue until December.” AFP

From crab balls to cars, Biden’s hometown feels inflation pinch By Chris Stein WILMINGTON, Delaware—A pizzeria in President Joe Biden’s hometown Wilmington recently took sparkling water off the menu because it got so pricey managers figured no one would buy it. At the car dealership that Biden’s presidential motorcade occasionally passes when he comes to town, sales people have had trouble keeping new vehicles in stock, while prices for their used models have climbed ever higher in recent months. “Each day is a new day. We’re not really sure what’s going to happen in the business or in the economy when we wake up in the morning,” said Jim Ursomarso, vice president of Union Park Automotive. The wave of inflation that’s swept the United States this year as COVID-19 vaccines have helped businesses reopen and consumers spend has spared no part of the country—not even Wilmington, the city that has provided a backdrop for much of Biden’s political career. Voters in the Mid-Atlantic city gave Biden seven times more votes than his predecessor Donald Trump in last year’s election, but business owners now fret as prices rise and public approval in his administration falls. “Here in Delaware, he’s loved. But as time has gone by, we have been lacking the reciprocation,” said Serena Kelley Jefferson, co-owner of Serena’s Soulfood, whose mother cooked for Biden, and who recently took crab balls off her menu because they became too costly to serve profitably. Inflation spreads Inflation was predicted to increase as the US economy recovered in 2021, but a Wednesday report from the Labor Department showing the consumer price index last month experienced its biggest yearon-year gain in more than three decades was an unwelcome surprise. This year’s initial price spikes were most severe for products like used cars and airplane tickets. The latest data, however, showed them extending into

ended last week on a strong note, paring steep losses suffered on Tuesday and Wednesday in reaction to forecastbeating US inflation. Tokyo enjoyed a strong showing after data showing the economy contracted more than forecast in the third quarter raised hopes the government will unveil a huge stimulus program to stoke a recovery. Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok and Taipei were also higher but Shanghai and Jakarta edged down. There was little initial reaction to data showing Chinese retail sales grew far more than expected in October, with traders concerned about a slowdown in economic growth owing to lockdowns put in place to battle fresh virus outbreaks. With AFP

Gianni Esposito (center) speaks to an employee as another serves pizza at Gianni’s Pizza in Wilmington, Delaware on November 12, 2021. AFP

groceries and gasoline, with ripple effects across the economy. “After the pandemic, this was the worst thing that could happen to small businesses, especially restaurants,” said Gianni Esposito, whose eponymous pizza parlor has received Biden repeatedly, including on the day he began his latest presidential campaign in 2019. “Now you cannot find a lot of employees. Everything you have to buy, it’s 30, 40, 50 percent more expensive.” As of Friday, poll amalgamator FiveThirtyEight put Biden’s approval rating at 42.8 percent, lower than all other presidents at this point in their terms except for two. “I didn’t vote for him, but I wasn’t against him like I am now,” said Candice Gronski, 50, an accountant living just over the state line in Pennsylvania

who typically votes Republican but felt like Biden nonetheless failed to meet her expectations. Not to blame The US inflation rate has been muted for years, and the latest price increases are driven by a mix of factors that might not have occurred without the pandemic. Supply chains are snarled worldwide thanks to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, while energy costs have risen after global oil prices briefly went negative in 2020. In the United States, American consumers are flush with cash and spending it with the help of three rounds of stimulus checks and an expanded government social safety net that both Trump and Biden approved. But businesses haven’t been able to keep up, since many people who could

work have decided not to. Meanwhile, the global semiconductor shortage has slowed down production across a range of industries, including the auto sector, driving prices higher. The increases may well hamper Biden’s push for an expansion of the country’s social services costing $1.85 trillion over 10 years. Following the latest inflation report, Joe Manchin, a centrist senator whose vote is crucial to getting the bill through Congress, warned, “the threat posed by record inflation to the American people is not ‘transitory’ and is instead getting worse.” As he filled up his car with gasoline that was upwards of a dollar more expensive per-gallon then it was a year ago, Phil Johnson said inflation wasn’t affecting his life. AFP

BANGKOK—Thailand’s economy shrank in the third quarter, official data showed Monday, but hopes for a gradual recovery are picking up after the kingdom’s reopening to foreign tourists this month. The country last year suffered its worst performance since the Asian financial crisis of 1997, with a 6.1-percent economic contraction. Gross domestic product shrank 0.3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said, blaming it on COVID restrictions. “The measures to control the outbreak affected the economic activities,” said Danucha Pichayana, secretary general of the board of the NESDC, on Monday during a news conference. A coronavirus outbreak in April this year saw the emergence of the highly contagious Delta variant, which led to reimposing tough restrictions on services and restaurants. According to NESDC data, the food service and accommodation sector shrank 18.6 percent JulySeptember because of “a decrease in domestic tourism and household spending.” In Bangkok—a key hotspot during the Delta wave—restrictions only started to ease in recent weeks, with the government allowing certain restaurants to reopen and serve alcohol. The relaxation of COVID restrictions—along with a gradual return of vaccinated foreign tourists since November 1—has officials hopeful for growth of 1.2 percent this year. The country also expects five million tourists to return next year, bringing revenues of up to 440 billion baht ($13.4 billion), said the NESDC. AFP

China’s factory output and retail sales up sharply BEIJING, China—China’s economy showed signs of stabilizing in October, according to data on Monday, with retail sales and factory output beating expectations as a power supply crisis appeared to ease. The recovery in the world’s second biggest economy has been losing steam for much of the year after a swift bounce-back from harsh lockdowns to contain COVID-19, with officials earlier citing an “unstable and uneven” economic rebound. Power outages in recent months caused by emission reduction targets, the surging price of coal, and supply shortages also had impacted some factory production. But industrial production grew 3.5 percent on-year last month, up from September, said the National Bureau of Statistics, as China worked to boost coal production and ease the energy shortage. A survey of economists by Bloomberg News tipped a 3.0 percent expansion. However, NBS spokesman Fu Linghui cautioned Monday that the “international environment remains complex and severe” with many uncertainties, adding that China needs to “work harder to maintain economic stability and recovery.” “While electricity shortages and production cuts hampered output in early October, we don’t think they are a significant problem anymore,” said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics on Monday. He added that this follows “a range of policy measures to boost coal production and lower coal prices.” But economic momentum remained weak in October, he said, “with the real estate downturn weighing on industry and a new wave of COVID outbreaks dampening household consumption.” AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

The latest GMA CSID is performed by (from left) Julie Anne San Jose, Lani Misalucha, Aicelle Santos, and Christian Bautista.

Making this season brighter with GMA Christmas station ID AS ADVERSITIES continue to test the Filipino spirit, GMA Network is making the Yuletide season brighter as the country’s leading broadcast company enjoins everyone to “Love Together, Hope Together” in its 2021 Christmas station ID (CSID). A holiday treat that Kapuso viewers always look forward to every year, the Network’s Christmas station ID also serves as a reunion for the Kapuso artists and personalities joining forces in one touching video to celebrate

this season of cheer. Opening the Christmas video were GMA News pillar Jessica Soho, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, and Alden Richards. Heart Evangelista and one of the newest Kapuso Bea Alonzo graced the CSID in special vignettes along with the growing roster of Kapuso stars and News and Public Affairs personalities. In this year’s CSID, which was released on Nov. 12, they were seen writing messages

Why Enchong Dee remains a solid Kapamilya ACTOR Enchong Dee has revealed that he was once persuaded to move to another network but opted to stay with ABS-CBN. The offer was presented to him even before the pandemic and the network shutdown. “I was already being convinced by some quarters. It’s just that never in my wildest dream had I considered leaving the Kapamilya. As I always say, I’m already at a point in my life when I value the relationships I established. It’s really important to me,” the 33-year-old star admitted. Talent fee is not an issue for the actor. He said money was not the reason why he chose to stay. “I’m known for being a ‘budgetarian’ but it’s not my main goal in my acting profession. For one, I don’t want to start a new relationship and go to the whole process once again,” he said. “In my fifteen years with ABS-CBN, I was able to establish good relationships with people. It’s hard to be starting all over again. If I just want to earn money, I’d rather invest or go into business, which is my Plan B. I want to become a business tycoon but not to switch networks,” he added. Loyalty to his mother studio is what matters to Enchong and he feels that the Kapamilya needs him especially during its struggling times. “There are fellow talents who opted to leave and I respect their decision. They have valid reasons but as for me, I can say that I’ll be a Kapamilya forever,” Enchong stated. Interestingly, the entrepreneur and former athlete decided not to accept offers for a soap opera at the moment. He was last seen in

the popular primetime series Huwag Kang Mangamba. “I need a reset. I need to ground myself once in a while. I want to rest in the meantime because I’m still getting used to lock-in tapings. I haven’t fully adjusted to the system. I’m waiting though for a film project. I like the material and it’s something that I would really like to do. Cameras were supposed to start grinding this November and would end before Christmas. But it was moved. That’s what I will wait for next year.” When it comes to his personal state, Enchong stated that it’s one thing he wants to concentrate on in the coming days. “That’s the reason why I want to take a break from doing teleseryes. That’s the next chapter. I can’t mix it with my job. When there’s a project, that’s where my attention is focused. Love life gets set aside,” he said. “I know myself. When I’m ready to fall in love again, I need to take a break from my usual routines like showbiz or other business ventures which I’m doing right now. Definitely, I will make time for that,” Enchong ended. Enchong Dee

Rewriting classic stories to honor

LGBTQ+ representations

of hope in heart-shaped pieces of paper and hanging them on the ‘tree of hope.’ With the heartwarming messages dedicated to Filipinos from different sectors and walks of life, we are again reminded that despite the challenges that come our way, love is the best gift that we can give one another this Christmas. Expressing love in any manner whether through words or action truly goes a long way as it helps spark hope in everyone’s hearts and feel God’s love especially this season.

The latest Kapuso Christmas offering was made even more unforgettable with the jingle performed by Julie Anne San Jose, Lani Misalucha, Aicelle Santos, and Christian Bautista. The catchy upbeat tune paired with uplifting lyrics was composed and arranged by Simon Peter Tan with words by BJ Camaya, Emman Rivera, and Jann Lopez. “Love Together, Hope Together” is also available for streaming worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

Giving Pinoy Pop a fresh new flavor

HAT do you get when five talented girls are banded together and put under the tutelage of one of the most successful star builders in showbiz?

The short and snappy answer? LITZ. This is the moniker of the glitzy and fierce new pop group that Viva has just unveiled. The group is composed of Heart Ryan Evangelista (19), Ashtine Olviga (22), Bianca Santos (20), Fatima Añonuevo (20), and Yumi Garcia (18). The group has been training all these months under the creative direction of choreographer-artist Georcelle Dapat-Sy a.k.a Teacher Georcelle who has trained and choreographed some of the biggest stars in the biz including Sarah Geronimo, Anne Curtis, and Vice Ganda, to name a few. “They started as six [members] but one had to leave and go to Japan because of the pandemic. I needed to assess them and assess them. We started with zoom sessions only. We had training including the way they project to the camera,” Teacthe head of G-Force told Manila Standard Entertainment in an interview. “I really see a big potential in them. I wouldn’t take this project if I don’t see any potential,” she said in jest. “They are all hungry and that’s what I love. I don’t want to say that they are passionate about their job because all of us are passionate about our jobs. That should be a given. What made me really admire in their working attitude, sa generation nila, wala pa akong nakikitang someone like them. They’re always excited to work.” The group’s name was coined by Teacher Georcelle according to Ashtine Olviga. “L.I.T.Z. is an abbreviation of ‘life in the sunshine( stylized with ‘Z’),” Ashtine said in Tagalog. “Teacher said that we light up the place every time when we’re together.” Ashtine also mentioned that “we’re part of other music acts from before, and then LITZ was formed.” The group was formed in 2020, said Bianca Santos. “And then we started training with G-Force this year. Dance and voice training, and

speech classes. And it continues to this day and into our foreseeable future.” “When we first joined LITZ, we didn’t know Teacher Georcelle was the one who’s going to train us, chimed in Fatima Añonuevo, adding “it was overwhelming and nakaka-pressure. But we’re happy she is training us, and now we’re more comfortable with G-Force.” Yumi Garcia, for her part, was starstruck by the celebrity choreographer. “I was really nervous when I first saw Teacher Georcelle,” she said in Tagalog.“Somebody I know said she’s strict. But as we went on, I saw that she’s so nice as well as the other trainers. Andyan talaga sila para turuan kami.” “Yumi is right when she said that Teacher Georcelle is strict, offstage she’s very intimidating, offered an articulate Heart Ryan Evangelista. “But that’s only in the exterior. Once you get to know her, she’s very kind. A very understanding person. For us, she’s like a mom.” Which everyone nods in consent. “She’s strict because she loves us. Because she cares about us, what we can do and what we can become. I think we have that relationship with Teacher Georcelle and we really treasure that because it helps us to grow.” For LITZ initial foray into the scene, the group has recorded and will release the single “Natataranta.” The track, written by Thyro Alfaro, was originally recorded by James Reid. The new LITZ version turns the popular idol hit into an electropoptinged dance song of female empowerment. The track’s release is accompanied by a music video that highlights LITZ’s stunning choreography. LITZ will make its debut performance at the upcoming concert streaming event titled Arrival. The special, which will celebrate “a new chapter of OPM” will feature young hitmakers and rising acts that include ALAMAT, Because, Claudia (Barretto), Lyca Gairanod, Cean Jr., Deny, Jehramae, Jona Soquite, and Magnus Haven. The Paolo Valenciano directed-Viva Live event is scheduled to stream via KTX.PH, IWANT TFC and TFC IPTV on Nov. 27, Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Ticket sells for P299.00. LITZ is a fivemember sing and dance unit that includes Heart Ryan Evangelista (19), Ashtine Olviga (22), Bianca Santos (20), Fatima Añonuevo (20) and Yumi Garcia (18).

mythical tales, the riveting collection features stories familiar to most but reimagined to reflect the rainbow experience. Created by Propel Manila, in collaboration with Meta, Elesi Studios, Kerplunk Studios, M&P Creatives, “Retold with Pride” features Pride and No Prejudice, Dragula, The Gay Gatsby, Life of Bi, Little Women Loving Women, and local classics Ibong Adana, Florante at Awra, and Si Malakas at Si Makisig, all retold to show day-today realities of the LGBTQ+ community. The rainbow retelling highlights the universal appeal of great masterpieces, touching on real-life themes of love, sex, dating, coming out, and acceptance, which everyone can relate to. Launched on Nov. 15, “Retold with Pride” is available on Spotify as audiobooks. You may also watch the stories come to life on Pride@ Tech’s Instagram page as video books. The initiative aims to benefit the Home for the Golden Gays, an organization that ‘Little Women Loving Women’ and ‘Si Malakas at Si provides support and care facilities for elMakisig’ are some of the stories retold to show the derly LGBTQ+ members. Read full story on www.manilastandard.net day-to-day realities of the LGBTQ+ community.

IMAGINE your beloved stories from literature and lore in a new, more colorful light. Globe and Pride@Tech have launched their latest initiative Retold with Pride, which flips the script on iconic stories we all grew up with by giving better representation to the LGBTQ+ community. From world-famous classics to local

DreamWorks is a 24-hour channel

dedicated to kids and family entertainment.

DreamWorks channel now on Skycable NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer (NBCUIN & DTC) today announced the launch of DreamWorks – the 24-hour channel dedicated to kids and family entertainment – on SKYcable, the Pay TV service offering the widest selection of channels from any cable provider in the Philippines.

Available starting yesterday, Nov. 15, the channel is offered in English and Tagalog language options as part of multiple SKYcable packs. DreamWorks provides kids and families with hours of entertainment, featuring Emmy® award-winning, original television series such as Trolls: The Beat Goes

On!, Dragons: Race to the Edge, and The Boss Baby: Back in Business. Loaded with action, adventure, and imagination, the channel will offer SKYcable customers added value to their subscriptions, providing kids and families with hours of entertainment on the channel. Read full story on www.manilastandard.net

Life

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

Ina Raymundo maintains her fitness goals by doing house chores to stay active — her favorite is sweeping the floors and cleaning the bathroom.

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

By Bernadette Lunas

F THERE is anything the pandemic in the past 20 months has made us realize, it is that we need to take care of our health. The pandemic, for some people, has become a wake-up call to be mindful of their well-being, to take better care of themselves.

The bright yellow curcumin has been shown to help manage inflammatory conditions.

“The effects of the pandemic on my patients are different,” Dr. Eca Lorenzo said in Filipino. “The health of some became worse because they were not able to do things they used to do like exercising or meeting with friends; some became better because they were forced to slow down, they no longer had an excuse not to work out or meet (albeit virtually) with friends because they were just at home [and had more time].” “Half of the people improved their health, half of the people took a dive. It showed that it really depended on the person how they would adapt to the situation,” added the internal medicine specialist and functional medicine practitioner. Much like how actress and mother of five Ina Raymundo and TV personality and new dad Migs Bustos adapted to the situation to make sure they stay healthy. Currently living in Vancouver, Canada, Raymundo shared how she was able to maintain her health goals while handling all her responsibilities at home even if she couldn’t go to the gym and had no house-help. Her secret? “Houseworkout”, as in doing housework to work out. “I don’t have house-help, so I’m constantly moving. You don’t have to go to the gym, you just have Migs Bustos to be constantly moving. My favorite is sweeping decided a few the floors and cleaning the bathroom,” she shared. months ago to take To sharpen her mind, Raymundo plays Sudoku; for better care of his her mental health, she spends more quality time with health for the sake her children. of himself and his wife and daughter. Bustos, a sports television news anchor, has become more mindful of his health after the birth of his first child. “When you become a mom or a dad, your mindset changes, it makes you realize that ‘I have to live better for my family’,” he shared. Becoming overweight during the lockdown, Bustos put more effort to be healthier, “diet, discipline, perseverance,” were his secret. “Patients,” Dr. Lorenzo said, “realized during the pandemic that their health was in their hands. There are many things they can do to improve it.” Dr. Lorenzo, Raymunnewest line of natural health suppledo, and Bustos shared ments, Life Food. their insights and the “Life Food is a comprehensive stories of how they keep line of condition-specific natutheir health in check to ral food supplements that are high live life to the fullest durquality and proven to be safe and efing “Life Talks”, a web fective,” said Kimi Abapo, marketepisode hosted by Boy ing manager at Synnovate Pharma. Abunda. The line aims to address comDr. Eca Lorenzo, an internal medicine specialist Life Talks also pre- and functional medicine practitioner, suggests mon health conditions of Filipisented Synnovate Phar- changing the mindset and the setting nos. It consists of six products, maceutical Corporation’s (environment) to achieve your health goals. namely Curcumin (manages

How to live life to the fullest

Converge adopts Angeles watershed FIBER broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions has adopted two hectares of the Angeles watershed in Pampanga in its commitment to its “sustainability agenda”. The project is part of Converge’s threeyear partnership with the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI) and the Kapatirang Aetas ng Angeles-Porac para sa Kalikasan at Agrikultura (KAAPKA). In a company-wide activity marking the start of the partnership held on Nov. 5, over 70 Converge employees planted 500 seedlings – fruit-bearing and forest trees – in its designated two hectares. The partnership with Converge is part of the Adopt-A-Watershed program which involves the planting of at least 2,000 trees, and falls under the broader Angeles Watershed Rehabilitation Program of ARAW-ACI. The program to rehabilitate and nourish the 500-hectare Angeles Watershed aims to improve its forest health for better rainfall collection. The endeavor is expected to ensure the reliable supply of clean water in Pampanga while providing livelihood to the Aeta community which serves as stewards of the trees planted in the watershed. “We hope that with our commitment to rehabilitate the Angeles Watershed,

Chief strategy officer Benjamin Azada plants a tree.

we will be helping Angeles City and Pampanga province as a whole become a sustainable place for business and communities to thrive for many generations to come,” said Converge chief executive and cofounder Dennis Anthony Uy during the partnership signing ceremony. Under the partnership, Converge will be supplying the seedlings, ensuring a sustainable water supply and fertilizer, and funding the overall costs of caretaking and protection for the three-year period. KAAPKA, as the stewards, will look after the day-to-day upkeep of the twohectare land. ARAW-ACI will oversee implementation of the project and be the main coordinator with the land owner – the Bases Conversion Development Authority – and the Angeles City local government. In addition to conserving the water supply of the city and providing livelihood to the community, reforestation is also cited as an effective way to reduce emissions from the atmosphere. “We realized we need to manage our impact on the environment and make sure we give back to communities we work with, to the environment, and to broader society. This led us to make our Sustainability Commitment,” said Benjamin B. Azada, Converge chief strategy officer.

Over 70 Converge employees planted 500 seedlings of fruit-bearing and forest trees in the designated two hectares the company adopted at Angeles Watershed in Pampanga.

Life Food’s Astaxanthin claims to reduce the size of wrinkles and improve skin’s micro texture.

general inflammation and provides pain relief), Sytrinol (helps lower total cholesterol), Astaxanthin (helps reduce size of wrinkles), Injuv (provides skin hydration), Tonalin CLA (helps reduce up to 9 percent body fat), and Evening Primrose Oil (aids in hormonal imbalance and addresses PMS symptoms). Life Food supplements, Abapo said, underwent stringent product testing following pharmaceutical standards. They are available at Synnovate’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada, and at leading drugstores and other retail partners.

Life Food by Synnovate Pharma Corporation is a line of condition-specific natural health supplements. It consists of six products, each aims to address common health conditions of Filipinos.

Company offers online courses for Filipino learners The Philippines was selected as the pilot area for the launch of RELX Academy, owing in large part to the strong presence of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. The RELX Academy, in partnership with edX, offers specially curated courses crafted by top universities such as the University of British Columbia and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others. Among the over a dozen courses participants can take online include Entrepreneurial Operations: RELX Academy offers entrepreneurship courses crafted by Launching a Startup; Becoming an Entrepreneur; top universities. IN ITS efforts to support up-andcoming entrepreneurs, multinational electronic cigarette company RELX International has launched an online academy offering business courses.

Business Foundations; Entrepreneurship 101: Who is your customer; and more. Participants can also look forward to special complimentary webinars with renowned speakers as part of the bonus program with the RELX Academy. Alongside equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowhow to succeed in business, RELX will also provide Academy graduates interested in operating a RELX store with additional support and guidance, in the form of design and furniture support as well as opening promotion and training – inclusive of a limitedtime franchise fee waiver. Go to partnerships.edx.org/relxacademy to enroll.

Breaking the stigma surrounding psoriasis depression in the long run, which can trigAFTER the birth of her third child, 42-yearger, if not intensify, psoriasis flare-ups.” old Jane Mauricio began developing lesions Psoriasis, Dr. Benedicto says, can put paon different parts of her body. She was diagtients at higher risk of co-morbidities such as nosed with psoriasis. psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. “My hands, which were supposed to be “There are also studies that show links beembracing my child, were suddenly covered tween psoriasis and Crohn’s disease, which with red patches and flakes,” laments Mauricauses the digestive tract to become swollen. cio. “I remember myself as someone who was This is why increasing awareness about psoperfectly happy with her family, her career. riasis should be a public health priority, as to When psoriatic plaques started to cover my also encourage more patients to seek proper body, I began to lose my confidence – even treatment,” he adds. my will to live.” While there is no cure for psoriasis yet, Around two million Filipinos have been ditreatments are available to help manage the agnosed with psoriasis, an immune-mediated disease. Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), disease that causes red scaly patches on the skin. Inc. is at the forefront of bringing new and “The way people looked at me told me that innovative solutions for this condition, inthey were afraid to come near me, thinking cluding biologic medicines. I might be infectious. Everywhere I go, I The company is also working with relfeared being bullied, humiliated, or rejected. evant stakeholders to launch and sustain At times, I would get so overwhelmed that I programs that educate Filipinos on psoriawould just choose to isolate myself from the sis, correcting misconceptions that make world,” relates Mauricio. Psoriasis is a non-contagious, immuneliving with the disease even more challengAccording to Dr. Edwin Benedicto, the mediated disease that causes red, scaly ing for patients. relationship between psoriasis and mental patches on the skin. (File photo) “Psoriasis is a lifelong disease, but it is health “can be a vicious cycle”. The head of the medical affairs department of Johnson & not fatal nor contagious,” points out Dr. Benedicto. “Proper treatJohnson (Philippines), Inc. says, “The amount of unwanted at- ment and holistic care are needed to ensure that psoriatic patients tention patients receive can cause them to develop anxiety and will continue to lead full, productive lives.”