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VOL. XXXV • NO. 360 • 3SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NCR may drop to Alert Level 1 Palace says likely if cases further decline, IATF decision set before Feb. 16

ALL ABOARD. A child who has just received his first dose of Pfizer's reformulated COVID-19 vaccine for kids is surrounded by cosplayers while aboard a Vax Train at SM City East Ortigas in Pasig City. Norman Cruz

By Willie Casas

ETRO Manila could be placed under the most lenient Alert Level 1 if new COVID-19 cases continue to decline in the coming days, the Palace said Wednesday.

In a radio interview, acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said key officials of the government's InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will do a preliminary assessment of Metro Manila's COVID-19 situation on Thursday. It will be followed by a meeting on either Feb. 12 or Feb. 13, to discuss the latest COVID-19 data and numbers in different regions, including the National Capital Region (NCR). Next page

PH reopens borders today, allows fully vaxxed tourists By Othel V. Campos

IN-PERSON CLASS. Teacher Nadine Antaran helps her kindergarten pupil during the resumption of the pilot face-to-face classes at the Aurora Quezon Elementary School on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Danny Pata

TOURISM Secretary Berna RomuloPuyat said Tuesday the Philippines is ready to reopen the country to international travel beginning Thursday, Feb. 10, to fully vaccinated tourists from visa-free countries. “These are exciting times for Philippine tourism. We have been ready since 2020; with the significant dwindling of

ELECTION WATCH 2022 Laylo survey shows BBM as top Poll bets face choice for President at 64% sanctions for

FILIPINO voters’ support for the presidential bid of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains solid, despite what his party claimed was the seemingly endless barrage of mudslinging and negative campaigning against him, after two surveys again showed him in the lead. The results in the latest pre-election survey done by Laylo Research showed that the concerted efforts by Marcos’ detractors had failed to sway people to their side, the PFP said in a statement Wednesday. Meanwhile, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez

said Wednesday that Filipinos should look forward to a brighter future and a better country under the leadership of former senator Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Romualdez, who represents the 1st District of Leyte, said this following the UniTeam proclamation rally in Bulacan on Tuesday, where Marcos and Duterte spread their messages of unity amid the adversity of COVID-19, and assured a better, stronger Philippines under a BBM-Sara leadership. Meanwhile, Marcos' spokesman lawyer Vic Rodriguez said the 64-yearold presidential candidate will not join presidential fora where “bickering dominates the debates.” Next page

protocol breach

OFFICIAL candidates for the national and local elections who violate health and safety protocols will be sanctioned by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday. Nograles said all electionrelated activities during the campaign period will now be under the jurisdiction of the Comelec. "So, in terms of enforcement, in terms of protocols and guidelines, Next page

‘Bistek’ out of Lacson ticket, Pacquiao team nixes Leni merger cente Sotto III confirmed Wednesday At the same time, presidential canthey have dropped former Quezon didate Senator Manny Pacquiao's camCity Mayor Herbert Bautista from paign manager Buddy Zamora exPRESIDENTIAL candidate Senator their Senate slate for the 2022 na- pressed doubts on the possibility of Panfilo Lacson and running mate Vi- tional elections. Next page

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

new COVID cases, the Department of Tourism (DOT) can now push forward with our plans and programs for the full recovery of the Philippine tourism industry,” she said at the Kapihan Sa Manila Bay virtual forum. This development came after the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recently approved the DOT’s proposal to Next page

3,623,176 3,651

96,326

54,690

3,472,160 12,834 (As of 4 PM, FEBRUARY 9)

Online selling of non-prescription drugs up, FDA drafting guidelines THE Food and Drug Administration may allow online selling of nonprescription drugs by establishments without physical stores, its chief said Wednesday. The FDA is drafting guidelines on "e-pharmacy" which will be released for public comment, said its officer-in-charge Oscar Gutierrez. "There's a limitation. We will only allow non-prescription drugs to be sold," he

said in a televised public briefing. "In the future, establis h m e n t s do not need to have a physical store. Next page

VIP SECURITY.

Manila Cops undergo the VIP security training conducted by the Philippine Nationa Police Special Action Forces at the Manila Police District Command headquarters in UN Avenue on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. The training is in preparation for any political aspirants who will need police assistance ahead of the May 9 polls. Danny Pata

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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‘No fare hike amid high fuel prices’

MPOSING a fare increase in public utility vehicles after recent fuel price hikes is unlikely, the chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Wednesday.

Join poll debates, ex-PPCRV chief urges candidates

LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra “What we are doing here is to said the Department of Transportation respond to the concern of our op(DOTr) is avoiding putting a burden on erators but without having a much commuters. more negative impact on commut-

ers,” he said on GMA News’ Unang Balita. Delgra confirmed the LTFRB received a petition to increase fares but said the DOTr is more inclined to assist in meeting the financial needs of the public transport sector through service contract programs and “Pantawid Pasada” cash aid than a fare hike. Oil firms had another big-time

price hike this Tuesday to mark the sixth straight week of increases. Prices per liter of gasoline went up by P1.05, diesel by P1.20, and kerosene by P1.25. Latest data available from the Department of Energy showed that year-to-date adjustments stand at a total net increase of P4.95 per liter for gasoline, P7.20 per liter for diesel, and P6.75 per liter for kerosene.

Council will request placing NCR to Alert Level 1. Metro Manila, including Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal in Luzon; Biliran and Southern Leyte in the Visayas; and Basilan in Mindanao, are under Alert Level 2 until Feb. 15. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), meanwhile, said it supported calls to downgrade the quarantine status to Alert Level 1 to open more businesses and to bring back more jobs as COVID-19 cases decline. In an interview with radio dzBB, Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said should the country shift to Alert Level 1, which is the lowest in the alert level system, it has to be done slowly as there is still the lingering threat of COVID-19. The Philippines logged 3,651 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total case count to 3,623,176. It was the second straight day the tally fell below 5,000, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The positivity rate was at 16.5 percent, based on 29,970 people tested for COVID-19 on Feb. 7. This was slightly higher than the 16.3 percent positivity rate on Tuesday. Both are higher than the World Health Organization's target of less than 5 percent positivity rate. There were 69 new fatalities reported, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 54,690. The DOH also reported 12,834 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 3,472,160. There were 96,326 active cases, of which 4,150 were asymptomatic; 87,385 were mild; 3,029 were moderate; 1,447 were severe; and 315 were critical. Nationwide, 40 percent of ICU beds, 36 percent of isolation beds, 32 percent of ward beds, and 19 percent of ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 32 percent of ICU beds, 29 percent of isolation beds, 30 percent of ward beds, and 18 percent of ventilators, were in use. The independent OCTA Research

Group said it saw downward trends in eight highly urbanized cities. OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David, in a tweet, said these were Angeles, Baguio City, Dagupan, Lucena, Naga City, Olongapo, Puerto Princesa, and Santiago. David said, at present, Baguio City and Puerto Princesa are at high risk with an average daily attack rate of 31.28 per 100,000 population and 8.04 per 100,000 population, respectively. Baguio has a reproduction number of 0.54 and a positivity rate of 28 percent, while Puerto Princesa has a reproduction number of 1.37 and a positivity rate of 100 percent. The reproduction number refers to the number of people infected by one case. A reproduction number below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down. Meanwhile, Angeles, Dagupan, Lucena, Naga, Olongapo, and Santiago remained at moderate risk for COVID-19. David advised the public to continue observing minimum health standards.

These hotels cater to the unvaccinated travelers completing their quarantine period, long-staying guests, overseas Filipino workers ready for departure, and business processing outsourcing employees. As many as 76 quarantine hotels have submitted letters of intent to shift to regular hotels and cater to leisure tourists. “I am excited about the prospects of a healthy rebound in tourism for a good number of reasons: the high vaccination rate among our tourism workers, the public health safeguards and guidelines that have been put in place and the number of new tourism circuits that have been developed,” Puyat said. As of Feb. 4, 2022, 92. 51 percent or 317, 892 out of 349, 534 tourism workers have received their COVID-19 jabs. She said tourism destinations with 100 percent vaccination rate among its tourism workers include Baguio City; Aurora; Palawan towns Coron, El Nido and San Vicente; Puerto Princesa City, and Camiguin Island. DOT offices are also facilitating the roll-out of booster shots for eligible tourism workers, Puyat said. On a regional basis, the NCR registered the highest coverage for tourism workers at 99.91 percent.

Online... But they definitely will be required to have an office and an identified warehouse where the drugs will be sourced. We will release the draft guidelines for public comment,” Gutierrez added. Meanwhile, Gutierrez said the FDA has conducted operations on 50 sari-sari (assorted goods) stores that sell counterfeit analgesic and antipyretic medicines, as he urged consumers to check the agency's verification portal. The stores were located in Cavite, Laguna, Albay, Caloocan, Quezon City, and Parañaque, he said. "We continue to gather reports from our regional field offices," the FDA chief said. Also, the agency has approved the emergency use of more brands of COVID-19 drug molnupiravir, including a local manufacturer, and is evaluating Pfizer's COVID-19 treatment course Paxlovid. Gutierrez, in a taped public briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, said the following brands have received emergency use authorization: Molnarz (Faberco), Molnaflu (Medethix), Auxilto (German Quality Pharma), Molxvir (Sun Pharma), Molnatris (Mykan), and Molnupiravir Generic (Lloyd Laboratories/Dr. Zen’s

Research). Lloyd Laboratories can produce 1 million capsules per year that can cater to 25,000 to 50,000 COVID-19 patients, according to the FDA chief. Generic products are usually sold for 30 percent to 50 percent less than the price of branded ones, he said. Products granted an EUA can only be bought by the national government, Gutierrez added. "These will be delivered by the DOH to health facilities and healthcare providers, which will administer and provide these to patients," he said in a televised public briefing Wednesday. Molnupiravir is a prescription drug used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, Gutierrez said. "The patient should take this under the strict supervision of a physician," he said. The FDA has also approved the antigen self-test kit of Getein Biotech Incorporated, Gutierrez said. It has forwarded some 54 self-test kits to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for performance validation, he added. "If the applicant does not comply with RITM's requirements for evaluation, it's possible it would not be issued a performance validation," he said. Meanwhile, Pfizer has submitted its application for emergency use authorization of Paxlovid, Gutierrez said. Willie Casas

since the campaign period already started on February 8, yesterday, that will fall under, strictly speaking, the jurisdiction of Comelec," he said in a radio interview. Nograles said it will be up to the Comelec to impose corresponding sanctions or punishments to violators of campaign rules, guidelines, and protocols, including minimum public health standards. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will only be responsible for all non-election-related activities, he added. The 90-day election campaign period for the national candidates in the May 9 election started on Tuesday. The Comelec earlier reminded candidates of the restrictions that will be implemented for in-person campaigning such as crowding or gathering a large group of people as well as entering houses, kissing, handshaking, hugging the public, and even taking selfies with supporters are strictly prohibited. The Philippine National Police has also said it will exercise maximum tolerance in enforcing election guidelines and COVID-19 health standards in campaign rallies of candidates. PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said police personnel will first discuss the offense with campaign participants to avoid further tension during the activities. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

give the people “a series of insightful deepdive in the sentiments of the Filipino voters in the upcoming elections.” Penaflor said if the presidential election were held during the survey, Marcos would emerge as the winner garnering 54 percent of support from the respondents. He was followed by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno at 22 percent, Vice President Leni Robredo at 15 percent, Senator Panfilo Lacson at 4.1 percent, Senator Manny Pacquiao at 3.7 percent and labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman at 0.6 percent. The Tangere pollster said 49 percent of the respondents would be unlikely to change their candidates, 39 percent would slightly change, and 12 percent would change and select another candidate. When asked, the Tangere respondents said they would vote for Moreno (54 percent) if Marcos would be disqualified from the 2022 presidential race, followed by Robredo (16 percent), Lacson (9 percent), Pacquiao (7 percent) and De Guzman (1 percent), Penaflor said. “We are a non-commissioned group, a CNN Final Pitch Grand Winner 2019, an Asia Leaders Awards Winner 2019, a Ginebra Ako Awards 2020 Winner and an ASEAN Startup Awards 2020 Winner,” he told the media during a webinar conference,

adding a denial he was being partisan. Meanwhile, during the Laylo Research survey period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division dismissed several petitions seeking to cancel or deny due course to Marcos’ certificate of candidacy (CoC). A very distant second in that survey is VP Leni Robredo, who posted 16 percent. Tied at third spot are Moreno and Pacquiao with 7 percent apiece, while Lacson is in fourth place with four percent voter preference. Political analysts noted that Marcos had successfully gained a foothold in the South Luzon/Bicol Region after he posted a 51 percent voters’ preference despite the area being a bailiwick of Robredo. That was in stark contrast to Marcos’ 79 percent voters’ preference in North/ Central Luzon, which meant that Robredo failed to make a dent in his territory. Marcos has also widened his lead in the vote-rich National Capital Region (NCR), where he cornered 65 percent of the votes against the other presidential aspirants, in the Laylo survey. The UniTeam presidential bet also improved its numbers in the Visayas Region, where he posted a 10 percent jump to 55 percent from the previous year's 45 percent. Meanwhile, Marcos also saw an

11 percent jump in voters’ preference in Mindanao, with 69 percent voters’ preference compared to 58 percent last November 2021. Rodriguez told ANC: "Filipinos are tired of bickering candidates. If the forum will only have candidates bicker with each other, we will not join them. We know that the public wants to hear solutions to the problems we are facing.” Rodriguez likened this to a job application as he noted that when the candidates are "applying" for the highest position in the government, they should not be "debating" during an interview. He added: “You are saying that they are applicants applying for the highest position in the country. When you apply, you will not debate with the management during interviews, right? "You will let yourself be interviewed and let your bosses or management choose among the best, and let them decide.” Kicking off their campaign at the jampacked Philippine Arena, Duterte declared: “We will move forward. We will live with COVID-19 and we will bounce like never before. We offer you a tandem… with wisdom and experience.” “The past two years have been very challenging for all of us because the pandemic exacerbated whatever problem that we have in the past, but we are still here, full, alive and

continuing to fight the challenges, and hoping that a brighter tomorrow will come,” said Duterte-Carpio, who is also the Lakas-CMD chairperson, said. Mrs. Marcos said although she failed to attend the proclamation rally of her son, she had already been campaigning a lot for them. Mrs. Marcos also said she had a bad fall last year which prevented her from going to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, where they kicked off their national campaign. Sen. Imee Marcos, who spoke with her mom in the same video message, apologized for not being able to go, but expressed her profound gratitude to the so-called Marcos loyalists who have been trusting and supporting them for decades. She also welcomed all the new members and supporters brought by the presidential daughter Duterte. "We welcome them with open arms," said the senator. Imee added: "May the good Lord teach us to lead with firmness but with humility, with humility but with wisdom, with wisdom but with justice, with just but with compassion. Teach also our followers to be the good and dutiful citizens of this great nation." Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

do spoke well of Pacquiao. At a press conference in Quezon City, Lacson disclosed that Bautista sent a letter informing them that he wanted to be the representative of the Nationalist People’s Coalition in presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte’s “UniTeam.” Bautista filed his certificate of candidacy for senator under NPC, which is chaired by Sotto. “I don't know how to respond to his letter. I told SP (the Senate President) that I am not concerned about this issue because I am not a member of NPC,” Lacson said. Before the press conference, Lacson and Sotto paid a courtesy call on Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, the Senate President's son. “What I can say right now is defi-

nitely as far as Mayor Joy and Gian are concerned, they are supporting us. We will wait if they will endorse us during their proclamation or when they feel they should do that. We leave it at that,” said Sotto when asked if Belmonte would officially declare her support for their ticket. Sotto said it was important for them to get the support of the QC local government as this was where he started his political career. He served as the city’s vice mayor from 1988 to 1992. For Lacson, Quezon City was important, being a vote-rich city with around 1.2 million registered voters. But he maintained they were not seeking any endorsements and left it to LGU officials to openly declare their support for them. In related developments, Lacson said they were also working to validate reports of re-electionist Senator Richard Gor-

don’s supposed endorsement of another presidential and vice presidential tandem. Gordon joined the proclamation rally of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan in Naga on Tuesday. “We have to validate. It is hard to decide based on unvalidated reports,” Lacson said. On the other hand, Sotto said other members of their senatorial slate—Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian—had assured them they would not openly endorse another tandem throughout the election period. Zubiri and Gatchalian were at the proclamation rally of Marcos and Mayor Inday Sara in Bulacan on Tuesday. While he admitted their senatorial bets’ absence in their rallies had an effect on their campaign, Lacson said they would still accommodate them as long as

they would not “openly” endorse anyone. “I will be a hypocrite if I say it has no effect on us,” he said. Members of the senatorial slate who were present at Lacson and Sotto’s proclamation rally on Tuesday were Partido Reporma stalwarts and former national police chief Guillermo Eleazar, Dr. Minguita Padilla, and former Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario, as well as former Senator JV Ejercito and former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol. The Lacson-Sotto tandem was also endorsing Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senator Joel Villanueva, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio Honasan II, and broadcaster Raffy Tulfo.

NCR... From A1

“What we want to do in the IATF is to make an assessment closer to Feb. 16 so that we can see the latest numbers to make a final decision for the alert level system from Feb. 16 until the end of the month,” Nograles said in Filipino. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officer-in-charge and general manager, Romando Artes, said Metro Manila mayors are ready to ease the restrictions within their respective local government units (LGUs) but are still waiting for the final guidelines from the IATF. “We are expecting that we will soon deescalate to Alert Level 1. Our mayors are ready for the opening of various industries and sectors in Metro Manila," he said in a television interview on Tuesday. Once COVID-19 cases continue to go down, Artes said the Metro Manila

PH... From A1

allow the entry of fully vaccinated tourists from the 157 countries that have visafree arrangements with the Philippines. The task force also scrapped the colorcoded classification system of countries based on their COVID-19 status to facilitate the recovery of the long-suffering industry. “Allowing the entry of these international travelers is a welcome development that will lead to growth in the travel and tourism sector, the restoration of lost jobs, the generation of much needed revenue for tourism-related enterprises, tourism communities and the government, plus many other benefits that will be felt by the entire tourism value chain,” she said. Puyat noted that fully vaccinated Filipino nationals and foreign tourists are exempt from the 5,000-passenger arrivals cap set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its One-Stop-Shop (OSS). Meanwhile, according to the DOT National Capital Region (DOT-NCR), 418 hotels serving as quarantine facilities were 68 percent full, with 37,348 rooms out of a total 55,150 occupied as of Feb. 7.

Laylo... From A1

In a television interview, Rodriguez said they would first study the format of the show to determine if Marcos would participate or not. Rodriguez stressed they were not avoiding these platforms, but only wanted to engage in discussions that would talk about solutions to the country's problems. In a related development, the 92-yearold former first lady Imelda Marcos said her son had a good chance to become the next President. While she was campaigning for her only son, Mrs. Marcos said, "what I feel from the people I have been talking to, we have 'a good chance to win.'" The Laylo survey, conducted last January 17 to 23, showed Marcos voters’ preference even leapfrogging to 64 percent, an increase of 6 percent compared to the 58 percent he got last November 2021. There were 3,000 respondents in the said survey. In another presidential survey, Martin Penaflor, Tangere (Acquisition Apps Inc.) chief executive officer, said they asked an active respondent base of 619,637 netizens both from the private and public sectors to

’Bistek’... From A1

a merger with the camp of rival bet Vice President Leni Robredo. Interviewed on ANC, Zamora said all camps were willing to continue with their respective candidacies until the May 9 elections. “I seriously doubt that [merger] because I would presume once we start it, nobody would want to quit in the middle or towards the end of the race. I'm sure all are committed to running, win or lose,” he said. Zamora made the statement when asked about the possibility of one of the candidates yielding to the other to minimize the votes of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., after Robre-

From A1

THE former chairperson of election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Wednesday urged candidates in the May 9 elections to join interviews and debates. PPCRV chairman emeritus Henrietta De Villa said these events offer candidates the chance to discuss their platform of governance and show their capacity to lead the country. "Participate because what are you hiding if you don't? Are you hiding something? Are you afraid of anything? If you are offering truth to the nation, there is no problem if you join," she said in a public briefing, addressing aspiring leaders. De Villa urged voters to set aside time to listen to candidates' interviews, rallies, and debates. "Have patience to scrutinize the attitude, character of the candidate you are leaning towards because during the campaign, they will make sweet promises, beautiful statements. But what will come out in the end are the attitude, the character of the candidates you are thinking of voting for," she said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Poll... From A1

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

MORE SEA AND LAND ASSETS.

IN BRIEF

The Philippine National Police has added more sea and land mobile assets, and communication equipment to support police operations. PNP Chief, Police General Dionardo B Carlos led police officials in the blessing of the new equipment worth P576 million during a ceremony at the PNP National Headquarters on Wednesday.

Agents nab Norwegian wanted for sex offenses BUREAU of Immigration (BI) agents arrested a Norwegian national wanted by authorities in Oslo for sexually molesting minors. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the alien as 53-year-old Alexander Calapini-Solberg, who was arrested in Brgy. 48-A Cabunggaan, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU). Morente described Solberg as a highprofile fugitive who is wanted in Norway due to a string of sex offense cases that were filed against him in court. “We are going to deport him for being an undesirable alien. His continued presence in the country poses a serious threat to our Filipino children, anyone of whom could be his next victim,” Morente said in a statement. Vito Barcelo

Atayde unveils ‘smart’ x-ray machine for QC FILIPINO actor Arjo Atayde, who is currently running as Congressman of the First District of Quezon City, recently Arjo Atayde launched and introduced the latest “AI Smart Scan X-ray” machine in the Barangay Hall of Barangay Santa Teresita in Quezon City’s District 1. The AI Smart Scan X-ray is a topof-the-line diagnostic machine that is the very first technology made in partnership between India, Japan, and The Philippines. This “AI” or artificial intelligence x-ray can determine illness not just in the lungs but in other organs of the body as well. It is capable of detecting 25 chest pathologies including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and cancer. The machine could also determine if certain illnesses are building up in different parts of the body and it could also detect diabetes and even COVID-19 – all in one session while producing accurate results in merely two minutes.

Chinese govt donates to PH military

HINA has turned over military equipment worth 130 million Chinese renminbi (more than P1 billion) that it donated to the Philippines.

The official turnover was held at Camp Aguinaldo, the Department of National Defense (DND) said, adding that the donations came from China’s Ministry of National Defense. Despite having contrasting positions on territorial issues, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines and China remain friends and partners in various areas of cooperation. Lorenzana made the remark following the turnover of the donated military equipment.

“This military grant from China speaks volumes on how our two nations can be civil, diplomatic, and friends despite some issues on territorial claims,” Lorenzana said, referring to Manila and Beijing’s territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The first batch of military equipment worth 76 million Chinese renminbi arrived in Manila on January 16. The donation comprises various military equipment such as rescue and relief equipment, drone systems, detectors,

water purification vehicles, ambulances, firetrucks, x-ray machines, EOD robots, bomb disposal suits and transport vehicles; and engineering equipment such as backhoes, dump trucks, forklifts, and earthmovers. A second batch worth 54 million Chinese renminbi will be delivered on a later date. Under the terms of the grant, China will support the capacity-building activities of the Presidential Security Group, Marawi rehabilitation efforts, and other humanitarian assistance and disaster relief undertakings. “Even as a non-traditional partner, China paid special attention to Marawi at the height of the rebellion in 2017 by

providing PHP370 million worth of firearms and ammunition. We are happy that after almost five years, Marawi has risen from its destruction with peace and order now in place for Filipinos who consider it home,” Lorenzana said. Present during the event were Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, acting Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Dou Xuding, Secretary to the Defense Attaché, Maj. Lin Xinhong and delegates of the Chinese Diplomatic Corps. Lorenzana was also joined by other DND officials, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Andres Centino and other military officers, enlisted and civilian personnel.

Duterte, UAE leader renew bilateral ties By Vito Barcelo

Expand aid to cardiac rehab, PhilHealth urged By Rio N. Araja HEART doctors and their allies want a full and expanded coverage of cardiac rehabilitation in the Philippine Health Insurance package, citing cardiac rehabilitation starts the road to recovery and revitalization. Dr. Richard Henry Tiongco II, Philippine Heart Association advocacy chairperson, also called on the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to give a wider coverage of the cost of cardiac rehabilitation program. During the PHA Usapang Puso sa Puso Forum on Cardiac Rehab Special, Tiongco, along with Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo, co-chairperson of the PHA Communications Committee, raised concern for government and media support by giving the national health concern extensive mileage. “Those having cardiac arrest are getting younger and younger at their reproductive age. That is why we need the care of doctors providing rehabilitation,” he said. After a heart attack, there must be rehabilitation at once, he said.

VACCINATION FOR TWO. Twins Kriezha Joy and Dennise Grace Manabat,5, receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Lakeshore Vaccination Hub in Taguig City on the third day of the government’s vaccination drive for children. Danny Pata

Agri lands given to farmers in Negros Occidental By Rio N. Araja

AS THE government continues to help the people in Negros Occidental to return to “normal” after the devastation by typhoon “Odette” in December, the Department of Agrarian Reform has distributed 4,728.67 hectares of agricultural lands to 4,754 landless farmers. Secretary Bernie Cruz said he is optimistic that the lands awarded to the

farmers would serve as a new beginning toward a brighter future for them and the next generations to come. “We are very happy that we’re able to finally award these lands. Our people in the department encountered many challenges upon processing these lands so that we could give these properties to the farmers in accordance with the law,” he said. About 3,033.71 hectares of land were awarded to 2,830 agrarian reform ben-

eficiaries from the southern part of the province, including Bago City, Binalabagan, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra and Sipalay City. In the northern part, 1,694.96 hectares were distributed to 1,924 beneficiaries from Bacolod City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, DS Benedicto, EB Magalona, Escalante City, Manapla, Murcia, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso and Victorias City.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) renewed commitments to further strengthen the Philippines-United Arab Emirates bilateral relations, Malacanang said. In a statement, Malacanang said the President also thanked the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces for his country’s assistance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines, specifically in the Bangsamoro. “The President thanked the Crown Prince for the UAE’s COVID-19 assistance of seven metric tons of medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and 100,000 doses of Hayat Vax vaccines that boosted vaccination in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” the statement read. “We look forward to further working closely with the UAE as we continue addressing the challenges of the pandemic,” Duterte said. The President also congratulated the UAE on its 50th Founding Anniversary and expressed appreciation for the care and concern for the almost 600,000 Filipinos residing in the UAE. Duterte likewise congratulated the Crown Prince for his country’s ongoing successful hosting of the World Expo 2020 Dubai.

Lawmaker says public service law won’t hurt PH By Maricel V. Cruz REP. Sharon Garin said that the New Public Service Act (PSA) that was recently passed by the legislative bicameral committee and ratified by both chambers of the Congress, will aid the country’s economic recovery and assured that it will not be a threat to the

national patrimony. Garin, the chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Economic Affairs and nominee of the party-list group AAMBIS-OWA, who sponsored the bill said safeguards are well in place under the amendments made to the 85-year-old Public Service Act of Commonwealth Act 146.

Garin made the statement to dispel fears expressed by the business sector on the threats to be posed by the expected influx of foreign investors. The bicameral conference report earlier reconciled the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 78 and Senate Bill 2094 that both amend the Public Service Law.

Solon bats for P3k increase in farmers’ cash aid By Maricel V. Cruz

ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN POSTERS. The Commission on Elections, in collaboration

with the Law and Order Cluster of the City Government, has already started removing illegal campaign posters in conjunction with the start of the campaign of aspiring national officials. Manny Palmero

A LAWMAKER on Wednesday called for a P3,000 increase in the cash aid for rice farmers. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means, raised the call in the wake of a drastic hike in the revenue from

tariff collected from rice importation. He noted a 22-percent surge in tariff collections last year, resulting in a total of P18.9 billion in tariff collections for 2021. Salceda said the cash aid for rice farmers should be increased from P5,000 to P8,000. He said the increase in cash assistance corresponding to the

increase in tariff revenues should cover increasing costs of fertilizers and fuel. “The Department of Agriculture releases free machines under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Of course, that is all good for yield, but rising fuel costs also mean more fuel expenses for more mechanized rice farms,” Salceda said in a statement.

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

HQ OPENING. Vice Presidential candidate Inday Sara Duterte (inset) waves to the press during the launching of the People’s Reform Party for Sara Duterte For Vice President Headquarters at NARSAN Building on West 4th Avenue in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Ex-CJ Davide calls Leni-Kiko ‘heaven-sent’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja CALLING the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Sen. Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan as “heaven-sent,” former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. has emerged from retirement to endorse them in the coming elections. In enticing voters to support Robredo and Pangilinan, Davide said: “Only this tandem of Leni-Kiko can fulfill our hopes, dreams and aspirations for a truly great Philippines and for a happy and prosperous people.” Meanwhile, Sorsogon Gov. and senatorial bet Francis “Chiz” Escudero welcomed Vice President Robredo on her second day of campaigning in the province. She also toured Camarines Norte’s capital of Daet and told voters there to be careful in their discernment in choosing their candidates. “Only this tandem of Leni-Kiko has a vision for our country or has presented to the people doable and achievable programs of government within their term of six years that would lift up our country and our people from years of stagnation and decay because of corruption and greed, incompetence, poor governance, and failure of accountability,” Davide said in his open letter to Filipinos. He said the people would enjoy the blessings of truth, justice, love, equality, and peace under a truly free and democratic government where the rule of law will always prevail. “These are the vision of the sovereign Filipino people in the Preamble of our Constitution,” said the 86-yearold retired magistrate. “Thus, I would not hesitate to say that the Leni-Kiko tandem is heavensent. Yes, heaven-sent.” Davide, who has spent 41 years in public service in various elective or appointive positions, said it would be to the best interest of the Filipinos to elect Robredo and Pangilinan as the next president and vice president, respectively.

Sara assures PH will bounce back from COVID-19 By Maricel V. Cruz LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has assured Filipinos the country will rebound economically and get past the crippling effects of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) under her stewardship and running mate former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Duterte made the statement during the proclamation rally of the UniTeam bannered by presidential bet Marcos at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, where she also pushed for unity among the Filipinos, whose hopes she rekindled amid the pandemic. “The past two years have been very challenging for all of us because the pandemic exacerbated whatever problem that we have in the past, but we are still here, full, alive and continuing to fight the challenges, and hoping that a brighter tomorrow will come,” Duterte said. “We will move forward. We will live with COVID-19, and we will bounce back like never before,” Duterte said in a reassuring tone. The Lakas-CMD chairperson spoke of her and Marcos’ records, long years in governance and administration, characterized “with wisdom and experience.” Under Duterte, Davao City transformed into the fourth most competitive city in the country and is “debt-free.”

‘Bet must take up Rody legacy’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLaban) said it will endorse the presidential candidate who would continue the legacy programs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The President, meanwhile, endorsed the senatorial bid of former senator JV Ejercito, whom he called “a friend and partner” of the administration. In a statement, party president Alfonso Cusi said PDP-Laban said the elections should be issue-based and not

personality-based. “What the country needs now, especially during this time of the pandemic, is a presidential candidate who will continue the courageous and compassionate brand of leadership of President Duterte that the

people want,” Cusi said. He particularly noted that the Build, Build, Build, Free Education, Universal Health Care, Free Irrigation, Barangay Development Program (BDP), and the whole-of-nation approach to end the communist armed conflict are Duterte’s legacy programs that Filipinos want to continue. On Jan. 21, PDP-Laban’s national executive committee announced it would support vice-presidential bet Sara Duterte “based on her credentials, advocacies and vision for our

STARRING IN QC. Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson (left) is escorted by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (front right) as he goes to the turf of his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III (rear right) in the so-called ‘City of Stars’—the populous metropolis of Quezon City -where his son Gian Sotto is also Vice Mayor on Wednesday, after launching their 2022 electoral bids in Lacson’s hometown of Imus, Cavite.

Lacson-Sotto considers lucky ‘5-9’ ballot placing PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III launched their 2022 electoral bids filled with optimism made extra special by the fact that they received good placements in the official ballot for the upcoming polls. Lacson is number five (5) in the list of candidates for president while Sotto

is ninth (9) among the vice-presidential aspirants who are eligible to be voted for the top two highest public office positions on Election Day, May 9, 2022. Since the introduction of automated elections in the Philippines in 2010, the lists of candidates are arranged in alphabetical order by their last names as soon as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finalized and certified those

who are qualified to participate in every general election. At the Lacson-Sotto proclamation rally held at the Imus Grandstand in Cavite on Tuesday night, the program hosts made sure that voters in attendance would remember these numbers: “Singko-nuwebe sa Mayo 9! (5 and 9 on May 9!),” they urged some 4,000-strong Caviteños. Macon Ramos-Araneta

nation” but did not mention yet who it will support for President. The PDP-Laban has adopted the 11-point Agenda for Continuity: fight against corruption, eradication of poverty, advancement of peace and order, ending the pandemic, defeating communist terrorism, sustaining economic growth, generation of jobs, strengthening national defense and foreign relations, educational reforms, decentralization and local government empowerment, and Charter change and federalism.

Taal eruption victims need help—Binay By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said residents affected by Taal Volcano’s eruption two years ago are still in need of national government assistance to help them fully recover. Binay, who is running for senator in the May 9 elections, made the statement on the second leg of his campaign sortie in the province of Batangas, where he visited the towns of Balete and Mataas na Kahoy. Among the needs of affected families are jobs, livelihood, and decent housing, said Binay. “Aside from helping them with their basic needs, we need to have a longterm program to help these residents and their communities recover and rebuild their lives,” he added. Binay said he will propose a longterm rehabilitation plan for the towns affected by the eruption. “We need a rehabilitation plan that is sustainable, taking into account the economic needs of the affected residents as well as their safety. But at the moment, they still need help from the government agencies concerned,” he said.

Sen. Recto, Cebu’s PJ Garcia formally endorse Isko By Rey E. Requejo SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and House Deputy Speaker and Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia have officially endorsed Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso as a leader who lets his “actions and accomplishments

do the talking” as they strongly urged voters to elect the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer as the next president of the country. Recto, who heads One Batangas, and Garcia, the secretary-general of One Cebu, made their respective pitches for Mayor Isko during Tuesday’s proclamation rally of the national candidates of

Aksyon Demokratiko at the Kartilya ng Katipunan beside the Manila City Hall. In endorsing Moreno, Recto stressed Moreno would have been the last presidential candidate he would choose had self-interest been the basis of his decision since Mayor Isko was not one of his closest friends.

TikToker tries to clear name in Marcos Jr. slay plot

Ricafort

THE alleged Tiktok user who threatened in his social media post to assassinate presidential candidate and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. surrendered himself to the National Bureau of Investigation, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. NBI OIC Director Eric Distor said that suspect Ruel “Bong” Ricafort went to the NBI-Anti Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) Tues-

day morning and surrendered through a friend and expressed his desire to voluntarily submit himself for investigation to clear his name. In his statement to the NBI, Ricafort said that when he was informed of the video, he searched and viewed the video and found out that someone illegally used his Tiktok account, making it appear that his group plans to assassinate Marcos. Willie Casas and Rey E. Requejo

PROBINSYANO BET. TV host Boy Abunda (background) and actress Ella Cruz show support to the “Ang Probinsyano” party-list first nominee Alfred delos Santos (right) during the motorcade in the Marikina City area on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

Opinion Unsolicited advice IF I were the lawyer of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, it would be better to simply keep quiet rather than speculate in public about the timing behind the filing of charges against their client. They have to remember that their client, regardless of the gravity of the Federal Bureau of Investigation charges, is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, whether here or in the United States. What they should do is concentrate on their legal preparation so that they will be ready to fight the case in court. Nowhere in the press releases picked up by our local media about the case made any mention of the close connection between Pastor Quiboloy and President Duterte. Neither was there any reference about the candidacy of the presidential daughter and that of Former Senator Bongbong Marcos. Yet, the lawyers are trying to theorize connecting the charges against Pastor Quiboloy with the presidential family and the coming elections in May which is clearly not the case. Besides, since Pastor Quiboloy is here in the country, this case will have to undergo extradition proceedings which we all know can take years and the United States has not yet even made any request. The lawyers must remember that this case has to be won in a court of law and not in the court of public opinion. They must further bear in mind that the charges against their client are quite serious. Some of the charges are transnational crimes like money laundering, bulk cash smuggling and trafficking in minors for the purpose of sex. The illegal transport of people from one country to another using illegal visas is another. It might interest the Pastor Quiboloy legal team to know that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is thorough in preparing cases. The fact that there was already an indictment and warrants have been issued may mean that the FBI has most of the evidence it wants. Whatever investigation that is still going is probably just tying loose ends. The feds also have a long arm. More often than not, they will eventually get their man. One practice that the Pastor Quiboloy legal team should also know is that the feds have that nasty habit of pressuring one of the accused to turn as state witness in order to secure a conviction of a bigger fish.

THE COVID lockdown this week of a relatively unknown Chinese city has sent global prices of aluminum rocketing to a 14-year high. Located near the border with Vietnam, Baise is nicknamed the “aluminum capital of southern China”. Home to around 3.5 million people, Baise is a hub for aluminum mining and production. It produces about 2.2 million tonnes of the commodity per year -- more than 80 percent of the output in the resource-rich Guangxi region. Guangxi is China’s main alumina-exporting region, shipping out around 500,000 tonnes of the aluminum component per month. China is the world’s biggest producer of aluminum, a crucial component in major industries including automobiles, construction and consumer goods. At just under 190 cases, the Baise coronavirus outbreak is tiny compared with caseloads in other parts of the world. China, however, has a zero COVID strategy, using strict, targeted lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing to eliminate infections. Baise was locked down Monday, leaving most of its residents under home confinement and others unable to leave rural counties and townships under the city’s jurisdiction. The national COVID strategy has helped maintain some economic growth during the pandemic, but its enforcement has caused frequent disruptions at key manufacturing and shipping hubs in recent months. Baise’s local industry association said Tuesday that while aluminum production

I would think that Pastor Quiboloy’s US lawyers are very much aware of all these and will prepare accordingly. One step that can be taken here is for a case to be filed against the Pastor so that while the case is being tried, the extradition proceedings will have to be suspended. Since we know that cases here can take forever, the Pastor can stay here for a very long time. At the moment, the safest place for Pastor Quiboloy is to remain here and not travel to any country with extradition agreement with the United States. The request of Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas for a hold departure order for the Pastor is therefore, quite unnecessary. I am almost certain that for the moment, Pastor Quiboloy will not be venturing out of the country.

Quiboloy’s lawyers should get to work. ••• The case of Pastor Quiboloy in the US is not unique. There have been many cases filed against very prominent evangelists with some of them ending up spending time in jail. The fall from grace of these evangelists was mostly due to the siphoning of money donated for religious purposes to finance lavish lifestyles. Sex scandals is also another reason. Some of the names that come to mind are Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert and Ted Haggard. Jim Bakker was a popular evangelist in the 1980s who had his own TV show and could interview just anybody he wanted. His downfall was because of accusations that he siphoned money intended for his ministry to finance his expensive lifestyle. One of his lady assistants also charged him with sexual impropriety and he had an acrimonious split from his wife. He went to jail and never recovered his prominence. He hit the news again during this pandemic when he was cited for marketing a bogus tonic that is supposed to cure COVID-19. Jimmy Swaggert is another who was defrocked in 1988 after a sex scandal involving a prostitute. He is still an independent evangelist but no longer as big. Ted Haggard was another evangelist known for his anti-gay sermons until caught employing the services of a male escort. The case of Pastor Quiboloy is a little different in the sense that there are multiple charges. One action that the lawyers should have done was question the necessity of the wanted posters which seems to be an overkill considering that everyone knows the whereabouts of Pastor Quiboloy.

was largely at normal levels, the transportation of ingots and raw materials was seriously impacted by travel restrictions during the lockdown. That in turn sparked fears about supply that cascaded through China and then around the world.

At just under 190 cases, the Baise coronavirus outbreak is tiny compared with caseloads in other parts of the world. “The sudden outbreak in our city has exacerbated market expectations of hindered logistics flows, as well as expectations of phased supply tightening caused by an output drop,” the association said. A major industrial park in Baise containing several factories has been sealed, affecting the movement of workers, raw materials and aluminum ingots, it added. On Wednesday, some aluminum smelters in southwest China resumed production, monitor Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) reported. But some refineries of the component alumina in Guangxi have stopped production because of the outbreak, it said. Huayin Aluminum, a major smelter in Baise, slashed production capacity by about 1.2 million tonnes owing to transportation blockages, according to Chinese commodity research firm Antaike. Was Baise the only driver of the price surge? The global aluminum price surge was sparked by the Baise lockdown but other major factors were already at play too, analysts

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EDITORIAL

Chinese city’s lockdown sends aluminum prices surging By Laurie Chen

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Send them packing

OUR months before his term expires, President Duterte says he has begun packing. We commend his readiness to leave office to make way for his successor, who will be elected into office on May 9. We only wish that when Mr. Duterte leaves, he takes with him the barnacles in his administration who are in office only by virtue of his misplaced sense of gratitude to them and their blind loyalty to him. Indeed, after almost six years in power, if Mr. Duterte has proven one thing, it is this: it is a great disservice to the Filipino people for a politician to repay his debts by appointing unqualified followers to government positions. We have already witnessed the unfortunate results in the Pharmally mess, where a former volunteer election lawyer in his 2016 presidential campaign was appointed to head the Procurement Office of the Department of Budget and Management, then approved P11 billion worth of contracts to buy, with no public bidding, pandemic supplies from an under-capitalized start-up with no track record, but which had a presidential friend as its financier. The upshot is that the government used public funds to buy face masks, face shields and personal

protective equipment at prices higher than those prevailing at the time, to the country’s ultimate disadvantage.

The sooner, the better. Other appointees have sought to do damage in other ways. Those who pack the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), for example, chip away at academic freedom with book bans in universities. Now, the agency’s spokesperson is threatening to take legal action against the online news service Rappler for fact-checking her statement. The statement in question came

from NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, who said the Makabayan bloc who wrote House Bill No. 10576 or the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act, were urban operatives of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and its military wing the New People’s Army. Contradicting this statement, Rappler said Makabayan is a political coalition accredited by the Commission on Elections, and its member organizations have been allowed to participate in the party list for several elections as they meet the criteria under the Party-List System Act. This led Badoy to announce a government plan to sue Facebook, Rappler and Vera Files, saying their fact checking was a form of intimidation and harassment. Of course, Badoy knows a thing or two about intimidation and harassment. After all, this was the same presidential appointee who, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid all the economic hardship it caused, accused organizers of charitable community pantries of being communist agents. Now she apparently wants to stop the press from checking her “facts.” We can hardly wait to send appointees such as this packing—the sooner, the better.

Searching for ‘The One’ CAMPAIGN period for national candidates commenced this Tuesday. Weeks prior, we already had a glimpse of the campaign promises of many of the candidates. Debates and interviews on online platforms, television, and radio were held. Across regions were also caravans and motorcades attended by supporters. Various infographics, articles, and promotional videos spread on social media platforms. The election spectacle in the country has become pompous with the different creative gimmicks played by candidates. Setting aside the grand campaign materials and advocacies, what does the elections really mean to the people? How do we really see the incoming national elections? For the past years, we have recorded 70 to 80 percent voter turnout. In 2019, the Commission on Elections noted around 46.9 million voters who actually voted, corresponding to 75.90 percent of the 61.8 million total voting population. During the 2016 Presidential elections, 81.95 percent of the voters went to vote. In 2010, reports noted that 38 million voters out of the 50.7 million, roughly 75 percent of registered voters, turned out to vote. During these years, I am sure that most, if not all, of us were aware that we were electing our new national leaders—leaders who, sooner or later, shaped not just the country’s political climate, but also the economic and sociocultural aspects of the nation. That said, 2022 seems no different. Should the elections be held in a pre-pansaid. The timing of the lockdown also played a part. China’s domestic aluminum shortage had already been exacerbated by the Lunar New Year holidays, during which most factories nationwide ground to a halt or reduced output. The break was followed by the Baise lockdown, meaning inventories could not be replenished normally. Prices of aluminum were already expected to rise after the holidays, which concluded Monday, because of low domestic inventories and solid demand from manufacturers, according to the SMM. Furthermore, Antaike said Tuesday that alumina industries in three other provinces have also reduced production. What about the rest of the world? The global aluminum market is already facing a large production deficit this year,

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

demic set-up, we can roughly expect more voters to come with the increased total registered voters recorded at around 63 million. However, this 2022 elections prove to be most crucial given our pandemic situation. More than the threat of COVID-19, voters will face a bigger challenge—electing the leader who will pave the way to recovery for the Philippines. Recall that for the past two years, we have experienced economic slumps, massive unemployment, delays in education, and health systems crisis. The country has been heavily pounded by the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus. Undeniably, various challenges to governance have arisen. Our health response to the pandemic has been criticized, applauded, and revised several times.

Let us use this opportunity to shape our future. We are in extraordinary times. We need leaders who are capable and competent to resolve the unique challenges posed by the pandemic. For this, I cannot overemphasize how important the 2022 elections are. As I have said in my past articles, the outcome of the 2022 national elections will determine the path that will be taken by the country towards recovery. Will there be enough vaccines and medicines against COVID-19? Will there be sufficient health workers in hospitals? Will our hospitals and health facilities be more capable in meeting the demands for health care across regions? Will there be available jobs despite the panwith demand outstripping supply as the world economy recovers from the pandemic. Further, aluminum production is linked to the stability of other supplies. Analysts said the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis had caused widespread fear that Europe’s gas supply from major producer Russia will be hit if the situation escalates. US President Joe Biden made a categorical vow Monday at a meeting with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the massive Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe will “end” if Moscow invades Ukraine. “Aluminum production requires significant amounts of energy and gas is the primary fuel source. Fears that Nord Stream 2 could be halted are pushing prices higher,” City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta told AFP. “Secondly, Russia is a key producer of aluminum... Threats of sanction from the West (are) also driving up prices.” AFP

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demic? Will we be more self-sufficient in terms of food production? Will our farmers, fisherfolk, and workers have healthy and adequate food on their tables should the pandemic continue? Will there be adequate and speedy assistance in calamities? Will corruption be ever resolved? Will peace and order last? Will we be free from sovereignty and territorial disputes? Will the pandemic ever end? I urge everyone to be more attentive to the political situation. If at all, I encourage everyone to take part in discourses that will bring out ideas and opinions that may challenge current perceptions towards our candidates. Let us hear out the pros and cons, dig into the families and background of the candidates, both past and present, and assess the needs of the country visa-vis the plans of the candidates. Keep in mind that we will be electing new leaders who will serve us and hold the reins for the next six years, post-COVID-19. With your candidates, ask yourselves, where will we be one, two, three, or six years from today? In our search for the right ones, I strongly urge the public to discern carefully. More than that, I implore all registered voters to exercise your right to vote. This day comes once every six years. Use this opportunity to shape your future into what you want it to be. Vote wisely.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ukrainians on Russian border ‘on alert’ for the last eight years WRAPPED up against the cold in a padded camouflage jacket, a Ukrainian border guard cradles his automatic rifle as he looks out over a barbed wiretopped fence into the expanse of Russia beyond. While international tensions have soared in recent months over fears Moscow could stage a full-scale invasion, the looming threat of the Russians has been with the Ukrainian forces protecting the frontier a lot longer. Eight years ago, before the Kremlin seized Crimea and sparked a brutal separatist conflict in the industrial east of Ukraine, the border barely existed. Relatives in the two ex-Soviet countries crossed back and forth without thinking about it to visit one another, and business ties were close.

But then, as the Kremlin began fueling violence and bloodshed in Ukraine in 2014, reinforcing the border in the country’s northeast became a priority for Kyiv. Now, even though nothing can be seen across the border except for snowcovered fields, the West is warning that over 100,000 Russian troops poised along Ukraine’s frontier could be preparing to strike. “We are constantly on alert,” says border guard officer Mykola Feryn. “We conduct training, especially with reserve forces trained in combat operations. In the case of Russian aggression, we will be the first to be involved.” Feryn points to an observation tower equipped with a video surveillance system that can scan the horizon up to 10 kilometers (six miles) away. AFP

PANDEMIC ROMANCE. Customs and Border

Protection (CBP) agriculture officers inspect flowers for potential pests before they enter the United States at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida. The Miami International Airport expects an average of 300,000 flower stems to be imported daily before Valentine’s Day. AFP

$16B SHARE URGENTLY NEEDED FOR COVID-19 PLAN

WHO tells rich countries: Pay up

HE WHO Wednesday urged rich countries to pay their fair share of the money needed for its plan to conquer COVID-19 by contributing $16 billion as a matter of urgency.

The World Health Organization said the rapid cash injection into its Access to Covid Tools Accelerator could finish off Covid as a global health emergency this year. The WHO-led ACT-A is aimed at developing, producing, procuring and distributing tools to tackle the pandemic:

vaccines, tests, treatments and personal protective equipment. ACT-A gave birth to the Covax facility, designed to ensure poorer countries could access eventual vaccines, correctly predicting that richer nations would hog doses coming off the production lines.

Covax delivered its billionth vaccine dose in mid-January. ACT-A needed $23.4 billion for its program for the year October 2021-September 2022 but only $800 million has been raised so far. The scheme therefore wants $16 billion up front from wealthy nations “to close the immediate financing gap,” with the rest to be self-funded by middle-income countries. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the rapid spread of the Omicron variant made it all the more urgent

Mexico: No hugs, kisses at work for civil servants MEXICAN civil servants must refrain from kissing, hugging or giving sexually suggestive compliments at work, according to a code of ethics published Tuesday aimed at tackling harassment. The new rules come at a time when demonstrations by women demanding an end to sexual misconduct and gender violence are growing in the Latin American country. The regulations, published in the official gazette, require civil servants to avoid “physical contact that is suggestive or of a sexual nature, such as touching, hugging, kissing or groping.” They also warn against “comments, teasing, compliments or jokes towards another person regarding appearance or anatomy with a sexual connotation.” The rules, published less than a week before Valentine’s Day, also forbid gift-giving that suggests a sexual interest. Offenders will be sanctioned in accordance with Mexico’s law of administrative responsibilities. AFP

to ensure tests, treatments and vaccines are distributed equitably. “If higher-income countries pay their fair share of the ACT-Accelerator costs, the partnership can support low- and middle-income countries to overcome low Covid-19 vaccination levels, weak testing, and medicine shortages,” he said in a statement. “Science gave us the tools to fight COVID-19; if they are shared globally in solidarity, we can end COVID-19 as a global health emergency this year.” AFP

ANTI-VAXXERS.

Anti-vaccine mandate protesters block the roadway leaving the Ambassador Bridge border crossing in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in support of the Truckers Convoy that has blocked traffic in the Canada bound lanes since Monday evening. Approximately $323 million worth of goods cross the Windsor-Detroit border each day at the Ambassador Bridge making it North America’s busiest international border crossing. AFP

Swiss eye tobacco advertising clampdown THE Swiss will vote Sunday on whether to tighten their notoriously lax tobacco laws by banning virtually all advertising of the health-hazardous products. Switzerland lags far behind most wealthy nations in restricting tobacco advertising – a situation widely blamed on hefty lobbying by some of the world’s biggest tobacco companies headquartered in the country. Currently, most tobacco advertising remains legal at a national level, except on television and radio, or ads that specifically target minors. While some Swiss cantons have introduced stricter regional legislation and a new national law is pending, campaigners insist much tougher restrictions are

needed to protect young people from falling into tobacco addiction. Under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, the campaigners gathered enough signatures to call a popular vote on their initiative to ban advertising of tobacco products wherever minors might see it. Recent polls indicate a significant majority of voters favour the initiative, which in practice would effectively ban all tobacco advertising. But while winning a majority of votes may be easy, it could be more challenging to win over enough of Switzerland’s 26 cantons to secure the double-majority needed for the initiative to pass. Opponents of the initiative, who include the Swiss government and parlia-

ment, say it goes too far. “This initiative is extreme,” said Patrick Eperon, a lobbyist with an employer organization and a spokesman for the “No” campaign. By banning basically all tobacco advertising in the name of protecting children, “it infantilizes adults,” he told AFP. His concerns echo those voiced by Philip Morris International (PMI), the world’s largest tobacco company, which, like British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco, is headquartered in Switzerland. “This is a slippery slope as far as individual freedom is concerned,” a spokesman for PMI’s Swiss section told AFP. AFP

(MS-FEB. 10, 17 & 24, 2022)

coronavirus first emerged in China, Hong Kongers this week scrambled to stock up as panic set in over food supply shocks. “It feels like the government isn’t prepared at all, and we ordinary citizens can only look out for ourselves,” a woman surnamed Siu, 42, told AFP Wednesday. She was among the throng of morning shoppers anxious over fresh produce supply, which the city mostly imports from the mainland. This week a cross-border truck driver tested positive for Covid, spurring a temporary hold-up of delivery trucks. Hong Kong’s vegetable supply has since decreased by about a third, the government said. The shortage – coupled with business savvy among suddenly popular veg sellers – has sent produce prices in Hong Kong’s wet markets soaring with shelves in supermarkets sitting bare. “I don’t remember vegetables ever being this expensive,” Siu said, adding that her daily grocery bill had doubled this week. AFP

TWO prominent advocates for survivors of sexual abuse pilloried Australia’s prime minister Wednesday, decrying “weasel words” and a response to widespread abuse that had not “measured up.” Former government aide Brittany Higgins—whose allegation she was raped in parliament sparked national protests—said “too little has changed” since she went public a year ago. In a widely watched speech, Higgins was sorrowful and withering about the actions of a conservative government she once served. Higgins said Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s response to her claims, which invoked his own daughters and wife, had been “shocking and at times, admittedly, a bit offensive.” “I didn’t want his sympathy as a father. I wanted him to use his power as prime minister,” she said. “But his words wouldn’t matter if his actions had measured up.” Higgins said the national conversation about ending abuse, harassment and assault had not progressed beyond “trading off offensive, tonedeaf statements for a convoluted mix of appeasing weasel-words.” Higgins was joined in her address by child sexual abuse survivor Grace Tame, the 2021 “Australian of the Year” who also took aim at the prime minister’s leadership over the past year. “It rots from the top,” Tame said. “Unless our leaders take full responsibility for their own failings, abuse culture will continue to thrive inside parliament, setting a corrupt standard for the rest of the nation.” AFP

S. Korea drops vaunted ‘test and trace’ strategy

SOUTH Korea said Wednesday it was dropping its vaunted “trace, test and treat” program as a surge in Omicron cases threatens to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, South Korea was hit by one of the worst early outbreaks of the disease outside China but brought it under control with mass testing and aggressive contact tracing. The strategy earned the country widespread praise, but Seoul has now decided to drop the system after surpassing one million infections over the weekend due to the rapid spread of Omicron. The “trace, test and treat” approach is “difficult to operate due to limited CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK resources” and has “excessively high social and economic costs,” said Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official. South Korea’s daily caseload hit a record high of 49,567 on Tuesday, with health authorities saying the number could hit 170,000 later this month. The figure has more than doubled in less than a week. A new set of measures to manage the virus is taking effect in stages starting LIKE 2020 ALL OVER AGAIN. People scramble to buy vegetables a day after this month, and will refocus resources many shops ran out of some produce in Hong Hong on February 9, 2022 as stricter on the most vulnerable, health officials COVID-19 restrictions come into force following the city’s highest infection numbers said. AFP

Deja vu in Hong Kong as virus restrictions spark panic buying SHOPPERS thronged Hong Kong’s markets fearing a shortage of food Wednesday, familiar scenes in a city that is back under gruelling COVID restrictions in contrast to much of the world. Hong Kong has followed mainland China in maintaining a strict “zero-COVID” policy that has kept infections low through targeted lockdowns and extensive social distancing measures. On Tuesday the city recorded 625 new infections, a daily record but a number that pales in comparison with outbreaks around the world. Manila The OmicronLEGAL NOTICE Standard fueled spike has TODAY Notice is hereby given alarmed authorithat the estate of ties and leader the late ABDUHADI S. MUALLAM was Carrie Lam anextrajudicially settled nounced renewed among his heirs on curbs on the 7.5 February 8, 2022, as per Doc. No. 321, million residents Page No. 66, Book of the financial No. XIII, Series of hub. 2022, before Notary In scenes remiPublic Atty. Romeo M. niscent of early Corporal. 2020 when the

Sexual abuse victims decry Aussie PM’s ‘weasel words’

since the pandemic began. AFP

Business PSEi February 9, 2021

TOP GAINERS

1 PAX 2 WIN 3 COAL 4 DD

LAST PRICE CHANGE 1.89 0.22 0.285 0.03 0.28 0.02 9.97 0.69

% CHANGE 13.17% 11.76% 7.69% 7.44%

5 6 7 8 9 10

0.58 5.35 0.8 21.85 6.2 5.5

7.41% 7.21% 6.67% 6.59% 6.35% 5.77%

PHA MWIDE BRN CIC DITO PRC

0.04 0.36 0.05 1.35 0.37 0.3

TOP LOSERS 1 GPH 2 EURO 3 APVI 4 LODE 5 UBP 6 SPNEC 7 ATNB 8 SGI 9 MJIC

LAST PRICE CHANGE 15.3 -2.66 1.37 -0.08 17.9 -1.02 0.6 -0.03 106 -4.6 2.09 -0.09 0.77 -0.03 1.06 -0.04 1.11 -0.04

% CHANGE -14.81% -5.52% -5.39% -4.76% -4.16% -4.13% -3.75% -3.64% -3.48%

0.42

-3.45%

-0.015

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks extend rally; PLDT, Ayala Land lead advancers

TOCKS extended their gains Wednesday, taking their cue on a positive performance on Wall Street as traders prepared for the release of highly anticipated US inflation data.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 44.25 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,502.48 on a value turnover of P8.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 112 to 89, with 58 issues unchanged. Noodles maker Monde Nissin Corp. rose 3.3 percent to P16.26, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. of the Ayala Group climbed 2.8 percent to P37.85. PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 2.6 percent to P1,934, while International Container

Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator and owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., gained 2.3 percent at P221. The rest of Asian equity markets rose Wednesday, while sentiment was buoyed by signs of easing RussiaUkraine tensions. Oil prices also enjoyed a small bounce on demand optimism after two days of losses fueled by the positive vibes from Eastern Europe and as talks on an Iran nuclear deal appear to be progressing. With speculation swirling over the Federal Reserve’s plans to battle soaring prices, global equities have fluctuated wildly at the start of the year as traders try to position themselves for a series of interest rate hikes that are likely to begin in March. The prospect of the removal of cheap cash—which has pushed markets to record or multi-year highs—has particularly hit tech firms as they are more sus-

ceptible to higher rates. However, the sector helped New York’s three main indexes to healthy gains on Tuesday, and Asia followed suit in early trade Wednesday. Hong Kong led the way, jumping more than two percent thanks to a 6.8-percent surge in market heavyweight Alibaba after Japan’s SoftBank allayed fears it was planning to offload some of its huge holdings in the e-commerce giant. Alibaba had taken a hit earlier on speculation about the share sale, which compounded the Chinese firm’s woes after suffering hefty losses owing to Beijing’s crackdown on the tech sector. Tokyo, Sydney, Taipei and Bangkok were all up more than one percent, while Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Mumbai and Jakarta also rallied. Still, investors remain nervous and Thursday’s US January inflation print is front and center this week. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

1 ALI 2 BDO 3 BPI 4 MONDE 5 ICT

VOLUME 16,209,200 4,272,180 5,548,200 31,753,600 2,081,480

VALUE (PHP) 608,546,500 596,082,480 560,926,000 511,244,818 460,041,490

6 7 8 9

SPNEC AC CNVRG TEL

192,440,000 357,470 9,691,900 142,840

403,849,750 319,586,195 282,469,865 273,607,145

GLO

86,175

264,338,930

An electoral placard reads in French: “Today tobacco! Tomorrow wine?” in Lausanne on February 8, 2022. The Swiss will vote on February 13, 2022 on whether to tighten their notoriously lax tobacco laws by banning virtually all advertising of the healthhazardous products. AFP

Switzerland set to vote on initiative to tighten tobacco advertising laws GENEVA, Switzerland—The Swiss will vote Sunday on whether to tighten their notoriously lax tobacco laws by banning virtually all advertising of the health-hazardous products. Switzerland lags far behind most wealthy nations in restricting tobacco advertising—a situation widely blamed on hefty lobbying by some of the world’s biggest tobacco companies headquartered in the country. Currently, most tobacco advertising remains legal at a national level, except on television and radio, or ads that specifically target minors. While some Swiss cantons have introduced stricter regional legislation and a new national law is pending, campaigners insist much tougher restrictions are needed to protect young people from falling into tobacco addiction. Under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, the campaigners gathered enough signatures to call a popular vote on their initiative to ban advertising of tobacco products wherever minors might see it.

Recent polls indicate a significant majority of voters favor the initiative, which in practice would effectively ban all tobacco advertising. But while winning a majority of votes may be easy, it could be more challenging to win over enough of Switzerland’s 26 cantons to secure the double-majority needed for the initiative to pass. Opponents of the initiative, who include the Swiss government and parliament, say it goes too far. “This initiative is extreme,” said Patrick Eperon, a lobbyist with an employer organization and a spokesman for the “No” campaign. By banning basically all tobacco advertising in the name of protecting children, “it infantilizes adults,” he told AFP. His concerns echo those voiced by Philip Morris International (PMI), the world’s largest tobacco company, which, like British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco, is headquartered in Switzerland. AFP

US seizes stolen bitcoin valued at $3.6b WASHINGTON, United States—The US Justice Department announced Tuesday it had recovered more than 94,000 bitcoin stolen in 2016, currently valued at $3.6 billion, a record seizure. A couple accused of seeking to launder the bitcoin were arrested in New York, the department said. Ilya Lichtenstein, 34, and his wife Heather Morgan, 31, were set to appear in federal court over the charges later in the day. They face up to 20 years in prison. Lichtenstein and Morgan allegedly sought to launder the proceeds of 119,754 bitcoin—then valued at $65 million—that were stolen during a 2016 hack of the virtual currency exchange Bitfinex. “Today’s arrests, and the Department’s largest financial seizure ever, show that cryptocurrency is not a safe haven for criminals,” deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco said in the statement.

Prosecutors said some of the stolen cryptocurrency was sent to a digital wallet controlled by Lichtenstein, who describes himself on social media as a “technology entrepreneur, coder and investor.” About 25,000 of the stolen bitcoin were transferred out of the wallet over the next five years “through a labyrinth of cryptocurrency transactions,” and some of the funds were deposited into accounts the couple opened online, including by using false identities. One of Morgan’s aliases is “Razzlekhan.” A video posted online under that name shows a young blonde woman rapping near the New York Stock Exchange. In the song, the woman refers to herself as a “crocodile of Wall Street” and a “risk-taker.” The couple combined “old-fashioned methods” and “very complex transactions,” a prosecutor said at a press briefing. AFP

Toyota beats chip shortage to top Q3 net profit forecast TOKYO, Japan—Toyota on Wednesday posted a forecast-beating net profit of $6.8 billion for the three months to December, even as a global chip crunch and a pandemic-driven parts shortage forced production cuts. The Japanese auto giant, which kept its crown as the world’s top-selling carmaker in 2021, left its annual net profit outlook unchanged but slightly lowered its full-year vehicle sales and production targets. It posted a 791.7-billion yen net profit for October-December, down 5.6 percent on-year but far better than the 619.2 billion predicted by Bloomberg analysts. For the nine months to December, the firm logged net profit of 2.31 trillion yen—a jump of 57.8 percent from the previous year, when virus lockdowns battered the auto industry. Quarterly sales rose by a fifth on-year. “Despite negative factors such as constraints on supply due to the shortage of semiconductors and the spread of COVID-19, as well as the sharp rise in raw material costs, we achieved higher sales and profits” in the first nine months of 2021-22, Toyota said in a statement. A weaker yen, “supply chain efforts,” marketing initiatives and the appeal of its new products contributed to the profit increase, it added. When COVID-19 first triggered a global drought of semiconductors—an essential component of modern cars— Toyota appeared better placed than its rivals to weather the crunch, having strengthened ties with its domestic suppliers after Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami. But with the crisis showing no signs of ending, the automaker has found itself unable to escape the effects. Toyota cited “operation instability” on a decision to slightly lower its production projection for the year to 8.5 million units from nine million, having already reduced it from 9.3 million in November. “Despite reducing the production volume forecast, we have left the operating income forecast unchanged, taking into account the depreciation of the yen and the accumulation of profit improvement activities,” Toyota said. AFP

Venice glassblowers scorched by blazing energy bills By Gildas Le Roux ROME, Italy—The blown glass creations forged in the furnaces on Venice’s Murano islands are prized around the world--but soaring gas prices are threatening the centuriesold craft. “It’s a huge problem... A hurricane has hit the economy,” Luciano Gambaro, head of the Promovetro glass association, told AFP, describing bills that have risen a whopping 600 percent. Murano’s artisans fashion everything from tiny, colored animals to majestic chandeliers, seven days a week. To do so, they need one key thing: heat. Energy is their second biggest expense, after labor costs, and they are suffering from record gas prices worldwide. They were paying 20 cents ($0.23) per cubic meter until September. “On the December bill, the price was 1.27 euros, a rise of over 600 percent,” said Gambaro, who employs six people and is feeling the strain. There have been glassmakers on Murano—a series of islands linked by bridges—since the 13th century, when they were moved from Venice proper

after devastating fires which began in their furnaces. Some have kept their creations in vogue by partnering with renowned designers. Others have seen their glass included in art displayed in major museums. In a bid to stave off a crisis, the Veneto region forked out three million euros in November to help compensate for the glassmakers’ spiraling energy costs. “Unfortunately, that will all be used up by the end of February,” said Gambaro, who admitted to being “very worried” about the prospect of “paying the full price from March.” It is “a bigger problem than COVID,” he said, in reference to the coronavirus pandemic which hit Italy in 2020, forcing a series of financially-punishing lockdowns, and emptying Venice of its big-spending tourists. ‘Tip of the iceberg’ Cristiano Ferro, whose company Effetre Murano employs 32 people and makes semi-finished products—brightly colored blocks, rods and sheets to be shaped and crafted by glassmakers—in 16 kilns, says gas prices are “just the tip of the iceberg.”

“All the raw materials have increased by 20, 30, 40, 50 percent: sand, soda and all the mineral oxides used to color the glass,” he said. Companies like his have few solutions, apart from upping their own prices. “We have increased the costs by 15 to 30 percent, now we’ll see how the market reacts,” Gambaro said. There is no quick fix: it is very costly to shut down and restart the furnaces. Instead, he said European countries need to put pressure on supply countries—in this case Russia—with jointly-agreed countermeasures. ‘We will overcome it’ It is not just the workshops along Murano’s picturesque canals that are feeling the pain. Manufacturers and consumers across Italy are being hit by soaring gas and electricity bills, and the government has so far pledged 5.5 billion euros in support. Despite the threat to Murano and its glassmakers, Gambaro refuses to despair. “We have a problem, but we will overcome it,” he said. “We have been here for a thousand years.” AFP File photo taken on December 18, 2020 shows Venetian glass ‘murrine,’ small cylindrical elements with a characteristic floral motif, during a fusion process at the 1911 established company Ercole Moretti, on the island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon. AFP

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, February 9, 2022 44.25 PTS. 7,502.48

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

975,425,664 105,838 8,414,024,450.75 112 89

UNCHANGED

F oreign E xchange R ate

Business

NGCP seeks Malacañang help to avert power deficit

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.4360

Japan

Yen

0.008655

0.4452

Pound

1.354400

69.6649

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128309

6.5997

Switzerland

Franc

1.081432

55.6245

Canada

Dollar

0.786720

40.4657

Singapore

Dollar

0.743550

38.2452

Australia

Dollar

0.714500

36.7510

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653576

136.4893

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266553

13.7104

Brunei

Dollar

0.740796

38.1036

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030377

1.5625

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.0054

Euro

1.141600

58.7193

Korea

Won

0.000836

0.0430

China

Yuan

0.157085

8.0798

India

Rupee

0.013389

0.6887

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239063

12.2964

New Zealand

Dollar

0.664700

34.1895

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035958

1.8495 Source: BSP

Gross insurance premiums up 64% in past five years

By Alena Mae S. Flores

RID operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines sought the intervention of Malacañang to help prevent a power shortfall in the coming dry months by managing demand and consumption.

NGCP sent a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Jan. 31 to warn about the power situation in the coming months, including the election period. NGCP provided different forecasts, including a worst-case scenario involving 15 weeks of yellow alerts and 14 weeks of red alerts in Luzon, taking into consideration the generator maintenance movements and historical unplanned shutdowns.

The Visayas grid is also forecast to have four weeks of yellow alerts and up to 49 weeks of red alerts under the same scenario, especially if no power is imported from Luzon. “Red and yellow alerts simply mean that the consumers are vulnerable to power interruptions. While these are merely projections, and the actual supply-demand dynamic will keep on moving, we are urging the government to look more closely at possible demand side interventions, including but not limited to the declaration of a special non-working holiday on critical election and counting days,” NGCP said. Based on NGCP data, the critical period begins in the week of April 18 until the week of May 30. NGCP said demand would rise to 12,387 megawatts in Luzon this year, exceeding the pre-pandemic levels of 11,344 MW. The grid operator said several generating units already extended their maintenance shutdowns, while others

derated their operations and decreased their committed generation outputs in January which led to the declaration of the yellow alert status over the Luzon grid on Jan. 10 and 11. NGCP said it is imperative to include historical date on shutdowns on its forecasts outside the Grid Operating and Maintenance Program, “considering the increasing regularity and severity of unplanned maintenance shutdowns by power plants. The letter was signed by NGCP vice chairman of the board Robert Coyuito Jr. and president and chief executive Anthony Almeda. Meanwhile, NGCP said that at 4:03 p.m. of Feb. 9, it successfully completed and energized the two special towers of the Ubay-C.P. Garcia 138kV Line toppled by Typhoon Odette. NGCP said that through its emergency restoration systems, a temporary bypass line was constructed to restore the interconnection of Bohol to Leyte, six days ahead of schedule.

By Julito G. Rada THE insurance industry posted robust expansion in terms of net income and total gross premiums in the past five years under the Duterte administration, Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said Wednesday. Funa said in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III the industry’s total gross premiums surged 64.3 percent from P169.6 billion in the third quarter of 2016 to P278.7 billion in the same period in 2021. He said total net income jumped 64.1 percent from P22.85 billion by end-September 2016 to P37.5 billion in the same period last year. He said this was “another indicator of the insurance sector’s continuous and steady expansion under the Duterte presidency.” Funa said the insurance industry’s contribution to the economy could be seen in the last four years. From 1.64 percent of the gross domestic product in 2017, the industry’s contribution to the economy grew to 2.03 percent as of the third quarter of 2021. “We will see that the highest-ever penetration rate was achieved at the end of 2020, and we see bright figures for 2021. I believe that the highest-ever penetration rate will even be surpassed in 2021,” Funa said in the report. The insurance density or the average amount spent by every Filipino for insurance reached P2,528 as of the third quarter of 2021, up from P1,768 in the same period in 2017. Funa said that “for 2021, I see a record insurance density figure, especially with people becoming more conscious of the benefits of insurance, especially after the peak of the COVID pandemic in 2020.” Dominguez said the pandemic brought to people’s attention “the risks in life and the realization that livelihoods could be wiped out in a flash.” Funa said the industry saw a slight dip in both premiums earned and net income generated in 2020, the year when the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic hobbled, if not shut down most economies across the globe.

Globe Telecom registered 27% growth in profit to P23.7b in ‘21 By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Wednesday net income grew 27 percent in 2021 from a year ago, on the back of higher revenues from mobile and home broadband businesses amid the pandemic. The telecom unit of the Ayala Group said net income amounted to P23.7 billion last year, up from P18.6 billion in 2020. Globe said core net income, which excludes the impact of non-recurring charges and foreign exchange and markto-market charges, also rose 9 percent to P21.2 billion from a year earlier. “Globe showed admirable resilience in 2021 despite the pandemic and the devastation of Typhoon Odette in the country. We have emerged to be an outstanding digital services enabler by rapidly adapting our strategies to address both the challenges and the opportunities created by the global health crisis and natural disasters,” Globe Telecom president and chief executive Ernest Cu said in a statement. “As a result, our financial performance remained stable and posted healthy growth, enabling us to reinvest back into our network as customer data demands grow larger each year. We invested P92.8 billion in capex for 2021 and have earmarked P89 billion for 202, to give Filipinos better, more meaningful digital experiences,” he said. Globe said the P89-billion capex this year would be used to continue aggressive network expansion that includes new cell site builds, upgrading of more sites to 4G/LTE, rollout of 5G connectivity, fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide and boosting the internet quality and coverage in the Philippines.

IN BRIEF JTI certified as top employer in PH

SOLAR SUPPLY. Ajinomoto Philippines Corp. and solar company Spectrum of Manila Electric Co. hold a ceremonial contract signing to develop and maintain a 1-megawatt peak solar power generating facility in Ajinomoto’s factory in Guiginto, Bulacan. The initiative is part of Ajinomoto’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in 2030, in pursuit of lessening its overall impact on the environment. Signing the agreement are APC Group president Tsutomu Nara and Spectrum president Ferdinand Geluz.

Colliers sees Metro Manila office vacancy rate increasing to 18.9% By Jenniffer B. Austria OFFICE vacancy in Metro Manila is expected to widen to 18.9 percent this year from 15.7 percent in 2021 on muted pre-leasing and completion of new office supplies, Colliers Philippines said Wednesday. Colliers Philippines said in a property briefing office vacancy would likely peak this year before recovering in 2023. Colliers Philippines said the “office vacancy is likely to increase further in 2022 due to the delivery of close to 900,000 square meters of new supply and low pre-commitment levels of upcoming buildings.” Colliers Philippines said. It said that aside from the higher vacancy, office rents in Metro Manila were also expected to decline by 10 percent this year. “We see a slow recovery starting second half of 2022, supported by sustained office absorption as inquiries are likely to materialize after six to 12 months,” it said. It said office demand outside Metro Manila such as Cebu, Iloilo and Pampanga would remain healthy.

Colliers Philippines said the return of offshore gaming operators in the country could accelerate the rebound in the office sector. It said that assuming 100,000 square meters of office space would be leased to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators this year, office vacancy would be at 18.2 percent, instead of the estimated 18.9 percent. Data showed that as of end-2021, some 612,000 sq. m. of office space were vacated by POGOs following the crackdown in China and the higher taxes imposed by the government. POGOs accounted for 5 percent of total office space in 2021, down from 11 percent in 2019. Colliers Philippines said that in the residential market, developers should consider launching more house-and-lot projects in Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas which showed sustained growth in take-up. “The Philippine economy is bound for rebound in 2022. We see the economic expansion supporting demand in the residential sector, whether in the pre-selling or secondary market,” Colliers Philippines associate director for research Joey Roi Bondoc said.

BAYER’S DONATION. Bayer Philipines Inc. supports communities impacted by Typhoon Odette with a monetary donation of P2.7 million that will be used by the Philippine Red Cross to address the urgent needs of families in evacuation centers and typhoon affected areas for clean drinking water and food. Joining the virtual turnover call are (from left, by row) PRC fund generation manager Michael Jalbuena, Bayer communications manager Nadira Abubakar, Bayer managing director Angel Michael Evangelista, PRC secretary general Elizabeth Zavalla, PRC chairman and chief executive Senator Richard Gordon and Patrick Diaz.

ADB okays $2-m grant to support typhoon victims THE Asian Development Bank said Wednesday it approved a $2-million (about P100-million) grant to support the Philippine government’s emergency response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao in December 2021. Typhoon Odette was the strongest typhoon to make landfall in the country last year. The grant under ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund will provide humanitarian assistance to about 15,000 households, or about 75,000 people, in the Visayas and Mindanao that were severely affected by the typhoon. It will fund food vouchers to be distributed to target communities, which beneficiaries can exchange for food in selected markets. The grant also includes logistics support for the food assistance delivery. ADB director-general for Southeast Asia Ramesh Subramaniam said in a statement the typhoon’s damage on housing, agriculture and infrastructure amid the COVID-19 pandemic made life more difficult for Filipinos in the affected areas. “This assistance will help finance the humanitarian needs of those residents, especially people living in remote areas,” Subramaniam said. ADB said it is teaming up with the United Nations World Food Program to deliver the food assistance. It builds on WFP’s ongoing work with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide emergency relief to typhoon-hit areas. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council estimated the typhoon caused P24.6 billion (nearly $500 million) in damage to crops, public infrastructure and private property. Several areas remain blocked by collapsed roads and bridges, and with power supply yet to be fully restored. Julito G. Rada

JTI Philippines was certified as Top Employer for 2022, marking the first time that it received the prestigious national accreditation. JTI was in fact certified as the number two top employer in the country. JTI’s accreditation was based on a comprehensive analysis of its human resources environment by Top Employers Institute, and its performance score was rated against an international standard. Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in people practices, and notably commended JTI Philippines for its commitment to employee wellbeing through world-leading initiatives such as flexible working measures, market-leading approach to diversity and inclusion and progressive family leave policy, as well as its rewards plan, recognition awards and digital learning and development programs. “At JTI Philippines, people are valued for who they are and what they can bring. But it is the company’s role to invest in our people so that they are best supported and developed for a rewarding career at JTI,” said JTI Philippines general manager John Freda.

DECS becomes SM top-selling dimsum

PREPARATIONS to usher in the Year of the Water Tiger have become much easier with DECS, now SM Markets’ most popular dimsum brand with its signature dimsum like pork siomai, hakaw, siopao and other dumplings available frozen and ready to heat Diao Eng Chay is one of the first to sell traditional Chinese delicacies in the Philippines. Their first store, which opened in Binondo in the early 1930s, still serves hundreds of Filipino and Chinese customers in Chinatown with their signature dimsum. In 1990, the third-generation owners sought to bring their heritage recipes to more customers by branching out and starting a new company called DECS. In 2014, Chua, the great grandson of the original Diao Eng Chay owner, was working with SM Retail’s mini-mart chain Alfamart as a merchandising manager. Chua took over the family business and started revamping and expanding the business on a much larger scale. With the help of SM Markets, they took the DECS dimsum legacy and reinvented it to appeal to modern consumers.

Century Pacific bares project in Pampanga

THE Century Pacific Group Inc., one of the largest food manufacturers in the country, made its foray in the affordable and best-value real estate segment through real estate arm Pacifica Homes Development Corp. PHDC formally launched its first property development in Magalang, Pampanga, led by president Teodoro Alexander Po. It began on a high note with the approval of its license to sell, coinciding with the launch of model units on Feb. 5. Po said this is the company’s answer to the Philippine housing backlog, which is expected to hit 6.8 million units this year, according to data gathered from the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department. “PHDC’s very first project here in Pampanga will not only help lessen the gap due to the huge housing backlog, but it would for sure set the bar in the affordable but superior value housing segment,” said Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Region 3 officer-in-charge Felix Brazil Jr.

Sports

4 Tropang Giga, Thirdy to join Gilas Pilipinas five

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

By Peter Atencio FOUR TNT Tropang Giga and B.League player in Thirdy Ravena are expected to join Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers’ February window. TNT cagers RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Poy Erram and Kib Montalbo have strong chances of joining the Gilas roster in its coming games this month. Ravena, who left his mother squad in the B.League in Japan, is also expected to reinforce Gilas. Coach Chot Reyes said this after the four joined the core group of six Gilas players that were part of the squad that former mentor Tab Baldwin handled last year. “With little time left, we mixed up the Gilas players together with those from TNT to make the lineup,” said Reyes. The four cagers have practiced together with Gilas holdovers Dwight Ramos, teammates Angelo Kouame, Tzaddy Rangel, William Navarro, JD Tungcab, Juan Gomez de Liano. The Gilas scrimmages have temporarily ended at the Malarayat Golf and Country Club facilities in Lipa, Batangas, with the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup about to begin on Friday. Reyes said they are taking the formation of the national squad with care and caution. That’s because the Korean team that they will face in their opening game on Feb. 24 will be out for payback. The Koreans will not forget that the Philippines beat them twice, 81-78, and 82-77, during the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain and in Pampanga last year. “We’re taking a look on how they can play together. And it really looks promising. Pero iba ang practice sa laro,” added Reyes. Reyes is also anticipating that Gilas will also have to play tough games against both India and New Zealand. And that’s the reason why he is keeping on having additional players joining them. So far, Ravena has left his mother team SanEn Neophoenix in the B.League in Japan on Tuesday evening. He is expected to join Gilas’ training session at the Moro Lorenzo Gym in Quezon City in the coming days. Peter Atencio

The national team’s training center for strength and conditioning after the typhoon (insert) and how it looks like now after minor repairs.

Filipino surfers slowly recovering from Typhoon Odette destruction M By Randy Caluag

EMBERS of the Philippine surﬁng team are slowly picking up the pieces more than a month after Typhoon Odette devastated their homes and training camp in the country’s surﬁng capital in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. “The team is coping up slowly. They (athletes) just resumed training last week. Training in the gym and surf training are ongoing, slowly picking up momentum, “said Gino Canlas, secretary general of the United Philippine Surfing Association. On Dec. 12, “Odette” hit most parts

payo, Eduardo Alciso, Nilbie Blancada, Jolina Longos, Ana Mae Alipayo, Jevy Mae Agudo, Noah Arkfeld and Kaikai Alcala They all received financial assistance from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission. The training facility for the team’s strength and conditioning, Crossfit Siargao, was not fully rehabilitated, but there were a few repairs that have already allowed athletes to do fitness activities. The wooden deck in the world-famous Cloud Nine beach has not been fully restored, but the waves have come back to their original mix of calmness and ferocity to the delight of the surfers.

Miller in a position to improve his times

Wizards’ Beal to undergo season-ending wrist surgery LOS ANGELES—Washington Wizards forward Bradley Beal will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season with a wrist injury, the NBA club announced Tuesday. The three-time all-star will undergo surgery on his left wrist for a torn scapholunate ligament. “Despite the last 10 days of getting intensive treatment and rehab on my wrist, it became clear that I would not be able to compete to my standards or to the level that our team and our fans deserve,” Beal said on Tuesday. “I’m disappointed to have my season end this way, but we all agreed that this was the best decision. I look forward to coming back at 100 percent and continuing to lead this team as we work together to build toward the future.” Beal suffered the injury on January 29 in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. In 40 games, Beal averaged 23.2 points and 6.6 assists for the Wizards, who are in 11th spot in the Eastern Conference with a 24-29 record. Beal finished second in the NBA in scoring each of the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges combined for 58 points and JaVale McGee provided a muchneeded spark off the bench as the Phoenix Suns won their third straight game with a 114-109 victory over Philadelphia. Elsewhere, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown each scored 22 points as the Boston Celtics handed the struggling Brooklyn Nets their ninth-straight loss with a 126-91 rout in New York. AFP

of the Visayas and Mindanao, leaving a swath of destruction that rendered buildings severely damaged and thousands of families homeless and without electricity for weeks. Among those, who lost their homes were members and aspirants of the Phil-

ippine surfing team. Their training facility in General Luna, where the famous Cloud Nine surfing area is located, was severely damaged. Despite losing their homes, Canlas said the athletes are helping rebuild their community. “Some athletes’ houses are not yet liveable as of now, but are already being constructed. Still no electricity and cell signal in most areas, but still, the community is busy with the rebuilding operation of houses,” added Canlas. Among those who were affected but tagged safe in the aftermath of the typhoon were coaches Manuel Melindo and John Carby, and athletes John Mark Tokong, Edito Alcala Jr., Philmar Ali-

Asa Miller

YANQING, China—Asa Miller vies in the men’s giant slalom of alpine skiing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in four days, bringing with him modest improvements since his games’ debut in Pyeongchang, 2018. He’s humble with his goal, knowing pretty well that the 150 athletes that will line up at the start ramp beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the National Alpine Skiing Centre are far more experienced that him. “I don’t think I’m in contention to win gold, but I’m certainly in a position to improve my performance,” said Miller, the only Filipino competing in these games and one of only a handful from Southeast Asia. “But I want to be better, improve on my previous performance and give a proud representation of the Philippines,” said the 21-year-old athlete who, since donning the country’s colors when he was 16, is fully backed by the Philippine

Sports Commission, headed by Chairman William Ramirez and the Philippine Olympic Committee led by Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. Miller’s No. 70 in the Olympic ranking that was based from his finish in Pyeongchang, where he competed as a 17-year-old high schooler. Anything can happen in the giant slalom where speed is as essential as skills in navigating the Ice River—the giant slalom course on the slope of Xiaohaituo Mountain. The Ice River can be so ferocious that it doesn’t play favorites. Two-time gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the US exited quickly for the second time on Wednesday as her Olympic gold medal dream crashed down the mountain. Miller’s 53-year-old dad Kelly, however, told his son to ski his “very best and never say never” in trying to surpass the challenges. “It’s a big challenge for sure, I

mean you never say never,” Kelly Miller said. “We really need to train hard this week and ski the best he has ever had in his entire life probably.” “But in Pyeongchang, there’s someone who won the Super G,” the elder Miller said. “She never really won before but I don’t want to put pressure on him [Asa].” Kelly Miller was referring to Ester Ledecka of Czech Republic who surprised everyone in the 2018 Olympics where she won the Super-G gold. Organizers have yet to release the start list for Sunday’s men’s giant slalom but Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation President Jim Apelar confirmed Miller’s entry by the International Ski Federation. Miller, whose American coach Will Gregorak is arriving on Thursday here, is also competing in men’s slalom on February 16 starting at 10 a.m. also at the Ice River.

Saso coming back to PH to recharge for 2 SEA tourneys YUKA Saso will touch base with relatives, backers and friends in Manila later this month, hoping to draw inspiration and motivation as she gears up for the resumption of her LPGA campaign in Singapore and Thailand in March. Saso ended a run of final round appearance in her last 22 tournaments, including six on the LPGA of Japan Tour, in last week’s LPGA Drive On Championship, missing the cut by just one stroke with a disastrous opening 77. She did recover with a 67 in the second round, but missed the top 73-plus ties cut. Still, the 20-year-old ICTSI-backed ace, who has never missed the last round of a 54-hole championship or the final 36 holes in the last 11 months, played down that unproductive stint and instead vowed to use the month-long break to get better, stronger. “I will be taking the new few weeks off to rest and work on my game,” said the reigning US Women’s Open champion, who kicked off the new season as a full-time LPGA member in impressive fashion, placing sixth in the Tournament of Champions then finishing third Gainbridge LPGA, both in Florida. She expects to reach top form when the LPGA stages a two-leg swing in Southeast Asia – the $1.7 million HSBC

Women’s World Championship on March 3-6 at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course and the $1.6 million Honda LPGA Thailand on March 10-13 at Pattaya’s Old course in Chonburi. Before heading to the twin SEA events, she’s taking the chance to renew old ties with relatives and friends in Manila. “I will be spending some time in the Philippines before heading to Singapore and Thailand,” said Saso, who kept his No. 7 spot in the latest world ranking despite her Drive On Championship setback. Recalling her Drive On Championship performance, she said she was still able to recover after giving up four strokes on the par-4 No. 16 of the Crown Colony course in Fort Myers. She added she also learned a thing or two from the setback. “I was able to maintain my composure and stay focused despite a difficult hole on No. 16,” said Saso, referring to her quadruple bogey on the par-4 hole that all but stymied her first-round bid. “I still played some great golf and was proud of my round (second) even though it wasn’t enough to get me through (the final round).” “But I learned a lot about the patience required by this sport and I am excited for my next event,” she added.

Yuka Saso

Sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Del Potro loses return match in Argentina

Marquez ready to fight for 7th Moto GP world crown

BUENOS AIRES—Argentine great Juan Martin del Potro made a losing return to tennis after a two-and-a-half-year injury absence on Tuesday, beaten in straight sets by compatriot Federico Delbonis in the Argentina Open. In what was expected to be one of Del Potro’s final appearances before retiring, the 33-year-old former US Open champion was overcome with emotion towards the end of Delbonis’s 6-1, 6-3 victory in 1hr 23min. The former world number three wiped away tears as he prepared to serve what would turn out to be the final game of the match. After Delbonis sealed victory, Del Potro embraced his opponent before waving to the crowd on the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club’s Guillermo Vilas court. “Possibly we may not meet again,” Del Potro told fans afterwards. “Today I gave everything I had, until the last point. I’m happy because my last game was probably on a tennis court in front of all of you, and not in a press conference. I’ll always remember you,” he added. Del Potro signalled at the weekend he plans to retire soon after this week’s tournament, describing his comeback as “more a farewell than a return”. He was given a loud ovation as he walked on court by a packed crowd on Tuesday but was unable to deliver what would have been a fairytale win. Del Potro said he wants to see how his surgically-repaired knee feels on Wednesday before deciding whether to play in next week’s Rio Open in Brazil. “I will speak to doctors again. I have to take care of my knee and then we will see,” said Del Potro. “I will always leave the window open. “If today was the last time I will leave happy.” After taking the opening game with a break of serve, Del Potro was hampered by his lack of mobility thereafter, with Delbonis rattling off three breaks of serve to win the first set in 33 minutes. Del Potro put up stronger resistance in the second set, but was ultimately overpowered by Delbonis. Tuesday’s defeat was Del Potro’s first event since fracturing his kneecap in June 2019 at Queen’s in London. AFP

Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams attempts to make a catch in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Three years after the devastation of missing out on the Super Bowl through injury, Kupp has bounced back from that disappointment with one of the best seasons in NFL history. AFP

Field of dreams behind Kupp’s golden NFL year L OS ANGELES—Three years after the devastation of missing out on the Super Bowl through injury, Cooper Kupp has bounced back from that disappointment with one of the best seasons in NFL history. The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver has electrified the league this year with his dynamic play, amassing a mighty 1,947 yards—the secondmost in a single season ever—from 145 catches. The 28-year-old also achieved the rare Triple Crown by leading the NFL in yards, catches and touchdowns—making him only the fourth player to do so since 1970. Crucially, Kupp has formed a telepathic understanding with new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The duo combined for a 44-yard completion to set up a game-winning field goal that eliminated Tom Brady and Tampa Bay in the divisional round. While Kupp has always been one of the Rams’ most consistent performers, this season’s remarkable gains follow a decision the receiver made last year to build his own

home training facility. That meant converting a barn into an indoor practice field that allowed him to devote time to honing his craft during the offseason. “I was able to do all my work at home, not have to drive around to find a field,” Kupp told reporters. “The football season is long but I felt great this year.” It is all part of a scientific approach to training that Kupp hopes will give him an edge. There is also a cerebral streak to Kupp’s play: the receiver has adapted a tactical concept used by fighter pilots to the football field—the so-called “OODA (Observe, orient, decide, act) loop”. “That’s football,” says Kupp. “Observe, orient, decide, act, over and over and over again. The quicker you do these things, the better you’re going to be.”

Super Bowl heartache Kupp is hoping the extra work on the training field will pay off in Sunday’s clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, three years after watching from the sidelines as the Rams lost to the New England Patriots in Atlanta. Kupp’s 2018-2019 campaign came to an abrupt end after a serious knee injury late in the regular season. However that disappointment gave him a unique perspective he now views as a positive. “Missing that Super Bowl, that’s one of the hardest things I’ve been through,” Kupp says. “The conflict it creates in you when you are both cheering and pulling for your guys, the guys that you spend so much time with. “You want them to succeed. But you know that every step of the way, every time they do succeed, it just hurts you that much more because you want to be a part of it as well. “It’s just that conflict within you that’s both equally wanting them to succeed and do it but also wanting to be there and knowing that you can’t be a part of it like you want to. AFP

MADRID—Six-time Moto GP world champion Marc Marquez insisted on Tuesday his objective “is to fight for the championship” this season after suffering from vision problems last year. “My goal is to fight for the title,” Marquez said at the Honda team’s presentation. The Spanish rider suffered from double vision in the final stretch of last season after falling while training on a motocross bike. He missed the last two races and then had to sit out pre-season trials in Jerez in November. “The situation was critical with the double vision and nobody knew what could happen, but I followed the advice of the doctors and everything has gone well,” said Marquez. After two injury-hit campaigns, Marquez is chasing his ninth world title in all formats, which would see him match legendary Italian Valentino Rossi. The 28-year-old Marquez was able to take part in practice in Sepang last week, which he admitted was a “surprise”. “From here on, the goal is to work hard in pre-season and to fight for the championship,” said Marquez. “I know that from the outset I am not here to clean up in the first race, not even to win and perhaps not even get on the podium. “But the season is very long and we have to go from less to more to end up with options to fight for the championship. “I still have a long way to go to be at my best level but little by little, I’m happy, I’m happy again professionally and that also helps personally. “I’m going to put the same desire I’ve put into my recovery into trying to be champion again.” AFP

FIFA ‘inundated’ with 17 million requests for World Cup tickets DOHA—Fans have sought 17 million tickets for this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar, FIFA said Tuesday, making it more than five times over-subscribed. Higher prices being demanded for the best tickets—which cost up to $1,600 for the final—and controversy over Qatar’s bid did not deter followers of the world’s most popular sport. “Fans across the globe have proven their enthusiasm,” FIFA said. Demand was highest from the host country of the November-December event. But FIFA said it had been “inundated” with requests from Argentina, Brazil, England, France, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United States. Some 1.8 million tickets were sought just for the final which will be held in the 80,000 seat Lusail stadium on December 18, the world body said. Tickets for the game will cost between 605 riyals ($165) -- for some Qatari residents -- and 5,850 riyals ($1,600). The top price is more than 45 percent higher than best places

for the 2018 final in Russia, which was won by France. The cheapest final tickets for international fans are 2,200 riyals ($600), about a third more expensive than last time and some fan groups have complained about the prices. Organizers said about 3.3 million tickets for all games will be available. Qatari residents, including its army of migrant workers, will pay as little as $11 for a ticket to less popular games. FIFA, which hopes to make more than $500 million from tickets, broadcasting rights and other World Cup commercial revenues, said fans who were successful in a computer lottery would be told by March 8. Qatar braces for visitor deluge After the 20 days of applications closed Tuesday, FIFA said it will check applications before tickets are allocated in a computer draw. Qatar has been preparing for 11 years for the first World Cup in the Arab world and the first held in the traditional winter months of the top football nations. The date was

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO

All things must pass IT is a title of a song, and album, too, All Things Must Pass, by former Beatle George Harrison after the band’s breakup in 1970. George came out with this triple album of all previously unreleased materials that the Beatles previously rejected. But for George, the song All Things

moved because of the scorching summer temperatures in the Gulf. It has spent billions of dollars on a building blitz including seven new stadiums and refurbishing one, all in a 50 kilometer (30 mile) radius of central Doha. The Lusail stadium is to be inaugurated next month but many surrounding skyscrapers are still engulfed in cranes. Qatar has also faced questions over its rights record—especially conditions for migrant workers who built the stadiums—and what fans can expect. Rights groups say hundreds of workers have died in accidents and the heat. A number of national teams staged protests over rights concerns during qualifying matches. Qatar authorities say conditions and labour laws have changed drastically over the past decade and they have been “unfairly” criticised. The tiny state is expecting up to 1.2 million visitors but as it does not have enough hotel rooms, thousands of fans will be housed on cruise ships during the event. AFP

Must Pass was very apt. It simply meant all things will end, as in the case of his band, and that it is time to move on. Now why am I writing about George, you may ask? Actually, I am writing about his song and how it applies to me. You see, this will be my farewell column in this paper and I would like to thank Manila Standard for the opportunity given to me to express my feelings and thoughts about issues and concerns in sports, including personalities, too. Am I sad? Yes of course, I love writing and doing columns. Now, do I feel bad? No, sad but not bad. I have been into corporate management for a very long time and understand how business decisions are made. Just need to apply again my personal mantra, Understand, Accept, and Adjust—the U, A & A of life for me. I started writing sports in 1977, do-

CAR SHOW WINNER. Manila Standard's Boy Bautista displays one of the three firstplace trophies he received at the "Bumper to Bumper Car Show Pampanga 7" held at the Clark International Speedway on February 5. Bautista is flanked by car show models (from left) Rizza Cruz, Pamela Henson, Princess Ting and Jay Santiago, collectively known as the Certified B2B Babes.

ing news and feature stories in various sports magazines, before graduating to being a magazine columnist in the 1990s and believe me, column writing is a feel-good thing to do. Like being able to tell people to do things that you cannot do yourself. I began contributing stories to national broadsheets, but it was the late Bert Cuevas, then sports editor of Manila Times, who gave me the real break, so much so that when he transferred to Manila Standard in 1996, I simply followed him as valuing relationships was and still is important for me. Before he passed away in 2006, I joined a MILO Marathon writing contest and won first place for a story I did for Manila Standard. I was very happy because whatever I got as cash prize, the same amount went to the editor (Bert in this case) and that time, he was not in good health anymore.

It was his assistant Rey Mallari, who succeeded him and it was Rey who in turn helped me realize my dream of writing a sports column for a national broadsheet more than two years ago. It was also in this paper where I first wrote about a possible community pantry for national athletes, both regular and para athletes during this time of the pandemic, a thought that became a reality last year. This came after I underwent my quadruple bypass almost a year ago and again, it was in this paper that I shared that experience, my fears, my feelings, everything that was going through my mind at that time. Working with a group of friends, including Tom Carrasco, Alex Wang, Nino Sinco and Karen Caballero, all sports lovers like me, we were able to come up with the “Ayuda Sa Atleta” campaign, raised funds and items

that benefited close to 600 athletes. The excess funds of P42,000 from the over P500,000 raised, we donated to typhoon victims in Mindanao and the Visayas. This is why I will treasure forever the time I was writing my “The Bottom Line” column, but as George Harrison captured it perfectly in his song, time has come to leave behind the past and move on to the future. I thank the readers, who have been reading my pieces in “The Bottom Line” these past years, it was a pleasure for me to be able to connect with sports fans through this column. I have been into sportswriting now close to 45 years and I intend to continue it. After all, I will still be contributing sports stories to Rey, it is only my column and my line that has reached the bottom, pun intended, and that is indeed the bottom line.

Entertainment Solving a problem like Toni Gonzaga

that she’s stepping down from the role but gave no

Toni Gonzaga hosting ‘Pinoy Big Brother Otso’

Claudia Barretto (left) and rapper Because

Toni Gonzaga in yesterday’s UniTeam proclamation rally

other explanation behind her decision.

However, netizens were quick to jump in on the issue and added their speculations as to why the actress will not return as the main host of PBB. Some of these include flak for her decision to host the proclamation rally of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his running mate Sara Duterte at the Philippine Arena. While netizens were already hot on her heels for doing so, Toni received even more criticism after introducing Rep. Rodante Marcoleta as part of the UniTeam’s senatorial slate. Marcoleta was among those who denied ABS-CBN a franchise renewal, leading its thousands of workers to lose their jobs on July 10, 2020. Other trending topics related to Toni also include “Teddie” and “Mama Mary,” as citizens relived her roles in Four Sisters and a Wedding and Starting Over Again, respectively. Their posts include comparing her with her on-screen sister Bobbie (played by Bea Alonzo) and rival Patty (played by Iza Calzado), citing reasons why these two are superior to her both in the movies and in real life. Despite numerous netizens voicing their opinions on Toni on social media, the actress’s loyal fans came to her defense and commended her for handling her bashers, calling her an “unbothered queen” amidst all the controversy. Presently, a new topic is trending on Twitter where netizens are calling to “Stop Cancel Culture” to show their support for Toni. Many are already voicing their disappointment upon learning that Toni will not be hosting PBB anymore. Indeed, PBB will no longer be the same with Toni out of the picture, especially after years of hosting the show. In the meantime, PBB fans will have to wait for the announcement on who will replace Toni as the main host of their favorite reality drama series.

Oscar nominations: Five key takeaways

APPER Because describes Claudia Barretto as a classy singer yet very accessible to the masses. According to the young hip-hop artist, listeners can hear the sound of nature through Claudia’s voice, yet, one can also hear the sound of Makati or Taguig’s boujee lifestyle through the young singer’s soothing pipes. “She has that kind of impression. Her style is mature but open to interpretation, everyone can relate to her. She sings about vulnerability. Her vibe is expensive but vulnerable enough that you can still relate to her music,” Because says. Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Claudia opened up about wanting to reach more audience through the songs she puts out and be able to carve her own path in the music scene while at the same time developing different interests including finishing a degree in Psychology and looking into different creative avenues where she can thrive as an artist. “Honestly, I also wonder why

history again Tuesday, with a best picture nod for West Side Story making him the first producer to earn a staggering 11 such nominations. He also bagged an eighth best director nod, placing him alongside the great Billy Wilder, and behind only William Wyler (12) and Martin Scorsese (nine). Jane Campion became the first woman to receive two best director nominations, 28 years after The Piano. And multi-hyphenate Kenneth Branagh is the first person to be nominated in seven different categories, earning his first original screenplay and best picture nods. The Belfast director has never won an Oscar. AFP, Read full story on manilastandard.net Steven Spielberg earned his 11th Oscar nomination for best picture for ‘West SideStory’ and an eighth best director nod as well

acting didn’t become something I’m inclined to do naturally considering the environment that I was in. But I guess, growing up, I always looked up to musicians and singers,” Claudia said underscoring the fact that she draws inspiration from life experiences and the artists she listens to. “With music, you can have some sort of personal life, a bit more separate from your art. With music, I feel like I have more space to build a brand which is different from your work. I can decide what I can share with the world and have a personal life that I want to live for myself,” the 22-year-old Viva Records artist carried on. In her effort to reach a wider audience through her music, Claudia drops the single “Everything” in collaboration with the young prolific rapper Because. This is not the first time that Claudia and Because have worked together. The two music artists are among the headlining music acts in Viva Live’s digitally streamed music event titled “ARRIVAL.” “When the ‘Arrival’ was pitched to me, they had introduced me to a number of other talented artists. Because was one of the artists I felt I could easily collaborate with,” said Claudia. From there the two hit it off musically resulting in this modern and highly

stylized pop track. The sound is of course all Claudia, who’s been methodically building a reputation as a modern Pinoy pop tastemaker. Her previous releases have a common denominator – all are steeped in R&B, lo-fi feels with elements of hip-hop beats, and a moody demeanor to it. Her debut single with Viva Records and its follow-up, titled “Nothing To Do” and “Be It,” respectively, are prime examples. “With ‘Everything,’ the whole writing happened during our first in-person meeting and within one studio session. We wrote and recorded everything during that day,” Claudia recalled. And while the new track’s sound and style is all Claudia, she had envisioned the “BMW” hit rap artist from the start, saying, “I consciously did. I’ve always wanted to experiment with a little bit of melodic rap. Because had come up with an original melody that made it easy for me as a singer to translate my singing into that type of melodic rapping.” Claudia only has high praises for his collaborator. “He is one of the most talented people I’ve met so far and he writes and raps with such ease, it’s so inspiring.” The young Barretto expressed her intention to more collaborations in the future including another work with Because. “Definitely. We have some things in the works as we speak, (among those are)

an Electronic EP, (more) singles, (and) collaborations,” she concluded.

Gawad Lasallianeta names ABS-CBN most outstanding media company ABS-CBN continues to win recognition for its various platforms, shows, and stars after receiving 24 awards in the recent Gawad Lasallianeta, including Most Outstanding Media Company for Kapamilya Channel. DZMM or TeleRadyo won Most Outstanding AM Radio Station while the ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page, which already has 32 million followers, was named Most Outstanding Facebook Page. Phenomenal hit He’s Into Her, an iWantTFC original series, was chosen as Most Outstanding Drama Series.

Real-life couple Penelope Cruz (left) and Javier Bardem at the Cannes film festival in2018. They both earned Oscar nominations in 2022

NOMINATIONS for the 94th Oscars were unveiled Tuesday, and The Power of the Dog led the pack with a dozen nods. Here are five key takeaways from the announcement, ahead of the Academy Awards gala on March 27: Couple of couples Getting an Oscar nomination is always an honor for any actor, but being nominated in the same year as your life partner must be extra special. This year’s nominations feature two couples: Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz scored nods in the best actor and actress categories, respectively, for Being the Ricardos and Parallel Mothers. It is the fourth nomination for each, and both have won once. “I am very happy for my nomination, but mine would not have made sense without hers, because it would not have been a celebration, and the fact that both happened at the same time seems magical,” Bardem told reporters in Madrid. Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons earned supporting nods, playing a couple in moody Western The Power of the Dog. It is the first nomination for both actors. Other famous couples earning Academy Award nominations in the same year include Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt in 1932, Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in 1954, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in 1967, and Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach in 2020. Directing history Hollywood titan Steven Spielberg made Oscars

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

CLAUDIA BARRETTO carves her own path

By Patricia Taculao FOLLOWING yesterday’s events where Kapamilya actress and host Toni Gonzaga landed on the top trending topics for Twitter Philippines, she continues to be the talk of the town as news broke out that she will no longer be returning as the host of ABS-CBN’s reality show Pinoy Big Brother (PBB). In a Twitter post, ABS-CBN showbiz reporter MJ Felipe announced Toni’s departure from the show. “According to a reliable source, Toni Gonzaga will no longer host Pinoy Big Brother. No formal resignation but source said Toni has voluntarily endorsed the main hosting job to Bianca Gonzalez,” Felipe shared. The reporter added that they “Reached out to PBB and Toni, awaiting for their official statements.” Both Toni and Bianca spent several seasons hosting PBB along with Mariel Rodriguez and Robi Domingo. Toni is known for her famous opening spiel, “Hello Philippines, hello world,” which left a mark on Filipino viewers. Since then, the actress has landed other hosting roles on shows like The Voice and Pilipinas Got Talent. She also starred in several successful Filipino movies such as Four Sisters and a Wedding, My Amnesia Girl, and Starting Over Again, to name a few. As of writing, there has been no formal statement released by the management of PBB regarding the issue. Toni, on the other hand, posted a photo on Instagram with a letter saying

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Current Affairs Talk Show Host) and internationally acclaimed actor Arjo Atayde (Green Zeal Award for Excellence as a Lasallian Public Communicator), who brought honor to nation as the star of the hit digital series Bagman. ABS-CBN journalists and current affairs shows also received a lot of love from the members of the De La Salle Araneta University (DLSAU) community. Leading the winners were Noli “Kabayan” De Castro (Most Outstanding Radio Broadcaster), Jeff Canoy (Most Outstanding Male Correspondent), and Karen Davila (Most Outstanding Public Affairs Show Host). Iconic shows Umagang Kay Ganda (Most Outstanding Morning Show), SOCO (Most Outstanding Public Affairs Show), and Matanglawin (Most Outstanding Informative/Educational Show) also proved to have made a lasting mark on them. The Gawad Lasallianeta, now on its 4th edition, was held on Feb. 2 as part of DLSAU’s celebration of its 76th founding anniversary, aims to recognize the most effective and the most influential media and social media personalities and shows in the country. Winners were determined through a university-wide online survey among all DLSAU admin staff, faculty members, parents, and Famous Pinoy loveteam Kathryn students. Bernardo (left) and Daniel Padilla

Sunday staple ASAP Natin ‘To received another Most Outstanding Variety Show award while It’s Showtime’s popular “Tawag ng Tanghalan” segment was honored as Most Outstanding Talent Competition. Meanwhile, It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla, and Kathryn Bernardo emerged as big winners after winning multiple awards. Vice was named Most Outstanding Entertainment Show Host and Most Outstanding Comedian. Daniel won Most Outstanding Dramatic Actor (The House Arrest of Us), Most Influential Male Celebrity, and Most Effective Male Celebrity Endorser, while Kathryn took home Most Influential Female Celebrity and Most Effective Female Celebrity Endorser. Jodi Sta. Maria and Paulo Avelino also received honors anew for their work in Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin and Fan Girl, respectively as the winners of Most Outstanding Dramatic Actress and Most Outstanding Performance by An Actor in a Filipino Film. “Fan Girl” was also named Most Outstanding Filipino Film. Also part of the winners’ circle this year are The Bottomline host Boy Abunda (Most Outstanding News/

‘Pepito Manaloto’ is 2021

most-watched comedy show nationwide

GMA Network’s longest-running Saturday family sitcom Pepito Manaloto ranked number 1 in Nielsen Philippines’ official list of comedy shows for 2021. The program, headlined by Michael V, recorded an average people rating of 13.2 percent in National Urban Phils. or NUTAM for the full year 2021. Since 2010, it has entertained viewers of all ages with inspiring and relatable content and lovable characters. Likewise, the show has reaped numerous recognitions from various award-giving bodies during its decade-

long run. Pepito Manaloto is the brainchild of concept creator, creative director, and three-time Asian TV Awards Best Comedy Actor Michael V. It follows the rags-to-riches journey of an ordinary person, Pepito (Michael V.), who was blessed with extraordinary luck after winning the lottery. Last year, it started airing the prequel “Ang Unang Kuwento,” chronicling the love story of young Elsa and Pepito in their teenage years from how and where it all began. It airs every Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on GMA.

Michael V as Pepito Manaloto

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Michael Angelo Valenciano

Well-loved drama trains

spotlight on celebrated names in local fashion and style By Patricia Taculao

F YOU’VE watched GMA’s television series I Left My Heart in Sorsogon, then you already know that the show demonstrates an innate love for the local culture and sceneries. If you haven’t, then you’ll follow the story of Celeste, played by Heart Evangelista, a fashion socialite who unexpectedly rediscovers her roots after a visit to her hometown. Aside from the sweeping romance drama that unfolds with every episode, another aspect that makes the series well-loved and enticing is the refreshing ensembles on the cast that pays homage to the works of various Filipino fashion designers who have since established themselves in the fashion industry. In an exclusive interview with Manila Standard Life, the series’ production stylists Gabby Wu, Katrina Cruz, and John Paul Dizon shared that they collaborated with several Filipino designers such as Mark Bumgarner, Steffy De Mylo, Patty Ang, Neric Beltran, and more in creating the looks for the cast. As production stylists, Wu, Cruz, and Dizon had a big order to fill. The pandemic

Gabby Wu

also posed some difficulties as acquiring pieces became challenging due to the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus and adhering to strict health guidelines. Despite these hurdles, the production stylists had creative control over the looks of the cast’s wardrobe. “This approach for this particular series was very liberating and fun for us because the director and the production more or less gave us a free hand on how to style Heart, which doesn’t happen very often,” Cruz said. Heart also permitted production stylists to use some pieces from her personal collection to use in the series. Heart’s character in the series is a Manila-based fashion socialite, a title that the actress currently holds thanks to her sense of high fashion. As a result, Cruz didn’t find it challenging to dress Heart as the actress already knew what she wanted to wear. Yet as a collaborative effort, Cruz would offer suggestions to help the actress feel comfortable or to coincide with the scene as the show progresses. Since I Left My Heart in Sorsogon focuses on rekindling a love for the local scene, the stylists took this chance to translate this message through the cast’s outfits throughout the show. Using local brands also enabled Wu, who’s responsible for styling Richard Yap and Marina Benipayo, to work with his

Issa Litton wearing a piece by Neric Beltran and styled by JP Dizon

Heart Evangelista (left) and Richard Yap look classy in their roles for ‘I Left My Heart in Sorsogon’

Paolo Contis (left) is given a handsomely rugged look as he stars alongside Heart Evangelista

friend and colleague, Vanessa Dela Cruz, in designing Marina’s look. Marina plays Vivien in the series, the older sister of Richard’s character, Tonito. Wu shared that when conceptualizing the look for Marina, he decided to collaborate with his colleague and play around with volume to match her character’s intensity and flair as the antagonist. In the meantime, Wu’s styled look for

Wu played with volume to create Marina’s look as the series’ antagonist

Katrina Cruz

Richard follows showbiz stereotypes of the rich male lead who’s almost always in corporate clothes. Yet this didn’t stop the production stylist from playing around with some of the pieces to make Richard appear dapper yet casual in some of the scenes. Dizon, on the other hand, drew inspiration from Hollywood personalities to create signature looks for the cast. For instance, the producers wanted Paolo’s to look ruggedly handsome, like Ashton Kutcher. “I played with plaid and checkered patterns. I also did a lot of layering but I later

came up with one look that became the standard throughout the time I was working with him,” the production stylist said. By the end of the series, viewers can expect to see a glamorous fashion show where the stars wear signature pieces from renowned Filipino fashion designers Neric Beltran and Francis Libiran. Through the collaborative efforts of the stylists and cast of I Left My Heart in Sorsogon, the characters are given unique styles that coincide with their personalities and the development of the story while putting the spotlight on Filipino brands.

Michelle Dee in a gown by Francis Libiran

John Paul Dizon

PH’s fastest-growing health app honored in Singapore BARELY a year old, mWell PH by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, has made its mark on the international stage. The fastest-growing health app that provides doctor consultations and serves as a wellness guide, has won Best Initiative in Technological Innovation in The Asset ESG Corporate Awards, one of the world’s leading and longest-running honors in the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) space. The award recognizes excellence in corporate sustainability. As the Best Initiative in Technological Innovation winner, mWell has proven to have launched a first-to-market technological initiative that has taken the company to the next level. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) served as the framework for its entry. Chaye Cabal-Revilla, Chief Finance & Sustainability Officer of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, says of the award, “We are deeply honored. This shall serve as an inspiration as we

continue to deliver a responsive, highly convenient healthcare platform. As a globally recognized fully integrated ecosystem, we shall be the digital healthcare ally Filipinos can rely on, in every step of their wellness journey.” Cabal-Revilla recently became part of the Prince Of Wales’ Global CFO Leadership Network and is the only Filipino and only woman to join the founding members of the A4S Asia Pacific Chapter. Supporting her in the mWell leadership team are Gary Dujali, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer and Dr. Michael Muin, Chief Technical Officer. MPIC President, Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan fully supports MPIC group’s newest foray in digital healthcare. “Through a collaboration with trusted health experts, mWell brings integrated digital healthcare closer to every Filipino. We are committed to empowering our countrymen to be in control of their health through innovative services. Our people rely on us to keep their own businesses and their own lives going. We must carry on and serve,” he says. mWell continuously strives towards becoming the integrated health and wellness platform of choice. Users simply need to get hold of the latest version of PH’s fastestgrowing health app to fully enjoy its innovative features. As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to working towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare. mWell PH app is available on Apple App Store or Google mWell is a health app that provides doctor consultations and serves as a Play Store. wellness guide

Soothing King’s Wax Soy Candle in lavender Very Peri Akemi Linen

An inventive and transformative Very Peri inspired accent chair

A Very Peri mix BRING Very Peri’s spirit of newness, carefree confidence, and creativity, to your home with furniture and home accessories from SM Home. Very Peri, selected by global color authority Pantone as its Color of the Year 2022, was described as “the happiest and warmest of all blue hues, a dynamic periwinkle blue with a vivifying violet-red undertone blends the faithfulness and consistency of blue with the energy and excitement of red.” This is the first time in 23 years that Pantone has created a new shade for its Color of the Year selection, as “we have a new vision of the world now,” Pantone Institute Executive Director Leatrice Eisenman told CNN.

Using the dynamic virtual world – think of gaming and the metaverse – as a main source of inspiration, Arch Daily says that the shade illustrates the fusion of our modern times and how the digital world has morphed with our physical one. In architecture, shades of periwinkle blue and lavender have long been used in installations, commercial spaces, and lighting, bringing an overall calm, optimistic, and positive effect. And you can bring that to your home with SM Home’s accent chairs, decorative candles and vases, bed linen, and kitchenware in Very Peri shades. Check out the latest Very Peri collection and shop online with The SM Store website www. thesmstore.com or via the SM Store’s Call to Deliver services #143SM (#14376). For more info and updates, follow them at SM Home at the SM Store on Instagram or visit thesmstore.com website.