Duterte, Xi call for restraint As China warns vs. ‘military alliances’ that threaten regional peace n By VITO BARCELO
A
Vol. 36
FTER a recent intrusion of a Chinese navy ship in Philippine waters, President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jingping pledged to exert all efforts to maintain peace, security and stability by exercising restraint, dissipating tensions and working on a mutually agreeable framework for functional cooperation.
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Agaton was last located 130 km east southeast Guiuan town, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 50 kph. Signal No. 1 has been raised over the following areas: Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands. The slow-moving Agaton, PAGASA
THE eastern part of the country is expected to have rains and gusty winds this Holy Week with Tropical Depression Agaton intensifying slightly yesterday as it hovered over Eastern Visayas. In its 5 p.m. update, the Philippine
said, was slowly moving in a north northwest direction. It warned of possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains. It added that Agaton and an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the Bicol region and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao. CONTINUED ON 3A
Veterans, modern-day heroes feted Oil firms poised the country’s soldiers who fought in Bataan during World War II. “We join the entire Filipino nation in commemorating Araw ng Kagitingan or Valor Day,” Andanar said in a statement. “Let us be inspired by the valor, heroism, and patriotism of our soldiers who fought CONTINUED ON 3A
REMEMBERING THE PATRIOTS.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra leads the commemoration of ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ at the Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan. He was joined by Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko of Japan, Charge d’Affaires Heather Variava of the United States of America, NHCP Chairman Dr. Rene Escalante and Bataan Governor Albert Garcia. NHCP Facebook Page
S
I
D
to slash prices by P1/l next wk
OIL firms are expected to implement another round of price rollback next week, according to the projection of Unioil Petroleum Philippines. In its fuel price forecast for the April 12 to 18 trading week, Unioil said gasoline prices may go down by P0.90 to P1.00 per liter while diesel may decrease by P0.20 to P0.30. On April 5, oil companies reduced the domestic price of gasoline by P2.30 to P2.50 per liter, diesel by P1.85 to P2 per liter, and kerosene by P1.65 per liter. Oil prices declined after the announcement of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to join the stockpile release following the US decision to let go of one million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil until May. Year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P16 per liter for gasoline, P26 per liter for diesel, and P24.10 per liter for kerosene.
Japan-PH air ‘serious concern’ over South China Sea conflict JAPAN and the Philippines agreed to boost security ties in their first foreign and defense ministerial meeting on Saturday, amid worries over China's increasingly assertive maritime activities. It was the first so-called two-plus-two talks between the two US allies, both of which have overlapping territorial
4A 1B 3B 4B
Zelensky urges ‘firm global response’ to train bombing WORLD | 3A
claims with Beijing. "Our two countries share serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Sea and we agreed to ensure observing international laws including the 2016 arbitral award to the Philippines" in disputes with China, as well as the UN Convention of the CONTINUED ON 3A
ELBOWTO-ELBOW.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin pose before a meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on April 9, 2022. AFP
Taal Volcano alert lowered to Level 2 DUE to the decline in volcanic activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Saturday lowered Taal Volcano’s alert status from Level 3 (magmatic unrest) to Level 2 (decreased unrest). In an advisory, Phivolcs said 86 small-magnitude and imperceptible volcanic earthquakes have been recorded since the volcano’s eruption last March 26.
E
Business.................................................................. Sports........................................................................... Entertainment.......................................... Pets....................................................................................
18 .00
palm fronds in front of Quiapo Church in Manila on the eve of Palm Sunday. Norman Cruz
n By MARICEL V. CRUZ, JOEL ZURBANO AND VITO BARCELO
N
2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES
FOR THE FIRST DAY OF HOLY WEEK. Vendors sell
Rainy Holy Week looms as ‘Agaton’ intensifies
I
No. 56
IN MET R MANILAO
Xi, however, cautioned the Philippines against “military alliances” that could undermine regional efforts to ensure peace and stability despite maritime disputes. “International developments prove once again that regional security cannot be achieved by strengthening military alliances and China is willing to work with the Philippines and countries in the region,” Xi said, as quoted in a report by the South China Morning Post. CONTINUED ON 3A
Malacañang hailed Filipino war veterans for their patriotism and gallantry in defend the country’s freedom as Filipinos marked “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) yesterday. Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar expressed hope that Filipinos would emulate the heroism and bravery of
n
April 10, 2022
PH boxers snare 3 golds in Thai Open SPORTS | 1B
Most of the recorded earthquakes were generated by volcanic degassing from the shallow magma and hydrothermal region beneath the Taal Volcano Island edifice. Volcanic earthquakes are caused by movement or eruptions of magma from the volcano, compared to tectonic quakes which are caused by fault movements. CONTINUED ON 3A
Saudi Arabia to allow 1 million hajj pilgrims NEWS | 2??
APRIL 10, 2022
Samar, Leyte leaders back Marcos-Duterte tandem
R
n By MARICEL V. CRUZ
EP. Sharee Ann Tan (Samar, 2nd Dist.) has assured Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte of her province’s support in the May 9 elections.
Tan made the pledge as Marcos led the UniTeam ticket in barnstorming Samar on Friday amid torrential rains. The lady solon also appealed to her constituents to protect their votes. The Petilla clan, one of the politically-influential families of Leyte, have also pledged support
for the tandem. Marcos’ mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, is from Leyte, while Mayor Sara’s father, President Rodrigo Duterte, was born in Maasin, Southern Leyte. Tan noted that the Marcos volunteers
exerted much effort to make Friday’s event successful despite challenges from inclement weather and insufficient funding. Tan echoed Marcos’s oft-repeated remark that unity will help bring progress and development to the Philippines. Gov. Reynolds Michael Tan reiterated that there is no stopping the votes from raining down on the Marcos-Duterte tandem, as well as UniTeam’s senatorial candidates. “We, the officials of Samar, down to the mayors who believe in UniTeam have committed to bring Marcos-Duterte a 100,000vote lead on election day, and that’s what we are working on now,” he said. Government data showed that Samar is home to over 597,000 registered voters in 2022.
Lacson, Sotto tell voters: Vote conscensciously n By JOEL E. ZURBANO PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday urged the electorate to choose a candidate based on qualification and not on what the poll surveys indicate. In a forum in Quezon City, Lacson said he and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III would keep educating the voters on choosing the right candidates during the homestretch of the campaign period. "We will continue to educate and enlighten our electorate. To look at qualifications, not popularity. Vote for who has the competence, experience and qualifications; and get rid of the mentality that you will waste your votes just because the competent or qualified candidate is not leading in the surveys," Lacson said. He said the Filipinos have been suffering for so long because they have failed to elect the most qualified candidates in past elections - and deserve a much needed break with a leadership that will see them through these challenging times. Lacson also said he and Sotto would continue their approach of directly going to the people through consultations. "We deserve nothing less. Filipinos for the longest time have suffered, and needed a break. Senate President Sotto and I are offering ourselves with all our competence, qualification, and experience to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos," he said.
Ex-Speaker De Venecia endorses Leni FORMER Speaker Jose de Venecia and his family on Friday night publicly endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo for president in the May 9 election. De Venecia and his wife, former Pangasinan representative Gina de Venecia, along with their son, incumbent Pangasinan congressman Toff de Venecia, raised Robredo’s hands during a rally in Dagupan City, with Robredo even hugging the De Venecia couple before the endorsement was made. Mrs. de Venecia and Robredo were both members of the 16th Congress, with Robredo representing her home province of Camarines Sur. Ahead of the endorsement, Toff also gave a lengthy speech about Robredo’s competence and fitness for the job to be President. Ironically, Toff was also present during a rally in Dagupan by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Pangasinan, whereby he promised to deliver votes for his Lakas-CMD party-mate and vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Meanwhile, Robredo said the Department of Education should be held accountable for the modules that she said “poison” the people’s minds. “Responsibility nila ito eh. ‘Yung DepEd dapat hindi nagpapalabas ng anything—not just because ako ‘yung nasa receiving end ng ginawa—pero kahit ano na magpo-poison sa minds ng mga tao, dapat hindi ‘yun pinapalusot ng DepEd,” Robredo said when asked to comment on reports that a DepEd learning module included questions that were biased against her. Robredo said she had seen the questioned module, but has not ascertained its authenticity.
Isko optimistic ‘silent majority’ will deliver votes OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT. UniTeam presidential bet former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. addresses his supporters who braved the rains in Borongan City, Samar just to manifest their unwavering backing to his candidacy. Ver Noveno
No surrender: Pacman nixes alliance with Leni PRESIDENTIAL candidate Manny Pacquiao reiterated that he and running mate Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza would not withdraw from the race notwithstanding unification talks allegedly initiated by the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo. “Ang desisyon kasi namin ni Vice Lito (Atienza) ay tuloy ang laban, at para ito sa bayan. Hindi ito para sa sarili namin. Kasi kung ang iniisip namin para lang sa sarili namin, makikipag-compromise kami. Mahi-
rap naman ‘yon,” he said in a media briefing “What we are fighting for is real change, because that is truly our intention. We have no vested interest, our interest is pure. We might regret it if we miss this opportunity, because this is for the Filipino people,” Pacquiao added in Filipino. In another forum in Quezon City, Atienza disclosed Robredo’s camp approached him for possible unity talks.
“Yes, I was approached. I could not say I was not approached at all by anyone. Someone approached me... Leni. But it was unacceptable for Manny,” Atienza admitted. “Not herself personally, but her official representative,” he added. Atienza quoted Pacquiao as saying; “We lose if that’s our fate, but I don’t want to win just because of negotiations.” “That was an answer that I had to respect,” Atienza said
Magelco suspends power shut-off n By NASH MAULANA
SPIDERMAN COMES OUT FOR LENI. Supporters of Vice President Leni
Robredo—among them one wearing a Spiderman costume—gather round for her Saturday rally at the municipal hall compound in Baler, Quezon province, unmindful of the blistering heat of the summer sun.
THE Power Sector Assets and Liability Management (PSALM) has agreed to suspend until May 25 the impending shut-off of power supply to the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco) in response to an urgent appeal by the Bangsamoro Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS). Bangsamoro Energy Minister Akmad Brahim said PSALM responded positively to their request to reschedule the power supply cut-off in light of three important events—the holy month of Ramadan which ends on May 2, the Holy Week observed by the Christian faithful on April 14-18, and the May 9 local and national elections.
The EMDS operates under the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources and Energy (MANRE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) headed by Minister Brahim. Meanwhile, PSALM requested the BARMM-MENRE and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to help compel Magelco to promptly comply with the conditions available to the electric cooperative, including debt restructuring. PSALM has also signified that it favored a continuing dialogue with BARMM through MENRE to address pressing issues on power shortage for Maguindanao, due to depleting allocation PSALM has designated for Magelco.
AKSYON Demokratiko standard bearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso expressed optimism that the “silent majority” from the lower middle class, as well as the urban and rural poor will deliver the crucial votes on May 9 and make him the 17th president of the Republic. Domagoso said that the tens of thousands of people that he directly met and shook hands with in various provincial sorties does not jibe with pre-election survey results made by major polling firms that tend to show his numbers at a far third from the frontrunner. He said voters are “scared” to answer survey questions honestly and truthfully due to the endless political bashings and bickering between the Marcos camp and anti-Marcos groups led by the so-called yellows and pinks. “Sa sobrang away nila natatakot na ‘yung tao baka mawalan siya ng trabaho, baka hindi siya mabilhan sa tindahan niya o baka awayin siya ng kapitbahay niya, mawalan siya ng kaibigan, ina-unfriend siya, mapagsalitaan siya ng masakit kaya tumatahimik na lang. Feeling ko ire-reserve nila ‘yung boto nila sa takdang panahon,” he said. Domagoso said political oligarchs have been actively influencing voters through direct “buying of people” in favor of the presidential candidate that they are backing financially. “Napaka fluid ngayon. ‘Yung malalaking pulitiko, ‘yung mga political oligarch will continue to buy people. “Hindi na siya bago. Don’t be naive. We know it’s happening,” he said. He said several political groups also tried to ask the Aksyon Demokratiko for funds in exchange for mobilizing support for its candidates, but the party was not interested. “Mayroong mga ganoon. May mga humihirit lang ng tulong pero walang specifics,” he said.
Salceda: New laws needed amid FATF gray list ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda on Saturday said new laws were needed to enhance transparency in financial transactions and get the Philippines out of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “gray list.” Salceda, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, said he would request the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to draft a bill on the sanctions framework in reaction to the rating given this year by the FATF which retained the Philippines in its so-called “gray list.” The FATF flagged the country for perceived “inadequacies” in the effectiveness
of the targeted financial sanctions framework (TFS) for both terrorism financing and proliferation financing. Salceda said the country might need to look at whether current bank secrecy laws would allow for more targeted sanctions. “I don’t think our current bank secrecy laws would allow for effective targeted sanctions. I’ve been a strong champion of relaxing the bank secrecy laws for tax purposes. It may be time to relax them for targeted sanctions as well,” Salceda said. “Until our banking system can be
ManilaStandard
Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net
ONLINE
can be accessed at: manilastandard.net
MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers
more transparent, we will struggle to impose targeted sanctions,” he added. “That means accusations that our banks are a conduit for all sorts of terrorist and illegal transactions will persist. The BSP’s latitude for policy changes can only do so much. We need new laws for that,” Salceda stressed. As chairman of the House tax panel, Salceda said he was studying the enactment of tax laws that would impose much higher taxes on seized illegally accumulated income and allow the use of evidence of tax evasion for the prosecution of other crimes. Maricel V. Cruz
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida
SERIOUS TALK. Presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson and running mate Senate President Tito Sotto III immerse themselves in a serious conversation with their supporters during a Saturday forum at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City. The two candidates urge the electorate to vote conscientiously on May 9. Manny Palmero
Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager
Rolando G. Estabillo Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle
Associate Editors News Editor City Editor
Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
FLOWER POWER. Women, wrapped in
WORLD
INBRIEFS APRIL 10, 2022
A BRITISH man and French teenager were rescued in Malaysia Saturday three days after going missing while diving, but the man’s son was still missing, police said. The trio and their instructor got into trouble Wednesday after they surfaced from a dive near a southern island but could not find their boat. The Briton, 46-year-old Adrian Peter Chesters, and Frenchwoman Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, were found by local fishermen and picked up by marine police, said official Cyril Edward Nuing. “We have rescued two divers that were reported missing while doing scuba diving activities,” he told a press conference in the coastal town of Mersing, the base for search operations. “They have survived, and are now in hospital in a stable condition.” Chesters’s son, 14-year-old Nathen, who holds Dutch citizenship, remains missing and search and rescue operations are continuing, he said. AFP
a Ukrainian flag, embrace during a flash mob protesting sexual abuse by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, at Washington Square Park in New York, April 8, 2022. AFP
Zelensky: Firm global response needed to train station bombing
U
KRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a “firm global response” after a missile strike killed 52 people at a train station in eastern Ukraine where civilians had gathered to flee a feared Russian offensive.
“This is another Russian war crime for
which everyone involved will be held accountable,” Zelensky said in a video message, referring to Friday’s missile strike, whose victims included five children. “World powers have already condemned Russia’s attack on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm global response to this war crime,” he continued. rld leaders condemned the attack in the Donetsk capital, with US President Joe Biden accusing Russia of being behind a “horrific atrocity” that the French condemned as a “crime against humanity.” At least 52 people including five children were killed, the regional government said, while Zelensky reported 300 wounded, saying the strike showed “evil with no limits.” Zelensky said the bombing had been reported in Russia before the missiles
Saudi Arabia to allow 1 million hajj pilgrims SAUDI Arabia said Saturday it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year’s hajj, a sharp uptick after pandemic restrictions forced two years of drastically pareddown pilgrimages. The hajj ministry “has authorized one million pilgrims, both foreign and domestic, to perform the hajj this year,” it said in a statement. One of the five pillars of Islam, the hajj must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once in their lives. Usually one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, about 2.5 million people took part in 2019. But after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Saudi authorities allowed only 1,000 pilgrims to participate. The following year, they upped the total to 60,000 fully vaccinated residents chosen through a lottery.
FromtheFRONTPAGE DUTERTE,... The Chinese leader underscored the need “to keep the leadership of regional security firmly in its own hands and to jointly maintain the hard-won peace and stability in the region.” Duterte, for his part, said the Philippines would work with China to “properly deal with South China Sea issues.” The two leaders also tackled the conflict in Eastern Europe and the COVID-19 pandemic during their hourlong telephone summit on Friday. In a statement, Malacañan Palace said: “Both leaders acknowledged that even while disputes existed, both sides remained committed to broaden the space for positive engagements which reflected the dynamic and multidimensional relations of the Philippines and China.” The two leaders also discussed global and regional developments, with both of them reaffirming the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and making a renewed commitment to ensure regional peace, progress and prosperity. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, both leaders acknowledged the importance of making vaccines available to nations that most needed them, adding it was “as crucial to global and regional economic bounce back.” “The leaders committed to work even more closely to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to explore constructive ways to jumpstart interaction and exchanges through, among others, mutual recognition of vaccine certificates, streamlining health protocols and
2 European divers rescued in Malaysia
The restrictions have stoked resentment among Muslims abroad who were barred. Saturday’s announcement said this year’s hajj would be limited to vaccinated pilgrims under age 65. Those coming from outside Saudi Arabia will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours of travel. The government wants to ensure pilgrims’ safety “while ensuring that the maximum number of Muslims worldwide can perform the hajj,” Saturday’s statement said. The hajj consists of a series of religious rites that are completed over five days in Islam’s holiest city, Mecca, and surrounding areas of western Saudi Arabia. Hosting the hajj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, as the custodianship of Islam’s holiest sites is the most powerful source of their political legitimacy. AFP
resumption of commercial flights,” the Palace statement said. On Tuesday, Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana disclosed that a Chinese navy vessel was observing the conduct of war games between Filipino and American soldiers in Philippine waters earlier this year. “What this vessel did was monitor our military exercise with the US navy. It conducted surveillance,” Lorenzana said, adding that this prompted Manila to file a diplomatic protest against Beijing. “So we protested. They can’t just observe us within our territorial waters,” he added. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese vessel entered Philippine waters “without permission” from January 29 to February 1, 2022, reaching the waters of Palawan’s Cuyo Group of Islands and Apo Island in Mindoro. Philippine Navy vessel BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) challenged PLAN 792, which claimed that it was exercising innocent passage. China has ignored a 2016 ruling by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration junking its historical claim to the area.
JAPAN-PH... Law of the Sea, Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said. The two nations are likewise poised to "start considering" frameworks to facilitate reciprocal visits as well as reciprocal provision of supplies and services to boost Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines's partnership. "Going forward, the Japanese side will proceed with deliberations, including on the possibilities of concluding a reciprocal access agreement and an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement," read the joint
had even landed and called for more weaponry to counter Moscow’s aggression. “I am sure that the victory of Ukraine is just a matter of time, and I will do everything to reduce this time,” he added. AFP journalists saw the bodies of at least 30 people under plastic sheets next to the station. Body parts, packed bags and stuffed animals were flung across the floor. On the station forecourt, the remains of a missile were still visible. It was tagged with white paint with the words “for our children” in Russian, an expression frequently used by pro-Russian separatists in reference to their losses since the start of the first Donbas war in 2014. “I was in the station. I heard, like, a double explosion. I rushed to the wall for protection,” said Natalia, searching
for her passport among the abandoned belongings. Another woman in a state of shock told AFP: “I saw people covered in blood entering the station and bodies everywhere on the ground.” Russia denied being behind the missile strike, which came with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv for talks with Zelensky and to visit the scene of civilian killings in the town of Bucha. Russia faces “decay” because of ever tougher sanctions and Ukraine had a “European future,” Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Zelensky. Six weeks into President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance ended plans to swiftly capture the capital Kyiv. AFP
SILHOUETTE. People
walk early in the morning along the Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr bridge in the Shatt al-Arab waterway in Iraq’s southern city of Basra on April 9, 2022. AFP
Iran seizes boat smuggling fuel IRAN’S Revolutionary Guards have seized a foreign boat smuggling fuel in the Gulf and arrested its 11 crew members, a senior justice official said Saturday. “Naval forces have seized a foreign vessel carrying smuggled fuel in Persian Gulf waters,” said Mojtaba Ghahramani, justice chief for Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, state television reported. “Over 220,000 litres of smuggled fuel were seized and 11 foreign crew members were detained for investigation,” Ghahramani said. Ghahramani did not specify the date the boat was seized, nor the origin of the vessel or nationality of the crew. The Guards also captured an “Iranian boat carrying 20,000 litres of smuggled diesel, intended to supply the foreign ship” and arrested three crew members, Ghahramani added, noting the seizure was made “in the territorial waters” of Iran. AFP
Protect prisoners from cholera—HRW HUMAN Rights Watch on Saturday asked Cameroon to protect prisoners from a cholera outbreak, saying at least six inmates had died in the country’s second largest jail since March. According to Cameroon’s health minister, 105 people have died in the outbreak since October. The disease has been identified in six of the country’s 10 regions, including the troubled South-West, where the health system has been severely affected by the violent crisis between government forces and armed separatist groups. “At least six inmates in Cameroon’s second largest jail, the New Bell prison in Douala, have died since March,” the New York-based group said in a statement, referring to the West African country’s economic hub. AFP
US warns of ‘arbitrary’ COVID measures in China THE United States on Saturday warned of “arbitrary” Covid-19 measures in China and said it would let some staff leave its Shanghai consulate amid a surge of infections in the locked-down megacity. Until March, China had kept cases low with snap lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions, but more than 100,000 cases have been reported in Shanghai since March in a test of the country’s strict zero-COVID policy.
The city’s roughly 25 million inhabitants were locked down in phases last week, prompting complaints of food shortages and viral videos of disgruntled residents scuffling with officials. The US State Department will now allow non-essential employees to leave its consulate in Shanghai “due to a surge in Covid-19 cases and the impact of restrictions related to the response,” a US embassy spokesperson said in a statement.
The statement warned citizens to reconsider travelling to China, “due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and Covid-19-related restrictions”, adding that the embassy in Beijing had raised its concerns over the measures with the Chinese government. Shanghai reported more than 23,000 new infections on Saturday – mostly asymptomatic, accounting for more than 90 percent of new domestic infections in the country. AFP
statement issued after the meeting. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, locking it into disputes with several Southeast Asian neighbours. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague invalidated China's claims in the South China Sea in a first-ever ruling. Beijing has ignored the decision. In the meeting, "we were able to confirm our will to further enhance our collaboration in dealing with regional and global challenges and our cooperation towards the realisation of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific," Hayashi said. Areas of cooperation include ensuring safety of sea lanes in Southeast Asia and discussion towards expanding joint military drills and exchanges, among others, he said. "We have achieved a substantive clarification of all the issues and in many of them produced consensus. The security ties we are developing are much less than those of an alliance but much more than a cordial relationship," Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said. Defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana echoed that, saying "we exchanged views on regional security issues of common concern, notably freedom of navigation and overflight" and "compliance with international laws" including the 2016 tribunal decision. Besides the Philippines, Japan has formed a two-plus-two framework with eight other countries – the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, India, Indonesia and Russia. With AFP
northeasterly surface wind flow. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have localized thunderstorms. The weather bureau is also monitoring a tropical cyclone outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). PAGASA reported a tropical storm, with the international name Malakas, was last spotted more than one thousand kilometers east of Mindanao It packs maximum sustained winds of 74 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration has been placed under heightened alert for Holy Week in anticipation of the increase in arriving and departing passengers. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said all airports and seaports have been instructed to ensure that they are properly manned, to be able to service the expected rise in travelers. “Historically, the number of passengers really rises during holy week and other such long breaks. This year as the country re-opens its borders, we expect that the numbers will again rise,” he added.
delivery of services and assistance to their fellow Filipinos despite the “great personal risk” amid the pandemic. “As we adapt to the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to praise the selflessness, hard work, and commitment of our present-day heroes,” he said.
RAINY...Cloudy skies with rains will prevail over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Norte brought by the
VETERANS,...during the 1942 Battle
of Bataan for the freedom and liberties we enjoy today, and let us contribute towards achieving genuine self-determination for our nation,” he added. Apart from war veterans, Andanar also praised the country’s modern-day heroes amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Among them are medical and health care professionals, farmers, government workers and officials, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and front-liners from the food service, transportation, and other essential sectors, he said. Andanar lauded their dedication to serve the country and ensuring continuity in the
TAAL...Phreatomagmatic eruption, on the other hand, is caused by the interaction of magma and water. “There has been no recorded seismic activity related to new magmatic intrusions from Taal’s deeper magma source since unrest began last year,” the advisory read. Meanwhile, Taal Volcano’s sulfur dioxide emission, which peaked at 21,211 tonnes on March 16, has since declined to an average of 240 tonnes per day. Phivolcs said the recent gas emissions indicate that the potential for eruptive activity is currently low. “Activity in the main crater in the past week has been characterized by occasional weak plumes and longer periods of absence thereof, consistent with the significant decrease in magmatic degassing,” Phivolcs added. Phivolcs, however, noted that lowering the Taal Volcano’s alert level does not mean unrest has ceased or the threat of an eruption is unlikely. Those residing in high-risk areas who have returned are advised to be prepared for a quick and organized evacuation. At Alert Level 2, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal accumulations or bursts of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within Taal and along its coast.
APRIL 10, 2022
Cavite couple earns P170,000 a month from Takoyaki venture IMUS CITY, Cavite—Starting a business during the pandemic is an immense gamble. But for couple Jay and Cindy Saquilayan, taking the risk was worth it. From small savings of P50,000, their Takoyaki business now earns between P150,000 to P170,000 each month. With hard work, the couple was able to expand the business to 13 branches in just 18 months. They opened their first ‘Saki’ Takoyaki stall in October 2020 in Silang, Cavite. “My wife [Cindy] had a taste of Takoyaki, then we experimented with mixing, until we learned the preparations. We established a small kiosk in Silang town. The people liked it. We started on Oct. 22,2020. By Dec. 8, 2020, we had our first franchisee,” Jay said in an interview. ‘Saki’ Takoyaki now has branches at Acienda Mall Outlet in Silang, Southwoods Mall in Carmona, SaveMore GMA, Portal Mall Carmona, Paliparan, Trece Martires City, Gen. Trias City, Pasong Buaya, Imus City, Bacoor and Indang. “At our main branch, we had average daily sales of P7,000 to P8,000 in 2020 to 2021. This year, more restaurants opened, so we have more competitors. Our sales declined to P5,000 a day,” he said. The couple operates their own branches in Amadeo, Dasmarinas, Langkaan, Bulihan and GMA with average daily gross sales of P2,000. These are on top of the stores of their franchisees. Jay said behind their success is the focus on affordability, quality and consistency. Dennis Abrina
Female executives Isla Petroleum and Gas Corp. lady executives (by row, from left) Elma, Nancie, Gigi, Val and Vicky
keep LPG industry safe W
ORKING in the liquefied petroleum gas industry is not a popular choice among females. As an industry connected with oil and gas, it seems like the LPG sector is riddled with too many technicalities, volatile prices and resources and complex operations.
The LPG industry is often associated with simply getting stoves to work so people could cook. But beyond supplying essential goods, the core of the industry is ensuring that people could go about their daily lives safely. For the women of trusted LPG brand Solane, a job in the LPG industry means spearheading innovations within the energy industry to ensure that a volatile product becomes a lifestyle essential that is part of Filipino homes and businesses. These feminine forces who work all year-round to keep Filipino homes safe share how talent and effort propel the LPG industry and how Solane is a supportive workplace that enables them to realize their individual qualities. Woman’s world, too At first glance, the LPG or the gas and oil industry may seem like a man’s world. But for Nancie Rivera, chief finance officer of Isla Petroleum & Gas Corp., the company behind Solane LPG, the industry offers an exciting opportunity for women due to its nature as an essential commodity. Nancie said despite facing crisis, the field presents opportunity for growth for those in the finance and management professionals. “Working for an LPG industry trains you to think on your feet given the volatility of pricing and maintain regard for standards due to its nature as a highly-regulated industry. At the same time, it teaches you to be receptive to changes as it deals with economic barriers and fluctuations,” she said.
From their first ‘Saki’ Takoyaki stall in Silang Bayan, couple Jay and Cindy Saquilayan now owns 13 branches all over Cavite province. Dennis Abrina
Women-established MSMEs drive economic expansion On the technical side, Gigi Indangan, plant operation executive of Isla LPG Corp. in Cebu, also defies the notion that leadership in production operations are built for men. Having worked with ILC for almost 19 years, Gigi said that women are known for having good interpersonal and negotiation skills, which she said landed her opportunities to provide resolutions for challenges in the business. “Gender doesn’t matter even if the work is quite masculine in nature. I have operated and handled over five LPG plants in the VisMin region as the pioneering female plant manager for 10 years. I have taken over several major projects and contributed to many breakthroughs and innovations in the company,” Gigi said. For Vicky Araneta, executive assistant to the CEO, the LPG industry has boundless opportunities for women. To name a few, Shell companies in the Philippines and even the LPG industry association has seen women lead. “More and more women are being empowered to lead, even here at Isla. It is a fair and level playing field,” she said. Career in energy Sales may be predominantly seen as a job that deals with numbers, but for Elma Revillame, who heads the B2B segment of the Isla sales force, reaching out to consumers and leading a team involves incorporating a personal touch and being willing to listen, which she said is innate with being a woman.
Having stayed with ILC for 16 years, and taking on various sales-related roles even prior to joining Isla, Elma noted that a remarkable part of the job is being able to build and maintain lasting relationships with customers and with people, in general. “My work is not only about selling but also involves a lot of relationship building which for me is quite fundamental in any profession, not just in sales,” she said. “It gives me a profound sense of accomplishment and purpose when I am able to build, and then develop, nurture and cherish relationships, and to be able to do this, I believe that the key factors would be integrity and sincerity—two things that I am glad our company truly stand for.” Aside from having female leaders in the administrative, sales and production lines, Solane also prides itself with having women at the helm of marketing and creative work. Marketing manager Valeri Villano has been with ILC for almost 15 years. She started out as an intern and became a sales account manager, handled promo and brand before leading the marketing department. “At Solane, our marketing and creative perspectives are hinged on understanding the Filipino mindset at a deeper level. Our marketing efforts require a different level of creativity and a sense of rapport because the product we’re communicating is very personal to Filipinos.”
First Shoshin delivers digital solutions to Asia’s female finance platform FIRST Shoshin Solutions Inc., a company founded by former Rep. “We are thrilled to partner with Bixie and extend its mission of Sally Ponce-Enrile that invested in a $5-million financial technology providing better finance management for Filipino women. Bixie hub in 2020, announced its partnership with Bixie to empower and FFSI share the vision of banking the unbanked majority. With Filipino women to become financially independent. our digital payment capabilities, we are humbled to scale Bixie’s Bixie is Asia’s leading female finance comprehensive app and be a part of their platform, providing an AI-powered finance movement to provide better ways for women app that encourages savings and wealth to manage their money,” said Ponce-Enrile, generation through knowledge, network and co-chairperson of First Shoshin Holdings tools. It designs a user experience tailored Corp. to the unique needs and behavior of Filipino The FSSI delivers digital innovation in women such as a digital ledger/tracker that the country through financial technology provides insights into its users’ spending JojoCare and financial technology solution activities. Bixie also features a digital JoJoPay which have been helping thousands community center that allows members to shift to digital banking easily. share financial milestones. JoJoPay is a digital payment platform Under the partnership, Bixie will leverage that allows users to move money instantly FSSI’s APIs and other integrations such as across borders and where transactions are blockchain and banking partners as well its powered by the Cloudchain blockchain, a Operators of Payment Systems license with first in the Philippines. JoJoCare is an online Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This collaboration consultation platform where consumers with FSSI provides Bixie the ability to scale its and providers can safely access and deliver offerings to become a central access point for healthcare, a demand that has seen a surge its client’s convenience. Financial empowerment for women due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UBX promotes women and financial inclusion. EMPOWERING women-led micro, small and medium enterprises by democratizing access to financial tools and services will result in a significant boost to the local economy. In the webinar “Promoting Women and Financial Inclusion Today” hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce Philippines, officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Senate as well as executives of leading open finance platform UBX and insurance provider Pru Life UK underscored the benefits of including women entrepreneurs in the financial system. Global studies conducted by the International Finance Corp. and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that male-led businesses have more access to business financing than their female counterparts. Yet, women entrepreneurs, according to a Digital Readiness Study conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry, are motivated to grow their businesses for their families and communities. They just need more knowledge and skills to optimize digital platforms and convert engagement to sales. “The future of finance is in many ways female,” UBX president and chief executive John Januszczak said. Plugging gender gaps BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said bridging gender gaps by empowering women to become entrepreneurs and democratizing access to finance for female-led businesses are important areas that the central bank wants to address. “One area where there has been substantial exchange and sharing of ideas and initiatives between the BSP and its stakeholders is empowering women to become successful entrepreneurs in the MSME sector. The BSP recognizes the important role of MSMEs in the economy, and in line with this, the BSP has implemented a wide range of policies and regulatory relief measures to support them — particularly as they have been among the most vulnerable sectors during the pandemic,” Fonacier said. These include measures that provide in-
Bria Homes breaks ground for condo project in Calamba LAGUNA, a bustling province south of Metro Manila, hosts picturesque towns and cities such as Sta. Rosa, Biñan, Calamba, Canlubang, Cabuyao and San Pablo, each with distinct lure. Calamba City, in particular, stands out not only as the birthplace of national hero Jose Rizal, but also as a booming tourist destination. Dubbed as the “Spring Resort Capital of the Philippines” for its slew of hot spring pools, Calamba is just a leisurely drive from Makati or a short bus commute, drawing the interest of home seekers who wish to straddle peaceful countryside living and vibrant work life in the metropolis.
With Calamba as a key site of Bria Homes’ continued expansion in Southern Luzon, the city is now considered an idyllic location for work, leisure and raising a family. Tapping into the vibrant energy of Calamba, Bria recently held groundbreaking rites for Bria Condo Calamba, its first vertical development to rise in Laguna province. The occasion marked another step by Bria to provide quality living spaces to Calamba residents as well as metro folks who crave for a healthier, greener and less polluted environment for their families. Reports from the ground reveal that Bria Homes’ presence in Calamba
sparked strong interest in the development even before the groundbreaking ceremony. Potential homebuyers recognize it as a prime location worth investing in. The city, also a hub of renowned learning institutions, attracts young Filipino professionals are raring to raise their children close to the Calamba campuses of Don Bosco College, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, AMA Computer University, Miriam College, Philippine Women’s University, the Lyceum of the Philippines and the University of Perpetual Help System. Also nearby are homegrown schools such as the prestigious Laguna College of Business and Arts.
centives to financial institutions to extend financial relief to borrowers, initiatives that incentivize bank lending and endeavors that promote continued access to lending and financial services. “The BSP continues to promote the adoption of innovative MSME financing approaches by banks such as the agriculture value chain financing and supply chain financing to direct much needed funds for this sector,” Fonacier said. Fonacier said empowering women entrepreneurs also involves financial literacy measures, as this will equip them with the right knowledge to tap the right tools for their financial needs. “Financial literacy promotes economic empowerment of women as they aspire to become leaders and agents of change, financial inclusion, and sustainability. Financial literacy leads to growth and development in women welfare and, in turn, contributes to economic growth. Financial feminism through financial literacy presents an opportunity not only to reduce gender gaps in pay, investing, and wealth but also to use women’s increasing financial power to align with the goals and actions required to build a sustainable and equitable future,” Fonacier said. Significant driver Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the committee on women, children and family relations, lamented that the pandemic magnified the vulnerabilities of Filipinas. “We must expand the opportunities for women, especially in financial inclusion. We can find solutions to common problems of limited access to financing support, training, business development services and technology that will enhance the competitiveness of women-led micro, small and medium enterprises,” Hontiveros said. Hontiveros called on the government to enhance its support for the development of digital solutions that democratize access to financial services for women entrepreneurs, noting that the majority of enterprises in the Philippines are female-led.
From left: Ivy Rissa Provido, Property Management Group Head; Lorelei Surco, customer care head; Precious Angeli Mesana, Bria condo Luzon cluster head; Sigfred Leuterio, project engineer; Eduardo Aguilar, Bria Homes division head; and Ayza Querejero, digital and marketing services head lead the groundbreaking ceremony for Bria Condo Calamba.
APRIL 10, 2022 Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez hoists the PVL trophy as if it’s an offering to their loyal fans.
M
FOR the FANS
The Creamline Cool Smashers with their hardearned PVL trophy.
ORE than Creamline’s emphatic return to the PVL (Philippine Volleyball League) throne, it’s the fans who emerged triumphant from the shortened but impactful Open Conference.
For it quenched their thirst for volley action denied them the past two years due to the global health crisis. And the best and the brightest delivered what the league had guaranteed from the start – highly competitive duels. And a slew of young, rising stars, led by no less than conference MVP Tots Carlos, ensured the steady flow of talents that would keep the pro league growing and glowing – and the fans packing the venues – in the next decade or so. Record crowds of over 16,000 graced the Creamline-Choco Mucho semis showdown and Game One of the finals at the MOA Arena, and over 7,000 fans trooped to the Ynares Center in Antipolo and witnessed the Cool Smashers crown themselves the second pro champions after the Chery Tiggo Crossovers upstaged them in the inaugurals under the bubble setup in Ilocos Norte last August. “I’m very happy for volleyball itself,” said Alyssa Valdez, easily the face of the sport the last few years. “It’s just so nice that this is probably the biggest comeback in sports.” “And we’re very thankful for the fans, they’re all here, cheering and supporting us,” added Valdez after powering Creamline to the title-clinching 25-18, 15-25, 25-23, 25-16 win over the Petro Gazz Angels last Friday.
Creamline also needed four sets – and a lot of patience and breaks – before squeezing out a 25-16, 23-25, 25-12, 32-30 victory over the plucky Angels in the series opener. “We’re just happy to welcome everyone and I’m really thankful no matter who is their idol or the team they support, they are here to support the sport,” added Valdez. FIRST TITLE Meanwhile, Carlos basked in the glory of their success – and her first championship – and looked forward to annexing more titles. “I learned a lot from this experience. I think, this is just the start,” said Carlos, whose imposing 20.67 points output before the finals secured her claim on the coveted individual honors. But she downplayed her exploits, insisting it was a team effort and the result of their hard work following their setback in last year’s pro inaugurals. “Sobrang sarap kasi trinabaho namin lahat ito. After falling short of our bid last year, we really wanted to redeem ourselves. We all stayed focused on our training,” said the jump-serving, heavy-handed former UP stalwart “We are one big family in this team. We are very open and we have one common goal – help each other,” said Carlos. “So, it’s really very fulfilling to
Volleyball is back and so are the enthusiastic fans. bounce back (from that loss to Chery Tiggo). Talagang sobrang sarap, sobrang saya kasi madami din kaming napapasayang tao.” “This just the beginning for Tots,” said Valdez, who also cited the roles that the likes of Jema Galanza, Cel Domingo, Jeanette Panaga and the rest, including playmaker Jia Morado, had played in their successful title run. Despite her past championships, Valdez considered their latest triumph as one of the best and one to cherish. CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL “I’m overwhelmed. It’s just so nice to have another memory here in Ynares with the championship,” said Valdez, who with the Cool Smashers actually left the
NBA rivalries in spotlight The forthcoming NBA playoffs again put the world’s best cagers in the world in the spotlight. FILIPINOS are among the most passionate NBA fans in the world — no contest. Making up the largest regional NBA Facebook page with over 5.1 million followers, the Philippines also holds the distinction of having the third-largest number of NBA League Pass subscribers in the entire Asia-Pacific region. It’s more so now with NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service made more affordable and accessible by PLDT Home. The Filipinos’ love of the game goes back to their colonial roots. The Americans’ introduction of the sport to the school system only led to more Filipinos breathing in basketball early on in their youth. Years later, the NBA made us love the sport even more that basketball has since become an indelible part of our culture. But what exactly makes the NBA more exciting within the Filipino basketball community? Nothing quite answers this more perfectly than the rivalries, which have been so rich, storied, and polarizing that it has bred some truly memorable moments in basketball
PH boxers snare 3 golds in Thailand Open PHUKET, Thailand—Filipino boxers Rogen Ladon, Riza Pasuit, and Hergie Bacyadan snagged gold medals to lead the Philippines’ triumphant campaign in the 2022 Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament on Saturday at the posh Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort Hotel here. The reigning Southeast Asian Games flyweight king Ladon earned the nod of three judges for a 3-2 split decision upset over defending Asian Games titlist and 2019 AIBA World Championships silver winner Amit Panghal of India. Ladon, a Rio Olympics veteran, fought methodically to clinch points in the first two rounds before surviving a late flurry from Amit in the final round. Later on, SEA Games 2019 silver medal finisher Pasuit dictated the tempo right from the get-go with solid counterpunching against Italy’s Alessia Mesiano to rule the women’s lightweight division. “I’m very happy. I expected the experience from Rogen to come out today. As for Riza, she is a very good
history. Let’s do a rundown below on some of the fiercest matchups in league history! Celtics vs. Lakers The longstanding rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is almost as old as the NBA itself. From 1959 until 2010, the two teams squared off in the finals 12 times, with the Celtics dominating with nine championships and the Lakers snatching three. In the 1980s, the rivalry reached its most fiery with a matchup of the titans: Celtics legend Larry Bird versus Lakers icon Magic Johnson. Lakers vs. Pistons Making up one of the most enduring rivalries in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons settled eight playoff series from 1950 to 1962. The competition, however, peaked during the NBA finals back in 1988, 1989, and 2004 – with Magic Johnson dueling against fellow superstar Isaiah Thomas. The Lakers won a hard-fought, seven-game series in 1988. Thomas and the Pistons then got their revenge in 1989 with a series sweep. Bulls vs. Knicks The rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks has been steadily brewing since the 1980s, with both teams consistently pitted against each other. But it was in the Michael Jordan era that Filipinos started to get hooked. During Chicago’s MJ-led teams from 1989 to 1996, the Knicks and Bulls would clash six times in the postseason — with Chicago winning five of them. Knicks vs. Heat The fierce rivalry all started when five-time
champion coach Pat Riley suddenly resigned from the Knicks to join the Heat in 1995. The tension became full-blown when the teams met four consecutive times in the playoffs from 1997 to 2000, with New York winning three of the four meetings. Cavaliers vs. Warriors Relatively recent, the rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors grew while contending in the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. The media, which hyped the David vs Goliath face-off between Stephen Curry and LeBron James, would only add fuel to the fire. The Warriors won three of these duels (2015, 2017, 2018) while the Cavaliers snatched the 2016 title. One of the biggest games Pinoy fans have seen to come out of this rivalry was the decider in the 2016 NBA Finals. Powered by PLDT Fans are eager to witness current and budding rivalries, marking their calendars for the NBA Play-In Tournament and Playoffs to begin on April 13 and 17 PHT respectively. For NBA fans in the Philippines, the easiest way to watch games live and on-demand is through NBA League Pass, which also offers access to the latest news on favorite teams and players, scores, stats, schedules, and more. Made more affordable and accessed more conveniently through PLDT Home, recently recognized at the prestigious Ookla Speedtest Awards as the Philippines’ fastest broadband network, NBA League Pass allows Filipino fans live and on-demand access to NBA games for the remainder of the season.
counter-puncher and a great boxer moving forward,” said Philippine boxing team head coach Don Abnett, who is accompanied by coaches Roel Velasco, Ronald Chavez, Reynaldo Galido, and Mitchel Martinez. Bacyadan, a wushu athlete-turned-boxer, capped off the national boxing squad’s successful stint with another gold after dominating Tran Thi Oanh Nhi, 5-0, in the women’s middleweight category. Aside from the medals, Ladon, Pasuit, and Bacyadan also received $2,000 (over P100,000) apiece as top finishers in the tournament organized by the Thailand Boxing Association headed by its president and concurrent Asian Boxing Federation president Pichai Chunhavajira. Meanwhile, Ian Clark Bautista (men’s featherweight) and Aira Villegas (women’s flyweight) settled for silver after faltering against higher-ranked opponents Serik Termizhanov of Kazakhstan and Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam, respectively. With the three golds and two silvers, the PH boxing team already eclipsed its medal haul in the 2019 edition (1 gold, 1 bronze) and 2018 iteration (1-1-2 gold-silver-bronze) when it seized the overall championship together with the host nation. “I think we’ve exceeded our expectations because as you know, our boxers have come from a long period of inactivity. We’re happy with where we are right now,” said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ed Picson, who is leading the Philippine delegation along
with secretary-general Marcus Manalo. After this Thailand Open joined by 14 federations across Asia, Europe and Oceania, Picson said the Filipino pugs will head back to Muak Lek training camp to resume their preparation for next month’s 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam and 2022 AIBA Women’s World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey. Rogen Ladon (right) connects with a left uppercut to Amit Panghal of India during their men’s flyweight gold medal bout in the 2022 Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament at the Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort Hotel. Ladon nabbed the gold after scoring a 3-2 split decision victory.
Ynares arena disappointed after being foiled by the Angels in the 2019 Reinforced Conference finals. “With all the people for the first time. Kaya napakasarap sa pakiramdam ng panibagong memory na to. We will surely treasure this.” For all her achievements, the former Ateneo star relished her first Finals MVP accolade although she stressed emphasis was on winning the championship. “It’s an entirely different season, we needed to be prepared mentally and physically. We needed to stay in top condition and we’re so grateful to our coaches, they all did what they needed to do – in training and in actual games,” said Valdez. “My goal is to help win the team championship. Any individual award we would win would be just a bonus,” said Valdez. “But I’m still grateful and it’s a responsibility for me to keep on going and stay focused on the coming seasons and next tournaments.” “I hope our volleyball family will grow bigger as the sport continues its comeback form the pandemic,” added Valdez. With the fans back in droves in new normal, there’s no other way for the league to go but up.
Ninja athletes try to break ‘Guinness’ NINJA athletes will attempt today (April 10) to break the World Obstacle World records and hopefully set the Guinness World World Records in the male and female 100m Obstacle Course Race in competitions. Official adjudicators from GWRTM and World Obstacle will be coming to the Philippines to witness the event and certify the results. While awaiting replies from other countries, two (2) elite Ninjas from Poland are already here. Filipino Ninjas Kevin “Popoy” Pascua and Rochelle “Chelle” Suarez currently holds the world records that they set during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines. They brought home the gold medals for the Philippines with blistering times set at 29.92 and 49.70 seconds for male and female categories, respectively. OCR 100M is a timed obstacle with a linear 100 meter-running track consisting of a start line, 12 obstacles, and a finish line. The event will be held on April 9-10, 2022 which will start with elimination rounds and the final round happening on the afternoon of Sunday, April 10, 2022. Athletes of all abilities will compete during the two-day event - top athletes in the sport will have the chance to qualify for the national team. Aside from the elite male and female categories, Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF), the organizer of the event, has opened the event to age group athletes and para-athletes. They will all showcase their grit and resilience and powerful heart. This is truly obstacle sports-for-alleverywhere. To add fun to the competitive weekend event, athletes can also come in costume and the best OCR100M finisher in costume can win a special prize. POSF believes that through obstacle sports we can build better humans and that sport is for everyone. This is another first for POSF. This is another first in the world.
Ateneo tops 1st round ATENEO de Manila University asserted its dominance over the University of Santo Tomas, 91-80, to close its UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament first-round undefeated, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Blue Eagles, ahead by just six midway, ended the second quarter on a 14-4 blast to establish a 16-point halftime lead, 50-34. But the Growling Tigers came out firing in the third frame with nine straight points to cut their deficit to seven via a Joshua Fontanilla layup with 8:12 to go, 43-50. However, Ateneo kept its composure and was able to rebuild its 16-point advantage entering the fourth, 74-58. “UST has always been like that,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “We gave up 80 points. That’s a little bit too much for us. We’re happy we came out with a win. Tyler Tio was lights out for the Blue Eagles with a career-high 20 points on an efficient 7-of-9 clip, including 4-of-5 shooting from deep. BJ Andrade had an all-around game of 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Ange Kouame got eight points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. Ateneo hiked to 7-0, and extended its UAAP winning streak to 33 games, while UST slipped to its third straight loss to 2-5. Sherwin Concepcion delivered 22 points on a 6-of-14 clip from rainbow country to go with seven rebounds for the Growling Tigers
Life Editor: Nickie Wang
APRIL 10, 2022
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
Hardcourt heartthrobs
in NCAA Season 97
By Paulo Manuel Fule
T
Ray Rogil Benedict Carlo
HE exhilarating collegiate basketball games are back in NCAA Season 97, which viewers can enjoy watching on their small screen via GTV.
And just like the previous seasons, viewers don’t just focus on the exciting games, they are also on the lookout for eye candies flashing their God-given hotness. Today, we are listing down some of the heartthrob athletes to watch out for in this NCAA Season.
Kyle Dominic P. Tolentino
Born on September 25, 2001 in New York, USA, the 6-foot-2 cager is currently playing for Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights. The hardcourt cutie says his favorite shot is 3-points because “I’m confident with it.” Apart from basketball, he is also fond of watching movies. Being able to represent Letran is what he likes most about being a studentathlete. Asked how he prepared for the NCAA Season, “I strengthen my body and condition it for me to prepare for the upcoming games,” said Kyle.
He was born on June 13, 2000 in San Juan City. This 5-foot11 combo guard is currently playing for the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers. Prince, as he is fondly called, loves playing sports and aside from basketball, he is also into swimming, football, and volleyball. He is an aspiring actor, too. His idols in the PBA are Jayson Castro and Alex Cabagnot while in the NBA, he likes Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry because of their capabilities of making plays for their teammates, and at the same time, they are also able to make plays for themselves.
Alex Roeland A. Visser
Born on May 9, 1999, this towering cager (he’s 6-foot-4) is playing as center for San Beda Red Lions. He is currently taking up Marketing Management. To maintain his physique and healthy body, he avoids junk food and soft drinks and tries to stay away from fast food. Alex also trains almost every day for basketball and goes to the gym. “The best thing about being a basketball player is just the whole experience. The people you meet, the games you play, the experiences you have. It’s irreplaceable,” Alex on why he fell in love with the sport.
Andrey U. Doria and Adam U. Doria
Twin towers Andrey and Adam were born on April 11, 2000. Both standing at (6-foot-1), they hail from Rizal, Laguna. They had spent their secondary education at Saint Mary’s Academy of Nagcarlan (SMAN) in Nagcarlan, Laguna before playing for the UAAP league for the Adamson University Baby Falcons in Manila. Recently, they decided to take their talents to NCAA’s Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC). Both have the same charisma and ability to be tough inside the hardcourt. Asked how they keep their body healthy and fit, “We always have our daily workout and exercise. We enjoy eating eggs, fruits, and vegetables,” said the twin magic of Laguna.
Adrian Clarence Go Nocum
Born on August 10, 1999 in Manila, this 6-foot cager is currently playing for the Mapua University Cardinals as a shooting guard. Aside from playing basketball, he is also fond of watching TV and making social media for Tiktok where he has more than 300,000 followers. He is also a well-known social media personality having more than 57,000 followers on Instagram.
Travel and fall in love by watching these local films SUMMER is on full blast and there’s no better way to dive into this season than by setting one’s sights not only on discovering beautiful destinations but also on arriving at the possibility of a new romance. If you missed traveling and are also on the lookout for a fresh chance at love, be captivated by these places and stories as seen in films airing on cable channel Cinema One throughout April.
Travel to your dream destinations without running out of data with Smart’s GigaRoam
Rediscover the joys of international travel
THERE is nothing quite as enriching as traveling—a hotpot of joy, anticipation, excitement, adventure, and heart-filled memories. It may be one of the purest forms of happiness, temporarily escaping the constraints of work, the mundane routines, or even the struggles back home. As the world gradually opens up, we can now immerse in foreign cultures and soak in mesmerizing landscapes. It is a dream to be able to go back out and explore the world once again, a passion which so many people share. To enable subscribers to rediscover the joys of international travel, mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. offers GigaRoam, which provides open access data to all sites and apps essential in one’s journey. GigaRoam is available in 1GB, 3GB, 8GB, and 100GB, with validity period ranging from 5 to 30 days in select overseas countries. “Smart shares the values and passions of travelers when it comes to discovery, adventure, and experiences,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart Communications. “GigaRoam helps them pursue these passions by providing the widest data roaming coverage for them to make the most of the trip they’ve been longing for. Once you’re in your dream destination, GigaRoam lets you stay connected to find the best food spots, check out the must-sees, or venture out into the lesser-known.
You can take photos and videos and share these moments in real-time.” The internet has always played a vital role in travel even before you take off, from booking flights and accommodations to researching and creating an itinerary. A reliable data roaming service is a traveling essential as it will be your partner or guide when touring overseas. Meanwhile, Smart joins Filipinos who are reviving their travel plans put on hold due to pandemic travel restrictions with GigaRoam’s new TVC featuring none other than the newwave hit “Roam” by the B-52’s. “Without traveling, we are incomplete. Just like the soundtrack of GigaRoam, which is the classic B-52’s song ‘Roam,’ we want to enable our subscribers to romanticize travel once again. As the song goes, we can actually, ‘Fly the great big sky’ again, even ‘Kick through the continents/Busting boundaries,’ and just ‘Roam if we want to/Roam around the world,” added Basas. To realize every Smart subscriber’s travel romance, here is the link to GigaRoam’s latest TVC https:// youtube.com/watch?v=uhcCV6Ssy0&feature=share. Smart lets you travel to 50 countries around the world with 80 international partners. Subscribe to gigaroam.smart. com.ph and bookmark the roaming promo or download GigaLife and look for the roaming tab. For more information, visit gigaroam.smart.com.ph.
Be spontaneous in meeting a new flame in Boracay
If you are aiming to be happy-go-lucky when it comes to your prospects in relationships, perhaps you could channel Anne Curtis’s character Michelle in When Love Begins. Spoiled party girl Michelle meets Aga Muhlach’s Atty. Ben in Boracay, where they develop a fleeting romance to be marred by their refusal to commit to each other and conflict in values, particularly Ben’s staunch devotion to environmental protection.
‘When Love Begins’ starring Aga Muhlach (right) and Anne Curtis
Let the mesmerizing scenery of Batanes calm your personal battles
In this 2015 Star Cinema film You’re My Boss, Coco Martin portrays modest assistant Pong who eventually pretends to be an airline company’s president in order to close an important deal with foreign investors, as devised by ruthless executive Georgina played by Toni Gonzaga. Perfect for those who are desperate to prove themselves and in need of a respite from the pressure their job demands, this feel-good, scenic, and full Coco Martin (left) and Toni Gonzaga in of Batanes’ breathtaking views of a film will ‘You’re My Boss’ surely fill one’s heart with comfort.
Come across your fairytale summer romance in Ilocos Norte
Erich Gonzales and Thai superstar Mario Maurer lead this 2012 rom-com flick Suddenly It’s Magic, where they play a baker who’s cynical about love and an actor looking for a break from the limelight, respectively. They meet and fall in love in Paoay in Ilocos Norte, but complications arise when they travel to Thailand—opening up a meaningful question on whether it’s worth it to choose one’s dream over love. Catch these movies on Cinema One’s Romance Central block, at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays with When Love Begins airing today, You’re My Boss on April 17, and Suddenly It’s Magic on April 24.
Erich Gonzales (left) and Mario Maurer take the lead in ‘Suddenly It’s Magic’
n Entertainment Editor: Nickie Wang
email: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
APRIL 10, 2022
MNL48’s long-awaited comeback
MNL48 returns with its 7th single titled ‘No Way Man’
Five female superstars who are dominating today’s music scene MARCH may have ended, but we’re not done celebrating Women’s History Month just yet. We’re putting the focus on some of our favorite superstars – multifaceted women who are making waves in and out of the music industry. These women continue to elevate their respective genres and empower others to express themselves, all while exploring different aspects of their artistry. Read on to discover if your favorite artist made the cut, and what songs of theirs you can’t miss!
Dua Lipa
She is an artist that needs no introduction. This pop superstar started her career by posting song covers on YouTube, but what really propelled her into the spotlight was her hit song “New Rules.” From then on, it was just success after success for Dua, and the three-time Grammy Award winner is now currently on the US leg of her Future Nostalgia tour. To share more about her experiences and create stronger connections with her fans, Dua also recently launched Service95. This weekly newsletter serves up a curation of recommendations, stories, and conversations that readers won’t see or read anywhere else. Not long after, she launched her podcast called Dua Lipa: At Your Service, where she and several podcast guests discuss relevant topics such as the importance of responsible storytelling and women supporting women. Songs you can’t miss: We’re pretty sure you’ve listened to “Levitating” a handful of times (and we can’t blame you), but another fun and upbeat song to stream is Dua’s latest release – “Sweetest Pie” with Megan Thee Stallion.
After a year of tough preparations, MNL48 finally returns with its 7th single “No Way Man,” a dance-centric song with a message that mirrors the girl group’s can-do attitude in the midst of challenges. “No Way Man” is led by center girl MNL48 Abby with Senbatsu members Sheki, Jamie, Ruth, Ella, Jan, Andi, Jem, Yzabel, Princess, Lara, Coleen, Rianna, Lyza, Dana, and Dian. The single has been a long time coming for the girls due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing restrictions it entailed for big groups. MNL48 coach Angel referred to the single as “unforgettable” not just because of its difficult choreography but also for what the girls went through
while rehearsing for the song. “We’ve been training for a year for this and it’s really hard for them to catch up because we had to do it online. They’ve experienced a lot of things and the lyrics really speak of everything that we’ve been through,” she said. Meanwhile, center girl MNL48 Abby gave props to her members and their MNLoves for inspiring her to do her best. “I witnessed every member give their very best for a quality comeback. At first, I doubted if I could do this but I always kept in mind that I have a good support system in my sisters, comembers, and the MNL48 fans who kept encouraging and believing in me.” For rank 2 MNL48 Sheki, “No Way Man” truly exhibits their growth as
Julie Anne defies
the odds and proves she’s ‘Limitless’
S
Bella Poarch
Anyone who’s on TikTok is bound to know Bella Poarch. This pure Filipina rose to internet stardom after a video of her lip-syncing became viral in August 2020, getting more than 50 million likes. What eventually followed was her rise to becoming the #1 most followed Asian on TikTok worldwide! Soon, all eyes were on the 25-year-old star, and she proved not long after that her talents went beyond making TikTok videos. In 2021, Bella released her first single called “Build a Bitch.” It became a global success, with its music video getting nearly 400 million views. This is no surprise, as the song is catchy, fresh, and calls out the unrealistic standards that women are told they must live up to. It’s clear that Bella uses her music not only to entertain, but also to go against problematic ideologies in today’s society. Songs you can’t miss: “Build a Bitch” is a must-listen, but if you want the perfect blend of haunting and upbeat, check out her song with Sub Urban titled “Inferno.”
Saweetie
One female rap star who’s made a name for herself in recent years is Saweetie. The Grammynominated artist started writing rap music in her early teens, and has pursued her passion for it since then. From uploading a now-viral freestyle video on Instagram to creating countless hit songs like “ICY GRL,” “High Maintenance,” and “My Type,” Saweetie is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Outside of music, she released an ICY jewelry line and collaborated with UK-based fashion retailer PrettyLittleThings for her very own collection. Hard work and independence have obviously always been in Saweetie’s blood, something that her Filipino-American family taught her at an early age. She’s proof that working for what you want pays off, and we are here for it! Songs you can’t miss: If you’re looking for a song to hype you up and get you dancing, then “Best Friend” featuring Doja Cat is the go-to. Looking for something more sultry and sensual? Then check out Saweetie’s new breezy single called “Closer” featuring H.E.R.
GAYLE
Unfiltered, honest, and genuine – these are some words that describe chart-topping pop singer GAYLE. Much like Bella Poarch, this Gen-Z artist blew up on TikTok after sharing her hit song “abcdefu” on the platform. Since then, she’s been receiving much-deserved attention and acclaim, whether it’s being part of Billboard’s 21 under 21: The Ones To Watch or being a guest performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. GAYLE recently released her debut EP “a study of the human experience volume one,” which touches on her insecurities, desires, and raw emotions. Her relatable and nuanced songs embrace vulnerability, while also empowering others to be unapologetic about their feelings. Songs you can’t miss: If you loved “abcdefu,” then you’ll love the equally catchy “luv starved.”
Avril Lavigne
Rounding up this list is none other than poppunk princess Avril Lavigne. The multi-platinum singer recently released her highly anticipated album “Love Sux,” sending fans into a frenzy. The album was well-received, with a number of critics praising Avril for sticking to her nostalgic pop-punk sound while making sure it’s current and in the now. Avril is set to go on her Bite Me 2022 Canada Tour this coming May, and will be part of several concerts and music festivals for the rest of the year. As a trailblazer in her genre and in the industry in general, she continues to inspire fellow artists to stay authentic to their true selves as they work on
their craft. Songs you can’t miss: If you want to listen to songs that are reminiscent of Avril’s past hits, then give “Bite Me” and “Love It When You Hate Me” a try.
performers. “This single features our talent in a different genre in dancing. Aside from that, it also highlights our vocals and the character of each member. The song has a beautiful meaning, it really reflects our life as MNL48 idols.” The music video for “No Way Man” is now up on MNL48’s YouTube channel, which shows off the group’s intricate choreography on a rooftop and in fiery and elegant sets with 395,000 views as of writing. MNL48’s last single was 2020’s “River.” MNLoves, the fanbase of MNL48, can also look forward to the release of a music card with mini photobook and a handshake ticket that will be available soon.
Aside from highlighting Julie’s talents, ‘Limitless’ also puts the spotlight on some of the best spots in the country The three-part online musical journey also features the beauty of the Philippines, starting with Mindanao, continuing in the Visayas, and concluding in Luzon. Looking back, Julie, also known as Asia’s Limitless Star, feels that all of their hard work paid off after seeing the success that Limitless amassed. One notable achievement is a nomination for the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. “Hindi biro ang makapasok o mapabilang sa shortlist ng New York Festival…Surreal lang sobra,” Julie said during an online media conference for Limitless. She added that the Limitless team treats each other like family, making it easier to get the show on the road. Paolo Valenciano, the director of Limitless, added that the show demanded a great deal of their creativity. “We don’t these things for recognition or awards, but it helps and makes us all feel fuzzy inside. It feels that we did something right, and it’s a very fulfilling feeling,” he said. In part three of Limitless, Julie shared that they’ll be focusing on the limitless life in Luzon and taking advantage of the opportunity where the public is freer to enjoy outdoor activities as they did before the pandemic. Julie and her team undoubtedly experienced some highs and lows throughout the production period for Limitless as different challenges and opportunities presented themselves. Oliver Amoroso, first vice president and head of GMA Regional TV, said some of these challenges vary depending on the region they visited. For instance, on the first leg of Limitless in Mindanao, they didn’t know what to expect upon reaching their destination. “Ang Synergy naman organized up to the last detail but hindi namin alam ano Julie Anne embarks on a three-part online musical journey titled ‘Limitless’
By Patricia Taculao
INCE it first began on September 27 last year, Limitless, A Musical Journey, demonstrated how extensive Julie Anne San Jose’s talents are. Following the success of the first two legs, titled “Breathe” and “Heal,” Julie is now preparing for the third and final part of her online musical journey known as “Rise.” Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose
aming maaabutan o mae-experience pagdating namin ng Mindanao, lalo na sa South Central Mindanao,” he said. Meanwhile, before they arrived in the Visayas, a storm hit the region, forcing them to adjust their initial plans. Lastly, when it came to Luzon, the region was transitioning to the new normal, so the Limitless team had to abide by the new and numerous protocols to secure the safety of everyone involved. “Pero lahat ‘yon nawala—’yung pagod ng pag-prepare ng lahat ng ‘yon because of this award [nomination],” Amoroso said. It also helped that both Amoroso and Valenciano believed in Julie’s talent and her ability to showcase Filipino talent, making everyone proud. “For all of us talaga, it’s the teamwork that made it work kaya sobrang nakaka-happy siya and nakakawarm ng puso kasi matagal-tagal ko ng gustong magkaroon ng live show…Importante din for me, as an artist, to reconnect with the audience,” Julie added. Limitless, A Musical Journey Part 3 Rise streams today. For more information, visit https://gmasynergy.ticket2me. net/.
APRIL 10, 2022
A bunny and eggs represent new life and abundance. (Stock photo from iStock by Getty Images)
Why the Rabbit 'Lays' Eggs on Easter Sunday By Mariana Burgos
E
VERY Lenten season, all Christians are focused on commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice in all dimensions. As a Catholic, that is how I see it. Easter Sunday marks the end of this season wherein Christians celebrate Christ's resurrection from the dead, which also means the victory of the Lord over sin ---the accomplished mission of Christ on man's salvation from "spiritual death". I love the Lenten season because it means enjoying a week-long holiday. This means no classes or no work, a time to take it easy and to relax, to contemplate on your life, and participate in religious activities that I find enjoyable at a certain level. I find the "Washing of the Feet” entertaining. The "Stations of the Cross" ritual makes me feel adventurous as we go from one church to another with the goal of visiting 14 churches. The "Salubong" is, for me, the best. When I
was a kid, I loved waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning, going to a certain location where our parish church would reenact how Mary Magdalene met Jesus right after His resurrection. It was so exciting for me every time. But, of course, after these activities throughout the week, there were more fun stuff on Easter Sunday for kids at home. One of it is the Easter Egg Hunt! The "egg hunt" tradition is passed on from generation to generation in my family and even in my husband's family. As long as there are little children in the family, there is an "egg hunt" every Easter Sunday. The kids are told that the Easter Bunny has hidden his many eggs of goodies (plastic egg-shaped capsules that have chocolates and candies in
An Easter egg hunt is a tradition in Catholic countries, including the Philippines. Kids look for colored eggs hidden by "bunnies" who are actually parents or adults in the family. The eggs have chocolates or treats inside. (Stock photo from iStock by Getty Images)
them) in various locations, either in the garden or inside the house. They would need to find each and every single one of them. As a kid, the concern was focused on getting the goodies and not bothering to wonder what a rabbit that bears eggs had got to do with Jesus and our soul's salvation. First of all, rabbits or bunnies do not lay eggs. These animals are mammals. Therefore, they give birth to live offspring. Secondly, the so-called Easter Bunny has nothing to do with Jesus and His resurrection from the dead, nor with the whole mission to save man from sin. So, where did this Easter Bunny idea come from and when did this start? What do rabbits symbolize in the Bible? Rabbits are hardly mentioned in the Bible. But Leviticus 11:3-8 says, "You may eat any animal that has a split hoof, divided in two, and that chews the cud, but not an animal that only chews the cud or only has a split hoof. For instance, the camel chews the cud but doesn't have a split hoof, so it's unclean. The rock badger chews the cud but doesn't have a split hoof and so it's unclean. The rabbit
chews the cud but doesn't have a split hoof so is unclean. The pig has a split hoof, divided in two, but doesn't chew the cud and so is unclean. You may not eat their meat nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you." And, as Jessica Sager says in her article, What Does the Easter Bunny Have to Do With Easter? Easter Bunny Origins Explained, "Basically, the Bible says rabbits aren't Kosher and to avoid them!" Well, it seemed that rabbits were not supposed to be eaten, after all, according to the Bible. As it turns out (based on my "Googling"), the idea of the Easter Bunny came from a pagan ritual which is observed around the first day of spring (the vernal equinox). That is one theory according to Time (What’s the Origin of the Easter Bunny?, Alexandra Sifferlin, 21 February, 2020). The pagan tradition is what they call the Festival of Eostre. Eostre, to the pagans, is the goddess of fertility, whose animal symbol is the bunny. Why bunnies? Rabbits or bunnies are known to be very energetic when it comes to reproduction. “The Bibles makes no mention of a long-eared, short-tailed creature who
Kids love counting eggs they have found, specially if they got the eggs which can be exchanged for a toy or a corresponding amount. ( Stock photo from iStock by Getty Images)
delivers decorated eggs to well-behaved children on Easter Sunday ; nevertheless, the Easter bunny has become a prominent symbol of Christianity’s most important holiday. The exact origins of this mythical mammal are unclear, but rabbits, known to be prolific procreators, are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life,” says history.com. But what is the deal with the eggs, you might ask? As we have established earlier, rabbits do not lay eggs. Time says, "Eggs are also representative of new life, and it's believed that decorating eggs for Easter dates back to the 13th century. Hundreds of years ago, churches had their congregations abstain from eggs during Lent, allowing them to be consumed again on Easter". History.com says: ”According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called ‘Osterhase’ or ‘Oschter Haws.’ Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.” So, there you go. As time passed, these pagan practices merged with Christian rituals and were further improved by the new generations that came after, mainly for the reason of having some fun with our kids. I see another saving grace with all this---thank you, Jesus, for also saving rabbits from being sacrificed in pagan rituals for peoples' wishes to get pregnant! About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 14 years now because she is wife to a desaparacido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.
Adopt Love By Desiree Carlos THE black dog was so thin and so weak, they thought she would not last the night. They tried to go near her but she would growl, fearful of the humans around her. They were new in the place but they wanted to bring the dog to the vet, so they tried again to reach to her and put her on a leash. But she would growl and show her teeth whenever they tried to go near her. They gave her food and water instead as they could not risk being bitten. And then they prayed to all the saints they know that she would make it. The next day, the black dog was up on her four paws, but she was still wobbly when she walked. They gave her more food and water. After a week, Blacky was running all over the place, and befriending the workers who were building the boiler and other structures for the tofu factory. After another week though, they saw a white dog with Blacky. She was also so
thin so they gave her food and water. The two dogs seem to be the best of friends and they did not have the heart to shoo the dogs away. They named the white dog Whitey of course. From then on, the dogs became a fixture in the factory. Unfortunately, the workers did not know anything about spaying or neutering a dog so that they will not get pregnant.
Come October, 2021, they noticed Whitey’s belly seemed to have become more pronounced, and in December, she gave birth to six (6) pups. Bestfriend Blacky also gave birth to five pups on December 31. At present, all pups have been dewormed and vaccinated with the 5-in-1 twice, and have been given an anti-rabies shot. Their mothers are vaccinated
too. Whitey has been spayed, while Blacky is due to be fixed as soon as their vet comes back from a vacation. Can you adopt love, a bundle of joy?. Here are the pups of Blacky and Whitey. Whitey’s babies are close to five (5) months old while Blacky’s babies are three (3) months old. Please contact Save ALL – Save Animals of Love and Light on Facebook to adopt a pup. Save ALL is helping the rescuers of the two mommas find forever loving homes for the pups. There is an online screening and an officer will visit your place. If your answer is YES to the following questions, please message Save ALL so an officer can discuss the adoption with you further before the home visit: 1. Can you provide food for the dog? 2. Can you have the dog treated by a vet if he or she gets sick? 3. Can you provide yearly vaccines, specially the anti-rabies shot which is required by law and for the protection of the dog and your own? 4. Can you coordinate with Save ALL for the spay or neuter of the dog at
the age that he or she can be fixed? Save ALL will pay for the fixing; you will bring the pup to its partner vet. 5. Can you walk or exercise the dog regularly? Dogs are no longer allowed to roam outside an owner’s property without a leash and the owner. Your dog can be caught by pound catchers. 6. Will you treat the dog as a member of the family? Will he or she be allowed to roam freely inside your property? 7. Do you have a gate to secure the dog inside the property? 8. Are you renting a place? If yes, does your contract include a provision allowing you to have a dog or a cat? 9. Will you keep and love the dog for a lifetime? The rescuers of the two mommas paid for the spaying, deworming and vaccination. They are waiving the adoption fee for these wonderful pups. The first four pups (red background) are babies of Blacky, and are three months old. The second set of four pups (green-yellow background) are babies of Whitey, and are around five months old.