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Feb 05, 2020
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Midweek
G L O B A L H
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E DI T ION
MANILA EXPRESS [email protected] www.themanilaexpress.com
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February 05, 2020 ◊ Vol. 1 Issue 103 ◊ 2 SECTIONS 16 PAGES
OVER 17K VILLAGES DRUG-FREE: PNP
DND READY FOR ANTINCOV TASKS FROM DOH STORY ON PAGE A5
STORY ON PAGE A5
ELEAZAR
LORENZANA
AMID nCoV SPREAD:
Duterte tells public: Stop the sinophobia MANILA — Stop sowing hate against Chinese nationals (termed as sinophobia) after two cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) were confirmed in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte asked the public in a press conference at Malacañang on Monday evening.
“China has been kind to us. We can only also show the same favor to them. Stop this sinophobia,” Duterte said, adding that it was “not good” to show hostility or aversion to Chinese nationals simply because it is where the virus originated from. He also frowned upon calls for Chinese to return to their homeland. “You know it is not only a case of bad taste but it is not good for us Filipinos to be saying that. Now they are blaming the Chinese coming from China. It could always incubate in some other places. It happened in China, at least the first. But that is not the fault of anybody. Not the Chinese, not the Filipino, no one,” he said. AMID ││ A8
DEPED CLARIFIES ONLY FEBRUARY EVENTS POSTPONED AMID NCOV THREAT
HEALING PRIEST FR. FERNANDO SUAREZ DIES OF HEART ATTACK SUAREZ
STORY ON PAGE A2
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
By Filane Mikee Cervantes
SINAS
MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday ordered all police districts to create response teams to help contain the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus
Permanent relocation of New Navy chief allays shortage residents in 7-km Taal danger of naval assets By Priam Nepomuceno zone eyed STORY ON PAGE A2
NT
is still open Nadine Lustre ith her to work again w nd ex- boyfrie B3 PA G E James Reid
S PO R T S
By Azer Parrocha
MANILA — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will assist Filipinos with work permits in China and its special administrative regions affected by the temporary travel ban to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019nCoV), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday. SANDOVAL
MANILA — Newly-appointed Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in-command, Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the decommissioning of “legacy ships” and other dated assets does not necessarily mean that the naval service will be experiencing a shortage of naval assets (bottoms).
POEA ││ A5
NEW ││ A8
BACORDO
House, DBM eye close coordination to speed up budget process By Filane Mikee Cervantes
ENlaT MEa AIN star NTgEteRnnTis Eun Yo e of the is TOPS’ Athlet A9 PA G E Month
PERETE
STORY ON PAGE A2
(2019-nCoV) in the country. The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the Manila Police District (MPD), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), and Eastern Police District (EPD). METRO ││ A8
POEA, OWWA to assist OFWs barred from returning to China for work
LOPEZ
ENTERTAINME
STORY ON PAGE A2
Metro Manila police districts ordered China donates 200K to form nCoV response teams surgical masks to PH
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez MANILA — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez on Tuesday said there will be two million surgical masks available for both health care workers and the public in a month to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). DEPARTMENT ││ A8
BELGICA BRIONES
PH EYES PRISONER TRANSFER PACT WITH UK: DOJ
MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is seeking closer coordination between the House of Representatives and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for a smoother process in the preparation and approval of the annual national
budget. In a statement on Tuesday, Cayetano said the executive and legislative branches should “work together in putting together” the annual budget through consultations before the formal submission of the budget to Congress. HOUSE ││ A5
CAYETANO
STORY ON PAGE A8
A2
NEWS
THE MANILA EXPRESS
February 05, 2020
Email: [email protected] Website: www.themanilaexpress.com
Healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez dies of heart attack DepEd clarifies only cusations of sexual abuse of retired Novaliches Bishop the National Tribunal of ApFebruary events postponed minors. Most Rev. Antonio Tobias of peals to Rome in May last year. In a letter, the Congregation the “not guilty” verdict on the Suarez was known for conMANILA — Healing priest amid nCoV threat ducting “healing” masses in Fr. Fernando Suarez died on for the Doctrine of the Faith Filipino priest. By Ferdinand Patinio
By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday clarified that only events and activities slated for February will be postponed amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare. “Secretary (Leonor) Briones has announced that the Department will issue a memorandum giving details on the postponement of specific national DepEd events usually held in February such as the (National Science and Technology Fair, National Festival of Talents and National Schools Press Conference),” the department said in a Facebook post. The agency also clarified that Palarong Pambansa is not included in the list as it will be held in Marikina City from May 1 to 9. “A complete copy of the memorandum will be released and posted at www.deped.gov.ph and DepEd Philippines Facebook page as soon as possible for the guidance of the public,” it added. In a Senate hearing on the government’s response to the 2019-nCoV, Briones said schools are discouraged from holding field trips in the meantime to ensure learners’ protection. “We have been advised to take care of exposing our children to public places. So, right now, the policy is a temporary postponement of all these activities,” Briones said. “Regarding the suspension of classes in relation to nCoV, we take our cue from the Department of Health (DOH),” she added. As of Tuesday noon, the DOH reported a total of 102 persons under investigation for suspected nCoV cases. Of this number, 90 patients are admitted to various hospitals while 12 have been discharged. The number of confirmed nCoV cases in the country stands at two, with one death. (PNA) BRIONES
Tuesday afternoon due to heart attack. He was 52. Fr. Melvin Castro of the Diocese of Tarlac confirmed the news about Suarez’s death. “Kare-receive ko lang ng text…tumawag ako sa kaclose niya, nasa Asian Hospital sila (I just received the text message. I called his close friend. They are at the Asian Hospital now),” he said in an interview. Castro said Suarez was playing tennis in Alabang when he collapsed. He was then brought to the hospital where he eventually passed away. “I was in shock and I didn’t want to believe it. The last time we talked was when he was declared not guilty. He was happy. He said it’s about time. I think the Lord just waited for him to be cleared. It was really sad,” Castro said. Last December, the Vatican has cleared Suarez from ac-
informed Judicial Vicar and
MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday announced talks with the British government for a possible agreement on the transfer of sentenced prisoners between London and Manila. “We met the British Consul Martin O’ Neill yesterday
(Monday) and he intimated their desire to enter into a TSPA (Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement) with us. Once the request is formalized through the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), (the United Kingdom) and (the Philippines) will exchange drafts as a prerequisite to negotiations,” Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete
DOH traces 74 contacts of 2 nCoV patients By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA — The Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB) on Monday reported that it has traced 74 contacts of the two patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The DOH earlier identified the two patients as a 38-yearold Chinese female and her
44-year-old Chinese male partner who died on Feb. 1, 2020. “‘Yung sa contact tracing may nakitaan tayo ng senyales ng ubo at sipon at ito ay kasama na sa 80 PUIs na ating ni-rereport ngayon (For the contact tracing, we detected signs of cough and colds and they are included in the 80 per-
told newsmen. Perete said there are less than 10 Filipinos imprisoned in the UK. “We likewise want projections from the DFA of the number of Philippine nationals in the UK for us to determine the prioritization to be accorded to the UK request to negotiate. At the moment, our priority remains UAE (United
Arab Emirates) and those other states where many Filipinos work or reside,” Perete said. On Dec. 6, 2010, the DOJ entered into the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement (TSPA) with the governments of Canada, Cuba, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Spain, and Thailand. Under the terms of the 2010 agreement, the acts which became the basis of the prison sentence must be punishable in both the state which sentenced the person and the administering state which requests the transfer of the person who must be a national of the administering state. The judgment must be final and in general, must still serve at least one year of the sentence except in exceptional cases. Likewise under the agreement, once the transfer has been carried out, the enforcement of the sentence shall be governed by the laws of the administering state who shall be bound by the duration of the sentence of deprivation of liberty; findings of facts indicated in the judgment and is bound not to convert the sentence into a “pecuniary” sanction. (PNA)
Permanent relocation of residents in 7-km Taal danger zone eyed By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA — The Duterte government is eyeing the permanent relocation of residents within the seven-kilometer radius danger zone near the restive Taal Volcano, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles revealed on Tuesday. In a media forum held in Kamuning, Quezon City, Nograles said around 5,000 families residing in two towns in Batangas that have been badly hit by Taal Volcano’s eruption might be permanently barred from returning to their respective homes. “Basically, we’re preparing for the worst. Lahat, ina-anticipate na kasi natin (We anticipate everything). So, the way this administration, the government works is we try to anticipate everything, create contingency measures, whatever contingencies may come,” Nograles said. “Given what’s been happening to Taal, it may seem that we’re headed towards declaring the seven-kilometer radius as something na hindi na natin pwedeng pabalikin ang mga residente doon (that we can no longer allow the residents to return there),” he added. Nograles said President Rodrigo Duterte will have the
final say on the proposed permanent relocation of families living within the danger zone surrounding Taal Volcano. Total lockdown of all 199 villages and 15 municipalities and cities in Batangas and Cavite had been strictly enforced when Taal Volcano began spewing clouds of thick ash and steam on January 12. Over 300,000 residents from areas near Taal Volcano were initially forced to flee their homes, but most of them have returned to their respective residences after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered the volcano’s alert status from Alert Level 4 to 3 on January 26. Nograles said 5,000 families that might be permanently relocated would be transferred to housing units in Laguna, Cavite, and Bulacan provinces. He also assured them that they will be provided with livelihood assistance from the government. “The government has already identified over 5,000 housing projects in nearby provinces in Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan na pwede na nating i-transfer (where we can transfer them),” he said. “Kapag ni-relocate natin sila doon, kasama sa relocation
and out of the country. (PNA)
SUAREZ
PH eyes prisoner transfer pact with UK: DOJ By Benjamin Pulta
The case was submitted by
package yung livelihood package (When we relocate them, we assure them that livelihood package is already included in the relocation package),” Nograles added. Ta a l Vol c a n o e m it t e d steam-laden plumes that are 50 to 500 meters tall, according to the 8 a.m. bulletin issued by Phivolcs on Tuesday. On Monday, Taal Volcano emitted dirty-white to white steam-laden plumes and volcanic earthquakes were recorded, indicating “magmatic activity” that might lead to an eruption. In its latest advisory, Phivolcs warned that since Alert Level 3 is maintained, there is still an expected “sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic
earthquakes, ashfall and lethal volcanic gas expulsions” within Taal Volcano and nearby lakeshores. Phivolcs also suggested that entry into Taal Volcano Island, as well as into areas over Taal Lake and communities within a seven-kilometer radius from the main crater must be “strictly prohibited.” On Jan. 28, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President would look for ways to help residents who have been affected by Taal’s volcanic activity. The Chief Executive on Jan. 20 asked Congress to hasten the passage of the PHP30-billion supplemental budget that will be used to provide assistance and livelihood to displaced residents. (PNA)
sons under investigation that we’re reporting now), DOH-EB Director Ferchito Avelino said in a press briefing at the DOH main office. As of noon Monday, the DOH reported that there are a total of 80 PUIs and 67 of them are currently admitted and isolated, while 10 have been discharged under strict monitoring. It also reported one PUI mortality that turned out with a negative result, and two confirmed cases with one mortality. “‘Yung mga pinauwi po na sampu sila ay na-clear na, although sila ay pinapayuhan namin na maging conscious sa kanilang kalusugan, base sa kanilang laboratoryo sila ay negatibo sa nCoV (The ten people who were sent home have been cleared, although we’ve advised them to be conscious of their health, based on their laboratory results, they are negative of nCoV),” Avelino said. Avelino added that the contacts of the two nCoV patients have already been advised to undergo home quarantine. “Gusto namin linawin na ang home quarantine na sinasabi namin ay isolation lamang din sa loob ng bahay, ibig sabihin wala silang priviledge makipaghalubilo sa mga miyembro ng kanilang pamilya habang binabantayan
po sila sa loob ng (We want to clarify that home quarantine means isolation inside the house, this means they don’t have the privilege to mingle with their family members while they’re being monitored for) 14 days,” he said. The two patients took Cebu Pacific flights 5J 241 from Hong Kong to Cebu and DG 6519 from Cebu to Dumaguete City on January 21 and Philippine Airlines flight PR 2542 from Dumaguete to Manila on January 25. Meanwhile, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the department will dispose of the cadaver of the Chinese male as per medical standard operating procedures. “We handle the cadaver as potentially infectious, and it is being treated with care, and cremation will be done as soon as possible,” Domingo said. To avoid the spread of the nCoV nationwide, Domingo advised the public to report to health authorities potential cases of the virus. “Lahat ng (All the) DOH medical centers – level 2 and level 3 hospitals – are capable. It is included in our licensing requirements for level 2 and level 3 hospitals that you should have the isolation facilities to be able to handle infectious disease cases,” he added. (PNA)
PPA sets parameters for cargo ships calling on PH amid nCoV scare MANILA — In order not to disrupt the international cargo supply chain, Philippine ports remain open to all ships even from those originating from China and its special administrative regions (SARs). The only condition is the non-disembarkation of vessel crew and no visitors allowed while docked in any PPA-controlled port or anchorage. PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the majority of Philippine cargoes that originate from hub ports located primarily in China and its SARs like Hong Kong and Taiwan at Philippine ports are predominantly considered as feeder ports. “We cannot afford to ban the entry of international ships to our shores amid this nCoV ARD (Acute Respiratory Disease) scare as doing so will surely paralyze our supply chain as most of our imports and exports go to the hub ports located in China and its SARs,” Santiago said. “Instead, we are banning the disembarkation of the crew of any vessel which called in China or any of its SARs within the 14-day period prior to its arrival in any Philippine port,” Santiago said, adding that no visitors are also allowed within such period to minimize person-to-person interaction with the crew. “We also noted that vessel operators also change crew at some point in the voyage of the vessel, and if such case happens in the Philippines, the crew who will be replaced shall undergo strict quarantine period and only be allowed to go home if cleared by the Department of Health,” Santiago added. However, Santiago reiterated that ships calling on the Philippines more than 14 days after calling out at a port in China or its SARs shall be allowed to dock without restrictions. The Philippines, meanwhile, is tightening its grip in almost all of its local and international gateways to prevent the entry of the deadly nCoV ARD. Earlier, the Philippines stopped issuing visas to Chinese nationals and stopped giving upon-arrival visas to foreigners particularly those coming from China and any of its SARs. This after the Philippines recorded the first-ever nCoV ARD death outside of China. Suspected nCoV cases in the country have also jumped to about 80 after the reported death. “Shipping operators need not worry as long as you follow this condition and those listed in the guidelines of the Bureau of Quarantine relative to concerns with the declaration of public health emergency with international concern, you can call at any Philippine port,” Santiago said. (PR)
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February 05, 2020
THE MANILA EXPRESS
REGIONAL NEWS
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Airlines told about Duterte’s expanded travel ban—MCIA By John Rey Saavedra
CEBU CITY — All airlines with direct flights to Cebu from China, Macao and Hong Kong have been informed of the strict enforcement of the expanded travel ban of President Rodrigo Duterte amid report of the first death due to the novel coronavirus (2019nCoV) in the Philippines, the spokesperson of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) said on Monday. Avigael Ratcliffe, spokesperson of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, said the airport is “now coordinating with relevant agencies in implementing the government-ordered temporary ban on persons who have traveled to the three areas within the last 14 days as a precaution against the threat of the 2019nCoV. “Together with the Bureaus of Immigration and Quarantine, we are working to ensure
that all airlines operating direct international flights into Cebu from China, Hong Kong, and Macao are aware of the new directive and take appropriate action to minimize disruption to its inbound and outbound flights,” Ratcliffe said. The airport in Mactan Island has been servicing 36 flights from mainland China, as well as its eastern seaboard’s Special Administrative Region and southern coast’s autonomous region. At least flights are direct from the mainland, but there is no direct flight from Wuhan, the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV. Ratcliffe said GMCAC has been coordinating with all airline operators, airport community stakeholders (such as concessionaires) and the Manila International Airport Authority, operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in order to align with the overall enforcement of the expanded travel issued by Duterte on Feb. 2.
Although the entry ban exempts Filipino citizens and permanent residents in the country and covers “all persons regardless of nationality,” they are required to be quarantined for 14 days under the new presidential directive. In response, MCIA has designated an isolated holding area for passengers who are allowed to disembark but will be placed under isolation in the light of the presidential directive. “This holding facility is closed off to non-essential airport employees and is connected to a separate bus bay to ensure proper handling and transport of the quarantined passengers, in line with the required stringent quarantine procedures,” Ratcliffe said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency. The airport management’s spokesperson also said precautionary measures they established more than a week ago that are meant “to control the
potential spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus” are still currently in place. The measures, she said, include in-flight announcements prior to landing, advising passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms to self-declare and voluntarily submit to a medical screening by the Bureau of Quarantine upon disem-
barkation. Other measures are intensified monitoring of arriving passengers in MCIA by taking additional thermal scans of passenger body temperatures on select flights, putting up of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and spraying of liquid disinfectant in aero-bridges prior to arrival of each flight, and man-
datory wearing of protective masks and gloves for airport front-liners. The MCIA also stationed a medical team each at Terminal 1 and 2, as well as distributed adequate reading materials and announcements to provide passengers with ample information on the new coronavirus strain. (PNA)
Passengers at the Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. (PNA)
Iloilo slowly becoming center for culture, arts Panagbenga Fest opens By Perla Lena
ILOILO CITY — This highly urbanized city is slowly becoming a center for culture and arts. “That is one of our dreams even before. We want to be the center for culture and arts, slowly we are going there,” said Junel Ann Divinagracia, city tourism and development officer in an interview Monday. Vacant spaces in Iloilo City have been adorned with paintings. The murals were done by various artists in this city. Divinagracia attributed the wall paintings to the aggressive promotion of public art by the local government. She said that it’s “fortunate that the mayor and his wife are art lovers”. “They pushed for public art. The mural was first done in Sambag (Jaro district),” Divinagracia said. Since then, more artists and muralists started giving their talents to the city, she said. “Probably our artists have seen that they have the limelight; that they are given chances and opportunities to showcase their talents,” she added. With murals making waves as additional attractions in the city, Divinagracia said that she is appealing that they
won’t be subjected to vandals. “It’s an added tourist attraction. They are instagrammable. With just one click, it can go viral and can help in the promotion of our city. I hope there are no vandals, and everyone will cooperate in apprehending vandals,” she added. Apart from walls, the city’s bridges also become subject of colorful paintings. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said that it is similar to Singapore where its three bridges were painted by Filipina artist Pacita Abad. Treñas said that all vacant spaces in the city will be painted to make them “become more creative”. He added that the paintings will inspire the younger generation to be more creative. “We want them to be more creative because the colors, the paintings inspire our children to be more creative and to find other sources. In the future, when they take over, they will find more creative responses to the city’s problems,” the mayor said. Meanwhile, apart from the murals, the city tourism officer is also inviting tourists to come and visit various art galleries in the city. Divinagracia said that with a lot of artists in Iloilo, some have embarked on a one-man exhibit while others have formed a group
and created galleries. The artists, she added, saw they are being recognized. There are a lot of art lovers and paintings selling like hotcakes. Currently, 13 galleries and museums are operating in Iloilo City, data from the City Tourism and Development Office (CTDO) showed. They showcase various visual arts collections while one serves as an art gallery and antique shop. The galleries include the Art Deck Gallery by the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU); Ceramico Arts and Crafts by Nerissa Luger; Cinematheque Iloilo, Film Development Council of the Philippines;
Et Nos Gallery, Angelicum School Iloilo; Galerie De Arsie by Arsenio Rafael III; Gallery-I; Guevarra Gallery Arts and Antiques; UPV Cinematheque Film Museum by the University of the Philippines –Visayas; Mamusa Art Gallery; Omriel Art Gallery; Molo Mansion Gallery by SM City Iloilo; Museo Iloilo Art Gallery Section and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art by the Megaworld Corporation. Aside from the Museo Iloilo and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art that charge minimal entrance fee, admission in the other galleries is free, said Divinagracia. (PNA)
A mural shows national hero Graciano Lopez Jaena sitting prominently at the viewing deck of the Iloilo River along Muelle Loney area in Iloilo City. (Photo courtesy of Iloilo City PIO)
Davao Or seeks P15.5-B budget to address poverty, insurgency By Che Palicte
DAVAO CITY — The provincial government of Davao Oriental is optimistic to get huge funding of about P15.5 billion from the national government this year for its high-priority projects in barangays identified as conflict-affected areas and geographically isolated and disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), a statement was released Saturday. The proposed amount is the result of the workshops done by the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTFELCAC) in this city recently. “The Davao Oriental Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC), along with its counterparts from other provinces in the region, came up with a comprehensive list of proposed priority programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) which bid to alleviate poverty and address the issues on insurgency,” the
statement reads. Davao Oriental’s proposed projects amounting to a total of P15.5 billion mainly include infrastructure projects, livelihood, and trainings, among many others. From the listed projects, the cluster member-agencies will determine the projects to be adopted in their respective 2020 and 2021 budget. PTF-ELCAC Vice Chairman Ednar Dayanghirang said that, for the two districts, Davao Oriental has proposed big-ticket road projects requiring about P7.4 billion for barangays Tubaon in the municipality of Tarragona, Taocanga in the municipality of Manay, Pichon in Caraga, Binondo in Baganga, and Simulao in Boston, all in the first district. While for its second district are Barangays Mahayag in Banaybanay, Sudlon in San Isidro, Marayag and Maragatas in Lupon, and Tagbinonga in the City of Mati, he said
adding that the list was harmonized and aligned with the priority list of the Philippine Army (PA) considering it has the firm grasp on which barangays the government should focus on. Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, in an earlier interview, disclosed that the national government has earmarked P35 billion ready to be tapped by the twelve clusters under the ELCAC. “Our problem on insur-
gency basically stems from poverty and the absence of government services in the hinterland areas. So, we really need to harmonize all our efforts to end this problem once and for all,” he said. “I think this is the right time that we address this issue. We have to prioritize livelihood and accessibility. The sooner we address these issues, the sooner we solve the problem on insurgency,” he added. (PNA)
with prayer sans parade By Pamela Mariz Geminiano
BAGUIO CITY — This mountain resort city officially kickedoff the month-long Panagbenga Fest celebrations on Feb. 1 with a simple program where traditional and religious prayers were done without the opening parade, which was canceled on Friday. The opening parade and other crowd-drawing activities set for the Panagbenga were either postponed or canceled as a preventive measure to avoid the spread of illnesses especially the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) affecting various places worldwide. The opening parade was supposed to be the elimination of the street dancing and drum and lyre competition, which will determine which among the groups will perform at the grand parades on Feb. 29 and March 1. The ecumenical prayers were highlighted during the opening ceremony, with Fr. Rosito Pedro who led the Catholic prayer; Uztadh Rohalas Muripaga with the Islamic prayer; and an “uggayam” (prayer delivered by chanting in local dialect) by Baguio Councilor Vladimir Cayabas. Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) chairman and former mayor Mauricio Domogan, led the Day-eng (native Prayer). Domogan asked the creator to bless the month-long activities and to be successful despite the nCoV threat. “I also pray that the Panagbenga will continue to become an instrument in bringing progress to the city,” he prayed in a local dialect. Meanwhile, Cayabas also prayed that the city and its residents will be safe from the virus as they appreciate the simple celebration of the Panagbenga. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the health and safety of the public is a paramount concern. “We will still astound the world with our cultural heritage, our city being hailed as one of the UNESCO’s creative city. Let the Panagbenga flourish again,” he said. In his welcome message, Domogan recalled the first-ever staging of the Panagbenga 25 years ago. “It is as if like yesterday when few of us were cracking our heads to plan for this festival in order to resuscitate and restore Baguio from the killer earthquake 1990,” he said. He said with just a P2 million budget, the founders of Panagbenga were able to stage the Flower Festival 25 years ago. “Our students and children will cry if we do not allow them to participate which really contributed the establishment of the flower festival,” he said. “Let us continue to bloom as what we are doing in the past years. With our cooperation and teamwork, I am sure we will have another exciting and successful celebration of the Flower Festival that will be a crowd-drawing event for the city,” Domogan said. Baguio and the rest of northern Luzon were rocked by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake., leaving hundreds dead and several infrastructures in rubles. Panagbenga,” a Kankanaey word meaning “blossoming”, was conceptualized in 1995 as a recovery measure after the 1990 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon including Baguio. This year’s Panagbenga celebration carries the theme “Blooming through the years.” (PNA)
Army allays fear on Mega Drug Rehab Center as quarantine site By Marilyn Galang
FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija — The Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID) that manages this vast military reservation, is open to a proposal to make a portion of the Mega Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRC) here as quarantine area for Filipino repatriates from China. “Being with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will have to obey whatever is
the decision of the national government for the better good of our countrymen,” said Major General Lenard Agustin, commander of the 7ID. Agustin and his staff met on Saturday with health officials, led by Department of Health’ (DOH’) Regional Director, Dr. Cesar Cassion who headed the inspection of the proposed area for quarantine activity. Agustin said they proposed buildings at the fourth phase area, which is located
at the back portion of the DATRC. He said such portion is around one-fourth of the DATRC, which can accommodate some 2,500 based on drug rehabilitation usage plan. Agustin allayed fears of contamination, saying no persons with manifested 2019-nCov symptoms will be quarantined in the place based on their briefings. “Nothing to be apprehensive about,” he said. Agustin said the Chinese
government will not allow people who manifested illness to leave their country. “If it’s okay, the Chinese government will give the go signal for our government to haul our countrymen there,” he said. Putting them in 14-day quarantine is only meant to erase further doubt. “So, do not be afraid on that,” he said. Ag ust i n f urt her said DATRC is only one of five choices to be a quarantine area. (PNA)
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OPINION
H DIREK TO THE POINT The Royal Prince
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HE most powerful country on the planet today would appear to be the United States of America if you believe what you are told. But the United States has always been controlled from London and still is. America has never been the land of the free and it’s time it was. The focus of the world has been on big, bad America, as the global villain while all the time the events blamed on Americans have been orchestrated by the Elite of the Babylonian Brotherhood in England and elsewhere. The apparent break up of the British Empire and Britain’s decline, on the surface, as the super power, has further obscured, on purpose, where the real power lies. I emphasise that by London I do not mean the British Government which is just another facade no matter who is in office. I mean that for historical and other reasons the major operational centre of the secret society web of the reptile Brotherhood is based in London or New Troy and, to a large extent, Paris, Brussels and Rome, also. Once again, to understand what has happened in the United States we have to go back a very long time. The Phoenicians landed there in ancient times and what appeared to be Egyptian (Phoenician) or Oriental remains were found in the Grand Canyon in the early years of this century, although the knowledge of this has been suppressed. The naming of the US city of Phoenix in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona was inspired
by an understanding of the true history of that area, no matter what the official version may wish us to believe. There is evidence that the Welsh, Irish, English and Scots landed in North America many centuries before Columbus. The official story that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas is ludicrous. A few miles from Edinburgh in Scotland today still stands Rosslyn Chapel, that holy grail of the Brotherhood Elite. It was built in the shape of a Templar cross by the St Clair-Sinclair family and is a mass of esoteric symbolism. The foundations were laid in 1446 and it was
completed in the 1480s. How remarkable then that the stonework at Rosslyn includes depictions of sweetcorn and cacti which were only found in America and Christopher Columbus did not ‘discover’ that continent until 1492! How could this be? There is, in fact, no mystery. Christopher Columbus was not even nearly the first white person to land in the Ameri-
STRAIGHT TO THE FACT The Maharlikan Prince THE GREATEST MYSTERY The Story That Will Change The World
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IVE years after Columbus landed in the Caribbean, an Italian known as John Cabot set sail from the Templar port of Bristol in the west of England to officially discover Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and North America. The name Bristol evolved from Barati and was once called Caer Brito. Bristol was a centre for the Knights Templar and the area of the city today called Temple Meads relates to that. Cabot was backed by England’s Henry VII and Cabot’s son, Sebastian, born in Venice, was an explorer and map maker for Henry. Sebastian also sailed to the Hudson Bay in Canada and led an expedition for the Spanish to South America. The Cabots said they were looking for Asia! The expeditions of the Spanish to South America and the British and French to North America were all coordinated by the same source, branches of the Brotherhood. Official history does not connect Cabot with Columbus, but not through lack of evidence. John Cabot’s real
February 05, 2020
THE MANILA EXPRESS
name was Giovanni Caboto. He was a naturalised Venetian who came from Genoa - the very city where Columbus operated from at the same time Cabot was there. Manly P. Hall, a high degree Freemason himself, said that both were connected to the same secret societies and ‘Wise Men of the East’. He adds in his book, America’s Assignment With Destiny: “The explorers who opened the New World operated from a master plan and were agents of re-discovery rather than discoverers. Very little is known about the origin, lives, characters, and policies of these intrepid adventurers. Although they lived in a century amply provided with historians and biographers, these saw fit either to remain silent or to invent plausible accounts without substance.” Of course they did. They didn’t want the people to know the truth that it was all a scam and part of the long term Brotherhood Agenda. Over the next four centuries the Brother-
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LAND OF THE FREE? cas. The Phoenicians, Norse, Irish, Welsh, Bretons, Basques and Portuguese, all sailed to America before him and so did Prince Henry Sinclair of Rosslyn, as documented in a rare book by Frederick I. Pohl called Prince Henry Sinclair’s Voyage To The New World 1398. Sinclair made the journey with another Brotherhoodbloodline, the Zeno family, one of the most prominent Black Nobility families in Venice. Sinclair and Antonio Zeno landed in what we call Newfoundland and went ashore in Nova Scotia (New Scotland) in 1398. Antonio’s descriptions in his letters of the land they found correspond perfectly, and in detail, with an area of pitch (asphalt) deposits in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, not
far from the present town of New Glasgow. Sinclair went on to land in what is now New England. In Massachusetts at a place called Prospect Hill at Westford, 25 miles from Boston, a representation of a sword and an armoured knight have been found in the rock. T. C. Lethbridge, the curator of the University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Cambridge, England, said
that the arms, armour and heraldic emblems were those of a late 14th century knight, north Scottish, and: “a kin to the first Sinclair Earl of Orkney”. The Brotherhood had known about the Americas for thousands of years and Christopher Columbus was used to make the official discovery so that the occupation of the Americas could begin. This is the story of how it was done. After the purge of 1307, many Templars left France for Scotland, as we have seen. But others headed for Portugal where they operated under the name, the Knights of Christ, focusing mainly on maritime activities. The most famous Grand Master of the Knights of Christ was Prince Henry the Navigator (another Prince Henry) who lived between 1394 and 1460. The term ‘navigator’ or ‘nautier’ was used by the Knights Templar and the Priory of Sion to denote a Grand Master and so not surprisingly it was continued by this Templar front, the Knights of Christ. Prince Henry was a maritime explorer of royal blood and it was his sailors who ‘discovered’ Madeira and the Azores, two possible remnants of Atlantis. Because of his connections to the secret Brotherhood knowledge, he had access to many maps compiled from the journeys of the Phoenicians and others, including those which charted the existence of the Americas. Only a little over 20 years after Columbus set sail for the Americas, sorry ‘India’, the Ottoman Turkish Admiral, Pin Reis, drew a map of what the land mass of Antarctica looked like 300 years before that continent was officially discovered! The accuracy of
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his map has been confirmed by modern techniques. How could he do that? He said he drew the map from earlier ones, the same sources available to Prince Henry the Navigator and the Knights of Christ -Knights Templar. This becomes extremely important when you realise that one of Prince Henry’s sea captains and a Knight of Christ was the father-in-law of... Christopher Columbus. This guy was not looking for India. He knew where he was going all along. This is why so many maritime explorers and circumnavigators of the world, like Vasco de Gama and Amerigo Vespucci, came from Portugal. As the Freemasonic historian, Manly P. Hall, has explained, Columbus was connected to the secret society network in Genoa and northern Italy, the
bastion of the Black Nobility Venetian-Phoenicians and the reptilian crossbreeds.He was at one time employed by Rene d’Anjou of the reptilian House of Lorraine, a member of the Babylonian Brotherhood and a nobleman with endless contacts across Europe, including Genoa and Venice. Columbus (real name Colon) was a member of a group inspired by the beliefs of the poet, Dante, who was a very active Cathar and Templar and the flag Columbus flew on his ships on that journey to the Americas was the red cross on the white background. Crucial support for Columbus came from two high initiates of the Babylon Brotherhood network, Lorenzo de Medici, one of the most powerful Venetian reptilian families, and the artist Leonardo da Vinci, a Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.
slaves. Among the Spanish conquests were the lands of the Incas and the Maya and much of their knowledge was lost or systematically destroyed. The same happened in North America where the Europeans killed untold numbers of Native Americans and virtually wiped that culture from the face of the Earth. The native peoples of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere suffered a similar fate. The Aryans, unknowingly controlled by the reptile- Aryans, took over the world through these British and European empires and wherever they went the knowledge of life and history (ie, the reptilian involvement in human affairs) was stolen or destroyed. One of the most obvious earlier examples of this was the destruction of the great esoteric library at Alexandria in Egypt on the orders of the Romans in the 4th century Books that were not destroyed were hoarded in the Vatican. The contact who has relatives working at high levels in the Vatican told me how, during his guided tour of the place, he saw vacuum-sealed vaults under the building which housed thousands of ancient esoteric books. “It was unbelievable”, he said. The first permanent English settlement in what became the United States was at Jamestown, Virginia, in the early 17th century. Virginia, it is said, was named after Elizabeth I, the completely misnamed ‘virgin queen’. It is far more likely, how-
ever, given the background, that it was named after the virgin goddess of ancient Babylon, Queen Semiramis and her mirror in Egypt, Isis. Many members of the Francis Bacon family were among the early settlers and so were the Puritan-Calvinists in their black clothing and tall hats who treated the native population, like their own women, with an arrogance and inhumanity beyond description. With the settlers, as the Brotherhood expanded their occupation of the planet, came the reptilian bloodlines of the European aristocracy and royalty who would become the business leaders, bankers, presidents and administrators of the new United States. The financial and land ownership of America was assured from the start with the formation of the Virginia Company, set up by King James I in 1606. James knighted Francis Bacon and appointed him to many important positions, including Lord Chancellor of England. Under James’s patronage, the Templars, Rosicrucians and other secret societies joined forces under one name, Freemasonry. Look at some of the early members of the Virginia Company - Francis Bacon, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Montgomery, Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Northampton, and Lord Southampton. All of them of Brotherhood bloodlines. The Virginia Company still exists under other names and it still controls the United States, as I shall explain in the future.
KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERED hood-controlled countries of Europe, particularly Britain, but also including the Dutch, French, Belgians, Spanish, Portuguese, Germans and others, plundered the planet, taking over the world, in effect, and expanded the reptile-Aryan control as never before. Typical of the mentality and the methods employed were those of Hernando Cortes, who led the Spanish takeover of Central America after Columbus. The native peoples had their own system of measuring time and they had a date on which they expected the return of their god, Quetzalcoatl, in many ways their version of Jesus. The stories told about Jesus in the Middle East and Europe and those of Quetzalcoatl in Central America were basically the same because they came from the same source. The date of the expected second coming of the white god, Quetzalcoatl, was, in European time, 1519
and they believed that he would be wearing attire in keeping with his nickname of the Plumed Serpent. Cortes went ashore in Mexico in 1519 wearing plumed feathers and he even landed close to the spot where Quetzacoatl was expected. He was also carrying a cross, again in keeping with the Quetzalcoatl legend. Because of this, the Aztec king, Montezuma, believed, like his people, that Cortes was the long awaited return of their god. This allowed Cortes, with only 598 men, to gain control of a vast number of people. By the time they realised that Cortes was no second coming, it was too late. Enormous slaughter of the native peoples followed and one Spanish historian estimated at least 12 million natives of South America alone were killed after the Europeans (Aryans and reptile-Aryans) arrived and an even greater number became
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February 05, 2020
DND ready for anti-nCoV tasks from DOH
Over 17K villages drug-free: PNP
message to the Philippine News Agency late Monday. He was responding to question on what types of assistance the agency can provide aside from volunteering large military camps as possible quarantine zones for people being observed for possible infection of the virus. Lorenzana earlier said the DOH is looking at the possibility of using the naval station at Caballo Island off Cavite and the Fort Magsaysay Drug Rehabili-
MANILA — A total of 17,816 barangays or 38 percent out of the 42,045 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared drug-cleared, a ranking police official said on Monday. Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police deputy chief for Operations, said that before the Duterte administration, the total number of drug-infected barangays was 33,869 which represent 81 percent of the total 42,045 barangays of the Philippines. “After 43 months, a total of 17,816 barangays were cleared which brought down the infected barangays from 81 percent to 38 percent,” Eleazar said. He attributed the big decrease in the barangays affected by illegal drugs to the aggressive campaign launched in 2016. Eleazar said police are working double-time to clear the remaining barangays from illegal drugs. He bared the barangays were cleared in Bataan and Aurora, two provinces that were officially declared as drug-free in a ceremony last Saturday. The good practices employed by the government’s anti-narcotics agents will be replicated in other areas still affected by illegal drugs, he said. Eleazar also said at least eight provinces were cleared of illegal drugs. Aside from Bataan and Aurora, also cleared were Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Sur, Mountain Province, Quirino, and Biliran. “If there will be a resurgence of drug activities in their areas and no appropriate interventions were done in a month’s time, their status might be reverted to affected communities,” Eleazar said. Eleazar said that the positive impacts of the campaign against illegal drugs on the eight provinces disprove claims by critics that the government is losing the campaign. He said the campaign against illegal drugs has improved the peace and order situation in the country since July 2016. Citing PNP data, Eleazar disclosed that the crime incidents across the country in the first three-and-a-half years of the Duterte administration was reduced by 64 percent using the same period of the last years of the past administration. “Had it not for the drug war, we would have not reduced the crime incidents by 64 percent in the first 3 ½ years of this administration compared with the last 3 ½ years of the last administration because we subscribed to our belief that most of the crimes are connected to illegal drugs use,” he added. (PNA) ELEAZAR
By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA — The Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies are more than ready for any task to be given by the Department of Health as part of the ongoing efforts to contain the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD). “I will have to rely on the DOH to tell us what they want us to do,” said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a
tation Center in Nueva Ecija as a possible quarantine area for returning overseas Filipino workers from Wuhan, China. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal said they will follow the lead of the DOH in containing the nCoV ARD threat in the country. “The NDRRMC will follow the lead of DOH being the subject matter expert on this concern and chair of the IATF EID (Emerging Infectious Diseases) Just like what was done in the dengue outbreak and other previous health emergencies, all the member agencies of the NDRRMC are ready to provide support to all the actions that will be recommended and implemented by DOH,” he added. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine said there was still no case of human-to-human transmission of nCoV in the Philippines, adding that the country is in the containment stage of the disease. This came after a 44-year-old Chinese man — the companion of the 38-year-old woman who became the first confirmed nCoV case in the country — died on Saturday, the first nCoV-positive patient to have died outside China. (PNA)
House, DBM eye close coordination SSS to speed up budget process accredits MTDC as 67th partner agent FROM PAGEA1
“That is what we want to do and that is what Budget Secretary (Wendel) Avisado wants
THE Social Security System (SSS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Mandaluyong Traders Development Cooperative (MTDC) as its 67th partner agent on January 23, 2020, at the SSS Building, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Under the MOA, accredited servicing partner agents are authorized to receive and screen various application forms of self-employed, voluntary, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and non-working spouse (NWS) as well as benefits and loan applications of their members. They are also allowed to collect SSS contributions, loan amortizations, and other miscellaneous payments. To date, there are 67 cooperatives and microfinance institutions nationwide who joined the Partner Accreditation Program which is facilitated by SSS Cooperatives and Informal Sector Department. Above photo shows (L-R): MTDC General Manager Ramir R. Moreno, MTDC Chairperson Reynaldo R. Evangelista, SSS Account Management Group Acting Head Atty. Antonio S. Argabioso and SSS Branch Operations Sector Executive Vice President Judy Frances A. See during the MOA signing.
CAYETANO
to do – even before the President submits the budget to Congress, there is consultation with the proper committees of both the House and the Senate, instead of them preparing it and the House revising it and the Senate doing its own revision,” Cayetano said. Cayetano said the proposal would also reduce the possibility of President Rodrigo Duterte vetoing certain provisions in the Congress-approved spending measure. In April last year, President Duterte signed the 2019 appropriations law after deleting PHP95-billion worth of alleged pork insertions made by the previous House leadership. To avert another scenario of a reenacted budget, senators and cong re s sme n comprising the bicameral conference committee approved on Dec. 11, 2019, the final version of
the PHP4.1-trillion national budget bill for 2020. The President signed the 2020 appropriations bill last Jan. 6. House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, meanwhile, said the planned prior consultation with members of Congress in the preparation of the national budget is consistent with the constitutional mandate that the power of the purse lies with the legislature. “It will hasten consideration of the President’s budget proposal not only in the House Committee on Appropriations but in plenary as well,” Romualdez said. “Remember that the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the 2020 national budget in record time on Sept. 20, 2019. Historically, the proposed national budget is approved in the House of Representatives not earlier than October,” he added. Romualdez said the speed
statement. Under the existing quarantine policy, any person who may be directly or indirectly exposed to animals, humans, and facilities suspected to have acquired the 2019-nCoV will have to be quarantined for 14 days. It added that the quarantine may be done in a quarantine facility or outside of the facility but the person reports to health officials twice a day for two weeks. Mendoza said it is the right time to issue a policy regulation must come from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for government employees and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for private business employees addressing this compensation gap. Among the workers who
should be covered by such compensat ion are those working at the country’s air and seaports such cabin crew, flight attendants, pilots, immigration, airport security and maintenance, customs, check-in counter, bag handlers, ground crew personnel, and seamen and porters. He added that these employees are in imminent hazard working under extraordinary circumstances that the ordinary and established paid leave of absences such as sick and paid leave of absences such as sick and vacation leaves are separate and distinct. He also identified professional doctors, nurses, medical health practitioners, cleaners, security guards in private and government-owned and operated hospitals and quarantine
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
at which the 2020 national budget was approved is “unprecedented”. “The House leadership under Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano just needed only 20 working days to finish the job in approving a pork-free and bereft of any illegal parking of
funds and insertions’ national budget,” Romualdez said. “Our focus right now is to work hard in legislation and pass all the measures needed to improve the living condition of our people. That is the marching order from the President,” he added. (PNA)
facilities, hotels, and restaurant employees are at risk of exposure to the deadly virus. “There were reports that the cost of anti-biotic medicines, face masks, and hospital and professional fees were charged to the employees quarantined… The government must ensure that employees don’t have to bear the economic bur-
den of being quarantined performing their job,” he added. Mendoza reminded employers that workers in the private sector have the right to refuse unsafe work, citing Section 6 of the Republic Act 11058 of 2018 or the Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards. (PNA)
Group bats for quarantine leave hazard pay for workers By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA — A labor group on Tuesday pushed for a paid quarantine leave hazard pay for private and public sector workers particularly those quarantined or infected by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) while performing their jobs. “There is an urgent emerging need for government policy regulation for government and private business to provide a devoted and additional across-the-board cash compensation benefit unique only for all frontline employees who are in the first and secondary exposed directly or indirectly to the risk of infection to the dangerous nCoV virus,” Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president Raymond Mendoza said in a
POEA, OWWA to assist OFWs barred from returning to China for work FROM PAGEA1
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval made this assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday imposed a temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China and its special administrative regions — Hong Kong and Macao. Sandoval clarified that the temporary travel ban does not make any distinction for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are currently home for vacation and wish to return to China, Hong Kong, or Macao for work. Her statement is contrary to Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” L. Sta. Romana’s initial statement that Filipinos with work permits in China and its special administrative regions are not covered in the temporary travel ban.
“Lahat po ng (All) Filipino nationals who are in the country will not be allowed to depart for Hong Kong, China, and Macao,” Sandoval said in a Laging Handa press briefing in Malacañang. “Wala pong (There is no) distinction between visa types dun sa lumabas na direktiba doon sa (in the directive on the) travel ban,” she added. Sandoval acknowledged that OFWs who wanted to return to China, Hong Kong, or Macao were concerned about their absences from work. However, she assured that the two attached agencies of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will put in place measures to ensure that they get to keep their jobs. “We fully understand because kung yun ang talagang
kinabubuhay nila (if it’s really their main source of income) but I believe the POEA and the OWAA will be doing their part in ensuring na itong mga trabaho ng ating mga kababayan abroad ay mananatili (that our citizens will still get to keep their jobs) despite this travel ban,” Sandoval said. “Given the situation, I’m sure everyone understands that each country has been conducting its own restrictions when it comes to travel. We are doing this for the protection of everybody,” she added. On the other hand, Sandoval said Filipinos with a dual citizenship status may be allowed to leave the country upon presentation of their foreign passports. Asked if Duterte’s temporary travel ban could be ex-
tended to other countries besides China, Hong Kong, and Macao, Sandoval said it will depend on recommendations by the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). “If there is a need to expand it, it will be recommended by the DOH and the WHO,” Sandoval said. Me a nwh i le, S a ndova l also rejected criticisms that Duterte’s declaration of the travel ban was “too late.” “We believe that it’s just right. Naka angkla po tayo (We are anchored) on the recommendations of the WHO. Ang ating (The) DOH is equipped in assessing the situation and the needs of our country. Our response is appropriate with the recommendation of the WHO,” she added.
Repatriation efforts Currently, at least 42 Filipinos in Hubei province have expressed their interest to be repatriated amid the 2019nCoV epidemic, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said in the same press briefing. Abella said the agency is expected to bring the first batch of Filipinos back home within the week. “The aircraft may leave for China sometime this week,” Abella said. Aside from a DFA team, medical personnel from the DOH will be deployed to pick up the Filipino repatriates from Hubei province. All Filipino repatriates will all be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Meanwhile, Abella said no
Filipinos in China have been confirmed to be infected with the deadly virus. There are 295,047 Filipinos in China, he added. Duterte is scheduled to preside over a meeting with the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the government on government response amid the 2019-nCoV outbreak on Monday afternoon. The 2019-nCoV, which originated from Wuhan in Hubei province in China, has killed at least 362 people, a vast majority in China, and infected 17,000 others, according to the World Health Organization. The fast-spreading virus has been reported in at least 23 countries, including the Philippines. (PNA)
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THE MANILA EXPRESS
February 05, 2020
Email: [email protected] Website: www.themanilaexpress.com
AMID nCoV SPREAD:
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez
Duterte tells public: Stop the sinophobia
FROM PAGEA1
Duterte also pointed out that there were “so many” Filipinos working and living in China. Nearly 300,000 Filipinos are in China, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “But even if there are none, we are a community of nations. We cooperate,” he said. “We can assure the Chinese government that we too can help.” On Sunday, Duterte imposed a temporary travel ban on all visitors coming from China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau. He also banned Filipinos from traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Asked if his temporary travel ban would extend to other countries, Duterte said his decision would depend on the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO). “We will go by the recommendations that will be given out by the WHO. We cannot act on our own,” he answered. Currently, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed two cases of nCoV in the country, a 38-year old woman from Wuhan in Hubei province, China and her companion, a 44-year-old man. DOH said the male patient was the first reported death due
to the deadly virus outside of China. The 2019-nCoV, which originated in Wuhan in Hubei province, China, has infected over 17,000 people and killed around 362 people. Meanwhile, Duterte also dispelled rumors that the Department of Health (DOH) is withholding information on the true state of 2019-nCoV in the country to avoid causing panic. “It is not true. There’s nothing; nothing is being hidden. We will not … I can assure you. This government will never hide anything,” Duterte said in a press conference in Malacañang on Monday night, assuring that government has the situation under control. “If it says that you are going to die tomorrow because of this — it’s a contagion all over, we will tell you that,” he said, adding that it was useless pretending that there were fewer persons under investigation for 2019-nCoV because it was not worth hiding. “If it would cost your life, lives, we will not hide that. Why should we? It’s a reality. Whether you admit it or not, you have to bury the dead. So what is there to hide? It’s not a treasure. It is not something of value to us. It does not con-
tribute to the national wealth. Why should we hide?” Duterte said. “Everything is well in the country. There’s nothing really to be extra scared of that coronavirus thing. Although it has affected a lot of countries but in … You know one or two in any country is not really that fearsome,” Duterte said, as he urged the public to minimize hysterics and instead be vigilant in preventing the spread of the virus by observing proper hygiene and seeking medical treatment. “You know, this coronavirus is scaring people all over the country. The response of the people from the initial reports of coronavirus was almost hysterical when there was really no need for it actually. And if there is really a virus going around, why do you have to be hysterical?” Duterte said. “Why don’t you just go to the hospital and have yourself treated? Or if you want (to be) quarantined if you suspect that you have acquired (it),” he said. With the help of “medical science”, Duterte said powerful medicines have been formulated to treat various illnesses. “I’m sure I said that every nation who has the resources would or already are at work to find out a solution
China donates 200K surgical masks to PH By Azer Parrocha
MANILA — The Chinese government has donated a total of 200,000 surgical masks amid a reported shortage in light of two reported cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country, Malacañang on Sunday said. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo bared that the Chinese government also offered to share medical information and findings on the nCoV. “We wish to acknowledge with great appreciation the donation of the Chinese government of 200,000 surgical masks and its offer of sharing medical information and findings on the novel coronavirus,” Panelo said in a statement. “Such sharing will go a long way in better understanding and containing the spread of nCoV,” he added. Earlier, the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCCII) pledged to donate 600,000 face masks to the country amid the reported shortage. Since the confirmation of the first nCoV case in the country, the public has been rushing
to drug and medical supply stores to buy face masks, alcohol, sanitizers, and other disinfectants. However, several drug and medical supply stores have already run out of face masks due to the sudden surge in demand. The Palace official also assured countries with confirmed cases of nCoV that the Philippines will continue to help and support them while at the same time, preventing the spread of the virus in its territory. Amid the outpour of racist and xenophobic remarks against Chinese nationals, Panelo urged Filipinos anew to be united in preventing the spread of the virus and false information. “Instead of dwelling on the negative, we all should join hands in allaying the apprehensions of the citizenry and contribute to the containment of the disease by observing and following the health protocols put up by the Department of Health and other agencies of the government,” Panelo said. “Let us all be united and vigilant with the rest of the countries and their citizens in combatting and surmounting
this global health emergency,” he added. He acknowledged the “grave anxiety” felt by Filipinos but warned that false information could “heighten fear” among the public. “We must caution those who sow hate, stigma and false narratives vis-à-vis the disease and its origin. They will only exacerbate the already heightened fear among the people by their negativism,” Panelo said. The 2019-nCov, which originated in Wuhan, China, continues to spread to more than a dozen countries. As of February 1, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that the nCoV has killed over 250 people and infected nearly 12,000 people. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the temporary ban of visitors, regardless of nationality, coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions namely Hong Kong and Macao to contain the spread of the virus. However, the temporary travel ban exempts Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visas issued by the Philippine government, directly coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macao. (PNA)
New Navy chief allays shortage of naval assets FROM PAGEA1
“What I am saying here is don’t count the number of bottoms, because let’s say, don’t equate three diesel fast (craft) with one ‘Shaldag’ missile-capable vessel, so don’t count it by the number of bottoms but rather the capabilities involved in these vessels,” Bacordo told reporters after formally taking command of the PN on Monday. Earlier, the PN said around 22 to 24 of ships, many of them “legacy ships” or dated assets, will be decommissioned this year and until the second quarter of 2021. “Ships to be decommissioned have outlived their glory days, ships that are designed for 24 knots are now speeding only 10-12 knots, so it can no longer fulfill its designed mission so rather than have so many bottoms, which have those speed, which can no longer sustain 10 days at sea, better to have lesser bottoms which are capable of longer patrol hours and can speed up to its desired speed,” Bacordo said. Last week, the PN decommissioned two of its aging assets, the BRP Rizal (PS-74)
and the BRP Nicolas Mahusay (PC-119). In the pipeline for the PN are two Jose Rizal missile-armed frigates which are expected to be delivered by April and October this year. Meanwhile, eight units of fast attack interdiction craft-missiles, two corvettes, six offshore patrol vessels, and another two landing docks are also expected to be approved soon. The Israeli-made “Shaldag” is the planned replacement of the PN’s existing patrol killer
medium gunboat fleet. Once the contract for the project is approved, four of the “Shaldag” patrol boats will be built in Israel while the remaining four will be constructed in the PN Cavite Naval Yard in Sangley Point, Cavite City. The “Shaldag” is under the PN’s Fast Attack Interdiction Craft-Missile (FAIC-M) program, wherein four of the ships will be armed with non-lineof-sight (NLOS) missiles with pinpoint accuracy and a range of 25 kilometers. (PNA)
FROM PAGEA1
DUTERTE
or a way out,” Duterte said. “Who knows we— the Filipinos are also doing it. They are conducting… Who knows that we could be the first to find a treatment,” he added. Currently, there is no specific treatment recommended for 2019-nCoV. Instead, supportive care is given to infected individuals to help relieve symptoms. Although the government has yet to decide on a quarantine facility to house Filipinos from Hubei province who are expected to be repatriated this week, Duterte raised the possibility of expropriation. “Well, I will expropriate. I will acquire your building whether you like it or not. In times of emergency, I can… I can always… It is confiscatory in nature,” Duterte said. “You confiscate. Then you make it a hospital. Bring in the equipment and you stay there inside the building where the egress and ingress are controlled,” he added. Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana bared that the DOH is eyeing the drug rehabilitation center in Fort
Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija as a possible quarantine facility for Filipinos returning from Wuhan, China. Fort Magsaysay can accommodate up to 10,000 people, the DOH said. As more drug and medical supply stores continue to run out of surgical face masks, Duterte said that the government will be procuring more supplies. “If you’re asking, is the government doing something to buy more, to protect more? Yes, we are doing it. We are not just sitting down here. That’s why we called for this conference and we have resources coming in,” Duterte said. Duterte said the virus caused the increased demand for face masks. “The supply is depleted because there is an emergency and there’s a need for it. So everybody is buying,” Duterte said. “That’s the reason why there is a scarce supply in the market.” Earlier, the Chinese government donated a total of 200,000 surgical masks amid a reported shortage in the country, according to Malacañang. (PNA)
Metro Manila police districts ordered to form nCoV response teams FROM PAGEA1
NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, said his men were prepared with the precautionary measures against the threat of the 2019-nCoV in Metro Manila and assured that members of the response teams would wear proper gear such as masks each day in all police districts. “We will create response teams for each district for them to be ready in case someone calls, policemen will respond with proper attire. It is not that they will just wear the attires when somebody calls. I’ll be preparing my (officials) so we will know how to respond,” Sinas told reporters in the vernacular in a press briefing at the Quezon City Police District Station 10. Meanwhile, face masks would be distributed to the NCRPO personnel, particularly to members of response teams. Police officers will also ask information from people visiting police camps in Metro Manila particularly about their travel history. All districts were also ordered to submit information on police officers who recently came from China. Other precautionary measures are undertaken by the NCRPO, Sinas said, are cleaning of offices, barracks, quarters and other work areas with disinfectant. Also, Sinas ordered the camps and stations to have soap, water, sanitizers in all toilets and common areas. Sinas said that the public could call the police through mobile number, 0956281797 if they suspect someone has nCoV. On Monday, some 105 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were deployed to assist other government agencies in the repatriation of Filipinos from China and other countries amid the 2019 nCoV outbreak. The chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE)-trained personnel belong to the SAF (Special Action Force), Health Service, Crime Lab, and EOD-K9 units. A 44-year-old Chinese man who died on Saturday was the Philippines’ second confirmed case of the deadly coronavirus and the first death outside China. He was the partner of the 38-year-old Chinese woman who became the first confirmed nCoV case in the Philippines. The government has imposed a temporary ban on travelers coming from mainland China, as well as its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau. (PNA)
SINAS
During a Senate hearing on the country’s preparedness on the 2019-nCoV threat, Lopez said the main supplier in Bataan has committed to producing 400,000 pieces of face masks per week, which would be added to the existing local supply. “They committed to supplying first 100,000 (face masks) to be delivered today, which we would prioritize to give to the DOH. Priority yung mga nasa frontline natin, ang health workers (Our priority are those on the frontline, our health workers),” Lopez said. “Importante (It is important that) we have stocks in the Philippines. We will make it available to the DOH, half to the public. In a month, we can commit about one million pieces to the public, and one million pieces for the DOH requirement. And that can go on as long as we need the stocks,” Lopez added. Lopez noted that the current problem is less on the price but the supply of surgical masks. Face masks are reportedly selling out amid growing concerns about the emerging public health threat. “Marami po talaga ang nag-out (There are really many of those going out) of stock simply because of the surge in the demand. Some can be considered panic buying the normal inventory of our drugstores are not that high,” Lopez said. A 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan, China who died on Saturday was the Philippines’ second confirmed case of the deadly coronavirus. He was the partner of the 38-year-old Chinese woman who became the first confirmed nCoV case in the Philippines. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the nCoV-infected Chinese man was also admitted to San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila on January 25 due to pneumonia, fever, cough and a sore throat. The male patient died on Saturday, the first reported death due to the deadly virus outside of China. A new strain of coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has killed over 300 people and infected more than 14,000 others in mainland China alone. The 2019-nCoV has quickly spread to more than a dozen countries, including the Philippines, prompting the World Health Organization to declare the new virus outbreak as a global health emergency. To curb the spread of 2019nCoV in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has already imposed a temporary ban on travelers coming from mainland China, as well as its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macao. (PNA)
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NBI directed to go after fake news purveyors amid nCoV threat By Benjamin Putla
MANILA — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the alleged dissemination of fake news about the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD). Guevarra issued the directive through a department order, granting the NBI under Director Dante Gierran the authority to conduct investigation and case build-up on the alleged “de-
liberate” spread of misinformation and false reporting of the coronavirus. “And, if evidence warrants, to file the appropriate charges against persons found responsible therefor,” Guevarra said in his department order. He also asked NBI to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) and to assist in contact tracing of affected individuals. Justice Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perete said charges to be filed against the alleged fake news purveyors will depend on the evidence to be gathered during the investigation
process. “All leads will have to be considered, including those presented at the Senate,” Perete said. The Senate committee on health and demography, chaired by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday conducted hearing on the government’s response to a health emergency. The DOH has confirmed two cases of nCoV in the country, a 38year old woman from Wuhan in Hubei province, China and her companion, a 44-year-old man.
DOH said the male patient was the first reported death due to the deadly virus outside of China. China’s National Health Commission (NHC) on Tuesday reported that the death toll in China from the nCoV outbreak climbed to 425. In a statement, the commission said it has so far received a total of 20,438 confirmed cases, adding a total of 64 people died over the last 24 hours. More than 171,000 people are under medical observation, while the number of people discharged reached 632. (PNA)
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MEET SENSEI ROLAND KOSCHINGER:
Mighty Sports pulls out historic win in Dubai tourney
JKS-PHILS PRESIDENT ON THE RISE
By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
By Joone Clooney
BORN in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao, 3rd Dan Blackbelt SENSEI ROLAND KOSCHINGER is the President of JAPAN KARATE SHOTORENMEI (JKS)- PHILIPPINES based in Cebu City, whose role is to encourage, develop, and teach the traditional and golden value of Karatedo. Sensei Koschinger used to join international competitions during his early years and mostly in his recent travels, he frequently visits and attends international seminars in Tokyo, Japan to update his skills and techniques at Teikyo University and JKS Honbu Dojo. JKS Phils. welcomes interested individuals to learn the art of “Empty Hand” which focuses on the harmony of body and mind, and promotes a sense of balance into one’s life. Karate in one’s family has been impressed from generation to generation that played a greater role to a responsibility that influences the character of every student; teach a higher level of mental and physical alertness and self-discipline
while learning effective self-defense technique, and boosting self-confidence. JKS PHILIPPINES aims to provide training in a manner most consistent with the skill levels of trainees and their purposes. By promoting ‘Lifetime Karate’ training, Sensei Koschinger hopes that karate-do would appeal to persons of all ages and would eventually be beneficial to the society. “I have more training plans for my students in the near future. They’re trying very hard to improve, and they’re all really competitive in a friendly way. You need a certain mindset for karate, as well as the ability to focus, and they were all really good at that.” said Sensei Koschinger. The JKS (Philippines) is the direct affiliation of the mother organization JAPAN KARATE SHOTORENMEI (JKS) Honbu Dojo, Japan headed by its Chief Technical Director Masao Kagawa Sensei who is considered to be one of the best technicians ever to have graduated from the famous JA-
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PAN KARATE ASSOCIATION (JKA) instructors‘ course. Sensei Koschinger and JKS Philippines, who are under the daily guidance of Kagawa sensei, feel that the only way forward is to help and encourage the students to enter the course, and thereby promote and improve the Philippine karate. Sensei Koschinger is dedicated to building his martial arts training where he can help improve the fitness and life skills of young people. He is a self-educated guy who put a lot of value in education. That is why he was such a good teacher. Seeing others learning and being educated was something he was proud of.
He was an inspiration. JKS Philippines extended an immediate and direct affiliation to the Karatedo Brotherhood of the Philippines Society (KBPS)-JKS Phils. in Lipa City, Batangas headed by Sensei Michael llave. “Sensei Koschinger was ” a great man and a giant in martial arts”. said director Jim Macario, an action film director. “I believe he was the epitome of a traditional and highly practical martial artist that would help anyone who wanted to learn.” director Macario added. It’s an experience learning to know the real meaning of Karate-Do. The way of life. Making a difference.
MANILA — Mighty Sports took home the title in the Dubai International Basketball Championship after drubbing Al Riyadi Beirut, 92-81, in the final at the Shabab Al Ahli Club early Sunday (Manila Time). Mighty Sports broke loose from its Lebanese opponent in the third quarter, opening the quarter on a 15-3 run to open a 61-45 lead. The lead eventually ballooned to as high as 21 early in the fourth quarter before settling for the 11-point win. Renaldo Balkman made 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, nine rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal to lead Mighty Sports, which completed a 7-0 sweep of the tournament and became the first team not based in the Middle East to rule the tournament. Balkman was eventually named the Most Valuable Player of the tourney. Former Gilas Pilipinas Men naturalized player Andray Blatche added 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Michael Efevberha made 26 markers on five triples, five rebounds, and one assist, while Dwayne Jackson added 20 points, three rebounds, three steals, and one block for Al Riyadi Beirut. (PNA)
Baguio finalizes sports code to benefit athletes, coaches By Pigeon Lobien
BAGUIO CITY — The city council’s sports committee is expected to consolidate all inputs after the second public hearing for the first City Sports Code was completed on January 31, Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales said on Monday. Orcales, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation chairman in Baguio, said the final draft is being prepared for submission to the city council for deliberations and passage into an ordinance. Orcales said his office is now ready to finalize the draft after their consultative meetings with athletes, coaches, and sports stakeholders. He said they are looking at the passage of an ordinance that will not only look into the incentives of athletes and coaches for bringing home medals but also provide continuous training and provision of facilities and equipment. “We are ready to finalize it and come out with the draft by the end of this February,” Orcales said. During the five-hour consultation at the Supreme Hotel, stakeholders in sports including medal haulers of the Southeast Asian games also attended. “Although I am a little behind since the initial consultation was made September last year, I assure the concerned people (athletes and coaches) that the sports code will soon be a reality,” he said. Orcales said the completion of the draft is taking time as it is difficult to make one starting from scratch. “What the city had was a sports incentive ordinance that was first effected to reward and motivate athletes,” he said, referring
to the first city measure made possible by the late councilor and former Gintong Alay camp director Narciso Padilla. In 2016, the Padilla measure was amended to increase incentives, thanks to then councilor and now vice mayor Faustino Olowan. Orcales said the second round of consultation was meant to look into the welfare of athletes and coaches. “We will not only look into the financial compensation as embodied in the existing city sports ordinance (Ordinance 20, series of 2016),” Orcales told the Philippine News Agency. He said another concern is the definition of who are Baguio athletes and coaches since the “definition under the existing city ordinance is enrolled in a Baguio school, but he or she should be Baguio-born and permanent resident here.” Of the 40 athletes that won medals in the recent Southeast Asian Games, for instance, only 15 have been identified by his office as real “Baguio residents”
among them double gold medalist Stephanie Sabalo, taekwondo player Jeordan Dominguez, wushu sanda’s Divine Wally, and Jearome Calica, among others. Another concern is what to do with the Baguio athletic bowl complex in line with the PHP450 million development fund from the Department of Tourism for the Burnham Park Complex, where the sports facility is located and part of. He said he was told by Mayor Benjamin Magalong that PHP200 million has been secured but then “we need another PHP235 million for the athletic bowl.” The program of works for the first phase of the construction of a four-story youth convergence and sports center is about to be completed with the bidding sometime in March. He said the first story will be a youth center while the upper two floors will be utilized as a basketball/volleyball gym and for other ball games including a six-lane bowling alley.
He said other concerns which the City Building and Architects Office will tackle will be the upgrade of the skating rink, skateboarding area, athletic bowl bleachers, gyms and other offices, the Melvin Jones for softball and football fields and rock climbing. Orcales said they need also to federate local sports associations so that only one will be its representative to the city government. “We need to know which is the most competitive and talented and for them to federate and have a set of officers who will be its representative to the city government,” he said. He added: “Right now, some have splinter groups and we are also being accused of patronizing one group over the other and calling us a padrino.” The city council chairman of the youth welfare and sports committee will also establish a Hall of Fame award for athletes and coaches who excelled in international competitions as well as supporters. (PNA)
Sabillo to fight ex-WBO champ Kimura in Manila By Lito Delos Reyes
DAVAO CITY — Former world champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo of Bacolod City will fight ex-WBO World flyweight champion Sho Kimura of Japan on Feb. 15 at the Manila Arena in Sta. Ana. The 36-year-old Sabillo, a southpaw, lost his Asian Boxing Federation light flyweight title, as well as failed in his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight title bid, to Edward Heno of Paranaque last Feb. 17 in Bacolod City. He next suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jing Xiang of China last Sept. 15 for the vacant WBC Silver light flyweight title in China. In his latest fight, Sabillo, a former WBO World minimum weight champion, lost by a TKO in the 7th round to Daniel Valladares of Mexico last April 13, 2019 in Mexico. Sabillo has promised to win again in 2020. He has currently 27 wins with 13 knockouts against seven defeats and one draw. Kimura, on the other hand, has 18 wins with 11 knockouts against three loses and two draws. The 31-year old orthodox boxer has recently lost to Carlos Canizales of Venezuela by a unanimous decision in the WBA World light flyweight title last July 26 in China. The boxing promoters are Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotion and Darwin Miller Depay of DMAD Boxing Promotion. (PNA)
Undefeated US boxer to fight Feb. 8 in PH By Lito Delos Reyes
DAVAO CITY — Undefeated professional boxer Rafael “Rocky” Marzan of the United States is coming to the Philippines to fight Jestoni “Lion Heart” Autida of Zamboanga del Sur on Feb. 8 at Saint Louis College in San Fernando City, La Union. The 25-year-old super featherweight orthodox Marzan (13W-0L-0D, 9KO), who will have his first bout in the Philippines, has been fighting in Mexico, Germany, and USA. His last fight was a unanimous decision win against Jose Reynaldo Leon of Mexico last Sept. 21 in Tijuana, Mexico. Autida (12W-11L-0D, 6KO), on the other hand, knocked out Rolly “The Shocker” Llino of Butuan in the third round last July 20 in Cavite. The boxing promoter is Dewey Cooper of Black Cobra. (PNA)
Young tennis star Eala is TOPS’ Athlete of the Month MANILA — Tennis sensation Alex Eala made the country proud when she teamed up with Priska Nugroho of Indonesia to rule the 2020 Australian Open juniors doubles tournament in Melbourne Park, Australia on January 31. Eala, only 14, and her Indonesian partner swept the European
duo of Slovenia’s Ziva Falkner and Britain’s Matilda Mutavdzic, 6-1, 6-2, to win the championship. Eala also became the first Filipino to win a juniors grand slam since Francis Casey Alcantara also captured the Australian Open boys’ doubles title with Hsieh Cheng-peng of Chinese Taipei in 2009. This is also the sixth doubles title for Eala and Nugroho since they teamed up in 2017. For her successful showing in one of tennis’ four grand slam events, Eala is the hands-down choice of the Tabloids Organiza-
tion in Philippine Sports (TOPS) as its “Athlete of the Month” for January. “Like all the other great Filipino athletes who made us proud in the last Southeast Asian Games, Eala did very well to put local tennis in the international map again,” TOPS president Ed Andaya of People’s Tonight said in a news release. “Her success serves as an inspiration to the Filipino youth who hope to make a difference in the wonderful world of sports,” Andaya added. Eala earns the distinction as the first “Athlete of the Month”
by TOPS for 2020. For winning the 2020 Australian Open juniors doubles tournament, Eala reportedly jumped from No. 9 to No. 4 in the world juniors circuit ranking. TOPS is the newest sports organization composed of editors, reporters, and photographers from the country’s leading tabloids. Last year, TOPS voted for Manny Pacquiao (January), Jasmin Mikaela Mojdeh (February), Natalie Uy (March), Ernest John Obiena (April), June Mar Fajardo (May), the Philippine Canoe Kayak and Dragon Boat
Federation team (June), Obiena (July), Antonella Berthe Racasa (August), Obiena (September), Caloy Yulo (October), Margielyn Didal (November), and Roger Casugay (December). TOPS is also the presenter of the “Usapang Sports”, a weekly forum held at the National Press Club and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, Pagcor, Community Basketball Association, and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drink with live streaming from Glitter Live Stream of actor-director Carlo Maceda. (PR)
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2019-nCoV to weigh down PH’s ’20 growth By Joann Villanueva
MAPA
MANILA — The novel coronavirus (2019nCoV) outbreak is expected to hit the Philippine economy, with an economist looking at this year’s domestic output faster than last year’s 5.9 percent but “pressed to meet” this year’s 6.57.5 percent target. In a report, ING
Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said while the obvious sectors that will be hit are the tourism and trade, there is an invisible slowdown expected on consumer behavior. He said apprehensions on going out will make Filipinos likely stay home instead of doing their favorite past time — malling. “Fewer trips to the mall or shorter stays in the shopping centers mean less spending as window shopping is avoided and cups of coffee are now for takeout. An unconscious or conscious shift in spending patterns may result in slightly weaker consumption followed by a lackadaisical recovery in investment as consumers and corporates await more clarity on the developments related to the
bug,” he said. Mapa said lingering uncertainties are projected to “weigh on the economy the same way a cold or cough curtails all of us.” He said it will still be “business as usual” for the most part “but in no means are we 100-percent efficient.” “Thus, despite expectations for faster growth, unless we see additional stimulus from the government or a rapid clearing up of the situation, we may have to be content with growth faster than last year’s disappointing 5.9 percent print but once again pressed to meet our target for a 6.5-7.5 percent expansion,” he added. Reports said the death toll from the epidemic has reached at least 425, including those outside China.
In the Philippines, the government has reported two confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV patients involving a couple from Wuhan, China, the epidemic’s ground zero. They are a 38-year-old Chinese female who was first diagnosed with the virus, and her partner, a 44-yearold Chinese male, the first casualty in the Philippines. The man died last Saturday, February 1. The government has imposed a ban for all travelers coming directly from Hong Kong, Macao, and China within the last two weeks. The ban excludes Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visas issued by the Philippine government, but these individuals are required to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine. (PNA)
IMF chief confident China’s PH, Germany to kick off JEC meeting this year the respondents considered boards while Zama Corpoeconomy remains resilient the business situation in the ration –a subsidiary of Stihl By Kris Crismundo
WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports China’s efforts to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak, and is confident that China’s economy “remains resilient,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Monday. In a statement on Twitter and a similar one on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo, the IMF chief expressed that “our deep sympathies to all those affected by the serious situation related to #Coronavirus.” “We support China’s efforts to respond, including recent fiscal, monetary, and financial actions,” Georgieva said. “We are confident that China’s economy remains resilient.” In a recent press briefing, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice had also shown support for China’s battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, noting that Chinese authorities are clearly “taking this very seriously.” Rice said China is a large economy with the resources and the resolve to effectively meet the challenge of the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Limited impact In Beijing, China’s securities regulator said the nCoV outbreak has a limited impact on China’s stock market and the long-term trend of the market remains unchanged. The opening of stock market trading on February 3 is showing China’s respect for market rules and its determination to overcome difficulties, sources with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said in an interview with Xinhua. The CSRC pledged to stay vigilant to any anomalies on the A-shares market and prepare hedging tools to buffer the potential impact. A series of measures currently under government deliberation to recover production and keep the economy stable will help improve market expectations, noted the CSRC. Night trading of futures will be suspended starting Monday until further notice, said the CSRC. The CSRC said risks relating to stock pledges are generally under control, and it will grant a six-month extension on stock pledge agreements for companies and individuals in Hubei Province where the coronavirus emerged and three to six months for other regions. Brokerages will be encouraged by the CSRC and the People’s Bank of China to issue new bonds like special financial bonds or corporate bonds to replenish liquidity. Noting that companies hit by the outbreak could face shortterm pressure to repay corporate bonds, the CSRC said it will set up “green channels” for issuance of new bonds and revise the timetable for repayment to ferry the companies through rough patches. (Xinhua)
GEORGIEVA
MANILA — The Philippines and Germany will kick off the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) this year as they seek to strengthen economic ties, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said. In a forum of German businessmen Tuesday, Lopez said the first JEC meeting with Germany will happen in Manila in the latter part of this year. In August 2019, the Philippines and Germany formalized the establishment of a JEC in Berlin. The JEC is a platform for the two countries to strengthen economic engagement. Lopez said Germany is the Philippines’ eighth top trading partner and its largest export market in Europe. Top Philippine exports to Germany include electronic components and semiconductors, as well as agricultural products like tuna and coconut. Moreover, the business confidence of German businesses in the Philippines remains strong, the trade chief said. Citing the report of 2019 AHK World Business Outlook, more than 70 percent of
Philippines as good, with more than two-thirds of the respondents expecting their businesses here to grow in the next 12 months. “With that in mind, trade and investment engagements between the Philippines and Germany can only grow stronger in the coming decade if we take advantage of these opportunities. This is because Germany has been one of our important trading partners in Europe over the years and continues to be our top source of investments,” Lopez said. He said approved investments from Germany in the first nine months of 2019 amounted to USD33.1 million from USD7.5 million in the same period in 2018. Lopez said German small and medium enterprises also realized their potential in the Philippine market by setting up manufacturing operations. “For example, K nau f Gips pro d u c e s gypsum
MANILA — The lone manufacturer of surgical masks in the country has committed to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to produce two million pieces of masks per month, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday. In a statement, Lopez said Medtecs International Corp. Ltd. pledged to supply this week 100,000 pieces of surgical masks and 400,000 per week thereafter, as it ramps up production capacity to meet rising local demand. The Bataan-based manufacturer can produce 80,000 pieces of surgical masks per day, he said. “Medtecs, which has been operating in the country for the last 41 years, expressed their continuous commitment to support and prior-
itize the requirements of the Philippines,” he added. There was a sudden surge of demand for surgical masks late last week after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus (2019-
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Risk-on sentiments lift stocks, peso ends sideways By Joann Villanueva
MANILA — Bargain hunting lifted the Philippine Stocks Exchange index (PSEi) Tuesday while the local currency ended sideways. After a six-day slide, the main equities index gained 1.26 percent, or 89.87 points, to 7,226.90 points, which BPI Research said was in line with its counterparts in the region. “The PSEi tracked the rebound in Asia as bargain hunters emerged,” it said. The main gauge’s performance was mirrored by All Shares, which ended the day’s trade at 4,293.89 points, up by 0.87 percent or 37.06 points. Financials registered the highest uptick among the sectors after rising by 2.10 percent, which was followed by Industrial, 1.74 percent; Holding Firms, 1.22 percent; Services, 0.58 percent; and Property, 0.15 percent. Only Mining and Oil ended in the red after it fell 0.61 percent. Volume reached 1.5 billion shares amounting to PHP9.61 billion. Gainers led losers at 113 to 73, while 48 shares were unchanged. The risk-on sentiment gave the peso some breathing space and allowed the unit to end the day at 50.765 against the US dollar from the previous session’s 50.8 close. It opened the day at a better level of 50.85 from 50.95 a day ago. It traded between 50.725 and 50.85, resulting in an average of 50.763. Volume totaled to USD953.9 million, lower than the previous day’s USD1.07 billion. The currency pair is seen to trade between 50.60 and 51.00 on Wednesday. (PNA)
Tycoon vows to help develop Bacolod into ‘dragon city’ By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY — Filipino-Chinese tycoon Andrew Lim Tan has vowed to help Bacolod become a “dragon city” through future expansions of his own company, which has initially poured in billions of pesos in two property developments here. “Bacolod has so much potential and we look forward to helping shape Bacolod into a dragon city,” said Tan, who chairs the holding company Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), in his speech during the Spring Festival Dinner of the 15th Bacolaodiat Festival held at the SMX Convention Center on Saturday night. Earlier in the afternoon, Tan was declared “adopted son of Bacolod” through a resolution
approved by the City Council led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and was also named honorary mayor through an executive order issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia. “(We are) looking at Bacolod as a major investment destination… We see a lot of opportunities to expand our businesses here so we can generate more jobs, help more communities, support local entrepreneurs, help boost tourism, and contribute more to the city’s economic progress,” he said. AGI owns property giant Megaworld, which is the largest real estate investor in Bacolod, with a total of PHP35 billion worth of developments in its two townships –Northill Gateway along the Bacolod-Si-
Mask maker commits to supply 2M pieces a month By Kris Crismundo
AG– manufactures carburetors. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in registrations of Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ) from German companies in the field of maritime, construction, and engineering services,” he added. (PNA)
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nCov). As of last Friday, major drugstores Mercury Drug and Southstar Drug reported to DTI that they ran out of stock, while Watsons still had stocks and were deployed nationwide.
“They reported that there will be incoming stocks this week,” Lopez said. He has also asked the department’s attached agency, Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), to source five million pieces of masks to add to the local supply especially for the needs of DOH and other health workers. As of Monday morning, India, Pakistan, the United States, and some European Union countries said they have limited stocks of surgical masks. The PTIC is waiting for the response of Thailand and Vietnam. For alcohol and hand sanitizers, Lopez said there is no shortage for these products as there are many local manufacturers thus production can be easily increased. (PNA)
lay Airport Road, and the Upper East right across the Bacolod Government Center spanning 87 hectares. Tan said that part of his company’s vision for the two townships is “to be able to contribute to Bacolod’s booming tourism industry”. “Congratulations to all of you for making Bacolaodiat Festival a landmark festival for Bacolod and Negros Occidental. Tourism programs like this allow us to discover more about our culture and for tourists and visitors to learn more about the locality,” he added. Tan said they hope to soon invite the Bacolaodiat Festival to hold the major events and activities at the Upper East township. In his message at the Mayor’s Office, where he received the symbolic key to the City of Bacolod from Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Tan admitted being overwhelmed and almost teary-eyed by the twin honors bestowed on him, which he described as both an “honor and privilege”. Tan was joined by his son Kevin, chief executive officer of AGI, during the ceremony, which was also witnessed by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Leonardia said it was Panelo
who introduced him to Tan when they both guests at the Palace official’s birthday celebration last year. “When the honorable mayor called me several weeks ago to inform me about being the honorary mayor of Bacolod, I never had any second thoughts about accepting it. There was only one question that came into my mind: How do I fill the shoes of Mayor Leonardia, who has already done so much for the city?” Tan said. As part of his “official duties”, Tan signed three executive orders and one business permit. The younger Tan, after witnessing the conferment of honors on his father, said their family “would be forever grateful to Bacolod.” “Thank you for the honor. We will remain committed to help Bacolod progress,” he added. Both the ceremonies at the City Council session hall and at the Mayor’s Office were also witnessed by Bacolaodiat Festival 2020 chair Oddette Ong-Gomez and leaders of the local Filipino-Chinese community, including Leonito Lopue and Alfredo Barcelona, Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, and several city councilors. (PNA)
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Filipino-American Millenials Discuss Filipino Identity and Immersion with DFA Officials PASAY — Twelve Filipino-American youth aged 18-25 years from the different states in the US Midwest participated in a dialogue with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials on 08 January 2020. The dialogue was part of the activities for the 2nd US Midwest Youth Leaders in the Diaspora Immersion Program
in the Philippines (Midwest You-Lead II) which took place from 03 to 09 January 2020 in Manila, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. The program is a joint project of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago and the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Now on its 2nd edition, the program aimed at providing Filipi-
no-American youths from the US to rediscover their Filipino roots and gain a better understanding of their Filipino identity and appreciation of their motherland. The twelve young participants were Angelica Alday, Madeline Azcueta, Ralph Balita, Celia Benito, Christopher Garrick, Jasmine Natividad, and Christiana Santiago who
Delegates to the 2nd Midwest Youth Leaders in Diaspora Immersion Program (Midwest YouLead II) posed at the DFA lobby with Consul General to Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin (rightmost). (Chicago PCG photo)
are all from Illinois, Mary Nicole Cabaluna from Indiana, Makayla Leiting from Nebraska, Nicholle Nacionales from Minnesota, and Isabelle Rivera and Marcus Villareal from Ohio. On 08 January 2020, the Midwest delegates accompanied by Consul General to Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin and Commission on Filipinos Overseas YouLead staff, Mayumi Peralta and Jovian Bulawan were received by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto C. Abella for a courtesy call and briefing. Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Maria Lumen B. Isleta opened the
program. Undersecretary Abella talked about Filipino identity and roots. He asked each one of their impressions and the reasons for joining the immersion trip. The participants were also briefed on Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) and humanitarian activities of the Philippine foreign service posts by Office of Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) Principal Assistant Atty. Sandra C. Guiang. Later in the afternoon, the participants were welcomed at the US Embassy in Manila where US officials from the political, economic, cultural and public diplomacy sections
briefed them of Embassy activities, including programs for young people both in the Philippines and the United States. All the Midwest You-Lead II participants individually spoke of their impressions and the impact of the immersion program in their lives. These experiences made them feel special and help them reconnect with the country. They promised to help promote the immersion program to their peers back in the US which is a unique and the first of its kind immersion program for the Filipino-American millennials in the Midwest initiated and supported by the Philippine government.
PH Embassy in Copenhagen Holds Seminar for Filipinos in Denmark DENMARK –– The Philippine Embassy in Copenhagen, in partnership with Babaylan-Denmark, a network of Filipino women in Denmark, and Københavns Sprogcenter, a Danish language school, successfully held its first seminar for Filipinos in Denmark on 25 January 2020 at the Embassy’s new Chancery. The seminar was jampacked with 30 percent over its capacity. Topics discussed include health and well-
ness in Denmark, cultural similarities and differences between Filipinos and Danes, financial and social remittance, improvement of communication skills, and consular services and other services offered by the Embassy. The participants expressed their appreciation for the seminar and look forward to more sessions for the rest of the members of the Filipino community.
POEA, OWWA to assist OFWs barred from returning to China for work By Azer Parrocha
MANILA — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will assist Filipinos with work permits in China and its special administrative regions affected by the temporary travel ban to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval made this assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday imposed a temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China and its special administrative regions — Hong Kong and Macao. Sandoval clarified that the temporary travel ban does not make any distinction for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are currently home for vacation and wish to return to China, Hong Kong, or Macao for work. Her statement is contrary to Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” L. Sta. Romana’s initial statement that Filipinos with work permits in China and its special administrative regions are not covered in the temporary travel ban. “Lahat po ng (All) Filipino nationals who are in the country will not be allowed to depart for Hong Kong, China, and Macao,” Sandoval said in a Laging Handa press briefing in Malacañang. “Wala pong (There is no) distinction between visa types dun sa lumabas na direktiba doon sa (in the directive on the) travel ban,” she added. Sandoval acknowledged that OFWs who wanted to return to China, Hong Kong, or Macao were concerned about their absences from work. However, she assured that the two attached agencies of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will put in place measures to ensure that they get to keep their jobs. “We fully understand because kung yun ang talagang kinabubuhay nila (if it’s really their main source of income) but I believe the POEA and the OWAA will be doing their part in ensuring na itong mga trabaho ng ating mga kababayan abroad ay mananatili (that our citizens will still get to keep their jobs) despite this travel ban,” Sandoval said. “Given the situation, I’m sure everyone understands that each country has been conducting its own restrictions when it comes to travel. We are doing this for the protection of everybody,” she added.
On the other hand, Sandoval said Filipinos with a dual citizenship status may be allowed to leave the country upon presentation of their foreign passports. Asked if Duterte’s temporary travel ban could be extended to other countries besides China, Hong Kong, and Macao, Sandoval said it will depend on recommendations by the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). “If there is a need to expand it, it will be recommended by the DOH and the WHO,” Sandoval said. Meanwhile, Sandoval also rejected criticisms that Duterte’s declaration of the travel ban was “too late.” “We believe that it’s just right. Naka angkla po tayo (We are anchored) on the recommendations of the WHO. Ang ating (The) DOH is equipped in assessing the situation and the needs of our country. Our response is appropriate with the recommendation of the WHO,” she added. Repatriation efforts Currently, at least 42 Filipinos in Hubei province have expressed their interest to be repatriated amid the 2019-nCoV epidemic, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said in the same press briefing. Abella said the agency is expected to bring the first batch of Filipinos back home within the week. “The aircraft may leave for China sometime this week,” Abella said. Aside from a DFA team, medical personnel from the DOH will be deployed to pick up the Filipino repatriates from Hubei province. All Filipino repatriates will all be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Meanwhile, Abella said no Filipinos in China have been confirmed to be infected with the deadly virus. There are 295,047 Filipinos in China, he added. Duterte is scheduled to preside over a meeting with the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the government on government response amid the 2019-nCoV outbreak on Monday afternoon. The 2019-nCoV, which originated from Wuhan in Hubei province in China, has killed at least 362 people, a vast majority in China, and infected 17,000 others, according to the World Health Organization. The fast-spreading virus has been reported in at least 23 countries, including the Philippines. (PNA)
The Philippine Embassy in Copenhagen holds its first seminar for filipinos in Denmark. (Copenhagen PE photo)
PH Consulate General Houston Launches Very Important Pinoy 2020 Ambassadors’ Tour HOUSTON — Philippine Consul General Jerril G. Santos officially launched the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour 2020 at the Philippine Consulate General in Houston on 16 December 2019. This day marks the simultaneous launch of the said tour by all Philippine posts in the United States. The VIP Tour 2020, which will be held on 19-26 July 2020, will be coordinated Philippine Consul General Jerril G. Santos welcomes the attendees of the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour 2020 launching. (Houston
PCG photo)
by the Philippine Consulate General in Houston, together with the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Consulates General in Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. It is a joint project of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotion Board, and Rajah Tours International as the tour operator.
The launching was participated by various leaders of the Filipino-American community organizations and business partners. A ceremonial signing of a commitment to join the VIP Tour 2020 was also held with those who indicated that they will participate in the tour. The launch was culminated by a video teaser of what will be expected in the VIP Tour 2020.
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THE MANILA EXPRESS
February 05, 2020
COMMUNITY NEWS
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PH Consulate General in San Francisco Hosts Meeting on the Balik Scientist Program SAN FRANCISCO — The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco facilitated and participated in a meeting between Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Rowena Guevara and representatives from Filipino-American organizations in science and technology to promote the “Balik Scientist” program on 11 January 2020 at the Philippine Center in San Francisco. Undersecretary Guevara met with the Science and Technology Advisory Council-Silicon Valley (STAC-SV), headed by Ms. Christina Laskowski, and the Filipino-Americans in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (FASTER), headed by Ms. Erin Pangilinan. The meetings were also attended by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) Assistant Director Anthony Rivera, Consul and Economic Section Head Jed Llona, and Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Silicon Valley. Undersecretary Guevara shared that the Balik Scientist program has been in place since 1975, enabling Filipino scientists (or scientists of Filipino-descent) based abroad to go to the Philippines on a short or long-term basis to share their expertise and strengthen the scientific and technological human re-
sources of the country. The program was institutionalized in 2018 with the signing of Republic Act 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act. Under the law, benefits, incentives, and privileges for
returning scientists were articulated. Benefits include a round-trip ticket to the Philippines (including tickets for dependents for participants of the long-term program) and a stipend of $200 per day.
Details on the program may be accessed at https://bspms. dost.gov.ph/ Undersecretary Guevara noted that science and technology have been given priority in the Philippines in
recent years. Aside from the Balik Scientist Act signed in 2018, legislation to push for growth in R&D has been increasing, including RA 11337 or the Innovative Startup Act, and RA 11293 or the Philip-
pine Innovation Act, both of which were signed in 2019. She encouraged STAC-SV and FASTER to share information on the Balik Scientist program to their network of Filipino-American scientists.
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February 05, 2020
THE MANILA EXPRESS
ENTERTAINMENT
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Nadine Lustre is still open to work again with her exboyfriend James Reid
Maxine Medina, reminisced her Miss Universe experience By Rochelle Montano Ocampo
By Rochelle Montano Ocampo
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ADINE Lustre is still open to working again with her ex-boyfriend James Reid. She also clarified that she and James are in a good terms. “Maybe in the future. But right now kasi, the goal talaga is to work on the other stuff separately,” said Nadine “We’ll see. Baka naman in the future mangyari ulit ‘yan. I’m super open. It’s gonna be a reunion teleserye for both us,” she added. It was confirmed last January 20 from Nadine and James that they broke up. But according to them, their relationship is okay although they are no longer a couple. “We’re good. That’s all everyone needs to know, I think social media kasi just blew it out of proportion. Talagang medyo naging OA lang but we’re super good,” she said. “It’s hard at first. Believe me, it was really hard. But at the end of the day kasi, I think to myself na parang, ‘Okay what is going to come out of this?” She added “After all this, when I’m done with this challenge, when I’m done with this heartache or whatever it is, I’m gonna be a stronger and better person. I would learn so much from that.”
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AXINE Medina reminisced her experience in Miss Universe 3 years ago. We remembered that Maxine was the representative of the Philippines in Miss Universe 2016 wherein she was in the top 6. “Exactly 3 years today!” said Maxine in an Instagram caption.
Marcelito Pomoy has made it to the finale of “America’s Kathryn Bernardo’s Coron trip with Daniel Padilla’s family Got Talent: The Champions.” MEDINA
REID & LUSTRE
By Rochelle Montano Ocampo
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BERNARDO
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ATHRYN Bernardo continues to deliver on her promise to keep her fans updated on her private life as she released a new vlog this February – their trip to Coron, Palawan to welcome the New Year with her family and her boyfriend,
Daniel Padilla. “I think maganda itong break before ako mag-start ng trabaho for 2020. Para ma-relax, to clear my mind, and just to enjoy,” the actress said, with the sand and the sea as her backdrop. Bernardo launched her vlog, dubbed “Everyday Kath,” last January with a video of her trip to Iceland with Daniel.
N the semifinals, Marcelito Pomoy showed off his vocal range anew, performing the Andrea Bocelli classic “Time to Say Goodbye” as a duet, singing both the male and female parts. He earned a standing ovation from judges Howie Mandel, Alesha Dixon, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell. “I gotta say that I believe that you have the best shot of winning this whole thing. This is the semifinals and you raised your game. The woman in you was just as good as she was the last time. But you as a man, you went up a notch. She tried to stay up with you but she couldn’t,” Howie Mandel said. Dixon, for her part, said Marcelito made an absolutely brilliant song choice. “It really enabled you to shine. I just love everything about you Marcelito. That was a fabulous performance, well done,” she said. Klum, meanwhile, declared that she’s been waiting for Pomoy to take the stage because he is her favorite. As for Cowell, he challenged the Filipino singer to “take a bigger risk because the surprise is now over.” Nonetheless, he believes that with his gift, Pomoy has a massive career waiting for him after the competition. Aside from Pomoy, also advancing to the finals were Hans, Tyler Butler-Figueroa, Alexa Lauenburger, Sandou Trio Russian Bar and Duo Transcend. Marcelito rose to fame in his home country of the Philippines after winning the second season of “Pilipinas Got Talent” in 2011. He was first recognized abroad for his “golden female voice” when he appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2018.
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February 05, 2020
THE MANILA EXPRESS
FEATURES
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H Precautionary measures against novel Coronavirus By Gene V. Baquiran
AS the world’s population is threatened over novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) rapid spread that has killed over three hundred individuals in China, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the public to practice the standard recommendation to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses. These include frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Washing of hands according to WHO will kill the virus. When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue. Used tissues should be thrown immediately and disposed of properly. Wash hands immediately after disposing of it. Avoiding close contact with anyone who has fever and cough is also highly recommended. If one has fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing, it is advised to seek early medical care and share previous travel history with your health care provider. When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel Coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals, the WHO added. The organization advised that consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices. On the other hand, the Department of Health – Cagayan Valley Center for Health and Development (DOH CV-CHD) also circulated health advisory to the public against the virus. The advisory said coronavirus is a family of viruses that bring different diseases from ordinary colds and flu to severe infection. In extreme cases, the virus can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, and death. Should anyone see symptoms of colds and cough, immediate consultation with a physician is encouraged. The health department here continues to urge the public to be vigilant. They can be contacted at cellphone number 0917-659-6959 for questions and other needed information. (MDCT/GVB/PIA 2-Cagayan)
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Masks to wear against the Novel CoronaVirus (2019-nCoV) By Nariyoung Kim
WITH the increasing number of people getting infected by the Novel Coronavirus in China, it is no question that the people are getting more anxious about this virus strain. This resulted in more people eager to wear a face mask to fend off the virus, but what are the kinds of masks that are effective for the virus? Surgical Masks T he s e a re t he mo s t c o m mo n kinds of masks because they are cheap and very comfortable
to wear, but not effective in protecting the user from the virus. The surgical mask was made to be used by doctors to prevent them from accidentally spraying saliva and other mucous to their patients during surgery. They started being popular with the public as a means of fending off pollution or if they are sick and want to prevent other people from getting sick with their disease despite having no effect in the context of the virus. Pitta Mask These are black masks that have the foamy texture that are commonly worn to prevent allergic
reactions and pollen. Despite having the ability to protect its users against pollen, these masks cannot filter the virus. Paper Face Mask These are the ones made with 2 ply filtration paper and strings. This cannot help you with the virus, pollen allergies, and even direct sneeze spray. N95 Respirators These are the thick round ones commonly worn by welders or people working with industrialized dust. These are designed to have a very tight fit to your face and can block at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 microns) particles. These masks are
highly recommended to wear in the context of the virus. Although masks can help protect you from inhaling the Novel Coronavirus that is airborne and prevent you from touching your mouth and nose directly, it is also important to remember that the virus can also infect you from the eyes. It is important to note that we should stop being anxious about the virus and instead be alert, observe proper hygiene and avoid touching your face to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
City librarian’s love for books reaps new recognition By Anne Hazel Fajardo-Flores
“Reading is very important and we cannot learn if we do not read. We cannot be successful in our crafts without reading and to read in a public place which is conducive and free, and where you can focus, is what I am ensuring my clientele,” – Michael C. Nagas These were the words he expressed when he won second place Gawad Parangal sa Natatanging Tagapaglingkod ng Pampublikong Aklatan of the National Library of the Philippine (NLP) under the Non-Professional Category in 2019. This year, his passion for books is once again distinguished as he will be awarded as the Champion for the same category. “My dream to influence people through reading did not stop when I bagged my award last year because I vowed to continue my passion, and it brought me to
what I achieved this time,” said Nagas, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency. Known to the locals, among his brainchild programs in library services from 2014 until 2019 is the establishment of reading centers in the barangays of the city which is now affiliated with the NLP. Through the years, his visits to daycare and elementary public schools to read stories to children paved the way to develop the kids’ listening and reading comprehension. Nagas is also the Vice-President and a pioneer member of the La Union Public Library Association (LUPLA) which was established in 2002 to cater to the reading needs of the public and promote the importance of reading and books for educational purposes. He finished two degrees, namely Bachelor in Office Administra-
tion and Bachelor in Library and Information Science graduate at Saint Louis College (SLC) and has an ongoing Master’s degree in the same field. “I hope that through this new achievement, I would be able to encourage and empower other librarians to continue with their crafts because they could do so much to educate the children,” he added. He said that he still believes in the learning that people could get from reading books rather than on the internet. “I hope that someday, we could bring back more people inside the libraries to spend quality time reading and composing good articles instead of surfing and posting it on the net,” he finished. Nagas will receive his award in August 2020 in Manila along with a plaque of recognition for the local government unit of San Fernando City and a cash prize of Php25,000.00. (JCR/JNPD/AHFF/ PIA La Union)
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February 05, 2020