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Arts & Culture (10/20/21)

DRAWING No. 18 by Br. Edmundo ‘Dodo’ Fernandez

Christian Brother holds exhibit of sketches

TODAY is the last chance to catch the exhibit of sketches by Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC at the Tall Gallery of the Finale Art File. He is president of both the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and La Salle Green Hills, and is also an artist. The ongoing solo exhibit, entitled “Drawings: from residences in Japan and France,” features 21 sketches he created, ranging from emaciated bodies from the Holocaust to nautilus shells and houseflies.

Rizal Province artists exhibit at Robinsons Galleria

THIS OCTOBER, Robinsons Land’s ArtAblado hosts four artists who hail from the province of Rizal. The group calls itself B.R.A.D, which stands for their first names — Brando Limon Bati, Rico Aunzo (also known as Pedrong Masipag), Adler Llagas, and Daniel Dumaguit. Their works are on exhibit until Oct. 31 at ARTablado, at the 3rd Level of Robinsons Galleria. The exhibit, dubbed as “Bangon Ako, Ikaw, Tayo,” aims to inspire people to get up, work together and reach for their dreams. “This pandemic changed the way we live our lives. Some even lost their jobs or worst, their loved ones. Through this exhibit, we want to remind our fellow Filipinos that we a have a choice to get up and continue to live our lives,” said Rico Aunzo in a statement. For more updates, follow ARTablado on Facebook and @artablado on Instagram.

ManilArt goes on line and on site

MANILART 2021 will be held onsite and online from Oct. 20 to 24 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier in Taguig City. Now on its 13th year, the art fair extends its reach through satellite sites outside Metro Manila. These include Balai Kalipay in Davao, Likhang Silangan in Rizal, Tarlac Art in Tarlac, and Ricardo’s in Cavite. ManilArt 2021 is also accessible online through https://www.manilartfair.com/ where guests can navigate a 360° walkthrough page and view works from 22 participating galleries. Tickets will be available through TicketBooth.ph and safety measures will be implemented in adherence to SM Aura Premier’s safety standards as monitored by Safecity Taguig.

The National Museum reopens

THE NATIONAL Museum of the Philippines has reopened to the public and is accepting fully vaccinated visitors, in a limited capacity. Visitors are required to reserve a slot online at least a day before the visit. To book a slot, visit the website www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph and click “Book a tour.” The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays. The morning session is from 9 a.m. to noon with an entry cutoff at 11 a.m. The afternoon session is from 1 to 4 p.m. with an entry cutoff at 3 p.m. Visitors will be limited to 100 per session. For more information and details on guidelines, visit www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines/posts/4759307650760182.

PETA’s Under My Skin goes online

THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA) brings back Rody Vera’s Under My Skin, an anthology drama on HIV directed by Melvin Lee. While the play’s run was cut abruptly because of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, PETA has revamped the play from stage to video, in partnership with HIV advocacy organizations LoveYourself PH and The Red Whistle, and UNILAB, Inc. Under My Skin is inspired by real people and events, and it depicts the realities, triumphs, and struggles of people living with HIV, while navigating an important conversation about acceptance and tolerance. Their stories of love, pain, and acceptance are revealed through the character of Dr. Gemma Almonte, who is studying the spread of the devastating virus.  The online streaming cast features Cherry Pie Picache, Eko Baquial, Gio Gahol, Mike Liwag, Jarred Jaicten, Kitsi Pagaspas, Dylan Ray Talon, Dudz Teraña, She Maala, Bene Manaois, Erold Enriquez, Jason Barcial, Joseph Madriaga, Rach Gimpes, Reggie Ondevilla, Roy Dahildahil, Gerard Dy, and Ekis Gimenez. Under My Skin Online runs from Nov. 26 to 28, and from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5. Tickets — P180 for Livestream, and P250 for Video on Demand — are available on www.ticket2me.net, bit.ly/undermyskinonline, or through any of the Under My Skin Online showbuyers. For bulk sales, and more sales information, contact Mitch Go at 0917-539-1112.

Virgin Labfest 16 goes online in November

THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Writer’s Bloc, and Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) host this year’s Virgin Labfest (VLF) online.  Now on its 16th year, the festival will be streamed from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 on the CCP, VLF, and TP Facebook pages. Choosing to focus on education, the festival components are FFF — Fair, Fellowship and Flashback. The Fellowship Writing Program will be conducted from Nov. 16 to Dec. 5 under the tutelage of award-winning playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas. The culminating activity, which will be streamed for public viewing on Dec. 5, will be directed by Dennis Marasigan. The Playwrights Fair will be held from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 and feature conversations with playwrights from all over the country. As part of the Fair component, the 4th Edition of the VLF Anthology and Elemental, a book of plays by women playwrights, will be launched. For more information, follow VLF on CCP social media platforms, or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Jackie Hontiveros Lozano holds exhibit

“MARIGOLD SUMMER,” an exhibit of works by Jackie Hontiveros Lozano, showcases 11 gouache paintings on paper and three oil paintings on canvas. The exhibit is a journey through the artist’s growth since her last shows, “Hero” (2018) and “Awakening” (2020). The themes deal with unburdening, duality, jagged lines, heavy strokes, and gray and neon, creation and ideation remain prevalent. For more details and to view the exhibit, visit ikajpaintings.com/marigold-summer/.

West Gallery opening 4 exhibits

WEST Gallery will open four exhibits on Oct. 21. They will run until Nov. 20. The exhibits are: Winner Jumalon’s “Nucleus,” Francis Bejar’s “Super Artist,” Lawrence Canto’s “As Days Go By,” and the group exhibit “C20H25N30” which features works by Edric Go, Bjorn Calleja, Geremy Samala, and Jigger Cruz. Gallery visitors must first make an appointment by calling 3411-0336 (landline) or 0915-175-3792 (mobile).

Met Museum holds webinar on community and architecture

THE METROPOLITAN Museum will hold a Zoom and Facebook Live webinar called “Beyond Mutual Support” on Oct. 23, 4-5:30 p.m. This webinar explores different approaches to community engagement in architectural practice and aims to conceptualize mutual support in relation to threads of ideas in history and architectural theory. The webinar is related to the exhibit “Structures Of Mutual Support,” the Philippine Pavilion exhibition at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. This exhibition, which opened in May, is curated by Framework Collaborative composed of Architects Sudarshan Khadka, Jr. and Alexander Eriksson Furunes together with members of Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm community in Angat, Bulacan. The webinar is a project of the musem, the National Commission for Culture and Arts, the Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale, and the office of Rep. Loren Legarda.

Virtual reality exhibit on Philippine forests

A GROUP of young up-and-coming artists in the Philippines want to use their art to bring the beauty of nature back into the minds of people via Project: KAGUBATAN. The project will stage an educational webinar series on Oct. 30 and Nov. 19 at 5 p.m., and a virtual forest exhibit on Nov. 10. Eight young Filipino artists — visual artist Issa Barte, photographer Javi Cang, photographer and multi-media artist Sara Erasmo, painter Chesleigh Nofiel, photographer Gab Mejia, photographer and filmmaker Angelo Mendoza, visual artist Kara Pangilinan, photographer and filmmaker Ivan Torres, and photographer Pau Villanueva — are collaborating on the project. Funds raised from the artworks will be donated to WWF-Philippines’ reforestation project in the Ipo Watershed with a target of 1,000 seedlings. The funds will also support the Bantay Gubat in the Ipo Watershed led by the Philippine Parks and Biodiversity and the Bantay Danaos of the Agusan Marshlands led by Youth Engaged in Wetlands. The virtual reality forest exhibit will allow audiences to immerse themselves in an environmental journey following a river that goes from lush mountain forests down through agroforests and eventually to wetland forests. It will showcase artworks by the artists showing forest landscapes, endemic flora and fauna, and people who depend on the forests. Webinars dubbed “Art for Conservation Conversation” will feature artists along with WWF-Philippines’ Forest for Water program manager Paolo Pagaduan. Learn more about the Ipo Watershed and WWF-Philippines’ Forest for Water program here: https://wwf.org.ph/what-we-do/water/ipo-watershed/.

Drive-in movies at MCAD

MCAD has converted its car park into a drive-in theater to screen selections of video works from the collections of four art institutions in the region. Curated in collaboration with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, in Seoul, the M+ West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai, “Watch and Chill” aims to present a new approach to exploring and sharing art among museums, artists and viewers in the digital, contactless era. The featured works are divided into four sections “Things in My Living Room,” “By the Other Being,” “Community of Houses,” and “Meta-Home” all in connection to the reimagined role of “home” and lifestyle amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. MCAD’s drive-in theater opens on Oct. 29 and will run until Dec. 5. Interested guests may pre-book a slot for the screenings through the MCAD website. The screenings will be held five times a week, from 6:30 to 8 pm. A maximum of six vehicles will be accommodated per screening. Vehicles will only be allowed to enter the parking lot 15 minutes before the screening. Visitors without vehicles who wish to view the films will be accommodated at a designated area in the venue. A maximum of 10 visitors without vehicles may be accommodated for each screening day. Sound for the films shall be transmitted through a commercially-unoccupied FM frequency that viewers can access through their car radios and other portable devices that can tune into FM. Pursuant to current guidelines from The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), MCAD will be requiring guests to present their vaccination cards upon entry to the venue. Only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed entry. The videos area also available to stream for free through the Watch and Chill online platform.

Tagum’s creative writers preserve memories

AS AN offshoot activity of the Tagum Creative Writers Summit held last August, Tagum’s first local government-initiated writers workshop kicked off on Sept. 29 at the City Library and Learning Commons of the Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center. The writers centered their works on Tagum, touching on culture and identity based on one’s memories and imagination. Polished pieces will be published in the literary folio of the Center, some of which will be interpreted both on stage and on canvas as part of the fringeTGM event in November this year.  With the theme “Unleashing Creativity,” nine creative writers had their poems, short fiction, and one-act play critiqued and evaluated by each fellow writer and the panelists. Serving as panelists at the writers’ workshop were Palanca laureate Karlo Antonio David, Tagumenyo creative writer Reymond Pepito, and poet Ian Salvaña. The workshop fellows were Gabrielle Felio, Jeanevive Diva, Benjamin Caspillo, Marrion Rustell Helicame, Reyna Grace Tagalicod, Vissae Bel Agus, Floyd Bandalan, Shiela May Abucay, and Salvador Aquino.

Feminist Community Night marks 2nd anniversary

AS PART of its 2nd anniversary celebration, Time’s Up Ateneo (TUA) will be hosting a feminist community night called “Conspiring Against the Patriarchy” on Oct. 23, 8 to 9:30 p.m. via Zoom. There will be a kapihan, a feminist spin on Gartic Phone, and musical and poetry performances. Register via https://tinyurl.com/TUACap. Links will be sent to registrants a few days before the event. For the other activities that are part of TUA’s 2nd anniversary celebration, visit https://timesupateneo.org/2021/10/14/times-up-ateneo-2nd-anniversary-schedule-of-events/

USAID, DoH launch mobile app for mental health support 

The Philippines’ very first mobile application geared towards providing mental health support and self-care reminders had its soft launch on Friday, with a wider launch through Google and Apple stores to be available soon.   

Developed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its RenewHealth project, and in collaboration with the Department of Health (DoH), the app Lusog-Isip was conceived to address Filipinos’ mental struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, including substance abuse problems, according to the two agencies.  

“We need to empower people with the information and tools to keep themselves and their families and their communities mentally healthy, and, as its name says, that’s what Lusog-Isip aims to do,” said USAID Philippines’ Office of Health director Michelle Lang-Alli, at the app’s virtual soft launch. “Lusog-Isip” translates to “mental health.”  

The app provides access to exercises, audio guides, journaling, and mood-tracking, which aim to help users cope with their struggles and mentally improve over time. It also has a referral network of psychosocial service providers nationwide, for those who want to take it a step further and seek professional help. 

In May, the DoH said that the pandemic saw 3.6 million Filipinos battling mental health issues. Of these, 1.14 million have depression, 847,000 struggle with alcohol use, and 520,000 suffer from bipolar disorder.  

USAID’s initiative RenewHealth, which handles the development of the app, is a five-year project that focuses on helping Filipinos who are trying to reduce or prevent drug dependence via self-help or community-based rehabilitation.   

“We understand very well that substance abuse is part of the broader concern of mental health,” Ms. Lang-Alli explained.  

A pilot test of the app in September was aimed towards these individuals, and it turned out to be successful, according to Patrick L. Angeles of RenewHealth. The test was carried out in groups where the effectivity of DoH’s mental health toolkit or workbook was also measured, to gauge the difference between the two.  

The majority (85.9%) of the 206 respondents said that the app was “satisfactory,” with both the toolkit and the app able to improve well-being. However, Lusog-Isip’s advantage was that it was also an avenue for emotional release.  

“Participants said that the journaling feature improved their awareness of stressors and became an avenue for them to vent,” shared Mr. Angeles.  

Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, director of the DoH’s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, added that Lusog-Isip is adapted to the Philippine cultural context, where mental health and substance use have only begun to be talked about widely.  

“Mental health is health and we must continue to take care of ourselves and each other during this pandemic,” she said, reiterating that the National Center for Mental Health hotline 1553 is always available for those who require a mental health professional. — Bronte H. Lacsamana

Philippines’ pension system ranked the third lowest

THE PHILIPPINE retirement income system is ranked the second lowest in Asia and near the bottom of a Global Pension Index covering 43 economies, after a slowdown in economic growth. Read the full story.

Philippines’ pension system ranked the third lowest

How PSEi member stocks performed — October 19, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.

Shares climb further as COVID-19 cases decline

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

STOCKS went up on Tuesday on the back of the improving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the country and the implementation of the new alert level system in other areas besides Metro Manila.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose 46.50 points or 0.64% to close at 7,266.31 on Tuesday, while the broader all shares index went up by 20.47 points or 0.46% to end at 4,451.40.

“Market continued to move on uptrend as reproduction number of the virus slipped to 0.55 per OCTA, which may favor further easing of restrictions,” Aniceto K. Pangan, equity trader at Diversified Securities, Inc., said in a text message.

“The positive sentiment was driven by the improving COVID-19 cases at home with the implementation of alert level system in other areas outside NCR (National Capital Region),” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research and Engagement Officer Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

Fredegusto Guido P. David, a research fellow at the independent OCTA Research Group, said the reproduction number in Metro Manila went down to 0.55 as of Monday, its lowest since May 18 when the reproduction number was at 0.56.

The Health department reported 6,943 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, bringing active cases to 68,832. The country has recorded nearly 2.73 million COVID-19 cases.

The government on Tuesday said the alert level system piloted in Metro Manila will be implemented in other regions starting on Wednesday, Oct. 20, until the end of the month.

“Net market value turnover was at P8.24 billion, lower than the P9.27-billion average this month as investors await the third-quarter earnings result,” Ms. Alviar added.

Value turnover slowed to P8.54 billion with 1.34 billion shares switching hands on Tuesday, lower than the P11.25 billion with 1.1 billion issues traded the previous day.

Majority of sectoral indices closed in the red on Tuesday except for holding firms, which gained 149.03 points or 2.11% to close the session at 7,197.34, and industrials, which climbed 133.54 points or 1.26% to 10,721.19.

Meanwhile, mining and oil declined by 97.75 points or 0.90% to 10,650.42; financials lost 11.41 points or 0.72% to 1,573.55; property shed 21.97 points or 0.65% to finish at 3,355.23; and services inched down by 8.52 points or 0.45% to 1,871.54.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 105 against 90, while 51 names closed unchanged yesterday.

Foreigners turned sellers, logging P65.80 million in net outflows on Tuesday versus the P847.51 million in net purchases recorded at the end of Monday’s trading session.

Diversified Securities’ Mr. Pangan said the benchmark index may continue to trade within the 7,000 to 7,450 range for the rest of the week. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Peso rebounds as oil prices drop

BW FILE PHOTO
THE PESO climbed against the dollar on Tuesday as oil prices eased and on the expanded implementation of the alert level system. — BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO bounced back versus the greenback on Tuesday as oil prices eased and with the new alert level system first implemented in Metro Manila set to be expanded to more areas.

The local unit ended trading at P50.72 per dollar on Tuesday, stronger by 12 centavos from its P50.84 close on Monday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened Tuesday’s session slightly stronger at P50.82 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P50.86, while its intraday best was at P50.68 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged rose to $999 million on Tuesday from $829.49 million on Monday.

The peso strengthened against the dollar following a slight easing in international oil prices, a trader said in an e-mail.

Reuters reported Monday that oil prices went down after touching multi-year highs as US industrial output fell.

Brent crude oil futures slipped 53 cents or 0.6% at $84.33 per barrel. On the other hand, US West Texas Intermediate crude settled 16 cents higher or 0.19% at $82.44 a barrel.

The government’s decision to implement the alert level system in other regions starting Wednesday also boosted the peso, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

Presidential Spokesperson Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. said 14 provinces and five other cities will be placed under the alert level system, which was first implemented in Metro Manila, amid a decline in the daily coronavirus case tally as well as the improving vaccination rate.

Infections rose by 4,496 on Tuesday, bringing the country’s active cases to 63,637, based on data from the Department of Health.

The Philippines has fully vaccinated 22.48% or 24.307 million of its population, according to latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.

For Wednesday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.65 to P50.85, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P50.55 to P50.80 against the dollar.

The dollar retreated on Tuesday to a three-week low, hit by a proliferation in rate hike bets in other markets and by improved sentiment that lifted equities and risk-sensitive currencies such as the Australian dollar, Reuters reported.

A robust start to the US earnings season and hopes China will be able to contain its property market malaise boosted global stock markets and some currencies.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six peers, sank as low as 93.58 for the first time since Sept. 28, before inching up to 93.616, 0.35% down on the day. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

New alert level system expanded to other areas

THE PHILIPPINES will expand a new coronavirus alert level system first tested in the capital region that’s meant to ease the lockdown burden on the economy into other parts of the country starting Oct. 20, the presidential palace said on Tuesday.

“We expanded our pilot implementation after a decrease in cases and improvement of our healthcare utilization rate, which appear to be connected to our alert levels in Metro Manila,” presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing in Filipino.

An inter-agency task force has put Batangas, Quezon Province including Lucena City under Alert Level 2.

Also under the same alert level are Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Cebu Province in central Philippines and Davao De Oro, Davao Del Sur and Davao Oriental in Mindanao.

Mr. Roque said Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Siquijor, Davao City and Davao del Norte will be under Alert Level 3, under which theaters would be allowed to operate. The capacity of allowed businesses would also be increased.

Negros Oriental and Davao Occidental will be under Alert Level 4, which bans theaters, amusement parks and playgrounds, karaoke bars, live voice or wind-pipe performances and contact sports establishments.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 4,496 coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2.7 million.

The death toll rose to 40,972 after 211 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 9,609 to 2.63 million, it said in a bulletin. 

There were 63,637 active cases, 79% of which were mild, 5.2% did not show symptoms, 4.8% were severe, 8.97% were moderate and 2% were critical.

The agency said 47 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 31 of which were reclassified as recoveries, while 145 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Seven laboratories failed to submit data on Oct. 17.

The country’s pandemic task force placed Metro Manila under Alert Level 3 from Oct. 16 to 30.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 reproduction rate in the National Capital Region had fallen to 0.55 as of Oct. 18, the lowest since May 18, the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines said. 

“We hope we can keep this below 0.6 for the rest of the year,” OCTA Research fellow Fredugusto P. David tweeted. The seven-day average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Metro Manila was 1,411, he added.

Also on Tuesday, police said it would deploy more cops in public places to enforce minimum health standards amid bigger crowds after the alert level in Metro Manila was relaxed to No. 3

National police chief General Guillermo T. Eleazar said they “understand the concern of our colleagues in the Department of Health and the medical community” about reports of people flocking to malls and other places of interest at the weekend.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire earlier reminded the public not to be complacent amid decreasing coronavirus infections.

Many Filipinos flocked to Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay, while some people failed to observe health protocols in parks and churches.

Private Hospitals Association Philippines President Jose Rene D. De Grano told a televised news briefing on Tuesday the downtrend in coronavirus infections was the result of strict enforcement of quarantines from Aug. 21 to Oct. 15. 

Under Alert level 3, certain businesses may operate at 30% capacity indoors and 50% outdoors. Tourist attractions and recreational venues such as libraries, museums, amusement parks, swimming pools and movie theaters have also been allowed to operate at reduced capacities. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Duterte’s ex-police chief vows to block ICC rights probe

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s former police chief on Tuesday said he would block any attempts — if he becomes president next year — by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe alleged human rights violations committed in the country’s war on drugs.

“I will not only protect President Duterte but also myself because we are co-accused in the case,” Senator Ronald M. Dela Rosa, who is running for President next year, told the ABS-CBN News Channel.

The lawmaker, who enforced the state’s anti-illegal drug campaign as Mr. Duterte’s police chief, said he would allow ICC investigators to visit the Philippines to “observe” but not to investigate.

An investigation by the Hague-based tribunal would be a slap in the face for Philippine courts that are still functioning, he added.

The ICC has ordered an investigation of Mr. Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs that has killed thousands, as it found “reasonable basis” that crimes against humanity might have been committed.

“The ICC works under the presumption of noncooperation of the accused,” human rights lawyer and senatorial aspirant Neri Colmenares said in a statement. “Whether or not Dela Rosa and Duterte cooperate, the ICC will find a way to investigate, prosecute and punish them.”

The presidential palace has said the Philippines would not cooperate with the ICC probe because it lost jurisdiction of the case after the country broke ties with the tribunal in 2019. The withdrawal would not affect the probe, according to the ICC.

Mr. Dela Rosa denied claims that the Duterte administration had committed crimes against humanity and criticized the report of Amnesty International on drug war-related deaths.

Tens of thousands of drug suspects whom police claimed had resisted arrest died in raids, according to the United Nations. The Philippine Commission on Human Rights has accused the state of violating human rights by abetting police abuses.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dela Rosa said ex-Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. should not apologize for human rights violations committed under his father’s two-decade rule.

“The sins of the father should not be blamed on his child.”

The late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos stole as much as $10 billion (P503 billion) from the Filipino people, according to government estimates, earning him a Guinness World Record for the “greatest robbery of a government.“

He was ousted by a street uprising in 1986 that forced him and his family to go into exile in the United States.

The Philippine government has recovered P174 billion of the assets, according to the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

More than 70,000 people were jailed, about 34,000 were tortured and more than 3,000 people died under the dictator’s martial rule, according to Amnesty International.

Mr. Dela Rosa, whom the ruling PDP-Laban picked as its presidential bet two hours before the deadline, earlier said he would give up his slot to Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio if she runs for president.

Under the law, Ms. Carpio may be substituted for Mr. de la Rosa as long as she becomes a member of the party. The substitution period is allowed until mid-November.

Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research earlier said Mr. Dela Rosa would probably focus on crime and mirror Mr. Duterte’s leadership style if he becomes president.

Mr. Dela Rosa vowed to push changes to economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution and relax foreign ownership rules.

Antonio A. Ligon, a law and business professor at De La Salle University, said foreign investors are attracted to countries that respect human rights and promote democratic values.

Investors are closely watching the views of Philippine presidential candidates on human rights, he said in a text message.

“What good is there in making profit when human beings who are supposed to enjoy the fruit of investments are being treated unfairly and unjustly by violating their human rights?” Mr. Ligon asked. “A good number of investors give due consideration to this.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Agri losses from Maring hits P2.17B, over 78,600 farmers affected 

CAGAYAN PIO

THE DAMAGE caused by severe tropical storm Maring (international name: Kompasu) climbed to P2.17 billion from the previous estimate of P2.14 billion, with 78,634 farmers and fishers affected.   

In a bulletin on Tuesday morning, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said 103,069 metric tons (MT) of production volume were lost due to Maring. The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries. Losses were also reported in irrigation and agricultural facilities.    

About 86,481 hectares of agricultural areas were affected in the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Soccsksargen.  

Validation of the reported damage and losses are continuing, the DA said.    

Rice had the most losses at P1.5 billion. Lost production volume reached 83,313 MT while affected farm areas totaled 74,947 hectares.    

High-value crop losses amounted to P227 million. A total of 9,857 MT of production volume were lost while 2,937 hectares of agricultural area were affected.    

Damage to corn was valued at P148.2 million. Affected farm areas reached 8,597 hectares while lost production volume totaled 8,899 MT. Losses to fisheries amounted to P110.1 million.    

Livestock and poultry damage reached P84.8 million and consisted of 34,414 heads of various animals.   

Losses to irrigation and agricultural facilities were valued at P140.6 million, which comprised of diversion dams, small water irrigation projects, communal irrigation systems, check dams, nurseries, demo farms, and farm to market roads. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave  

Davao City tourism sector gears up for return of Singapore Airlines flights by Oct. 31 

BW FILE PHOTO

DAVAO City’s tourism sector is now preparing tour packages for the first group of foreign visitors since the start of the pandemic who are expected to arrive with the resumption of Singapore Airlines’ flights by Oct. 31.  

The Singapore-Davao flights will be chartered under the carrier’s “northern winter” schedule from end-October to March 6, 2022.  

Singapore Airlines, through its former subsidiary Silk Air, used to have regular weekly flights to Davao.   

City Tourism Operations Officer Regina Rosa B. Tecson, in a statement on Tuesday, said tour operators and hotels will be offering “staycation packages” for the visitors, who will be required to undergo a quarantine period.       

A negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours before travel will also have to be presented.      

Under Singapore’s current category as a moderate risk country, or within the yellow list, arriving passengers who are fully vaccinated will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine, and 14 days for the unvaccinated.   

‘LITTLE TOKYO’
Meanwhile, a tourism masterplan is under review for a suburban village in the city that was home to a Japanese community in pre-World War II years.  

City Planning and Development Office officer-in-charge Ivan Chin Cortez said the plan for Barangay Mintal, which used to be known as “Little Tokyo,” was submitted by consultancy and project management firm Berkman International, Inc. to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). 

The plan builds on existing tourism resources and takes into consideration community participation, environmental impact, and sustainability for developing Mintal as a cultural and historical destination. — Maya M. Padillo

Former Health chief questions holding pilot vaccination of minors in hospitals 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A HOUSE lawmaker and a former Health secretary on Tuesday questioned the government on their decision to hold the pilot rollout of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines to minors in hospitals.  

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette L. Garin said such an arrangement was made “without any regard to science.”  

“While I understand the need for precautions, common sense would dictate that the hospital setting is not the safest place to be during a pandemic. Doing vaccination in hospitals will expose our teenage children to more viruses and possibly to COVID-19,” she said in a statement.  

The pilot run for inoculating minors aged 12 to 17 with underlying medical conditions started on Oct. 15 in selected hospitals in Metro Manila, including the Philippine General Hospital and the Philippine Heart Center. 

Vaccine chief Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. earlier said the Philippines would have enough vaccine supply to inoculate 12 million children.  

Ms. Garin also said the move to inoculate minors in hospitals will add more burden to frontline health workers who are “already exhausted, overworked, and underpaid.” 

“Were hospitals, who are already overloaded, consulted if they have the capacity and the manpower to do the added work? Were parents given a choice if they want their teenagers to go to hospitals or to community vaccination sites,” she said.  

More than 52 million coronavirus vaccines had been given out as of Oct. 18, with 24.49 million Filipinos having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the inter-agency task force managing the pandemic. — Russell Louis C. Ku 

Labor groups urge Robredo to include Matula in senatorial slate  

SEVERAL labor groups supporting Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo’s presidential bid next year urged her to give labor leader Jose Sonny G. Matula the last spot in her senatorial slate.  

“Being in the opposition is not enough if a candidate is not willing to fight for the people’s agenda,” Center of United and Progressive Workers Deputy Secretary General Joanna Bernice S. Coronacion said in Filipino during an online press conference on Tuesday.    

Ms. Coronacion, speaking for the alliance called Labor Leaders for Leni, said Ms. Robredo had earlier accepted their group’s labor agenda, which includes ending contractualization, adopting a national minimum wage, and freedom of association, among others.  

“Ms. Robredo’s acceptance and agreement with this agenda further strengthened our support for her, and we believe that understanding between parties involved and achieving this agenda will be easier if workers will have a representative in the senatorial slate of the Leni-Kiko tandem (Ms. Robredo and running mate Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan),” Ms. Coronacion added in Filipino.   

Mr. Matula said he presented his five-point labor agenda to Ms. Robredo last week, and that she was supportive of it and is open to more discussions.    

If Ms. Robredo chooses another candidate for her 12th senatorial spot, Ms. Coronacion said the alliance will be “saddened” but will still support her. 

The group said they have about 350,000 members and, with their family members, is eyeing to swing two million votes for Ms. Robredo next year. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago  

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