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Nordic-Noir Millennium series to be extended by three new books

THE Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson — EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

STOCKHOLM —  Swedish Nordic-Noir series Millennium will be extended by another three books, publishing house Polaris said on Monday, after having acquired the rights to the popular series.

The Millennium books have sold more than 100 million copies and have been published in more than 50 countries. The original three books were written by Stieg Larsson, who died in 2004, and parts four to six were written by David Lagercrantz.

“The series about Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist is an astonishing epic and David Lagercrantz did a fantastic job when he took the helm,” Jonas Axelsson, publishing manager at Polaris, said in a statement.

“To take this deeply loved story forward as a new original publisher is not only dizzying and honoring but also very encouraging,” he said.

It is not yet clear who will write the new books. — Reuters

Youthful California Precision Sports books first win in defeating Baguio Lady Highlanders in four sets

CALIFORNIA PRECISION SPORTS — PNVF TWITTER PAGE

By John Bryan Ulanday

GAMES TODAY

(Aquamarine Recreational
Center Gym, Lipa, Batangas)
1:30 p.m. – Baguio vs. California Precision Sports
4 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs. Chery Tiggo

LIPA CITY — Casiey Monique Dongallo sizzled for 25 points as the California Precision Sports (CPS) clobbered the Baguio Lady Highlanders, 25-14, 23-25, 25-11, 25-12, for a breakthrough win in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League yesterday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center Gym here.

Ms. Dongallo hammered out 24 kills while also listing seven digs to further prove her caliber as among the best players, only at 16 years of age, in the tilt featuring a stacked cast of professional players.

Jelaica Faye Gajero (16) and Jenalyn Umayam (11) were also instrumental in CPS’ maiden win after putting up valiant fights against seasoned clubs of F2 Logistics, Tuguegarao Perlas and Premier Volleyball League (PVL) champion Chery Tiggo.

“We joined this tournament for exposure and experience. We have nothing to lose here, but everything to gain,” said Ms. Dongallo, who is averaging almost 20 points in four matches so far.

True enough, the Antipolo-based CPS team of decorated mentor Jerry Yee has not backed away from the challenge after scaring F2 Logistics, 21-25, 14-25, 19-25 and Chery Tiggo, 22-25, 25-27, 23-25.

CPS, with an average age of only 16 years, even snatched a set against Tuguegarao Perlas before falling short in four sets, 20-25, 27-25, 15-25, 17-25.

“We may be young, but we always want to give everything we’ve got, regardless of our age. As much as possible, we don’t want to be called young as we want to get at par with the seasoned teams here,” added the 17-year-old Ms. Gajero.

Meanwhile, Mary Ann Atuban (7) and Joan Lyn Maddatu (7) led the also youthful Baguio squad (0-4) with an average age of only 21 years.

CPS, now at 1-3, shoots for a strong finish today in an upset bid against Petro Gazz (2-1), while winless Baguio (0-4) also attempts the same against Chery Tiggo (2-1).

The Champions League is backed by Rebisco, Pitmaster Foundation, Inc., Top Speed, 1Pacman Partylist, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as platinum sponsors; F2 Logistics, Asics, PLDT, MVP Sports Foundation and Mikasa as gold sponsors; and BCDA, Philippine Red Cross, Lipa City, Davis Paint and Emerald PVC Pipes, Fittings and Doors as silver sponsors with PNVF godfather, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, chairman of the Champions League, giving his full support.

Say aah — as lockdown loosens, see your dentist

UNSPLASH

People neglected their teeth over the pandemic and now that restrictions have loosened, it might be time to visit the dentist.

“It’s critical that we reset bad habits as clinics slowly begin to increase their operating hours,” said Dr. Leo Gerald R. De Castro, managing partner at the Asian Center for Dental Health Specialties.

“When this pandemic began, nobody expected that protecting ourselves from this disease by remaining socially distant would come at the cost of personal health,” he added, referring to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Dental check-ups every six months, whether in person or virtual, is the best way to ensure that problems don’t get worse, he said, citing a study released by market research group IPSOS and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) this March that showed close to half (46%) of 500 Filipino respondents reduced their frequency of visiting a dentist compared to before the pandemic.

The most common issues reported by Filipinos are bad breath (74%), tooth decay (72%), and plaque or tartar build-up (60%).

“When it comes to everyday hygiene like toothbrushing, the standard recommendation I would make is to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, in the morning and evening, with a soft-bristled brush,” said Dr. De Castro, adding that a toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months to avoid bristles becoming too frayed to clean hard-to-reach spots.   

SNACKING AND STAINED TEETH
Frequent snacking during lockdowns and drinking beverages like coffee or tea, which can stain the teeth, contributed to 77% of Filipinos suffering from sensitive teeth, 42% having yellow teeth, and 34% having cavities.

“Consumption awareness is key to take action against these,” said Dr. De Castro. “The best thing we can do is avoid excessive snacking of foods and beverages that are high in sugar as these can cause dental caries or cavities.”

Those already experiencing issues like plaque buildup or acute toothaches are advised to virtually consult their dentists to get a quick professional opinion on minor concerns that do not require immediate treatment.

MOUTH, HEART, BRAIN
People with gum disease have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or any serious cardiovascular event, according to research from Harvard Medical School. “This is due to gum diseases potentially increasing the body’s burden of inflammation. Plaque can also break off the walls of blood vessels, which can travel to the heart or brain,” said Dr. De Castro.

Diabetics are also at risk of gum infection. The connection lies in the body’s blood vessels: “Poor blood sugar management leads to higher risk of oral infections. Uncontrolled diabetes weakens white blood cells, which are our bodies’ defense against bacterial infections that can occur in the mouth,” he said.

Meanwhile, Emerson Aguinaldo, GSK Consumer Healthcare’s general manager for Southeast Asia and Taiwan, pointed out that oral habits have long-term effects.

“Good oral care habits like good, regular tooth-brushing using proven effective consumer healthcare products (toothpaste, mouth rinse and floss) are no exception,” he said. “We need to show people the power of getting these habits right due to the many positive effects this can have on overall health, ultimately reducing the risk of developing a number of health conditions in the long term.

“I hope more Filipinos can think of dental hygiene as a form of self-care,” said Dr. De Castro. “Self-care is all about taking time to do things that help us live well and improve both our physical and mental health. Simple oral hygiene practices can help us minimize the risks of these life-changing conditions.” — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Fed’s bank-watchdog vacancy spurs louder cries from progressive groups

PROGRESSIVE GROUPS are doubling down on their push for an aggressive Wall Street watchdog after President Joseph R. Biden delayed a decision about who will serve as the Federal Reserve’s vice chairman for supervision.

Biden’s long-awaited move to nominate Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell on Monday didn’t include an announcement of who would fill the watchdog role, which became vacant last month when Governor Randal Quarles’s term expired. Lael Brainard, who was tapped to be vice chair of the central bank, was previously considered a top contender — so that could mean the regulation job stays vacant into next year.

“The failure to nominate a vice chair for supervision with a strong record on financial regulation in the public interest, is a serious problem,” advocacy group Americans for Financial Reform said in a statement. “President Biden should move quickly to fill all remaining vacant seats, and any new seats that open, with a diverse set of candidates, and break decisively from the approach of drawing senior officials from Wall Street.”

The Fed supervision chair is one of the most powerful banking watchdogs in Washington and will play a key role in the White House’s plans to shape financial regulation. The official helps craft rules and oversees big banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. While Monday’s announcement adds to uncertainty about who may be considered for the job, potential candidates include Sarah Bloom Raskin and Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, according to policy analysts.

“We believe this opens up the contest to be vice chair for supervision,” Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at Cowen & Co., said in a note.

The leadership vacuum leaves several initiatives on hold, including key bank-capital and leverage rules. It also slows down the ability for the combined regulatory agencies to team up on finishing old business, such as the Dodd-Frank Act’s requirements for new limits on financial executives’ bonuses — a rule that’s been been delayed for more than a decade.

The supervision chief would presumably also take a major role in erecting new guardrails for the cryptocurrency industry, as the administration seeks to push stablecoins such as Tether into the jurisdiction of bank regulators.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has repeatedly criticized Mr. Powell’s views on regulation, said filling the supervision post is “critically important.”

“This position must be filled by a strong regulator with a proven track record of tough and effective enforcement — and it needs to be done quickly,” Ms. Warren said in a statement.

Mr. Powell has previously said that he’ll defer to the next vice chairman for supervision on policy shifts affecting Wall Street banking.

Because Mr. Biden is leaving Mr. Powell in place and promoting Ms. Brainard, the three remaining vacancies will give the White House more opportunities to bring new people onto the board.

“The vice chair of supervision position is a place for President Biden to put his mark on financial regulation for the next several years,” said Todd Phillips, director of financial regulation at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. — Bloomberg

Fighting antibiotic resistance with reinvigorated R&D

Methicillin-resistant Staph bacteria via US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/NIH 

Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections caused by bacteria; they do not work for viral infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).  

However, data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that patients with COVID-19 may be more susceptible to developing secondary bacterial infections while hospitalized. Such patients are given antibiotics to treat the secondary bacterial infection, also known as hospital-onset infections, and prevent complications. 

Hospital-onset infections are more likely to be caused by antibiotic-resistant germs. According to the CDC, there have been sporadic antibiotic-resistant outbreaks in COVID-19 units and higher rates of hospital-onset infections in the US.  

The agency warned that COVID-19 can create a perfect storm for antibiotic-resistant infections in healthcare settings. Pressures of the pandemic such as increased hospitalizations and PPE shortages lead to infection control lapses, which may influence the spread of germs in hospitals. 

Nov. 18–24 is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, an annual celebration which aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance and encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites (microbes) no longer respond to medicines, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.  

Many factors have accelerated the threat of AMR worldwide —including overuse and misuse of medicines in humans, livestock and agriculture, as well as poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Each year, a growing number of infectious pathogens causes the death of an estimated 700,000 people. AMR is increasing, posing a significant threat to people’s health, healthcare systems, and ultimately to economic development. Resistance to second and third-line antibiotics is expected to be 70% higher in 2030 compared to 2005 in OECD countries, and compromise many basic procedures of modern medicine, such as surgeries.  

By 2050, around 10 million people could die annually due to AMR, without prompt and effective action as per The Pharmaceutical Industry and Global Health: Facts and Figures 2021 published by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Industry Associations. 

Poor discovery prospects, combined with weaker returns, means that the arsenal of antibiotics is declining, having peaked in 2000. Approvals for new antibiotics have plummeted, while the number of antibiotics that become obsolete and lose its efficacy due to resistance exceeds new approvals. 

Hence, AMR requires action across all government sectors and society. Given the growing public health and economic burdens posed by antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need to reinvigorate the antimicrobial pipeline. This is particularly critical given the long development times, approximately 10 to 15 years, for new medicines and vaccines. 

Vaccines are a critical complementary tool to mitigate the threat of AMR. Vaccines prevent commonly-acquired bacterial infections, whose treatment would require antimicrobial medicines, reducing the opportunity for bacteria to develop resistance. 

About 139 vaccines prevent viral infections, including COVID-19, which are often treated inappropriately with antibiotics, and which can also give rise to secondary infections that require antibiotic treatment. 

Despite great challenges, around 100 life-sciences companies and associations globally are promoting research and development of new therapies to fight AMR, investing in various innovative R&D therapies, both antibiotic and non-antibiotic.  

In July 2020, 23 biopharmaceutical companies partnered with nongovernmental stakeholders to respond to this urgent threat by launching a $1-billion AMR Action Fund with a goal of delivering up to 4 novel antibiotics by the end of the decade. 

At a media forum with the Department of Health, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) President Dr. Beaver Tamesis said that pharmaceutical companies are also helping build data, partnering with healthcare professionals, and communicating to the public the value of fighting AMR before they become superbugs.  

Dr. Tamesis, also the president of MSD in the Philippines, added that companies are also working with hospital infection control committees to develop systems and ensure that updated information on the hospital microbial environment is developed and cascaded to the necessary hospital personnel.  

Further on the ground, PHAP members involved in the retail of medicines also continuously conduct training and re-training of frontliners — pharmacists and pharmacy assistants — in the dispensing of antibiotics. Patient education is also being carried out to ensure the appropriate use of these lifesaving medicines. 

  

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of research and development efforts for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos. 

PBC eyes SEA Games gold — Bong Coo

TEAM Philippines at the 2021 IBF Super World Championship — POC

INSPIRED by its bronze medal performance in the World Championships in Dubai, the Philippine bowling team has trained its sights at claiming its first Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal in over a decade in the Hanoi tilt in May next year.

“Our target is to win the SEA Games gold,” said Philippine Bowling Federation (PBC) secretary-general Bong Coo in yesterday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

Ms. Coo was sourcing her optimism from the national keglers’ two-bronze haul in the Dubai meet last week that ended a 15-year medal drought in the annual tournament that produced several Philippine mints including three by Ms. Coo herself and one from national men’s squad coach Biboy Rivera.

In the last SEA Games that the country hosted two years ago, the Nationals missed out on a gold and instead wound up with a silver in the men’s team and a bronze in the women’s team.

The country’s last gold in the biennial meet, in fact, came exactly a decade ago courtesy of Frederick Ong in the men’s singles in Jakarta, Indonesia.

And national team mentor Jojo Canare hopes the golden drought would end in Hanoi.

“We will do our best to send our best bowlers in the SEA Games,” said Mr. Canare.

Mr. Canare said the team will most likely be composed of Kenneth Chua, Patrick Nuqui, Merwin Tan and Ian Dysangco in the men’s side and Rachel Leon, Mades Arles, Norel Nuevo and Uella Marcial in the women’s since they are the same bowlers who delivered the bronzes in Dubai.

There is a chance they may add some young guns along the way.

Ms. Coo said they have prepared a rigid four-month training starting early next year. — Joey Villar

Arts & Culture (11/24/21)

GLOBER CALAMBRO (Trumpet)

PPO holds online recital series

IN view of the ongoing pandemic, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) continues to seek alternative ways to serenade audiences with classical music by staging an online Recital Series to be held monthly from this November until June 2022. The Recital Series will be streamed via the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and PPO Facebook Pages at 8 p.m. The first recital opens with flutist Hercules Santiago performing Otar Taktakishvili’s Sonata for Flute and Piano on Nov. 26. The second recital features clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana as he renders Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestucke Op. 73 and Michele Mangani’s Pagina d’ Album for Clarinet and Piano on Dec. 31. French horn player Ernani Pascual welcomes the New Year with the third recital as he interprets Hermann Eichborn’s Sonate fur Waldhorn und Klaiver, Op. 71 on Jan. 28, 2022. The fourth recital puts trumpet player Glober Calambro in the spotlight as he performs Paul Hindemith’s Sonate on Feb. 25. The fifth recital centers on cellist Giancarlo Gonzales with a rendition of Claude Debussy’s Cello Sonata and Svante Henryson’s Black Run on March 25. The sixth recital features violinist Dino Akira Decena interpreting two works by Nicanor Abelardo: Sonata for Violin and Piano and Romanza on April 29. The seventh recital focuses on viola player Rey Casey Concepcion as he renders Paul Hindemith’s Viola Sonata Op. 11, No. 4 and Max Bruch’s Romanze Op. 85 on May 27. Contrabass player Ariston Payte III closes the recital series with a performance of Adolf Misek’s Sonata No. 2, Op. 6 on June 24. For more information, visit the CCP website www.culturalcenter.gov.ph or follow the official CCP and PPO Facebook pages.

Satirical photo slideshow part of online art exhibit

A PHOTOGRAPHER-educator has collaborated with his students for a collection of photographs that serves as a satirical reply to “red-tagging” in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s ongoing online art exhibition. Jay Javier’s Red Tagged!, which is “an absurdist retort to an absurdist reality epitomized by the current administration,” is part of the exhibit “To Differ Digitally 2: Love and Dissent in the Time of Pandemic.” It literally looks at labeling individuals or groups as communists “by having real red tags attached to the objects in the photographs.” Mr. Javier is one of the faculty members from the New Media Cluster who heeded the call for project proposals of the Center for Campus Art (CCA) under its director, Gerry Torres, and NMC, which is headed by Associate Dean Maria Sharon Mapa Arriola. TDD2, a show co-curated by Karen Ocampo-Flores, looks at the digital landscape as a platform to communicate constructive protest based on love and empathy. Aside from photographs, it also features live action films, animation, 2D and 3D models and rigs, texts, audio, applications, software, graphic design, and illustrations. The works are available at CCA’s new website www.benildecampusart.com. View the work at https://youtu.be/U9UxPwuxCVE.

Antoni Muntadas at Ateneo Art Gallery

RENOWNED conceptual artist Antoni Muntadas launches his first exhibition in Manila titled “Muntadas: Exercises on Past and Present Memories” in collaboration with the Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) and Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla (CAAC). Mr. Muntadas presents three projects that translate memories and histories of the Philippines and Spain and its relevance to contemporary history. Mr. Muntadas is considered as one of the pioneers of multimedia installations and urban interventions. He first visited Manila in 2019 and his brief encounter of the city led him to further investigate the past and present of Spain’s former colony. Fortuitously, the project coincides in time with the commemoration of the quincentennial of the circumnavigation of the globe, as well as with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Manila Galleon trade as framework for the exhibit, Mr. Muntadas developed three projects based on goods that were originally part of this commercial circuit — the mantón de Manila which was originally made in China then traveled to Manila, and later adapted and appropriated to the Spanish culture; coins and medallions, and ceramic tradeware from Sevilla. Contemporary versions of these goods, which Mr. Muntadas refers to as presents, act as repositories of memories; they are intended as metaphors for historical, political, social, and cultural narratives relevant to Philippine society. The Mantones, locally embroidered in Lumban, Laguna, are 15 shawls that feature images that represent different points in Philippine history, current events, and popular culture. Malas Hierbas are a set of ceramic plates manufactured in Sevilla which bear botanical drawings of invasive plant species brought in from the Americas, alluding to the effect of colonization. The medallions fabricated in Sevilla are called Portable Monuments to Emigrant Anonymous Workers; they are conceived as a tribute to unrecognized Filipinos living overseas. These projects are contextualized by archival photos as well as artifacts loaned from the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University and the Intramuros Administration. Manuel Ocampo also contributes his version of the Murillo Velarde-Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay map that depicts critical points in Philippine colonial history. “Muntadas: Exercises on Past and Present Memories” will be launched on Nov. 24 at the 3rd floor galleries of the Ateneo Art Gallery and will run until March 12, 2022. It will then travel to the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla, Spain and will be on view from March to Aug. 2022. This project is a collaboration between the AAG and CAAC, with support from the Embassy of Spain, Manila. Onsite visits will be accommodated soon. Until then, the exhibit may be accessed online through a virtual tour and walkthrough posted at AAG’s social media channels and website. For more information, visit www.ateneoartgallery.com.

‘Wicked Abstraction’ at ARTablado

“Wicked Abstraction” showcases nine individuals whose passion is painting. Their works are being showcased in Robinsons Land’s ARTablado until Nov. 30 at ARTablado, 3rd level, Robinsons Galleria. True to the maxim “art for art’s sake,” these individuals worked on their ouvres armed only with their intuition expressing their truth, their individuality and aesthetic ideals. The participating artists are Chinnich Candao, Danny Encabo, Eliezer Dimaculangan, Ella Hipolito, Joel Reglos, Jof Nachor, Meyo de Jesus, Rigor Esguerra, and Tito Rolly. For more updates, visit ARTablado on Facebook and Instagram.

Edwin Wilwayco exhibit opens Galerie Joaquin

EDWIN Wilwayco’s new series, “Jazz/Nocturne Interlude,” is featured in the official opening of Galerie Joaquin One Bonifacio High Street. A well-appointed, intricately designed space, it caters to a roster of leading modernist and fine arts masters. Mr. Wilwayco’s new series is a deviation from Wilwayco’s signature bold and vibrant hues, mounting two very distinct one-man shows in a single exhibition. In each painting, the artist’s dynamic brush strokes and juxtaposition of textures coalesce into a complex visual repertoire of highs and lows — some gradual, others abrupt — leaving the viewer awash with emotion, in the same manner one would be moved after listening to an evocative musical piece. Mr. Wilwayco, who is deeply moved by classical music when he paints, having paid homage to Vivaldi and Bach in his previous works, opted for a different muse prior to starting this series: jazz. “Edwin Wilwayco: Jazz/Nocturne Interlude” will be the very first exhibit on view at the newest Galerie Joaquin One Bonifacio High Street Mall beginning Nov. 21. For more information, contact 0917-5343942 or e-mail info@galeriejoaquin.com.

Vibal Foundation’s Philippine Cartography wins Gintong Aklat Award

VIBAL Foundation’s (VF) Philippine Cartography 1320-1899, 4th Edition won the 2020 Gintong Aklat Awards for Social Sciences category. The awarding ceremony was streamed live on the Facebook pages of the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) and Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) on Nov. 17. VF’s Program Director Kristine E. Mandigma, book editor Dr. Carlos Madrid, and Denden Quirino, daughter of the book’s author and National Artist Carlos Quirino, gave their acceptance speeches. Philippine Cartography was first published in a limited edition in 1959 and reissued a second and third time in Amsterdam and Quezon City. For this fourth edition, editor Dr. Carlos Madrid annotated Quirino’s text and added a selection of over 450 new maps to form the largest bibliography of over 1,600 Philippine cartographic materials. Profusely illustrated with over 200 images, this edition is further enriched with six foldout maps, among them the Topographía de la Ciudad de Manila, which is reproduced for the first time in high resolution. This edition has a foreword by historian Ambeth Ocampo and an introduction by international author, Thomas Suárez, who presents a meditation on cartography, the making of the Philippines, and the 21st century digitality. Dr. Madrid also appended three significant essays that considerably widen the author’s avenues of inquiry into the Selden map of Southeast Asia, the unheralded Claudio Montero and his Comisión Hidrográfica de Filipinas, and the achievements of Jesuit father Vicente Memije — together with two Filipino artists, Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay and Lorenzo Atlas. Philippine Cartography and other VFI books are available at the Vibal Online Shop at https://shop.vibalgroup.com, Lazada https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/vibal-books, and at Shopee https://shopee.ph/vibalgroup.

Batang Sining offers weekly activities for kids

THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP) presents Batang Sining, a series of weekly educational activities, which are ongoing until Dec. 8. This year, the CCP Arts Education partnered with Black Canvas to reimagine arts education through online workshops, streamings, conversations, and safely conducted in-person events supporting the holistic growth of Filipino children. Follow the CCP, Batang Sining, and CCP Arts Education Facebook pages for more information and updates.

Met holds paper cutting workshop

IN CELEBRATION of National Children’s Month and Philippine Book Development Month, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila is hosting a paper cutting workshop for children. It features the story Ang Maliit na Kalabaw, illustrated by Liza Flores, that was among the winners at the 2019-2020 Best Reads at the 6th National Children’s Book Award. The workshop is for children aged eight years old and above. The workshop includes a talk on what it’s like to illustrate a book, and making paper-cut artworks. A museum tour and a storytelling session complete the afternoon. Slots are limited. Register and find out what materials are needed for the workshop. The MET Online Studio workshop will be held on Nov. 27, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., via Zoom and Facebook Live.

FotomotoPH mounts portrait exhibit

FOTOMOTOPH, a photographers’ collective, in partnership with Shutterspace Studios, Inc. and the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Arts Management program, presents a three-part exhibit called “Fotomoto ’21 Invitational: Portraits” which first runs until Dec. 18 at KONDWI in Poblacion, Makati. Subsequent openings will be held in Manila House in Bonifacio Global City and The Alley at Karrivin Plaza along Chino Roces, Jr. Ext., Makati. Each participating venue will show a unique set of images. Some shows will run until the end of the year, while others will continue until the first quarter of 2022. The exhibition will feature works of over 100 Filipino and Philippine-based photographers (professionals and photojournalists), as well as artists, amateurs, and hobbyists. These include Fotomoto founding members: Jes Aznar, Raena Abella, Edric Chen, Tom Epperson, Paco Guerrero, Miguel Nacianceno, RJ Fernandez, Wawi Navarroza, Apa Ongpin, Neal Oshima, Sandra Palomar, Gio Panlilio, Jason Quibilan, Jake Verzosa, and Veejay Villafranca. Access to the exhibition on site is free to the public; however, exhibition access per venue will follow the IATF health guidelines and safety protocols implemented in each LGU. All images will also be shown online at https://fotomoto.ph. Many of the images will be available for sale as mounted archival prints (separate from the exhibition prints). For more information about the exhibition in other participating venues and online events, follow Fotomoto’s social media pages (facebook.com/fotomotophilippines and @fotomoto.ph on Instagram) or e-mail info@fotomoto.ph.

PETA’s Under My Skin goes online

PHILIPPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA)’s play Under My Skin will be on view online over two weekends — Nov. 26 to 28, and Nov. 30 to Dec. 5. Written by Rody Vera and directed by Melvin Lee, Under My Skin is inspired by real people and events, and depicts the realities, triumphs, and struggles of people living with HIV. In the show, the audience is introduced to three men whose relationships are tested when one gets infected; an HIV-positive teenager whose status is discovered when he contracts tuberculosis; a mother who unknowingly passed down the virus to her son after getting it from her husband; and a gay beauty parlor employee experiencing work-related discrimination. The audience learns the causes, effects, and treatments of HIV-AIDS through Dr. Gemma Almonte (played by Cherry Pie Picache). Tickets are available at P180 for Livestream, and P250 for Video on Demand via www.ticket2me.net, bit.ly/undermyskinonline, or through any of the Under My Skin Online show buyers. For bulk sales, and more sales information, contact Mitch Go at 0917-539-1112.

Globe says its public Wi-Fi service now in over 3,700 locations

GLOBE Telecom, Inc. on Tuesday said it had expanded its public Wi-Fi service to more than 3,700 locations nationwide since January, as the demand for internet access in public places continues to grow.

The expansion of Globe’s GoWiFi service covers local government units, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and airports.

“With the intensifying need of Filipinos to have access to an affordable and stable internet connection in public areas, Globe Telecom answers the call by expanding [the] GoWiFi service,” the telco said in an e-mailed statement.

Quezon City Hall, Mandaluyong City Hall, Bacoor City Hall, Puerto Galera City Hall, Davao City Hall, and Antipolo City Hall are among the public places where GoWiFi service is available.

The service is available at select branches of Robinsons Supermarket, Puregold, and Shopwise.

Globe also installed its GoWiFi service at some hospitals such as Kidapawan Doctors Hospital, Inc., Quezon City General Hospital, Rizal Provincial Hospital Annex I-IV, Saint Vincent General Hospital – Cebu, Cebu North General Hospital, and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

“Currently, GoWiFi is available in select branches of major shopping malls like Ayala Malls, Megaworld Malls, SM Supermalls, and Robinsons Malls,” Globe noted.

It is also offered at transport terminals such as Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, and Puerto Princesa International Airport, as well as coffee shops like Starbucks. — Arjay L. Balinbin

How PSEi member stocks performed — November 23, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

Philippines exposed to ‘moderate’ risk of corruption in defense and security governance

Philippines exposed to ‘moderate’ risk of corruption in defense and security governance

Farmers dispute gov’t claims of falling rice prices 

BW FILE PHOTO

A FARMERS’ association said the government’s assertion that rice prices have fallen since imports were liberalized would not hold true if current prices were compared to prices in 2017.

Federation of Free Farmers National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said in a statement: “The Department of Agriculture is hiding the fact that rice prices after the RTL (Rice Tariffication Law) enactment were actually the same or slightly higher than prices in 2017, which was a more normal year. Official data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that RTL has actually been a flop in terms of lowering rice prices, particularly for poor consumers.”

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has said that the price of well-milled rice dropped by P7 to P38 per kilogram (/kg) from P45/kg recorded in 2018, citing the effects of the RTL and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a component of the law which is funded from rice tariffs.

Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law took effect in March 2019. It allowed the private sector to import rice more freely, with their shipments subject to a tariff of 35% on Southeast Asian grain. Such tariffs provide the RCEF with P10 billion a year to support projects to improve farming efficiency. 

“By the end of the six-year implementation of the law, we shall be near the P8/kg production cost target,” Mr. Dar said.

Mr. Montemayor countered: “The P38/kg price is actually for cheaper regular milled rice. PSA data show that the average price for well-milled rice from 2019 to September 2021 was actually P42.26/kg, or just P2.74/kg below the P45 level in 2018.”

Mr. Montemayor called the DA’s data on the cost of production “misleading.”

“PSA data show that average cost of palay production was actually lower at P11.05/kg in 2016-2017. This went up to P11.45/kg when Mr. Dar took over the DA in 2019, and further deteriorated to P11.52/kg in 2020, despite the billions poured into RCEF programs,” Mr. Montemayor said.

“While palay (unmilled rice) output reportedly grew by almost 7% in the third quarter of the year, the increase was exclusively due to the expansion of harvested area. Average yields in fact declined to 4.11 metric tons (MT) per hectare in the third quarter compared to 4.13 MT during the same period in 2020, putting into question the effectiveness of the DA’s strategy of raising yields by giving free certified seeds to farmers,” he added.  

The DA has a production target of 20.4 million MT of palay in 2021, against the 19.4 million MT logged in 2020.  — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Bill proposes 30-day minimum fuel inventory rule

PHILSTAR

A BILL has been filed at the House of Representatives that would require fuel companies to maintain a minimum inventory of 30 days’ estimated consumption and to disclose in detail their costs after imported fuel is landed.

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel M. Arroyo, chairman of the House Committee on Energy, said House Bill 10505 is intended to ensure energy security and price transparency. The measure proposes to amend the oil industry deregulation law.

The amendments had been requested by the Department of Energy (DoE) in a letter to Congress on Oct. 19. The DoE said such a measure would “ensure a level playing field” within the oil industry while protecting consumers.

The 30-day inventory requirement applies to refiners, importers, and bulk distributors on a per company, per depot, and per product basis.

A Minimum Inventory Requirement  compliance report is to be filed with the Department of Energy (DoE) weekly.

The measure will also require the detailed disclosure of fuel companies’ costs after the fuel is imported, including port charges, refining costs, and marketing costs. The price of crude, foreign exchange losses or gains, and freight, remain unregulated.

The fuel industry is also required to submit an annual downstream oil industry development plan to the DoE which includes business plans, management models in the conduct of business, and other items as may be required by the DoE.

In case of a determination of “unreasonable” petroleum product prices, a task force will be formed by the Oil Industry Management Bureau and the DoE’s Legal Services office to investigate, with action expected within 30 days.

The bill will prescribe penalties for violating the oil deregulation law such as fines of P50,000 to P300,000, along with a suspension or revocation of registration from the DoE or other government agencies.

They may also be liable for imprisonment of three months to one year.

The House Committee on Ways and Means approved a bill on Nov. 11 to suspend or lower the excise tax on some fuel products for six months.

The measure is now awaiting second reading at the plenary.

On Tuesday, oil companies rolled back the price of gasoline by P0.85 per liter while diesel and kerosene prices fell by P1.20 and P1.30 respectively.

As of Nov. 16, year-to-date pump prices for gasoline and diesel have increased by P20.05/L and P17.50/L, respectively, according to the DoE. — Russell Louis C. Ku

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