Chatbot answers period-related questions

March 30, 2022 | 12:03 am

For two decades, a woman who regularly experienced excruciating pain during her period finally had enough and consulted a gynecologist. Her tormentor turned out to be endometriosis.

“A growth was found in my ovaries,” said Ella Marie Evangelista-Martelino, an endometriosis patient care advocate and chief executive officer of Manila Media. “My search led me to an infertility specialist who said that I had endometriosis. She said there’s no cure and I have it for life, so we’ve been managing it for the past 20 years.”

Aside from being women’s month, March is also endometriosis awareness month. Affecting roughly 1 in 10 women, the painful disorder is caused by endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus.

“What I’d like many women to remember is that pain during menstruation is different. It is not normal; we should not normalize the symptoms,” said Dr. Angela S. Aguilar, gynecologist and past president of the Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine.

“We can have some discomfort, but pain — especially debilitating pain that makes you stop work or prevent you from attending class — is already a very serious symptom. These women should be evaluated by a physician to know whether there are lesions that are possibly endometriosis,” she explained at a recent webinar on the condition.

Dysmenorrhea, the more commonly known term for period pain, shouldn’t be accepted as the norm: extreme pain that interferes with day-to-day warrants a trip to a gynecologist.

Women who have this condition are subject to pelvic examination and ultrasound, though confirmatory tests may be necessary, Dr. Aguilar said.

A study she co-authored titled “Clinical Diagnosis and Early Medical Management for Endometriosis: Consensus for Asia” found that surgical tissue diagnosis shouldn’t be done as it could harm the reproductive system of women who have yet to bear children.

“You can diagnose via non-surgical means, so we try to discourage surgery for endometriosis nowadays,” she said.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS
According to Ms. Evangelista-Martelino, the most important lesson she learned from her ordeal was that women should visit a gynecologist as soon as they get their period to evaluate their reproductive health.

“I suffered more than a decade and by the time I was diagnosed there was already that growth. If it had been detected and addressed earlier, I wouldn’t have had to go through surgery,” she said.

After undergoing surgery, Ms. Evangelista-Martelino had two children, showing it’s still possible for endometriosis patients to conceive.

Dr. Aguilar added that the usual treatment is to suppress women’s periods with suitable, long-term medication: “Some women have side effects of rare or continuous light bleeding or spotting. Some have problems sleeping or feel mildly depressed. Some have a breakout in their skin. These are few and far between, so you have to explore.”

Cost-effective care isn’t one-and-done surgery, but managing the condition for the rest of the patient’s life. Early diagnosis also means it will be less costly to treat, she said.

PERIOD AI
Pharmaceutical company Bayer Philippines, which hosted the endometriosis webinar on March 22, announced that its reproductive health chatbot AskMara is now capable of answering questions about period pain.

“The Facebook page has more information now, not only about contraception, but also endometriosis,” said Arlene Celestial, head of marketing for Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

To chat with Ask Mara, visit facebook.com/AskMaraPH/. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock for slap, academy weighs action

March 30, 2022 | 12:03 am

LOS ANGELES — Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock on Monday for slapping the comedian at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony, issuing a statement after the film academy said it might take action against Mr. Smith for an incident that overshadowed the industry’s top awards.

Mr. Smith, in a post on Instagram, said his behavior at the televised ceremony was “unacceptable and inexcusable.”

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Mr. Smith wrote. “I was out of line and I was wrong.”

Mr. Smith strode on stage and struck Mr. Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about the appearance of Mr. Smith’s wife. Less than an hour later, Mr. Smith won best actor for his role as the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.

Mr. Rock, in a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, had referenced the 1997 film G.I. Jane in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. It was unclear whether Mr. Rock was aware that Mr. Smith’s wife has a disease that causes hair loss.

“Jokes at my expense are part of the job,” Mr. Smith said on Monday, “but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

“I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be,” he added.

Earlier Monday, the 9,900-member Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences condemned Mr. Smith’s actions and said it was reviewing the matter.

“We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law,” the academy added.

The group’s conduct policy states it is “opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination” and expects members to uphold the values “of respect for human dignity, inclusion, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity.”

Violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the organization, revocation of Oscars, or loss of eligibility for future awards, according to the policy.

SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents actors, called the Smith’s actions “unacceptable” and said it had been in touch with the academy and broadcaster ABC “to ensure this behavior is appropriately addressed.”

It is rare but not unprecedented for the film academy to revoke membership. Producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in 2017 after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault.

In his statement, Mr. Smith also apologized to the academy, show producers, attendees, viewers, the Williams family and “my King Richard family.”

Studio executives were publicly silent about Smith on Monday. The 53-year-old actor has projects in the works with Netflix, Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Apple TV+. The companies did not respond to requests for comments.

One of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Mr. Smith has anchored lucrative film franchises such as Independence Day and Men in Black. His films have grossed more than $9 billion at global box offices, according to researcher Comscore.

Oscars producers had been hoping for a memorable night on Sunday to rebound from record-low ratings during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. They brought in three hosts, opened the show with Beyonce and shortened some acceptance speeches.

But it was Mr. Smith’s outburst that went viral, with pictures and video ricocheting across social media.

Television viewership jumped sharply this year, to an average of 15.36 million people, a 56% boost from 2021, according to preliminary estimates.

Feel-good movie CODA won best picture, marking a turning point in Hollywood because the film was streamed by Apple TV+ rather than debuting exclusively to theaters.

Many Hollywood celebrities denounced Mr. Smith’s actions.

“Will Smith owes Chris Rock a huge apology. There is no excuse for what he did,” filmmaker Rob Reiner said on Twitter.

Others supported Mr. Smith for defending his wife.

“That’s what your husband is supposed to do, right? Protect you,” comedienne Tiffany Haddish told People magazine. — Reuters

Manila Water readies lab for virus detection in wastewater

March 30, 2022 | 12:02 am

MANILA Water Co., Inc. announced on Tuesday that it plans to build a molecular laboratory for wastewater surveillance over SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“The project is part of the company’s COVID-19 response and is aimed to detect and quantify the SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines that are efficient in amplifying small segments of DNA or RNA. These data will be complementary to the current clinical testing and reports of confirmed positive cases,” Manila Water Laboratory Services Head Joannatess B. De Vera said in a statement.

The company’s first molecular laboratory is expected to be completed before month’s end and will be ready to operate by June 2022.

Ms. De Vera said the facility would expand the capacity of Manila Water’s laboratory services to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in its wastewater treatment systems and generate data for public health use.

The project aims to help communities have access to the technique and technology in tracking local outbreaks of COVID-19 or what is called wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE).

“[The] data to be generated in this molecular lab can help communities formulate actions in mitigating COVID-19 in its early stages of emergence or re-emergence as WBE can detect the virus even before people show symptoms,” Manila Water Research and Development Head Emmanuel Jimenez said.

Mr. Jimenez said that since wastewater samples contain waste from numerous individuals, the community will have access to a cost and time-efficient screening approach to determine the level of infection not only of COVID-19 but other possible emerging and future threats.

“The new facility will support the current efforts of the different local government units to address this pandemic. Operating the molecular laboratory also allows the company to provide services beyond its regular wastewater treatment and operations,” Manila Water added.

Manila Water provides water treatment, sewerage and sanitation, distribution services, and management services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the East Concession Zone. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Tech firm ADVANCE.AI pushes for alternative credit scoring models

March 30, 2022 | 12:02 am

FINANCIAL technology firm ADVANCE.AI wants to push alternative credit scoring models in the Philippines to help boost financial inclusion.

“[In the] Philippines, not everyone has a credit score, not everyone can be given a credit score,” ADVANCE.AI Country Manager Michael M. Calma said at a virtual interview.

The firm is in touch with banks as well as nonbank financial institutions to help them assess the creditworthiness of underserved and new-to-market clients.

ADVANCE.AI said its recent partnership with FinScore, Inc. allows them to estimate a user’s creditworthiness through their cellphone habits.

“How often does a person buy prepaid load — things like that. It becomes your proxy variable to be able to discern the kind of consumer they are and their buying power,” Mr. Calma said.

Data from the Credit Information Corp. showed less than 50% of adult Filipinos have a credit record.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been promoting the use of alternative data to boost credit scoring for the unbanked and underserved. This information is gathered from social media, online transactions, and mobile, utilities, behavioral, geolocation and browser data, among others.

Ellen Joyce L. Suficiencia, director of the BSP Center for Learning and Inclusion Advocacy, has said the use of alternative data could help people that are part of the gig economy or farmers to have access to formal credit.

Aside from focusing on alternative credit scoring, ADVANCE.AI is also offering financial institutions tools to establish the digital identity of their users to prevent fraud issues.

“The way we differentiate ourselves is that we’re really invested on training our AI models to first recognize the Filipino face,” Mr. Calma said.

The company also ensured their products can read IDs in the Philippines and their programs can also recognize selfies for verification, even those taken by low resolution cameras, as some clients may not have the capability to buy more expensive smartphones that could capture higher definition pictures.

Mr. Calma said they are also looking for more opportunities amid the rise of play-to-earn schemes in the Philippines like Axie Infinity, noting there are still gaps to convert earned cryptocurrency from these games into money.

“We also want to be able to serve that particular community, right — making that transaction from fiat [currency] to token and vice versa, easier and more secure,” Mr. Calma said. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Obiena, Juico a few issues away from resolving their quarrel

March 30, 2022 | 12:02 am

THE end of the bickering between World No. 5 pole-vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and the Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (PATAFA) is near.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez on Tuesday made the assurance after the mediation he initiated that lasted for seven hours appeared to have gone successful on Monday.

“We are almost there, give us a chance to finish it on Friday,” said Mr. Ramirez during a signing of a memorandum of agreement between the agency and the Bangsamoro Sports Commission in Manila on Tuesday.

Mr. Ramirez is optimistic both Mr. Obiena and PATAFA President Philip Ella Juico are a few issues away from resolving their spat that started when the latter accused the former of allegedly falsifying liquidations concerning the salary of Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov in October last year.

“There are four or five issues that was discussed and I’m very positive by Friday, April 1, hopefully not April Fools, we’ll be successful,” said Mr. Ramirez.

Mr. Ramirez is also confident the reconciliation would result to PATAFA reinstating Mr. Obiena to the national team and endorsing him to compete for the country in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games set on May 12 to 13, the World Athletics Championships slated for July 15 to 24 in Eugene, Oregon in the US, and the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled on Sept. 10 to 25.

“I’ve seen the positive sides of PATAFA and EJ and we’re hoping to patch things up this coming Friday. The mediation last night (Monday) was successful about 90 to 95%,” said Mr. Ramirez.

“The possibility of the mediation succeeding 100% is real.”

“The whole country will benefit and the Filipino people will accept. This dispute should be a learning experience for all of us,” he added.

Mr. Ramirez also made the call to all parties concerned including the Philippine Olympic Committee, which holds its general assembly meeting on Wednesday, to refrain from inflaming the situation.

“We can all help with me to heal the wounds for the Filipino people who are spending for elite sports,” he said. — Joey Villar

MSF turns over diagnostic machine that can detect drug-resistant TB

March 30, 2022 | 12:02 am

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF or Doctors Without Borders) turned over on March 24 a mobile X-ray van and a GeneXpert-10 Color diagnostic machine to its Tondo tuberculosis (TB) project in the City of Manila.

The project will benefit a target population of 600,000 individuals in Districts 1 and 2 of Tondo, according to Dr. Marve Duka-Fernandez, Tondo TB project coordinator of MSF Philippines.

The machine can detect multidrug-resistant TB.

“Since the GeneXpert machine has an added feature of determining fluroquinolone resistance, it shortens the turnaround time for patients whose specimens turn out to be rifampicin-resistant,” said Dr. Fernandez.

Although TB treatment is free in all barangay health centers in the country, laboratory and monitoring tests may incur some fees.

Those whose X-ray results come out with probable TB in the mobile van will be asked to submit sputum on-site, which will then be delivered to the GeneXpert machine covering the area for confirmatory testing.

Rapid detection of the disease paves the way for an early treatment regimen and an increased chance of survival.

“We are aiming to document and advocate for the lessons we will have learned from this project, and allow the partners [the Manila Health Department, the Department of Health, and health centers] to replicate the strategies and practices that will prove effective, appropriate, and acceptable to the people,” Dr. Fernandez told BusinessWorld.

According to the Department of Health, TB incidence will decrease by 12% from 2018 to 2023 (from 554 cases per 100,000 to 418).

Its Race to End TB dashboard shows that the National Capital Region has thus far had the most gains in the disease’s reduction.

— Patricia B. Mirasol

Oscars broadcast ratings jump from last year’s low

March 30, 2022 | 12:02 am

ROUGHLY 15.36 million people watched Sunday’s live Academy Awards broadcast on Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network, a major jump from last year but the second-lowest audience ever, according to preliminary ratings data.

The figure for the film industry’s highest awards rose 56% from last year’s record-low ratings, ABC said on Monday. Early estimates for the 2021 show, which was scaled down due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, came in at 9.85 million viewers.

An updated tally that will include viewership via live stream and at out-of-home locations such as bars and restaurants will be released on Tuesday.

TV viewership of many awards ceremonies has dropped in recent years. Oscars producers tried a new format this year with three hosts and less time allotted to awards for sound mixing and other film craft categories.

But the most talked-about moment of the night occurred when Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock’s face on stage shortly before Smith was named best actor.

The audio from the show, broadcast on a time-delay of a few seconds in the United States, appeared to have been cut from the live transmission for many viewers because of the language. But it was audible in some broadcasts, for example in Japan and Australia. — Reuters

Ant-backed Philippine unicorn will expand in fintech before IPO

March 30, 2022 | 12:01 am

A PHILIPPINE fintech venture, whose flagship GCash payment platform clocked almost $73 billion in gross transactions last year, will consider an initial public offering (IPO) only after expanding its services.

Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc., a unit of Globe Telecom, Inc., is seeking to include crypto currency and stock trading in its bouquet of services besides loans, investment and insurance it introduced in the past two years, Ernest Cu, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the parent said in an interview. The arm, also known as Mynt, already allows money transfers and online betting on cockfights.

“We want to diversify our revenue,” Mr. Cu said in Manila. “We just don’t want to be in payments, phone loads and bank transfers. Right now we are still building our business. When we are done and ready we’ll be doing the IPO.”

The boom in online services during the coronavirus pandemic has bolstered the prospects of Mynt, which brought in Chinese giant Ant Group Co. as partner in 2017. Users of GCash more than doubled to 55 million in 2021, while gross annual transactions on the platform surged almost 12-fold to P3.8 trillion, from pre-COVID-19. The new services will “easily” help GCash’s transactions value grow at least 10% a year, Mr. Cu said.

Ant Financial for capital, expertise and technology, Mr. Cu said in an interview.

The growing customer base and wider acceptance of digital payments could make the new businesses profitable in four to five years, unlike GCash, which took 17 years since it started, Mr. Cu said. The platform handles 19 million transactions a day, according to the company.

A $300-million funding round led by Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners and Bow Wave Capital in November valued Mynt at more than $2 billion, compared with the parent’s market capitalization of $6.7 billion.

FUTURE GROWTH
Mr. Cu, who became CEO in April 2009 and helped Globe Telecom topple Smart Communications, Inc. from its perch as No. 1 in the Philippine mobile phone market eight years later, is betting on services such as GCash for future growth because he expects telecommunications and broadband to soon hit a plateau.

“Globe is changing the way it looks,” Mr. Cu said. “It’s no longer a one trick pony that’s only in telecom. We now have a fintech business and a telecommunications business. Eventually, we will have a health business, an e-commerce business. So it’s turning into a group of digital companies that feed on each other.”

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. owns about 47% of Globe Telecom’s common shares, while Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp. owns about 31%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Mr. Cu is also pushing into data centers, a segment he views as promising. Domestic demand and customers wanting to hedge geopolitical risks would make the Philippines even more attractive for the industry, he said.

Data centers, which accounted for less than 5% of Globe Telecom’s revenue in 2021, could reach a few hundred million dollars to about 10% of revenue in five years, Mr. Cu said. The company scaled up the business this month with a $350-million venture with ST Telemedia Global Data Centres and Ayala.

“We won’t put that kind of money if it won’t move the needle,” Mr. Cu said.

While Globe Telecom’s capital expenditures has already peaked, Mr. Cu said the company wants to “shore up” its capital base and reduce its debt-to-equity ratio with a plan to increase the company’s authorized capital stock. The proposal will be presented to shareholders on April 26. — Bloomberg

MPTC buys stake in modern jeepney platform Byahe

March 30, 2022 | 12:01 am

Byahe-MPTC-PIC — L-R, front: Laurence Bahia (On-Us Solutions - CEO), Brian Cu (On-US Solutions - Founder/Director), Rodrigo Franco (MPTC - President & CEO), Raul Ignacio (MPT Mobility - President & General Manager), Enrique Gonzalez (On-Us Solutions - Chairman)

L-R, back: Francis Rojas (MPTC - Chief Business Development Officer), Leo Gonzales (On-Us Solutions - Public Affairs Head), Mona Lissa Sanson (MPT Mobility - Chief Finance Officer), Himani Keswani (IP Ventures - Director Corporate Finance), Srinivas Polishetty (IP Ventures/AO Capital- Managing Director), Mark de Leon (MPT Mobility - Business Development Head), Christopher Lizo (MPTC - Group Chief Finance Officer)

METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), through its subsidiary MPT Mobility Corp., will buy a “significant” minority stake in jeepney modernization platform On-Us Solutions, Inc. or Byahe, the Pangilinan-led company said on Tuesday.

MPTC said in a statement that it had signed a “definitive agreement” on Monday to purchase the stake in Byahe, which is in line with its move into mobility solutions and its focus on sustainability.

“As part of this agreement, MPTC will infuse fresh equity in Byahe, which will be used to finance expansion of its current Euro-IV compliant fleet, procurement of new state-of-the-art electric jeepneys, and expansion of its route network as part of its larger mission to revolutionize Philippines’ jeepney transportation ecosystem,” the company said.

Byahe manages a fleet of 30 modernized jeepneys, all of which are Euro-IV compliant. The jeepneys ply over eight routes across Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

The company plans to expand its fleet to 200 jeepneys in the near term and to 500 jeepneys across 20-30 routes over the next two to three years, fueled by MPTC’s capital infusion.

MPTC’s investment in Byahe comes after the launch of its mobile app, MPT DriveHub, which connects and compiles its expressway and mobility products and services in a digital platform.

“We believe there is immense value in what Byahe could create for the improvement of Filipino lives. They have started strong with a well-thought strategy, have been executing well even through the pandemic and we’re excited to support them on this clean, green journey” MPTC President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo E. Franco said in a statement.

Byahe Chief Executive Laurence Bahia said the company is “here to modernize, not only the carriers, but also the operations with fleet management solutions that will standardize the service.”

Byahe is a modernized jeepney operator that is set up in line with the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program. It serves as a platform linking jeepney operators, creditors, jeepney manufacturers, the government, and the commuters to offer affordable and sustainable public transportation services network. — Marielle C. Lucenio

PSC strengthens ties with Bangsamoro Sports Commission

March 30, 2022 | 12:01 am

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Bangsamoro Sports Commission (BSC) have recently struck a partnership aimed at producing more sporting heroes like Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn F. Diaz.

Mr. Ramirez signed the memorandum of agreement with his BSC counterpart Nu-Man Caludtiag, who was accompanied by his commissioners Arsalan Diamaoden (Lanao del Sur), Abdulkhabir Musa (Tawi-Tawi), Yushoup Sario (Basilan), Adzhar Tingkahan (Sulu) and executive assistant Valerie Lambo.

BSC is the policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and was created on Sept. 17, 2020 through the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 12 or “The Bangsamoro Sports Commission Act of 2020.”

Lowering liver cancer risk

March 30, 2022 | 12:01 am

Liver cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the country, with 10,594 new cases and 9,953 deaths reported in 2020. Its incidence in men is about two and a half times that of women, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

The American Cancer Society said that common symptoms of liver cancer are unintended weight loss; loss of appetite; feeling very full after a small meal; nausea or vomiting; an enlarged liver, felt as fullness under the ribs on the right side; and an enlarged spleen, felt as fullness under the ribs on the left side.

Included in the symptoms are pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade; swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen; itching; yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); fever; enlarged veins on the belly that can be seen through the skin; and abnormal bruising or bleeding. It is important to consult your doctor if you experience these symptoms.

The most common risk factor for liver cancer is chronic (long-term) infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). “People infected with both viruses have a high risk of developing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The risk is even higher if they are heavy drinkers who consume at least six alcoholic drinks a day,” said the American Cancer Society.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that one in 10 people in the country has chronic hepatitis B, and six in 1,000 have chronic hepatitis C.

The DoH noted that liver cancer is much more common in countries where HBV carriers are prevalent, such as the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, as compared to most developed countries where hepatitis B is less prevalent.

The HBV and HCV can spread from person to person through sharing contaminated needles (such as in drug use), unprotected sex, and childbirth.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all children, as well as adults at risk, get the HBV vaccine to reduce the risk of hepatitis and liver cancer. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, the best way to prevent it is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease.

The CDC recommended getting tested for hepatitis C because treatments can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks. You can also lower your risk for liver cancer by not smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and maintaining a healthy weight.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made the management of Filipino patients with liver diseases more challenging, said Dr. Jenny Agcaoili-Conde, public relations officer of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP). “At the start of the pandemic, surgery of many patients with liver disease had to be canceled or deferred because we knew little about COVID-19 at that time.”

While telemedicine enabled doctors to provide continuity of care, patients with liver diseases require strict monitoring through diagnostic tests. “To undergo these tests, they have to go out of the house and risk potential exposure to the coronavirus. It’s a difficult time for both patients and doctors,” Dr. Agcaoili-Conde said. Hopefully, with the progressive decline in COVID-19 cases in the country, continuity of care for patients with liver diseases will improve.

She also noted the country’s low hepatitis B vaccination coverage. “The hepatitis B vaccine has been part of the government’s vaccination program since 1992. However, only 45% of babies born in 2014 were given the first vaccine dose. Completion of the 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine regimen dropped to only 77% in 2012. Moreover, the pandemic impacted supply chains, further hindering the availability of medicines and vaccines.”

The WHO estimated that only 50% of newborn infants in the country are administered with the hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours after birth.

Under the auspices of its mother organization, the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG), HSP is working with the DoH and other partner stakeholders to promote liver health awareness and early detection of liver diseases, particularly liver cancer and viral hepatitis, among the general public. It also established the Philippine Liver Education online platform which aims to serve as the reliable virtual learning resource for liver disease management for Filipino physicians with special interest in hepatology.

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.

Arts & Culture (03/30/22)

March 30, 2022 | 12:01 am

1 of 8

Lecture on adventurer Isabel de Barretto

ISABEL DE BARETTO (1567-1612) was the first female admiral in the world, and Philippine history enthusiasts may find it interesting to know that after traversing the Pacific Ocean from Peru, she ended her trip in the Philippines. In Manila, she was welcomed with great honors as the “Queen of Sheba.” Interested parties may learn more about her through two online lectures, the first of which will be held on March 31 at 6 p.m., with Spanish historian Elvira Roca. This lecture will have English subtitles and can be accessed at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82399004400. The lecture will be held on April 7, 6 p.m., with Francisco Mellén discussing the latest findings in archives on Isabel Barretto. He will also take part in a round table discussion with Vermont University historian Juan Maura. The event will have simultaneous translation in English, and will also be held via Zoom. The link will be available on the Instituto Cervantes de Manila Facebook page. For details visit the website of Instituto Cervantes at https://manila.cervantes.es or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.

Game of Trolls online

THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA) presents the play Game of Trolls via www.ktx.ph. Written by Liza Magtoto and directed by Maribel Legarda, the musical is about Martial Law, historical revisionism, and fake news. The lyrics, musical arrangement, and direction are by Vincent de Jesus. The musical will stream on April 8, 22, and 23. To buy tickets, visit www.ktx.ph/category/a-game-of-trolls. Tickets are priced at P150.

Top 40 Shell art tilt works for sale

PILIPINAS Shell’s 54^th National Student Art Competition (NSAC) Virtual Gallery is now available for viewing. The top 40 artworks in four categories — Digital Fine Arts, Oil-Acrylic, Sculpture, and Watercolor — are available for purchase with all the proceeds from the sale going to these young artists whose pieces won and/or shone in the competition. Prospective buyers can also view the complete list of the top 40 artworks of each category in the Buyers Guide. By downloading the order form from the Virtual Gallery website, (https://www.shell.com.ph/energy-and-innovation/make-the-future/national-students-art-competition-juan-art-nation/54th-shell-nsac-virtual-gallery.html), art patrons can purchase the physical artworks by bank transfer and then receive the work within five working days. The 54^th NSAC concluded with an awarding ceremony held on Dec. 10, 2021, with 1,800 entries submitted nationwide, exceeding last year’s 1,500 entries. The first Virtual Gallery was launched during the 53^rd NSAC in Dec. 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s shutdown of major galleries and museums.

MO_Space opening 2 exhibits

WHAT is the difference when one says they are “confronting their demons” as opposed to confronting themselves? The rise and rise of social media and related technology seems to have allowed a strange evolution to these questions as the use of alter egos and online personas have become the norm. Presenting oneself online with “carefully selected” selfies or a curated feed of interests while, at the same time, being informed by an endless stream of data and imagery from that same online makes you wonder who really is the influencer and who is the influenced. Audrey Lukban investigates this phenomenon with paintings examining “A Docile Body,” opening at MO_Space Main Gallery on April 2. The exhibit runs until May 1. Meanwhile, in Gallery 2, Jonathan Ching’s “Stranger in a Strange Land” will open on the same day. Navigating the remains of a world reeling from isolation, we begin walking the streets with the selves we had either found, rediscovered, or had been reduced to in the past two years. With paintings that are metaphorical prayers for both the departed and their survivors, Mr. Ching ponders the days in his exhibit. A Docile Body and Stranger in a Strange Land are open for public viewing at MO_Space from April 2 to May 1. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For inquiries, call (632) 8403-6620 or 0917-572-7970.

Multisensory exhibit

ARTIST NETWORK and wellness lifestyle brand Grounded is launching the second part of their exhibition series entitled “States of Cadence II.” In partnership with Art Fair Philippines, “States of Cadence II” is a multi-sensory exhibit on the timelessness and infinite evolution of the human spirit, through connection and engagement with the natural world. While “States of Cadence Exhibit I” was presented solely online, for “States of Cadence II,” Grounded has partnered with Karrera Showroom, a vintage car showroom and cafe based in Alabang for its physical space. The exhibition features paintings, prints, tapestries, photos, and mixed media works of 20 artists from the Grounded Artist Network Program. “States of Cadence II” at Karrera runs until April 1, alongside events including a wellness workshop, film night, watch showcase and fundraiser for schools in Siargao affected by Typhoon Odette. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibit are dedicated to Grounded’s partner beneficiary, Oceanus Conservation. “States of Cadence II” can be viewed at the @artfairph website (https://bit.ly/3D9GGc0).

Folklore the focus in National Literature Month

THE FOCUS of this year’s official celebration of National Literature Month is Philippine folklore and its various forms. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), and National Book Development Board (NBDB) lead this year’s celebration of National Literature Month with the theme “Muling Pagtuklas sa Karunungang-Bayan.” The activities for this year’s celebration will be held online via the social media pages of the NCCA, KWF, and NBDB.

Book on motherhood out

SENATOR and author Risa Hontiveros tackles work-life balance and motherhood in her new book Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama. Published by Bookshelf PH, the book offers Ms. Hontiveros’ insights on the challenges of being a mother, ways to cope with anxiety, life in the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and having quality time with children. For book orders, visit https://bookshelf.com.ph/pages/healthy-buhay-happy-mama.