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Country first before self

The US Senate voted to acquit former US President Donald Trump of the charge of inciting insurrection at the US Capitol to stop the certification by Congress that Joe Biden had won last November’s election. The final vote was 57 guilty to 43 not guilty.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted not to convict Trump because he considered the trial unconstitutional. He is of the position that impeachment trials are for officials holding office, not for those already out of government. Another Republican senator, Mike Turner of Ohio, said there was no due process as no witness was called to testify and to be cross-examined. But both hold Trump accountable for the riot on Jan. 6 and must be meted sanctions.

Political analysts, constitutional and impeachment law professors, and former Republican senators and congressmen say that if the voting had been by secret ballot, the verdict would have been “guilty.” They believe many of the Republican senators were either blindly loyal to Trump or afraid of him or his political base of 74 million voters.

Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska blasted fellow Republicans for following a “cult of personality” and “acting like politics is religion.” Ironically, it was a Republican, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the US who said, “Patriotism means to stand with the country. It does not mean to stand with the president.”

Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, also a Republican, said that while many young men are willing to risk their life in defense of the homeland and even of foreign democratic governments — he served as an Air Force pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan — some Republican politicians are more interested in protecting their political careers.

That is the challenge many Republican senators are facing. A vote to convict would have drawn the ire of Trump or of his rabid followers who would have seen a vote against Trump as a betrayal. For those in Republican strongholds like Texas and Florida, a fellow Republican allied with Trump running for the same position would be a formidable adversary.

That was the challenge senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida faced during the impeachment trial. Both have presidential aspirations. They vied for the Republican nomination for president in 2016 but lost to Trump. They believe they would need the support of Trump or his 74 million followers when they run for higher office.

But they should take heed of the counsel John F. Kennedy gave during his inauguration as president on Jan. 20, 1961. Neither Cruz nor Rubio had been born when John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president of the United States so they would not have heard what he said. But they should take heed of the counsel he offered in his inaugural address, “Remember, that in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.”

Kinzinger’s remark about choosing between country and career brought to mind Philippine Senator Jovito Salonga.  Salonga was elected senator for the first time in 1965, garnering the most votes among the winning senators. He ran for re-election in 1971, again topping the senatorial race. The imposition of martial law in 1972 placed his political career on hold.

After the People Power Revolution of 1986 had restored the democratic institutions in the country, Salonga returned to the political scene. He ran for the Senate in 1987, again emerging as topnotcher among the successful senatorial candidates, He was subsequently elected Senate President, making him presidential timber. Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel A. Roxas, and Ferdinand E. Marcos had been Senate President when they were elected president.

In 1991, the RP-US Bases Treaty was up for renewal. As Senate President, Salonga led the group of senators who opposed the renewal of the treaty. They were not against an alliance with the United States, but to them the presence of US military forces on Philippine territory was in violation of the sovereignty of the Philippines.

Salonga’s political allies advised him to tone down his rhetoric against the renewal of the treaty as it might adversely affect his candidacy for president in 1992. In response, he told them that so many Filipinos had sacrificed their lives in the fight for Philippine independence, he was willing to sacrifice his presidential aspirations for the sake of the country’s sovereignty.

Twelve other senators made the same choice, “Bayan muna, bago ang sarili.” (Country first, before self.) Many of those who opposed the renewal of the bases treaty had presidential ambitions or wanted to stay in the Senate for as long as they could.

Salonga did fail in his presidential bid in 1992. While he may have lost a large number of votes because of his stand on the US military bases, his defeat may not entirely be blamed on his opposition to the extension of the bases treaty. There were other factors. There were senators whose political stock was not diminished by their anti-bases stand.

In that election of 1992, Senator Joseph Estrada was elected vice-president and he was eventually elected president in 1998. Senators Orly Mercado and Ernesto Maceda, who both opposed the renewal of the treaty, were re-elected. Pro-renewal Senators Joey Lina, John Osmeña, Santanina Rasul, and Mamintal Tamano failed in their re-election bids.

The fact is that Salonga and others were willing to sacrifice their bright political future if the course they chose to take was for the good of the country. And as Salonga had told his politician friends, many young men and women had sacrificed their lives in the fight for Philippine independence.

There were many young professionals, graduates of the best schools in the country and abroad who had bright futures and who could have just sat out the war but instead went underground to join the resistance against the Japanese invaders. Thousands died on the battlefield, hundreds in Japanese prison camps.

Among them was a rising star in the political firmament, Wenceslao Vinzons, who at the age of 24 was the youngest delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1935. He was the representative to the National Assembly (the Congress) of the lone district of Camarines Norte when the Japanese invaded the country.  Vinzons immediately organized armed resistance in the Bicol Region against the invaders. When he was captured, he was made to pledge allegiance to the Japanese occupation government. When he refused, he was bayoneted to death.

But there were also those who chose to foolishly seek power by riding the back of the tiger. Many young men joined Makapili (Makakaliwa Katipunan ng mga Bayani or Alliance of Philippine Patriots), a militant group formed during the Japanese occupation to give military aid to Japan. Its leaders were given ranks that were equal to their Japanese counterparts.

There were the technocrats, holders of master’s degrees and doctorates from the most prestigious schools in the US and the UK who were drafted by President Marcos in his administration and who chose to remain in his machinery even after he became a dictator.

There were the Craven Eleven senators who, out of canine loyalty to President Erap Estrada, tried to suppress evidence that could establish his guilt of huge bribery and massive graft and corruption.

There were the nine associate justices of the Supreme Court who upheld the principle of executive privilege in order to prevent one of President Gloria Arroyo’s Cabinet members from revealing to the Senate her scheme, which in turn would have exposed her immoderate greed.

And there are the 28 members of the House of Ill Repute, oops, Representatives who “killed,” to use their own word, the bill seeking renewal of the ABS-CBN license — in fulfilment of the wish of their vengeful master and benefactor.

As John F. Kennedy warned, those who foolishly seek power by riding the back of the tiger will end up inside. Most of the sycophants of Marcos, Erap, and Ate Glo have indeed ended up inside. 

 

Oscar P. Lagman, Jr. is a retired corporate executive, business consultant, and management professor. He has been a politicized citizen since his college days in the late 1950s.

Mobility control, growth control, price control

The government imposed a strict lockdown over Metro Manila and other provinces on March 16, 2020. It was supposed to be for two weeks only to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases. The two weeks became two months, and now we are on the 11th month of strict, prolonged lockdown.

Making good measurement of mobility changes and restrictions of people and goods is the Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports (GCCMR). There are six areas where mobility changes are measured from the baseline, the median value from the five‑week period between Jan. 3 – Feb. 6, 2020. I chose the area on Transit stations (subway/MRT stations, seaport, taxi stand, highway rest stops, car rentals) because they capture mobility (or lack of it) of people and goods.

Then I compared the GDP (gross domestic product) growth of economies to see any correlation between high mobility control and GDP growth or contraction. Then the COVID-19 deaths per million population (CDPMP) to test the hypothesis that “more lockdown = less COVID cases and deaths.”

The numbers show this general trend: more lockdowns and mobility control leads to growth control and contraction, with little or no impact on controlling COVID-19 deaths. Take note in particular the Philippines, Malaysia, and the UK for strict lockdowns, Vietnam and Taiwan for light lockdown economies (see Table 1).

So the government’s strict, indefinite lockdown is successful only in making the Philippines Asia’s worst performing economy in 2020, and having the biggest contraction in Philippine history since 1947 when GDP figures were first collected.

Now comes the vaccine-pushing agenda, seemingly with little difference from shabu-pushing except that the government is the main pusher for the former.

The Philippines still has a high incidence of communicable diseases like tuberculosis (TB) in Asia. In 2018 for instance, TB incidence in the Philippines was three times that of Vietnam, six times that of Malaysia, and 12 times that of Singapore. Meanwhile, the Philippines had twice the number of deaths by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (CDMPNC) in 2016, than Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan (see Table 2).

But now public resources are heavily diverted towards controlling COVID-19 cases, adversely affecting resources to fighting other communicable diseases like TB, dengue, pneumonia, malaria, etc.

The Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines (CDC PH) remains the most consistent group in the country in calling for: 1.) adopting focused protection of the vulnerables, early and home-based treatment of those with symptoms, and, 2.) lifting the lockdown. The group and its members are not anti-vaccine as is said by many groups in the vaccine-pushing agenda. The group believes that innovation and R&D for safe and effective vaccines takes many years, even decades, not just a few months. Thus, mass vaccination should not be hurried. There are many proven, decades-old, off-patent and cheap generic treatments that are existing but sneered at if not demonized by the Department of Health, World Health Organization, and establishment medical groups that do not want to antagonize the health department and the World Health Organization.

What should be hurried by the government is the drastic relaxation of the strictures on the mobility of people and goods, opening up the economy and schools. Domestic flights and public land transportation should not be hampered by very strict requirements and permits as if people are going to Iraq and Syria.

Related to mobility control and growth control are various price controls imposed by the government like the recent pork price control. These are on top of (minimum) wage control, fare control, housing rent control, drug price control, electricity price control (at WESM), and interest rate control. And on top of existing gun control, drugs control, inequality control, and so on. These are government regulatory overreach.

The main functions of government — why it was invented in many societies in the first place — are murder control, robbery control, rape control, abduction control, arson and destruction of property control. Government should penalize and demonize criminals. Government is not justified in imposing new command and control on various aspects of the economy.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

‘Everyone else does it, so I can too’: How the false consensus effect drives environmental damage

There’s a useful concept from psychology that helps explain why good people do things that harm the environment: the false consensus effect. That’s where we overestimate how acceptable and prevalent our own behavior is in society.

Put simply, if you’re doing something (even if you secretly know you probably shouldn’t), you’re more likely to think plenty of other people do it too. What’s more, you likely overestimate how much other people think that behavior is broadly OK.

This bias allows people to justify socially unacceptable or illegal behaviors.

Researchers have observed the false consensus effect in drug use, how well nurses follow certain procedures at work, and illegal hunting in Africa.

More recently, conservationists and environmental researchers are beginning to reveal how the false consensus effect contributes to environmental damage.

In previous research, my colleagues and I showed how the false consensus effect supports ongoing poaching (meaning fishing in no-take zones) by recreational fishers on the Great Barrier Reef.

In particular, we found people who admitted to poaching thought it was much more prevalent in society than it really was, and had higher estimates than fishers who complied with the law.

The poachers also believed others viewed poaching as socially acceptable; however, in reality, more than 90% of fishers viewed poaching as both socially and personally unacceptable.

Beyond poaching, the false consensus effect can help explain other behaviors.

One study examined students living on campus who were told not to shower while an emergency water ban was in place. It found those who showered in breach of the rules vastly overestimated how many other students were doing the same thing.

In a different study, researchers surveyed Australians about climate change and asked them what opinions they thought most other people held about the topic. The researchers found:

… opinions about climate change are subject to strong false consensus effects, that people grossly overestimate the numbers of people who reject the existence of climate change in the broader community.

The false consensus effect has also shown up in studies examining support for nuclear energy and offshore wind farms.

As a growing body of research has shown, humans are shockingly bad at making accurate social judgements about the actual attitudes of others.

This gets even more problematic when we unwittingly project our own internal attitudes and beliefs onto others in an attempt to seek confirmation and reassurance.

Just as concepts from psychology can help explain some forms of environmental damage, so too can psychological concepts help address it. For example, research shows people are more likely to litter in areas where there’s already a lot of trash strewn around; so making sure the ground around a bin is not covered in rubbish may help.

But interventions that work in one culture to encourage environmentally friendly behavior may not work in a different culture.

In Germany, for example, a campaign aimed at increasing consumption of sustainable seafood actually led to a decline in sustainable choices compared to baseline levels, likely because the messages were seen as manipulative and ended up driving shoppers away from choosing sustainable options.

Campaigns to reduce consumption of shark fin soup, buying pangolin meat or scales, and single-use plastic water bottles aim to counter the idea that these environmentally damaging behaviors are widespread and socially acceptable.

Factual information on how other people think and behave can be very powerful. Energy companies have substantially reduced energy consumption simply by showing people how their electricity use compares to their neighbors and conscientious consumers.

Encouragingly, activating people’s inherent desire for status has also been successful in getting people to “go green to be seen,” or to publicly buy eco-friendly products.

As the research evidence shows, social norms can be a powerful force in encouraging and popularizing environmentally friendly behaviors. Perhaps you can do your bit by sharing this article!

REUTERS

 

Brock Bergseth is a Postdoctoral research fellow at the James Cook University.

Myanmar protesters undaunted; Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to judge

Myanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during an event at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York City, U.S. September 21, 2016. — REUTERS/BRIA WEBB/

PROTESTERS in Myanmar kept up demands on Monday for the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and an end to military rule, undaunted by the deployment of armored vehicles in several parts of the country and tougher laws aimed at cowing dissent.

Ms. Suu Kyi, detained since the Feb. 1 coup against her elected government, had been expected to face a court on Monday in connection with charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios but a judge said her remand lasted until Wednesday, her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, said.

The Feb. 1 coup and the arrest of Nobel peace prize winner Ms. Suu Kyi and others have sparked the biggest protests in Myanmar in more than a decade, with hundreds of thousands coming onto the streets to denounce the military’s derailment of the country’s tentative transition to democracy.

The unrest has revived memories of bloody outbreaks of opposition to almost half a century of direct army rule over the Southeast Asian nation, which ended in 2011, when the military began a process of withdrawing from civilian politics.

Violence this time has been limited but on Sunday, police opened fire to disperse protesters at a power plant in northern Myanmar although it was unclear if they were using rubber bullets or live rounds and there was no word on casualties.

As well as the demonstrations in numerous towns and cities, the military is facing a strike by government workers, part of a civil disobedience movement that is crippling many functions of government.

More than a dozen police trucks with four water cannon vehicles were deployed on Monday near the Sule Pagoda in central Yangon, which has been one of the main demonstration sites in the commercial capital, as groups of protesters gathered outside the central bank and the Chinese embassy.

At the bank, several hundred protesters quietly held up signs calling for colleagues to join the CDM — the civil disobedience movement.

An armored vehicle and about six trucks carrying soldiers were parked nearby, a witness said.

Armored vehicles were also deployed on Sunday in the northern town of Myitkyina and Sittwe in the west, the first large-scale use of such vehicles since the coup.

Police in the capital, Naypyitaw, detained about 20 high-school students protesting by a road. Images posted on social media by one of the students showed them chanting slogans of defiance as they were taken away in a police bus.

“Remember, we don’t swear at the police and don’t sign anything at the police station,” one student can be heard saying.

Media also showed orderly ranks of protesters marching in Naypyitaw with pictures of Ms. Suu Kyi with the message: “we want our leader.”

Ms. Suu Kyi, 75, spent nearly 15 years under house arrest for her efforts to end military rule.

The judge in the capital, Naypyitaw, had spoken to Ms. Suu Kyi by video conferencing and she had asked if she could hire a lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw told Reuters.

The government and army could not be reached for comment.

Residents reported an internet outage after midnight on Sunday which lasted until about 9 a.m.

‘DESPERATION’
The army has been carrying out nightly arrests and on Saturday gave itself sweeping search and detention powers. At least 400 people have been detained since the coup, the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said.

On Sunday, the military published penal code amendments aimed at stifling dissent.

“It’s as if the generals have declared war on the people,” UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews said on Twitter.

“Late night raids; mounting arrests; more rights stripped away; another Internet shutdown; military convoys entering communities. These are signs of desperation. Attention generals: You WILL be held accountable.”

Ms. Suu Kyi’s party won a 2015 election and another on Nov. 8 but the military said the vote was marred by fraud and used that complaint to justify their coup. The electoral commission dismissed accusations of fraud.

Western embassies — from the European Union (EU), Britain, Canada and 11 other nations — issued a statement late on Sunday calling on security forces to “refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians, who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government.”

The amendments to the penal code set out a 20-year prison term for inciting hatred of the government or military or hindering the security forces engaged in preserving state stability.

Hindering the security forces carrying out their duties is punishable by seven years in prison while spreading fear, fake news or agitating against government employees gets three years, according to the amendments posted on a military website.

The junta has ordered civil servants back to work, threatening action.

In the latest sign of disruption by workers, the Department of Civil Aviation said in a statement many staff had stopped coming to work since Feb. 8, causing flight delays.

Some trains have also stopped running, media reported. — Reuters

CDC chief warns it’s too soon to lift COVID-19 mask mandates

NEW YORK — The head of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention said on Sunday it is “absolutely” too soon to lift mask mandates, citing daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case numbers that despite recent declines remain more than double the levels seen last summer.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky’s warning that face-covering requirements are still critical came just days after governors in Iowa and Montana lifted long-standing mask mandates in their states.

Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Ms. Walensky said preventing further surges of infection is key to safely reopening schools and regaining some level of social normalcy until collective COVID-19 immunity can be achieved through mass vaccinations.

Whether Americans can look forward to walking down the street without wearing a mask by the end of the year “very much depends on how we behave right now,” she said. Asked if it was still too early for states to eliminate rules requiring the use of face masks in public, Ms. Walensky replied, “Absolutely.”

While COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations appear to be waning, the United States has a long way to go before it can safely return to a mask-less normal, she said.

“The cases are more than two-and-a-half-fold times what we saw over the summer,” said Ms. Walensky, who was sworn in as CDC director last month after President Joseph R. Biden took office. “It’s encouraging to see these trends coming down but they’re coming down from an extraordinarily high place.”

Health experts say population-wide mask wearing is one of the most effective ways of pushing COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels.

Continued adherence to social distancing and face coverings remains especially urgent given the risks posed by new coronavirus variants found to be more transmissible, and possibly more resistant to antibodies, than the original strain.

COVID-19’s grip on the United States remained strong on Sunday, with 27.6 million cases confirmed and more than 484,600 lives lost to the highly contagious respiratory virus to date, according to a Reuters tally.

The US inoculation campaign has gained considerable momentum since a sluggish start in December, with 52.9 million total vaccines administered so far, according to the CDC.

As the United States continues wrestling to ramp up vaccine supplies and distribution, an unusually broad swath of wintry weather in recent days caused the latest setback, forcing mass vaccination centers from Texas to Virginia to suspend operations. —  Reuters

‘Overjoyed’ Harry and Meghan expecting second child

Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are expecting their second child, a spokesperson for the couple said on Sunday. — PHOTO BY MISAN HARRIMAN VIA INTSAGRAM

LONDON — Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are expecting their second child, a spokesperson for the couple said on Sunday.

Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, stepped back from royal duties in January 2020 and moved with their first son Archie to Southern California to live a more independent life and escape the British media.

“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child,” the spokesperson said.

Archie was born in May 2019.

The Valentine’s Day announcement was accompanied by a black and white photograph of a visibly pregnant Meghan lying on grass with one hand on her stomach and her head resting on the smiling prince’s leg. The photo was taken by longtime friend and photographer Misan Harriman.

Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, Harry’s father Prince Charles and the whole family were “delighted” and wished the couple well, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Since ending their royal duties, Harry and Meghan have continued charity work and signed TV and other media deals, launching their debut podcast in December.

Last year, Meghan revealed that she had a miscarriage in July, in an extraordinarily personal disclosure coming from a high-profile British royal.

The couple married in a glittering ceremony in 2018 that captured the world’s attention but later gave up their official royal roles following disagreements with other family members and in the face of huge media attention.

Their relationship with the British press swiftly soured and the couple have launched legal cases against several newspapers.

Last week Meghan won a privacy claim against Associated Newspapers after its Mail on Sunday paper had printed extracts of a letter she wrote to her father in August 2018. —  Reuters

Pegula and Brady set up all-US quarterfinal at Australian Open

Medvedev sets up all-Russian Rublev clash in Melbourne

MELBOURNE — Jessica Pegula continued her dream run at the Australian Open on Monday with a (6-4, 3-6, 6-3) win over fifth seed Elina Svitolina to set up an all-American quarterfinal against Jennifer Brady, who beat Croatia’s Donna Vekić in straight sets.

Pegula struggled badly in the second set at Rod Laver Arena but regrouped in the decider, breaking former Wimbledon and US Open semifinalist Svitolina in the fourth game before locking down her first win over a top 10 opponent.

Matching Svitolina’s power off the baseline, Pegula rushed the net to knock her opponent off her stride and sealed the win on the first match point when the Ukrainian netted a return.

Pegula, who considered giving up tennis after being sidelined for long spells due to knee and hip injuries earlier in her career, will play her good friend Brady for a place in the semis after the 25-year-old beat Vekić (6-1, 7-5).

“Jen is an awesome person,” Pegula told a news conference. “She was texting me, ‘I’m so happy, I’m so proud. This is awesome’.

“We’ve all been pushing each other. Why not push each other into a quarterfinal, then one of us be in the semis?”

Vekić was hampered by an injury to her right leg and took a medical time out at the start of the second set after being blitzed by Brady in the opener.

She emerged with fresh strapping above and below her knee and though she managed to take the fight to Brady in the second set the Croatian was barely moving in the final two games.

With the score tied at 5-5, Vekić surrendered her serve to love, a double fault handing Brady the chance to serve for the match.

The American made no mistake, sealing victory when her opponent fluffed a forehand.

ALL-RUSSIAN CLASH
Russian Daniil Medvedev firmed as an Australian Open title contender when he brushed aside Mackenzie McDonald (6-4, 6-2, 6-3) on Monday to reach the quarter-finals for the first time and extend his winning streak to 18 matches.

Medvedev will play compatriot Andrey Rublev for a spot in his third Grand Slam semifinal after the seventh seed was gifted a place in the last eight, also for the first time, when Casper Ruud retired injured.

“At least one of us will be in semis, that’s good news,” said Rublev, who was leading (6-2, 7-6(3)) when Ruud called it quits. “Last time, he beat me in the quarterfinal of the US Open and now we meet in the quarterfinals of Australian Open, we’ll see what happens.

“I hope we can show great level and it will be a great battle.”

Fourth seed Medvedev won his first career five-set match in the third round, but there was no need for a prolonged spell in the sun on Monday as he saw off McDonald in less than 90 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

World number 192 McDonald had some luck going to the net, but could not match the power of Medvedev’s serve or the intensity the Russian brought to bear on big points.

“I played a great match, was feeling the ball great, serving great, hit some good winners,” said the 25-year-old Medvedev. “I was feeling really good out there. That’s the most important thing.”

Rublev spent only 80 minutes on court in the clash of two former junior world number ones because of Ruud’s retirement, which came after the Norwegian lost the second set tie-break.

“I feel sorry for Casper,” said 23-year-old Rublev. “I hope he recovers real quick. I did not expect it to end this way, but this is sport.

“I’m feeling perfect,” he added. “I’m feeling physically great.”

Qualifier Aslan Karatsev could make it two Russians in the last four if he beats Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. — Reuters

Wesley So tops Magnus Carlsen to win Opera Euro Rapid chess title

CHESS Grandmaster Wesley So of the United States defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen to win the Opera Euro Rapid chess championship on Monday.

Mr. So, 27, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, defeated Norwegian Carlsen, 2.5-1.5, built on a victory and three draws on the final day of their two-set, four-game finale to win the $30,000 top prize (P1.5 million).

The win marked the second time Mr. So beat Mr. Carlsen in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, with the first coming last Nov. 30 at the Skilling Open on the date of the Norwegian’s birthday at that.

Mr. So took every opportunity he got throughout the match to fortify his push en route to the victory.

“I’m so happy. I apologize to Magnus for ruining Valentine’s Day. It’s big. It’s totally unexpected to beat Magnus in any matches. It’s a huge honor…” said Mr. So after his victory.

In defeat, Mr. Carlsen was gracious, being quoted after as saying “Losing is OK, to Wesley. He clearly had the most convincing tournament coming up to today.”

While born in the Philippines, Mr. So has been representing the US since 2014. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

NSAs updated on do’s and don’ts in the Olympics — Araneta

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

AMID the uncertainties around the staging of the Olympic Games because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers of the quadrennial sporting spectacle are making sure that proper health and safety protocols are in place, coming up with a “playbook,” which all participants need to follow.

And these “do’s and don’ts” have been relayed to the country’s national sports associations (NSAs), which have athletes who have qualified for the rescheduled Olympics in Tokyo this year and are still qualifying.

“We were actually given a playbook by the organizing committee, all of us chefs de mission. We gave the NSAs a playbook as well for those who have qualified and those still trying to qualify to make sure that they can compete safely and help protect the Games from any untoward incidents related to the coronavirus,” said Philippine chef de mission to the Olympics Mariano Araneta on The Chasedown program last Saturday.

“All the protocols must be followed. They (organizers) are very strict about it,” added Mr. Araneta, also president of the Philippine Football Federation.

He shared that among those covered in the playbook concerns designated transportation during the Games and taking public transportation is not allowed; shopping and sightseeing are greatly discouraged; and need for social distancing and proper hygiene, among others.

Currently, the Philippines has four athletes who have qualified from three NSAs, namely: pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Caloy Yulo, and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.

Mr. Araneta, however, said that number could still rise with a number of athletes on the verge of qualifying.

He cited Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), and golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan as among the athletes with an inside track on Olympic qualification.

The local sports official further said organizers are not making coronavirus vaccines for athletes competing in the Games mandatory, but said he believes if athletes could get them prior, it would be better.

Mr. Araneta also reiterated that as per their briefing with organizers last week, the Olympics, set for July 23 to Aug. 8, is still a go and nothing has changed as far as the number of sports and participants.

The briefing with the different officials of participating countries was attended by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.

Alvarez says ONE’s The Apprentice edition experience to remember

ONE of 16 contestants chosen to compete on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, Filipino Lara Alvarez said the experience was to remember and has taught her a lot.

Born and raised in Baguio City, single parent Alvarez said the show thrusts her to a world different from what she was used to, but only served to strengthen her as she moves on in life.

“Participating on the show was incredible. The production was topnotch and it was nothing like I had ever experienced before. Getting to visit Singapore and see the way locals live, see the beauty of the country, it gave me a deeper sense of pride for my own country. It gave me hope, not just for my own life, but for everyone else as well with all the difficulties we’re dealing with today. I definitely learned a lot from my time in the boardroom,” said Ms. Alvarez in a statement.

Ms. Alvarez is no stranger to adversity, having worked for long hours even as a child on her father’s farm, where she harvested crops and sold them at the local market.

She works as an accountant and trains martial arts with Baguio’s own Team Lakay and she is looking to take things higher by winning it all in the reality TV show and be an apprentice to ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

Also a motivation for Ms. Alvarez is providing a better life for her son, whom she had when she was 22 years old.

She admitted she had reservations in joining at first, but eventually decided to give it a go.

“I just wanted to give my son a better life, that’s what compelled me to try and audition for The Apprentice. At the time, I didn’t really imagine I could get in. But I was determined to give it a shot. So when I got the news that I was accepted, I was in shock. I just couldn’t believe it. But I was super happy I got in, and from there, I was motivated to succeed,” she said.

Ms. Alvarez is one of two Filipinos representing the Philippines in the show filmed entirely in Singapore, the other being champion mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter-turned-corporate executive Louie Sangalang from Manila.

“Up to now, I still can’t believe I was on The Apprentice. I’m glad I took a chance. It’s made me a stronger person, and a better mother today. I’ve gained more confidence in myself. I think I’ve proven that being a single mother is not a setback. It is far from a setback. It’s a blessing because I was able to push myself harder. It gave me the strength to push past my limits,” said Ms. Alvarez while also expressing hope that viewers can learn things from her journey.

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition has 16 people competing for a US$250,000 job offer to work directly under Mr. Sityodtong for a year as his protege in Singapore.

The participants are asked to solve business problems in real time, but a twist — in the form of physical challenges with MMA stars — is also involved.

To make the challenges well-rounded for the participants, it has invited executives from top companies to join the show.

It is set for airing in Asia beginning March 18 over AXN. It will have 13 episodes and will also be available on other platforms and TV networks across Asia, including TV5 here in the Philippines. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Nikola Jokić triple-double helps Denver Nuggets past LA Lakers

NIKOLA Jokić had 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, Jamal Murray scored 25, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles (LA) Lakers (122-105) on Sunday night.

Zeke Nnaji had 16 points, Facundo Campazzo scored 15 and Monte Morris and Paul Millsap had 10 each for the Nuggets.

LeBron James had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles, which lost forward Anthony Davis when he aggravated a right Achilles injury.

Davis left with 2:39 left in the second quarter after he bumped legs with Jokić. He stayed in to shoot free throws, but left with tendonosis of the right Achilles. ESPN reported he will have an MRI done on Monday.

Davis, who finished with 15 points in 14 minutes, missed two games last week with an Achilles injury.

Kyle Kuzma scored 19 and Alex Caruso 11 for the Lakers, who had their seven-game winning streak snapped.

Denver played without Gary Harris (adductor), P.J. Dozier (hamstring), and Will Barton (personal), and then lost Millsap after he was hit in the thigh on a screen by Caruso late in the second quarter.

Despite the shortened rotation, the Nuggets led by 12 at halftime and increased it in the third quarter. After Marc Gasol hit a corner 3-pointer, Denver went on a 9-2 run, capped by a five-point trip. Campazzo was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit the free throw and Murray hit a technical free throw to make it 97-79.

Denver led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter and cruised to the win.

The game was tied at 33 after the first quarter and the Lakers grabbed a 49-42 lead on a three-point play by Davis midway through the second, but the Nuggets came back strong in the final 6:19 of the half.

Campazzo and Michael Porter Jr. hit 3-pointers and Jokić made four free throws in a 15-2 run that put Denver ahead 60-53. Davis then was fouled by Jokić and after hitting two foul shots, gingerly walked to the locker room.

Denver then scored 10 straight points and took a 73-61 lead into the break.

CAVS FALL TO UNDERMANNED CLIPPERS
Lou Williams had a season-high 30 points and 10 assists, and the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers pounded the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers (128-111) on Sunday.

Serge Ibaka added 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who played without Kawhi Leonard (lower leg contusion) and Paul George (foot). George missed his fifth consecutive game.

Marcus Morris, Sr. had 23 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and six rebounds, and Patrick Beverley contributed 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Beverley converted 5 of 8 shots, including 4 of 6 3-pointers. Luke Kennard chipped in 12 points. — Reuters

Former national boxer Dargantes, 24 

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) announced Monday that one of its former national athletes passed away Saturday evening in Baguio City. 

Alexcel Dargantes, 24, was a member of the ABAP women’s team from 2013-2017. 

She was from General Santos City but had stayed on in Baguio, where the Boxing Training Center was, until her untimely demise. 

ABAP president Ricky Vargas expressed sorrow at Dargantes’ passing and assured that the national association would take care of the arrangements and expenses of bringing the remains back to her hometown in Mindanao. 

ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson also coordinated with Philippine Sports Commission executive Marc Velasco who assured that the PSC would also provide financial assistance for the former national athlete’s funeral arrangements. 

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