Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 8663

India approves AstraZeneca, local COVID vaccines

NEW DELHI — India’s drugs regulator on Sunday gave final approval for the emergency-use of two coronavirus vaccines, one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other by local company Bharat Biotech and a state-run institute.

The decisions mark the first vaccine approvals for the world’s second-most populous country, which after the United States, has recorded the most infections of the coronavirus disease.

It is now expected to start a massive immunization programme within about a week, a government official said, and hopes to inoculate 300 million of its 1.35 billion people free of charge in the first six to eight months of this year.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford shot, already approved in Britain, Argentina and El Salvador, will take the lead and Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN will be administered under stricter conditions given no efficacy data has been released for it.

“It’s now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure we’ve put in place for quick and equitable distribution of the vaccine,” said Harsh Vardhan, the health minister of India, which is the world’s biggest vaccine producer and exporter.

“Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of the approved vaccines.”

Drugs Controller General of India V.G. Somani said the overall efficacy of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine was 70.42%, while Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN was “safe and provides a robust immune response”.

The British-developed AstraZeneca/Oxford shot is being made locally by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and will be branded COVISHIELD, while Bharat Biotech has teamed up with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research.

A lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist party had earlier complained about the apparent preference for the foreign-made vaccine instead of the local one, whose approval has also raised questions about a lack of transparency in the process.

“Vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations,” Mr. Somani, the head of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organization, said at a news conference, reading from a written statement. Mr. Somani did not take questions.

Both vaccines will be administered in two doses and stored at 2-8° degrees Celsius (36 to 48°F), he said, without clarifying what intervals between shots were being recommended. Sources said on Saturday the doses would have to be given four weeks apart.

Mr. Somani said the Bharat Biotech vaccine had been approved “in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the approvals.

“It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India!” he said on Twitter, calling it a sign of a “self-reliant” country.

SII, the world’s biggest vaccine producer, has already stockpiled more than 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine even before securing a formal supply deal with the government.

“All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off,” CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Twitter. “COVISHIELD, India’s first COVID-19 vaccine, is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks.”

CONTROVERSY
The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, granted its first approval by Britain last week, is cheaper and easier to use than some rival shots, such as one from Pfizer, Inc. — a major advantage in tackling a pandemic that has claimed more than 1.8 million lives worldwide.

The British shot, however, has been plagued by uncertainty about its most effective dosage ever since data published in November showed a half dose followed by a full dose had a 90% success rate, while two full shots were 62% effective.

The efficacy of the Indian vaccine could “go up much more” than 60% after two doses are given, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Bharat Biotech earlier said they could produce up to 300 million doses a year.

“While this vaccine addresses an unmet medical need during this pandemic, our goal is to provide global access to populations that need it the most,” the company’s chairman, Krishna Ella, said. “COVAXIN has generated excellent safety data with robust immune responses.”

An opposition lawmaker and former minister, however, questioned the approval process for COVAXIN.

“Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin,” Jairam Ramesh wrote on Twitter.

India’s regulator has also received an emergency-use application for the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech — the first shot to secure regulatory approval in the West.

India has reported more than 10.3 million COVID-19 cases and around 150,000 deaths, though its infection rate has come down significantly from a mid-September peak.

SII plans to sell the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to the Indian government at about 250 rupees ($3.42) per dose and 1,000 rupees on the private market.

The regulator on Sunday also gave permission to Cadila Healthcare Ltd. to conduct Phase-III clinical trials on 26,000 Indian participants for its DNA-platform vaccine candidate, saying the interim trial data had shown it was “safe” and prompted an immune response under a three-dose regimen. — Reuters

Britain will allow mixing of vaccines on rare occasions

A test tube labeled with the vaccine is seen in front of AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken, Sept. 9, 2020. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC

LONDON — Britain will allow people to be given shots of different coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines on rare occasions, despite a lack of evidence about the extent of immunity offered by mixing doses.

In a departure from other strategies globally, the government said people could be given a mix-and-match of two COVID-19 shots, for example if the same vaccine dose was out of stock, according to guidelines published on New Year’s Eve.

“(If) the same vaccine is not available, or if the first product received is unknown, it is reasonable to offer one dose of the locally available product to complete the schedule,” according to the guidelines.

Mary Ramsay, head of immunizations at Public Health England (PHE), said this would only happen on extremely rare occasions, and that the government was not recommending the mixing of vaccines, which require at least two doses given several weeks apart.

“Every effort should be made to give them the same vaccine, but where this is not possible it is better to give a second dose of another vaccine than not at all,” she said.

COVID-19 has killed more 74,000 people in Britain — the second-highest death toll in Europe, and health officials are racing to deliver doses to help end the pandemic as fears grow that the health service could be overwhelmed.

Earlier this week, the government reactivated emergency hospitals built at the start of the outbreak as wards fill up with COVID-19 patients.

Britain has been at the forefront of approving the new coronavirus vaccines, becoming the first country to give emergency authorization to the Pfizer/BioNTech and the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford vaccines last month.

Both vaccines are meant to be administered as two shots, given several weeks apart, but they were not designed to be mixed together.

The government’s new guidelines said there “is no evidence on the interchangeability of the COVID-19 vaccines although studies are underway.”

However, the advice said that while every effort should be made to complete the dosing regimen with the same vaccine, if the patient is at “immediate high risk” or is considered “unlikely to attend again” they can be given different vaccines. 

Britain sparked controversy earlier this week by announcing plans to delay giving the coronavirus vaccine booster shot in an attempt to ensure more people could be given the more limited protection conferred by a single dose.

The top US infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, said on Friday he did not agree with the British approach of delaying the second dose up to 12 weeks.

“I would not be in favour of that,” he told CNN. “We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.” — Reuters

Russia inoculates over 800,000 people against coronavirus

MOSCOW — More than 800,000 people in Russia have been inoculated so far against the new coronavirus and more than 1.5 million vaccine doses have been dispatched, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Saturday.

Russia, which began rolling out its Sputnik V vaccine in early December, has the world’s fourth higher number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and is putting high hopes on several vaccines it plans to produce.

From Jan. 1, people who are inoculated in Russia will get an electronic vaccination certificate, the TASS news agency quoted Mr. Murashko as saying. The ministry is keeping a database of Russians who have been vaccinated, TASS reported.

The Sputnik V vaccine, which Russia already started supplying to other countries, is administered in two doses, which use different components, 21 days apart.

Russia sent 300,000 doses of the vaccine to Argentina last week, causing frustration at home, with some people arguing that more shots should be made available at home.

On Saturday, Russia reported 26,301 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total caseload to 3,212,637.

Authorities said 447 people had died in the past 24 hours, taking the official death toll to 58,002. — Reuters

PBA still assessing direction to take for Season 46 — Marcial

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

RECOGNIZING that it still has to deal with the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is not rushing and is carefully assessing the direction to take for its Season 46.

In an interview over the Power and Play with Noli Eala radio program on Saturday, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial shared that the league is still in the process of weighing its options.

Nothing is definite yet as far as the kind of form its next season will take, considering how fluid the situation is with the pandemic, which remains a concern.

They, however, said they will try to start Season 46 on the league’s anniversary on April 9 either in another “bubble” setup or a closed-circuit setting.

“We’ll see what the situation is with the vaccine, if by April there will be one already. We’re looking at the type of bubble the season would be played, the venue, the economy, and whether the government would allow the PBA to play. I cannot answer that at the moment. But maybe by February or March, we’ll have more clarity,” said Mr. Marcial.

The PBA chief went on to say that the aim is still to have a full complement of three conferences this year, but if it is not possible, they are angling to at least have two.

Whether the league would have an import-laden tournament is still up in the air, Mr. Marcial said, as it hinges on the prevailing conditions with the pandemic by that time.

The PBA is coming off a successful bubble tournament at Clark City in Angeles City, Pampanga, from October to early December after activities were suspended because of the pandemic early last year.

In the bubble, participants were holed up in a controlled environment in Clark for the duration of the tournament, following strict health and safety protocols to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.

It hit some rough patches, including “positive scare,” but the league was able to survive it and finish the Philippine Cup with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings crowned as champions.

Mr. Marcial said the bubble did not come cheap, amounting to some P70 million to be staged, but he was happy to report that they were somehow able to recover it although he did not provide details.

Given that, they are factoring it as well in planning for Season 46.

An alternative setup is the closed-circuit setting, which was employed during the team practices in the lead up to the tournament bubble.

In it, players have their travel limited as much as possible to home-to-game venue and back, and their movements and health monitored closely by their teams and the league to preserve the integrity of the tournament.

Mr. Marcial shared that provisions for vaccines are also being planned by the league.

“I hope we can buy the vaccine for the players and those who are in need. Maybe the teams can carry the costs for that. They can shoulder the vaccination for their own players, and we’ll vaccinate our own employees and referees,” he said.

He was quick to say though they have not talked to the government about it yet but they are already laying down the plan just in case.

THE DRAFT
Meanwhile, Mr. Marcial said the deadline for application for this year’s rookie draft is on Jan. 27 with the draft itself happening on March 14.

Details for the draft are still being finalized, including if there will be another special Gilas draft just like last time around.

“We’ll meet with the board of governors after all the applications are in to decide on how the drafting will go. The SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) hasn’t decided yet whether or not they need one (Gilas draft) because they don’t know who will declare for the draft,” said Mr. Marcial.

In the last rookie draft, a special selection was made for Gilas in line with the SBP mission of putting a pool of players who will be available for the national team for future competitions, including the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where the Philippines is one of the hosts.

Selected in the draft were Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt and Mike Nieto, and Allyn Bulanadi.

Mr. Marcial said that because of the pandemic, there will be no draft combine this year, but he is bullish of the kind of talent available.

“For sure, we’ll reach the third and fourth round. There are a lot of players available, including those who graduated from the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), and those from the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) and those from Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 who said they will enter.”

NY Knicks squeak out a win over Indiana Pacers, 106-102

AUSTIN Rivers hit a 3-pointer that gave the New York Knicks the lead for good late in the fourth quarter Saturday night and added the clinching layup with 35.3 seconds remaining as the Knicks surprised the host Indiana Pacers, 106-102.

Rivers, who played his second game for the Knicks after missing the first four games due to a groin injury, scored 15 points off the bench for New York, which has won three of four.

RJ Barrett scored a team-high 25 points and was four of five on 3-point attempts. The Knicks hit 44.4% (12 of 27) of their 3-pointers Saturday, two nights after shooting a franchise record-low of 8.3% (three of 36) from the 3-point line. Julius Randle finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, Elfrid Payton had 19 points and eight rebounds, and Mitchell Robinson went of 8 of 10 shooting and netted 16 points.

Malcolm Brogdon scored 33 points for the Pacers, who have lost two of three. Domantas Sabonis (13 points, 13 rebounds) had his sixth double-double in as many games to start the season, while Myles Turner scored 17 points. Victor Oladipo finished with 16 points, and Justin Holiday added 12 points off the bench.

ROCKETS 102 – KINGS 94
John Wall had game highs of 28 points, six assists and three steals as host Houston capped a back-to-back sweep of Sacramento.

Rockets guard James Harden, who poured in 33 points with eight assists in a 122-119 victory over the Kings on New Year’s Eve, was a late scratch with a right ankle sprain. Houston found sufficient scoring elsewhere, with Eric Gordon replacing Harden and recording 21 points. Christian Wood notched his third double-double for the Rockets with 20 points and 15 rebounds. — Reuters

PSC seeking to build on gains and finish strong

WHILE admitting that its run under the current administration is anything but perfect, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is nonetheless happy over what it has achieved and looking to build on the gains it has had and finish strong.

Anchored on a five-year development plan, the PSC said that, by and large, it succeeded in seeing its mission and vision through under the government of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“I think we have built legacies that we are happy to leave and for others to follow through on,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez as he gave the agency’s yearend report in December.

“It’s not 100%, but I believe we have been able to put up strong points,” he added.

Mr. Ramirez shared that since they took office, they have made the PSC a better organization, enhancing its capability and accountability to lead, manage, implement, and assess sports programs in the country.

It also was able to highlight the important role that sports play in personal and community development and the need to shore up the country’s grassroots development push by making sports more accessible with the end view of producing globally competitive athletes.

The institutionalization of Philippine Sports Institute, the country’s training, educational and research center, is another development that they are proud of, Mr. Ramirez said, as it complemented the PSC’s programs geared towards the development of grassroots sports, high-performance sports, and professional development of sports practitioners.

Since 2016, the PSC has also managed to fix sports facilities worn out by time under its watch, including the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Philsports Multipurpose Complex, while at the same erecting some new ones.

And there are the linkages it has formed with various organizations and agencies, which Mr. Ramirez said has gone a long way in the agency successfully fostering good relationships to make things happen.

“I think our biggest achievement is the creation of a sports development highway in the Philippines, where we have coordinators assigned to different places in the country and the PSC establishing partnerships with LGUs (local government units) and DepED (Department of Education). These partnerships are very important in seeing our various programs succeed,” the PSC chief said.

Mr. Ramirez also lauded the national athletes’ performance in international competitions of late, including the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA), where they did well and improved on their previous showing.

It is something the PSC hopes will continue this year in the Tokyo Olympics and SEA Games in Vietnam.

For the remaining one and a half years, Mr. Ramirez said it is about staying the course amid the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

“In our remaining time, we will continue to navigate and review what we have put up, so we can provide a good plan for the next PSC officials to follow. The issue with the pandemic makes it tougher, but with partnerships with DepEd, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the national sports associations, and others, I think we will be able to accomplish that,” he said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Real Madrid see off Celta Vigo, 2-0, to return to La Liga summit

MADRID — Real Madrid beat an in-form Celta Vigo 2-0 at home on Saturday thanks to a goal and assist apiece from Spanish pair Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio, putting the side above city rivals Atlético Madrid at the top of La Liga.

The win took the Spanish champions to the summit on 36 points, one ahead of second-placed Atletico who has three games in hand and on Sunday visits Alavés.

Real was smarting from a surprise 1-1 draw at struggling Elche in their last match and were missing captain Sergio Ramos, who was out with a stomach bug.

But they got off to an ideal start thanks to a towering header from Vázquez, who out-jumped two Celta defenders to power home a cross from Asensio.

Vázquez returned the favor early in the second half to tee up Asensio after Madrid had recovered the ball high in Celta’s half. Zinedine Zidane’s side comfortably saw out the victory, ending Celta’s unbeaten run of six games under new coach Eduardo Coudet.

Celta had won five of their previous six league games since Argentine Coudet took charge in November after Óscar Garcia was sacked, taking them from the bottom of the standings to within striking distance of the European places.

The trip to Madrid was their biggest test so far and they almost took the lead when talismanic striker Iago Aspas ran through and knocked the ball past keeper Thibaut Courtois, but Real defender Nacho recovered to clear it off the line.

Madrid broke immediately with a long ball to Asensio, whose cross was nodded in by Vázquez.

Real nearly doubled their lead when Dani Carvajal tried his luck from outside the box and saw his shot whistle past the post. — Reuters

Uncertainty

The end of 2020 saw Major League Baseball licking its wounds and pondering how it should navigate a new year filled with just as much uncertainty. Considering the potential for continued losses, franchises are determined to cut back on expenses. And, naturally, payroll becomes the first casualty; for the first time in a long while, the offseason, traditionally host to a flurry of activity in which talent is sought by all and sundry, figures to be one of reflection and not action. Except, that is, for the Padres, who see a break while others recoil with caution.

Make no mistake. The Padres are taking a significant risk. Such is the nature of competition in the sport that roster improvements, no matter how seemingly substantial, often translate to marginal returns. The best players increase win probabilities, but do not bring with them certainty of ultimate success. And, in the midst of a pandemic that has all but wiped out the usual revenue sources, investing in marquee names comes at high cost but guarantees little. Nonetheless, the small-market outfit dared to dream big and pull the trigger on a couple of deals slated to further lift its profile.

Indeed, the addition of Blake Snell and Yu Darvish provides the Padres with a fearsome rotation frontline designed to turn it from a middling competitor into a bona fide contender. No doubt, they wouldn’t have thumbed up the trades had they been compelled to hand over more than a single regular and farm system prospects in return. And, no doubt, they wouldn’t have so much as thought of doing, so were they not already close to challenging the powerhouse Dodgers in the National League West.

The Padres were likewise fortunate, to be sure. They pounced on the Cubs’ apparent need to let Darvish go in order to trim outlays, as well the Rays’ evident urge to flip Snell early in the face of a hazy outlook. Then again, the boldest make their own fortunes. And should their gamble pay off, the rest of the league will be left to second-guess a pronounced failure to discern opportunity in crisis. In any case, there is benefit to establishing a culture that moves for continuous improvement and rewards resourcefulness.

Baseball etches nothing in stone. At the same time, there can be no discounting the value good vibes bring to effort. Ask Snell, Darvish, and free-agent acquisition Ha-seong Kim, who feel wanted by the Padres. Ask Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., who welcome the arrival of fellow top-shelf players. And ask the fans, who appreciate owner Peter Seidler’s against-the-current disposition. The hardware may not be a sure thing, but, in the eyes of the aforementioned, they’re already champions.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

SM ushers in the New Year with “Beacon of Hope” spectacle

As the year draws to a close, SM Supermalls lights up the sky with a heart-warming visual spectacle themed as “Beacon of Hope” to welcome 2021 in high spirits.  

Released on SM Supermalls Facebook page on New Year’s Eve, the Beacon of Hope video shows select SM malls across the country illuminating the night with bright and colorful virtual projection mapping on the mall’s facade. Each mall highlights a virtue through a dazzling light show and a stunning exhibition of glowing shapes and images to create a memorable and moving visual display.  

SM Aura Premier embodies ‘grace’ while SM City Clark radiates ‘joy.’ SM Megamall brings sparkle as it embodies ‘light’ while SM City Puerto Princesa displays ‘peace’ with a gleaming image of dove as a symbol. SM CDO Downtown Premier shows ‘care’ while SM Southmall emphasizes the need to ‘share.’

SM City Dasmariñas celebrates ‘service’ to honor the frontliners as SM Lanang Premier underlines the importance of having a ‘safe’ space. SM City Fairview spreads ‘fun’ while SM North Edsa sparks ‘love’ with a hearty light show. SM Seaside City Cebu stresses the value of ‘togetherness’ while SM Mall of Asia brings ‘hope’ that we will all rise and heal as one. The remaining SM malls nationwide also join the festivity as they lit up their respective facades with their own bright holiday decorations. 

“SM aims to spur optimism as we bid goodbye to a challenging 2020 and prepare for a fresh start in 2021. We continue to stand with our community even during tough times and now as we face the New Year together with a renewed hope and joy,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

Visit SM Supermalls Facebook page or www.smsupermalls.com to watch the video of SM’s Beacon of Hope and to check out SM Supermalls opening hours on January 1.

For more information, follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

Couturier Pierre Cardin, 98

The designer who democratized fashion, Pierre Cardin, died on Dec. 29 at the age of 98.

There is a good chance that there is at least one Pierre Cardin piece in your closet right now, either a belt, a scarf; or even a wallet. This is due to the numerous licensing deals the French designer entered in the 1980s, which placed his name on everything from automobiles to frying pans. His many efforts to democratize fashion (but also achieve mainstream success) led to derision by his contemporaries; his first pret-a-porter line (despite being a haute couturier) led to his expulsion from  the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne in 1959. He was eventually reinstated, but he had resigned voluntarily in the late 1960s. The designer thus pioneered the now-common practice, so designers can, and do, put their name on several diffusion lines, or else perfume, watches, aprons, and the like.

The son of wealthy Italian immigrants fleeing fascism, he was born on July 2, 1922. He worked as early as 14 as an apprentice, and worked as a tailor before his 20s. After the war, he worked under influential designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli and Christian Dior. He started his own brand in 1950. He in turn took budding designers under his wing, hiring a young Jean Paul Gaultier as an assistant in the 1970s, then sending him to the Philippines in 1974 to manage the Pierre Cardin boutique in Manila.

Even before his licensing deals, Mr. Cardin (pronounced car-deen; in the Italian way) already had a far reach: he was designing airline uniforms in the Middle East, and had redesigned the Barong Tagalog itself for wealthy clients in Manila, streamlining the silhouette in the 1970s.

He is still remembered the world over for his futuristic designs in the 1960s, forming a forward look from France shared by his contemporary André Courrèges (who died in 2016). The looks gave the blueprint for a future imagined in space, as a result of the space race between the US and the Soviet Union; the clothes today remain in the public imagination as what the Swinging ‘60s looked like, sharing a spotlight with London Mod culture. Some of his most famous clients were The Beatles (the Nehru jackets were Mr. Cardin’s handiwork), Gregory Peck, and Lauren Bacall. — Joseph L. Garcia

National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, 90

Best known for her work with puppets and children’s theater, National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio died on Dec. 29. This was announced by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, the theater group she had founded, through a Facebook post.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of National Artist Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and Founding Artistic Director of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas at 7 a.m. today, Dec. 29, 2020 at the age of 90,” said the post. Lapeña-Bonifacio founded Teatrong Mulat in 1977 as a children’s theater and puppet theater company.

According to her profile on UP Diliman’s website, she was born on April 4, 1930 in Binondo, Manila, and she graduated from UP Diliman in 1953 with a degree in English. She then earned an MA (Speech-Theater Arts) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1958, where, through a Fulbright-Smith Mundt Scholarship, she enrolled in the Beloit College Graduate Summer Theater Scholarship (1957-1958).

She helped establish the Speech and Drama Department in the UP in 1957.

At the time of her death, she was a University Professor Emerita at the Department of English and Comparative Literature of the College of Arts and Letters. “The lifetime title was bestowed by the University of the Philippines for her exceptional achievements and outstanding service upon her retirement in 1995,” said the same profile.

She was named a National Artist for Theater, in 2018.

While Lapeña-Bonifacio is known for her work in theater (the same UP profile hails her as the Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater), she was also a prolific writer, with 10 books, and many short stories (130 of them for children), poems, and essays. This was on top of the 46 plays she had written, 30 of those for children. Among her most notable works, were 6 na Dulang Filipino Para Sa Mga Bata, 1976; Tat-lu-han (Three Plays), 1975; Ang Paglalakbay ni Sisa: Isang Noh Sa Laguna, 1998; Isang Kyogen sa Pritil, 1977; Sepang Loca, 1957; and Abadeja: Ang Ating Sinderela, 1977.

One of her best known works is Papet Pasyon, a puppet passion play for children which tackles the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It has been staged annually during Holy Week since it was first shown in 1985.

A Facebook post from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts said, “All in all, what she has achieved is an indigenous fusion of puppetry, children’s literature, folklore, and theater.”

“Paalam, Gng. Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio! Salamat sa iyong buhay at ambag sa kultura at lipunang Pilipino! Mananatili ka sa aming mga puso! (Goodbye, Mrs. Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio! Thank you for your life and contribution to Philippine culture and society! You will remain in our hearts!),” said Cultural Center of the Philippines Vice-President and Artistic Director Chris Millado in a Facebook post.

She is survived by her daughter, Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, who has headed Teatrong Mulat since 2012.

Her wake will be held at the Imperial Classic, Ground Floor, Funeraria Paz, Araneta Ave., Quezon City from Dec. 30 to 31. Viewing hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. only. — Joseph L. Garcia

The exceptional home for families in the south

Create timeless moments with your family at Likha Residences

The home is valued now more than ever as people go out less often for work or leisure. Thus, many get to spend most of their time with their families at the comforts of their homes. Besides, what makes a home, however grand or sophisticated it may be, is how it brings family members to bond together as well as to relax and unwind. For the established modern family, there is a place that makes it possible to create moments that they will cherish for a lifetime.

Built by PHINMA Properties, Likha Residences is the perfect home for established professionals to create new stories for their families. The exclusive Likha Residences offers three-storey townhomes with a floor area of 237.85 square meters, that inspire limitless bonding opportunities and fine living.

“Our vision is for families to come together and be close-knit, just like what the Southern living imbibes. Those are the memories we want families to make in Likha Residences,” Enrique M. Moran, Assistant Vice-President of Operations — Prism of PHINMA Properties, said.

With its timeless design and accommodating space, coupled with strong security, excellent service, and proximity to business and leisure centers, Likha Residences assures prospect homeowners of a reliable home investment with a value that will steadily grow along with their families.

Drawing inspiration from Filipino architecture and design aesthetics, the townhomes of Likha Residences are built from enduring and quality materials that evoke an ageless character that resonates from one generation to another. Complementing these intricately designed units are its finely designed amenities, namely the clubhouse, multi-function hall, lounging deck, swimming pool, fitness gym, and playground.

What also makes Likha Residences a great investment for families is the security it assures for tenants. Likha Residences is structured to be a safe and secure community that encourages a sense of comfort and certainty. With 24-hour roving security and double-gated boundaries surrounding Likha Residences, families can enjoy high-end and close-knit living with peace of mind.

Aside from homegrown design, Likha Residences also draws inspiration from the distinct and innate hospitality of Filipinos. With residents at the center of what it does, Likha has an approachable team that is committed to impeccable service that will help foster and nurture the well-being of families.

Nestled in the south of the Metro, Likha Residences allows families to experience the joys of luxe southern living while striding with ease between bustling cities and relaxing vacation spots, allowing families to create treasured moments.

Located at Cupang, Muntinlupa City, the upscale development is close to malls like Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall Alabang, and Santana Grove; schools like De La Salle Santiago Zobel, Paref Southridge School, and San Beda Alabang; and the Asian Hospital & Medical Center. Moreover, Likha Residences is within reach of the prestigious business districts of Metro Manila such as the Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and Filinvest City in Alabang.

With all these perks and features, Likha Residences perfectly bundles exceptional family living and bonding, reliable security and service, and easy accessibility together into a home that is worth one’s hard-earned investment. “We would like future residents of Likha to feel that they are buying a good investment. Ultimately, we want Likha to become a standard of Filipino homes for the Filipino family,” Raphael B. Felix, President & CEO of PHINMA Properties, said.

As of December 2020, PHINMA Properties has started realizing stories at Likha Residences, with two model units fully complete. A blessing and ribbon cutting for these units were held last Dec. 12. In addition, four other units are halfway complete. Land development, meanwhile, is 84% complete, and the entire project is at 10.11%.

Likha’s model units are now open to the public for viewing. Call (02) 8535 6800 or (+63) 917-535-6800, or e-mail inquiries@phinma.com.ph to schedule a safe home tour at Likha Residences, located at Km 19 West Service Road, Cupang, Muntinlupa City. Visit http://phinmaproperties.com/ for more details.

 

1...8,6628,6638,664...14,247Page 8,663 of 14,247
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube