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PCSO to suspended STL operator in Cebu, Southern Leyte: Stop unauthorized operations
Determined to stamp out illegal gambling and instill full compliance among its accredited Small Town Lottery operators, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Tuesday clamped down on the unauthorized operations of an erring STL operator in Cebu City and Southern Leyte. PCSO General Manager Mel Robles explained that all operations of Saturn Gaming N' Amusement Corporation in the said provinces are already deemed illegal, after the termination of its authority to operate last 8 March 2023. Robles pointed out the PCSO’s order is effective and must be fully enforced in the said areas except in Metro Cebu and Mandaue City. The PCSO made the announcement Tuesday on its official website, stating, among others, that the authority to operate of Saturn Gaming was revoked effective 8 March 2023 by virtue of PCSO Board Resolution No. 55 Series of 2023, even as the revocation order subsequently took effect on 6 April this year. The bulletin said: “Ipinababatid ng PCSO na ang Saturn Gaming N’ Amusement Corporation ay hindi Authorized Agent Corporation (AAC) ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office para sa Southern Leyte at Cebu simula ika-6 ng Abril 2023. Ang Authority to Operate (ATO) ng Saturn Gaming N’ Amusement Corporation ay binawi at tinanggal sa ilalim ng PCSO Board Resolution No. 55, Series of 2023 na inilabas noong ika-8 ng Marso 2023”. It added that any attempts by Saturn Gaming to defy the lawful order is in clear violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602 (Prescribing Stiffer Penalties On Illegal Gambling) and Republic Act No. 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and For Other Purposes). Robles said they decided to terminate the authority to operate after they discovered that Saturn Gaming had committed and was continuing to commit numerous violations of the terms and conditions stipulated on the Authorized Agent Corporation Agreement. Robles said Saturn Gaming’s closure should serve as warning to other STL operators, reiterating that the PCSO will not hesitate to impose sanctions or revoke their authority to operate if they are found violating the Authorized Agent Corporation Agreement. “Magsilbing babala sana ito sa ating mga STL operator na sana ay sundin nila ang nakasaad sa kasunduan na kanilang pinirmahan. Dahil hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na ipasara sila kapag napatunayan namin na lumalabag sila sa mga probisyon ng nasabing agreement,” he said. The PCSO and the Philippine National Police earlier vowed to unite in waging war against illegal gambling operations in the country. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. in a recent meeting with Robles, said he would strictly enforce the one-strike policy against police commanders who fail to stop illegal gambling activities in their respective areas of responsibility. The PCSO said it has already informed Acorda and P/Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin, PNP Regional Director in Cebu City, regarding the agency’s position that Saturn Gaming is now an illegal operation. Robles is adamant that illegal gambling operations in the country must be stopped, noting that they greatly affect the PCSO's ability to generate higher revenues as the greater portion of their earnings end up in the hands of illegal gambling operators. "In turn, those losses deprive poor Filipino citizens of the health care and other benefits the PCSO provides," he said. Saturn Gaming, for its part, said it was able to secure a Writ of Preliminary Injunction from Regional Trial Court-Mandaluyong Branch 213 against the PCSO order. Robles, however, clarified that no such writ has been issued by the court in favor of Saturn Gaming. The post PCSO to suspended STL operator in Cebu, Southern Leyte: Stop unauthorized operations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCSO suspends STL operator in Cebu, Southern Leyte
DETERMINED to stamp out illegal gambling and instill full compliance among its accredited Small Town Lottery operators, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Tuesday clamped down on the unauthorized operations of an erring STL operator in Cebu City and Southern Leyte. PCSO General Manager Mel Robles explained that all operations of Saturn Gaming N' Amusement Corporation in the said provinces are already deemed illegal, after the termination of its authority to operate on 19 January 2023. GM Robles pointed out the PCSO’s order is effective and must be fully enforced in the said areas except in Metro Cebu and Mandaue City. The PCSO made the announcement Tuesday on its official website stating among others that the authority to operate of Saturn Gaming was revoked effective 19 2023 by virtue of PCSO Board Resolution No. 55 Series of 2023, even as the revocation order subsequently took effect on April 6 this year. The bulletin said: “Ipinababatid ng PCSO na ang Saturn Gaming N’ Amusement Corporation ay hindi Authorized Agent Corporation (AAC) ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office para sa Southern Leyte at Cebu simula ika-6 ng Abril 2023. Ang Authority to Operate (ATO) ng Saturn Gaming N’ Amusement Corporation ay binawi at tinanggal sa ilalim ng PCSO Board Resolution No. 55, Series of 2023 na inilabas noong ikaw-8 ng Marso 2023”. It added that any attempts by Saturn Gaming to defy the lawful order is in clear violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602 (Prescribing Stiffer Penalties On Illegal Gambling) and Republic Act No. 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and For Other Purposes). GM Robles said they decided to terminate the authority to operate after they discovered that Saturn Gaming has committed and is continuing to commit numerous violations of the terms and conditions stipulated on the Authorized Agent Corporation (AAC) Agreement. This developed as GM Robles said that Saturn Gaming’s closure should serve as warning to other STL operators who might want to follow its footsteps, stating that they will not hesitate to impose sanctions or revoke their authority to operate if they are found violating the Authorized Agent Corporation (AAC) Agreement. “Magsilbing babala sana ito sa ating mga STL operator na sana ay sundin nila ang nakasaad sa kasunduan na kanilang pinirmahan. Dahil hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na ipasara sila kapag napatunayan namin na lumalabag sila sa mga probisyon ng nasabing agreement,” he said. To recall, the PCSO and the Philippine National Police earlier vowed to unite as they wage war against illegal gambling operations in the country. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. in a recent meeting with GM Robles, assured that he would strictly enforce the one-strike policy against police commanders who would fail to stop illegal gambling activities in their respective areas of responsibility. Relative to the latest development, the PCSO said it already informed Gen. Acorda Jr. and P/Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin, PNP Regional Director in Cebu City, regarding the agency’s position that Saturn Gaming operations remain unsanctioned and therefore, illegal. GM Robles is adamant that illegal gambling operations in the country must be stopped, noting that they greatly affect their agency's ability to generate higher revenues as the greater portion of their earnings end up in the hands of illegal gambling operators. "In turn, those losses deprive poor Filipino citizens of the health care and other benefits the PCSO provides," Robles was previously quoted as saying. Saturn Gaming for its part is claiming that it was able to secure a Writ of Preliminary Injunction from Regional Trial Court-Mandaluyong Branch 213 against the PCSO order. GM Robles, however, clarified that the court has not issued any writ of preliminary injunction in favor of Saturn Gaming. The post PCSO suspends STL operator in Cebu, Southern Leyte appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The power of closure: Enforcing tax compliance
In the intricate relationship between economic growth and fiscal responsibility, the Bureau of Internal Revenue serves as the guardian of fiscal regulations, ensuring that businesses adhere to the Tax Code, as well as to the relevant tax rules and regulations......»»
SpaceX’s Starship to remain grounded after explosion probe
SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, must remain grounded while Elon Musk's company completes dozens of corrective actions to prevent a repeat of the spectacular explosion that marred its first orbital test flight, regulators said Friday. The 63 steps include "redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness," additional testing of safety systems, and more, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement after completing a months-long review. SpaceX blew up the uncrewed rocket four minutes after it blasted off from the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on 20 April. Starship experienced multiple engine failures and its first-stage booster did not separate from the spacecraft above it. The rocket disintegrated into a ball of fire that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, while a cloud of dust floated over a small town several miles (kilometers) away. Musk immediately congratulated his SpaceX team on an "exciting" test launch and declared it a success because the company would gain valuable insights into what went wrong. The FAA however quickly launched an investigation, while conservation groups announced they would sue the regulator for not doing enough to protect the environment given the proximity of a vital habitat for protected species. Though the probe has now been completed, "the closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of Starship launches at Boca Chica," said the agency. "SpaceX must implement all corrective actions that impact public safety and apply for and receive a license modification from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental, and other applicable regulatory requirements prior to the next Starship launch" it added. A new Starship currently stands ready at the launchpad, according to publicity material posted by SpaceX on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a statement, the company reiterated its position that the first test "was a critical step in advancing the capabilities of the most powerful launch system ever developed" and "provided numerous lessons learned that are directly contributing to several upgrades being made" to the vehicle and ground structures. Starship, which stands 394 feet (120 meters) tall, produces 16.7 million pounds (74.3 Meganewtons) of thrust, more than double that of the Saturn V rockets used to send Apollo astronauts to the Moon. SpaceX foresees it as a next-generation, fully reusable spaceship that will eventually carry both crew and cargo to Mars. NASA has contracted a version of Starship to function as a lander craft for its Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon by the middle of this decade. The post SpaceX’s Starship to remain grounded after explosion probe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kim oversees N. Korea military parade showcasing new drones, ICBMs
Flanked by visiting Russian and Chinese officials, Kim Jong Un oversaw a North Korean military parade featuring new drones and Pyongyang's nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported Friday. At least four new North Korean military drones were towed on trailers through Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung square at the parade late Thursday, state media images showed, while another drone appeared to conduct a flyover overhead. Standing between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese politburo member Li Hongzhong in the VIP viewing stands, Kim smiled and saluted as thousands of soldiers marched past, trailed by the country's most powerful ICBMs, which are banned under UN sanctions. The event, featuring Kim's first-known foreign guests since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, was to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, which ended open hostilities and is celebrated as Victory Day. Kim "extended warm militant greetings" to the parade, the official Korean Central News Agency said, and North Korea's defense minister Kang Sun Nam made a speech. The United States has no chance "of survival in case they use nuclear weapons against the DPRK", Kang said, referring to the North by its official name. He warned that any attempts by the United States to use armed force against the North would cause an "unimaginable and unforeseen crisis". The parade featured an array of new weaponry, including some first unveiled at a defense expo on Wednesday in Pyongyang, visited by Kim and Shoigu. North Korea's new underwater nuclear attack drone, called the "Haeil", appeared at the parade for the first time, Seoul-based specialist site NK News reported. "The strategic reconnaissance drone and the multi-purpose attack drone which was newly developed and produced... made circular flights in the sky above the (Kim Il Sung square," KCNA said. The "excitement and great joy of the spectators reached its height" when the nuclear-armed country's newest ICBM -- the solid-fuel Hwasong-18, tested in April and July this year -- was paraded through the square, KCNA said. The tests were roundly condemned by Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, and violate UN sanctions banning the North from any tests using ballistic missile technology. 'Send the US a signal' The parade is a key part of "promoting Kim Jong Un's ruling legitimacy and internal unity in this economically challenging time", Yangmo Ku, a political science professor at Norwich University, told AFP. But this year, with the inclusion of high-level guests from Moscow and Beijing, Pyongyang is also sending America "a signal that under strengthened ties with Russia and China, North Korea is militarily ready to cope with strategic threats from its enemies", he said. "All these acts mean the emergence of the new Cold War surrounding the Korean Peninsula," Ku added. Beijing is North Korea's most important ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War in the 1950s. "China's representation at North Korea's parading of nuclear-capable missiles raises serious questions about Beijing enabling Pyongyang's threats to global security," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Russia, another historic ally, is one of a handful of nations with which Pyongyang maintains friendly relations, and experts said it was noteworthy that Moscow had sent Shoigu to the anniversary celebrations -- a rare visit by a Russian defense chief in the post-Soviet era. Kim has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles -- a charge Pyongyang has denied. Russia's President Vladimir Putin sent a speech, read out by Shoigu at an anniversary event, according to KCNA, in which Moscow's leader hailed North Korea for its "firm support for special military operations against Ukraine". Easley said that "given Russia's need for ammunition for its illegal war in Ukraine and (Kim's) willingness to personally give the Russian defense minister a tour of North Korea's arms exhibition, UN member states should increase vigilance for observing and penalizing sanctions violations". The inclusion of foreign guests at this year's celebrations is a post-pandemic first, and hints at new flexibility toward enforcing border controls. North Korea has imposed a rigid Covid-19 blockade since early 2020, preventing even its own nationals from entering the country. It only resumed some trade with China last year and allowed new Beijing envoy Wang Yajun to take up his position this year. He is the first known senior diplomat to cross into North Korea since the border closure in January 2020. The post Kim oversees N. Korea military parade showcasing new drones, ICBMs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BIR kicks off tax compliance and verification drive
Subic Bay Freeport — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has conducted a Tax Compliance and Verification Drive at the warehouses inside the Subic Bay Gateway Park, Phase II here, leading to the closure of a manufacturing firm here. BIR commissioner Atty. Romeo “Jun” Lumagui Jr. led the inspection on Friday at the warehouse of Onesubic Premier Manufacturing Corporation, a registered manufacturing corporation of Regional District Office 19 of the BIR. Lumagui said that the company is licensed to operate as a manufacturer of cigarettes and has a permit to operate non-tobacco material warehouse. He added that during the inventory taking, the TCVD team discovered that there were no manufacturing machines and no finished cigarette products made by OPMC in the area. The official also said that there were export sales of cigarettes made by OPMC to foreign corporation with bill of lading presented upon inquiry, and that the finished cigarette products involved in OPMC’s export sales per verification were sourced from another manufacturing corporation. Lumagui said that the company is allegedly OPMC’s sister company identified as Hongcim International Corporation, citing that the warehouse is also part of the building where OPMC is leasing. “OPMC is engaged in unregistered activities such as printing cigarette packaging boxes without prior registration with the Large Taxpayer Excise Tax Division of BIR, National Office as prescribed by existing BIR rules and regulation,” said Lumagui. The OPMC declared during an interview with the TCVD team that they do not produce cigarettes, citing that they only produce cigarette boxes in packs and reams, which were sold only in Clark and internationally. “Upon our inspection, we found out through the company’s used manual sales invoice that they have sold packs of finished cigarettes internationally to Vietnam and Cambodia alongside with the sale of empty printed boxes used to pack cigarettes,” the commissioner said. The post BIR kicks off tax compliance and verification drive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gentle Hands could reopen with conditions
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said Gentle Hands Inc. will not be allowed to operate without first securing a fire safety inspection certificate or FSIC. “We know that if you don’t have an FSIC, you will be put on the negative list and automatically consider your business permit null and void because these permits are provisional and anchored on the fire safety and occupancy permit,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told reporters, shortly after Wednesday’s inquiry by the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality. DSWD’s fact-finding team, Gatchalian said, is working on the physical, finance and admin, as well as the case and program management of the orphanage. The DSWD earlier issued a cease and desist order against Gentle Hands Inc. for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, which prompted the Senate to investigate the matter. Even if the orphanage complies with RA 7610, Gatchalian said, the DSWD will still have to complete its assessment of GHI’s compliance with the minimum standards for residential facilities for children. He added that the National Authority on Child Care will also have to assess the orphanage’s help intervention since there was reportedly a “high rate of disruptions” among adopted children. “So there are two (assessments)that are ongoing and we will consolidate the reports and we will publish it as soon as possible,” he said. Gatchalian defended the closure of the orphanage saying it was afforded due process before the issuance of the DSWD’s order. During the inquiry sought by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel, the allegations that led to the issuance of the cease and desist order against the orphanage were discussed. Among the reviewed topics were the DSWD’s policies on the living standards for residential facilities for children, and the evaluation of the process undertaken by the DSWD on the removal of children from the childcare facility. Hontiveros said it appears that the inquiry has created a polarizing atmosphere among the parties involved amid the significance of tackling the issue. “While it is understandable to some extent given the value we ascribe to our children, it would be good to remind all of us that we are here to seek clarity, and ultimately, to find solutions to problems that impact children who are among the most vulnerable,” she said. The post Gentle Hands could reopen with conditions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Leopoldstadt’, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ top Tony Awards
Tom Stoppard's play "Leopoldstadt," a look at how one Jewish family confronts anti-Semitism and loss, and intimate tragicomic musical "Kimberly Akimbo" earned the top prizes Sunday at the Tony Awards, the highest honors in American theater. Inclusion and identity were key themes on a night at which history was made -- J. Harrison Ghee in "Some Like It Hot" and Alex Newell in "Shucked" became the first openly nonbinary actors to win trophies for their work on Broadway. Winners, performers and presenters alike at the United Palace theater in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood also offered their full support to striking writers in Hollywood. The 85-year-old Stoppard, who won his fifth Tony for best play with "Leopoldstadt," a work inspired in part by his own family history, called out artificial intelligence, saying he was "teeming with emotions a chat box wouldn't begin to understand." In the 55 years since his first Tony for best play for "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," Stoppard said, "I have witnessed the theater writer getting progressively devalued in the food chain. It's just something I thought I'd mention." The play won four awards overall, including best director and best featured actor. "Kimberly Akimbo" -- about a high school student suffering from a genetic disorder that causes her to age prematurely -- won five Tonys including best musical and best lead actress for Victoria Clark. Ghee and Newell gave emotional speeches, with Ghee telling the audience: "For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human who ever was told... you couldn't be seen, this is for you." Britain's Jodie Comer, known to TV fans as the assassin Villanelle on "Killing Eve," won for best actress in a play for her searing one-woman show "Prima Facie," about a lawyer who defends men accused of sexual assault, until she herself is attacked. Sean Hayes, who starred on TV's "Will and Grace," won for best actor in a play for "Good Night, Oscar." Industry woes The Tonys almost didn't happen, as a strike by the Writers Guild of America, which began in early May, called into question how to produce the live nationally televised event. Eventually, the union said it would not picket the ceremony, after Tonys organizers made some concessions about the show's format -- the show was unscripted, a fact made clear by host Ariana DeBose, who opened the show by looking at blank pages. "Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal," she said after an elaborate opening dance number. "I'm live and unscripted... buckle up." Staging the Tonys gala was seen as key for Broadway productions. The event serves as an annual showcase for American theater -- and a live ad to encourage tourists to buy tickets. Broadway took a serious hit during the Covid-19 lockdown, which shuttered theaters and left travelers skittish about returning to crowded venues. But the Broadway League, the industry's national trade association, released data last month indicating that theatergoers were coming back to Manhattan. During the 2022-23 season, the first full one since the pandemic, 88.4 percent of seats were filled - "comparable to pre-pandemic levels," the league said in a statement. Total attendance was at more than 12.2 million. But the season was not without its victims, including some of the shows up for awards on Sunday. In addition, "Phantom of the Opera," the longest-running show in Broadway history, closed in April after 35 years, in part because it struggled to rebound from Broadway's 18-month closure. The post ‘Leopoldstadt’, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ top Tony Awards appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stench of death engulfs Sudan hospitals, but leaving is mortal danger
Ibrahim Mohamed turned in his hospital bed to find the patient next to him had died, but fighting that had erupted in Sudan's capital hours earlier meant the body could not be moved. Battles since 15 April between the forces of two rival generals have turned Khartoum into a war zone, shuttering hospitals and preventing health professionals from providing care. By the time Mohamed, a 25-year-old leukemia patient, was finally evacuated from the Khartoum Teaching Hospital on Tuesday, the body was still there. "Because of the intense fighting, the person could not be moved and buried," Mohamed's father, Mohamed Ibrahim, 62, told AFP. Attiya Abdullah, general secretary of the Sudanese doctors' union, said the same was happening in other hospitals. "Decomposing dead bodies are kept in wards" for lack of anywhere else to put them, he told AFP. With explosions, heavy gunfire and air strikes that have killed hundreds in the capital and in other parts of the country, "morgues are packed and the streets are littered with bodies," Abdullah said. According to him, urban warfare between forces loyal to Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the commander of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has triggered a "complete and total collapse of the healthcare system". As Ibrahim waited with his son in the hospital ward under ceaseless blasts, "the stench filled the room", the father said, made worse by power outages in the baking heat. "We could either stay in the pungent room, or go outside and be met with gunfire." At around 1:00 pm on Tuesday, after three days with no food, water or electricity, the father and son finally left, but not to safety. "The hospital was being shelled," Ibrahim recounted. According to the doctors' union, 13 hospitals nationwide have been shelled and 19 others evacuated since fighting began. At least eight people have died in attacks on health facilities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "The RSF and the army were fighting right outside the hospital," Ibrahim said, adding that some of those evacuating were hit by gunfire themselves. When the bombs start falling near hospital premises, doctors face a grim choice. "We find ourselves forced to let patients leave," Abdullah said. "If they stay, they would be killed." Ibrahim managed to shield his sick son from the crossfire, but "had to go on foot" through the streets, dashing from one safe point to another. It took them five hours to get home "safely, but my son's health has deteriorated since", the father said. With nearly three-quarters of hospitals shuttered and "operational hospitals only providing emergency services", according to Abdullah, there was nowhere else Mohamed could go. "I just want all of this to stop so I can take my son to be treated," his father said. According to Abdullah, even hospitals that have remained open, receiving mostly gunshot wounds, "are at risk of closure at any time". "They don't have enough surgical equipment, not enough fuel to run generators, not enough ambulances or blood." The WHO said 413 people had been killed and 3,551 wounded in the fighting across Sudan, but the actual death toll is thought to be far higher, with doctors and humanitarian staff unable to reach those in need. "Some hospitals have had the same team working" for eight days straight, Abdullah told AFP. "Some have only one surgeon. All are extremely exhausted." Medics have made daily appeals for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian access to move through, transport the wounded and bury the dead. But brief lulls in the fighting in Khartoum have repeatedly given way to the crackle of gunfire, cutting through the momentary silence, and no truce has taken hold. As civilians rallied on social media to find any sources of medication for chronically ill relatives, UNICEF has warned power cuts and fuel shortages were putting at risk the cold storage of more than $40 million worth of vaccines and insulin. On Friday, as a third ceasefire collapsed, the doctors' union shared advice on Facebook on how to handle, shroud and bury decomposing bodies. The post Stench of death engulfs Sudan hospitals, but leaving is mortal danger appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fact check: DOH did not recommend shutdown of resorts due to heat wave
The Department of Health did not recommend the closure of Boracay Island and other tourist destinations due to a supposed heat wave, contrary to posts circulating on Facebook......»»
Cebu City markets now open on Sundays
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City markets are now open on Sundays after more than a year of closure on this day of the week for the regular disinfection. Mayor Edgardo Labella signed Executive Order (EO) No. 128 on April 21, 2021, allowing all city-operated public markets to open even on a Sunday. This will […] The post Cebu City markets now open on Sundays appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
SC extends temporary closure of courts
The Supreme Court announced Wednesday the extension of the physical closure of courts in areas under the modified enhanced community (MECQ) until 30 April. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo issued the directive, saying the temporary closure was in line with the schedule earlier announced by Malacañang. The areas placed under MECQ until the said period include […] The post SC extends temporary closure of courts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
And “Roca” Zamora will reveal her heroism in the United States
After a strong closure of the year he entered the ring twice, Ibith La Roca Zamora He will return to the ring in April in.....»»
What’s in style? Safe shopping.
Rustan’s goes all out with safety measures, including the latest in disinfection and sanitation. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. Rustan’s utilizes Spanish technology Sanivir, which contains active ingredients proven to kill bacteria, molds, and coronavirus These extraordinary times have completely shifted the definition of so many ordinary words. Take, for example, “weekends.” What does a weekend even mean, when everyone is living their weekends day in, day out? People cooped up inside their homes, Netflix and chilling (or pacing, depending on current anxiety levels), wearing their Natori Fortuna Mandarin all day, as governments all over the world caution to shelter in place. Or “homecooked.” Everything’s veritably homecooked now—whether it’s cooked in your home, by you, or cooked in somebody else’s home, by an upstart baker you support because she’s your niece, or by your favorite chef, who is left with no choice but to create his oeuvres from his home kitchen. Or “luxury.” Let’s be honest. Luxury—its BC (before Covid) definition—contained overused keywords like glamour, opulence, indulgence, lavishness. But times, they’ve changed. Fancy things now seem so unnecessary, so excessive, so out of touch, so…pointless—in a world that has hastily pivoted back to the basics. Sipping tea from a Royal Albert 1980 Roseblush cup doesn’t seem as luxurious as being able to score some actual, hard-to-acquire Gold Yen Zhen tea from TWG, even if you have to gulp it from those ubiquitous bamboo cups. The pandemic has changed what luxury meant. Now, luxury is the feeling of being safely ensconced in our cocoons, safe from the virus, safe from the madding crowds. Safety is luxury. To be more accurate: Luxury is being safe, while experiencing as few inconveniences as possible. One Home, One HopeMarketers and entrepreneurs are now realizing, after putting in all necessary work to convince their clients to come back, that a sense of safety is beyond physical, it is psychological. It’s Plexiglass with perception, masks coupled with marketing. Brands, to successfully ride out these challenging times, need to do more than just tick off government checklists—they need to bank on their legacies, their ethos, their abiding sense of connection to loyal clientele. AT YOUR SERVICE. Rustan’s opened up a Sanivir desk to allow its customers to avail of its method In the travel industry, as it is in the retail industry, it’s about leveraging on your loyal clientele’s sense of home. “Home” is no longer just their place of residence, but their familiar zones. It’s about “feeling at home.” As people start to nervously and grudgingly go out, they will only want to stay and explore sacred spaces where they’ve “felt at home.” Luxury retailer Rustan’s understands this well. “Our goal for the past 70 years has always been to serve the community with great service and to provide a safe environment that feels like home,” Nedy Tantoco, chairman of Rustan Commercial Corporation, says. “In this new chapter, we are committed to the idea of ‘One Home, One Hope.’ As an establishment that has been a second home for many shoppers, we will stay dedicated in implementing thorough safety protocols to ensure that our employees and shoppers are protected and can visit us with ease of mind.” And this is why higher-end businesses like Rustan’s will flourish, despite the financial challenges Covid-19 brings. They have the space, and they obviously can very well afford to put stringent safety measures in place. Precise precautions are in their DNA. These are establishments that cater to the VVIPs, whose exacting standards they’ve always tried to meet. And it’s not just loyal clients who will seek out these private spaces—the occasional and habitual shopper will gravitate toward businesses that offer them this hushed environment. Going inside cramped little boutiques have lost their novelty, and many will shirk away from places that tend to be crowd favorites. At Rustan’s, shoppers have always counted on the intimacy of the shopping experience. Unobtrusive but alert sales personnel have always kept their distance as you scan the racks, and there’s always a sense of quiet order—a serene retail floor space, backed by an efficient team who anticipate your needs and who move with the fluidity of a well-directed orchestra. This efficiency will be in full display when you visit the store again—that is if you still haven’t since it reopened in June. Opened after three months of closure, the luxury retailer has implemented, in compliance with government regulations, security measures like foot baths, thermal scans, hand sanitation, and mandatory wearing of masks. You’ll also see staff repeatedly disinfecting touchpoints like escalator rails and elevator buttons, and alcohol dispensers are going to be ubiquitous. RETAIL WONDER. Sanivir is perfect for retail spac-es as smoke is dry and won’t stick to clothing Managers, sales associates, security personnel, and cleaners are all wearing masks, face shields, and goggles. But it’s the little touches that will remind you how they’ve set the bar high—sanitation boxes are placed in fitting rooms for clothes that are not purchased, fitting rooms are sanitized after every use, and store personnel are required to steam the clothes before putting them back on display. At the payment counter, all credit cards will be sanitized, and packages will be disinfected before being handed to the customer. At the store’s East Café, tables are separated with plastic shields, and so are the wash basins in the restrooms, which will each have a sanitary officer, whose only job is it to disinfect the toilet after every use. And that’s just the stage. Backstage, it’s just as—if not more—exacting. Introducing Sanivir, the latest in disinfection technology “Even in our employees’ canteens we have placed plastic shields to protect each of our employees while they are having their lunch break,” Nedy says. The company has required all returning employees to be tested for Covid-19. Rustan’s is also continually disinfected using Sanivir, a technology introduced in the Philippines by chemist Pinky Tobiano of KPP Powers Commodities, who is also CEO of Qualibet Testing Services. “Sanivir is a smoke disinfectant from Spain, which contains glutaraldehyde and orthopenyl phenol—two active ingredients have been tested that can kill bacteria, molds, and viruses that have been proven against coronavirus by laboratories in EU.” PINKY’S PROMISE. Pinky Pe Tobiano, the chemistwho brought the technology to the Philippines “It was great timing and serendipitous that we found the product right before the pandemic escalated to the level it is now,” Pinky tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Sanivir was both an innovative and unique product that addresses the problem we currently have—it is easy to use, cost-friendly, effective, and safe.” It is a perfect disinfectant for a retail space—it only utilizes smoke, is dry, and won’t stick to clothing. “When Pinky introduced to me her disinfection program, I immediately asked her to do my father’s house and my own house,” Nedy shares. “I was so satisfied with the service that I asked her if she could open a service desk at Rustan’s to allow our customers the chance to avail of this disinfecting method. It’s so easy. Any housewife can do it. It allows us the ease of disinfecting without a fuss. It also works for our cars. The service desk has been open for two weeks at Rustan’s Ayala Avenue. And I am happy to say that it has met full acceptance with quite a number of Rustan’s customers.” Its ease of use is an advantage. “Just open the can, remove the plastic cover of the wick, set on a flat surface, light the wick, and leave for the next six to eight hours. The smoking process lasts for only one to two minutes, then disinfection takes place for the next six to eight hours,” Pinky says. “That’s good for 14 days.” And the cost? Surprisingly very minimal. “One can of Sanivir of 25 grams is P1,750 and it’s good for 14 days for a room of 30 to 50 square meters,” Pinky says. “The cost per day is only a P125 investment. If you have five people in the room, the investment per person per day is only P25.” But for those who are not in the mood to shop in-store, Rustan’s online service has amped up its service. Apart from its website, fortuitously launched a year ago, you can also tap the Personal Shoppers on Call Service, where sales associates respond to you on Viber, after which you can have your items delivered to you, or picked up by the curbside. Nedy shares, “And very soon, we will launch our Rustan’s Concierge Service, where customers can call a single number, and will be immediately assigned a personal shopper to attend to their needs.” Now, many ways words and concepts are redefined in these troubled times—but having your own personal shopper, one who’ll do your shopping for you as you leisurely read the latest Kevin Kwan Sex and Vanity book in the comfort of your home? We’re guessing that that’s a definition of luxury that won’t likely ever change—unprecedented crisis or not. .....»»
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