God’s Grace Farm gives back to medical frontliners, to donate 1,000 boxes of organic produce
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu is blessed with bountiful organic produce from its hardworking farmers, who make sure to use sustainable farming practices and techniques. This is a big plus for many because fresh vegetables and fruits are readily available in the markets to be consumed putting them a step closer to gaining a healthy […] The post God’s Grace Farm gives back to medical frontliners, to donate 1,000 boxes of organic produce appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Fools in suits
When a ranking Department of Agriculture official was asked in a recent Congress hearing what steps the agency had taken to break the rice cartel, he replied that he did not believe that a “mafia” existed. Coming from a high DA official, the statement revealed that nothing was being done to stop the syndicate that everyone in the industry knows about since, to the authorities, it does not exist. In the reenacted Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and forming cartels for agricultural and fishery products are considered economic sabotage and are non-bailable offenses for which a long jail term could be meted out. The strengthened law, however, lacks strong teeth against government officials who are in cahoots or protect the syndicates. Contained in the proposed bill is a provision indicating that any government officer or employee found to be an accomplice in the commission of the crime will “suffer the additional penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, exercising the right to vote, from participating in any public election, and forfeiture of employment monetary and financial benefits.” The bill is pending in both houses of Congress. With the slow grind of justice in the country, a public official looking for a fast buck will not hesitate to risk his job in exchange for a huge payback. The recent series of events showed the markets are being manipulated by the big players in the sugar, vegetable and rice businesses. These syndicates are known to be deeply entrenched due to their connections with government bigwigs who facilitate their domination of the markets either through edicts or the use of public resources. In the most ridiculous situation, the recent spike in onion prices was found to be artificial since farmers were even throwing away their harvests because of low farmgate prices, thus there was no reason for prices to surge. Later, it was exposed in a congressional hearing that a cartel had succeeded in manipulating the onion market to create a condition that would require its importation, from which its members would make a killing. The warehouse and storage facilities are controlled by the mafia which makes it easy to create artificial conditions to which the market reacts by raising retail prices. The ultimate goal is to coax the government to allow importation from suppliers in overseas markets that are also flooded with the commodity, The cartel rakes in profits from both the high markup and the kickbacks from the overseas suppliers desperate to sell their surplus. The woeful victims are the Filipino farmers whom the cartel boxes out of the market. In extreme cases, these farmers just throw away their harvest since they cannot afford to transport their products without the middlemen who are also in the pocket of the cartel. The same goes for the rice industry, where the market was manipulated for a different reason, which was to kill the rice tariffication law that kicked the National Food Authority out of the import business. Rice prices then surged to as high as P56 a kilo, which pushed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose price ceilings. The NFA used to have a monopoly on importation, but that resulted in acrimonious confrontations at the apex of government. The tariffication law, in turn, opened importation to all grain traders and relegated the NFA to buying rice from local farmers. Under the new anti-smuggling bill which has the endorsement of Mr. Marcos, an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council headed by the President or his designated permanent representative will be formed. The proposed body will have the power to investigate and file charges, as well as freeze violators’ funds, properties, bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and records. The creation of the body looks good on paper but in the real world, it might just add another layer of bureaucracy and source of corruption unless the cartel, which DA officials claim does not exist, is dismantled. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has a simple solution for breaking the cartel, which is for the government to confiscate all the rice overstock and let the owners of the warehouses prove that their huge inventory is legitimate. Such a move would prompt the traders to release more rice into the market to avoid confiscation. The imposition of the price cap on rice indicated that the prices are artificial since the markets are now selling at lower than the manipulated prices despite conditions being constant. An expected bumper harvest is also prompting the prices to go back to normal, after the attempt of the cartel to create a price shock to support their effort to return to the old ways. To know the real situation, President Marcos goes out of his way to see what is on the ground. His underlings, particularly at the Department of Agriculture, should do better. The post Fools in suits appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights
There’s a big room in Oliver Gan’s office building in Quezon City dedicated to the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines. It has two office staff, golf sets, boxes, trophies, shirts and two large white boards filled up with schedules and marginal notes. That particular afternoon, Gan was charting the interschool championships which is JGFP’s major event of the year. He was going through the logistics of the competitions as well as the events JGFP is staging leading up the interschool. Hectic day in the office for the 40-year-old Gan. Except that his real office was in the adjacent room where he runs the family business. “Running our family business and running the JGFP is easy for me. As long as there are no parents complaining,” Gan said jokingly. “But that is impossible. Between the two, it seems like running the family business is easier.” Yet despite that, Gan has been hands-on in JGFP. And for good reasons. One of them is the fact that Gan is himself a national jungolf champion. The other is because he has two daughters, Nicole and Stephanie, who happen to be two of the most promising jungolfers in the country. Gan said he’s playing golf at least once a week. But his downtime is not entirely for golf. “I used to play baseball and volleyball back in high school but concentrated on golf when my teammates outgrew me,” Gan said. Lately, his evenings are spent on the basketball court. “I used to play in the Xavier Alumni Basketball League,” said Gan, who acts as the team “owner,” being both the manager and playing coach of their batch. He is also chairman for sports in the alumni association of Xavier School. On the national level, Gan is former program officer of the Philippine Sports Institute for the National Capital Region and adviser for golf at the Games and Amusements Board. Clearly, his heart belongs to golf. And it shows in his work at JGFP. “We parents invest so much time and effort in our kids’ golf. We now know that our efforts are not wasted,” Gan said. “Before, golf was very exclusive. Not everyone can play it. Especially the children. Now our efforts to give golf a wider talent pool is gaining traction. Everyone is taking notice and is starting to cooperate.” That’s why JGFP is working on “giving it back to the kids, especially the under-privileged,” supporting several scholars. Through Gan’s initiatives, JGFP has been gaining the support of the private sector which is crucial in every grassroots program. JGFP, too, has reached Mindanao where there are a lot of untapped talents. And just recently, it announced that former Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo as JGFP’s “godfather.” “I think we are doing well. People know junior golf is in good hands. Businessmen are supporting the foundation. We are staging tournaments left and right. Golf courses offer to hold our events. We are getting invitations and accreditations from all over the world,” Gan said. But what Gan is counting as his biggest moment was when JGFP managed to span to Visayas and Mindanao which will soon have their own inter-school meets. “All the regional winners, we will pit them against each other in a truly national inter-school championships,” Gan said. “And from there we get the players to represent the country in international meets.” Such ambitious plans for JGFP. But nothing far-fetched with Gan at the helm. The post TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Relishing sweetness of success
A 35-year-old fourth-generation farmer is continuing the legacy of his father in producing delis from bananas, which are now making waves in Europe. Raymund Vincent Aaron, the self-styled ‘Banana Chief’ and the heir of Villa Socorro Farm and its factory that produces sumptuous banana chips headquartered in Pagsanjan, Laguna province, said he inherited his passion for agriculture and farming from his father, incorporating a streak of his own. Right after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Management from Ateneo de Manila University in 2009, Raymund joined the budding family business. “I wanted to be an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. We used to grow bananas on our land in Pagsanjan, and so, after graduating, doing business using bananas seemed the perfect fit,” Raymund shared. An indirect start The idea of exporting came through his father’s work in marketing for a multinational company, which inspired him to engage in international business. Starting off in 2008 with an initial capitalization of P5 million, the company produced banana chips, with the first export in 2014 to the United States. The Health Safety Certification from the Food and Drug Administration, a requirement of the Philippine authorities, was obtained in 2012, which further added credibility to the business as an exporter. “We began exporting indirectly through a local company that expressed interest in distributing our products to buyers there.” Targeting Europe According to the Department of Trade and Industry, Aaron, who has been a regular at DTI’s business matching events, recently returned from one such event held in Dubai coinciding with Gulfood 2023. Regular participation in business networking events and seminars since 2015 has provided valuable knowledge and insights on export market access, including the European Union. Be it the DTI or the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions handling the International Food Exhibition Philippines which is the biggest international food trade show in the country, Aaron has always found participation in the trade fairs to be beneficial. “You never knew who you would meet. I always carried samples of my products along,” he said. At one such event arranged by the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau, Aaron established a connection with the Philippine diplomatic mission in Switzerland. Soon, samples from Villa Socorro reached a few Swiss companies with the help of this link. The products were a hit with one distribution company. By the end of 2019, a 20-foot container with 1,000 boxes that cost $14,000 has been shipped to Switzerland. “It was support from the EMB that helped us pursue direct exports to Europe. We made our first link through them.” Recognizing the support he received, Aaron is always willing to share his skills and knowledge with other entrepreneurs and to contribute to local DTI capacity-building initiatives. Why the EU? The EU appears to be a lucrative market for the company as Aaron gradually expands the product range by including sweet potato chips and corn snacks. About 80 percent of total current revenue comes from exports, while 20 percent comes from sales at hotels, restaurants, canteens, airports, kiosks, and selected supermarkets in the Philippines. Villa Socorro’s exports to Europe are at five percent, with buyers in Switzerland, Norway and EU member state the Netherlands. Aaron wants to increase business with Europe, specifically with EU member states, which he regards as the best destinations for healthy organic food products made from tropical fruits. “It is a market that is willing to pay a premium for natural products.” EU buyers’ requirements Aaron’s drive to grow specifically in the EU market is evident in his readiness to comply with the necessary requirements.The Registered Exporter System number to avail of the EU Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus scheme to export tariff-free to the EU was obtained on the recommendation of the buyers to strengthen the business. The REX is a self-certification system wherein the origin of goods is declared by economic operators themselves by means of so-called statements about the origin. To be entitled to make out a statement of origin, an economic operator must be registered in a database by the competent authorities. The economic operator then becomes a “registered exporter.” Product and packaging development were also adjusted. There is a shift to use a more natural Brown Muscovado Sugar to suit customer preferences in the EU. Aaron’s company also created a sub-brand, Farmony, to market its products in the EU. “Farmony creates harmony between farmers, manufacturers, and consumers. Our existing brand, Villa Socorro Farm Sabanana Banana Chips, really targets Filipinos or people looking for Filipino products. We created Farmony to have a product that can easily blend on the shelves of the EU market,” Aaron said. Social entrepreneur Being on a farm allowed Aaron to become a social entrepreneur. He understands well the needs of the farmer. To support banana farmers around his family plantation, he buys 98 percent of the fruit from the community that he fondly refers to as “partner farmers.” “We buy bananas from more than 200 farmers in a radius of 5km around our farm. We only plant two percent of the bananas that we use for banana chips,” he said. By processing 600,000 tons of bananas every year, Aaron provides the local farmers with a market for their produce. He considers himself lucky that things fell into place, enabling him to give back to the community that helped him get to where he is today. Gearing up for the future” I am still here. I look forward to expanding our business. Sticking with the snacks theme, we’re looking at making use of the abundant farm produce in our region and the rest of the Philippines to create fun and healthy snacks.” Aaron is determined to transform his business into a reliable food company by creating an entire line of banana products and drawing in loyal customers at home and abroad. The ARISE Plus Philippines project is enabling Philippine exporters to take advantage of EU market access and the trade privileges granted under the Generalized System of Preference (GSP+). It supports the overall EU-Philippines trade relationship and trade-related policies. ARISE Plus Philippines is a project of the Government of the Philippines, with the DTI as the lead partner, together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, the Department of Science and Technology, as well as the private sector. It is funded by the EU with the International Trade Centre as the technical agency for the project. The post Relishing sweetness of success appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DepEd kicks off enrollment
The Department of Education on Monday launched the enrollment for school year 2023-2024, expecting around 28.8 million students to be enrolled for the upcoming school year. However, DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa stressed that these figures are just based on assumption. To recall, a total of 28.4 million students enrolled in both public and private schools nationwide in the last school year. “This is an assumption, not a target, because our growth rate is around 1.7 percent per year, so that’s the additional enrollees we can get. So, if we look at that, at least our planning service is saying around 28.8 million learners are expected to be enrolled this year,” Poa said in a press briefing during the kick-off of this year’s Brigada Eskwela at Tarlac National High School in San Roque, Tarlac province on Monday. “So, we will see during the enrollment period if we could reach the 28.8 million enrollees,” he added. The DepEd scheduled the enrollment period for the upcoming school year from 7 to 26 August and Poa said that the Education department has recently issued an order reiterating and adopting last year’s enrollment guidelines. The DepEd has three modalities in enrolling school children — in-person, online and through drop boxes in barangay halls or schools. “We will just continue what we did last year,” Poa said. The DepEd earlier said that the opening of classes for the upcoming school year in all public schools nationwide will be on 29 August. Meantime, the Philippine National Police has expressed its readiness for the school opening on 29 August. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that all units were ordered to strengthen dialogues with school officials for security measures against crimes and acts of violence. She added the PNP has also released the operational guidelines of Oplan Back to School 2023 for the school year 2023-2024. “The operational guidelines have been sent to the line units and we have given directives to our line units that this early they should contact the schools that are close to them and within their respective jurisdiction to also get their suggestions and inputs to further improve our security measures at the opening of the class and of course for the whole duration of the school year,” Fajardo said. The post DepEd kicks off enrollment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confession of a skeptic cat parent
I used to be skeptical about owning a cat and didn’t see the appeal. I thought cats were distant and not affectionate based on stereotypes and my limited experience. Growing up, we didn’t have cats. I rarely saw one inside our house. Pet dogs are a different story. Having had several since my world began, I believed dogs were loyal and formed deep bonds with their owners, while cats appeared aloof and uninterested in forming connections. I didn’t want a pet that would only tolerate me without showing genuine affection. Am I to be blamed for having reservations about the cleanliness and upkeep involved in owning a cat? My mother and only brother were wheezers. The idea of handling cat fur, cleaning litter boxes, and the possibility of allergies brought uncertainty about having them as pets. I initially preferred a pet that required less maintenance, or at least I thought so. My viewpoint started to shift when a colleague in the government welcomed a cat into their home. Back in 2016, I observed a new aspect of having a feline companion that hadn’t crossed my mind previously. This cat displayed affection, playfulness, and sincere love towards its owner. I witnessed how the cat offered solace and companionship, particularly during challenging moments. One day in 2017, my daughter came home from school with an orange kitten – we guessed he was five months old. He was a “puspin” (short for pusang Pinoy or Pinoy cat) with a short coat that had lost its kitten fluff. The puspin had followed her from the condo gate like a child afraid of getting lost. Driven by my curiosity, I yielded to the temptation and chose to dedicate some time to interact with my daughter’s cat we named Sam. To my astonishment, I formed a strong connection with the feline in a short period. Sam’s tender purrs, lively behavior, and instances of cozying up disarmed the skeptic in me. It also dawned on me that cats could provide companionship and a distinct form of love that, although different from dogs, held an equally significant worth. American novelist Ernest Hemingway’s “One cat just leads to another” quote is spot on. More than five years after adopting Sam, we now share the house with nine other “puspins.” In time, I uncovered the cats’ diverse personalities. It is wrong to say that all cats exhibit independence and are reserved because they, too, are sociable and yearn for human interaction. It took more than five decades for me to realize that cats can forge profound connections with their owners, thereby transforming them into loyal companions. Together with my children, the responsibilities of litter box maintenance, grooming, and maintaining a cat-friendly home became part of our daily routine. We join other cat parents and feline enthusiasts across the globe on August 8 in celebrating one of man’s most common and ancient pets. International Cat Day, created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002, is an annual occasion that commemorates cats, advocates for their well-being, and promotes responsible pet ownership. In emphasizing the importance and worth of these remarkable companions in our lives, we discovered our other roles by respecting and communicating with the cat world. The post Confession of a skeptic cat parent appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty brand makes glamorous return to the Philippines
By Jia Bote and Pauline Joyce Pascual ARTDECO returns to the Philippines after its brief absence from the Philippine beauty market. The renowned German cosmetics brand is back in time for the mid-year restocking of makeup goodies. Each ARTDECO piece inspires makeup creativity providing everything you need in your kit, from lip products to eye products, and foundations in a wide range of shades. Since its founding in 1985, ARTDECO has become a well-known cosmetics and lifestyle brand in 78 different nations. The brand’s unique strategy is to enable cosmetics enthusiasts to express their creativity by providing adaptable and wearable goods that fulfill any Filipina’s beauty fantasies. The ability to customize products using the recognizable magnetic face palettes and beauty boxes is one of ARTDECO’s trademark features. These special items give shoppers the freedom and flexibility to create their own unique splendor looks, opening up a world of possibilities. To mark its comeback, ARTDECO recently held a one-of-a-kind launch party where visitors were encouraged to create and curate their own beauty looks under the direction of an expert. Celebrity makeup artist Denise Ochoa shared her expertise in elevating everyday looks. Guests also had the chance to sample ARTDECO cosmetics at designated makeup stations and document their glamorous transformations in the self-shoot studio or with a professional shot taken by Meetkeso. Guests also had fun curating their own ARTDECO beauty box. They handpicked their preferred shades of blush, eyeshadow and concealer. The post Beauty brand makes glamorous return to the Philippines appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
God’s Grace Farm gives back to medical frontliners, to donate 1,000 boxes of organic produce
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu is blessed with bountiful organic produce from its hardworking farmers, who make sure to use sustainable farming practices and techniques. This is a big plus for many because fresh vegetables and fruits are readily available in the markets to be consumed putting them a step closer to gaining a healthy […] The post God’s Grace Farm gives back to medical frontliners, to donate 1,000 boxes of organic produce appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
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. .....»»
Recto appeals for free rapid testing for LSIs
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday appealed for free RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests for locally-stranded individuals before they are sent home. (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) The LSIs, he said, should also be treated as VIPs, or “very important passengers” and have them avail of the COVID-19 swab tests before they are transported back to their home provinces. “These ‘VIPs’ are entitled to the same gold standard of testing, more so that they’ve been lodged in a place that will check all the boxes in the list of a possible outbreak spot,” said Recto. Recto was commenting on the thousands of LSIs crammed at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, brushing aside physical distancing protocols while they wait for their turn to be brought home under the government’s “Hatid Tulong” program. “If we have tested for free those who’ve been on strict quarantine because they’re going to listen to a speech, then all the more we should test exposed individuals who are going home to their loved ones,” he said, referring to the RT-PCR tests conducted for lawmakers and attendees of President Duterte’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). “May karapatan din sa peace of mind ang mga komunidad na naghihintay sa kanilang pagdating (Those who have been waiting for them in their communities also have the right to peace of mind),” he pointed out. Recto said the PCR tests will also help prevent the entry and spread of the novel coronavirus in local government units. “A swab test will ensure that the coronavirus will not be hitchhiking to family reunions. Those positive will be flagged from boarding. And spare understaffed and underfunded LGUs and local hospitals from handling a ‘pasa load’ from the national government,” he said. “Kung ngayon, bawal magtransport ng baboy dahil sa ASF at kailangan may certificate na ligtas ang mga ito, tao pa kaya?” he also noted. While saying that he was also “painfully aware” of the shortage on test kits, he lamented the plight of LSIs who have been stranded for months or have resorted to sleeping on streets. Recto said he will defer to the Interagency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases to study and consider the call. Under the Hatid Tulong program, the LSIs must undergo rapid test for COVID-19 and secure medical clearance and travel authority before being allowed to depart going to their provinces. Reports said at least 20 LSIs in the Rizal Stadium have tested positive for antibodies in the rapid tests......»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
Stocks eke out gains, back at 6,900
The stock market eked out gains to move back up to the 6,900 level as investors continued to hunt for bargains......»»
SPC grad No. 4 in MTLE
The San Pedro College (SPC) took to Facebook on March 27, 2024, congratulating Ai-Jay Vidal Cortez for placing fourth in the March 2024 Medical Technology Licensure Examination (MTLE)......»»
Cebu topnotcher shares secret to success: Strong support system of family, friends
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A good support system of family and friends is Elijah Cabase’s secret to his placing 5th in the March 2024 Medical Technologists Licensure Examinations (MTLE). This 23-year-old University of Cebu-Banilad alumnus said that he was not even expecting to pass because he described himself as a confessed procrastinator — or one.....»»
Why Jake Cuenca pursued anew ‘TOTGA’ Chie Filomeno
Jake Cuenca previously described Chie Filomeno in interviews as The One That Got Away, but now it seems she’s the one that got back. While he said he’s not putting any label yet on his relationship with the actress-dancer, the two have happily rekindled their aborted romance......»»
Cebu Pacific books P8 billion profit in 2023
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific found itself landing on solid ground in 2023, as it booked a profit of nearly P8 billion on the back of a resurgent demand for air travel......»»
Reflecting on Your Business Setbacks
Challenges are an inevitable part of any endeavor, especially a business one. From unforeseen economic shifts to internal operational hurdles, every business owner will inevitably face obstacles that test their resolve. As we live in a fast-paced world, we sometimes forget about looking back, and what better time to do it than the Holy Week? […].....»»
Tenorio aims to keep imparting basketball knowledge
At this point of his career, 39-year-old LA Tenorio said it is all about giving back......»»
Will Smith, Vanessa Hudgens back in Bad Boys 4, trailer drops
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back for another round as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett following the dropped trailer for a fourth "Bad Boys" movie, officially titled "Bad Boys: Ride or Die.".....»»
Cebu Daily Newscast: 6 Cebu graduates top medical technologists licensure exam 2024
Listen to Cebu Daily Newscast and get the latest stories in and around Cebu. Here’s what you need to know on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. 6 Cebu graduates top medical technologists licensure exam 2024 Six graduates from Cebu universities recently made it to the top 10 list of the Medical Technologists Licensure Examination for March.....»»
2 farm-to-market roads completed in Zamboanga del Norte
2 farm-to-market roads completed in Zamboanga del Norte.....»»