Makati City News May 2018

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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Monument of Ninoy Aquino

Makati’s 10-day celebration marks 348th founding anniversary

By Jel Santos

The top city official in Makati City is inviting the public to take part in the festivities during the celebration of the city’s 348th Foundation Day.

The 10-day revelry is dubbed “Makati Makisalo”, which will start on June 1.

According to Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, this year’s celebration intends to highlight the thrust of the city government to promote inclusive progress through increased community participation and stronger ties with development partners.

“We have chosen ‘Makati Makisalo’ for this year’s Araw ng Makati theme as it resonates with our vision of inclusivity leading towards equitable social progress and sustainable development,” she said.

“We want to emphasize how our unity and willingness to share responsibility for our city’s growth have carried us this far – from being dismissed as a ‘worthless swampland’ during the Spanish era into a highly progressive city which has blazed the trail in governance and public service,” Binay added.

On June 1, she will lead the installation of the ‘Makati Makisalo’ marker at the Ayala Triangle Gardens at 10 a.m. to officially launch the 348th Araw ng Makati celebration.

Mobile art jeepneys and trikes will also be on display for the launching of the new Mobile Art Hub Project of the city which aims to promote arts and crafts among young Makatizens.

Before the ceremony, the city government will host the traditional ‘almusalan’ for all City Hall employees to promote camaraderie among neighboring offices and departments at 8 a.m.

On Friday at 6 p.m., the city will host the traditional Vin d’Honneur for the business community and diplomatic corps at the Peninsula Manila.

This year, Binay said the city will give recognition to its valued development partners, which include selected organizations in the business, service and academic sectors, as well as private companies and enterprises.

On June 2, Saturday, a parade will showcase Miss Makati 2018 candidates, Caracol performers, delegations from the barangays, City Hall offices, and national government agencies, and a number of marching bands. The parade will start at 3 p.m from City Hall grounds and end in Makati Avenue, where participants will be welcomed with a Street Party which will start at 4:30 p.m.

Featuring various local bands (indie and mainstream) who will provide live entertainment to revelers, the street party will be open to the public until midnight. The performers will include Adinkra, Autotelic, Leanne & Naara, Al James, Ebe Dancel, The Ransom Collective, Gracenote, Moonstar 88, and Franco.

On June 3, a Family Day will be held starting at 8 a.m at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle, where families can have quality time through a circus-themed Sunday fun day.

Meantime, children can hop into Martina’s Arts and Crafts Corner by 10 a.m. to participate in slime- and puppet-making, face and pottery painting, and cupcake designing activities. The city’s Mobile Art Jeepney will also be presented and Martina Campos, the mayor’s daughter, will personally lead the Bath-bomb making session.

On June 4, an activity dubbed ‘Sayaw Galaw’ will be held at the Museo ng Makati, starting at 9 a.m. High school students from the city’s public schools will engage in a dance workshop to unearth and hone their natural talents.

A Pineapple Jam party will be held on June 5 at the Poblacion Park, starting at 6 p.m., where people from all walks of life can perform and share their artistry.

On June 6, an event called Movie under the Stars will be held at the Circuit Makati starting at 5 p.m., where viewers will be able to enjoy two exceptional films. Newly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials will also be present at the event to welcome moviegoers and inspire the crowd to join their cause as young leaders.

On June 7, a Mega Job Fair will be held at the Glorietta Activity Center, starting at 10 a.m., spearheaded by the Makati Public Employment Service Office in cooperation with Ayala Land and Ayala Malls.

Also on June 7, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., a Throwback Thursday event dubbed ‘Bring Your Own Apo!’ will be held at the Brgy. Bel-Air Covered Court where ‘senioritos’ and ‘senioritas’ will grace the dance floor with their grandchildren. The event aims to bridge the gap between senior citizens and millennials by providing them a venue to meet halfway and better appreciate and understand each other.

On June 8, a Night Market will be launched where vendors and local businesses will be able to sell their products at Plaza Cristo Rey, starting at 6 p.m. Budding artists will also be present at the venue for a series of acoustic performances.

On June 9, the Miss Makati Coronation Night will be held at Circuit Makati starting at 6 p.m. Sixteen ladies from different barangays will vie for the title, which carries with it the qualities representing women of Makati – smart, innovative, and exuding grace and substance.

The mayor will lead a Grand Salu-Salo on June 10 at Lawton Street starting at 5 p.m. The event will serve as a grand finale for all the activities of Makati Makisalo.

Boost to boxing champs

By Ed Andaya

WANTED: Financial assistance to retired world and national boxing champions.

The Games and Amusement Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Baham Mitra, sounded the call as it started to knock on the doors of top private individuals and corporations in the country to help in the efforts to uplift the conditions of past Filipino boxing champions.

“We believe there are a lot of private individuals and corporations capable of supporting sports, like the successful “Godfather” system implemented in the past,” said Mitra during his monthly meeting with officers of TOPS (Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports) at the GAB office in Makati recently.

“In boxing, we have former world and national champions who are in dire need of help. All of them have brought countless honors to the country during their prime,” added Mitra, a three-term Congressman and one-time Governor of Palawan.

“Unfortunately, some of them can barely make both ends meet after their boxing careers are over.”

Mitra made the observations right after GAB announced the release of P3,000 monthly financial assistance to former world champions Tacy Macalos, Eric Chavez and Joma Gamboa.

The three retired world boxing champions are part of the 20-man list receiving financial assistance from the Singwangcha Foundation upon the initiatives of GAB.

Macalos captured the IBF world light flyweight title kast Nov. 5, 1988; Chavez won the IBF world minimumweight belt last Sept. 21, 1989; and Gamboa took the WBA world minimumweight last Aug. 20, 2000.

“We are truly blessed that the Thailand-based Singwangcha Foundation, headed by Thai philanthropist Mr. Singwancha, took the efforts to help our former boxing champions thru this monhly financial assistance,” added Mitra.

GAB Boxing and other Contact Sports chief Dioscoro Bautista said 17 other retired boxing champions are qualified to receive the monthly financial assistance from the Singwangcha Foundation.

In a list given to People's Tonight by GAB Boxing and other Contact Sports Asst. Chuef Jackie Lou Cacho, the retired boxing champions are Bernabe Villacampo (title acquired: 1969), Rene Barrientos (1969), Erbito Salavarria (1970), Ben Villaflor (1972), Rolando Navarrete (1989), Frank Cendeno (1983), Bobby Berna (1983), Dodie Boy Penalosa (1983), Rolando Bohol (1988), Luisito Espinosa (1989), Rolando Pascua (1990), Manny Melchor (1992), Morris East (1992), Gerry Penalosa (1997), Eric Jamili (1997), Malcolm Tunacao (2000), and Florante Cibdes (2007).

Not included in the list are active or deceased Filipino world champions.

DOST arm helps boost PH researchers' capabilities

By Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)

MANILA -- Science researchers across the Philippines have to be supported through scholarships, acknowledgment, and knowledge-sharing, a top official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has said.

"We really need to capacitate researchers in the country because what's the use of having the finances but we don't have researchers?" Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST's Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) this week.

"This is why we (DOST) keep on strengthening the research programs in the regions," he continued, speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd National Summit on Social Determinants of Health organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in Makati City.

Montoya said the PCHRD encourages researchers by providing them with free scholarships so they could get masteral or Ph.D. degrees.

"We also provide awards for outstanding researchers and mentors every two years," he said.

The summit gathered the stakeholders in the health industry. Their inputs will be submitted to the Department of Health (DOH) to help the agency in creating its policies.

"NAST has organized this summit, and we hosted this because there's a lot of data in research," he said.

The summit focused on heath policies in attaining the government's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Montoya said the event also aimed to identify the role of every stakeholder, since the policies need to reach the ground level.

Meanwhile, Montoya mentioned that his agency continues to partner not just with other government agencies, such as the DOH and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), but also with the private sector.

Partnering with various sectors helps the council to better empower the scientists or researchers, Montoya said.

DBP launches program to finance energy efficiency projects

(DBP)

MAKATI CITY -- State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is stepping up its efforts to promote energy efficiency and conservation with a new program that will finance the energy efficiency projects of public and private institutions, a top official said.

DBP president and chief executive officer Cecilia C. Borromeo said the DBP Energy Efficiency Savings (E2SAVE) Financing Program is designed to assist public and private firms to enhance their productivity by adopting new technologies that will advance optimal power consumption in their energy-related projects.

“We realize that energy efficiency is not considered a core business in the public and private sectors and we want to actively contribute to change that notion,” Borromeo said. “The E2SAVE will address the need for an affordable and innovative financing scheme to help institutions lower their electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.

The E2SAVE was designed as the DBP’s response to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) efforts to minimize monthly consumption of electricity and petroleum products of government agencies nationwide.

The program is also in line with the government’s commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation, which sets the common energy goals of the ASEAN member-states such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Borromeo said eligible borrowers for the program include national government agencies, government-owned-and-controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, local government units, private companies and DOE-accredited energy service companies.

She said eligible projects include the replacement and installation of highly efficient mechanical and electrical equipment such as lighting, room air conditioning, motors, chillers, refrigeration units, pumps, and heating and ventilation equipment.

“The replacement and installation of industrial technologies such as broilers, kilns, and heat exchangers may also be funded under the program,” Borromeo said.

“Other eligible projects are industrial process improvement and system optimization, recovery and utilization of by-product gas, waste and water pressure, and preparation of energy audit or investment grade audit report for government entities,” she said.

EU holds children’s rights summit for children by children May 24 at Museo Pambata

(EU in the Philippines)

MAKATI CITY, May 24 -- Who knows the situation of the children and advocate for their basic rights better than the children themselves?

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage, a children's rights summit for children by children will be held today, 24 May, at the Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

“We at the European Union have always been fiercely dedicated to our duty as an institution to help uphold the rights of children everywhere,” shares European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen. “What we hope to accomplish with the children’s summit is that every child knows and understands what protections he or she is entitled to as a young member of society.”

The European Union Delegation to the Philippines remains committed to help protect children through this summit which bears the theme: "Una sa Lahat: Bata" (More than Anything: Children First), a first of its kind being launched by the EU Delegation in the Philippines.

"With this summit, the EU Delegation to the Philippines hopes to provide an avenue for children to be educated on their rights to help them shape the world as its future leaders".

The summit will gather more than 100 children from private and public schools as well as disadvantaged children including homeless children to raise their awareness and to empower them as advocates of their own rights. Two major resource persons in the summit trained by SOS Children's Village and Save the Children will speak on children's rights and their insights and experiences in their own communities. Facilitators will also be children and youth. Through theatre arts children will be taught about the basic principles of child rights.

Participants of the summit will receive a copy of the recently-published book “Karapat-Dapat,“ a collaboration between the CANVAS and INK. To help children learn about their rights, selected articles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child were rewritten in child-friendly language and colorfully brought to life by the country’s best children’s book illustrators. Save the Children will also distribute copies of books on rights and peace.

This initiative is organised in partnership with the Museo Pambata, non-government organisations including Save the Children and SOS Children's Village, the Embassies of Austria, Czech Republic, and Sweden, non-profit organization Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development (CANVAS) and Filipino children’s book illustrators' group Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK).

Under the UNCRC, children have the right to have their basic needs met: survival, protection, health care, food and water. They also have the right to equal opportunities to help them reach their full potential: education, play, sports, freedom to express opinions and involvement in decisions that affect them.

Guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the EU recognizes that children, described as any human being under 18 years of age, are important society members, who must be provided a healthy physical and emotional environment as they grow up. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries under domestic law and EU legislation.

For more information on the children’s rights summit and other activities, please follow the Facebook page of the European Union in the Philippines at https://www.facebook.com/EUDelegationToThePhilippines

Transport group to protest in front of oil firm in Makati on May 24

By REICELENE JOY IGNACIO, GLEE JALEA (The Manila Times)

TRANSPORT group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) will hold a protest rally on Thursday, May 24, to call for a “general oil price rollback.”

In a media advisory, Piston President George San Mateo said that jeepney drivers and operators would protest in front of the Shell Tower in Valero St., Makati at 10 a.m. “to condemn a succession of huge oil price hikes.”

“Later on, we may launch a strike against oil price hikes, jeepney phase out and TRAIN law,” San Mateo said, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, the first package of Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

Amid the rising global oil price, jeepney operators and drivers, as well as consumers, fear that this will worsen in the Philippines because of the impact of the tax reform law.

San Mateo said Piston was not eyeing a fare increase among public utility vehicles (PUVs), but was asking government to grant a P6 per liter fuel discount to PUV drivers and operators.

“A general oil price rollback should be imposed, not just for jeepneys, but also for tricycles and other means of public transport,” San Mateo told The Manila Timesin a phone interview.

“If the government can come up with a way to reduce the price of diesel to P36 per liter, we can definitely sustain the P8 minimum fare,” San Mateo said in mixed English and Filipino.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who heads the Committee on Energy, has urged government to prepare ahead in the event that crude prices would reach the $100 per barrel threshold in the global market.

“Filipinos are really starting to feel the negative effects of rapidly rising global oil prices. This should send a clear signal to our government that it is time to start preparing for contingencies in case we hit the $100 mark,” Gatchalian said.

Oil companies announced that starting on Tuesday, the price of diesel will increase by P1.15 per liter, gasoline by P1.60 per liter, and kerosene by P1 per liter.

Domestic prices for diesel alone have been averaging from P40.25 per liter to P46.33 per liter.

Jeepney operators filed a petition last week before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to raise minimum fare from P8 to P10 with additional P2 for every succeeding kilometer.

In addition, petitioners also requested for a P1 “rush hour rate” on trips from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Petitioners were represented by Vigor Mendoza of 1-Team, a fleet management company that developed the BEEP or bio ethanol-powered jeepneys.

“Piso lang naman. ‘Yung surge pricing nga ng transport network companies (TNCs) doble [ng minimum fare]‘di ba? Eh dito mga 10 percent lang ang idadagdag ,” he said in a television interview.

(It’s just P1. Even TNCs impose surge pricing twice the minimum fare. Only 10 percent will be added here.)

However, San Mateo claims that every peso counts for jeepney drivers.

“Every peso counts. We think it’s a selfish motive to consider that not just to counter the oil pricing but also as an incentive for complying with the jeepney modernization,” he said.

Piston has long been protesting against a jeepney phaseout as part of the government’s modernization program.

Under the program, PUVs aged 15 years and above are no longer allowed on the roads.

“On our end, we are comfortable with an P8-minimum fare. Fare increase is not the only solution to this. Public transport is also public utility, that’s why they should also consider the commuters,” San Mateo said.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada echoed this sentiment, reiterating that jeepneys have a 3.5 to 3.7 million ridership in the country.

“A hearing on the operators’ proposal of rush hour rate for modernized jeepneys will be scheduled on June 24 so that we can hear their side further,” Lizada said.

Makati’s big-time drug suspect falls in Lipa; P2-M ‘shabu,’ gun seized

By Martin A. Sadongdong

Lipa City, Batangas – Police arrested a man it described as one of three of the biggest drug traffickers in Makati City, following a search of his home in Lipa City, Batangas yielded P2 million worth of suspected “shabu” and several firearms yesterday morning.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, regional director (RD) of the Police Regional Office (PRO4-A), identified the arrested as Marcial Orbigoso, alias “Tan Tan,” of Purok 6, Barangay Pangao in Lipa.

Covered by a search warrant, the police search of Orbigoso’s house at 5 a.m. led to the discovery of about 300 grams of “shabu;” an unregistered caliber .45 pistol; a weighing scale; two rolls of aluminum foil; and a bundle of empty plastic sachets.

Eleazar said Orbigoso is allegedly one of the top three drug suppliers in southern Metro Manila, particularly in Barangay Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City; and was previously detained in the Makati City Jail from 2003 to 2009 for frustrated homicide, and in the Southern Police District (SPD) detention facility for drug-related cases.

“(He) admitted that after his release in 2015, he was utilized as an asset by some rogue police officers in their nefarious activities,” added Eleazar.

2 die in shootout

Meanwhile in Lian, Batangas, two suspected illegal drugs peddlers were killed after a shootout with police during a buy-bust operation that turned awry last Sunday night.

Suspects Paolo Macalindong Villapando of Lian, Batangas and Nelson Alab of Nasugbu town were taken to the Apacible Memorial District Hospital where they were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

They were in possession of 13 sachets of shabu, marked money and two 38-caliber pistols when the shootout with elements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), the Nasugbu Municipal Police Station (MPS), and the Lian MPS broke out at 10:45 p.m. in Barangay Matabungkay in Lian.

Mayor Abby orders distribution of student's free school supplies and uniforms starting today

(Makati City Government Official Website)

Makati Mayor Abby Binay has ordered the early distribution of free school supplies and uniforms to students in all public elementary and high schools in the city during Brigada Eskwela, which is being conducted starting today until May 26.

“We have scheduled the distribution of free school supplies and uniforms before the opening of classes in June. We want our students to be equipped with the things they need as early as their first day in school,” Mayor Abby said.

The mayor noted that Brigada Eskwela was an opportune time for the distribution since it brings together students and their parents, along with other volunteers from various sectors, to conduct clean-up and repair of school facilities in preparation for the opening of classes.

“I encourage students to participate in Brigada Eskwela this week. This way, they will be able to help get their classrooms ready, and at the same time receive their free uniforms and school supplies,” Mayor Abby said.

This year, the city has allocated almost P700 million for its Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education) which provides Makati public school students, from preschool to senior high, with free school supplies and ready-to-wear school uniforms.

Pupils in Kinder up to Grade 2 will each receive five fat pencils, five writing pads, and 10 writing notebooks.

Students in Grades 3 to 12 will each receive five regular pencils, five ballpens, five intermediate pads, and 10 composition notebooks. Students in Grades 7 to 12 will also receive one Mathematics notebook each.

Kinder, Grade 1, and Special Education learners will also receive school bags from the city.

For their ready-to-wear uniforms, students in Kinder up to Grade 12, and SPED learners will each be provided with two sets of polo and pants for boys, and two sets of blouse and skirt for girls. Each student will also get a pair of black leather shoes, two T-shirts and one jogging pants as PE uniform.

Students are also set to receive their student handbooks, rubber shoes, raincoats and boots, and dental and hygiene kits during the early part of the school year.

Based on last year’s enrolment, DepEd-Makati has projected some 90,042 enrolees in the city’s public schools for school year 2018-2019. These consist of around 49,958 in elementary and 40,084 in high school.

As of March 2018, data from DepEd-Makati show that the city had a total of 80,139 enrollees last school year, composed of 47,867 students in elementary and 32,272 students in high school.

Meanwhile, during the early school registration conducted last January 27 to February 28, some 13,969 public school students have been enrolled. These early school registrants consist of 2,974 incoming kinder 1 pupils, 4,572 incoming Grade 1 pupils, 5,803 incoming Grade 7 students, and 620 incoming Grade 11 students. Students from all other grade levels are automatically moved to the next grade level without need for enrollment.

This year’s Brigada Eskwela, themed “Pagkakaisa Para sa Handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan”, aims to bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort, and resources in helping schools become conducive to learning, in time for the opening of the school year.

MBT: Taguig Generals upset Makati Skyscrapers

By Rafael Bandayrel

The Taguig Generals booted the Makati Skyscrapers while handing them their first defeat of the season in the 16-and-under Metro Basketball Tournament of the 2018 Metro Manila Sports Fest.

The Generals demolished the previously undefeated Skyscrapers, 64-47, in an upset to claim the South Division title.

Taguig took control the game in the second quarter as they held Makati to just nine points. The Skyscrapers found their rhythm in the second half after outscoring Taguig, 16-10,to cut the deficit to single digits. But the Generals rallied in the fourth once more to secure the victory.

Swingman Angelo Torrijos led the charge for the Generals with 17 points. Taguig captain Uno del Mundo will also made a valuable contribution with his 11 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.

Skyscrapers star guard Paul Isidro is the only player that scored double-digits for Makati. Isidro listed 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Taguig, led by Hon. Mayor Lani Cayetano, will advance to the MBT finals to face off against the Quezon City Stars in a best-of-three series.

Makati eats: Tapenade's new menu features popular Mediterranean flavors

By Jeeves de Veyra

MANILA -- Take your tastebuds on a trip around the Mediterranean with the new menu of Restaurant Tapenade, the all-day F&B outlet of Discovery Primea in Makati.

The concept behind Tapenade has always been “comfort Mediterranean.”

”A lot of Filipinos find comfort in Mediterranean food -- Italian, Spanish and a little French,” the hotel's executive chef Luis Chikiamco noted.

The new flavors in the menu are based on what Filipinos want to eat, he said, adding that the new items are also meant for sharing. The entrees are meant to be placed on the center table and divvied up among the guests. If you are in a bigger group, you can order more dishes and experience more flavors.

The new entrees are Chikiamco’s delicious interpretations of Mediterranean favorites. Spanish tapas, and Italian risotto, pastas and pizzas are the highlights of the new menu.

The tapas and mezze, in particular, are best enjoyed with drinks, perfect to pair with the cocktails and premium gin happy hour at the Gilarmi Lounge a few steps away.

Here are some of the new dishes from Tapenade’s menu.

1. Trio of Tapas

Traditionally served in cazuelas (red clay bowls), tapas are small bites with flavors meant to open up the palate. Featured are Patatas Bravas (potato wedges with paprika mayo), Calamares a la Plancha (squid in Spanish sherry vinegar and extra virgin olive oil), and Gambas a la Brava (shrimp with garlic, brandy and Spanish paprika sauce).

2. Pulpo con Patatas

This dish features grilled octopus with potatoes with Spanish paprika sauce.

3. Almejas con Chorizo

Putting in chorizo with clams braised in white wine with herbs added a meaty, salty side to this dish.

4. Rice Festival Risotto

If you’re looking for something heavy, go for the flavor-packed Arroz con Pato (Portugese duck rice with chorizo, olives and duck chicharon). For something lighter, try the Risotto with Roasted Tomato and Fresh Herbs.

5. Papardelle Bolognese

Kids will love this. You really can’t go wrong with cheese, tomato, ground beef and freshly made pasta.

6. Linguini al Nero

This isn’t your everyday seafood pasta. Tapenade makes its own squid ink linguini and tops it with garlic baby shrimp, Chilean mussels, snapper, clams, cherry tomatoes, and basil.

7. Stone Baked Pizza

Tapenade’s stone-baked pizzas are a favorite. New to the menu are the Balsamic and Goat Cheese Pizza; and the Pizza a la Chef Beam, an upscale version of the Hawaiian pizza with grilled pineapple, jalapenos and prosciutto. 8. Lamb Chops Scottadita

”Scotta ditta” is Italian for "burned fingers" and that’s what you might get when you take a taste of this lamb with rosemary, honey and mint, which make for a meaty Mediterranean meal. Best eaten hot and with your hands.

9. Poricini Crusted Ribeye

A favorite from the past menu is the Porcini Crusted Ribeye. With the porcini’s umami seared into the ribeye’s crust plus a bite of shaved parmesan and arugula, this is a fantastic steak course.

10. Mascarpone Custard Pie

A new dessert is the Mascarpone Custard Pie paired with a slice of caramelized orange and ice cream and berry dots. Have some of the dots with the pie and ice cream for a refreshing bite.

11. Turkish Baklava

I definitely recommend getting Tapenade’s Turkish baklava. This is definitely not the usual powdered sugar bomb passed off as baklava but the real thing with pistachios, walnuts, and almonds topped with phyllo pastry on a bed of cherry syrup.

Makati’s summer jobs program benefits 7,000 students

By Ghio Ong (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines — Some 7,091 students are currently deployed in the Makati City government as part of its employment program for students during the summer break.

About 4,638 students were admitted to the Government Internship Program (GIP), while 2381 others work under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), according to the city’s Public Employment Service Office.

Makati partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment for the SPES and with the National Youth Commission for the GIP. Doing mostly clerical work, SPES beneficiaries are at work from April 16 to May 29, while GIP beneficiaries render service from April 23 to May 29.

Those working under SPES will earn P15,360 while P9,600 goes to GIP beneficiaries, according to the city government, which gives 60 percent of the salary with the rest from the Department of Labor and Employment. GIP beneficiaries would receive 75 percent of minimum wage.

Mayor Abby reaffirms city govt's strong support for police, fire departments

(Makati City Government Official Website)

Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Wednesday reiterated the city government’s strong support for the city police and fire departments to maintain peace and order and promote disaster readiness, resilience and sustainability in the country’s financial center.

Addressing members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the mayor said her administration remains firmly committed to strengthening the city’s protective sector in the face of growing challenges posed by climate change and rapid urbanization.

“Let me assure you of our commitment to transform Makati into a real ‘smart city’, a city that is not only in step with the digital age, but is fully equipped to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all its constituents and stakeholders to grow and prosper,” Mayor Abby said.

The mayor said the city recently turned over modern emergency response vehicles and equipment to the Makati police and fire departments, to enhance their capability to fight crime as well as respond to disasters.

Makati was recently named among the top ten “safest and most peaceful cities in Southeast Asia” by Numbeo, a global crowd-sourced database which provides current information on global living conditions, including cost of living, health care, traffic, crime and pollution.

In a report released by Numbeo, Makati ranked fifth among the region’s top ten safest cities, with 39.56 percent crime rate and 60.44 percent safety rate.

The PCCI invited the mayor to its special joint general membership meeting held last May 16 at the Manila Hotel, where Makati and four other Philippine cities that made it to the list were feted.

Through a plaque of recognition presented to the mayor, the PCCI praised the city government for “exemplifying commendable initiatives towards good governance reforms that promote trade and investments, and significantly contribute to local economic development.”

“We are glad that our continuing efforts to promote safe and sustainable communities are appreciated, especially by the PCCI whose members include Makati’s corporate citizens and industry leaders,” Mayor Abby said in her brief message at the luncheon.

She acknowledged the vital role of the business community as the city’s “steadfast partners for progress and development.”

Last March, Mayor Abby led the turnover of new disaster response vehicles and equipment to the two national agencies.

The police received one Mobile Command vehicle and two rescue boats, while the fire bureau received one Mobile Command vehicle, a chemical fire truck, two rescue boats with one fire pump, 10 sets of mobile fire suppression equipment (motorcycles, protective helmets, portable foam compressors), and two extra foam compressors.

The mayor said the continuing upgrade of the local police and fire agencies “aims to ensure that their systems and operations conform to international standards as befits the country’s financial center.”

Aside from equipment turned over to the said agencies, other state-of-the-art equipment recently acquired by the city government include an aerial fire ladder which can extend up to 56 meters and reach the 18th floor of a high-rise building, a super tanker, an advanced emergency communication vehicle, two mobile command vehicles, chemical fire trucks, rescue boats, rescue trucks, and mobile kitchens.

According to news reports, Numbeo based its report on a survey conducted on netizens who visited its website, www.numbeo.com. They further quoted Numbeo stating that “crime index is an estimation of the overall crime in a given city or country, while safety index is the opposite of crime index. If the city has a high safety index, it is considered very safe.”

Makati opens 31 payment centers for Makatizen cardholders

By Jerome Carlo Paunan (JCP/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- The city government of Makati opened 31 payment centers for the Makatizen cardholders.

Called @urSerBis Bayad Centers, these are located in 28 barangay halls, at the Ospital ng Makati, University of Makati, and Makati City Hall. Makatizen cardholders can pay their bills for utilities and other fees and do other transactions, including prepaid loading and e-money loading for their GCash accounts.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said that with the establishment of the payment centers, transactions involving Makatizen cardholders will be more convenient.

“With these facilities now within their reach, cardholders can already experience the benefits of the ongoing digital transformation of the city,” Mayor Abby said.

Bills payment accepted under the Makatizen Card Program include Globe, Meralco, Manila Water, Maynilad, University of Makati, Bayan Telecommunications, Bank of the Philippine Islands, PLDT, SMART, Equicom, and Manulife.

Also included are Cocolife, Sun Life Financial, Fortune Care, Manila Memorial Park, Eternal Plans, Inc., Innove, Sky, Magnificat, UNICEF, Asian Vision Cable Holdings, and Home Credit.Mayor Abby pointed out that for every one peso paid through the Makatizen Card, the cardholder will earn one Makatizen Loyalty Point, which can be used to get special products and services from the Makatizen Rewards Program.

Makatizen Loyalty Points can also be converted to GCash and can be added to the Makatizen Card mobile wallet. The loyalty points can be checked in the @urSerBis bayad centers.

The @urSerBis bayad centers are now available in Barangays Dasmariñas, East Rembo, Forbes Park, Guadalupe Nuevo, Guadalupe Viejo, Kasilawan, La Paz, Magallanes, Olympia, Palanan, Pembo, Pinagkaisahan, Pio del Pilar, Pitogo and Poblacion.

Others can also be found in Barangays Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Rizal, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Lorenzo, Singkamas, South Cembo, Sta. Cruz, Tejeros, Urdaneta, Valenzuela, and West Rembo.

The rest of the @urSerBis bayad centers are in place at Makati City Hall, Ospital ng Makati and University of Makati.

To date, around 10,000 Makatizen Cards have been released to residents and have been activated. Data capture has been done on 120,000 residents and 25,000 have been validated and cleared for card printing.

Meanwhile, Cash-IN via Globe Partner Outlets and withdrawals using the Makatizen Card at LandBank ATMs are free of charge. For withdrawals at other local banks and overseas banks using the card, local bank standard rate and international bank standard rate will apply, respectively. For Cash-OUT via Globe partner outlets, two percent of the amount will be charged to the cardholder.

For payment transactions, the cardholder should make sure that there is enough wallet credits in the Makatizen Card, and must take note of the exact amount to be paid. At the @urSerBis bayad center, hand over the Makatizen Card to the merchant for processing, wait for the text confirmation from the GCash system, and reply with MPIN for confirmation.

The Makatizen Card functions as a valid government-issued ID card valid for five years.

Since the card is linked to their GCash mobile wallet account, residents can receive cash allowances, stipends, and other cash benefits from the city.

Meanwhile, city government employees can receive their salaries and other financial benefits through it.

MMDA starts cleanup ops after village polls

By Aerol John Pateña (PNA)

MANILA -- Personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected more than 15 cubic meters of trash as the agency started its cleanup operations Tuesday following Monday's Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections.

The MMDA has deployed at least 100 street sweepers and members of its clearing group in selected areas in the cities of Parañaque, Taguig and Makati City to assist the local government units (LGUs) on their respective cleanup activities.

The agency’s operations seek to remove campaign materials littered along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

“Aside from major thoroughfares, we have deployed personnel upon the request of local Comelec (Commission on Elections) offices to clear campaign materials in some LGUs” MMDA Parkway Clearing Group head Francis Martinez said in a statement.

The MMDA has collected various election paraphernalia such as papers, plastic and tarpaulins scattered on the streets, polling precincts, schools and public places.

“So far, we have collected 15.81 cubic meters of garbage left during the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections,” Martinez said.

The MMDA expects to finish its cleanup activities within this week.

Uniqlo to open global flagship store in Makati

(VDS, GMA News)

Japanese global apparel retailer Uniqlo on Monday unveiled plans to put up a global flagship store in the Philippines, said to be the largest in Southeast Asia.

In an emailed statement on Monday, Uniqlo said it plans to put up the store—its 15th global flagship store worldwide—in Glorietta 5 along Ayala Avenue in the financial district of Makati.

It will add to flagship stores in locations such as New York’s Fifth Avenue, London’s Oxford Street, Paris’ Opera District, Ginza in Tokyo, and Orchard Road in Singapore.

The store will have a sales floor area of 4,100 square meters featuring the full lineup of LifeWear for men, women, kids, and babies.

“We are honored and excited to open our first Uniqlo Global Flagship Store in the Philippines,” Satoshi Hatase, Uniqlo chief executive officer, said.

“Having been a member of the local retail scene since 2012, we remain committed to contributing to the local community and to being an integral part of Manila’s growth and future,” Hatase noted.

Lush greens in the concrete jungle

By Din M. Villafuerte (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The sweltering heat makes us want to stay indoors all day long with the electric fan or air conditioner in full blast. But don’t let the hot weather discourage you from having fun outdoors and getting some healthy dose of sun.

Aside from the popular parks like Luneta and Fort Santiago, there are quite a number of parks and pocket gardens where one can freely relax in the shade of trees, enjoy the lush greenery and take in the cool breeze, all while doing some catching up with the family.

Turn the tables around on mom this weekend. Get that picnic basket, fill it with all of her favorite goodies and take her on a date at the park.

Ayala Triangle Gardens

Located right in the heart of Makati’s central business district, Ayala Triangle Gardens has been a popular stop for those looking for a breather from the fast-paced urban life. It has also become a favorite among families who love bringing their furbabies along because pets are much welcome at the park. See to it, however, that you will clean up after your dog, or cat.

The landscaped expanse abounds with trees and the park’s over 20,000 sqm area is enough for those who want to engage in ball games, do some yoga or simply run around with their dogs and kids. There are also restaurants and cafés right at the park.

Where to find it: Paseo de Roxas cor. Makati Ave. cor. Ayala Ave., Makati

Operating hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Jaime Velasquez Park

Also known as Salcedo Park, this refreshing pocket of greenery has become popular thanks to the Salcedo Market which happens every Saturday, and Art in Park, which is meanwhile held yearly. The 1.7-ha park has a children’s playground and stone benches. Pets are not allowed at the park.

Where to find it: Velasquez St. between Tordesillas and L.P. Leviste Streets, Makati

Operating hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Washington Sycip Park and Legazpi Active Park

Another oasis in the midst of Makati’s skyscrapers, the Washington Sycip Park features pavilions and gazebos where one can relax and unwind especially after a long week—or day—at work. Cross the street and you’ll find yourself at the newly upgraded Legazpi Active Park, which is spacious and has bike and running tracks. Pets are not allowed in both parks.

Where to find it: Legazpi St. corner Rada St., Makati

Operating hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bonifacio High Street

The open-air retail space in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig features expanses of green—a welcome change for many mall-goers. Bonifacio High Street (BHS) in particular is pet-friendly and has enough space for you to have a picnic, chill with your dog or cat (this writer even spotted a civet once!), or simply let your kids run and tumble on the grass.

There are also two running tracks—Track 30th and Terra 28th—for joggers and fitness buffs.

Being a mixed-use development, there are a lot of restaurants and food establishments to choose from. As with other parks, make sure that you clean up after yourselves, especially those with pets.

Paco Park

A favorite and popular venue for weddings and receptions, Paco Park was once Manila’s municipal cemetery. The hustle and bustle of Manila seems to fade once you step into the park’s tranquil and serene atmosphere. The circular park is teeming with history as this was where Jose Rizal was initially buried. National artist Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. was involved in the design of the park.

Where to find it: Gen. Luna cor. Padre Faura cor. Romualdez cor. Belen Streets, Manila

Operating hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PLDT vows to sustain profitability after strong Q1 performance

By Aerol John Pateña (PNA)

MANILA -- Local telecommunications giant PLDT Inc. has vowed to exert all efforts to sustain its profitability after it posted a significant increase in income during the year's first quarter, spurred forward by the growth of its wireless businesses.

This, as the telco’s net income has reached PHP7 billion for the first three months of 2018, which increased by 41 percent year on year from PHP5 billion for the same period last year.

Its consolidated core income for the first quarter of this year amounted to PHP6.1 billion, which was up by 14 percent to PHP 5.3 billion last year. “It is our overarching goal to restore PLDT in the position as one of the most profitable companies in the Philippines and we will not stop until we get there,” PLDT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a press conference held in Makati City Thursday.

The wireless individual business of its subsidiaries Smart, TNT and Sun posted PHP14.8 billion for the first quarter of 2018.

On the other hand, PLDT Home’s revenues grew by 14 percent year on year to PHP8.9 billion from PHP7.8 billion due to robust subscriber demand for home broadband services. The Enterprise Group posted revenues of PHP9.2 billion, which was up 7 percent from PHP8.6 billion.

The growth in these segments has resulted in its consolidated revenues for the first quarter of 2018, amounting to PHP36.7 billion or 3 percent higher than the PHP35.6 billion for the same period last year.

PLDT has allocated PHP58 billion for this year, which will be utilized for the rollout of its fixed and mobile networks.

Makati launches Baby Makatizen Program

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

THE Makati City government on Thursday launched the Baby Makatizen Program, which aims to promote the welfare of both mother and child through timely birth registration and proper prenatal care, at the Session Hall of Makati City Hall Building I.

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay led the distribution of Baby Makatizen starter bags to 100 mothers who were chosen to participate in the launch for having registered their babies within 30 days after giving birth between January to March this year. Each bag contains a set of Onesies, one toy rattle, one pack of baby wipes and 30 pieces of disposable baby diapers.

Binay said the two-pronged strategy in program implementation seeks to increase public awareness on the importance of registering newborns, and to encourage expecting mothers to undergo proper prenatal care for their well-being, as well as to ensure safe delivery and a healthy baby.

“Prompt birth registration upholds a child’s basic rights to a name and to acquire a nationality. We also want to emphasize how vital it is for a child to gain access to all basic services and programs of the government that are essential to their optimum development, including health and education,” she added.

“Through the Baby Makatizen Program, we also aim to persuade pregnant women to avail themselves of quality prenatal care which is available for free at our barangay health centers under the supervision of the Makati health department,” she said.

The mayor added the city has allocated 10,300 Baby Makatizen bags for distribution to qualified beneficiaries this year. After the launch, the city health department will oversee program implementation through the city-run barangay health centers, Ospital ng Makati, and partner-private hospitals and clinics in the city.

Barangay health centers in the city provide pregnant women with free prenatal and postnatal check-ups, as well as vitamin supplements during pregnancy and after delivery. Infants are given free vaccines for common childhood diseases, as well as other special vaccines.

During the launch, participants listened to a short talk on the importance of timely birth registration, including the perils faced by unregistered children, which was given by Paciano Dizon, officer in charge-regional director of the Philippine Statistics Authority-National Capital Region.

Earlier, the city government announced its search for the first 100 recipients of the Baby Makatizen starter bags on social media and invited mothers to sign up for the event through the City Civil Registration Office (CCRO), which was tasked to validate the timely birth registration of their babies.

Based on CCRO records for the first quarter of 2018, Makati has a total of 2,020 birth registrations, which consist of 1,529 on-time registration and 491 delayed registration. Among the delayed registrants are 288 toddlers (0 to 5 years old), 64 children (6 to 17 years old), 65 young adults (18 to 39 years old), 38 adults (40 to 59 years old), and 36 senior citizens (60 years old and older).

In 2017 the city recorded a total of 7,859 birth registrations, of which 6,441 were timely while 1,418 were delayed. For 2016 the city had a total of 7,865 birth registrations consisting of 6,600 timely registrants and 1,265 delayed registrants.

Meanwhile, the Expanded Immunization Program of Makati under MHD covers several common childhood diseases, namely measles, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) for newborns and babies up to 48 months. Upon birth, the BCG (Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin) vaccine, which prevents tuberculosis among newborns up to 12 months, and the hepa-B vaccine are administered for free in the city-run lying-in centers.

EU honors F. Sionil Jose for boosting EU-PH cultural ties

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora (PNA)

MANILA-- Francisco Sionil Jose, the country's National Artist for Literature, was conferred an award of distinction for strengthening the cultural links between the European Union (EU) and the Philippines.

At the EU Reception Day in Makati on Wednesday, Ambassador Franz Jessen, who handed the award, said Sionil Jose's acclaimed writings brought closer the people of Europe and the Philippines.

Sionil Jose, one of the living literary treasures of the Philippines, thanked Jessen for the recognition.

"I am not going to be coy about it. I'm 93 years old and after all these many years of hardwork, I know I deserve this award. It's not only I who deserves it, however. There are others in my generation who do– Nick Joaquin and Salvador Lopez and beyond them – the Spanish writer of the early 1900s, Rafael Palma, to Marcelo del Pilar and most of all Jose Rizal," he said.

"I also add to this distinguished list our vernacular writers who, like most of us, were rooted in the profound humanist tradition of the West."

During his speech, Sionil Jose left a strong message before the audience, composed of both locals and more than 50 other nationals.

He started with recounting the Japan Meiji Restoration in 1869, which saw Yukichi Fukuzawa, one of the movement's leaders, advance the program of Datsu-A, commonly translated as "Leaving Asia."

Sionil Jose said this essentially proposed that for Japan to modernize, it must reject Asia, because it meant "backwardness."

Though, the renowned author clarified that he does not suggest for such rejection of Asia, or of "us being Filipinos." He said that the essence of Asian tradition is harmony and respect for hierarchy, whereas Western tradition enshrines revolution and freedom.

"I propose instead that we look deeply into our Western heritage, and perceive the strengths that have made Europe endure. Therein lies the answer to the many problems we face today and why this award should have more meaning, not only for me but to all my countrymen."

"Beyong the strong nation state that we are to build are the great possibilities that harmony with our neighbors brings-- the same harmony that the European Union has achieved and nurtures."

Most of Sionil Jose's novels have been translated into European languages.

After receiving the distinction, Sionil Jose said that his first brush with Europe was not with a country on the continent, but with a fellow Filipino, who became his major inspiration as a writer-- Jose Rizal, who, he described "was Hispanized and Europeanized, and reached intellectual maturity in Germany."

Sionil Jose, who is also a publisher and lecturer on cultural issues, was bestowed the Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Honors for the Arts in 1999; the Outstanding Fulbrighters Award for Literature in 1988; and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1980.

His latest award given by the EU marks the celebration of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage.

SSS Makati-Gil Puyat branch reopens

(PR)

MANILA -- The Social Security System (SSS) announced that its Makati-Gil Puyat branch has reopened and is once again ready to serve members effective Tuesday (May 8).

In a press statement, SSS president and CEO Emmanuel Dooc said that the branch, located at the ground floor of the Employees Compensation Commission Building in Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, had undergone renovation in line with the SSS management's commitment to enhance the quality of its service.

The Makati-Gil Puyat branch was referred to as a "mega branch office" because it offers practically all services extended by the SSS -- issuance of SS numbers, employer ID numbers, certificates of registration and even the payment of contributions/loans.

Dooc said the Gil Puyat branch, which has been in nearly continuous operation for the past 33 years, services the needs of more than 100,000 members, including over 8,000 employers in the Central Business District and surrounding areas. "We want to give our growing membership base better facilities in order to make their transactions with the SSS more comfortable," Dooc said in Filipino.

He added that aside from the renovation, they also increased the number of tellering machines in order to expedite payments by members. Before its renovation began last March, an average of 17,000 transactions took place at the SSS Makati-Gil Puyat branch on a daily basis.

Lingkod Bayan caravans served 10,000 Makati residents in Q1

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

MORE residents have been able to avail themselves of free health and social services through the Lingkod Bayan Caravan, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay said.

Binay added there was a significant increase in the turnout of clients after she ordered longer service hours for each activity held on Saturdays in designated barangays in the first quarter of the year. She had previously ordered the caravan to be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (five hours).

“We have extended the service hours of the caravan from the previous three hours to accommodate more residents, especially for free medical services, which has remained a consistent ‘bestseller’ in every caravan,” Binay said.

From January to March, the Lingkod Bayan Caravan, Binay’s brainchild, was able to visit six barangays where a total of 10,739 Makati residents participated. Compared with around 30,000 clients served for the entire 2017, the recent turnout markedly improved, she noted.

The lady mayor also initiated longer hours for Ugnayan sa Barangay dialog, now being held from 3 to 6 p.m. instead of the previous 4 to 6 p.m. The open forum is attended by the Mayor, Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Rep. Luis N. Campos of the Second District of Makati, and various department heads and key city officials, who provide instant feedback to questions or concerns of residents.

“We have added a portion where department heads can present recent accomplishments and explain current or future projects for the benefit of Makatizens. We want to bring them up to speed on the latest developments in the city, aside from promptly addressing their concerns,” the mayor said.

Barangays visited by the twin events since January included Palanan, San Antonio and La Paz in District 1; and East Rembo, West Rembo and Rizal in District 2.

From January to March, 4,803 residents underwent nutritional assessment and medical consultation services; 409 had x-ray examinations; 361, ECG testing; 2,407, vital signs and blood pressure testing; 674, blood typing; 488 blood-sugar testing; and 4,387, height and weight measurement.

Dental services were offered to 773 clients, with 502 having tooth extraction and 271 fitted for free dentures. A total of 1,368 Makatizens also underwent free eye consultation.

Meanwhile, under the sponsorship of the vice mayor, 1,677 city residents received free reading glasses. Eyeglasses, hearing aids and wheelchairs are provided to Makatizens upon request.

Some 870 individuals got free massage services, while 889 got free haircuts. Veterinary services were also provided to household pets, with a total of 946 dogs and 85 cats vaccinated against rabies during caravans held in the first quarter.

Makati mayor to parents: Don’t take vaccination program for granted

By Jimmyley E. Guzman (JEG/PIA-NCR with reports from Makati PIO)

MAKATI CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- Makati City Mayor Abby Binay appeals to parents not to take vaccination program for granted.

“As a mother, I would like to appeal to parents not to take vaccination programs for granted. Vaccines are given to our babies and children for free to prevent them from becoming sick with measles and other serious conditions. It is our obligation as parents to make sure that our children grow up healthy,” Binay said.

The mayor issued the appeal as Makati recently began its intensified vaccination program against measles. The city is echoing the national campaign led by the Department of Health (DOH), following the recent spike in measles cases in Metro Manila and Mindanao.

In line with the National Ligtas Tigdas Supplemental Immunization Activity, personnel from the Makati Health Department (MHD) started conducting simultaneous house-to-house measles vaccination campaigns in all barangays. The program will run daily until May 24, 2018 and will be targeting a total of 12,358 children.

Binay said vaccines will be given to children from six to 59 months old. Children who received the initial measles vaccine will be given booster shots to improve their immunity against the measles virus.

Measles vaccines are traditionally given to infants between nine and 12 months old. It is part of the MMR vaccine combo for measles, mumps, and rubella. These are administered free of charge at the city’s barangay health centers.

The local chief executive also stressed that the low incidence of measles cases in the city is a result of the MHD’s effective vaccination programs and information campaigns. She said that while there may be cases of measles in the city, they were few and treated immediately. She reiterated that in the case of measles and other illnesses with vaccines, prevention is always better than cure.

At the national level, measles cases reportedly spiked 3,671 percent this year. DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said there were 5,450 reported cases of measles from January to April. This is in stark contrast to only 24 confirmed cases in 2017. What is even more alarming is that 86 percent of the children who died were not vaccinated for measles.

Duque also reminded parents that the measles vaccine is safe and that the government has been giving this to children since the 1970s.

The health chief admitted the aversion to all vaccines have been triggered by the recent Dengvaxia scandal. However, Duque was quick to assure parents that the measles vaccine has been tested and proven effective for decades.

Measles is a highly-infectious and fatal illness caused by a virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) some 2.6 million unvaccinated individuals die from measles complications every year.

In children, the most common complication and cause of death is pneumonia. Adults with compromised immune systems are also susceptible to the virus.

Mayor Abby expands Makatizen card distribution to District 1 residents

(PRESS RELEASE)

Makati Mayor Abby Binay today led the ceremonial launch of the Makatizen Card distribution to residents of the city's first district barangays at the Gen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School-Main, following initial rollouts done in the second district for the past two months.

Some 1,500 registrants of Barangay Pio del Pilar were issued their Makatizen Cards at the launch, where they were able to immediately try them in purchasing goods from partner merchants.

The mayor said the event symbolized the growing communal effort driving the momentum of the city's digital transformation.

“This ceremonial launch for District 1 signifies our strong unity as a community which has steadily propelled us closer to our shared vision of a Digital Makati," Mayor Abby said.

Since she took office, the mayor has been consistent with her resolve to lead Makati toward becoming a full-fledged Digital City, whose residents and stakeholders are able to experience the optimum benefits of modern technology.

Aside from considering the convenience of residents, the mayor also wanted cardholders to get firsthand technical assistance from the Makatizen Card Team. The team, composed of city personnel from the Urban Development Department (UDD) and representatives from private sector partners, G-Xchange, Inc., Globe Telecom, and iBayad Online Ventures, Inc., personally briefed them on the benefits and usage of the Makatizen card.

Meanwhile, after on-site validation by the Makatizen Card Team, cardholders whose GCash mobile wallet accounts were activated were able to test in real-time the efficacy of the cards through iBayad Fishball, iBayad Buko, and GCash loading stations set up at the venue.

Other district 1 barangays whose registrants have passed the pre-screening and have successfully registered for the program are also scheduled for card distribution. Among these are Olympia, Poblacion, Sta. Cruz and Valenzuela on May 19; Bangkal, Palanan, San Isidro and San Antonio on May 26; and Carmona, Kasilawan, La Paz, Singkamas and Tejeros on June 2.

The Makatizen Card functions as a valid government-issued ID card and can reduce documentary requirements for city-provided services and benefits, as some city offices will be equipped with iBayad machine readers which can verify the identity of residents and Makati City employees in a single tap. Through the embedded NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, the card will allow holders to conveniently access the city’s public services and transact with the city government.

Also, since the card is linked to their GCash mobile wallet account, residents can receive cash allowances, stipends, and other cash benefits from the city. Meanwhile, city government employees can receive their salaries and other financial benefits through it.

Utilizing the GCash-enabled feature of the Makatizen Card, holders can pay fees and taxes, send remittances, and settle bills and financial transactions through the card. Moreover, through other features of GCash, such as Scan to Pay and the GCash App, cardholders can purchase products and services with partner merchants displaying “Makatizen Card Accepted Here!” signage.

Mayor Abby said she believes that the Makatizen Card will not only speed up and improve public services, but will also stimulate entrepreneurship in the city, thus promoting a more inclusive economic growth.

To promote the digital economy of the city, a Makatizen Rewards Program was developed which allows holders to earn a Makatizen Loyalty Point with every card transaction. The accumulated loyalty points can be used for future purchases or to avail of the special products and services offered under the program.

Initial batches of Makatizen Cards were already distributed to 11 barangays, including Rizal, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, West Rembo, Cembo, Post Proper Southside, Guadalupe Nuevo, Pitogo, Pinagkaisahan and South Cembo.

For 3 years in a row, Makati bar makes it to 'Asia's 50 Best Bars' list

By Jan Milo Severo (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — For the third time, the Philippines’ The Curator has been listed again as one of the best bars in Asia, the World’s 50 Best Bars website posted.

“Third-wave coffee by day and kick-ass cocktails by night is a winning combination, judging by the popularity of this cool bar. Staff treat ingredients with the utmost respect, whether it’s coffee beans or small-batch spirits, attracting a young, up-for-it crowd of cocktail lovers and caffeine fiends. There is a bright café at the front, but the back remains intimate and cosy – a clever trick considering the Spartan polished concrete and blonde wood design. Try the signatures #StillHurting, Under Pressure and Kiban Sour,” the website posted.

Listed at number 25, The Curator is the only Philippine bar in the The Asia’s 50 Best Bars and it is located at 134 Legaspi Street, Makati City.

Manhattan in Singapore top the list followed by Indulge Experimental Bistro in Taipei, Speak Low in Shanghai, Atlas in Singapore and The Old Man in Hong Kong.

According to the its website, the list was compiled from the votes of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, comprised of more than 200 drinks experts, including renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from across Asia.

Traffic violations main cause of accidents in Makati

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

STRESSING that traffic disasters, such as road crashes leave a big impact on Makati—the country’s financial center and premier destination for urban tourism—Makati Mayor Abigail Binay urged motorists to be more conscious of road and traffic safety.

Binay noted that disobedience to traffic signs and signals has topped the list of traffic violations recorded by the Public Safety Department (PSD) in the first quarter of the year.

“We urge Makatizens, visitors and workers and passers-by to be mindful of traffic rules in order to avoid disasters caused by human error or carelessness,” the mayor said.

“A simple road accident or stalled vehicle can quickly lead to traffic jams, especially during daytime when our population quadruples, and cost millions in income loss and reduced productivity,” she added.

From January to March 2018, the Ordinance Violation Receipt Redemption Management Division of the PSD had recorded a total of 45,199 traffic violations. Of these, 10,846 citation tickets were issued for disobedience to traffic control signs and signals; 7,331 for disregarding lane markings; and 5,764 for illegal parking.

Binay underscored that traffic signs and signals as well as lane markings are installed to ensure safe and efficient movement of all road users—whether pedestrians, commuters or motorists.

Disobedience to traffic control signals entails a fine of P2,500 and/or suspension of the driver’s license while for a public-utility vehicle, its certificate of public convenience will be suspended.

Stiff fines are also imposed for driving over a Yellow Box at an intersection: P1,000 for the first offense; P2,500 for the second offense; and P5,000 for the third offense.

For illegal parking, the fine has been increased from P400 to P1,900, following the enactment last year of City Ordinance 2017-086 approving the terms and conditions of a public-private partnership contract for the provision of towing, impounding and clamping services for illegally parked vehicles and those involved in accidents. Under the agreement with Tokagawa Global Corp., the said services will be made available throughout the city, including the Central Business District, from Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day.

Other traffic violations cited included obstructing roads by motor vehicles and stalled vehicles, and no safety helmet for motor cyclists where 3,551 and 2,941 tickets were issued, respectively.

The mayor and the City Council have also been reviewing parking regulations to address the problem of parking space in Makati. More policies and programs are being studied to ensure the safety of motorists and commuters in the city.

To date, 19 barangays have developed new traffic management systems which regulate one- and two-way traffic in streets and major thoroughfares, as well as implement revised parking regulations.

These include Barangays Carmona, Palanan, La Paz, Tejeros, San Antonio, Poblacion, Kasilawan, Bangkal, San Isidro and Singkamas from District 1; and Barangays Cembo, Rizal, Guadalupe Nuevo, West Rembo, Pinagkaisahan, Comembo, Guadalupe Viejo, Pembo and South Cembo from District 2.

Last year the City Council enacted City Ordinance 2017-134 or the “Bicycles, Skateboards, Roller Skates and other Similar Forms of Conveyances Safe Riding Ordinance of the City of Makati.” The ordinance requires both riders and passengers of bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, and the like to wear a protective helmet while traveling within the city.

It also enforced City Ordinance 2017-135 or the “Children’s Safety in Tricycles and Motorcycles Ordinance of the City of Makati,” which strictly prohibits driving a motorcycle with a child onboard unless the child can comfortably reach the foot peg of the motorcycle, reach and grasp around the waist of the driver, and is wearing a standard protective helmet which bears a Philippine Standard or Import Commodity Clearance mark.

Since Binay began her term as mayor in July 2016, Makati has come to be known for its strict enforcement of traffic rules and other ordinances and laws intended to ensure the protection and safety of the city’s residents, investors, workers and guests.

Makati, Taguig score

By Robert Andaya

MAKATI played just hard enough to beat Parañaque, 69-62, in the South Division in the 2018 Metro Manila Sportsfest 16 years old and under basketball tournament at the Pasay City Sports Complex.

Andrey Astor and Paul Russel Isidro joined hands to power the Skyscrapers to victory over the Green Berets in the South Division of the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), headed by Chairman Danny Lim, in cooperation with the Metro Manila Sportsfest under coach Bonnie Tan.

Astor topscored with 17 points, while Isidro added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Makati in this event sponsored by Mobile App ng Bayan, Barangay 143, Synergy 88 and Spalding.

Allen Tacaldo paced the Green Berets with 15 markers. In other results, Taguig outclassed Pasay, 84-67; Pateros subdued San Juan, 68-65; and Las Piñas downed MMDA, 76-67.

Jose Manuel Blanco fired 16 points on 6-of- 9 shooting for the Generals, who led by as many as 25 points.

Glen Sienes led Pasay with 22 points.

The tournament is supported by Spurway Enterprises, World Balance, Higer Bus, Nature’s Spring Water, Globe, Star Bread, Frabel Foods, Regan Industrial Steel, Glitter.ph, Alcoplus, Manila Bulletin, Rebel Sports, Excellent Noodles, Summit Water, Gerry’s Grill, 1-Pacman Partylist and Archie’s Bespoke Bar + Grill.

The scores:

First game
Taguig (84) --Blanco 16, Acuita 13, Torres III 13, Del Mundo 11, Guevarra 7, Arceo 6, Ilagan 6, Molera 6, Robles 2, Bernardino 2.
Pasay (67) -- Sienes 22, Damian 10, Ballan 8, Ante 8, Reyes 7, Delos Santos 4, Cervantes 3, Frias 2, Ramos 2, Lopez 1
Quarterscores: 28-8, 47-30, 67-45, 84-67
Second game
Pateros (68) - Jugo 13, Salonga 12, Macatangay 11, Inocencio 7, Charanguero 5, Papa 5, Esic 4, Delfonso 4, Carreon 4, Tangco 3.
San Juan (65) - Castro A. 14, Calilong 14, Abalos 12, Castro J. 10, Quililan 7, Mayono 3, Torrecarion 3, Valeros 2.
Quarterscores: 16-17, 36-32, 55-54, 68-65.
Third game
Las Piñas (76) - Reyes 24, Malabanan 15, Lozada 10, Versan 8, Amado 5, Agana 4, Pavia 4, Bagtang 3, Benigas 3.
MMDA (67) - Quijano 19, Monserata 18, Naga 11, Rance P. 10, Drio 5, Lichuaco 2, Rance J. 2, Montas 0.
Quarterscores: 22-10, 36-24, 51-45, 76-67 .

6 events to go to this weekend of May 4 to May 6

(CNN Philippines Life Staff)

Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — This weekend, get a copy of a zine featuring works of artists, know more about folk instruments, join Cinco de Mayo festivities, discuss mental health at a wellness workshop, learn how to write sci-fi stories, talk about big ideas with a group of freethinkers, and celebrate the birthday of a revolutionary socialist.

Cinco de Mayo at Z Street

Join Cinco de Mayo festivities on Saturday, May 5, 4 p.m. at Z Street. There will be food stalls at The Ruins, which includes dishes by Pepe Elote Mexican Street Corn, Quixote Churros, 3 Guys and a Grill, Mexikombi, and Taqueria Seta.

DJs Crwn, Nomoclassiq, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be performing at The Apartment while DJs Jeano Zamora, Marvin Cruz, and NKTA will be playing tunes at Z Hostel. There will also be a Mariachi band performance from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Z Hostel is at Don Pedro St., Makati. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Against the Adjacent Ones: Zine Release for AiGH Group Show

On Saturday, May 5, attend the release of a supplementary publication of an Artinformal group show. The zine includes the works of artists Allan Balisi, Zeus Bascon, Nice Buenaventura, Dina Gadia, Nils Thomas-Økland, Nile Pobadora, Bryan Pollero, Luis Santos, Julio San Jose, Tatong Torres, and Costantino Zicarelli.

The event will be at 6 p.m. at the Artinformal gallery, 277 Connecticut St., Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Folk instruments and more! A musical meetup at Makati

Melody Wind Philippines, a company that imports folk instruments such as Irish flutes, ocarinas, Scottish penny whistles, and harmonicas, is hosting a musical meetup on Sunday, May 6, at Ayala Triangle Gardens. Veteran folk instrument players will be present to discuss the instruments as well as share techniques to the attendees. The group will also bring sample instruments like bodhráns, tabor pipes, and folk flutes for anyone who is keen to try them out.

Ayala Triangle Gardens is located at Paseo De Roxas St. cor. Makati Ave. cor. Ayala Ave., Makati. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Wellness Meetup by Tala: Mental Wellness

Tala: Mental Wellness, a community group that aims to foster mental health conversations based on empathy, is holding a mental wellness meetup on Saturday, May 5, 4:30 p.m. at Commune. The meetup will have a talk on the how Tala started, a workshop, and a discussion on the importance of wellness, not just health.

Commune is located at 36 Polaris St., Poblacion, Makati. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

How to Write Sci-fi/Fantasy

If you want to learn how to write sci-fi stories or fantasy stories, join a crash course on how to create an imagined world on Saturday, May 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Fully Booked, Greenbelt 5. The workshop will be taught by Dr. Joem Antonio, an eight-time Palanca Award winner who also has a Ph.D. in creative writing from UP Diliman. The course costs ₱3,500, and ₱2,800 if paid on or before May 4.

Greenbelt 5 is located at Greenbelt Drive, Makati. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Welcome Party Premiere! Karl Marx 200th Birthday!

Celebrate the 200th birthday of revolutionary socialist and philosopher Karl Marx on Friday, May 4, 6 p.m., at Tomato Kick. The celebration will have performances by Datu’s Tribe, a rock band that describes themselves as “industry-marginalized postcolonial rockers”; Lion and the Scouts, a reggae group whose songs talk about social injustices; and BLKD, a rapper known to be a “social realist poet,” among others.

Tomato Kick is located at 32 Sct. Madriñan St., Diliman, Quezon City. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Makati eats: 'Ambitious' Kenshin serves value-for-money Japanese faves

By Jeeves de Veyra

MANILA -- Walking into Kenshin is like being transported into an izakaya in the backroads of a Japanese metropolitan city. Besides the “sumimasens” that greet diners, the sight of sake barrels, sake bottles and Japanese pop art mixed in with custom-made Japanese furniture greet guests as they enter.

The restaurant was conceptualized in mid-2016 by Ayi Beech and his Japanese partner. Coy about the restaurant being named after a popular anime swordsman, Beech, who is Kenshin's restaurant manager, offers this explanation on the name’s origin instead: “We have some good Japanese restaurants. But if you ask people where they ate last night, they cannot remember the names because they are so long. Kenshin is short so it’s easy to remember.”

Besides being relatively affordable, servings are generous when compared to similar restaurants in the same price range.

For instance, take the gyoza. Served on a cast-iron skillet, these aren’t the usual little dumplings one would come to expect from a typical Japanese restaurant. These are large pieces thoughtfully placed on top of shredded cabbage to absorb excess oil. The slaw makes for tasty eats after finishing off the gyoza.

Japanese favorites and staples like sushi, donburi, ramen, katsu and tempura are all here. Kenshin is no slouch with sushi and sashimi. The Funa Mori Sashimi is affordable at P499.

Unique takes on maki like the torched aburi chashu maki with cream cheese and cucumber are featured alongside old favorites like the California maki.

There are some different but interesting choices on what goes on the dish. For example, chicken teriyaki is paired with tartar sauce, which may seem unusual but it works.

The karaage, meanwhile, is served on top of fried pancit canton-like noodles that serve as a platform for oil and fat to drip out of. The noodles with the drippings are nice to snack on afterwards.

It’s not only about the food but the experience. The “make-your-own” takoyaki is a big draw for repeat customers. Everything you need to make 16 pieces of takoyaki from the burner, the cast-iron takoyaki tray, ingredients and toppings are at your disposal.

While the waitstaff can prepare these in front of you during off-peak hours, it’s much more fun to do it yourself choosing what goes into your takoyaki.

Another dish worth mentioning is the taki-niku nabe. It comes as huge bowl of steaming hot broth with a rim of shredded cabbage wrapped in bacon-thin sukiyaki beef.

Diners dunk the cabbage and beef into the broth then dip them into sauces. It makes a complete meal even without rice.

Do not miss the desserts at Kenshin. There’s ice cream and coffee jelly but for a taste of something Japanese, check out the Matcha Anmitsu. This is served in two lacquer boxes, one with a scoop of matcha ice cream, the other with fruit cocktail, mochi and sweet azuki beans. Putting everything in one bite is refreshingly exotic.

Besides food, Kenshin features a well-provisioned bar that serves soju- and sake-based cocktails. It serves Japanese-inspired cocktails with sake as the mixer of choice. Some drinks are takes on familiar bar staples like the mojito which uses sake instead of rum.

There’s also an array of cocktails with sake mixed in with juice and iced tea. For an ice cold drink, try out the Sake Smoothie and the Matcha Kahlua Smoothie.

Personally, this is a restaurant I keep coming back to. It’s not only because it’s very near us but because of value for money. The food may skirt being authentic sometimes, but the flavors are comfortable and safe for diners who aren’t that adventurous while still having something to offer for those looking for more exotic Japanese dishes.

Beech said they have ambitious plans for Kenshin with a mall branch being the first of many. Chances are you’ll find a Kenshin near you soon.

Kenshin Izakaya can be found at the G/F of The Linear on Mayapis St., Makati and at the G/F of The Beacon on Arnaiz Avenue, Avenue. Restaurant hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. It also has a branch at Vista Mall in Las Pinas.

3,924 officials, staff of Makati barangays get insurance

By Jel Santos

Almost 4,000 barangay officials and workers from the 33 barangays here were recently given their insurance policy under the Group Personal Accident Insurance (GPAI) program of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay distributed GPAI Certificates to 3,924 barangay officials and personnel, including watchmen and traffic aides, who were included last year, for the first time, in the said insurance package funded by the city government under its Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan.

The insurance is valid for one year and provides the following coverage to recipients: P1 million for accidental death/dismemberment; P50,000 for medical reimbursement; and P10,000 for bereavement assistance.

“We want to make sure that our public servants at the grassroots are well taken care of, especially in the event that they meet an accident while on duty. Being the government’s first line of defense in times of emergency, they deserve the added protection,” she said.

For 2018, the city government allotted P10 million under its POPS Plan for the said program. The beneficiaries also include members of barangay-based institutions, Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) auxiliary, traffic enforcers, and city government workers.

Binay, together with Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and other city officials, personally handed the insurance certificates to beneficiaries from April 16 to 20 in designated barangays for each of the six barangay clusters in the city.

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