YOU HAVE THREE WISHES

What are the most common 3 wishes? The most common wishes were for friends, happiness, health, marriage, money, success, self-improvement, and to help other people.

When I was still a young boy, I was taught that there might be

fairy creatures offering us three free wishes. We should be always so

wise enough to think it over very well and select the best wishes for

our very own. Sure, there will be always classic stupidities regarding

fairy-wishes. We are all human beings and don't belong to the fairy

category.

Your wish is my command! And, there is someone who wishes at first a

strong health, and - sure, he or she receives it, because good fairies

never hesitate. And now and then? Here he is, for example, the healthy

man is like a boulder in the surf, but surrounded by a world of war,

flames and so-called military conflicts. But this man is still alive

and as fit as a fiddler. Why should he wish for a strong health...?

Well, maybe we have to formulate our wishes for something more

improved. But what? Discretion is the better part of valor. Let's try

it like a fairy-tale and ask for wealth, riches and abundance. These

are the one and only things on earth, right?

With money we can travel around the globe, find friends, even in far

away distances, and we can do charities. Well, and if we might become

sick, maybe seriously sick, we must not worry. We can afford and

finance the most affordable doctors and most updated hospitals to give

us back to good health. And if not?

In many fairy tales, we can also find the one with unassuming manners,

inconspicuous, poorly dressed-up, a little bit silly, mostly disregarded

and easily to be overlooked. This guy has only one wish, such as

eternal salvation and bliss with a little stool in heaven besides God.

And guys, be sure, that he will get it, and, he is happy and very

thankful. So far so good, it seems the simpleton has been the

brightest.

It's all right: three wishes and no one more. A different thing, isn't it?

If all human beings on this entire globe could be all around happy,

which means to say: nobody must go hungry any more, nobody must be

despairing, nobody must be worried about wars and catastrophes, and

everybody should be able to enjoy health and happiness without bearing

trials ... yes, if ... Then we wouldn't need fairy-wishes...

Real life looks different. Real life is not a fairy tale. We need

prayers and should be more respectful and friendly to each other.

Each one of us has his or her own three wishes. Me too. One of them

is: I wish for peace on earth!

Hidilyn retains weightlifting title

WORTH HER  WEIGHT IN GOLD  Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz wins gold in the women’s 55 kg weightlifting event during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi on Friday, May 20, 2022.  PHOTO COURTESY OF AFP

By Jean Malanum, Manila Times

(UPDATE) HIDILYN Diaz emerged the winner in a battle of Olympic champions to retain her title in the 55-kilogram weightlifting category Friday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Diaz's victory provided one of the three gold medals that added to the country's medal harvest for the day. The other two came from esports and judo.

It also provided a bright note on a day when the Philippines slid to fifth place in the medal standings.

Diaz, who gave the country's its first Olympic gold medal, in Tokyo last year, lifted 92 kg in the snatch and 114 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 206 kg, 3 kilos more than the tally of 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Sanikun Tanasan of Thailand.

Diaz was trailing Sanikun in the snatch after failing to clear 93 kg. The Thai then lifted 110 kg in her second attempt in the clean and jerk, but Diaz wiped out the Thai's lead by raising 114 kg in her first attempt.

Sanikun tried to match the Filipino's lift but was unable to do so in her third attempt.

Amit pockets women's 9-ball gold in Vietnam

Diaz tried to add the icing to her cake by going for a new SEA Games record of 121 kg. She failed but still managed a smile.

Natasya Beteyob of Indonesia lifted 188 kg to finish third.

Diaz said later winning at the SEA Games was just the beginning of her quest for a third Olympic gold.

"My journey toward Paris [Olympics] starts here, so this SEA Games gold is very important for me," she said.

Wong leads PH wushu team in SEA Games

Diaz admitted having struggled while training for the Hanoi Games because of commitments she had to attend to after her Olympic victory.

At the Vietnam National Convention Center, Team Sibol bagged the second gold medal for the esports team with a victory in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).

Team Sibol defeated Indonesia, 3-1, in the best-of-five final series.

The Philippines earlier downed Singapore, 2-1, while Indonesia beat Malaysia, 2-0, in the semifinals to arrange the championship showdown.

PH bags 2 more golds, slips to 4th place

The Philippine MLBB team is composed of Jonar Villanueva (captain), Russel Aron Usi, Kyle Dominic Soto, Dexter Louise Alaba, Danerie James Del Rosario, Salic Imam and Lee Howard Gonzales.

Team Sibol won its first gold medal last Wednesday in the Legends: Wild Rift (Mobile) women's team event.

At the Hoai Duc Gymnasium, Filipino Japanese judoka Shugen Nakano ruled the men's 66 kg category as he defeated hometown bet Hoang Phuc Truong, 1-0, in their final match to retain the title he won at the 2019 Manila Games.

Obiena wins gold, breaks own SEA Games record

Thailand settled for the bronze medal following a 1-0 win over Cambodia.

t was Singapore who dislodged the Philippines from fourth place in the standings.

As of 8 p.m. on Friday, the country had collected 42 golds, 59 silvers and 80 bronzes.

Still on top was host Vietnam with a 162-97-92 medal tally. followed by Thailand (65-73-105), Indonesia (47-66-63) and Singapore (47-44-62).

The Philippines, however, remains on track for snagging the coveted gold in basketball. Undefeated Gilas Pilipinas tries to move closer to retaining the men's title when it battles Malaysia at 11 a.m. at the Than Tri Gymnasium on Saturday.

"We all know that the big test is Indonesia, but we can't look past Malaysia. We've been watching. 'Yung Malaysian [team] sa atin nagpatigas 'yan (toughened up after they played us). They played in the Philippines and we really like the way they play," Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said.

The team's final game will be against Indonesia on Sunday.

In billiards, the Philippines is assured of two more golds since the final matches in women's and men's 10-ball singles will be all-Filipino affairs.

Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit downed their respective rivals in the semis to arrange a showdown for the women's title, while 9-ball singles gold medalist Johann Chua and Carlo Biado duel for the men's crown after ousting their Singaporean opponents in the semis.

Veteran actress Susan Roces passes away, tributes flood social media

By Christina Alpad, Manila Times

THE Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces has passed away, her family confirmed. She was 80 years old.

"With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jesusa Sonora Poe, whom many of you know as Susan Roces. She passed away peacefully on a Friday evening, May 20, 2022, surrounded by love and warmth, with her daughter Grace, her nephews Joseph and Jeffrey and many of her family and close friends. She lived life fully and gracefully," a statement from the office of Roces' daughter, Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, read.

"Remember her in her beauty, warmth and kindness. She is now with the Lord and her beloved Ronnie — FPJ. We will miss her sorely but we celebrate a life well lived. Susan Roces — daughter, mother, grandmother, a true Filipina and a national treasure."

Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe in real life, Roces made her acting debut in the 1952 film "Mga Bituin ng Kinabukasan."

She was married to the "King of Philippine movies," Fernando Poe Jr. from 1968 until his death in 2004.

Roces was last seen portraying Lola Flora in the long-running TV series, "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano."

Condolences and tributes from personalities in show business and politics flooded Twitter.

"Susan Roces," "Rest in Peace," and "Lola Flora" — the character Roces last portrayed in the long-running TV series, "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano" — quickly reached the top trending topic list of the social media app.

"My sincerest condolences to Sen Grace and the family and loved ones of Ma'am Susan Roces... Rest in peace po Ninang Susan... you will be missed..." Senator-elect Francis "Chiz" Escudero shared via his Twitter account, @SayChiz.

"Rest In Peace Ninang Susan Roces," Senator-elect Jose Victor Ejercito also tweeted.

"Nakakalungkot naman. Isang napakabuting tao ang nagpaalam. Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang kabaitan mo sa amin mga nakatrabaho mo. RIP Susan Roces," actress Alex Gonzaga tweeted via @Mscathygonzaga.

"Sincerest condolences to the Poe family Rest in peace, Ms. Susan Roces," shared TV host Bianca Gonzales via @iamsuperbianca.

Host, comedian and talent manager Ogie Diaz, who was among the first to share the sad news, simply wrote, "Rest in peace, Tita Susan Roces."

Covid cases on the rise in Metro Manila

 KIDS' VAX. A health personnel administers the Covid-19 vaccine to a young girl during the rollout vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years old at the Calabash Health Center in Sampaloc, Manila on Friday (May 20, 2022). (PNA photo by Rico H. Borja)

COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila went up by 19 percent during the week of May 13 to 19, the independent OCTA Research group reported Friday.

OCTA said there were 71 cases a day during that week, higher than the 59 cases during the previous week.

OCTA senior fellow Dr. Guido David also reported an increase in the average daily attack rate (ADAR), to 0.50 cases per 100,000 population from 0.42.

The reproduction number has also gone up to 0.9 from 0.76, David said.

A reproduction number of less than one indicates that viral transmission among infected individuals is still under control.

FDA grants EUA for Sinovac jab for kids

Despite the rise in cases, the positivity rate remained at 1.2 percent, and the health care utilization rate and the intensive care unit utilization also stayed under low risk.

OCTA's indicators are different from that of the Department of Health (DoH), which relies on CovidActNow figures used by the Harvard School of Public Health.

In a statement, the DoH said that the slight rise in cases did not translate to increased admissions or utilization rates.

It also said Metro Manila is still classified as minimal risk since its two-week growth rate remained at -17 percent.

PH vaccination rate against Covid-19 reaches 70% of target population

The DoH reminded the public that to prevent another Covid surge, they should continue to follow the minimum health protocols and get themselves vaccinated and boosted.

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer in charge Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, no manufacturer has applied for an amended emergency use authorization to use booster shots on children ages 5 to 11 years.

Gutierrez said during a televised briefing the agency has not received any application from Pfizer, whose booster vaccine was approved for use on children in the United States.

An application will be evaluated by its vaccine panel, a process that could take three weeks, he said.

Covid-19 pill gets FDA approval

Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Benito Atienza said he does not expect early approval of the booster vaccine for kids because it has not yet gone through a comprehensive study.

Atienza said most doctors are waiting for the Sinovac vaccine specifically for the age group to be approved by the Health Technology Assessment Council.

Gutierrez also said any decision to administer second booster shots to overseas Filipino workers rests solely with the DoH.

Second booster shots put on hold

He also welcomed the development of a recombinant vaccine by vaccine manufacturer Moderna, which contains the original virus and the Omicron variant.

The DoH also said the FDA is evaluating the EUA application for the Convidecia vaccine from CanSino Biologics of China.

Convidecia was given an emergency use listing by the World Health Organization on Thursday, making it the 11th vaccine to get such a listing.

Convidecia is a single-dose vaccine that uses a modified human adenovirus that synthesizes the Spike S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

It has an efficacy rate of 64 percent against symptomatic disease and 92 percent against severe Covid-19.

Also on Friday, former Health secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin reminded the public to be cautious because the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 is spreading.

"Alam na nating hindi pa tapos ang pandemya, alam nating mas nakakahawa ang subvariant na ito, kaya habang maaga pa ay pigilan na ang pagkalat nito (We are all aware that the pandemic is far from over. Knowing that this subvariant is contagious, we must act quickly to prevent its transmission)," Garin said.

Close to 55 million Filipinos should have been given booster shots by now, she said. As it is, only 13.7 million people have been given boosters. If the current low rate of immunization continues, Garin said a surge could happen.

The DoH recently confirmed the local transmission of BA.2.12.1, a highly infectious subvariant of Omicron.

WITH MOISES CRUZ