FRIENDS IN TIMES OF COVID

Among the several waves of change we surfed through the last two years, the one that wiped out many sand castles was a tidal wave that impacted friendships. Many, of course, survived and built endurance. But whether dissolved with distance or evolved and redefined, the impact of COVID on friendships has been undeniable.

While some people may have always found it challenging to make friends, many found the task even more daunting during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to limited social interaction. Even as the world continues to reopen very slowly, increases in remote work mean that people's social lives look considerably different.

During times of stress and change, however, it's still possible to engage with others and build friendships—it just may look a bit different than you're used to. More importantly should be to keep friendships within these times. But this seems for many of us to be very difficult even online and especially by social networking.

When making the effort to create new or rebuild older friendships, it's worth taking the time to think about what you need out of a friendship. For instance, if you believe that you need shared equity values with others to develop a bond of friendship, then that may be easier to find in an activist space.

If you find that you like to have shared interests and hobbies it might be helpful to meet others who are already involved in the things you enjoy. It is important to note that friendships require consent from all parties and it often takes time to develop trust with new people.

We need the support of our friends, but it can be tough to stay close when you can't meet up in person. There are always some ways to nourish your friendships during the era of safer-at-home. Sue Scheff is the author of Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate. She recently penned a story on Psychology Today on the unraveling of friendships during this time. “We have seen the unraveling of friendships during Covid-19 when people don’t agree on masks or whether they should be getting a hair-cut or going to restaurants,” she says. “The truth is, everyone has their own comfort level, we need to respect it, and if we don’t agree with it, we are witnessing (what was once close relationships) now crumble.” Sad to say but very true...!

There's also the additional layer of trust (or mistrust) that gets heaped on top of the current situation. According to a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology in August 2021, it turns out more people are lying in the current era. For their own reasons, some friends might conceal that they have been feeling ill or that they have widened their "pandemic pod" to others who are not practicing safe social distancing. While it may seem like it's not a big deal, the truth is, lying about your behavior or how you feel can endanger the lives of the friends you care the most about.

I never ever talked about myself on social networks if I really felt bad or sick. But one thing I found out during the last year: more and more "friends" left or remain mute on social networks. Maybe, because I didn't join the open circle of bad and negative daily posts. Or these friends are like me: I am still trying to look on the bright side of the street - even times like now.

Assistance needed for sick workers on home quarantine

by Manila Bulletin

The past few days saw a surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases. In fact, last Jan. 15, 2022, new cases reached 39,004, marking a grim milestone since the start of the pandemic. This surge was attributed to the Omicron variant — now becoming the dominant strain — which is more transmissible, even three to five times potent than Delta. This was evidenced by a high household transmission rate, where one infected individual could lead to infecting everyone at home.

Though the World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that the Omicron is still “dangerous” and may still cause death, data has revealed that this variant appears to be less threatening especially among the vaccinated. Thus, a majority of the infected were able to recover through home isolation, utilizing home remedies that ease the virus’ symptoms.

With this scenario, a majority of the workforce who were infected were in self-imposed home quarantine. Depending on the number of days and pursuant to their company’s policies, this has affected their take-home pay, which negatively impacts their capability to pay rent, electricity, and even for medicines. A lot of them have acceded to the government’s call to self-isolate but how are they now, especially if they are on a “no-work, no-pay” basis?

One of the government’s responses to assist the infected workers in home confinement is through the Social Security System (SSS). In a statement, the SSS clarified that members who cannot work due to sickness or injury and are confined, either in a hospital or at home for at least four days, could avail of the sickness benefit. Aside from employed members, SSS also grants sickness benefits to self-employed, voluntary, and OFW members.

The statement added that COVID-infected members in home confinement can “qualify under the program if they have paid at least three monthly contributions within the last 12 months before the semester of sickness or injury and are confined either in a hospital or at home for at least four days.”

This is welcome news for employed members. But they “should have used all their current company sick leave with pay and notified their employer about their sickness.” On the other hand, self-employed, voluntary, and OFW members and those separated from employment must notify SSS directly.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also called on the private sector to assist their employees who are sick. In an advisory, the department “urged employers, in consultation with their employees, to adopt and implement an appropriate paid isolation and quarantine leave program on top of existing leave benefits under the company policy, Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Labor Code, and special laws.” It added that the “paid isolation and quarantine leaves shall be without prejudice to other benefits provided by the SSS and the Employees’ Compensation Commission.”

These are all welcome developments to assist the majority of workers who were sick these past few days. But going back to our question earlier, how about workers in the informal sector? The contractual workers? Or those who have no SSS membership?

The government, in its pursuit to provide a convenient life for all, must now make it up to the sick who risked a few days’ worth of income just to stay at home. After all, when these workers were well, they moved the wheels of the economy for the benefit of all. The government now owes them the best response.

Octa: Cebu City remains at ‘very high risk’ for Covid-19

(File photo)

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO

CEBU City, one of the major cities in the country, remains at “very high risk” for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and cases “could be peaking there soon,” Octa Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Wednesday, January 26, 2022.

David said Cebu City’s seven-day average cases increased from 325 from January 12 to 18 to 722 from January 19 to 25, while its one-week average daily attack rate (Adar) rose from 31 to 69.

Its seven-day positivity rate also went up from 36 percent from January 12 to 18 to 40 percent the following week.

However, the reproduction number in the city, which refers to the number of people being infected by one case, declined from 4.64 to 2.99, but is still on “very high risk” classification.

Octa also noted the increase in the healthcare utilization from 45 percent from January 12 to 18 to 68 percent from January 19 to 25.

The intensive care unit occupancy in Cebu City also went up by over 100 percent or from 28 percent to 42 percent.

As of January 25, Cebu City has a total of 5,961 active Covid-19 cases, or at least 2.4 percent of the country's total active cases, according to the Department of Health.

A total of 50,525 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the city, with 1,440 deaths. (SunStar Philippines)

How would you describe the life in the early Filipino settlements in terms of food?

Josh

World History and Economics Professor | M.A

Pigs, Chicken, Goat, Bananas, Coconut, big fish

According to Antonio Pigafetta, who was Ferdinand Magellan's secretary and accountant, who also wrote a book about the business expedition, the indios would consistently sell pigs, chickens, goat, bananas, coconut and at times big fish to the Europeans. Do note that the indios were described by Pigafetta as skilled merchants and good bargainers. This means that the indios would have known better to sell the visiting ships for fish, something the sailors would have been eating during the voyage. The Indios were assertive in selling pigs, chicken, banas, coconuts. The method of cookery continues to be studied by scholars but one dish Pigafetta mentioned was “Pork in it's gravy".

The early Filipino settlements would have used the same produce. The indios would have kept eating the same food while Spanish settlers would have brought with them methods of cookery from Europe BUT using what is locally available -pigs, chicken, goat, banana, coconut. As such, the Pochero might have been invented by the settlers as it used Spanish cooking methods of garlic and onions but with bananas that do not exist in Spain. Or it could have been a dish from the Americas as they have bananas plus Pochero is made with tomatoes, which only exist in the Americas. Many dishes developed from Spanish ideas, such as the Longanisa developing from Chorizo, Kinilaw from Ceviche, Bulalo from Osso Bucco, Sinigang from Basque Fisherman's Soup, etc.

Trade between Mexico and Philippines would have been established so tomatoes, potatoes, corn and many Mexixan produce would have been introduced.

Note that culinary did not exist prior to 1900s when Auguste Escoffier formalised cookery. Although Culinarians trace the origin of cookery to 1400s to the Medici Queen who brought her cooks to France, dishes did not develop yet to fine dining. In the prehispánic society, Pigafetta did not observe that the indios named their dishes. By 1800s however, dishes in the Philippines had names.

Without refrigeration, animals would have been kept as long as possible before eating. In prehispánic days, Pigafetta noted that the households had pigs but did not seem to touch them, Pigafetta theorised that they were taxes for the Rajah because the palace had nightly banquets of pork. Chicken grew fast and in abundance so the households would have eaten chicken more often than pig. Pigafetta also noted that every household had a vegetable garden. My theory is that the song “Bahay Kubo" is prehispanic in origin or perhaps written in early Filipino settlement days due to the heavy use of banjos or guitar.

For sure, prehispánic society to early Filipino settlements ate a lot of vegetables. Lack of refrigeration was a factor. The Adobo also exist in other Spanish colonies in Americas and in Spain maybe. However, they differ in ingredients based on what is locally available. In Mexico, their Adobo uses paprika and chili while in Philippines is soy sauce. Adobo in all colonies and Spain uses vinegar. As such, it is yet to be known if Adobo is a colonial introduction. Filipino Adobo has no cousin in other Southeast Asian countries. It is however similar in taste to Taiwanese braised beef. In most probability, Adobo is a method of preserving food and would have been a European introduction. The winters of Europe forced them to preserve meats for the winters such as smoked ham, air dried ham, sausage, and even anchovies. In the tropical Philippines, food was abundant all year round, thus food preservation unnecessary.

Eventually, Philippines imported Spanish wines, olives, chorizo, etc.

RT-PCR, antigen tests not needed In getting health card from CHO

 

By Maya Padillo, EDGE Davao -January 26, 2022 10:00 am

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Monday that a negative reverse transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or a negative antigen test to get health cards from the City Health Office (CHO) are no longer required.

The mayor said the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force has agreed to lift the requirement for negative RT-PCR or antigen test that has been required by the city since September 2021 through Resolution No. 35-A of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force to ensure the health safety of the workforce in every establishment.

The mayor said this after a netizen appealed to her during the Special Hours with Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

“It was agreed upon na tanggalon na ang testing dinha sa pagkuha og health card nato. Wala na ang RT-PCR test or antigen test na required kung magkuha ka og health card or magrenew ka og health card dinhi sa City Government of Davao, sa City Health Office,” the mayor said.

The mayor said such a requirement is no longer needed due to the limited capacity of the city to provide free tests. “Ang reason is because daghan sila kaayo and there are not enough tests na libre gikan sa City Government of Davao nga mo-cover sa tanang magkuha og health card. The purpose of this is surveillance so gi-shift nato kani na surveillance didto nalang mismo sa establishments depending on the capacity or the allotted test for the surveillance. Mao na ang reason. And the third reason is that it has been reported nga ginapasa sa mga employers diha sa ilang mga empleyado ang cost sa testing nila para makakuha sila og health card,” she said.

A health card is one of the requirements that job applicants must provide to the employers. Mayor Sara added that the responsibility of the surveillance should be shouldered by the employers because it is their interest that will be heavily affected if the number of cases will spread among the workforce.

“Employers should be responsible enough nga naa sila’y surveillance sa mga employees nila nga dunay symptoms. Because kung pasagdan nila ni muabot ang panahon nga tanan na magkasakit and it would really affect their business. So, it is very important, gina-highlight nato sa tanan nato nga businesses nga duna’y regular surveillance testing to avoid the situation nga wala na’y empleyado, na ma-lockdown mo because sa kadaghan sa cases,” Mayor Sara said.

 

Australia coach says PH women's team 'showed a lot of fighting spirit'

by Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin

Photo from AFC

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson believes the Philippines is a team that should not be taken lightly following their Group B match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Mumbai, India.

The Swedish-born mentor gave rave reviews to the way the Pinay booters, handled by his predecessor Alen Stajcic, performed in Monday’s match that ended with Australia prevailing 4-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena.

 

“I’m really impressed with where they are, and I think some teams need to watch out for them in this tournament,” Gustavsson said in the post-match press conference.

Despite being heavy underdogs, the Filipinas kept the game scoreless in the first half before the Aussie squad known as the Matildas unleashed their top form with star striker Sam Kerr breaking the ice in the 51st minute.

An own goal by the Philippines’ Dominque Randle plus scores from Emily van Egmond and Mary Fowler cemented Australia’s place in the quarterfinals with six points through two matches.

“They were really well organized,” said Gustavsson. “You can see that they spent a lot of time together. They probably had a very long prep time compared to some of the other teams in the tournament. They’re organized almost like a club team.

“But also, they showed a lot of fighting spirit. They didn’t shy away from a tackle, and they made it a tough game for us. I’m really impressed.”

The defeat didn’t put a big dent in the Philippines’ chances of securing a quarterfinals berth despite drawing level with Thailand at three points each.

The Pinay squad needs to draw or win against Group B cellar-dweller Indonesia on Thursday in Pune to finish second and advance to the quarters against the top team in Group C.

The top two squads in Group B advance to the last eight while the team that finishes third must be among the two best from the three groups in order to reach the next phase of the continental competition which is also a qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The parable of the sower

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

WHAT lessons does the parable of the sower (cfr. Mk 4,1-20) teach us? I suppose there are many. But one of them, for sure, is that we have to be prudent in our efforts to do a lot of good in our life, and that this virtue of prudence in the end is a matter of carefully listening and following the will of God. 

That, in a sense, is the formula for a prodigious harvest at the end of our life, a harvest that goes beyond our natural limits, since it is a harvest that can give us some supernatural reward, nothing less than being united with God for all eternity in heaven!

We have to be clear about what is to be and to do good. Nowadays, we have all sorts of ideas about what can be considered good that in the end are actually not or at best a good that does not go all the way. Being and doing good is nothing other than being with God and doing the will of God. (cfr. James 1,17; Ps 16,2)

We should make the necessary effort to know God’s will thoroughly and abidingly, and to do that as promptly as possible. We have to understand that to be with God is to do his will. To be part of God’s family is to do his will. (cfr. Mt 12,50)

To be sure, this will require periods of study of our Christian faith, and the many other practices of piety that can truly help us to be in God’s presence all throughout the day even as we immerse in our mundane and temporal affairs. Such effort should give rise to many virtues, and prudence should be one of them.

In that parable of the sower, we are told about the many grounds the seed, which represents the word and the will of God, fell. We have to see to it that that seed falls on the proper ground which means that we, first of all, should put ourselves in the proper if not the best condition to follow God’s will.

We have to be wary of the danger of being carried away by some worldly forces, both the good and the bad ones, the favorable and the unfavorable ones, that would take us away from God. 

And in the world today, this danger is not only present in a passive way, but is active in affecting us. We should try our best not to be swept away by them, confused and lost. And again, this is a matter of being with God, strengthening our faith, hope and charity.

In this regard we cannot overemphasize the need to spend time for prayer and contemplation in a way that would help us keep a deeply spiritual and supernatural bearing. God should be the center and focus of our life. Everything that happens in our life should be referred to him, no matter how technical and temporal in nature only.

We should never forget that God is in everything and that everything has to be referred to him. Yes, even the devil and all forms of evil should be referred to God, because only then can we deal with them properly.

With this kind of prudence, we can expect, as the parable explains, a prodigious fruitfulness and harvest at the end of our life that leads us to our eternal life with God in heaven.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Bread prices to go up starting Feb. 1

by Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin

After holding off price hikes on Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal last year, bakers are raising prices by as much as P3 per loaf and P1.50 for the pandesal pack.

pinoy tasty

Johnlu Koa, president of industrial bakers – Philippine Baking Industry Group (PhilBaking), said the price hike is expected to take effect on Feb. 1, 2022. This means prices of Pinoy Pandesal loaf will be at P38 from P35 and Pinoy Pandesal to P23 per pack from P21.50 at present.

Koa said the price hike has become necessary as prices of flour now climbed to P1,000 per 25 kilogram bag from P955 late last year and P690 in August of the same year.

The rule of thumb is that for every P50 increase in prices of flour, there is a corresponding P1 increase in prices of bread. Koa noted the price of flour is more than the P3 increase per loaf.

“This is brought about by increase of consumption in China which starting buying wheat grains while Russia has slowed down their wheat exports because of food security issues and wheat crop failure in America due to harsh winter and drought, or global warming,” said Koa.

Aside from flour, other ingredients also went up including LPG, and sugar which substantially increase prices. Other components such as cooking oil, margarine and fats also went. Yeast, however, did not increase as much.

Koa even said that they could be more adjustments coming because local flour mills already advised them that prices of flour could go beyond P1,000 per bag in the future because prices have already been set globally and forecasted.

“When there is failure of crop then we know prices will go up,” he said stressing there is no “flour cartel” in the domestic market.

Who are the most prestigious Spanish-Filipino families in the Philippines?

Lucas Villar

sola lectio quod catum egeo

Here are a few…

Note one thing though, all these people started from zero, some folks out there imagine Spain gave them some giant business upon setting foot in the islands for being Spaniards.

All of them arrived during the second half of the 19th century and went on to prosper under the United States. The reasons why Spanish immigrants were successful in business may be argued cojuncturally (colateral circumstances attached to being Spanish, such as education or better business culture); but not politically by some super-structure favouring them, as it is most comfortable to argue. Simply because the superstructure changed (to the United States), and many times antagonised them.

• ZÓBEL DE AYALA

The family Zóbel de Ayala are the owners of the largest Philippine company, which carries their name Compañía Ayala. It has reach in all sort of business fields now, which already would make them a prominent or “prestigious" family.

The family comes from the marriage of the Zóbels (an Hispanised German family in the Philippines) and the Ayalas, which were a Spanish family and the ones with the Ayala Company. They are probably one of the mestizo families that remains “most Spanish" in terms of ancestry, probably fitting as criollos.

Jaime Zóbel de Ayala, patriarch of the family and his sons

Their origin was in the beer makers of the district of San Miguel in Manila, which is today the largest beer company in Asia as well, with business all over the Hispanic world and an offshoot in Spain seated in Málaga.

But their reach goes beyond that, being for example the funders of the most iconic modern bridge in Manila, which carries their name as the Ayala Bridge. Apart from having various museums and competititions owned or sponsored by them in Spain itself.

Rocío Mercedes Zóbel de Ayala, in Sotogrande, Spain, where they vacation, in an event organised by the family

Sotogrande, Cádiz, Spain, town where the Zóbel de Ayala family vacations in Spain

Íñigo Zóbel de Ayala, with king Juan Carlos I

Similarly they are also the creators of the Zóbel Prize, which is an award created and funded by the family for Philippine literature in Spanish. It was the family's response after the US took Spanish out of schools and administration, starting the demonisation of everything Spanish, in order to narrate the new US administration as the light after the horror. See the antagonisation mentioned before. To this day the family's Zóbel Prize is single local Philippine institution promoting the Spanish language, from the pocket of the family.

The family is probably the most active in social events and networking within the Spanish descendant families in the islands, with a visible reach still in Spain's business and upper class. Organising prestigious yearly polo tournaments in Spain, funding art museums, or setting up off-shoots of their companies seated in Spain. In the Philippines they have also a pretty big network and philantropic activity (I mean, they have both an iconic bridge and a literature prize with their name)…

Jaime Alfonso Zóbel de Ayala, giving a conference on electronic stuff

Jaime Alfonso Zóbel de Ayala, inaugurating a clinic in Manila

• ARANETA

The Araneta family is more diverse business-wise, in root they were Spanish immigrangs who started in the business of sugar, but then went on to other fields and ultimately politics.

Familia Araneta, largest real estate “dynasty" in the Philippines

They became the largest real estate business in the Philippines in the mid 20th century and built the Araneta City, with the then-largest stadium in Asia inside of it. Similarly, they have the seemingly iconic Araneta Mansion where the family resides.

Araneta City, where the family business is seated

Araneta Colosseum, largest stadium in the Philippines and once in all of Asia

But what brought them most renown is probably their political activity throughout the decades, becoming in that sense sort of a Philippine equivalent of the Clintons or Kennedys, but with roots in business more than politics.

Araneta Mansion, with traditional colonial Spanish Philippine architecture

• RAZÓN

The Razón family are also a giant of Philippine business, being the owners of the largest port company in the country.

Enrique Razón, patriarch of the family

Their main and original business was in handling port cargoes, having gained control of all major ports' business in the Philippines, but specially for controlling all of Manila's port activity. Later they expanded into resorts and casinos in the tourism business in the islands.

Enrique Razón with President Duterte

And ultimately they have become also the second largest business in power, with investment in all sort of power sources (oil, gas, solar) and their distribution to various regions of the islands.

The family also enjoys its own pop culture stars status in the islands, even if not as much as the Ayalas, they also have their networking and front page fashion magazine appearances.

Katrina Razón, daughter of Enrique

And they have a side connection with another wealthy family, the Puyat Family, which are not as much Spanish descended in root, although they have become quite Spanish by marrying these families. They are not as rich either, but they are easily spotted as such in Philippine pop culture.

• ABOITIZ

If the Razóns were the second in power business, the Aboitiz have the largest company in Philippine power. The family is actually pretty old as well, and probably the one that remains the most Spanish next to the Ayalas.

Aboitiz Family, original members

Aboitiz Family, modern members

The family is seated in Cebú and the Visayas, rather than Manila, being the Cebú the 2nd city in the Philippines during the Spanish period, so it also received plenty of Spanish immigration along with Manila.

Jon Ramón Aboitiz, former patriarch, now defunct in 2018, and wine lover

They have the Visayan Electric Company from the region, and the Aboitiz Power Corporation, as well as the Davao Light and Power Corporation. And basically having some foothold in virtually every single power company in the country.

Besides these, they also have a giant in the country dealing with financial activities, although mostly focused as well on industrial matters, but from a financial field (loans, funding, shares holding etc). And of course their fair share of networking and popularity among the masses.

Tristan Aboitiz, one of the three sons, in a party

Eduardo Aboitiz, another son, the Spanish-looking one on the left, in another party

Carlos Aboitiz, explaining the advantages of renewable energies for the company

---

There are many more renown Spanish families in business but those are the biggest ones, and the list has to end somewhere.

The other main field of prominence of Filipino Spaniards apart from business—although it is less about families and more so of random individuals coming from “common Spanish families"—is modelling, hosting, acting and influencers. The presence of Spanish descendants in cinema, TV or social media is very large for the small size of the community in the country.

(C) Quora 2022

DA’s SAAD Program grants agricultural assistance to insurgency-free barangays in DdO

Davao de Oro Province---20, 000 hills of derived abaca plantlets were received by some insurgency-free communities in Davao de Oro through the Department of Agriculture RFO-XI Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program on January 17-18, 2022.

The distribution of the assistance was facilitated by the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO) of DdO to four (4) Farmers’ Associations (FA), all from insurgency-free barangays; Katipunan Upland Community Multipurpose Farmers Association and Parasanon Multipurpose Farmers Cooperative in Maragusan, Las Arenas Farmers Association, and  Honor Maligaya Maraco Mahogany Paradise Farmers’ Association, from Pantukan. Each FA received a total of 5,000 hills of abaca plantlets that will help its members to upgrade their farming as one of their sources of living.

The eradication of insurgency in areas formerly labeled as strongholds of communists supports some of the most important foundations of community development such as education and tourism. Where there is peace, there is progress. (JA, PAO-IPRD, photos by PAGRO DdO)