Good day. Here are top stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
READ: Biden, Marcos seek ways to check China
Moves to check Beijing's aggressive expansion into the trade routes and strategic islands of the South China Sea will headline talks between President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. Marcos arrived in Washington Sunday (Monday in Manila) for a four-day trip highlighted by the meeting with Biden. This month, the Philippines identified four military bases — in addition to five existing sites — where US forces will be given access, including one located near the tense Spratly Islands. The two allies also carried out their largest-ever military maneuvers in recent weeks.
READ: Flights canceled as power outage hits NAIA
A POWER outage hit the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 early Monday, forcing the cancellation of at least 40 domestic flights. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said electricity at the terminal was cut off at 1:05 a.m. crippling airport operations, disrupting Cebu Pacific flights and stranding thousands of outgoing passengers. The MIAA said standby power supplied critical facilities "enabling computer systems of airlines and immigration to function partially for both inbound and outbound passengers. As a result, delayed flights shall be expected." The authority apologized "to air travelers for the inconvenience that the situation may have brought to them." Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesman Eric Apolonio said power was restored at around 9:30 a.m.
READ: Marcos not keen on mandated masking despite high Covid cases
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not enthusiastic about reimposing mandatory mask-wearing amid the new surge of Covid-19 cases, and would rather step up the vaccination particularly of young people to contain the virus. While the positivity rate for Covid-19 has gone up, the "baseline still remains low," the President said. He said he hopes the new wave of infections will not prompt him to bring back the mask mandate unless otherwise recommended by the Department of Health (DoH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). Latest data from the Department of Health (DoH) showed more than 700 new Covid-19 cases as of April 27. The seven-day positivity rate in the National Capital Region has climbed to 14.3 percent, although the number of Covid cases admitted to hospitals remains low.
READ: Costa Rican sloth antibiotics offer hope for human medicine
THE fur of Costa Rican sloths appears to harbor antibiotic-producing bacteria that scientists hope may hold a solution to the growing problem of "superbugs" resistant to humanity's dwindling arsenal of drugs. Sloth fur, research has found, hosts bustling communities of insects, algae, fungi and bacteria, among other microbes, some of which could pose disease risk. Yet, experts say, the famously slow-moving mammals appear to be surprisingly infection-proof. Max Chavarria, a researcher at the University of Costa Rica, told Agence France-Presse that they found the possible existence of antibiotic-producing bacteria that "makes it possible to control the proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacteria ... or inhibit other competitors" such as fungi, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Microbiology.
Topping Business
READ: Firms upbeat on jobs, worried about talent
PHILIPPINE companies are broadly optimistic about the impact of global trends and technology on job creation, a World Economic Forum (WEF) report showed, with sentiment in general more upbeat compared to the global average. While also not concerned about talent development and retention of the existing workforce in the medium term, the firms are however worried about the availability of talent, the global "The Future of Jobs Report 2023" also showed. The WEF report, released a day before Labor Day, had Philippine-based respondents tagging broadening digital access as the biggest global trend driving industry transformation. A net 71 percent — more than double the 33.7 percent worldwide — said this would lead to the creation of jobs. Increased adoption of new and frontier technologies and the broader application of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards followed, with a net 52 percent and 36 percent, respectively, also saying the impact on jobs would be positive.
In Sports
READ: Curry hits career-high 50 as Warriors advance
Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance Sunday (Monday in Manila) to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs while a Jimmy Butler ankle injury raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat. Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was nearly unstoppable as the Warriors won 120-100 at Sacramento to capture their best-of-seven Western Conference series 4-3. The 35-year-old guard delivered an incredible performance, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot attempts and going 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 3-of-5 from the free throw line. Curry also added eight rebounds and six assists. Curry's 50 points were a career playoff high and the most points in any NBA Game Seven — breaking the old mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.
READ: Team PH all set for Cambodia SEAG
THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) went the extra mile over the weekend to complete the distribution of national team kits to athletes in 44 sports and disciplines who are seeing action in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) whose opening ceremony is set Friday. POC President Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino was hands-on in the distribution process that had its staging area at the Sigtuna Hall of the Tagaytay City Atrium on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 1,200 national team kits were disposed of with the arduous task wrapping up with the final delivery to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP). The kits included track suits, tech shirts, socks, backpacks, caps, shoes, towels and luggage. READ: Finau holds off Rahm to win Mexico Open
American Tony Finau held off the threat from Masters champion Jon Rahm to win the Mexico Open on Sunday (Monday in Manila), shooting a final round 66 to win by three strokes from the Spaniard and claim his sixth PGA Tour title. Rahm, the defending champion at Vidanta, put himself in contention after a 10-under course-record 61 in his third round on Saturday put him within two strokes. But his four-under round of 67 on Sunday was not enough to close the gap on Finau, who produced a calm and solid bogey free round, completing a consistent week where he had shot 65, 64 and 65 before the final round.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
In today's editorial, The Manila Times welcomes the book season awards. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Orlando Mercado. Contreras talks about too much complaining by individuals or groups; Makabenta on the cautionary tale for BBM's talks with Joe Biden and California's nightmare; and Mercado on much to do about logging.
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This is Kim Salinas reporting.