Friday, February 21, 2014

....the WEF host

Manila hosting WEF on East Asia


By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer


 
“We feel the timing to be in the Philippines is superb and that’s linked to the very strong economic performance of the country, given that the Philippines has now become the benchmark for many countries in the world for good governance and tackling corruption,” - Sushant Palakutri Rao, senior director and head of Asia at WEF


The Philippines is hosting the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia for the very first time in May, providing the country with a global platform to showcase a story of economic growth achieved while embracing good governance and anti-corruption policy, a visiting WEF official said Thursday.

 
 
 
 
Sushant Palakutri Rao, senior director and head of Asia at WEF, said in a briefing that the East Asia Summit to be held on May 21-23 at the Makati Shangri-La, would bring a regional perspective to various global challenges identified during the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last month.
 
He said the upcoming summit would also discuss issues related to the ambitious plan to create by 2015 an integrated Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Economic Community, which will allow easier movement of people, investments, goods and services within the region.
 
“Because we are in the Philippines for the first time in our over 40-year history in the summit, we are also looking at issues that are relevant to the Philippines,” Rao said.
 

“We feel the timing to be in the Philippines is superb and that’s linked to the very strong economic performance of the country, given that the Philippines has now become the benchmark for many countries in the world for good governance and tackling corruption,” he said.
 
Several reports produced by the WEF over the years have identified the Philippines as one of the most improved economies in the last three years based on annual competitiveness rankings, Rao said.
 
He also cited the annual gender equity report where the Philippines consistently ranked on top of its regional peers and the only economy in the global top 10 roster.
 
At the same time, he said there were many good examples of social entrepreneurship initiatives that could be aptly tied up to the regional conversations.
 
“We’ve been fortunate over the past years of the East Asia Summit to be in the country which is shaping the story of the region in that particular year, which was very much the case in Myanmar last year and Indonesia in 2011,” Rao said.

 

...the emerging market for digital currencies

PHL is an emerging market for digital currencies - Citi

 

 
GMA News
February 21, 2014


A newly-released study commissioned by financial giant Citi has put the Philippines in the group of “emerging markets” in terms of use of digital money:

 

The study also picked the Philippines and Greece to illustrate that two countries within the same stage can face different challenges, and may even have to improve in vastly different areas. The report noted that investments in enabling infrastructure may be a priority for some countries. For others, lack of strong private sector may be a far bigger barrier.
 
 
“Both countries are a similar stage, but require a clear difference in priorities, with the Philippines needing to focus on market efficiency and corporate use-case accelerators, and Greece needing to focus on improving the ICT infrastructure and adoptio,” the report said.
 
 
 
— Newsbytes.ph

...the other Filipinos at the Sochi Olympics

Celebrating Filipinos at the 2014 Sochi Olympics

 
 

By Momar Visaya
Asian Wall street Journal
Published: February 21, 2014
 
Celebrating Filipinos at the 2014 Sochi Olympics
For a couple of nights during the first week of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Filipinos were hooked on their television sets (or computers) to watch and cheer for the lone Filipino olympian – Michael Christian Martinez.

During the opening ceremony, he proudly carried the Philippine flag. The Philippines was one of 17 countries that fielded only one representative in the games.

Martinez is not the first Filipino figure skater to participate in the Winter Games and the fifth overall.

A namesake, Michael Teruel, an Alpine skier represented the Philippines in the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. This is the fourth time that the country has participated in the Games (1972, 1988, 1992 and 2014).

On the first night of the figure skating competition, Filipinos from across the globe waited to see him skate during the short program, and prayed that he be qualified to compete for the medals competition and the long program the following evening.

Before he skated, Martinez sent a sent a message to his fans and followers through his Facebook page.

“This is for my mother, for God, for my family and for the country,” he wrote.

Martinez, who idolizes Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, qualified to join the 2014 Olympic Winter Games last September after placing seventh in the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany.

At the Sochi Games, Martinez got a score of 64.81, and placed 19th out of 29, qualifying him to compete in the free skate. He garnered 119.44 and finished 19th overall with a total score of 184.25

The 17-year-old figure skater also became the first Southeast Asian figure skater to ever compete in the Winter Olympics. Prior to the Olympics, he placed fifth at the 2013 World Junior Championships and has won two senior international medals.

What made the teener’s story compelling was the fact that he had to go through a lot of challenges in order to make it to Sochi. Media reports say that his family mortgaged their home just so he can fulfill his Olympic dream.

Then there were the injuries – he was out for two months in 2013 with a fractured ankle. In 2012, he was sidelined for three months after tearing a medial ligament in his knee in and in 2011, he tore two ligaments in his ankle, and it took him three months to recover. He also suffered a cut to his thigh from a skating blade in 2009, and took two months to recover.

According to his official Olympics profile, he was born with asthma. At age two months he was in hospital with asthmatic bronchitis.

“I literally grew up in the hospital as I was very sick. I couldn’t take up any sport. I tried outdoor sports when I was younger, but I easily got asthma attacks so I stopped. I had asthma maintenance medicine when I started skating, since the cold in the rink makes me sick too. But year after year my health keeps improving, so my mother fully supported me to continue skating. She said it’s better to spend the money on skating than in the hospital,” Martinez said.

His story

It all began when he was around eight years old, and went to a mall in Las Pinas. It was there where he saw kids, teens and even adults skating on an ice rink. He asked his mom if he could try it out and after a couple of hours, the young boy knew what he wanted to do.

That was nine years ago.

Today, that boy who dreamed is now a certified Olympian.

A recent AP report also said that Martinez is one of the top five most buzzed-about Olympic athletes on Facebook.

Shaun White, the American snowboarder whose bid for a third straight gold medal in the halfpipe fell short, had the early lead among attention-getting athletes, but figure skating is by far the sport that attracts the most interest. Martinez is the only figure skater – male or female – in the top five list; the other most popular athletes so far are Jenny Jones, the British snowboarder; Canadian skier Alex Bilodeau; and American snowboarder Jamie Anderson.

According to AP, Facebook said Friday that more than 24 million people have commented on the Olympics during Sochi’s first week, with a total of 48 million posts, comments and “likes.” The most activity was in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.

From AP to the Washington Post to NBC to Huffington Post and New York Times, Michael Christian Martinez became a toast of the media in Sochi, some of the features discussed his journey from a mall in a tropical country to the main stage of the Olympics.

Aside from Martinez, Filipino Olympics fans, viewers and netizens were happy to find out that there were three other Filipino athletes in Sochi competing under different countries.

JR Celski

The most famous among them is JR Celski, a short-track speed skater representing the United States.
He first made it into the consciousness of Filipino fans at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where he competed alongside his idol Apolo Anton Ohno.

Born to a Filipino mom (Sue) and a Polish dad (John Robert), JR was initially into inline skating. He quickly realized that there was no Olympic sport for inline skating so he tried skating on ice.

He won two bronze medals in Vancouver, a major achievement in itself since he almost missed the games because of a severe injury that happened five months before the opening ceremony. After crashing during a race, he cut his leg with his own skate blade, narrowly missing a vein which could have led to paralysis.

The 23-year-old JR was however, hell-bent on joining the Olympic team this time. Four years prior, he narrowly missed the 2008 Torino Olympics because he was underage by 17 days. His eventual recovery was swift and sure enough, he was able to make it to the team.

The Seattle native dominated at 2014 Olympic Trials, winning every distance and qualifying a spot on the team in each one. With four events at Sochi, Celski failed to make it to the podium this time, placing fourth in the 1500 meters.

Gilmore Junio

Then, there’s Gilmore Junio, a long track speed skating athlete representing Canada.

In his official Olympics profile, Junio said that he took up the sport because “I was too small for ice hockey, but saw an advert on TV for speed skating. The coach said I had potential.”

In Sochi, the 23-year-old Junio gave up his place in the 1000m to teammate Denny Morrison, who went on to win a silver medal in the race.

“To represent Canada at the Olympics is a huge honour and privilege but I believe that as Canadians, we’re not just here to compete; we are here to win. Denny has proven to be a consistent medal threat in the distance,” Junio said.

Junio was recently featured in MacLean’s Magazine, Canada’s weekly news and current affairs magazine, where he was praised for giving up the spot to his team-mate.

The backstory is this – Morrison, a specialist in 1000 meters, placed fifth during Canada’s Olympic trials late last year because his skate clipped his heel. Junio, a sprinter, qualified in both 500 and 1000 meters.

Days before the 1000 meters event, the program director for Speed Skating Canada asked Junio if he’d consider giving up his second event, so that Morrison could take his place.

The Maclean feature, which was titled “The race Gilmore Junio didn’t skate” said – The decision whether to step aside was left entirely to Junio. Imagine the import of that request. He’d spent four years on the national team gutting out a chance to make the Canadian Olympic team in Sochi; now he was asked to consider walking away from an Olympic race, to risk disappointing his parents, who flown to Russia to watch him race.

Junio told his family his decision Monday night, then he picked up the cell phone the Canadian Olympic team had provided athletes and he texted this to his friend Denny Morrison: “Are you ready for the 1,000m, yay or nay?”

This was a gesture that the Toronto Sun said “touched the hearts of Canadians and sports fans around the world.”

Morrison won the silver, narrowly missing the gold by four one hundredths of a second.

Canadians and some athletes representing the country started a campaign to name Junio as the flag-bearer during the closing ceremony this Sunday because of this selfless act.

According to The Sun, the ladi-back skater is still shocked that anyone would consider that decision a big deal.

“It was a no-brainer,” said Junio, the son of Filipino immigrants who came to Canada in the 1970s for a better life.

Walter Mirren, a Canadian, posted on Maclean website – “This young man – Gilmore Junio – has earned the right to carry our Canadian flag in the closing ceremonies. He has MORE than earned that honour. And in four years, young Mr. Junio will skate home with his own collection of medals. His parents in Canada and his relatives in the Philippines will be proud – as will be all of Canada and the Philippines.”

Ramon Romero, a Filipino-Canadian couldn’t agree more. He posted on the canada.com article on Junio – “Being a Filipino-Canadian myself I was emotionally filled with a huge sense of pride.

Watching Gil Junio cheer for Denny Morrison during the race, I felt myself too in Gil’s shoes and Denny’s skates winning the silver. Their teamwork truly exemplifies the Canadian Spirit in these games.”

Anne Line Gjersem

Not to be forgotten is figure skater Anne Line Gjersem, who is representing Norway.

According to an abscbnnews.com article, the 20-year-old Gjersem’s is the first Norwegian and the only figure skater to qualify in the Olympic event after 50 years. Not since 1964 has a Norwegian qualified to compete in the sport, which was ruled by Norwegian figure-skating legend and three-time gold medalist Sonia Henie in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Winter Games.

Anne Line and her twin sister Camilla Marie were born in Norway to Petter Gjersem, and Filipina Perlina Bangug, who hails from Ilagan, Isabela.

She placed 24th during the short program on Wednesday, Feb. 19th and garnered a score of 48.56.
Her official Olympic profile said that she started skating at the age of eight. She and Camilla decided at age nine they wanted to focus fully on figure skating. They initially trained once a week for a year, then started training daily with a private tutor. At age 12 she set herself the goal of competing at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

An AFP story said that this early, the Gjersem twins already have set their sights on the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea.

“She’s (her twin) at home in Norway in the studio watching. I face-timed (on the phone) with her before my programme,” said Anne Line. “She always says positive things to me and she’s my biggest supporter.”

Gjersem wore a light blue sequined outfit as she skated to “Maria and the Violin’s Sting” by Ashram.
“I’m very happy that Norway has a spot here. I’m very proud to represent my country and I’m very excited,” she told AFP after taking the 24th and final qualifying spot in the short programme.

“I’m quite satisfied with my programme. It could be a little bit better, the first jump, and I could have had more speed. I could feel it in my body that I was a bit tense. I enjoyed skating and was trying to do my best.”
 
 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

...the American Idol season 13 hopefuls

2 girls with Pinoy roots sing for votes on 'Idol'

 

Posted at 02/20/2014
 
 
Malaya Watson and Marrialle Sellars chosen for Rush Week. Photo from the official website of American Idol.
MANILA – Malaya Watson and Marialle Sellars, the two girls with Filipinos roots who made it to the 13th season of “American Idol,” were among the contestants chosen by the judges for Rush Week.

Along with eight other girls, Watson and Sellars were given the chance to perform for America’s votes on Tuesday (Wednesday morning in Manila).

Performing sixth for the night, Sellars sang Katy Perry’s “Roar” which the judges thought did not showcase her real talent.

“Your voice and your ability to perform is better than that. I don’t think that was the best song for you. I don’t think that was the tempo for you. I feel like it all came off too karaoke,” said judge Keith Urban.

“Intonation, singing in tune is big. Try to stay more in tune. Sing in the pocket. The first time I saw you, I was so impressed. I didn’t see that superstar which I think you are,” said judge Harry Connick Jr.

While lauding the contestant's poise after she nearly tripped over her high heels at the end of her performance, judge Jennifer Lopez thought Sellars should have played the guitar just like what she did when she auditioned.

“I would love to see you come out and do that in your guitar so people would see what we saw in you. This is not the best showcase of who you are. But the tremendous poise in the end was crazy. You won my heart in that,” she said.

Last but not the least

With only one spot left in the top 10, the six remaining girls in the “chamber” were already feeling the pressure.

Amid the tense atmosphere, the judges said they are picking Watson to take the 10th spot, citing her powerful vocals.

Known as the tuba player from the Southfield High School in Michigan, Watson performed “Hard Times” by Ray Charles which earned the judges’ nods.

“Welcome to the top 10. The stress for everyone has been so great. I just want to give you a big ol' donut. We all know how talented you are. I look forward to seeing you settling into a space,” Connick said.

“You make glasses and braces seem so cool. It’s confidence, you can make it work. If America votes you through, I can’t wait to hear what you’ll sing next,” added Urban.

Lopez, meantime, described Watson’s performance as “epic.”

“There is no doubt that you are one of the big powerhouses of this competition. Every time you get up there, for me it’s just epic… I just want to say that you did a great job tonight. I have to say you’re amazing and I really hope we have you around for a long time,” she said.

The other female contestants who were also picked by the judges to perform were:
  • Majesty York – “Happy” by Pharrell Wiliams
  • Kristen O'Connor – “Turning Tables” by Adele
  • Briana Oakley – “Warrior” by Demi Lovato
  • Jena Irene Asciutto – “Paint it Black” by Rolling Stones
  • Bria Anai Johnson – “Wrong Side of a Love Song” by Melanie Fiona
  • Jessica Meuse – “Drink A Beer” by Luke Bryan
  • Emily Piriz – “Paris” by Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
  • M.K. Nobilette – “All of Me” by John Legend
On Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), 10 boys will also get to perform for America’s votes. Results will be revealed on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

...the first US gold service Asian hotel

Filipino hotel brand is first in Asia to receive US ‘gold service’ certification
 
 
Sunstar.com
Wednesday, February 19, 2014

SEDA, AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts’ wholly-Filipino hotel brand, has been named a Certified “Gold Service” Property (CGSP) by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI).

It is the first hotel brand in Asia to receive this honor. The institute is a globally respected name in the hospitality industry with 15,000 hotel members worldwide.

Ed Kastli, AHLEI vice president, disclosed that being named a CGSP is an affirmation that an establishment’s front-liners meet the highest international standard of service. “It recognizes an establishment’s commitment to quality, service and hospitality.”

Seda is the first hotel brand in Asia which trained its staff in the customer “Gold Service” program. Hotel front-liners in the chain’s three properties – namely Seda BGC, Seda Abreeza in Davao City and Seda Centrio in Cagayan de Oro city – passed the individual certification.

Wilma Estaura, Seda’s group director for human resources and accredited trainor of the AHLEI’s Customer Gold Service program identified the goal: “We want our front-liners to anticipate the needs of guests and respond by offering service that is over and above their duty. This is what it takes to delight a guest.” She cites the case of front desk officers going out of their way to requisition for towels to offer guests who had been drenched by a typhoon, delighting those affected when they entered the hotel.

Seda’s group general manager Andrea Mastellone explained that the hotels monitor the comments of their guests online as well as in their daily interactions with Seda employees.

Management recognizes guest commendations as key indicators of delightful service. In December 2013, for instance, a guest traveling with family remarked: “The number one thing I like about this place is the service. You feel special because everyone remembers your name.” A guest from Riverside, California said in a post the same month: “Everyone was amazing. They made massage appointments, opened doors, did my laundry and room service – all with a smile.”

Kastli stated: “To create a lasting impression on guests, we encourage the staff to provide ‘wow experiences.’” Estaura relates that staff are trained to intuitively read a guest’s needs while remaining authentic and sincere and to respond promptly and selflessly. This special training ensures that each Seda destination will be offering the guest a distinctive and unique experience – “not a cookie-cutter approach,” said Estaura.

“To put it another way, we want guests to remember the staff who made their stay special… Mario, the hotel car driver, who gave his passenger a quick overview of the Philippines on the way from the airport to the hotel; Ivy, who serves during breakfast and remains pleasant even when the restaurant is packed; and so on. After all, it’s people who make all the difference.”

 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

...the Filipino conqueror at Sochi

Sochi Olympics: Martinez ends up at 19th but gains attention of nation, world


By Celest R. Flores
INQUIRER.net



Michael Christian Martinez of the Philippines competes in the men’s free skate figure skating final at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. AP/Ivan Sekretarev

MANILA, Philippines—He entered the biggest sporting stage with the modest goal of making it to the top 24 but Michael Martinez, the Philippines’ brave lone Winter Olympian, achieved way more than that.

In two nights, Martinez turned “triple Axel jump” into a household phrase and managed to make the entire nation rally behind him with his gutsy and inspired performances in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

With his routines scheduled near midnight in Manila time, it seemed like every Filipino stayed up to witness him make history on the rink—holding their breaths as he soared through a triple Axel, and crossing their fingers that Martinez won’t spill.

And the 17-year-old Martinez, the youngest among the seasoned competitors, definitely didn’t disappoint as he wound up 19th out of the top 24 at the close of the men’s figure skating competition.

He garnered a score of 64.81 in the short skate where he performed to the tune of “Romeo and Juliet,” then wowed in the free skate routine over the beat of “Malagueña” to earn 119.44 for the total of 184.25.

The 19-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu handed Japan its first-ever gold medal in a record-setting fashion, Canada’s Patrick Chan bagged silver and Kazakhstan’s Denis Ten went home with the bronze medal.
Martinez held the top spot after the first six skaters but gradually slipped down to his final placing.

In fact, it wasn’t just the Filipinos who were enamored with the gangly Martinez, even the foreign media couldn’t help but be drawn to his inspiring story: a kid who started in a mall ice skating rink in the humid Manila who ended up in the medal round in the Olympics.

His story, including the sacrifices he and his family made just to be able to sustain his figure skating dreams, were heard by thousands as it was carried by major news outfits from all over the world.

And getting that sustained financial support for his build-up until the 2018 Winter games doesn’t seem like a far-fetched idea now with the immense promise Martinez showed.

He may not be going home with a shiny medal dangling from his neck, but Martinez gained the attention and respect of the not only the entire nation but also the world.


 

Monday, February 17, 2014

...the Pinay performer at Sochi Olympics

Another Filipino to be seen in Winter Olympics

            
The Philippines' next Winter Olympian? This YouTube screencap shows Audrey Alcaraz performing at a mall event.


MANILA, Philippines - Figure skater Michael Christian Martinez is not the only Filipino skater at the Winter Olympics as a young Pinay is set to perform at the official closing ceremonies in Sochi, Russia.

Martinez's friend, Audrey Alcaraz, will be showcasing her skating prowess to the world on February 23, prior to Russia's ceremonial transfer of the Olympic flame to South Korea for the 2018 games.

Alcaraz, 13, said in an interview with Tempo that the invitation for her performance came all of a sudden.

She said that she does not know why she was chosen for the event, but said her third place finish at a training camp in Korea probably made a mark that led to the invitation for her to perform in Sochi.

The 8th grade student at Saint Pedro Poveda college said that she is honored for having been invited to perform. She also sees the performance as a very big opportunity for someone at such a young age. - Camille Diola
 
 

...the Asia's top microinsurance market

Philippines Asia’s top microinsurance market

 
Microinsurance coverage in the Philippines increased 21.3% to 19.95 million in 2013, making it the country with highest coverage among Asian emerging economies, followed by Thailand, 14.1%; India, 9.2%; and Bangladesh, 6.2%. Microinsurance coverage ratio is the total number of insured people as a percentage of the total population.

A global report, “The Landscape of Microinsurance in Asia and Oceania 2013,” showed that the Philippines and India lead in microinsurance. Only four countries have microinsurance coverage ratio greater than 5% – Philippines, Thailand, India, and Bangladesh – according to the report jointly published by Munich Re Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

There are 172.8 million individuals and properties having microinsurance coverage in Asia and Oceania. Life insurance was the main type in Asia and Oceania, covering 83.9 million people, the report said.

The Department of Finance (DoF) said the Philippines is serving as model for other countries. It has 17 life insurance companies, 18 non-life insurance companies, and 19 mutual benefit associations offering microinsurance products. They are subject to regulations by the Insurance Commission.

The Philippines is a developed microinsurance market, in which products are delivered through nontraditional means, in partnership with microfinancing firms, as well as through microinsurance agents and brokers. There has been an increase in microinsurance products by insurance companies, and four million microinsurance policies were sold by both mutual benefit associations and insurance companies. Low-premium insurance providers include cooperative insurance societies, mutual benefit associations, pre-need companies, and health maintenance organizations.

We congratulate the Department of Finance headed by Secretary Cesar V. Purisima and Insurance Commission Commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc, Officers and Personnel, for their coordinative efforts in advancing as well as developing an enabling environment for microinsurance for our Filipino people in our Republic of the Philippines.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

...the walk of faith

INC bags Guinness for walkathon

            
Thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members join the ‘Worldwide Walk’ for Typhoon Yolanda victims along Roxas Boulevard in Manila yesterday. JOVEN CAGANDE


MANILA, Philippines - The Guinness World Record announced that the Iglesia ni Cristo is the new record holder of the biggest charity walk in a single venue, with 175,000 INC members pouring into Manila’s seaside avenue yesterday to join the Worldwide Walk aimed to raise funds for Typhoon Yolanda survivors.

Guinness adjudicator Kristy Bennet said INC beat Singapore’s The New Paper Big Walk 2000 that had 77,500 participants on May 21, 2000.

“INC, you are officially amazing,” Bennet said when she announced the result at the Quirino Grandstand last night.

The INC’s Worldwide Walk kicked off at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and ended at the footbridge along Roxas Boulevard near the United States embassy.

All those taking part bought special white t-shirts each costing P250 to wear during the march, with all the proceeds donated to help the typhoon victims.

“We would like to collect extra funds in order to continue helping the survivors of the super typhoon, of which the primary beneficiaries would be members of the church in the Visayas region, but that does not mean that they would be the only ones who would benefit from the funds generated… From the proceeds of the walk we would do the same even for the non-members,” said INC event spokesman Edwil Zabala.

The INC’s Worldwide Walk is also competing for the largest charity walk in a 24-hour continuous worldwide walk in multiple venues.
 
The current record holder is the one organized by the Green Communities in Canada that had 231,635 participants who walked for a minimum of one kilometer at 1,011 different locations in Canada on Oct. 2, 2007.

For the Worldwide Walk, the INC identified 140 sites including Metro Manila for the multiple sites category, of which 85 sites are in the Philippines and 55 sites are in other countries: 34 in the United States, six in Europe, 10 in Australia, and five in Asia.

Zabala said the 24-hour continuous walk started in New Zealand at 2 a.m. Philippine time yesterday and would end in Hawaii at 1 a.m. Philippine time today.

The Guinness is yet to announce the result for the largest charity walk in the multiple venues category.

About 800 policemen from the Manila Police District and the National Capital Region Police Office were deployed at the INC event. Based on MPD’s estimate, there were about 1.5 million people in the area, including the marshals.

Chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, directorial staff of the MPD, said no untoward incident in connection with the event was monitored.

With the total closure of a stretch of Roxas Boulevard and several adjacent streets, the volume of traffic in Manila yesterday was lighter than expected. Classes in affected areas in Manila were suspended yesterday.

Chief Inspector Olivia Sagaysay, head of Manila’s traffic police, likened the flow of vehicles to that of a “regular day.”

She said although the traffic flow on Roxas Boulevard and other roads near the venue was affected, the participants cooperated with the police, making it easier for the authorities to handle the traffic situation. – With Aie Balagtas See, Eva Visperas