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Suddenly regulations restricting us to travel abroad have been lifted and everyone wants to pack a suitcase and fly somewhere. But as I am sure you have read, although the travel restrictions maybe gone, the airline industry is struggling to cope. Airlines that laid off large percentages of their workforce are struggling to get them back or recruit more staff. Airports are also trying to cope but many need more ground staff including baggage handlers and security staff. Those who are working are exhausted having to work longer hours with fewer back up colleagues. On Spanish airport managed to recruit more security staff only to find that 90% did not return to work on their second shift as they found the pace too much. Surging Airfares Airfares have risen in the last several months, with customers reporting hikes within hours, as summer travel demand booms after two years of Covid-19. A media representative for budget airline Vietjet said fuel accounts for around 40 percent of operating costs. She added that when fuel prices crossed $100 per barrel, airlines’ operating costs increased by 50 percent. International airfares have risen by 25-30 percent, with the HCMC-South Korea and HCMC-San Francisco routes recording prices of VND10-13 million and VND41-45 million, respectively. It is anticipated that Thailand’s aviation market is likely to be “the most active” in Asia along with Singapore which have also followed the relaxation of entry regulations. However, the growing demand for air travel is being offset by fallout from the war between Russia and Ukraine, the CAAT chief said. The rising cost of fuel is adding to airlines’ costs and would likely force them to raise airfares in the second quarter of this year. Crazy Price Rises The urge to travel by a global population coming out of the pandemic and lockdowns is gaining momentum. This coupled with the fuel hikes has made airlines look at the budgets and schedules and inevitably we the passengers must pay more. Only a few months ago it was possible to book a return ticket from Bangkok to London Gatwick for THB19,000 return with Scoot, the Singapore-owned budget airline. Now if you wish to book a return ticket with Scoot for travel in July the fare quoted online is THB31,400. Hardly a budget rate anymore! According to the online booking system Kayak, the cheapest flights out of London to Hanoi were flying with Three different airlines with three stopovers at US$1,399. For US$1,903 you could fly with Vietnam Airlines but again with two stopovers. In the past, I have flown with Qatar Airways to London via Doha for around US$833 but their fares have jumped too, and they will be restricting flights through Doha in the winter when the airport will be jam packed with World Cup football fans and teams arriving. The US fares up by 50% More Americans are also taking to the skies this summer than there are available plane seats, driving up ticket prices as airlines grapple with surging fuel costs, staffing challenges and smaller fleets. Airfares at American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — the three largest domestic carriers — shot up nearly 50% for the week ending May 23 compared to a year ago, according to an analysis by Cowen, a financial services firm. It is also expensive to go by road for domestic trips, with petrol at an all-time high, so perhaps the answer is to head for the railway stations. If you like an adventure, I suppose you could take the train from Hanoi and get a train to Kunming and then take the trans-Siberian express to Moscow and trains to London. However, that routing at the moment is a no-no as Russia is at war!!! Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking to Singapore media at the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali on Jun 25, 2022. (Photo: CNA/Aqil Haziq Mahmud) KIGALI, Rwanda: Singapore must do more to diversify its food sources as countries around the world are likely to continue prioritising local supply amid soaring prices, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (Jun 25) according to CNA. Mr Lee was speaking to Singapore media to wrap up his attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, where he has also urged countries not to become protectionist against a backdrop of pandemic-induced supply chain shocks. The Prime Minister on Saturday called the situation “worrying” but added that it is also “not so surprising” that countries are closing their export markets as supplies dwindle and prices rise. For instance, he pointed to how the war in Ukraine has disrupted the export of millions of tons of grain, causing a shortage in feedstock and thus an increase in poultry prices. “Countries are under pressure, and they will do things. It's not according to the rules of the WTO (World Trade Organization). You're not supposed to close your markets when supplies get short. But under pressure, this is what governments do,” he said. Singapore is a food importer “We are a food importer, so it is a problem for us. It's a problem which we anticipated already when COVID started.” At that point, Singapore worried about its supply of poultry, vegetables, and carbohydrates, Mr Lee said, adding that authorities had started expanding food stockpiles and diversifying imports from more places. “These are things which we have to do, and which we have been doing for some time. Which is the reason, when the supplies of chicken from Malaysia got cut off a few weeks ago, we were able to cope,” he said. “But I think the problem will continue. And we must do somewhat more, and MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) is actively working on this right now.” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong meeting with World Trade Organization Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali on Jun 24, 2022. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore) After Malaysia stopped exporting chicken from Jun 1 to prioritise local supply, Singapore moved to import more chilled and frozen chicken products from other countries like Australia and Thailand. In 2021, about one-third of Singapore's chicken imports came from Malaysia, with almost all of them live chickens that were slaughtered and chilled in Singapore. Malaysia has since partially lifted its ban, allowing Singapore to resume importing live kampung and black chickens from Jun 14. Mr Lee on Saturday encouraged people in Singapore to be more understanding of the situation and flexible with their food preferences, saying that this would be “helpful.” “If you can’t get kampung chicken, you can get some other chicken. It’s not chilled, it’s frozen, well that’s not bad too. And if you can’t get one variety of rice, if there is a problem, other varieties will be available, or something else will be available,” he said. “If we can be a little bit more flexible in our habits, it will be much easier to go through these difficult times.” UKRAINE WAR WILL “CONTINUE” Beyond food supply disruptions, Mr Lee said he also discussed with other Commonwealth leaders the war in Ukraine, which he expects will “continue for some time”. Russian forces seized full control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday, confirming Kyiv's biggest battlefield setback for more than a month following weeks of some of the war's bloodiest fighting. “I think if you asked me about the state of the war in Ukraine, it's going to carry on for some time, regardless whether or not Ukraine applies for membership in the European Union,” Mr Lee said. “It does not look like either side is ready to settle. It's a human tragedy, but they are in a situation where neither side is ready to make serious concessions.” Mr Lee said this spell bad news for the two countries and the rest of the world, as the war will bring “uncertainty, instability, tensions, the possibility of miscalculation and escalation, wider extension of the conflict”. The war’s “side effects,” including inflation and food supply disruptions, also come as the pandemic is not over yet, Mr Lee said, pointing to how Singapore is experiencing a growing wave of COVID-19 cases due to the BA4 and BA5 subvariants. “So, we just have to be prepared for that. To be united, to be upgrading ourselves, to be transforming our economy and girding ourselves to come out from this,” he added. “And to continue to come out from this present situation ahead of the other countries, whatever the difficulties, I think that's well within our capabilities.” WORLD IN "NEW POSITION” Adding to the challenges are the ongoing tensions between the US and China, Mr Lee said, adding that Washington no longer saw China’s rise as "benign". “It's a new position which the world is in,” he said. “And therefore, it's no longer a situation where, big countries are competing with one another, but basically at peace. Here, you have opponents, hostilities and bloodshed.” Small countries worry when tensions stew between big powers, Mr Lee said, especially if the small countries are forced to choose sides. Mr Lee also foresees competition to engage Asian countries, citing how global economic initiatives like the US’ Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and China’s Global Development Initiative have “competing ideas.” “And where they are not contradictory, we participate in both sides. But it is a situation which we will have to manage, and this is not a situation which is going to change very soon,” he added.

Buying Bitcoin on a crypto trading app. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dat Many investors are buying Bitcoin after the cryptocurrency’s price fell to US$20,000, its lowest level since December 2020 according to a report by VN Express. Thanh Binh of HCMC says he turned off notifications on his crypto trading app after buying it at $38,000 and losing over VND40 million ($1,720). But he has returned and bought a 10th of a token after prices dropped below $20,000. "The market has bottomed out and will recover by the end of this year, and so this is the right time for buying in," he says hopefully. Hai Ly of the southern province of Dong Nai has invested VND70 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest tokens by market cap. She wanted to diversify her portfolio and thinks their current prices are reasonable. She says Bitcoin operates in four-year cycles, and prices fall sharply at the end of each cycle before scaling new peaks. "The current cycle started in January 2019 and ended between May and July this year. Considering other factors, the current crypto slump is not abnormal." Prices will recover and hit a new peak by mid-2023, she says. Many investors see an opportunity in the current fall incryptocurrency prices though the recent selloffs wiped billions of dollars from the market. Search related to Bitcoin has surged to the highest levels in a year according to data from analytical website Google Trends. Hope is also fueled by rumors that Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, has quietly bottom fished a large amount of Bitcoin. Over 100,000 tokens have been added to the exchange’s cold wallet (physical device that keeps cryptocurrency completely offline), crypto-focused site Coingape has discovered from on-chain data. They amount to 0.5 percent of all mined Bitcoin and are worth over $2 billion at current prices. But CEO Changpeng Zhao denies it, saying the increase "means more users deposited in Binance." Money is also coming into crypto-centric investment funds. They have raised over $125 million in the week ended June 6 and $506 million in the year-to-date, asset management company CoinShares reported. Short-term Bitcoin funds, mainly used for speculating on the cryptocurrency’s slump, received $1.3 million. Bitcoin is being traded the fastest in a year, Yahoo Finance said. Other side But there are risks associated with bottom fishing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, experts warn. Speaking to VnExpress, Le Sy Nguyen, ASEAN regional manager of crypto exchange Bybit, says current prices are not attractive. The collapse of cryptocurrency Luna and its paired stablecoin Tether, and recent interest hikes in the U.S. have greatly affected market sentiments, with many investors opting out trading on extreme fear. "Anything can happen in this [volatile] period, which poses great risks to investors who try to benefit from bottom fishing in the short term." He says investors should invest for the long term or wait until the market stabilizes. "But no one can be sure whether it has hit bottom." The slump could prolong until the end of this year, he says. The founder of a digital asset’s startup, who does not want to be named, says it is impossible to give advice on whether to buy or not at the "current sensitive time." "It is inappropriate to evaluate digital assets using methods used for stocks, as they do not generate income like companies The number of wallets, users and transactions are key indicators of this market." Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Aircraft seen at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Phuong Linh Airfares have risen in the last several months, with customers reporting hikes within hours, as summer travel demand booms after two years of Covid-19 reported VN Express. HCMC resident Hanh was trying to book round-trip tickets to Phu Quoc a month earlier, but the travel agent quoted new prices every time she called. She said airfares for three people and one child rise from VND11 million ($473) to VND12 million in 10 minutes, and to VND13 million a few hours later. Hoa of Da Nang City said the cost of a round-trip to HCMC tripled to VND2.3 trillion within two months. She said that the longer she waited for the price to drop, it did the opposite. The most expensive domestic route, Hanoi-Phu Quoc, has seen round-trip ticket prices rise 20-30 percent to VND5-7.5 million from last month. Airfares from Hanoi and HCMC to Da Nang, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon have risen by over 25 percent in the last several months. International airfares have also risen by 25-30 percent, with the HCMC-South Korea and HCMC-San Francisco route recording prices of VND10-13 million and VND41-45 million, respectively. Vietnam Airlines head of communications Dang Anh Tuan said cheap tickets run out soon after the airline opens booking in the summer due to high demand. Another reason is that fuel prices have doubled, he added. A media representative for budget airline Vietjet said fuel accounts for around 40 percent of operating costs. When fuel prices crossed $100 per barrel, airlines’ operating costs increased by 50 percent, she added. Several carriers have said they will increase the number of flights to meet rising travel demand, but did not provide specifics. Vietnam Airlines will operate 36,000 flights from June to mid-August, while Vietjet will conduct around 450 flights a day this summer, most of them domestic. Bamboo Airways has said it would increase flights to have the number of seats on offer rise by 15 percent, focusing on routes to Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. It will also have more evening flights to reduce pressure at airports during peak hours, the carrier said. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

(PNA file photo by Oliver Marquez) MANILA – Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government's priority is to improve the supply of food in the domestic market to manage the rising prices of commodities. During the online forum of the Philippine Consulate General New York on Friday, Lopez said ensuring there is an adequate food supply is the government's strategy for easing inflation. "From our end, we cannot control the oil prices," Lopez said. "What we can do is support our agriculture sector. Any kind of support like machinery, mechanize them to improve their productivity. Fertilizers as well, and other support programs for our farmers and fisherfolk." While supporting the local agriculture sector to improve their productivity, Lopez said it is also a critical solution in the near-term to relax importation rules to increase the supply of products in the domestic market. "Importation is a big issue in our country. Many producers oppose this. But remember, with this issue of rising prices, the government's priority is the food supply available and for the prices not to further increase because we are feeding 110 million Filipinos, " Lopez added. He said to ensure that importation will help ease inflation, tariff and non-tariff barriers should be eased. These include measures in lowering to eliminating import duties as well as facilitating the free flow of trade. The outgoing trade chief added that these initiatives allowed the country to record an inflation rate within the 5-percent level in May, compared to the United States' inflation of 8.6 percent in the same month. Lopez said the faster inflation rate across the globe is mainly due to the rising oil prices amid the Ukraine-Russia war, which also affected the global trade of other commodities such as wheat, corn, and fertilizers, among others. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

(Presidential photo by Toto Lozano) MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday urged the incoming administration to continue leading the improvement of the country's railway systems. "It is my hope that you will never lose sight of this goal, as the enhancement of this vital transportation connection will be the key to unlocking even better opportunities for our countrymen," he said during the opening of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Lucena-San Pablo Commuter Line. Duterte stressed that an effective mass transportation system not only strengthens trade between rural and urban areas but also boosts tourism. In his remarks, the Chief Executive said this latest project is proof of the Duterte administration's commitment to enhancing mobility and connectivity across the archipelago. "With this, we will make everyone feel the change we have promised at the beginning of our term," he said. The reopened railroad shortens travel time between San Pablo, Laguna and Lucena, Quezon from one hour to 30 minutes. For Duterte, this also serves as a vital step towards restoring the PNR Bicol Express that will connect Metro Manila to the provinces in Southern Luzon and Bicol. "Indeed, our collective accomplishments throughout my term usher us into a brighter future where we can experience and feel the progress we have built from our shared aspirations," he said. "As my term in office draws to a conclusion, I am thankful that I spend my last days as President witnessing events like this and realizing that, even amidst the challenges around us, we will leave a legacy that brought meaningful and lasting changes to the lives that we have touched," he added. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

#SALAMATPRRD. Thousands of supporters and fans brave rains to witness the "Salamat PRRD" thanksgiving concert at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday (June 26, 2022). President Rodrigo Roa Duterte along with the outgoing and incoming government officials attended the event. (Screengrab from video of Robert Alfiler) MANILA – Rains did not dampen the spirits of thousands of supporters and fans of President Rodrigo R. Duterte who attended the "Salamat PRRD" thanksgiving concert at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. The police said around 3,500 people flocked to the place that also served as venue for Duterte’s miting de avance in 2016 elections. In an interview with reporters, event director Njel De Mesa said the thanksgiving concert was not only held to thank Duterte for serving the country the past six years, but also to express gratitude to supporters and fans who stood by the president amid criticism. Among the attendees was 18-year-old Agatha Tolentino who described herself as a “solid Duterte supporter” since Duterte joined the presidential race in 2016. “I wanted to see the President before he steps down because I never got the chance to see him in person…I was really amazed by his accomplishments, for example, the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program which will be a great help to our country,” she said in an interview. William Arevalo, 63, said the Duterte administration’s crackdown against crime and illegal drugs helped make the country and his city a safer place to live in. “He suppressed drugs, crime. There are fewer drug addicts now,” Arevalo, who hails from Caloocan, said. Pampanga-based Rachel Quesada said she did not think twice about attending the thanksgiving event even if it meant traveling to Manila from Pampanga. “Since this will be the last time, we will get to see PRRD during an event, we traveled all the way from Pampanga,” Quesada admitted that she did not always consider herself as a fan of the President, especially because of his manner of speaking which was sometimes considered “offensive” or “unpresidential.” She, however, later realized that his tough-guy image was his way of making people listen to what he had to say. She admired Duterte for being a like a “strict father” who had deep compassion for Filipinos. “You would really feel his concern, his care for Filipinos. He has done so much. It’s only now I felt so much love for the Philippines,” she added. Duterte arrived at the Quirino Grandstand a few minutes before 7 p.m. Both outgoing and incoming government officials were also spotted during the event. Various artists namely Andrew E. Chad Borja, Dulce, Freddie Aguilar, Ice Seguerra, Isay Alvarez, Jed Madela, Jimmy Bondoc, Martin Nievera, Moymoy Palaboy, Robert Seña, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performed during the concert. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

As an ex-pat, you can expect to pay a bit more living in the Philippines than you would in Thailand, although not everything will be more affordable. This is according to figures published in June 2022 by My Life Elsewhere https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/thailand/philippines Living in the Philippines has quite a few advantages compared to Thailand. For example, you would save on transport costs, entertainment, sports and childcare, but expect to pay a bit more on your groceries, housing, and eating out. Of course, this is just a snapshot look at costs, and you are likely to be able to save more by shopping around at food markets or even when condo hunting. If you lived in the Philippines instead of Thailand, you would: PAY 24.6% MORE FOR RESTAURANTS THAILAND PHILIPPINES Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $1.81 ฿61.28 $3.47 ₱175.62 +92.3% Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar $5.71 ฿193.82 $3.00 ₱151.82 -47.4% Bottle of Coca-Cola (0.33 liter) $0.64 ฿21.72 $0.74 ₱37.43 +15.7% SHOW 1 MORE.. Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of restaurants PAY 22.1% MORE FOR GROCERIES THAILAND PHILIPPINES Bread 1 loaf $1.34 ฿45.51 $1.18 ₱59.45 -12.3% Local cheese (500 grams) $7.53 ฿255.49 $2.85 ₱144.18 -62.1% Milk (1 liter) $1.66 ฿56.21 $1.73 ₱87.49 +4.5% SHOW 8 MORE.. Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of groceries PAY 29.4% LESS FOR TRANSPORTATION THAILAND PHILIPPINES Gasoline (1 liter) $1.23 ฿41.60 $1.34 ₱67.86 +9.5% Monthly public transit pass $23.16 ฿785.57 $10.75 ₱543.52 -53.6% New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $33,407.71 ฿1,133,189.57 $24,686.73 ₱1,247,667.17 -26.1% SHOW 1 MORE.. Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of transportation PAY 58.1% MORE FOR HOUSING THAILAND PHILIPPINES Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl $19.03 ฿645.50 $42.64 ₱2,155.27 +124.1% 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $289.36 ฿9,814.94 $370.81 ₱18,740.55 +28.1% 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $182.40 ฿6,187.07 $200.85 ₱10,150.90 +10.1% SHOW 1 MORE.. Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of housing PAY 44.5% LESS FOR CHILDCARE THAILAND PHILIPPINES Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $382.69 ฿12,980.79 $194.13 ₱9,811.55 -49.3% Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $10,907.98 ฿369,998.79 $6,562.73 ₱331,680.26 -39.8% Average -44.5% Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of childcare PAY 9.2% LESS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS THAILAND PHILIPPINES Domestic/local beer $1.92 ฿65.01 $1.36 ₱68.55 -29.2% Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.72 ฿58.20 $2.39 ₱120.69 +39.2% Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar $3.52 ฿119.27 $2.41 ₱121.80 -31.5% SHOW 2 MORE.. Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of entertainment and sports PAY 16.6% LESS FOR CLOTHING THAILAND PHILIPPINES Regular jeans Levi's brand $46.03 ฿1,561.39 $36.75 ₱1,857.54 -20.2% Regular dress from H&M or similar store $28.05 ฿951.33 $24.32 ₱1,229.08 -13.3% Running shoes Nike or Adidas $78.52 ฿2,663.50 $67.35 ₱3,403.83 -14.2% SHOW 1 MORE.. Thailand vs. Philippines - Cost of clothing This is just a snapshot of items taken in June 2022 and published by My Life Elsewhere. If you have more update information please let us know.

We have golf directories covering many top golf clubs in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore. Here are all the links: Golf in Thailand https://aseannow.com/forum/278-thailand-golf/ Golf in the Philippines https://aseannow.com/forum/347-philippines-golf/ Golf in Vietnam https://aseannow.com/forum/349-vietnam-golf/ Golf in Singapore https://aseannow.com/forum/399-singapore-golf/ Golf in Cambodia https://aseannow.com/forum/353-cambodia-golf/ Golf in Malaysia https://aseannow.com/forum/364-malaysia-golf/ Golf in Indonesia https://aseannow.com/forum/357-indonesia-golf/

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The debate is now starting to turn nasty with the PGA Tour’s commissioner ranting and raving and Rory saying he thinks winning is more important than money. Well, it is surprising he is saying this, as he was the golfer who stashed away US$120K a few years back by signing a deal with Nike, meaning he does not have to work again in his life. The point the likes of Jay Monahan seem to have overlooked is that each week half the field misses the cut and ends up actually making a financial loss having paid their caddies and travel expenses. Kiradech Aphibarnrat's season Looking at the Thai players on tour, Kiradech Aphibarnrat has his PGA Tour card and to date has earnt US$155,364 this season. Now that may sound a lot, but of the events, he managed to get into, he missed five cuts and has had to pay all his traveling expenses and caddy fees. He currently stands 202 in the FedEx standing and only the top 125 retain their cards. His earnings to date are US$3,899,794 and he turned pro in 2008. Pornanong Phatlum Veteran LPGA star Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum has played in eleven tournaments this season, and had five missed cuts and so far. She has earnt US$73,711. Her highest prize was US$15,724 for coming T32 at the Meijer LPGA Classic. She got her LPGA card back in 2009 and to date, she has earnt US$4,381,481 on tour. Meanwhile, Charl Schwartzel won US$4,750,000 and it only took him just three days by winning the inaugural LIV Golf Tour. Phachara Khongwatmai Phachara Khongwatmai the Asian Tour player from Thailand who had his first ewinners cheque for US$180,000 by winning the Laguna Phuket Championship. He also played on the LIV Golf Tour in St Albans and won US$538,000 in the three-day event, and he will be again teeing up in the next event in the USA guaranteed US$120,000 if he just comes last in the field of forty-eight. So, you can see why so many golfers are looking seriously at their bank accounts and thinking I would like to join the gravy train too. The potential future It seems the DP World Tour would benefit by joining the LIV Tour and running tournaments around the World along with the Asian Tour, instead of fining LIV Golf tour players US$100,000. That would leave the PGA Tour running US-based tournaments. Players should be allowed to enter the majors based on merit, and the World Ranking should apply to all tours. If the PGA Tour can increase its purses as stated. Why not put that money towards all players who tee up each week guaranteeing that they do not financially lose out by missing the cut? Also, put back more into the junior tours. Everyone has been focusing on the men but expect the LPGA and the LET tours to sit down soon and work out a way how to benefit from LIV Golf tours funding. Watch this space, the soap opera has only just started.

Lim Li Ting/Today The bedroom where a fire broke out at a unit in Block 218 Marsiling Crescent. Two toddlers were asleep in the bedroom at the time. SINGAPORE — A father believes the lives of his two toddlers were saved by the quick-thinking actions of the older child, aged three, when the pair were trapped in a fierce fire in the family's Marsiling flat reported Today. Mr Shah Ain, 23, said the toddlers were home alone when the fire broke out in a bedroom where they were sleeping about 10.40pm on Wednesday (June 22) after his wife had gone out briefly to buy groceries nearby. The three-year-old said he had dragged his brother, aged one, away from the burning bedroom to the living room, Mr Shah, a food delivery driver, told TODAY on Thursday. "My first son has blisters on his ears because he was protecting his younger brother and hugging him. Most of the injuries, he took for his brother," he said, tearing up. His younger son sustained minor cuts. The toddlers were found conscious in the living room by two police officers who had evacuated about 60 residents around the fire, which was in a second-floor Housing and Development Board (HDB) unit of Block 218 in Marsiling Crescent. The pair were taken by ambulance to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. They are expected to be discharged on Friday, said Mr Shah. The decision of the police to search for the toddlers appears to have been prompted by Mr Shah's next-door neighbour, Mr Sebastian Ng, 26. He told TODAY on Thursday that he realised there was a fire because of the strong smell. After leaving his flat, he saw a thick cloud of black smoke coming from his neighbour's flat and heard several explosions. "I carried my kids down the block before I came back to check my neighbour's flat," Mr Ng said. He described his relationship with Mr Shah's family as friendly, as he often saw the two toddlers playing along the corridor. "My wife heard the babies crying so I went back to open the door and because the smoke was so thick, we thought that we misheard (the sound of crying)," he said. Before he could enter the flat, he heard another explosion. Feeling uneasy, he then told the police officers at the stairwell to go into the flat to check if the two toddlers were inside. "Luckily I told the officers because the kids were really inside. But I feel bad for not going in sooner," he said. Lim Li Ting/Today The living room of the Block 218 Marsiling Crescent unit where a fire broke out on June 22, 2022. Mr Shah said his wife, aged 22, had gone out briefly to buy groceries nearby, leaving the two toddlers at home alone. A few minutes after heading out, she received a call from her neighbour, informing her that a fire had broken out at her flat. She then called Mr Shah who immediately thought of the children's safety. He said: "I panicked, because it was already past 10pm and my sons would usually be sleeping around 9.30pm. So, I was worried about them." Though he is still unclear on how the fire started, he said that it started in their bedroom, where the toddlers were sleeping. In a statement on Facebook, the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) said when its officers had arrived at the scene "the fire was raging, and thick black smoke was emitting from the unit". When TODAY spoke to Mr Shah outside his flat, he was moving his remaining possessions to a replacement flat in the area. Among the items salvaged were two bicycles, a drawer of clothes, several pairs of shoes, a skateboard, photographs, and documents. The bedroom and living room were completely charred, with all the furniture, such as the bed and sofa burned. He said: "When I first saw my house, I couldn't think of anything. Because there isn't a lot that I can take, most of the items have been damaged already. This is the first house I have rented. "For the items, I will just ask HDB to throw away. There's nothing much I can do now." The couple live together with their two kids and moved into the flat late last year. "We really needed to find a rental house because my family house is quite crowded, so we had no space to sleep. At least we had a bigger space to sleep," he said. Mr Shah said that because he had just moved in recently, he was grateful that his neighbours went the extra mile. "I am not very close to my neighbours because I just moved in, so I did not expect this at all," he said.

Le Thi Kim Ngan intended to raise her kids by herself after her marriage failed until she met and fell in love with another burn survivor reports VN Express. Ngan, 35, awoke early in the morning to find Nguyen Van Minh, 33, cooking in the kitchen in their small house in HCMC's Cu Chi District. After breakfast she got ready to open the store where she sells medicated oil and stitches clothes. Meanwhile, Minh drove her younger son, a fourth grader, to school, while her older child rode his bicycle. She says with a smile: "Minh and the boys oversee all housework. I often joke that it takes three men to make a woman happy." A new chapter appears to have opened in Ngan and her children's lives since Minh showed up. "I used to do everything myself, like I am the man and pillar of the house. But when I'm around him, I act more feminine and childish." Four years ago, while suffering from a severe lung disease and being pursued by a creditor for money he lost betting on football, Ngan's ex-husband burned down their house with gasoline while she and the children were inside. Certain she would die, she rushed to protect her kids. The children were safe, but she suffered 92 percent burns. Waking up in a hospital, she again learned how to stand and walk again. Le Thi Kim Ngan and her sons stand in front of her store in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Diep Phan Braving stares from strangers, she stepped back into society with her sons as the source of motivation. She sells products online by live streaming with her scarred face. She even relocated to HCMC from her hometown in the central Phu Yen Province to escape the past and open a tailoring shop at home. Meanwhile, many burn survivors have been inspired by her story. She even gives them direct advice and mental support throughout the treatment process. Minh, who suffered 52 percent burns in a motorcycle fuel tank explosion in 2020, was one of them. She went to HCMC's Cho Ray Hospital to see him after learning about his situation on social media but was unable to meet him the first time. She later paid him a visit to try and encourage him. Since his knuckles were stiff due to the burns, Minh could not ride a motorcycle and struggled to even feed himself. When a visitor came to the house, he would retreat to his room. Ngan frequently visited his house and took him to her house to cheer him up after noticing how he closed and stayed behind his door. "I was surprised that Ngan had been badly burned but was very confident, optimistic and cheerful," the former watercolor painter recalls. He would take a motorbike taxi from his house to Ngan's shop on occasion to play with and take care of her children while she was away. They once drove a friend, also a burn survivor, to a hospital for surgery. Ngan lingered to speak with one of the patient's family members. Minh too sat there waiting for her instead of returning home. "Why are you still here? Why haven't you returned home yet?" she asked Minh. He just smiled and sat there for two hours, saying nothing while waiting for her. "At the time, I knew I loved Ngan, but I didn't dare say it because I couldn't even take care of myself," he says. Ngan thought of him as a younger brother and even tried to introduce him to a woman. She always encouraged him to exercise so that his joints regained full function and to take the initiative in life rather than sit and do nothing. Ngan and her two sons returned to their hometown Phu Yen after Covid-19 broke out in HCMC. They came back to the city during the 2022 Lunar New Year after the epidemic had subsided because she wanted to reopen her shop. "I did not return to HCMC because of Minh though I knew he had feelings for me," she says. Minh helped them clean and fix the tailor shop. When Ngan got on the motorbike to go to the market, he said, "Let me drive." "But you can't drive yet!" "It's fine, I’ll drive!" He grabbed the steering wheel and drove her to the market. Because he wanted to visit her more often, he practiced cooking and asked a friend to teach him how to ride a motorcycle for two months. Though less severely burned than her, he has only the two middle fingers left in his right hand while the rest are stubs. As a result of not using them right away, the joints in his arms and legs had become stiff, causing numbness when holding the handlebars. Minh can cook simple meals but must use his non-dominant left hand. People with burns sometimes have difficulty standing for long periods of time and sweat profusely. But because he wants to take the initiative and help someone he cares about; he practices every day. "I was really moved the moment I sat in the back of the motorbike and realized he had changed because of me," she says. They went to the market that day to buy ingredients for her favorite dish, sour soup. Minh made the meal himself, taking Ngan from one surprise to the next. Even though neither of them said anything about love after the meal, they became a couple. Ngan and Nguyen Van Minh in front of their house in HCMC's Cu Chi District in May 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Diep Phan His family is strongly opposed to his dating a divorced woman with two children. But Minh is clear that she is the one he loves and says it does not matter if she has two or 10 children. They moved in together in early May. Minh recently appeared on Ngan's sales livestream. Every day he picks up the kids for her to share the burden with the one he loves. "He too lost his mother when he was 13," she explains. "After much suffering, I have finally found someone who loves and cares for me." Bich Lien, Ngan's twin sister and a disabled single mother herself, says she was overjoyed when her sister found a man after going through seemingly insurmountable experiences. She says: "Minh accepts that he is the father of Ngan's sons. He does not want to have any more because he wants to devote himself to his two children. I am overjoyed and admire their love." Minh's wish is to make a better life for himself and for Ngan. He intends to throw a small party next year to announce the two of them as a couple. "Ngan and I have different pasts but came together as a result of love." Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Parts of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Photo by AFP China's drills on Vietnam's Paracel Islands are a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty that complicates the South China Sea situation, foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Thursday. VN Express reported that Hang said that China's actions "have severely violated Vietnam's sovereignty over the islands, gone against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, complicated the situation and is not beneficial for current negotiation processes between China and ASEAN for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea and the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the sea." The South China Sea is known as the East Sea in Vietnam. Hang was responding to questions about an announcement by the Hainan Department for Ocean Affairs on June 13 about a Chinese military drill on June 19 on a north-western area of the Paracel Islands. The announcement barred vessels from entering the area during the drill. "Vietnam resolutely protests any action that violates the sovereignty and relevant rights regarding the islands," Hang said. Responding to another question about Japanese media reports that said China plans to create "internal waters" on the South China Sea, Hang said "Vietnam believes that countries share a common desire and goal to maintain and foster peace, stability and cooperation for development in the East Sea, as well as resolving conflicts in accordance with international law and UNCLOS." Vietnam affirms its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in accordance with international law, as well as the sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction rights on sea regions as determined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), she said. On June 18, the Sankei had reported that China was trying to establish its "internal waters" in the South China Sea and forbade foreign vessels from entering them, but the paper did not mention specifics. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

NO THREAT. Major Jepphre Taccad, Ilocos Norte police spokesperson, says on Thursday (June 23, 2022) there are no reports of threat of violence related to the June 27 mass oath-taking of elected officials. Nonetheless, authorities are still taking precautions by deploying a battalion to guard the venue at the Laoag City Centennial Arena. (Contributed file photo) LAOAG CITY – The Ilocos Norte police on Thursday said it has not received any information on any threat of violence directed toward government authorities and buildings. Nonetheless, authorities are still taking precautions for the mass inauguration of newly-elected provincial, municipal, and city officials on June 27. Maj. Jepphre Taccad, Ilocos Norte police spokesperson, said they will deploy a battalion to guard the Laoag City Centennial Arena where some 5,000 people will attend the event. “As a precautionary measure, we will be on full alert status,” he said, citing barricades will be set up near the area. Earlier, local officials here have been eyeing reopening the bigger and better Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium as a venue for the mass oath-taking ceremony but due to unpredictable weather, organizers opted to move it to the Centennial Arena. As of this posting, incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has yet to confirm his attendance at the mass inauguration. Confirmed to administer the mass oath-taking ceremony is Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa "Imee” Marcos, two village chairpersons, and a judge. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

INDIVIDUAL EFFORT. Antique Integrated Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ric Noel Naciongayo (center) with Nurse 4 Sheree Vego (left) and Dr. Ellen Grace Balinas (right) during a press conference on dengue on Thursday (June 23, 2022). Naciongayo said individual efforts should be done to clean households as the province recorded 979 dengue cases as of June 19, which is 355 percent higher than the 215 cases recorded during the same period in 2021. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique provincial government is urging residents to exert more effort in cleaning their surroundings to get rid of the common breeding sites of mosquitoes as dengue cases continue to rise in the province. Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) chief, Dr. Ric Noel Naciongayo, during a press conference Thursday, said that based on their data as of June 19, there are 979 cases of dengue, which is 355 percent higher than the 215 cases recorded during the same period in 2021. The number of deaths is placed at four this year while there was only one fatality last year. At present, Naciongayo said dengue cases continue to climb despite the regular cleanup of the local government units and barangays. “Individual efforts or the households should have to do their own share in cleaning their homes and getting rid of the mosquito breeding places,” Naciongayo said. With the rise in cases, he said people should meticulously clean their households of containers and other breeding sites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes, which transmit the virus. “Households have to really search and destroy mosquito breeding sites by checking on their water containers where there could be larvae,” he said. Common mosquito breeding grounds around households are tires, trash bins, drums, buckets, clogged gutters, and open containers with stagnant water. “All the 18 towns in the province have already (reported) dengue cases,” he said. The municipalities with high dengue cases are San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom, Hamtic, Bugasong, and Anini-y. As of Thursday, there are 74 admissions of dengue in 13 hospitals in the province. The IPHO chief also advised the public not to self-medicate if they have dengue symptoms and to let health personnel attend to them. “There are barangay health workers nearest you who could attend to your health needs,” so proper treatment can be given, he said. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (File photo) MANILA – The Philippines was the one that initiated the termination of oil exploration talks with China, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed Thursday. In his speech during the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) Foundation Day, Locsin said both sides tried to negotiate for three years and got as far as constitutionally possible. However, another step forward would have risked a "constitutional crisis". "That explains the sudden pull-back on my part which unraveled three years of sincere hard work on the part of Wang Yi and me. We had both tried to go as far as we could -- without renouncing China's aspiration on his part; and constitutional limitations on my part. I shut down shop completely," he said. "The president had spoken. I carried out his instructions to the letter: oil and gas discussions are terminated completely. Nothing is pending; everything is over," he added. He noted that throughout the three-year talks, the Philippines never surrendered even a particle of its sovereignty. The top diplomat said it now falls on the next administration's shoulders to protect the Philippine sovereignty "all the way to the wire". "The irreducible template of what is constitutionally possible is there in black and white. Surrender of any portion of Philippine sovereignty is not an option," he said. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Money will be the biggest factor when you’re choosing where to live. Today US$1 will get you 54PHP. International Living reports that you could comfortably live on US$800 to US$1200 a month, covering housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and taxes This is just a snapshot, as it will depend on your location and living standards of course. While housing is typically your highest expense, you’ll need to consider other costs such as: · Apartment deposits and agency fees. · Moving and shipping costs. · Flights to the Philippines. · Daily expenses. · Visa fees. As an example, prices of basic products in the Philippines are generally lower than in other countries. You would expect to pay 1.96 times less for shopping in the Philippines than in the United States. Food prices in supermarkets are lower than in Europe and the United States. For example, in the Philippines you have to pay for: 1. Bottle or carton of milk (1 liter): (89 PHP) 2. Popular yellow cheese (1 kg): (339 PHP) 3. A bottle of beer from a known brand: (96 PHP) 4. A sausage or cold cuts (1 kg): (780 PHP) 5. A mid-range wine (one bottle): (361 PHP) If you fancy eating out, then you can choose a meal from many different types of cuisine. For example, a meal for two people, in a restaurant: 1. Asian Restaurant (1,200 PHP) 2. Chinese Restaurant (1,100 PHP) 3. French Restaurant (1,500 PHP) 4. Italian Restaurant (1,300 PHP) 5. Japanese Restaurant (1,200 PHP) 6. Mexican Restaurant (1,100 PHP) If you are into your Burger King or McDonald expect to fork out 150 PHP for a similar combo meal For coffee lovers: cappuccino coffee 132 PHP and espresso 92 PHP. Taxis If you like getting around in comfort, you’ll be pleased to know that Filipino taxis are relatively cheap. Manila Taxi fares start at the base charge of PHP ₱ 40 and PHP ₱ 11.67 for every subsequent Km while the traffic wait time is PHP ₱ 145.00 per hour or PHP ₱ 2.42 for every 60 seconds. Taxi Prices in Cebu would be cheaper at PHP21.32 a mile (Normal Tariff) and Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) would be PHP126. Meanwhile, the average price for renting a car in the Philippines (e.g., Volkswagen Golf or Toyota Corolla) would be around US$1,380 a month or PHP74,725. Of course, by shopping around you will always be able to get some bargains for sure. Try going online if you want to hire locally or want to find a cheaper alternative. Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Overall, the cost of living in Vietnam is lower than in Thailand, even in a major city such as Ho Chi Minh City. As an ex-pat, you can expect to pay about 20 to 30% less than you would in Thailand, although not everything will be more affordable. This data is according to figures published in June 2022 by My Life Elsewhere. There are quite a few advantages in living in Vietnam compared to Thailand. For example, you would save on transport costs, entertainment, sports and childcare, but expect to pay a bit more on housing and eating out. Groceries to be fair are almost identical. Of course, this is just a snapshot look at costs, and you are likely to be able to save more by shopping around at food markets or even when condo hunting. PAY 2.8% MORE FOR RESTAURANTS THAILAND VIETNAM Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $1.81 ฿61.28 $2.06 ₫46,802 +14.1% Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar $5.71 ฿193.82 $4.84 ₫109,800 -15.4% Bottle of Coca-Cola (0.33 liter) $0.64 ฿21.72 $0.58 ₫13,202 -9.2% Bottle of water (0.33 liter) $0.32 ฿10.86 $0.39 ₫8,843 +21.6% Average +2.8% PAY 0.8% MORE FOR GROCERIES THAILAND VIETNAM Bread 1 loaf $1.34 ฿45.51 $0.90 ₫20,407 -33.0% Local cheese (500 grams) $7.53 ฿255.49 $7.20 ₫163,492 -4.4% Milk (1 liter) $1.66 ฿56.21 $1.43 ₫32,473 -13.7% Eggs 1 dozen $1.55 ฿52.70 $1.42 ₫32,341 -8.3% Boneless chicken breast (1 kg) $2.15 ฿72.94 $3.65 ₫82,782 +69.6% Apples (1 kg) $2.39 ฿81.12 $2.75 ₫62,468 +15.0% Bananas (1 kg) $1.16 ฿39.25 $1.10 ₫24,906 -5.2% Oranges (1 kg) $1.71 ฿57.87 $1.60 ₫36,284 -6.3% Tomatoes (1 kg) $1.22 ฿41.47 $0.95 ₫21,538 -22.4% Potatoes (1 kg) $1.17 ฿39.74 $1.22 ₫27,589 +3.7% Onions (1 kg) $0.91 ฿30.87 $1.04 ₫23,629 +14.3% Average +0.8% PAY 17.9% LESS FOR TRANSPORTATION THAILAND VIETNAM Gasoline (1 liter) $1.23 ฿41.60 $1.11 ₫25,287 -9.2% Monthly public transit pass $23.16 ฿785.57 $7.61 ₫172,857 -67.1% New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $33,407.71 ฿1,133,189.57 $41,229.46 ₫936,073,553 +23.4% Taxi trip in downtown area (8 km) $6.73 ฿228.41 $5.48 ₫124,379 -18.6% Average -17.9% PAY 4.0% MORE FOR HOUSING THAILAND VIETNAM Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl $19.03 ฿645.50 $10.34 ₫234,818 -45.7% 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $289.36 ฿9,814.94 $370.83 ₫8,419,258 +28.2% 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $182.40 ฿6,187.07 $231.89 ₫5,264,842 +27.1% Utilities for two (65 m2 apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating $43.42 ฿1,472.66 $46.24 ₫1,049,838 +6.5% Average +4.0% PAY 29.6% LESS FOR CHILDCARE THAILAND VIETNAM Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $382.69 ฿12,980.79 $170.02 ₫3,860,038 -55.6% Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $10,907.98 ฿369,998.79 $10,518.96 ₫238,822,474 -3.6% Average -29.6% PAY 36.3% LESS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS THAILAND VIETNAM Domestic/local beer $1.92 ฿65.01 $0.90 ₫20,546 -52.8% Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.72 ฿58.20 $1.83 ₫41,442 +6.4% Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar $3.52 ฿119.27 $1.33 ₫30,289 -62.1% Monthly membership at local gym $44.86 ฿1,521.58 $23.21 ₫526,952 -48.3% Movie ticket to theater/cinema $5.07 ฿171.84 $3.82 ₫86,671 -24.6% Average -36.3% PAY 15.8% MORE FOR CLOTHING THAILAND VIETNAM Regular jeans Levi's brand $46.03 ฿1,561.39 $36.93 ₫838,372 -19.8% Regular dress from H&M or similar store $28.05 ฿951.33 $35.21 ₫799,394 +25.5% Running shoes Nike or Adidas $78.52 ฿2,663.50 $92.94 ₫2,110,185 +18.4% Men's business shoes (leather) $64.24 ฿2,178.90 $89.47 ₫2,031,217 +39.3% Average +15.8% PAY 4.0% MORE FOR HOUSING THAILAND VIETNAM Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl $19.03 ฿645.50 $10.34 ₫234,818 -45.7% 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $289.36 ฿9,814.94 $370.83 ₫8,419,258 +28.2% 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $182.40 ฿6,187.07 $231.89 ₫5,264,842 +27.1% Utilities for two (65 m2 apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating $43.42 ฿1,472.66 $46.24 ₫1,049,838 +6.5% Average +4.0% PAY 36.3% LESS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS THAILAND VIETNAM Domestic/local beer $1.92 ฿65.01 $0.90 ₫20,546 -52.8% Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.72 ฿58.20 $1.83 ₫41,442 +6.4% Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar $3.52 ฿119.27 $1.33 ₫30,289 -62.1% Monthly membership at local gym $44.86 ฿1,521.58 $23.21 ₫526,952 -48.3% Movie ticket to theater/cinema $5.07 ฿171.84 $3.82 ₫86,671 -24.6% Average -36.3% The statistics used to build this comparison by My Life Elsewhere website is calculated using data from users just like you. They average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Page last updated: June 2022. I am sure many of you may have your own rates to compare, so feel free to add your own prices and rates. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon / FacebookThe start of the 2019 SINGAPORE — The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon will return as a full-scale event in December with up to 50,000 participants expected, after two editions that were adapted and pared back due to the Covid-19 pandemic reported Today. For the first time since 2019, this year’s race will see a mass start and road race format, as well as full and half marathons, the organisers said in a news release on Wednesday (June 22). While the 2020 edition was held with a “hybrid race format” featuring augmented reality, 2021 saw in-person running return on a limited scale. “Last year’s edition, the largest in-person running event held in Singapore since the Covid-19 pandemic began, saw 4,000 runners flagged off in waves of 50 – with three moving off every 10 seconds – to ensure safe distancing,” the organisers said. “In addition, only the 5km, 10km and the relay categories were held in-person to keep the participant numbers low. “With events in Singapore reopening to full capacity, this year’s SCSM is expected to draw up to 50,000 participants over the two-day event from Dec 3 to Dec 4.” Prevailing Covid-19 safe management measures will be in place during the event, and road closures can be expected during the event. The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon’s operator Ironman Group has been monitoring the pandemic situation in Singapore since last year’s event, said the group’s Asia managing director Jeff Edwards. It worked with Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Standard Chartered Bank and other stakeholders to determine the format for this year. “With the restrictions easing, we are delighted to be able to organise an event that our runners have grown to love year after year,” he said. “We have full confidence that this year’s event will mark the safe return of mass participation events as we come back bigger than 2021, with more in-person race categories and a mass start.” To mark to return of the event in its “true form,” the organisers unveiled a new logo for the event featuring the Merlion “to signify the event’s positioning as a city race” and an orchid “to symbolise hardiness and resilience.” The event weekend will kick off on Dec 3 with 5km and 10km races. The 21.1km half marathon and the 42.195km marathon will be held the following day. Participants have the option of taking on the event’s Double Up Challenge which will require them to run the 5km or 10km race followed by the half or full marathon on consecutive days. A kids’ dash will also be held, with details to be announced later. Priority registration for the event will begin at 10am on Thursday. This is open to members of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 300km club and runners who participated in the full marathon in 2019. Registration for the public will begin at 10am on Friday. According to the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon website, the four main races will be held in the morning, with starting times between 4.30am and 8.30am. The 2019 edition of the event had kicked off in the evening, and caused a traffic gridlock around the city area, which left many members of the public frustrated. STB chief executive Keith Tan welcomed the event’s return in its full format. “As we welcome more visitors back to Singapore, premier sporting events such as the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2022 will reinforce our position as a leading destination for sports in the region and boost our reputation as a vibrant business and lifestyle destination,” he said. SportSG CEO Lim Teck Yin said that the event would provide a boost to Singapore’s running community. “The welcome return of a full-scale SCSM will once again bring new and experienced runners, families and friends together to challenge themselves, train and bond towards a year-end goal.”

Vulcan Point One of the Philippines' geographical features, which is as interesting and unusual, as it is difficult to say correctly - the Largest Island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island. Vulcan Point is a tiny island some 40m long, inside Crater Lake at the summit of the Taal volcano, itself within lake Taal, on the island of Luzon. From a natural feature to a man-made spectacle, that of the most mentos and soda fountains. The minty sweets have a violent and foamy reaction when they meet diet sodas, leading to these fountains. At this event at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Manila, 2,865 such fountains were created simultaneously. A different kind of mass explosion now, with the Most fireworks rockets launched in 30 seconds. 125,801 rockets were launched in Cebu in May 2010, from sixteen stacks of 8,000 rockets each - creating quite the display! Next comes one of the very latest Filipino record breakers - Junrey Balawing was measured and confirmed to be the new shortest living man when he turned eighteen on 12 June. Junrey was found to be just 59.93cm (23.5 inches) tall when measured six times over a day at the Sindangan Health Centre near his home. Ferdinand Marcos Lastly, this is perhaps one of the most infamous records that a Filipino has held. In 1986, the Guinness World Records named late dictator Ferdinand Marcos for the greatest robbery of a government. GWR cited the Philippine government for identifying USD 860.8 million worth of stolen wealth. The total national loss from November 1965 was believed to be $5–$10 billion,” the website read. The page was taken down from the Guinness World Records website in March 2022. According to a statement from Guinness World Records on Twitter, they are reviewing the title and re-examining records to ensure they are up to date and accurate. They are also checking if the record has been broken or not. The organization also emphasized that this move to review was their decision alone and that they “do not dispute this record as a historical fact, nor are we disputing that we monitored the record title and published it in our books and online.” Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, Committee on Health chairperson. (PNA photo by Che Palicte) SAN ISIDRO, Davao Oriental –The “no booster, no policy” should not be imposed as mandatory, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said Wednesday even as he called for the strengthening of the vaccination drive in the country. “It is so hard to push for it and make it mandatory. We have the right [not to get it or to have it]. Instead, we should intensify the vaccination drive,” Go said in an interview. In April this year, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion sought the presentation of booster cards as a requirement in entering enclosed establishments starting this month. Concepcion said this would encourage more people to get their booster shots against the coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19). Go, the Senate Committee on Health chair, said other equally-effective measures can be implemented, such as the delivery of vaccines to more far-flung areas. “Let me remind our fellow Filipinos that the vaccines are available. Only 150 million doses were utilized, and we have a total of 245 million doses,” he said. Go also expressed concern that only 20 percent of fully vaccinated individuals got their booster shots. “Let's not be complacent, Covid-19 is still here. Every time we shift to Alert Level 1 we became complacent. Let us not wait for the cases to rise again,” he said. Meanwhile, the senator said President Rodrigo Duterte is urging Filipinos to continue to wear their face masks until he ends his term on June 30. “Beyond June 30, I don’t know what would be the decision of the next administration, but I know they will do everything for the interest of the Filipinos,” he said. Go is in this town to distribute various types of assistance to low-income residents. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

REHIRING. Cebu Pacific Air Inc. chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei says the airline is rehiring its laid-off employees during the pandemic to bring back headcount to around 4,000 early next year. This, as the economy is opening up and pandemic-related restrictions ease. (PNA photo by Kris Crismundo) MANILA – Cebu Pacific Air Inc. chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei said on Wednesday the reopening of the economy has allowed the airline company to start rehiring, bullish on the outlook for the industry. At the sidelines of an event in Ortigas, Pasig City, Gokongwei said they are aiming to bring back the number of its employees to pre-pandemic level of around 4,000. "By early next year, we'll be back to where we were in 2019 in terms of headcount," Gokongwei told reporters. "Around 4,000, not including the ancillary service providers." As of end-2021, the airline has full-time employees of 3,046 workers. It also anticipates ending this year with 3,678 employees. The magnate said rehiring will include pilots, cabin crew, and customer-facing employees, as well as personnel in the head office, customer service, maintenance, and engineering. Gokongwei said the company will prioritize getting back its employees that were laid off during the pandemic. “We made a commitment to our people that we will prioritize them… and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he added. Gokongwei is also optimistic about the outlook of the airline industry despite the rising oil prices, as governments both here and abroad ease travel restrictions by no longer requiring coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) tests and quarantine as long as travelers are fully vaccinated. “Basically, the whole world is opening up already, removing all the unnecessary friction cost(s)… The government regulations recognized this, so they remove(d) these cost frictions that so far deterred travelers, that’s why it’s coming back,” he said. Gokongwei said its domestic flights “are pretty much flying pre-Covid” levels, while growth is also seen in Southeast Asian countries. “I think, the bigger opportunity over time is in the north Asian countries. We think Japan will open up soon, and early next year hopefully Hong Kong and China and Macau,” he added. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

(PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte has issued a proclamation declaring June 24, 2022, a special non-working day in Manila City, the country's capital, in celebration of its 451st founding anniversary. Proclamation No. 1400, signed by Duterte on Wednesday, declares June 24, 2022, as a special non-working day to give the people of Manila “full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to public health measures of the national government." The city, which occupies an area of 38.55 square kilometers, is bounded to the west by Manila Bay. It is part of the Metro Manila or National Capital Region composed of sixteen cities and one municipality. The city is divided into 897 barangays or villages. Each barangay has its own chairperson and seven councilors. For administrative convenience, all the barangays in Manila are grouped into one hundred zones and are further grouped into sixteen administrative districts. Originally Maynilad, the city’s name is derived from the nilad plant, a flowering shrub that once grew abundantly along the banks of the river. The name was later shortened to Maynila and eventually to its present form. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A Toyota Land Cruiser is seen in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Quan A supply crunch has forced Toyota dealers across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to stop accepting new Land Cruiser orders, with customers buying from each other at higher prices reported VN Express. The Land Cruiser LC300, an updated version of one of the most sought-after SUVs made by the Japanese automaker, has not been available for pre-order at many dealerships in the two cities since March. Some customers who were able to place pre-orders do not know when exactly their cars would be delivered. Dealerships say it could take nearly a year. Toyota is facing issues with the supply of some models, including the Land Cruiser, due to the shortage of parts, a company representative said. Secondary market Because of the shortage, customers are now buying pre-order contracts from those who have placed the order but no longer have a demand for the car. The new Land Cruiser was first sold in Vietnam in August last year with a price tag of VND500 million ($21,517), but on the secondary market, it is being sold at VND700 million or even VND1.6 billion, which is 40-320 percent higher. Toyota ranked second in sales behind Vietnam's Truong Hai Auto Corporation in the first months with 37,906 units, up 57 percent year-on-year, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php