Ceasing of food prices,” Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow Roehlano Briones told the BusinessMirror National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the slowdown in inflation was driven by cheaper food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accounted for 69.1 percent
of the downtrend. Rice prices alone only posted an inflation rate of 5.7 percent, the slowest since the 4.2 percent posted in July 2023.
Briones noted that the decision of India to relax its export restrictions on rice can be a major factor in the slowdown in rice prices in the global market.
Bank of the Philippine Islands Chief Economist Emilio S. Neri Jr. told the BusinessMirror that rice prices in major rice producers such as Vietnam and Thailand have also been lower for the past three months.
“Rice can be a negative contributor to headline inflation in the next 12 months as domestic production improves on better weather and if global price benchmarks continue to fall,” Neri said.
DOF sees full-year inflation at
3.2%, sees sharp rate
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
THE Department of Finance (DOF) expects the full-year inflation rate to settle at around 3.2 percent in 2024, allowing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cut key policy rates aggressively.
In a statement on Friday, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, who also sits as a member of the Monetary Board, welcomed the sharp drop in the country’s inflation rate to 1.9 percent in September 2024.
“With the better-than-expected inflation outcome for September, we expect the full-year rate to settle at around 3.2 [percent]. This gives the BSP more room to be aggressive in its monetary policy easing to help the economy grow at a faster rate and support the government in increasing its revenue collections,” Recto said.
Earlier, Recto said the BSP could match the US Federal Reserve’s rate cut, by reducing local interest rates further by 50 basis
points for the rest of 2024. The Monetary Board reduced interest rates on August 15. BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said the Monetary Board will make another 25-bps rate cut either in its October or December meeting this year. The headline inflation rate in September 2024 was the lowest in four years or since May 2020. It is also lower than the 3.3 percent recorded in August 2024 and 6.1 percent in September 2023. The inflation outturn also fell below the median estimates of 2.5 percent from private analysts and the BSP’s forecast range of 2.0 percent to 2.8 percent.
The year-to-date inflation rate of 3.4 percent settled between the government’s target band of 3 percent and 4 percent.
Meanwhile, Recto also promised a “joyful” Christmas for Filipinos by keeping prices affordable through an intensified whole-ofgovernment approach. Napakagandang balita po ito para sa mga Pilipino. Patuloy nang
cut
The slower increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, contributing 69.1 percent of the decline; transport (14.6 percent); and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (9.4 percent) caused the inflation rate to ease in September.
For the bottom 30 percent of households, food and non-alcoholic beverages were the largest factor in the inflation drop, accounting for 88.7 percent of the deceleration. Rice inflation went down to 5.7 percent in September from 14.7 percent in August on the back of lowered rice tariffs after the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 62.
bumababa ang presyo ng mga bilihin at hindi titigil ang gobyerno na gawing mas abot-kaya ang mga ito lalo na sa paparating na Pasko [This is good news for the Filipinos. Prices are going down, and the government will not stop in making these goods more affordable this holiday season],” Recto added.
Lower rice inflation, the lowest rate recorded in over a year, drove the reduction in the overall food inflation in September.
Retail rice prices are expected to decline in the coming months after India’s decision to lift the export ban on non-basmati white rice and as retailers deplete their inventories bought at higher prices—be
fore the tariff reduction.
By Samuel P. Medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will push for strengthening the digital economy, support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and promotion of renewable energy during the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) next week.
The chief executive is also expected to meet with several multinational firms, including social-media giant TikTok, as he seeks to attract more investments in the country during the sidelines of the summit from October 9 to 11, 2024, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. In a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Daniel R. Espiritu disclosed the President will be participating in 16 leaders-led engagements in the three-day Asean Summit.
This includes the Interparliamentary Assembly interface, where the President will be joined by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Rep. Glona Labadlabad of Zamboanga.
For the Asean Business Advisory Council, Marcos will be accompanied by Acting Secretary of Trade Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and business leaders Joey Concepcion III, George Barcelon and Michael Tan.
Japan’s investors set to upend global markets as they start bringing $4.4-trillion foreign holdings back home
By Ruth Carson, Masaki Kondo & Winnie Hsu | Bloomberg
JAPAN’S investors are starting to lose their decades-long infatuation with overseas assets.
In the first eight months of the year, Japanese investors snapped up
¥28
($192 billion) of the
government bonds, the
est amount for
least 14
They also cut purchases of foreign bonds by almost half to just ¥7.7 trillion and their buying of overseas equities was less than ¥1 trillion.
“It’s going to be one of the mega trends and it is a super cycle for the next five to 10 years,” said Arif Husain, head of fixed-income at T. Rowe Price, who has nearly three decades of investing experience. “There will be a sustained, gradual but massive flow of capital back into Japan from abroad.”
With $4.4 trillion invested abroad, an amount larger than India’s economy, the speed and size of any pullback has the power to disrupt global markets. Even as the gap in rates between Japan and other countries has narrowed, the inflows have been a trickle rather than the flood some investors have feared.
The overseas investments of the Japanese have been compared to a giant carry trade, where investors benefited from ultra-low interest rates available at home to fund purchases abroad.
The scope of the flows will depend on the pace and trajectory of rates in Japan. While Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda indicated policymakers
would be more measured on plans to hike, strategists are almost unanimously forecasting a stronger Japanese currency into next year on views policy will inevitably normalize.
Yields on the benchmark 30-year Japanese government bonds have risen about 40 basis points to above 2% as the BOJ has raised rates this year. That’s getting closer to the point where some of the country’s biggest insurers intend to amp up their holdings of local debt.
T&D Asset Management Co. has said a 30-year JGB yield above 2.5% can be a level where money flows back home.
Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. said in April that yields above 2% on these bonds would be relatively attractive. The yen weakened 0.4% to 144.16 to the dollar on Wednesday. Japan Post Insurance Co. is still investing offshore, but “it has become easier to invest in yen-denominated assets,” said Masahide Komatsu, senior general manager at the firm’s global credit investment department. “We want to diversify our investments.”
The stakes are massive: Japan’s investors are the largest foreign holders of US government bonds and own almost 10% of Australia’s debt. They also control hundreds of billions of dollars worth of stocks from Singa-
pore to the Netherlands and the US, owning anywhere between 1% and 2% of the markets. Their reach extends to high-risk investments such as cryptocurrencies and risky debt that blew up in Europe.
They built up holdings during the years of sub-zero rates at home and snapped up everything from Brazilian bonds that yield over 10% to Alphabet Inc. shares and bundles of risky loans in the US.
One prominent example of the drive to go overseas is Norinchukin, Japan’s largest agricultural bank, which invested a significant chunk of its ¥60-trillion securities portfolio in US and European government debt. It is now in the process of unwinding about ¥10 trillion in foreign holdings after an unexpected spike in rates increased its funding costs and saddled the bank with losses. San-in Godo Bank Ltd., a regional bank based in western Japan, also plans to bulk up its holdings of JGBs while selling off Treasuries.
A nightmare scenario for markets would be an even more extreme version of the chaos of August 5, when fears of higher Japanese rates and a slowing US economy led to a rapid unwinding of carry trade bets by global hedge funds and other overseas speculators. The Nikkei 225 suffered its biggest rout since 1987, Wall Street’s stock volatility gauge spiked, and the yen advanced. Even gold, a haven in time of stress, fell.
Japanese investors—including some of the world’s biggest pension funds and insurers—largely laid dormant, underscoring the potential for more tectonic shifts.
The turmoil also prompted the BOJ to say it would take market conditions into account before raising rates again and would hold off if markets were unstable. Additionally, the Federal Reserve cut rates by half a percentage point in September, in an effort to preserve the strength of the US economy.
“August gave us a glimpse into the repatriation trend,” said Charu Chanana, a global markets strategist at Saxo Markets. “The Fed’s commitment to achieving a soft landing has reduced the odds of a recession. This means future repatriation may not be as abrupt.”
While policy is normalizing, Japan’s rates remain hundreds of basis points below counterparts like the US
and Europe, meaning offshore assets still appeal to yield-hungry investors willing to tolerate currency risk.
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, one of the world’s largest pension funds, targets about half of its holdings in foreign bonds and equities. Those positions helped it offset losses in domestic debt during its last reporting period.
Japanese investors are “realizing that the US markets are still incredibly liquid, very large, offer the most diversification,” said Anders Persson, global head of fixed income at Nuveen LLC. “They’re looking for a little bit more yieldy-type opportunities.” After the market chaos in August, JPMorgan Chase & Co. estimat-
ed that as much as three quarters of the carry trade had been unwound. That analysis looked at global trades funded by borrowing in currencies with low rates. With a BOJ benchmark rate of 0.25%, the yen still fits that criteria. As that changes,
The President will also be attending the Asean Youth interface together with DSWD Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian, Ymari Kristia Pascua and Dr. Alfredo Sablay.
Philippine interests
ESPIRITU said the President will continue to uphold the country’s interests in the summit, which will have the theme of “Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.”
Aside from promoting the digital economy and renewable energy, Marcos will also reiterate the country’s position in the peaceful resolution of disputes amid China’s continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
“The President will continue to defend the Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law including the 1982 Unclos [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the 2016 arbitral award,” he added.
During the summit, Espiritu said other international issues which will be discussed include the continuing internecine conflict in Myanmar, the war in Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula, Gaza and also human trafficking
within Asean. A total of 82 documents are expected to be finalized in the summit, including the Asean Leaders’ Declarations on the Asean Community Vision 2045; Asean Outlook in the Indo-Pacific for a Future-ready Asean; Strengthening Regional Biosafety and Biosecurity; and the Enhanced Cooperation Against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Precursor Chemicals.
Another highlight of the summit is the signing by the foreign minister of Luxembourg of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Asean.
“So, it will be the last country which will be acceding to the TAC. And just for us to remember, TAC is one of the principal agreements in Asean which promotes the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law,” Espiritu said.
Confirmed meetings AT the sidelines of the event, the DFA official said the President will also hold bilateral meetings with the state leaders of Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam and Japan. He said the President will have his first-ever meeting with newly elected Japanese Prime Minister
Shigeru Ishiba at the summit.
“The President will be congratulating him on his assumption as prime minister, but they will be discussing other issues of mutual concern, of course, trade and investment cooperation and defense cooperation,” Espiritu said.
To help promote the country as a top investment destination, Marcos will also meet with the TikTok regional director of Southeast Asia as well as the platform’s creators and sellers; as well as with American video developer Sierra Public Company and with Malaysian multinational low-cost airline, Capital A (AirAsia).
“So, as for the details, I leave that to DTI because they are the lead on this one but there are meetings like these,” Espiritu said.
The chief executive is also set to meet with the Filipino community in Lao PDR upon his arrival in Vientiane on October 8.
“On the eve of the summit, there will be a Filipino community event at the Wanda Hotel in Vientiane. It’s in the late afternoon, at around 7:30 pm,” Espiritu said.
He noted at least 400 Filipinos, who are staying in Laos, will attend the event.
SURPRISE: INFLATION IN SEPT AT 1.9%, A 4-YR LOW
According to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, the rise in commodity prices could hover at around 2 percent for the rest of 2024, given the September inflation print.
He also noted that the average inflation could be closer to 3 percent in 2024 given that the nine-month period figure is at 3.4 percent, within the BSP’s target.
“However, there could still be spillover effects on inflation by the storm/flood damage by Typhoon Enteng, Julian, other typhoons, and the other series of habagat recently,” Ricafort said. Still, he added, the “price freeze in effect in areas where state of calamity was declared up to 60 days… could temper price increases after storms/floods.”
Ricafort noted that this is within the 2- to 4-percent target set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This could also be cited by the Monetary Board as justification for its decision to cut rates further or even “match any future [US] Fed rate cuts from 2024-2026.”
In Ricafort’s view, this is consistent with “recent aggressive monetary easing signals,” such as the reduction in the Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR), which could reach zero within the term of BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr.
BSP: Sept was below estimate
FOR its part, the BSP said the latest inflation print was below its 2- to 2.8-percent estimate for September.
However, it remained consistent with the BSP’s assessment that inflation will continue to trend downward.
BSP said the risks for the inflation outlook will continue to “lean toward the downside” for this year and next year but may have a slight uptick in 2026.
“The downside risks are linked mainly to the impact of the lower import tariffs on rice, while upside risks come from higher electricity rates and external factors such as worsening geopolitical risks in the Middle East and Ukraine, which could impact global oil and food prices as well as the exchange rate,” BSP said.
Neda cites tariff cuts
MEANWHILE , the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) highlighted the importance of the reduction in rice tariffs in maintaining the downtrend in inflation.
Neda noted that Executive Order No. 62 reduced rice tariffs to 15 percent to sustain sufficient rice supply and keep prices affordable amid rising global prices.
Rice inflation dropped significantly to 5.7 percent from 14.7 percent the previous month. Meanwhile, a steady supply of high-value crops amid favorable weather conditions reduced vegetable prices (-15.8 percent from -4.3 percent).
“While we expect lower tariffs to reduce rice prices, we should continuously support local production through increased agricultural funding to complement this short-term
said in a statement.
The latest data, Balisacan added, bodes well for the Philippine economy as it could boost consumer confidence, drive spending and consumption, and fuel business expansion.
“Easing food prices will relieve low-income households, enabling them to allocate more to other essential needs such as education and health. We will sustain the momentum as we assure the public that we will continue to pursue and carry out strategies to maintain stable prices of food and other commodities,” Balisacan said.
Balisacan said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to launch the AgriPuhunan at Pantawid Program, offering low-cost credit facilities to 50,000 rice farmers. Each farmer is eligible for up to P58,000. The DA and DBP have initially secured P3 billion to implement the program.
Moreover, Balisacan said the government is ready to address other inflationary pressures affecting food, such as the continuing prevalence of African Swine Fever (ASF), through the delivery of vaccines.
Following the successful rollout of the ASF vaccine in Lobo, Batangas, the DA is set to expand vaccination efforts to La Union, Quezon, Mindoro,
measure,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan
GREEN LANE PROJECTS
NOW WORTH P4T–BOI
By Andrea San Juan
THERE are now 158 proj -
ects worth P4.3 trillion approved under the green lane as of September 2024, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).
Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr., BOI Director for Investment Assistance Service (IAS) revealed this at the Ejap-AboitizPower Renewable Energy Forum on Friday.
Of the P4.3-trillion certified projects under green lane, Delos Reyes said 128 projects are in the Renewable Energy sector, amounting to P3.91 trillion.
Under the Digital Infrastructure sector, sx are already certified under the green lane, amounting to P346.33 billion.
The Food security sector had 22 projects certified under the green lane worth P13.50 billion.
Meanwhile, two projects worth P29.61 billion were certified under the Manufacturing sector.
The green lanes for strategic investments, established through Executive Order No. 18, aim to streamline, simplify and automate the permit and license application processes for strategic investments such as energy projects.
At a recent Senate hearing for the proposed budget of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for 2025, BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo underscored the
need to strengthen the implementation of the green lane.
“Our first step that we’re undertaking now is to legislate into law the Green Lane so it can truly have teeth,” Rodolfo said.
Added Rodolfo, “We’re very thankful to the good senator because in the Senate, you are spearheading the drive towards converting the EO for the green lane into a Republic Act.”
Currently, the mandate of facilitating investments under green lane flows from EO 18 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in February 2023.
There is a bill that seeks to institutionalize EO 18, with the title “Green Lanes for Strategic Investments Act” filed under House Bill No. 8039.
Bukidnon 1st District Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba said this bill seeks to “codify” EO 18 into law and establish the Green Lanes for Strategic Investments.
The law is meant to “provide a simplified and streamlined regulatory environment that encourages strategic investments in the country, thereby boosting economic growth and creating job opportunities,” said Alba in the explanatory note of the bill.
The law aims to promote transparency in transactions with the government and reduce bureaucratic red tape.
Govt releases P40-M aid for typhoon Julian victims
TO assist in the recovery of Batanes after it was devastated by Typhoon Julian (international name: Krathon), the government has released over P40 million worth of aid for those affected in the province.
President Ferdinand Marcos made the announcement during his visit to Basco, Batanes last Friday to lead the distribution of relief assistance to the typhoon victims.
DSWD provided 14,000 food packs to those affected by the typhoon.
“The reason we are here is to check your needs,” Marcos said in Filipino in his speech during the aid distribution event.
The bulk or P25 million of the aid will come from the Office of the President (OP), and another P15 million will come from the Office of the House Speaker.
For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed P2.78 million worth of assistance to the affected families, while Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) distributed 10 kilos of rice to each of the 4,000 beneficiaries.
He gave assurances the government will continue to assist in the rehabilitation efforts in the typhoon-hit areas.
“The next thing we need to do—is the rebuilding because we have seen the damaged houses, especially those which are built in wood,” he added.
The President said he will continue to coordinate with Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco to address the other needs of the typhoon victims in Batanes.
“If you need anything, just tell us,” Marcos said.
The strong winds and heavy rains caused by Typhoon Julian have left 196 totally damaged houses and 1,388 others partially damaged.
The recent weather disturbance also caused a total of P46,097,455.90 worth of damage to agriculture and P840,419,900.17 worth of damage to infrastructure, water sources, power and communication lines, school buildings, bridges, roads and walls. Samuel P. Medenilla
Palace: Inflation can be tamed despite holiday spending surge
By Samuel P. Medenilla
MALACAÑANG is confident the government can keep inflation at bay even with the upcoming surge in consumer spending during the Christmas holidays.
In a statement on Friday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the necessary measures are in place to continue keeping the price of basic goods and services stable.
“Ramping up food production in conjunction with the targeted entry of food items that will plug supply gaps but
Baseload power sites exempted from coal ban may access funds
BBy Lenie Lectura
ASELOAD power facilities
that are exempted from the coal moratorium can secure financing at more favorable terms if a certification from the government is secured.
“To make sure that financing does not dry up for these committed projects, the clarification or certification is very important, because they are part of our transition,” Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla said during the EJAP (Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines)—Aboitiz Power Corp. forum held Friday.
So far, the DOE has recently issued certifications to the coal plants of GN Power Dinginin’s 1,336 megawatt (MW) and the 270MW coal power project of FDC Misamis Power Corp. (FDC-MPC). The certification assures that the coal power project is not covered by the 2020 moratorium on new coal power plants.
Atimonan One Energy’s (AOE) 1,200MW coal project already has a pending request for confirmation on its non-coverage to coal moratorium.
These coal power projects were previously listed as ‘committed’ in October 2020.
“I have always been saying that the coal moratorium has exceptions, and those exceptions include companies who have already committed to building a coal power plant before the moratorium was implemented,” Lotilla said at the forum.
Aside from the committed projects in the DOE’s list, excluded from the ban are the indicative projects with substantial accomplishments and approved clearances from local government units and the regional development council where they are located.
The country’s energy mix is still dominated by fossil fuels at 70 percent. Lotilla said that by 2050 the number will go down to “the 50s level.”
But the assumptions of the Asean Fiscal Financial Sustainability Taxonomy Board, Lotilla said, put fossil fuels as accounting for only 6 percent of the energy mix in Asean by 2050. Lotilla said this would be a “steep and impossible” decline for countries like Indonesia, which is right now at 76 percent, and for the Philippines at 70 percent.
To assist power firms with committed coal power projects in securing funding, Lotilla said the DOE is in discussions with the BSP and the other agencies.
BSP only very recently issued the clarification on Memorandum Number 2024-028 addressed to all banks. It issued the circular attaching Frequently Asked Questions to provide guidance on the financing of excluded activities and coal-fired power projects in relation to the adoption of the Sustainable Financial Taxonomy guidelines.
“The BSP has clarified that financing coal or fossil fuel projects is considered an excluded activity and therefore outside of the scope of the guidelines . . .the banks and the financial institutions may grant loans to finance the needs of existing and operational coalfired power generation facilities or any new coal-fired power projects which are considered by the DOE as committed projects among other criteria. So this is what I would say is a timely response on the part of the BSP,” Lotilla said.
Just transition NONETHELESS , Lotilla said the DOE is still working on a just transition program towards a more sustainable, clean and resilient energy sector. “We have to grow the power supplies and demand. Generation capacity will also have to grow by an average of 5 percent annually. And since
PHL retail seen to grow 5% in 2024–USDA unit
TBy Ada Pelonia
HE Philippines’s retail sector is forecast to grow 5 percent this year on the back of modern retail stores’ continued expansion, according to an international report.
The United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (USDA-FAS Manila) said it estimates 5-percent growth in food and beverage retail sales for 2024 “sustained by strong demand with continued expansion of modern retail stores.”
The USDA-FAS Manila noted that stores offer more imported food and beverage products to provide variety to consumers in the growing middle-income class and upper-income classes, “who remain unaffected by inflation.”
“While still-elevated inflation remains, the increase in overseas workers and higher employment rates at home result in more income to cover necessities, including food and beverages,” the report read.
However, the USDA-FAS Manila said that while consumers feel the effects of inflationary pressures, food inflation is expected to mod-
flation rate for September, which was projected by the Department of Finance (DOF) last week.
done in a timely manner so they will discourage price and stock manipulation will also be implemented,” PCO said.
“As we enter the holiday season, the government will be vigilant in seeing to it that prices will be stabilized at a level that will not dampen the spirit of the season,” it added.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported inflation slowed down to 1.9 percent last September from 3.3 percent in August 2024 and 6.1 in September 2023.
The latest figure was much lower compared to the 2.5-percent in -
PCO attributed the development to the efforts of the government to tame high inflation, which includes facilitating the importation of to ensure the country will have a sufficient stockpile of rice and addressing the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF).
“Buoyed by the success of our plan, strategies on how to further decelerate inflation will be sustained,” PCO said.
“We are upbeat in our belief that average inflation for 2024 will be better than expected,” it added.
Last June, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) projected the country’s inflation rate this year to be 3 to 4 percent.
erate slightly as lower tariffs on rice, pork, corn, and other imported products take effect.
Executive Order (EO) 62, which reduced tariffs on key agricultural commodities until 2028, took effect in July.
The report also noted that opportunities for imported products have increased due to local supply challenges, such as lower agricultural production yields, African swine fever (ASF), and recent typhoons.
“To mitigate food inflation, the government has opened Kadiwa stores to sell subsidized products and prime commodities at wholesale prices.”
The report said the country’s food retail market registered “healthy” sales growth of eight percent in 2023 despite inflationary pressures.
Meanwhile, the USDA-FAS Manila said that as most consumers have returned to buying at brickand-mortar stores, retailers have started exploring cross-selling, launching new products, and highlighting imported product displays to draw new consumers.
“As consumers spend more time
outside their homes, retailers use omnichannel marketing strategies for a seamless, on-demand shopping experience, whether in stores, mobile, or online,” the report read.
“Retailers improve operational systems and inventory management to increase efficiency and savings. Other retailers sell private label products, offering value for money to price-sensitive consumers.”
The USDA-FAS Manila also noted that as the largest market for US consumer-oriented exports in the region, the country’s retail sector provides strong opportunities for US food and beverage products.
This includes chicken, pork, and beef cuts, frozen fries, fresh fruits, soups and broths, chocolate, and cookies, among others.
“The Philippines remains the highest US consumer-oriented export market in Southeast Asia, valued at $1.2 billion, and is currently the eleventh-largest market in the world for US consumer-oriented products,” the report read.
“Philippine retailers offer opportunities for US products, thanks to consumers knowing their safety and quality standards.”
renewable energy cannot provide all of that, nor can provide the balancing source of power at this time, then it has to be the fossil fuels, particularly natural gas that will provide that,” added Lotilla.
Recently, the Coalition for Emerging Market Infrastructure Investment (CEMII) was eyeing the Philippines to be the focus market for energy investments among the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) economies.
“Well, of course, if we can get the total of $25 billion, yes, we should aspire for that. But as I said, it also involves our readiness. And readiness of the energy sector, all the elements should be there,” said Lotilla. “We look forward to working closely with the Coalition to realize our shared vision of a clean energy future for the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region.” CEMII was initially introduced at the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore in June of this year. Created to support IPEF economies in achieving their economic development, human capital, and sustainability objectives, the Coalition prioritizes the identification, promotion, and development of successful infrastructure projects
PHL, Japan air forces start bilateral HADR training
THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) started on Thursday their bilateral training exercises in humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.
Dubbed “Doshin-Bayanihan 2024,” the exercises focused on HADR, the PAF said.
“This joint training initiative aims to strengthen the operational capabilities of both PAF and JASDF Units in HADR while fostering deeper cooperation and reinforcing the strong relationship between the Philippines and Japan,” it said.
Covered by the training are HADR operations, including simulated airdrop flight training, load/offload operations, aeromedical evacuation exercises, and subject matter expert exchanges, it said. Exercise director Col. Reynaldo Jose Montoya said this is an opportunity to exchange valuable knowledge, skills, and cultural insights.
Montoya added these exchanges will significantly enhance the capabilities and camaraderie between both air forces.
Earlier, the JASDF delegation led by Lt. Col. Shotaro Arai of the 1st Tactical Airlift Wing, JASDF, rendered a courtesy call on M/Gen. Joannis Leonardi Dimaano, Commander of the Air Mobility Command. Rex Anthony Naval
‘Antiquated’ anti-espionage law needs to be updated amid Alice Guo case
OTING the serious implications on national security of the case of Alice Guo aka Guo Hua Ping—the alleged Chinese citizen accused of fraudulently acquiring Filipino citizenship and becoming elected as mayor—Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, is pushing for immediate deliberations on a bill expanding the “antiquated” espionage laws enacted over 80 years ago.
The chairman of the Senate Defense panel recalled that right after the opening of the Second Regular Session of the current 19th Congress, he had filed Senate Bill 2368 seeking to “amend our antiquated espionage laws under the Commonwealth Act No. 616 signed in 1941, and the Revised Penal Code which took effect in 1932.”
He said he proposed the measure “long before the Senate began investigating the issues surrounding dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
On Friday, the Department of Foreign
Affairs cancelled the passport of Alice Guo and that of her sister Sheila Guo, for having been fradulently obtained. They are believed to have obtained illegally birth certificates under the “late registration” of births system, which the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is now reviewing following incidents of apparent abuse.
As filed, the Estrada bill expands the coverage of espionage to include new provisions addressing cyber espionage.”
The measure, he stressed, “is a response to evolving threats and technological advancements that could compromise the country’s security.” Espionage, under existing laws, is punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison and a fine of P2,000 to P30,000. The Revised Penal Code (RPC) sets the penalty for espionage at six months and one day to six years in prison.
“My proposed measure recommends the implementation of stiffer penalties, including life imprisonment and fines amounting to at
least P1 million, to bolster the safeguarding of government information and effectively address advancements in technology, encompassing electronic documents and cybersecurity.”
Estrada said the Committee on National Defense and Security, “which I chair, has been actively engaged in deliberating on this measure.
A hearing was held on May 22, 2024, and subsequent to this, a technical working group was created to refine the bill.” He expressed support for the advocacy of Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro “in pushing for reforms to our espionage laws, which were instituted almost a century ago. Given the significant changes in national defense and security over the years, it is important to review and update these policies to ensure they are relevant to the current landscape. Any input from the Defense Department will be welcomed to help fine-tune the measure,” Estrada added. Butch Fernandez
Sandiganbayan acquits JPE, Reyes Napoles in ₧173-M PDAF plunder
By Joel R. San Juan
HE Sandiganbayan Third Di -
Tvision on Friday acquitted
former Senate president and now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Atty. Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles in the P172.8-million plunder case filed against them in connection with the pork barrel scam.
In an 84-page decision penned by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, the Sandiganyan held that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The antigraft court, however, archived the case against their co-accused Ronald John Lim, nephew of Napoles and her driver Raymund de Asis as they are still at-large, though an arrest warrant was issued against them. Pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy had claimed that Lim and De Asis assisted in forging signatures of fake beneficiaries of bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs) where pork barrel funds of some legislators were funneled to
non-existent projects.
Enrile and his co-respondents were accused of accumulating ill-gotten wealth amounting to P172.8 million through kickbacks received from Napoles and her representatives Lim and De Asis from the implementation of the former senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) projects through fictitious NGOs formed by Napoles.
The scheme, based on the complaint, enabled Napoles to misappropriate the PDAF proceeds for her personal gain.
The prosecution lost the case despite presenting more than 60 witnesses, including Luy and Ruby Tuason, former social secretary of then President Joseph Estrada.
Tuason claimed that Napoles asked to be introduced to her politicianfriends in exchange for a commission taken from the PDAF if she will be able to close a transaction.
Tuason explained that the sum offered by Napoles amounted to 40 percent less 5 percent withholding tax for commission, to be given in three tranches.
New faces but same names: Dynasties roll out Senate heirs
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
DEPUTY Speaker Camille Villar and Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail
“Abby” Binay, who both hail from long established political families, were among those who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for senator on Friday.
In a press briefing after she filed her COC at The Manila Hotel Tent City, Camille said—as a millennial—she intends to bring “new politics” to the Senate.
“I believe I can offer fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to help build a greater future for our generation and those to come,” the incumbent Las Piñas district representative said. If elected, Camille wants to create more jobs, enhance education, and help more Filipinos have their own homes.
“I learned from my family to be helpful to others,” she said.
With her senatorial bid, the Villars’ grip on Philippine politics is further cemented.
She testified further that she transacted with Napoles as regards Enrile’s PDAF from 2004 until 2009.
However, the Sandiganyan said Tuason failed to show any evidence signed by Napoles to show that the latter received any money from Enrile’s PDAF.
It added that Tuason also admitted having no documentary evidence to prove that she delivered money coming from Napoles intended for Enrile.
“Clearly, Tuason made no mention at all of the amounts, and the details and particulars of the alleged deliveries she made to Reyes. Nowhere in her testimony did she ever state that she delivered a particular sum to Reyes corresponding to a specific project, the specific date of the delivery, and the specific place where the kickbacks and commission had been received,” the decision pointed out.
The Sandiganbayan also did not give weight to Tuason’s claim that she was made to sign a voucher as proof of the amount handed to her by Napoles or Luy, as the vouchers were not presented in court.
“In the absence of any evidence
Camille’s mother, Cynthia Villar, is currently serving her third consecutive term in the Senate and she is seeking to replace Camille as the lone district representative of Las Piñas next year—a post that the former held from 2001 to 2010.
Meanwhile, her brother Mark is on his first term as senator after serving as a House representative from 2010 to 2016 and as public works and highways secretary during the Duterte administration.
When asked about the Villars making politics a family affair, Camille simply said that she is grateful to the voters for their continuous support.
“I think what’s very important to remember here is that we are all elected officials, my father, my mother, my brother... Nagpapasalamatpokamisataongbayan,” she said.
During her COC filing, the senatorial aspirant was accompanied by her father Manny Villar, who had served the lower House for nine years and the Senate for 12 years. He once served as House Speaker and as Senate President.
The Binays
MAKATI Mayor Abby from the Binay clan also formalized her senatorial run on Friday.
Having served as House representative for Makati’s second district from 2007 to 2016, Abby said that her political experience would help her if she is elected next year.
“[I want to] amend the local government code because there are so many outdated laws and to ensure that even at the barangay
from Tuason as regards the amounts handed to her by Luy or Napoles, there is nothing on record to verify the amounts allegedly given to Reyes,” the anti-graft court noted.
“We cannot just rely on the assumption made by Tuason that the amount handed to her tallied with what Luy had written or recorded,” it added. On the other hand, Luy testified he was tasked by Napoles to help and assit in the creation of fake NGOs; prepare the kickbacks of legislators and make a daily disbursement reports (DDRs).
Luy testified that Napoles dealt with the PDAF of senators and congressmen, including Senators Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla. Early this year, the Sandiganbayan also exonerated Estrada for the crime of plunder but found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery in connection with the alleged misuse of P183 million in PDAF allocation.
However, in a ruling in August, the Sandiganbayan reversed its decision and also cleared the senator of the direct and indirect bribery charges.
The Sandiganbayan had also previously acquitted Revilla of plunder
level, there’s a sense of accountability and good governance,” she said.
If given a chance to work in the Senate, Abby said she would also push for the expansion of social programs in health and education, and strengthen the government’s response to climate change.
Now that Abby is stepping away from local politics, her husband and sister are now head-to-head to become the next chief executive of Makati.
Earlier this week, long-time senator Nancy Binay filed her COC for mayor—with a promise of continuing the programs started by her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, who led Makati from 1988 to 2010.
Abby’s husband, outgoing Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos, will also file for the same seat on Saturday.
“There’s no discussion so we will let the people decide,” Abby said, when asked if her family discussed who will be running for next year’s polls.
Abby also refused to answer more questions about the politics in Makati, saying that it’s up to the mayoral candidates to answer those.
“I would rather not answer that question. I am running for the Senate and I think we should let the [local] candidates answer that,” she said.
As prominent political families vie for positions at the national level, local politics are also heating up.
Local polls
MUNTINLUPA Mayor Ruffino Biazon, along
and graft charges. He was accused of embezzling P224-million pork barrel funds.
The Sandiganyan noted Luy’s admission that their office made fake liquidation reports on Enrile’s PDAF transactions.
The decision also noted that Luy admitted that all documents submitted for liquidation were either forged or manufactured.
“We point out that the DDRs that were printed by Luy sometime in 2013 from the data stored in his external drive were all unsigned; and that per Luy, the original copies of the said DDRs which are all signed copies, were at the vault at the office of JLN Corporation, together with the checks corresponding thereto, which miserably the prosecution failed to present as evidence,” the Sandiganbayan said.
“How can we treat these unsigned DDRs as credible pieces of evidence when they were printed only in 2013, but they allegedly showed transactions that happened in 2004 to 2010, or after almost 10 years reckoned from 2004?,” the anti-graft court pointed out.
with his ‘One Muntinlupa’ running mates, also filed his COC for re-election on Friday.
Biazon, who had served as a commissioner of the Bureau of Customs from 2011 to 2013 and a Muntinlupa district representative for a total of 15 years, hopes to keep his mayoral seat for the next three years.
“We will not betray the trust of the people; we will not abandon public confidence. In One Muntinlupa, we strive to elevate the city government to the next level,” he said in Filipino. As a veteran in politics, Biazon is known for his “Computer Training for Educators and Resources for Students Program” which modernized Muntinlupa’s public school system.
Meanwhile, in the Dinagat Islands, Arlene Bag-ao seeks to make a comeback in the lower chamber as she filed her COC for the island’s lone district representative seat.
Previously serving as governor from 2019 to 2022 and Akbayan party’s House representative for three consecutive terms, Bag-ao is returning to the political arena under the banner of the Liberal Party.
“While there are Dinagatnons who are suffering from hunger, poverty, and marginalization, we still need to fight and serve,” she said.
Bag-ao, one of the principal authors of the Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood Act, aims to continue her work in addressing key issues in the province.
All political aspirants have until October 8 to file their COC whether for national or local posts.
Bong Go assists in the recovery, rebuilding efforts of fire victims
AFTER filing his Certificate of Candidacy for his reelection bid as Senator, Mr. Malasakit Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally extended additional support to recovering fire victims in Parañaque City to help them rebuild and recover on Thursday, October 3. Go was joined by fellow reelectionist Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Phillip Salvador who both filed their candidacy that day. In the morning, Go visited the Nuestra Señora de Guia Church in Manila City to pray before heading to Manila Hotel to file his COC. In their visit to Parañaque, Go highlighted his intent to continue his consistent and compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
“Ilapitnatinangserbisyonggobyernosa ating mga kababayan na higit na nangangailangan.Patuloykamingmagseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ayserbisyo‘yansaPanginoon,serbisyo‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go. Go reminded the victims of the importance of prioritizing and valuing life more than other material things, saying, “Sa mga nasunugan, huwag ho kayong magalala. Sabi ko nga sa inyo noon, ang gamit ay nabibili, ang pera ay kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Pangalagaanatingatanponatinangbuhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa.” Go and his Malasakit team then facilitated the distribution of food packs, snacks, vitamins, fans, shirts, masks, and basketballs and volleyballs to 346 beneficiaries gathered at Barangay La Huerta Hall. Shoes, a bicycle, a mobile phone, and a watch were also given to select recipients. Go, in coordination with the local government of Parañaque City headed by Mayor Eric Olivarez, also collaborated with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development so that the beneficiaries could avail of financial support through the Integrated Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP), which Go advocated for. This program provides a one-time emergency shelter support (ESS) for households with totally damaged houses to help them rebuild.
The Senator then thanked his fellow government officials for their service to the Filipino people, including Congressman Edwin Olivarez, Mayor Olivarez, Atty. Raymundo Foronda of DHSUD-National Capital Region, and Barangay Captain Johnny Co, among others.
Are we becoming a ‘kamote’ nation?
Time BusinessMirror Our
Hundreds of senior citizens mark Elderly Filipino Week
By Wilnard Bacelonia
By Nick Tayag
my sixty-zen’s WORtH
REMEMBER the times we failed to submit our homework during our school days? When our teacher called us out, we would instinctively and unconsciously scratch our lowered head as we struggled to make all sorts of excuses.
In our native parlance, we call it “kamot-ulo.” Scratching one’s head is one non-verbal way of responding to certain situations.
“Kamot-ulo.” That’s what a public transport driver does every time he gets caught for a traffic violation. “Sir, pasensya na” is his standard apologetic line.
“Kamot-ulo.” That’s what the driver once did after his jeepney scraped our car. By scratching his head, the driver was admitting he was at fault and conveying a plea to let it pass because he had no money to have the damage fixed.
That’s how the term “kamot” driver originally came into being during my time. One of my friends explained the term to me then: “Kamot dito, kamot doon. Lahat na lang ng parte ng katawan kakamutin para pagbigyan siya at palampasin.”
Lately my son Dino, who is our designated driver when the family goes out, has been frequently letting out an invective at motorcycle riders who would suddenly spring from out of nowhere and dangerously cut us and then speed off.
“Kamote!” he would angrily yell
The term “kamot” during my day has now become “kamote,” an expletive used today to label a motorcycle rider who drives recklessly, or has no safety helmet and disregards traffic laws or simply displays bad driving habits on the road.
Named after the root vegetable sweet potato, “kamote” riders or bikers are encountered everywhere. By now, most of us have already run into them on the streets or seen video clips of them on social media or even in newscasts about road accidents.
But why “kamote” rider? Does it have something to do with “kamotulo,” the reflexive head scratching gesture displayed by jeepney drivers when caught violating traffic regulations? I initially thought so. However, when I asked my son, he explained that the term is just another word for “bobo” or “low I.Q.” Then I remember, yes, during our school days, “kamote” was a synonym for stupid, low I.Q., ignorant or below average. When we did poorly in a test, we would say “nangamote ako sa exam.” When we failed in recitation, teachers would say: “better go home and just plant kamote.”
Lacking road courtesy, “kamote” riders are recklessly inconsiderate. They don’t care that there are other road users or even pedestrians on the road. To the “kamote” biker, other vehicles are just moving roadblocks for them to weave through to get ahead or escape the traffic.
But more than just having a lower I.Q., “kamote” riders are also quick to pin the blame on others for accidents that involve them. They also like making “palusot” or lying about or denying their fault and refusing to admit it even when they’re shown the proof or evidence. No wonder, “kamote” riders are a menace in the eyes of other road users, earning the ire of responsible drivers, who can only let out stream of exple-
tives under their breath.
Being a reflective person, I see something more about the term “kamote.” If we widen our perspective further, I can see that “ugaling kamote” has seeped into our culture. It is shamelessly being displayed in our present day.
Take for instance the array of witnesses or resource persons who are being interrogated in the hearings conducted by both legislative houses. They don’t even have to employ “kamot-ulo” to lie or deceive. “I refuse to answer on grounds of self-incrimination” is the equivalent of dodgeful and evasive head scratching. Body language gives them away. There’s a disconnect between a facial expression, reaction, and/or physical movement, which indicates a person is lying.
Some feign their attempt to recall past events. A few employ over-acting such as showing anger or pretending to shed copious tears to gain sympathy. Being wheeled in a chair, fainting while being interrogated, these are all just variations of the basic “kamot ulo” technique to put on a false or deceptive appearance as well as artful inventions filed under “palusot.”
Our politicians and government officials have their own bag of “kamote” tricks.
When anomalies get uncovered, they are quick to either deny or pin the blame on others.
I’m sure you’ve seen the early preelection campaigning by some who are so obviously running for office. Improper or not, unfair or not, they will take every legal loophole and every “palusot” to get ahead of everyone else in complete disregard of the spirit of the law on premature campaigning.
Take the shameless way members of the same family are running for positions in the same chamber. Or those who have turned politics into a family business. Or the brazen display of sense of entitlement in not bothering to explain their office budgets or how previous allotments were spent. Just give it to me on a silver platter or leave it, no need for your questions.
That’s the kind of boorish attitude and behavior we associate with “kamote” riders. Like “kamote” riders who love revving and waking up the neighbors while at a standstill, all that matters to these politicians and government officials is that they’re louder than the rest. If “kamote” riders see the road as their racetrack, these unscrupulous officials see their province or city or even our country as their dynastic dominion.
But worse of all, we are now “kamote” when it comes to the quality of our education. We now realize that we are planting and growing “kamotes” in our schools because our students are at the bottom in reading comprehension and critical thinking in Southeast Asia. Kulelat. No wonder we are “kamotes” in the way we choose our national and local leaders.
Aye, there’s the rub. Scratch my back with ayuda, I’ll scratch your back with my vote.
Because people keep electing them, they will no longer relinquish power. If “kamote” riders see the road as their racetrack, these unscrupulous officials see their province or city or even our country as their dynastic dominion.
So, in the end, we ask ourselves, “anyare”? We can only scratch our heads in bewilderment and confusion.
MANILA Around 500 senior citizens from the National Capital Region (NCR), Laguna, and Cavite gathered at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday to kickstart the celebration of Elderly Filipino Week (EFW) 2024.
The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), together with non-government organization SM Cares and the local government units of Metro Manila, organized the EFW 2024 with the theme “Senior Citizens- Building the Nation, Inspiring Generations” to honor Filipino elderlies and commemorate their legacy in their communities.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that elderlies should be included
A
in developing our country, our economy,” NCSC Officer-in-Charge Mary Jean Loreche said in her speech.
“When we say ‘inspiring generations,’ it means we want the next generation to be like us. We want them to look forward to reaching the age that we are in today. We want to help them develop values that they will be able to pass on their next generations,” she added.
Loreche thanked the national
government for its assistance, while also stressing the importance of collaboration with the private sector to maximize the services for senior citizens.
This year’s EFW, which runs until October 7, started with a morning Mass at the Shrine of Jesus the Way,
century of life: Jimmy Carter marks 100th birthday, reflecting on a lifetime of change
By Bill Barrow Atlanta
ALREADy the longest-lived
of the 45 men to serve as US president, Jimmy Carter has reached the century mark.
The 39th president, who remains under home hospice care, turned 100 on Tuesday, October 1, celebrating in the same south Georgia town where he was born in 1924.
Here are some notable markers for Carter, the nation and the world over his long life.
Booms most everywhere—but not Plains. Carter has seen the US population nearly triple. The US has about 330 million residents; there were about 114 million in 1924 and 220 million when Carter was inaugurated in 1977. The global population has more than quadrupled, from 1.9 billion to more than 8.1 billion. It already had more than doubled to 4.36 billion by the time he became president. That boom has not reached Plains, where Carter has lived more than 80 of his 100 years. His wife Rosalynn, who died in 2023 at age 96, also was born in Plains.
Their town comprised fewer than 500 people in the 1920s and has about 700 today; much of the local economy revolves around its most famous residents. When James Earl Carter Jr. was born, life expectancy for American males was 58. It’s now 75.
TV, radio and presidential maps
NBC first debuted a red-and-blue electoral map in the 1976 election between then-President Gerald Ford, a Republican, and Carter, the Democratic challenger. But NBC’s John Chancellor made Carter’s states red and Ford’s blue. Some other early versions of color electoral maps used yellow and blue because red was associated with Soviet and Chinese communism. It wasn’t until the 1990s that networks settled on blue for Democratic-won states and red for GOP-won states. “Red state” and “blue state” did not become a permanent part of the American political lexicon until after the disputed 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Carter was 14 when Franklin D. Roosevelt made the first presidential television appearance. Warren Harding became the first radio president two years before Carter’s birth.
Attention shoppers
THERE was no Amazon Prime in 1924, but you could order a buildit-yourself house from a catalog. Sears Roebuck Gladstone’s threebedroom model went for $2,025, which was slightly less than the average worker’s annual income. Walmart didn’t exist, but local general stores served the same purpose. Ballpark prices: loaf of bread, 9 cents; gallon of milk, 54 cents; gallon of gas, 11 cents.
Inflation helped drive Carter from office, as it has dogged President Joe Biden. The average gallon in 1980, Carter’s last full year in office, was about $3.25 when adjusted for inflation. That’s just 3 cents more than AAA’s current national average.
From suffragettes to Kamala Harris T HE 19th Amendment that extended voting rights to women— almost exclusively white women at the time—was ratified in 1920, four years before Carter’s birth. The Voting Rights Act that widened the franchise to Black Americans passed in 1965 as Carter was preparing his first bid for Georgia governor. Now, Carter is poised to cast a mail ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris. She would become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to reach the Oval Office. Grandson Jason Carter said the former president is holding on in part because he is excited about the chance to see Harris make history.
Immigration, isolationism and ‘America First’
FOR all the shifts in US politics, some things stay the same. Or at least come back around.
Carter was born in an era of isolationism, protectionism and white Christian nationalism—all elements of the right in the ongoing Donald Trump era. In 2024, Trump is promising the largest deportation effort in US history, while tightening legal immigration. He has said immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.”
Five months before Carter was born, President Calvin Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924. The law created the US Border Patrol and sharply curtailed immigration, limiting admission mostly to migrants from Western Europe. Asians were banned entirely. Congress described its purpose plainly: “preserve the ideal of US homogeneity.” The Ku Klux Klan followed in 1925 and 1926 with marches on Washington promoting white supremacy.
Trump also has called for sweeping tariffs on foreign imports, part of his “America First” agenda. In 1922, Congress enacted tariffs intended to help US manufacturers. After stock market losses in 1929, lawmakers added the 1930 Smoot-Hawley tariffs, ostensibly to help American farmers. The Great Depression followed anyway. In the 1930s, as Carter became politically aware, the political right that countered FDR was driven in part by a move -
ment that opposed international engagement. Those conservatives’ slogan: “America First.”
America’s and Carter’s pastime C ARTER is the Atlanta Braves’ most famous fan. Jason Carter says the former president still enjoys watching his favorite baseball team. In the 1990s, when the Braves were annual features in the October playoffs, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were often spotted in the owner’s box with media mogul Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, then Turner’s wife. The Braves moved to Atlanta from Milwaukee between Carter’s failed run for governor in 1966 and his victory four years later. Then-Gov. Carter was sitting in the first row of Atlanta FultonCounty Stadium on April 9, 1974, when Henry Aaron hit his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s career record.
When Carter was born, the Braves were still in Boston, their original city. Ruth had just completed his fifth season for the New york yankees. He had hit 284 home runs to that point (still 430 short of his career total) and the original yankee Stadium—“The House that Ruth Built”—had been open less than 18 months.
Booze, Billy and Billy Beer PROHIBITION had been in effect for four years when Carter was born and wouldn’t be lifted until he was 9. The Carters were never prodigious drinkers. They served only wine at state dinners and other White House functions, though it’s a common misconception that they did so because of their Baptist mores. It was more because Carter has always been frugal: He didn’t want taxpayers or the residence account (his and Rosalynn’s personal money) to cover more expensive hard liquor.
Carter’s younger brother Billy, who owned a Plains gas station and died in 1988, had different tastes. He marketed his own brand, Billy Beer, once Carter became president. News sources reported that Billy Carter snagged a $50,000 annual licensing fee from one brewer. That’s about $215,000 today. The president’s annual salary at the time was $200,000—it’s now $400,000.
Truth, and the Life, followed by a
of Life” from Coral Way to the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City where a short program was held.
ForMEr President Jimmy Carter pulls notes out of his pocket before delivering remarks during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, August 28, 2013. AP Photo/evAN vucci
Globe community empowers future cloud tech innovators
THE Globe Cloud Community recently showcased the telecommunication firm’s milestones in cloud technology and information technology (IT) engineering in its latest initiative: Campus Connect 2024.
The event sought to inspire and empower top talents from 10 partnerschools by sharing real-world experience and tools on ways to excel in the rapidly evolving fields of cloud computing and IT.
Campus Connect 2024 brought together 100 top students from Far Eastern University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba, National University, Asia Pacific College, University of Santo Tomas, Mapúa University and the Technological Institute of the Philippines. There, the attendees learned insights into Globe’s robust multi-cloud strategy that highlighted fusion and benefits of cloud transformation.
Engaging sessions and presentations were led by Globe’s leading cloud engineers and technology experts who shared their experiences, success sto -
ries and challenges. Speakers at the event discussed cloud enablement, agility in engineering, transformation of traditional infrastructure, and automation.
During a fireside chat, Globe’s assistant vice president for Cloud Service Operations RJ Mendiola cited the importance of resilience in helping the youth handle challenges they will inevitably face in life: “We have to teach the kids nowadays about resilience. In reality, life is not easy: [They need to learn and accept that failure is part of progress, and a way] toward success. It doesn’t matter how much or how many times you fall, what matters is how many times you rise up.”
Campus Connect also served as a platform for students to learn about Globe’s “Cadetship Program,” which
offers a pathway for aspiring cloud engineers to kickstart their careers at the company.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions with live demonstrations, question-and-answer panels, and casestudy walkthroughs. These were designed to provide a deep dive into the practical applications of cloud computing and the dynamic work environment at Globe.
For graduating IT student Samantha Faye Santos from Letran-Calamba, the event was an “eye-opener.”
US, PBEd, McDonald’s Phils. train, provide opportunities for unemployed Pinoy youth
trainees of the joint work-readiness and job-placement program.
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), and McDonald s Phils. welcomed trainee-graduates from a work-readiness and job-placement program for unemployed youth.
The participants were provided training on food and beverage services , which included on-the-job exposure that ensured they met industry standards. They were also mentored on leadership, communication, and critical thinking to equip them with needed skills that will enable them to thrive in their future work place.
Following their graduation, the trainees will start their careers in one of the quick-serve restaurant’s 35 outlets across Metro Manila.
“As your partner in prosperity, the US is committed to working with the
Philippine government, educational institutions, and the private sector to help unemployed Filipino youth become productive members of society, achieve their dreams, and contribute to the country’s economic growth,” said Amb. MaryKay Carlson during the graduation rite held at the McDonald’s branch in San Antonio, Parañaque City on September 24.
“We at McDonald’s believe in the talent of our youth, and it only takes the right opportunities such as USAID’s ‘YouthWorks PH program’ to match these young people’s perseverance and hard work,” said Golden Arches Development Corp. vice president for Marketing Margot Torres. “By giving back and training our youth, we equip them with the right tools to succeed.”
“PBEd’s commitment lies in assisting the youth to take significant steps toward gaining meaningful employment,” PBEd
chair Ramon del Rosario said, as he underscored the organization’s role in the partnership. “By providing them access to training and employment opportunities, we equip them with [basic] skills to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. This is the YouthWorks PH story.”
Their training was part of USAID and PBEd’s $8.7-million YouthWorks PH Program, which has created more than 16,000 training positions and successfully placed over 6,000 youth in workbased training programs since 2018.
Largest ‘EducationUSA’ set MEANWHILE, the US Embassy will be rolling out the “largest-ever EducationUSA University Fair” in Cebu on October 8; and in Manila on October 9, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Atrium of One Ayala mall in Makati City.
Students and parents are invited to learn more about study-abroad opportunities in the US, as 43 colleges and universities will participate. Admission is free and open to everyone interested in that country’s higher education.
“We are excited to bring together so many universities in one place,” Amb. Carlson said. “I encourage you to choose the US as your destination for higher education abroad. We have thousands of academic programs, world-class institutions, and unmatched flexibility. The US offers a wealth of higher-education opportunities that you will not find anywhere else in the world.”
During the fair, representatives of participating US. higher education institutions will provide information on
Meanwhile, Computer Science students from the Asia Pacific College Akira Fidelino (20) and Kylene Naiomi Bondoc (22), noted the importance of learning from the field. The former thinks that “it’s very important to attend events like these, especially [as we near] graduation. It gives us the opportunity to network more and build connections.”
“It’s good for us not only to build connections, but also build our foundation in knowledge,” remarked Bondoc. “Being able to interact with these seniors, getting to know their experience, their journey, and their learnings, how they stabilized their career, is actually very helpful for us to be able to prepare ourselves.”
Campus Connect 2024 is part of Globe’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of IT professionals. By collaborating with partnerinstitutions, the firm aims to create tech-driven immersion experiences that prepare students for the future of work. This initiative also opens doors for further tie-ups, such as career talks and symposia, enhancing students’ readiness for a tech-driven future, according to the telco.
For more information about Campus Connect 2024 and Globe’s cloud initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.
admissions procedures, academic programs, student life, and scholarship opportunities. US Embassy consular officers will also offer guidance on the student visa-application process. US colleges and universities participating in the ninth EducationUSA Fair are Calvin University, Carnegie Mellon University, Citrus College, Colorado State University, Columbia CollegeChicago, Culinary Institute of America, Ferris State University, Foothill + De Anza Colleges, George Washington University, Green River Community College, Hawai‘i Pacific University, Hult International Business School, Lees-McRae College, Lewis University, Linfield College, Luther College, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Minerva University, Montclair State University, New York Institute of Technology, North Dakota State University, Northeastern University, Ohio Northern University, Old Dominion University, Riverside City College, San Jose State University, San Mateo County Community College District Office, Savannah College of Art and Design, Shoreline Community College, SUNY at Albany, SUNY College at Oswego, Tacoma Community College, The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School-DAVE School, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Kentucky, University of Rochester, University of San Francisco, University of Utah Asia Campus, Valencia College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Xavier University, Yale University, and York College of Pennsylvania. Before arriving in Manila, the EducationUSA University Fair will make a stop at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on October 8, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit https:// educationusa.ph/Fair2024Info or contact manila@educationusa.org. Participants are encouraged to pre-register via educationusa.ph/Fair2024. FedEx
of our DNA. We strongly believe that education is a powerful tool for change, and through this initiative, we hope to make a positive impact on the lives of young learners.” The collaboration with Feed the Children is one of several initiatives FedEx Phils. undertakes to support community
development. The latter has a long history of giving back to the communities where its team members live and work, leveraging on its global network and resources to make a meaningful difference. This initiative not only provides immediate assistance, but also helps build a foundation for long-term educational success in these underserved communities. Through the FedEx Cares global community engagement program, FedEx Phils. dedicates itself to driving social initiatives and supporting community development, according to a statement. To learn more, visit www.fedexcares.com.
Editor: Mike Policarpio
New dean appointed for Benilde’s School of Multidisciplinary Studies
DR. Jennifer B. Fabula has been confirmed as dean of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Multidisciplinary Studies (SMS) effective the first term of Academic Year (AY) 2024 to 2025.
Under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academics, the SMS is responsible for the curriculum planning of General Education courses throughout the college.
Recently, SMS introduced the pioneering “Bachelor in Holistic Disciplines,” which equips the next generations of industry leaders with professional and global competencies in contemporary communication, health and wellness, inclusion and leadership, as well as youth-development studies. These are accomplished through a hybrid, integrative, and transformative approach to learning.
Dr. Fabula is a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, major in Special Education degree holder from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. She earned her Master of Arts in Education, major in Religious and Values Education from the De La Salle UniversityManila; as well as Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in Religious Education and English degrees from St. Columban’s College in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
The educator, who has been with the college since 1999, began her journey at the college as a faculty member in the Theology and Philosophy sections. She was appointed as chairperson from AY 20082009 until AY 2017-2018. During that period, she led the revision of the Theology syllabi in response to the Commission
on Higher Education memorandum orders to enhance the quality assurance of the Philippine higher education system. In AY 2021-2022, Dr. Fabula was selected as program head of the General Academic Strand of the newly launched Benilde Senior High School. In this capacity, she spearheaded the development and implementation of a comprehensive humanities and social sciences curriculum, fostered cross-disciplinary education, and prepared students for diverse academic paths after graduation. Because of her commitment and dedication, she was also invited to serve as a mentor for “BigSky:” the college’s official learning management system, under the Center of Educational Technology. In 2023, she headed its Learning Environment Unit, where she continued her mentorship in coaching and capacitybuilding.
Dr. Fabula has been actively involved in several institutional activities. She facilitated the 35th anniversary of “BenEx Interactive,” and is a contributing writer for the daily reflections of the Center for Lasallian Ministry, among others.
SM expands ‘Share Shoes’ for disadvantaged students
SM is launching an expanded “Share Shoes” program this October through the SM Store to support underprivileged students, which coincides with the 100th birth anniversary of its founder Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr. The program will benefit 20,000 kids from 100 public schools nationwide—up from the previous year’s 16,000 from 80 public schools. It will be coordinated through 100 partner-organizations and beneficiaries.
A key element of the program involves participation of SM Store customers themselves: For a minimum P3,000 single-receipt purchase, customers have the opportunity to sponsor a brand-new pair of shoes for a student for only P100.
A decent pair of shoes makes
a difference in the lives of many Filipino school children. In 2023, the Philippine Institute for Developmental Studies reported that poverty remains a major barrier to education, with many Filipino children lacking even the basic necessities, like proper footwear. By joining this collaborative effort for social good, SM said that customers are not just shopping: They are creating a lasting impact, extending hope and support to those in need. The act of giving a pair of shoes not only meets a basic need, but also sends a message of encouragement to students, assuring them that through education their dreams will be fulfilled.
SM Store invites its customers to provide more than just footwear, but also a path to greater possibilities for Filipino students.
GRADUATING Information Technology students from Colegio de San Juan De Letran in Calamba, Laguna Samantha Faye Santos (left) and Ma. Sharlene Bascon
AMB. MaryKay Carlson of the US (standing, third from left, onward), Tesda director-general Jose Francisco Benitez, McDonald’s Phils. president and CEO Kenneth Yang, and PBEd chair Ramon del Rosario Jr. (fifth from right) with the first 53
DR. JENNIFER B. FABULA
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
TAIPEI IN THREE HOURS DIARy Of A fIRST TImE TRAvElER
Story & photos by John Eiron R. Francisco
It was 12 noon when I arrived at my hotel in taipei, taiwan, with three hours to spare before check-in. Initially, I was torn between resting after my flight or using the time to explore some of the city’s landmarks, since the following day would be fully occupied with work commitments, leaving no room for sightseeing.
I wondered how much I could see in just three hours, especially since it was my first time traveling abroad solo. I had no clue how to navigate the city, and all sorts of doubts crossed my mind. But I decided that doing nothing wouldn’t get me anywhere.
At least I gave it a shot and stepped out of my comfort zone to explore on my own. No regrets in the end, especially since I’m not sure when I'll get the chance to come back to this country.
So, my journey began when I headed to the reception desk to ask for local recommendations. There, I spotted a travel brochure about Taiwan’s tourist spots and started familiarizing myself with the metro train system, which is the cheapest and most common mode of transportation here.
It operates differently from what we have in the Philippines, but I decided to give it a try. Just a few meters from my hotel, I walked to the Zhongxiao Dunhua station and asked the ticketing booth officer how to get to my destination, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.
Here’s how it works: you can choose between using an EasyCard or a token for payment. I opted for the token since I was only traveling for about three hours. The single-journey token cost around NT$20, which is about P40. The EasyCard, on the other hand, is a rechargeable smart card good for multiple trips.
I was a bit worried about getting lost at first, but I kept following the map I had and felt like a male version of Dora from "Dora the Explorer," always with a map in hand for every adventure. Thankfully, the stations are wellsignposted in both Mandarin and English that made navigation much easier. Most stations also have maps, ticket machines,
and customer service, so Taiwan definitely feels tourist-friendly, from the locals to the public transport.
The MRT has several lines, each marked by a different color and number.
For instance, the Red Line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line), Blue Line (Bannan Line), and Green Line (Songshan-Xindian Line) are among the most frequently used.
Many stations offer easy transfers between lines, clearly indicated and simple to follow. Transfers are free as long as you don’t exit the station.
On the train, announcements are made in Mandarin, English, and sometimes other languages, especially at major tourist stops. LED displays also show the next stop.
When you reach your destination, you can exit by tapping your EasyCard or inserting your token into the exit gates. Stations often have maps highlighting nearby attractions to help you plan your visit once you’re out.
For my first stop, I chose to visit one of Taipei’s historical landmarks: the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, which encompasses a 25-hectare commemorative plaza.
The CKS Memorial Hall, a striking 76-meter-tall building, includes a national theater, a concert hall, and several gardens and pavilions. Opened in 1980 and designated a national historic monument, it was built on the site of an old military headquarters, once part of Taipei’s largest military district. The blue and white colors of the memorial mirror the national flag, with blue representing the sky andwhite symbolizing the 12 rays of the sun.
As Taiwan has embraced democracy and openness, the square in front of the memorial has become a popular gathering spot and a symbol of social change.
The monument also features an 89step marble stairway and an octagonal roof, reflecting the Chinese character for “human,” symbolizing the unity of humanity with the heavens.
Three arched gates guard the entrance, originally named the Gate of Great Loyalty, the Gate of Great Piety, and the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness. In 2007, the latter was replaced with a plaque reading "Liberty Square."
It’s definitely worth a visit for some great Instagram photos. Since traveled solo here and don’t have anyone to take my pictures, a camera tripod is a musthave for unlimited self-shots without bothering others.
Of course, don't forget to bring bottled
Discovering the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
ICELAND is one of the most unique places
I’ve visited. It has stunning landscapes shaped by strong winds and volcanic eruptions. One of the places I went to during my visit was the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (I still can’t pronounce it properly). It has earned the moniker “Iceland in Miniature” because of the diverse views you’ll see and the equally diverse weather you’ll experience (sunny, gloomy, and windy).
The Astonishing Snæfellsnes Peninsula
O UR first stop was a spectacular waterfall. You won’t see it unless you take a short hike down from the road. Iceland is
home to thousands of waterfalls spread throughout the country. The most recognizable landform in the peninsula is Kirkjufell Mountain. Its triangle shape stands out amid its surroundings. You have likely come across its likeness when researching about your trip to Iceland. It’s on postcards, splashed on magazines, and in the social media pages of content creators. It’s a truly stunning sight when you see it in person. Our group was lucky because the sky was clear, perfect for photos. If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, you’ll immediately recognize Kirkjufell as “Arrowhead Mountain.”
The weather turned gloomy when our group arrived at Djupalonssandur Black Beach. The clear, blue skies when we were
in Kirkjufell turned gray on this side of the peninsula. The wind blew stronger, and it got colder. It was summer, but it felt like winter. As we walked towards the beach, we passed through towering and jagged rock formations. The beach is also historically important because this is where you’ll find the lifting stones that ancient fishermen lifted. Lifting one of the stones determined their position on the ship. The photogenic and spectacular crescent-shaped coastline and troll-like rocks greeted us. The waves crashed into the shore. This was Iceland’s raw and untamed beauty right in front of me.
Budir Church is a historic and famous landmark in the peninsula. The original church dates to the 1700s, but rot eventu -
water and an umbrella when you visit here, as the weather can be quite unpredictable—one moment it's sunny, and the next, it might start raining, and it can switch back and forth like that. This led me to my next stop: Ximen Station.
This area is known as the Ximen Youth Shopping District, offering a variety of items for the younger crowd, from clothing and gadget accessories to food. If you're in the mood for some boba tea to cap off your trip to Taiwan, you'll find plenty of options here.
Originally, the area was built as an entertainment hub during the Japanese occupation, but this place still has that youthful Japanese vibe. You’ll find loads of pop culture shops, restaurants, and a
wide range of hotels to suit any budget.
With my time running out before heading back to the hotel, I made sure to snap a photo of one of Ximen's famous rainbow-painted streets. It’s something I’d only ever seen on TikTok, and now I finally got to stand on it.
To wrap up my three-hour visit to the city, I headed to Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world. This iconic structure boasts 101 floors above ground and 5 below, with a design that nods to traditional Asian styles, incorporating bamboo and pagoda elements.
It's a top tourist spot, featuring observation decks with stunning views of Taipei, plus offices, shops, and restaurants.
The ride to the top is incredibly fast—just
ally wore it down. It was later rebuilt in the 1840s. The locals had the entire church relocated to its current location in the 1980s. It serves as a foreground to the marvelous mountains in the background. The Londrangar Cliffs in Snaefellsjokull National
37 seconds in high-speed elevators that zoom up at 60.6 km/h (37.7 mph). As a first-time traveler in Taiwan, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get around. didn’t feel anxious at all while strolling through the streets or asking locals for directions. Everyone was so polite and approachable—it's definitely a place I'd want to revisit. As I got used to the transportation system, I wanted to explore even more landmarks, but my three-hour trip was coming to an end. I returned to my hotel just in time for check-in, and everything in Taipei went smoothly. I experienced no hassle or worries—just pure enjoyment of the food, architecture, and infrastructure.
beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains and the
Park are volcanic plugs formed several millennia ago. The rocks jutting
Story & photos by Joshua Berida
How online gambling has led to financial loss for many Filipinos
ON TikTok, an internet personality recounted how she became addicted to online gambling and lost P5 million to this addiction. She talked about how it started with online sabong (cockfighting) until she moved to online bingo and, finally, online casinos where she’d play the slot machines or Baccarat.
What was surprising to me was not only what happened to this person, because P5 million is a lot of money and I assume that she worked hard for what she had because she started out joining beauty contests. In the comments section, people were sympthatizing with her and recounting how they (or a family member) became addicted to online gambling. It was sad, really, because these people also worked hard for all that money they had lost. That money could have gone to their savings and investments, purchasing property, or going on vacations. Instead, it all went to people who are already rich.
I realize how easy it is to access online gambling sites these days. If you are on X (formerly known as Twitter), those ads featuring some of the country’s biggest stars go straight to these sites if you press a link. That’s okay if you are an adult because you are accountable for your decisions but there are so many minors on X.
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Now, I understand how some artists and influencers are being called out for endorsing online gambling. These sites being so easily accessible means that anyone can log in and play. I am not condemning anyone who endorses these sites. Again, it is every adult’s choice on whether to gamble or not. It’s just scary how easy it is to do it now.
I remember how a relative became addicted to gambling and lost a lot of money so what she did was have herself banned at casinos. That cannot be done with online gambling. You can’t ban yourself from online casinos.
Gambling is an addiction. It is not easy to just stop doing it. The Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, did not originally intend to get Filipinos to gamble. They just wanted to base their operations here. As time went on however, it became difficult for the government to regulate. Eventually, the problem increased as the number of unlicensed operators grew.
After President Bongbong Marcos ordered a ban on POGOs in the Philippines, the government formed a multi-agency task force to oversee the shutdown
of 41 licensed POGOs. The Department of Justice is facilitating the closure with a task force that includes the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission and the Bureau of Immigration. The number of POGOs peaked in the country at 300 in 2019.
The term “POGOs” covers a range of activities, including online gambling, scams, and other operations. Online gambling may involve casino games, sports betting, or livestream wagers, but the way these games are operated are said to be predatory in nature. The games allegedly get the players hooked on gambling, making sure they lose. During the peak of POGOs in the Philippines, there were said to be hundreds of thousands of employees working and living in high-rise buildings in major cities and even rural areas. Some employees were reportedly not allowed to go out unless on specific days for security purposes.
These POGOs brought in hundreds of billions of pesos every year for the government but the socio-political costs far outweighed these benefits. Crimes were reported, including cases of murders, kidnapping, and human trafficking. This is not even mentioning the number of unlicensed and
Asean needs to strengthen cybersecurity
BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) plans to strengthen their digital infrastructure in response to the worsening threat of cybercrimes.
In a recent press briefing held in Makati City, Kwek Hong Sin, co-founder, strategist and global relationship officer, Asean Chief Information Officer Association, said they are also exploring ways on how to share the knowledge for development. “But you know what we are doing is we want to be more focused in terms of areas that we need to support the different countries,” Hong Sin told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the recently concluded 8th Asean Chief Information Officer Association (ACIOA) conference.
Before implementing the data and information sharing program, she said each Asean member will need to focus on their respective challenges.
“Right now, our priority is to focus on each country’s challenges and design the content that needs to be shared,” she said. Across Asean, she said the economic group is doing their very best to step up, and that it will cover Asean security or cybersecurity. Further, Hong Sin said it is not only the Asean facing the challenge of information sharing as “the government and the private sector have to find solutions in building the partnership. So far, the sharing of information has been on a limited basis. The cooperation from the government agency down to the regulators to the private sectors in sharing the information is still very lacking,” she added.
Hong Sin said Asean cannot generally group the scams together because each member has unique challenges. She added there are differences between the scams, “like mobile scams and consumer-focused scams. We cannot lump everything together,”
unregulated POGOs. So many Filipinos became addicted to online gambling and with every Filipino losing money to these POGOs, there are family members and friends from whom they borrowed money to play. Some have even stolen from or cheated people close to them. Unregulated or regulated online gambling has been linked to financial ruin, prostitution, money laundering, and detorioration of community values. Imagine that even the poshest of villages have seen houses being rented out for POGO operations.
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The raid of the infamous Bamban facility, for instance, was said to have resulted in the rescue of 383 Filipinos, 202 Chinese, and other foreign nationals. The ensuing arrest and deportation of nearly 200 Chinese nationals working illegally at the Bamban POGO illustrates that the line separating licensed POGOs from organized crime is very thin and can be crossed anytime.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has led the Senate investigation on POGOs, disclosed that many Chinese nationals working in these facilities have managed to obtain fraudulent Filipino identities through corrupt individuals in government agencies. This underscores the moral and actual dangers posed by unregulated online gambling to the country and its citizens. ■
she said. “So you have cyber for consumer, cyber for government, cyber for a particularly different space, but in the conversation where I see possibly could be more collaborative is like, for example, the government plays a very vital role in supporting the work in terms of protecting, preventing, reducing, mitigating cyber attacks,” she added.
Hong Sin said the path of Asean toward developing a robust cybersecurity infrastructure will need to hurdle challenges. “But at least there are certain causes of action to reduce or get the respective authority or organization to take their act,” she said.
Expounding, Hong Sin said tackling mobile phone scams is not a walk in the park as it will have to involve the government and the private sector, specifically the telco operators. Further, she lamented that some telecommunication companies are not exerting enough effort to curb or mitigate mobile scams.
LAUNCH OF LATEST DIGITAL ‘PERYA’ GAME PINOY DROP BALL THE country’s top platform for digital entertainment, BingoPlus introduces its newest perya game “Pinoy Drop Ball” in a star-studded launch last September 29, at the Grand Hyatt Manila featuring performances from its endorser and TV host Main Mendoza and celebrity guests Julie Anne San Jose and Pinoy pop idol Alamat.
This thrilling addition is a homegrown creation, carefully designed to deliver a nostalgic perya experience that Pinoys know and love, but in dynamic and fresh ways that only BingoPlus offers.
“Pinoy Drop Ball” joins DigiPlus’ popular lineup of digital games, including “Bingo,” “Tongits,” and “Perya Games.” Notably, “Pinoy Drop Ball” is the first-ever live-streamed drop ball game in the Philippines, setting a new standard in digital perya gaming. But more than just another game, “Pinoy Drop Ball” reflects DigiPlus’ deep understanding of what Filipino players want—authentic and culturally resonant entertainment that fuses tradition with technology.
Developing a digital game rooted in Filipino culture requires significant effort, and BingoPlus has invested heavily in research and development to ensure that “Pinoy Drop Ball” captures the essence of a game reminiscent of the joy in local town fiestas, while bringing it to life in a convenient, mobilefriendly format.
BingoPlus assures that its efforts have paid off, with all its equipment tested and licensed by Pagcor. The playing tables have been precisely measured to ensure stability throughout a game and the balls have been especially weighed and manufactured to ensure consistent gameplay all throughout. Each inspection of the equipment and playthrough have also undergone thorough observation by Pagcor officers to guarantee players that every round gives honest results and follows strict regulatory measures. Additionally, BingoPlus will switch hosts every 30 minutes in consideration of the various ways they may throw the balls.
More information can be found at www.bingoplus. com, and the app can be downloaded at App Store and Google Play.
Sony’s PlayStation Network suffers hourslong outage, irking videogamers
LONDON—Sony’s PlayStation Network went down for hours on Tuesday, frustrating gamers around the world who complained they weren’t able to sign in to their accounts.
PlayStation Network said on its website that “some services are experiencing issues,” and that players “might have difficulty” logging in, creating accounts, launching games or getting video content.
“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” it said. Sony did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Data from Downdetector, an outage tracker, showed that reports first spiked late Monday and continued into early Tuesday with thousands of reports submitted hours after the problem first emerged. The outage was resolved by morning in the US and the Playstation Network website was updated with a message that said: “All services are up and running.” AP
BusinessMirror
Meta hit with $102 million privacy fine from European Union over 2019 password security lapse
LONDON—Meta was punished on Friday with a fine worth more than $100 million from the social-media giant’s European Union privacy regulator over a security lapse involving passwords for Facebook users.
The Irish Data Protection Commission said it slapped the US tech company with the €91 million ($101.6 million) penalty following an investigation.
The watchdog started investigating in 2019 after it was notified by Meta that some passwords had been inadvertently stored internally in plain text, which means they weren’t encrypted and it was possible for employees to search for them.
Deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said it’s “widely accepted” that user passwords should not be stored in plain text, “considering the risks of abuse.”
Meta said a security review found that a “subset” of Facebook users’ passwords were “temporarily logged in a readable format.”
“We took immediate action to fix this error, and there is no evidence that these passwords were abused or accessed improperly,” the company said in a statement. “We proactively flagged this issue to our lead regulator, the Irish Data Protection Commission, and have engaged constructively with them throughout this inquiry.”
It’s the latest in a series of hefty fines for Meta and its social media platforms from the Dublinbased watchdog, which is the company’s lead regulator under the 27-nation EU’s stringent data privacy rulebook. They include a €405 million fine for Instagram over mishandling teen data, a €5.5 million penalty involving WhatsApp and a €1.2 billion fine for Meta over transatlantic data transfers. AP
Because the night belongs to Xiaomi 14T
IT was on MTV Unplugged that I first heard the live version of “Because the Night,” performed by 10,000 Maniacs, but I was today years old when I found out that it was actually a collaboration between rock legends Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen originally wrote the song for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album but passed it to Smith, who finished it while waiting for a call from her boyfriend. She transformed it into a timeless anthem about love and longing, with the iconic chorus, “Because the night belongs to lovers,” a perfect reflection of how moments under the cover of darkness often hold the most powerful emotions.
Coincidentally, it was the song I had on repeat as I began writing this review, tying in with Xiaomi’s “Master Light, Capture Night” tagline for the 14T series. Just like the song, which captures the intensity of the night, the Xiaomi 14T’s cameras were designed to master the art of light in darkness, turning fleeting moments into lasting memories. The song’s haunting energy and emotional depth perfectly mirror the phone’s ability to unveil beauty hidden in the night.
WHAT’S NEW?
THE Xiaomi 14T brings several noteworthy upgrades including a new and more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset, a brighter display that boasts of up to 4000 nits peak brightness, improved cooling system for better heat management, faster storage, and a new Sony IMX906 sensor. And since it is a 2024 device, you also get all sorts of AI Features including Google Gemini AI.
DESIGN AND BUILD: ‘TITAN-IC’
AS we’ve come to expect from the brand, the Xiaomi 14T offers an exceptional design that blends modern elegance with cutting-edge craftsmanship. It’s a “Titan” year for Xiaomi and the 14T series comes in three hues, Titan Gray, Titan Black, and Titan Blue. They are inspired by the raw, powerful beauty of titanium—and yes they also look like the iPhone colors. It does have a special Lemon Green option that offers a unique twist. This eco-conscious design is crafted from multi-layered PU leather, incorporating 50 percent bio-based materials, including real lemon fibers. I wonder if it smells like lemon though. I love the Xiaomi 14T’s beautifully designed matte finish. It’s simple, elegant and devoid of those distracting gradients. I am, however, not a fan of the square camera module which has been so overdone. In terms of materials, the Xiaomi 14T is crafted from high-strength 6M13 aluminum alloy, giving it a sturdy yet sophisticated feel and the flat sides gives you a comfortable grip. The Xiaomi 14T retains an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 2 meters of water for 30 minutes.
NEXT-GENERATION 144HZ AI DISPLAY
THE Xiaomi 14T boasts one of the best screens in its price range. With FIAA technology, the chin bezel is reduced to 1.9mm, resulting in an impressive 93.30 percent screen-to-body ratio. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display offers a sharp 2712 x 1220 resolution, a wide DCI-P3 color gamut, and a peak brightness of 4000 nits, excelling even in bright outdoor conditions. HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a 144Hz refresh rate ensure stunning visuals and smooth interactions, ideal for gaming. Features like AI Image Engine, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light, and 3840Hz PWM dimming optimize video quality and eye comfort, while AI Auto Brightness and Adaptive Colors adjust settings for any environment.
FASTER CPU, IMPROVED POWER EFFICIENCY
IN terms of performance, the new MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra processor brings with it several improvements in speed and power efficiency. The octa-core CPU and Arm Mali-G615 GPU provide the necessary muscle for smooth daily performance, handling everything from multitasking to gaming with ease. Whether you’re scrolling through apps or playing graphically demanding games, the Xiaomi 14T offers a snappy and smooth user experience. To manage heat during intense use, the Xiaomi IceLoop cooling system comes into play. It efficiently dissipates heat with a self-sustaining liquid cooling system, which doubles the performance of conventional vapor chambers.
The Xiaomi 14T is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, and a speedy 67W HyperCharge feature which can fully charge your device in just under an hour. However, one noticeable downside is that Xiaomi has quietly removed the wall charger from the package. It’s not a big deal for existing Xiaomi users but it’s still a somewhat disappointing shift, especially for those switching brands and expect a full charging solution included.
CAMERA:
MASTERING LIGHT, DAY OR NIGHT
SINCE Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica, its camera capabilities have made significant strides, and the Xiaomi 14T continues to push this progress forward. Combing Leica’s renowned optical expertise with Xiaomi’s innovative technology, the 14T offers a versatile and impressive photography experience, especially in low-light settings allowing it live up to “Master Light Capture Night” tagline.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro features the custom-designed Light Fusion 900 image sensor, tailored for the mobile optical era.
Headlining the Xiaomi 14T’s triple camera setup is a 50MP Sony IMX906 sensor with a large 1/1.56-inch sensor size and an f/1.7 aperture. This larger sensor size means that more light reaches the camera, which is critical for night and low-light photography. The Leica Summilux lens allows the camera to capture rich contrast and vibrant colors in the dark, making night scenes appear vivid and lifelike. The wider aperture also produces stunning bokeh effects, giving portraits a professional-quality background blur that isolates subjects beautifully. Whether you’re photographing cityscapes at night or candle-lit dinners, the Xiaomi 14T can produce photos with balanced shadows and highlights, preserving intricate details even in tricky lighting environments. For night photography, the AI system
automatically adapts to the lighting environment, reducing noise and improving clarity, even in scenes with multiple light sources or contrasting shadows. This makes the Xiaomi 14T particularly adept at capturing vibrant, detailed night shots that don’t lose texture or atmosphere.
Leica’s touch is also evident in the two photographic styles: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. Leica Authentic Mode emphasizes true-tolife tones, capturing images with natural colors and contrast, perfect for those who prefer a classic, filmlike aesthetic. Leica Vibrant Mode, on the other hand, enhances brightness and saturation, giving a more modern, colorful feel to your photos. These modes allow users to express their creativity, adapting the camera’s output to their personal style.
As for video, the Xiaomi 14T can record 1080p footage at 60fps or 4K at 30fps. Videos capture a lot of detail, but come out a little over-sharpened. I do like playing with Movie mode that applies a depth-offield effect to people in the frame, similar to Apple’s Cinematic Mode. If you have several Xiaomi devices, try Director mode which has a camcorder-style interface and lets you connect your other phones or tablets and unite them into a single multicam setup.
GEMINI AND OTHER AI
NO 2024 smartphone will be complete without some advanced AI feature, and Xiaomi ha collaborated with Google and Microsoft Azure for the 14T series to integrate both cloud-based and on-device AI functionalities, enhancing everything from search and voice to image and video processing. Some of the key AI features include Google Gemini Assistant, Circle to Search, and Xiaomi’s suite of AI-powered apps like AI Notes, AI Recorder, and AI Image Edit. Xiaomi also introduces AI Interpreter, a realtime translation tool that supports 12 languages and operates in face-to-face or call modes. This feature is invaluable for international communication, breaking language barriers during both personal and business interactions.
For photography, the AI Image Edit feature on the Xiaomi 14T offers AI Image Expansion and AI Magic Removal Pro. While its AI Eraser may not be the most advanced, often just blurring or smudging the removed areas, the AI Portrait mode truly stands out. It not only creates personalized avatars but also goes beyond basic templates by interpreting text prompts, delivering a more dynamic and creative portrait experience. Additional AI tools, such as AI Video Subtitles, AI Portrait, and AI Film, further enhance video creation and personalization, making the Xiaomi 14T a versatile tool for content creators.
FINAL WORD: The Xiaomi 14T is far more than just a scaled-down of its Pro counterpart. It delivers a premium experience, highlighted by a stunning AMOLED display, solid performance, and impressive battery life. While the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras don’t quite match the quality of the main camera, the overall camera system, enhanced by Leica and AI technology, produces excellent results even in low-light conditions. The night definitely belongs to lovers—and users of the Xiaomi 14T For users who want to experience those flagship features the Xiaomi 14T provides excellent value. It’s not just a
Sports
NBA training camps look more like R&Rs
BRADENTON, Florida—The Cleveland Cavaliers were hitting golf balls into a lake and some people couldn’t figure out why. Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat played dominoes in the Bahamas until the wee hours of the morning. The Golden State Warriors sprawled out on a Hawaiian lawn for some morning yoga. No, National Basketball Association (NBA) training camps are not all about basketball.
With about half the league going on the road for at least part of their training camps that started this week—destinations include the Bahamas, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Nashville and Montreal—it can seem like the first few days of the season have a vacation feel to them.
Hard work in the gym is happening, of course, but teams obviously are seeing value in bonding and experiences off the court as well.
“I was honestly sick of traveling from the summer,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry, part of the team that won gold for the US this summer at the Paris Olympics and then spent time last month in China, said after he got to Hawaii. “But this is not a bad vibe, for sure.”
Sentiments like those are being heard in plenty of NBA camps this week—whether it was after the Warriors did yoga to start a morning, some members of Cleveland›s camp got some fishing in or after Boston and Denver got settled in Abu Dhabi for preseason games this weekend.
The Cavaliers, who are in Bradenton on Florida’s Gulf coast for camp, have four courts and tons of amenities available to them for practices at IMG Academy—a sports training high school.
But being at a posh Florida resort also gives the Cavs the opportunity for things like team meals outdoors,
including one where passers-by wondered why players were splashing golf balls into the water. (The golf balls were biodegradable, with no harmful effect on the environment or marine life.)
“We’re obviously working, working hard, but doing a lot of teambuilding stuff,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It’s been really cool.”
The Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers are in Hawaii. Miami and Philadelphia are training a few miles apart in the Bahamas, at different resorts. Dallas headed to Las Vegas for a few days at UNLV.
Toronto went to Montreal, where the Raptors will eventually be joined by Washington for a preseason game. Memphis and New Orleans both went to Nashville.
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse’s hat this week has the image of palm trees embroidered on the side, a nod to the tropics. It
seems entirely possible that those are the only palm trees he’s seen so far this week—it’s no vacation for him.
“We really like to just get out and get away and get on our own. That’s the big thing,” Nurse said. “I think the Bahamas had been on the radar for a few years in the organization and it was the turn to come here.
The main thing is, ‘Can we get away? Can we get a great facility where people are really going to welcome us and give us everything we need?’...I
Alburo, Mendoza, Tamayo lead provincial players’ charge at TCC
EBU’S Kvan Alburo and Denise Mendoza swept the 8-9 age group as players from the provinces rose dominated the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Junior Philippine Golf Tour National Match Play Finals by capturing six of the eight titles disputed at The Country Club in Santa Rosa City on Friday. Alburo capped off his dominant campaign that stretched from the Visayas Series to the finals with a commanding 5&3 win over Quezon City’s Michael Ray Hortel II. Despite surrendering an early 3-up lead, Alburo regained his form on the back nine, cruising to a convincing boys’ title victory. In contrast, Mendoza had to grind out a hard-fought 2&1 win against top seed Winter Serapio of Sampaloc in Manila in a highly charged duel for the girls’ crown.
The two young golf prodigies were evenly matched in a tense showdown with Mendoza taking the lead early before Serapio clawed back on the back nine. Mendoza, however, showed resiliency down the stretch and won key holes to clinch the title.
Ralph Batican also defeated Silang’s (Cavite) Vito Sarines, 3&2, to claim the boys’ 10-12 title, while fellow Bukidnon standout Clement Ordeneza overpowered Marikina City’s Jose Carlos Taruc with a dominant 4&3 performance in the boys’ 13-15 finals. In the girls’ 16-18 category, Cagayan de Oro City’s Ally Gaccion triumphed, 4&3, over Southwoods’s Lia Duque, while South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo secured a dramatic 1-up win on the 19th hole against Aerin Chan after a back-and-forth battle in the girls’ 10-12 class.
RoS vs Magnolia clash in winner-take-all Game 5
By Josef Ramos
took Game 2, 121-69. Aaron Fuller was the main man for Rain or Shine as the import flashed impressive numbers in Game 1—24 points and 20 rebounds—and Game 3—29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Jabari Bird—Magnolia’s fourth reinforcement in this conference—kept the Hotshots in the series in his Game 2 debut where he made 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and 30 points in Game 4.
“He [Bird] is a good import, but everybody must deliver their best in the
UST V-League champion
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) shook off the emotional baggage from a premature celebration in Game 2 and secured the V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge title with a commanding 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14 victory over Far Eastern University (FEU) in sudden death at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Friday. Despite losing the first set, the Golden Tigresses showed composure and determination knowing they had the firepower to subdue the Lady Tams and swept the next three sets capped by a dominant fourth set to erase the sting of their previous game’s
Milwaukee is having camp in California—it was something coach Doc Rivers started planning shortly after he took the Bucks job midway through last season—and Brooklyn will have the second half of its camp out there as well.
New York went to South Carolina, while Atlanta and Charlotte both hit the road but kept it drivable—the Hawks went to Georgia’s campus in Athens, the Hornets went a couple hours away to Duke.
“Sometimes it’s just good to be somewhere else,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “There’s no magic other than the fact that you get a chance to be together and have kind of a change of scenery.”
The Heat have been in the Bahamas for camp multiple times and this year, that meant Butler got to be in three countries, on two continents, in the same day.
Travel issues kept him from leaving France—the last stop of his summer journeys—until Monday morning, but he got to Miami that afternoon for medical tests and other duties, then made it to the Bahamas that night.
Evidently, all that travel didn’t tire him out. He said he didn’t go to bed Monday night (or Tuesday morning) until 4 a.m. because he was playing dominoes, a game he is openly and happily obsessed with.
“The people are so great here,” Butler said. “The food, the cuisine, off the charts. They play dominoes at a high level.... And I won.” AP THE Golden Tigresses capture their first V-League championship since 2010, the same year the España-based squad won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 72 women’s title.
and
the
a winner-takeall Game 3. In the decisive match, FEU started strong but couldn’t maintain control against a relentless UST squad. The Golden Tigresses found their rhythm, particularly in the pivotal third set, where they pulled away, leaving the Lady Tamaraws with little room to respond. By the fourth set, UST took full command, preventing any FEU comeback and sealing the crown without the need for another dramatic fifth-set finish.
MVP Angge Poyos made a triumphant return after missing Game 2 due to illness, powering the Golden Tigresses to their seventh V-League title with a stunning 31-point performance built on 29 attacks and two blocks. She also contributed eight excellent receptions, leading the squad to a dominant finish over three straight sets. The victory was UST’s first V-League championship since 2010, the same year it won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 72 women’s title.
“I’m very glad I was able to play and my first goal was to help the team,” said the 20-year-old outside hitter Poyos. After clinching a 2-1 set lead, the Golden Tigresses charged into the fourth set with an early 14-6 lead, fueled by a service ace from Reg Jurado and an attack error by Lovely Lopez.
do-or-die Game 5 if we want to advance,” Ian Sangalang told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “This young talented Rain or Shine squad is stronger and different than they were 10 years ago.”
The 6-foot-7 Sangalang was a rookie for Magnolia in 2013 when they beat Rain or Shine in two import-laden conferences for a grand slam under coach Tim Cone.
“They are younger and very skillful today, and hungry,” Sangalang said. “So we expect the game tomorrow in to be more difficult. We will play a tough game.” Zavier Lucero, Magnolia’s big catch in a trade with NorthPort in the off season, is under concussion protocol after he banged his head when he chased a loose ball in Game 3 and is doubtful for Game 5.
Reg Jurado contributed 15 points with 12 attacks, while Jonna Perdido added 10 points, while Finals MVP Cabbie Carballo orchestrated UST’s offense with 19 excellent sets and five points. Faida Bakanke led FEU with 16 points on 11 attacks, four blocks and an ace, while Jean Asis scored nine points with two blocks and Gerzel Petallo came off the bench for eight points in the school’s second consecutive silver medal finish after losing to College of Saint Benilde last season.
CEBU’S Denise Mendoza and South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo outplay rivals from the big city.
THE Golden State Warriors are in Hawaii and Stephen Curry says “it’s not a bad
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Israel launches massive airstrikes across Lebanon, closes key Syria border crossing
By Bassem Mroue The Associated Press
BEIRUT—Israel carried out a series of massive airstrikes overnight in southern suburbs of Beirut and another that cut off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.
The new wave of strikes came after Israel warned people to evacuate communities in southern Lebanon that are outside a United Nations-declared buffer zone, as the yearlong conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalates.
Israel launched a ground incursion into Lebanon on Tuesday and its forces have been clashing with Hezbollah militants in a narrow strip along the border. A series of attacks before the incursion killed some of the group’s key members, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
said Hezbollah has been trying to transport military equipment through the border crossing.
Hezbollah is believed to have received much of its weaponry from Iran via Syria. The group has a presence on both sides of the border, a region where it has been fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces.
Dama Post, a pro-government Syrian media outlet, said Israeli warplanes fired two missiles, damaging the road between the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon and the Syrian crossing point of Jdeidet Yabous.
Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire across Lebanon’s southern border almost daily since the day after Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which the militants killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it carried out a strike Thursday in Tulkarem, a militant stronghold in the occupied West Bank, in coordination with the Shin Bet internal security service.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 18 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a refugee camp there.
Araghchi’s visit to Beirut came three days after Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel, the latest in a series of rapidly escalating attacks between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to push the Middle East closer to a regionwide war.
Iran is Hezbollah’s main backer and over the years has sent weapons and billions of dollars to the group.
The blasts overnight rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs, sending huge plumes of smoke and flames into the night sky and shak-
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived on Friday in Beirut, where he was expected to discuss the war between Israel and Hezbollah with Lebanese officials.
ing buildings kilometers (miles) away in the Lebanese capital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on what the intended target was, and there was no information immediately available on casualties.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that there were more than 10 consecutive airstrikes in the area late Thursday.
The agency also reported that an Israeli airstrike led to the closure of the road near the busy Masnaa Border Crossing, from which
tens of thousands of people fleeing war in Lebanon have crossed into Syria over the past two weeks.
Associated Press video footage showed that the strikes left two huge craters on each side of the road. People carrying bags were seen crossing on foot after being dropped off by cars that were unable to pass the site of the airstrike.
The airstrike that cut the busiest border crossing between the two countries came a day after an Israeli military spokesperson
Vietnam condemns China for assault on fishermen near disputed islands
By Hau Dinh
The Associated Press
ANOI, Vietnam—Viet -
Hnam condemned China on Thursday, saying Chinese law enforcement personnel assaulted 10 Vietnamese fishermen, damaged their fishing gear and seized about 4 tons of fish catch near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
The fishermen reported the assault near the Chinese-controlled islands by radio on Sunday but did not identify the attackers.
Three of the fishermen suffered broken limbs and the rest sustained other injuries, according to Vietnamese state media. Some were taken on stretchers to a hospital after they returned to Quang Ngai province late Monday.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed Chinese law enforcement personnel on Thursday for the high-seas attack, saying they had “seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty in the Paracel Islands,” international law and an agreement by the leaders of the two countries to better manage their territorial disputes.
Chinese officials did not immediately issue a reaction.
Vietnam conveyed a protest and alarm over the attack to the Chinese ambassador in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
Vietnam demanded that Beijing respect its sovereignty in the Paracel Islands, launch an investigation and provide it with information about the attack, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said in a statement.
China has become increasingly aggressive in asserting its claims in virtually the entire South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in global trade transits each year. The sea passage is also believed to be sitting atop vast undersea deposits of oil and gas.
Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the strategic waterway.
The United States has no claims in the disputed waters, but has deployed Navy ships and Air Force fighter jets to patrol the
waterway and promote freedom of navigation and overflight. China has warned the US not to meddle in what it says is a purely Asian dispute.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement Thursday on the social media platform X that the US “is deeply concerned by reports of dangerous actions by (Chinese) law enforcement vessels against Vietnamese fishing vessels around the Paracel Islands on September 29. We call on (China) to desist from dangerous and destabilizing conduct in the South China Sea.”
The Vietnamese newspaper Tien Phong cited one of the fishermen, Tran Tien Cong, as saying that two foreign boats approached them from the rear and that personnel from the vessels boarded their boat and started beating
the fishermen with a meter-long (three-foot-long) pole, apparently made of iron.
The Vietnamese fishermen panicked and did not fight back because they were overwhelmed by an estimated 40 attackers, it said. Another fisherman, Nguyen Thuong, was cited as saying that the attackers, who spoke through a translator, ordered them to sail back to Vietnam. The assailants then seized their fishing gear and fish catch.
After being beaten, the Vietnamese fishermen were forced to kneel and were covered with plastic sheets before the attackers left.
The Paracel Islands lie about 400 kilometers (250 miles) off Vietnam’s eastern coast and about the same distance from China’s southernmost province of Hainan. Both countries, along with the self-governing island of Taiwan, claim the islands.
The islands have been under the de facto control of China since 1974, when Beijing seized them from Vietnam in a brief but violent naval conflict.
Last year, satellite photos showed that China appeared to be building an airstrip on Triton Island in the Paracel group. At the time, it appeared the airstrip would be big enough to accommodate turboprop aircraft and drones but not fighter jets or bombers.
It was the first time this major border crossing has been cut since the beginning of the war.
Lebanese General Security recorded 256,614 Syrian citizens and 82,264 Lebanese citizens crossing into Syrian territory between September 23—when the Israel launched a heavy bombardment of southern and eastern Lebanon—and Sept. 30.
There are half a dozen border crossings between the two countries and most of them remain open. Lebanon’s minister of public works said all border crossings between Lebanon and Syria work under the supervision of the state.
Violence has flared across the Israeli-occupied territory since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023. Tulkarem and other northern cities have seen some of the worst violence.
Israel declared war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to their October 7 attack. More than 41,000 Palestinians have since been killed in the territory, and just over half the dead have been women and children, according to local health officials. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in that time, most of them since September 23, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
North Korean leader threatens nuclear destruction of South Korea if provoked
By Hyung-Jin Kim & Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to use nuclear weapons and destroy South Korea permanently if provoked, state media reported Friday, after the South’s leader warned that Kim’s regime would collapse if he attempted to use nuclear arms.
The exchange of such rhetoric between the rival Koreas is nothing new, but the latest comments come during heightened animosities over the North’s recent disclosure of a nuclear facility and its continuation of missile tests. Next week, observers say North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament is expected to constitutionally declare a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula to formally reject reconciliation with South Korea and codify new national borders.
During a visit to a special operation forces unit on Wednesday, Kim said his military “would use without hesitation all the offensive forces it possesses, including nuclear weapons,” if South Korea attempts to use armed forces encroaching upon the sovereignty of North Korea, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.
“If such a situation comes, the permanent existence of Seoul and the Republic of Korea would be impossible,” Kim said, using South Korea’s official name.
Kim’s statement was a response to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s speech at his country’s Armed Forces Day
on Tuesday. Unveiling South Korea’s most powerful Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile and other conventional weapons that could target North Korea, Yoon said the day that North Korea tries to use nuclear weapons would be the end of the Kim government because Kim would face “the resolute and overwhelming response” of the South Korean-US alliance. Kim responded that Yoon’s address fully betrayed his “bellicose temerity” and showed “the security uneasiness and irritating psychology of the puppet forces.” In a derisive comment, Kim called Yoon “an abnormal man,” saying that “the puppet Yoon bragged about an overwhelming counteraction of military muscle at the doorstep of a state that possesses nuclear weapons.” On Thursday, Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, also ridiculed South Korea’s showcasing of the Hyunmoo-5 missile, saying there there’s no way for South Korea to counter the North Korea’s nuclear forces with conventional weapons. Since adopting an escalatory nuclear doctrine in 2022, Kim has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons preemptively. But many foreign experts say it’s still unlikely that he would use his nuclear arms first because his military is outmatched by the US and its allied forces. In July, South Korea and the US signed a defense guideline on integrating South Korea’s conventional capabilities with the US nuclear forces to better deal with North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. South Korea has no nuclear weapons.
IN this March 27, 2016 photo, Vietnamese fishermen fix nets on their boat as while docked at Tho Quang port, Danang, Vietnam, after a fishing trip in the South China Sea. AP/HAU DINH
UN defies Israel, keeps peacekeepers in Lebanon despite request to vacate
By Edith M. Lederer
The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS—UN peacekeep -
ers are staying in their positions on Lebanon’s southern border despite Israel’s request to vacate some areas before it launched its ground operation against Hezbollah militants, the UN peacekeeping chief said Thursday.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the commander and liaison officers from the UN force, known as UNIFIL, also are in constant contact with their counterparts in the Israeli and Lebanese militaries. He called that key to protecting the UN’s more than 10,000 peacekeepers.
The UN force is “the only channel of communications between the parties,” he told reporters. “The peacekeepers are also working with partners to do what they can to protect the population.”
UNIFIL was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel’s 1978 invasion.
The UN expanded its mission following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border.
A UN Security Council resolution ending that war demanded that all armed groups—including Hezbollah—be disarmed and that the Lebanese army deploy throughout the country to the Israeli border. After 17 years, neither has happened.
Lacroix, who is undersecretary-general for peace operations, said UNIFIL had anticipated “a limited, targeted ground operation” and had thoroughly discussed whether UN peacekeepers should stay or not, deciding they should stay for now.
“We’re constantly reviewing the situation” on the ground in terms of the safety and security of the peacekeepers, he said. He added that contingency plans are ready but refused to discuss them. Lacroix also stressed that Israel and Hezbollah have an obligation to protect the UN peacekeepers.
Israeli ground forces crossed into
southern Lebanon early Tuesday, which along with stepped-up airstrikes marked a significant escalation against Iranianbacked Hezbollah militants and of the war in the Middle East. The fighting comes as the region braces for Israel’s response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack. Hezbollah began firing across the border after Iranian-backed Hamas militants carried out attacks on Israel
Temporary truce reached: US dockworkers’ strike suspended until January 15 for contract negotiations
By Tom Krisher Ap Business Writer
DETROIT—The union representing 45,000 striking US dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports reached a deal Thursday to suspend a three-day strike until January 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.
The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, is to resume working immediately. The temporary end to the strike came after the union and the US Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, reached a tentative agreement on wages, the union and ports said in a joint statement.
A person briefed on the agreement said the ports sweetened their wage offer from about 50 percent over six years to 62 percent. The person didn’t want to be identified because the agreement is tentative. Any wage increase would have to be approved by union members as part of the ratification of a final contract.
The union went on strike early Tuesday after its contract expired in a dispute over pay and the automation of tasks at 36 ports stretching from Maine to Texas. The strike came at the peak of the holiday shopping season at the ports, which handle about half the cargo from ships coming into and out of the United States.
The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks. Most retailers, though, had stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the dockworkers’ strike.
“With the grace of God, and the goodwill of neighbors, it’s gonna hold,” President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday night after the agreement.
In a statement later, Biden applauded both sides “for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding.”
Biden said that collective bargaining is “critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”
The union’s membership won’t need to vote on the temporary suspension of the strike, meaning that giant cranes should start loading and unloading shipping containers Thursday night. Until January 15, the workers will be covered under the old contract, which expired on Sept. 30.
The union had been demanding a 77
percent raise over six years, plus a complete ban on the use of automation at the ports, which members see as a threat to their jobs. Both sides also have been apart on the issues of pension contributions and the distribution of royalties paid on containers that are moved by workers.
Thomas Kohler, who teaches labor and employment law at Boston College, said the agreement to halt the strike means that the two sides are close to a final deal.
“I’m sure that if they weren’t going anywhere they wouldn’t have suspended (the strike),” he said. “They’ve got wages. They’ll work out the language on automation, and I’m sure that what this really means is it gives the parties time to sit down and get exactly the language they can both live with.”
Industry analysts have said that for every day of a port strike it takes four to six days to recover. But they said a short strike of a few days probably wouldn’t gum up the supply chain too badly.
Kohler said the surprise end to the strike may catch railroads with cars, engines and crews out of position. But railroads are likely to work quickly to fix that.
Just before the strike had begun, the Maritime Alliance said both sides had moved off their original wage offers, a tentative sign of progress.
The settlement pushes the strike and any potential shortages past the November presidential election, eliminating a
potential liability for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. It’s also a big plus for the Biden-Harris administration, which has billed itself as the most union-friendly in American history. Shortages could have driven up prices and reignited inflation.
Thursday’s deal came after administration officials met with foreignowned shipping companies before dawn on Zoom, according to a person briefed on the day’s events who asked not to be identified because the talks were private. The White House wanted to increase pressure to settle, emphasizing the responsibility to reopen the ports to help with recovery from Hurricane Helene, the person said.
Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su told them she could get the union to the bargaining table to extend the contract if the carriers made a higher wage offer. Chief of Staff Jeff Zients told the carriers they had to make an offer by the end of the day so a manmade strike wouldn’t worsen a natural disaster, the person said. By midday the Maritime Alliance members agreed to a large increase, bringing about the agreement, according to the person.
on October 7 and then Israel retaliated with its military offensive in Gaza.
Lacroix said that there were a few “issues” after Israel’s ground operation in Lebanon began, which he wouldn’t go into, but that the UN liaison mechanism with its Israeli and Lebanese counterparts was “effective in addressing those issues.”
Lacroix said UNIFIL at the moment is not carrying out patrols, which it would normally do, but its positions are manned. In some places, the number of peacekeepers has been reduced by about 20%, he said.
When Lacroix was asked whether Israeli fire was coming too close to its bases or positions, he replied that one of the added values of the liaison operation is “to prevent and deal with possible incidents that would have the potential of affecting the safety, the security of our peacekeepers.”
The liaison officers also are dealing with other activities, including military movements, he said.
Lacroix said UNIFIL had been supporting civilian efforts to supply humanitarian assistance to people in southern Lebanon. The peacekeepers are still trying to help and “are playing a role as much as possible,” he said.
NATO’s new chief vows to support Ukraine, pledges cooperation with US regardless of election outcome
By Lorne Cook
The Associated Press
BRUSSELS—The new head of NATO vowed on Tuesday to help shore up Western support for war-ravaged Ukraine and expressed confidence that he can work with whoever is elected president of the United States, the alliance’s most powerful member, in November.
“There can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine,” new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in his first speech on taking office, and he affirmed a commitment made by the organization’s leaders in 2008 that “Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO.” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces are making advances in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s army has a shaky hold on part of the Kursk region in Russia, which has provided a temporary morale boost, but as casualties mount it remains outmanned and outgunned.
“The cost of supporting Ukraine is far, far lower than the cost we would face if we allow Putin to get his way,” Rutte told reporters, a few hours after his predecessor Jens Stoltenberg handed the reins to him, along with a Viking gavel with which to chair future meetings.
But Ukraine’s NATO membership remains a distant prospect. Several member countries, led by the US and Germany, believe that Ukraine should not join while it’s fighting a war. Rutte declined to speculate about what must happen before it can stand among NATO’s ranks. Rutte did single out China, and particularly Beijing’s support for Putin. “China has become a decisive enabler of Russia’s war in Ukraine. China cannot continue to fuel the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War without this impacting its interests and reputation,” he said.
NATO’s new top civilian official also underlined the importance of keeping the trans-Atlantic bond between the United States, Canada and Europe strong, with US elections just a month away. Surveys suggest the election will be a close race. It could see the return of Donald Trump, whose bluster during his last term of office about low defense spending among European allies and Canada undermined the trust of NATO member countries. It became an existential challenge, as smaller members feared that the US under Trump would renege on NATO’s security pledge that all countries must come to the rescue of any ally in trouble, the foundation stone the alliance is built on.
But Rutte said: “I know both candidates very well.” He praised Trump for pushing NATO allies to spend more and for toughening their approach toward China. He also hailed the “fantastic record” of Vice President Kamala Harris and described her as “a highly respected leader.”
SMOKE rises following Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel on Thursday,
