TRAVELERS flying through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) this Christmas season can look forward to a significantly improved experience, the New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC) said Friday, as it committed itself to a 50-percent enhancement in passenger convenience compared to last year.
SMC President Ramon S. Ang, whose company leads NNIC, expressed optimism that the changes would bring relief to passengers during the holiday rush.
“This Christmas season 2024, there will be at least 50-percent improvement from last year because now we know how to appeal to the airlines to avoid scheduling so many departures at almost the same time. We also asked them to Continued on
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
NNIC vows 50% passenger convenience enhancement for Christmas travel rush
observe on-time departure, so with that, I believe our travelers will be happier this December,” he said in a press briefing, speaking partly in Filipino.
Just two months after taking over management of Naia on September 14, NNIC has rolled out a series of enhancements to address long-standing issues such as congestion, aging infrastructure, and operational inefficiencies.
Among the highlights of NNIC’s efforts is the renovation of Naia Terminal 4, which started on November 6, alongside the reactivation of six wide-body passenger boarding bridges.
Two swing gates at Terminal 3 now accommodate both domestic and international flights, optimizing gate utilization. These developments are expected to ease boarding and improve on-time performance for airlines.
Other initiatives include a “flyto-gate” biometric passenger processing system under the Bureau of Immigration and significant upgrades to internet connectivity, ensuring passengers enjoy up to 115 Mbps speeds with three hours of free access.
NNIC has cleared 1,800 parking slots to improve vehicular flow and expanded road networks, including new toll exits from the Naia Expressway. Curbside enhancements at all terminals are ongoing, with Terminal 1’s lanes set to widen from three to eight, Terminal 2 from four to eight, and
Terminal 3 from eight to twelve lanes, streamlining pick-up and drop-off points.
To bolster power security, NNIC has partnered with Meralco to build a 115KV substation and installed a 6.12-MW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system at Terminal 3. Starting early 2025, new terminal assignments will redistribute flights, with Terminal 3 focusing on international operations, reducing congestion, and improving runway utilization.
“It has only been two months since we assumed management of
Naia. It has been a very busy transition period, and as expected, we’ve encountered our fair share of challenges. Still, we’re optimistic about the progress we’ve made and the upcoming improvements we’re working on,” Ang added.
However, he noted that things take time, adding that, “there is no magic wand to fix all of Naia’s problems quickly.”
“We cannot solve, in a matter of months, issues that have existed or built up over many decades. In fact, more problems may crop up. But that is part of modernizing an
Sept remittances hit $3B; fin-lit need cited
Executive Director Jeremaiah M. Opiniano told BusinessMirror
“I think financial literacy interventions must now account for the emotions of OFW families because remittances are obviously emotional, and mechanical ways of handling money are not enough. We may have to learn the approaches of behavioral economics,” he also said.
Opiniano, who is also the Director of the University of Santo Tomas Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED), recently published a paper and coined the term “emotional earmarking” of OFW remittances.
old facility like Naia. We’re moving as fast as we can to address both immediate and major issues, and we’re putting all our resources into ensuring travelers will have an improved overall experience as we progress,” Ang said.
So far, the company has commenced regular annuity payments, with P1.58 billion paid for the period from September 2024 to June 30, 2025.
NNIC has also invested P420 million to ensure a smooth transition for employees, including signing bonuses for a number of personnel.
In the study, he defined emotional earmarking as “the conjoint allocation of money and emotional disposition for everyone’s happiness and financial gain.” The BSP’s own data showed OFW remittances are largely directed to “welfare-inducing commodities” which include health, education, and housing. This leaves out or fails to make room for savings and/or investment.
“As we celebrate BSP’s Economic and Financial Literacy Week next week, the BSP may have to lead the financial sector to re-assess and rekindle the financial education strategies that we do,” Opiniano said.
Based on the data, BSP’s cash remittances rose by 3 percent to $25.23 billion in January-September 2024 from the $24.49 billion registered in January-September 2023.
With the depreciation of the Philippine peso against the United States dollar, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said OFWs and their families can have some cushion from the impact of high inflation. He described it as “a source of consolation for OFWs and their families/dependents, especially in coping with higher prices/inflation, as well as to cope up with higher interest rate payments since 2022 for any amortization or any form of debt servicing/payment such as for housing loans, auto/ vehicle loans, personal loans, business loans, and other consumer loans, if any,” Ricafort said. The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) contributed mainly to the increase in remittances in January-September 2024. Meanwhile, in terms of country sources, the US accounted for the largest share of overall cash remittances in January-September 2024, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, personal remittances from Overseas Filipinos grew by 3.3 percent to $3.34 billion in September 2024 from the $3.23 billion registered in September 2023.
Cumulative personal remittances in January-September 2024 increased by 3 percent to $28.07 billion from the $27.24 billion recorded in January-September 2023.
Insurance sector posts net income of ₧39.9B from Jan-Sept–IC
P5.467 billion posted in the same period in 2023.
Total premiums earned by non-life insurance companies increased to P49.021 billion, higher by 10.26 percent year-on-year from P44.459 billion.
Losses incurred, however, amounted to P21.845 billion, or 19.20 percent higher than the P18.326 billion recorded a year ago.
Meanwhile, net income of life insurance companies declined by 0.13 percent year-on-year to P28.752 billion during the ninemonth period from P28.788 billion a year ago.
Total premiums improved by 14.49 percent to P263.206 billion year-on-year while benefit pay-
ments went down by 14.13 percent to P62.969 billion.
However, invested assets of life insurance companies increased by 15.01 percent to P1.929 trillion from last year’s P1.677 trillion.
Moreover, total net surplus of MBAs rose to P4.769 billion as of the third quarter, up by 17.73 percent from P4.051 billion last year. Contributions or premiums of MBAs increased by 6.27 percent to P12.215 billion as its benefit payments also went up by 9.27 percent to P5.826 billion.
Total invested assets of MBAs reached P148.095 billion, 13.22 percent higher than the P130.802 billion it invested a year ago.
data
Consolidated data showed the overall insurance industry has P2.377 trillion in total assets as of the third quarter of the year, up by 7.09 percent from P2.219 trillion in the same period last year. While the industry booked P108.529 billion in total premiums as of end-September 2024, it also suffered higher losses, recording a 12.06-percent increase in benefit payments totaling P39.248 billion from last year’s P35.025 billion. Further, Insurance penetration, or the insurance sector’s contribution to the national economy, slightly improved to 1.74 percent from last year’s 1.68 percent, but remains low. Meanwhile, Insurance density, or the average spending of each individual on insurance, also rose by 12.44 percent to P2,910 as of end-September 2024 from P2,588 last year.
“Our team has designed this online system with our members in mind, aiming to make home ownership and property acquisition not just a goal but a reality for more people,” Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said during the launch in Makati City.
To start, any device with an internet connection will enable interested homebuyers to look for their “forever home” in Pag-IBIG’s roster of properties, which shall be sold on an “as is, where is” basis, with up to 45-percent discount.
Homebuyers should register for their permanent Buyer’s ID by uploading a selfie with one valid government-issued ID to browse and bid for properties.
One of the key features of the platform is access to all relevant
information, such as the address, lot and floor areas, condition and photos, to provide a preview of the properties nationwide.
To ensure that all information is updated, Pag-IBIG’s Property Management Department is deployed to regularly monitor the properties.
Acting Department Manager of Housing Operations Support
Unit Chris Arbert A. Sio still encouraged homebuyers to personally visit the property they are eyeing to manage their expectations.
The platform also reflects the minimum bid price for the property and the required gross monthly income potential homebuyers should have.
The new “Add to Cart" feature allows homebuyers to submit their bids on multiple properties. Once their bids are submitted, an acknowledgment receipt will be
received through text message and email.
Acosta said only the auction committee can see the bids on the day after the deadline for bid submission.
“We will send immediately to homebuyers the result of the bids, whether they win or not,” Acosta assured.
Pag-IBIG aims to conduct public bidding on properties daily to hasten the disposition of its acquired assets.
“We are not earning from [these foreclosed properties] so we need to sell them immediately to raise funds and return them to our members through dividends,” Acosta said.
From January to October 2024, Pag-IBIG disposed of a total of 10,210 units. There are currently 50,295 available units up for sale.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
E-games drive PHL gaming GGR to ₧265.5B as of 3rd qtr
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
ELECTRONIC games continued to push up the Philippine gaming industry’s gross gaming revenues (GGR) to reach P265.54 billion as of the third quarter of 2024, nearly 80 percent of the P336 billion full-year target.
Data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) showed the local gaming industry’s GGR increased to P265.54 billion as of end-Sep -
tember 2024, up by 29.44 percent from P205.14 billion in the same period in 2023. About 33.54 percent or P89.06 billion of the total GGR was
brought by electronic games, which soared five-fold from just P14.75 billion in the same period in 2023.
The bulk, or 56.45 percent, of the gaming sector’s revenues came from licensed casinos, contributing P149.9 billion to the overall GGR from January to September 2024.
However, this was 4.98 percent lower year-on-year than the P157.75 billion it raised from the industry.
Meanwhile, Pagcor-operated Casino Filipino branches chipped in a total of P12.53 billion, down by 16.46 percent from the P15 billion they generated a year ago.
Gaming revenues from bingo
operations declined by 20.29 percent to P14.02 billion as of endSeptember 2024 from P17.59 billion in the same period in 2023.
Licensed casinos
LATEST figures from the state-run gaming operator showed thirdquarter GGR rose by 37.52 percent year-on-year to P94.61 billion from P68.79 billion.
The biggest contributor to the revenue pie are licensed casinos with P50.72 billion, followed by electronic games (P35.71 billion), Pagcor-operated casinos (P3.64 billion) and bingo operations (P4.52 billion).
Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H.
Campi: Good sales, good stock availability behind 8.9% hike in 10-mo vehicle sales
By Andrea E. San Juan
THE local auto industry has sold 384,310 car units in the January to October 2024 period, up 8.9 percent from the 352,971 cars sold in the 10-month period in 2023, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi).
A joint report by Campi and
Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed that 40,003 cars have been sold in October 2024 alone. This is 1.2 percent higher than the 39,542 units sold in September 2024 and 4.9 percent higher than the 38,128 car units sold in October 2023.
In a statement on Friday, Campi President Rommel Gutierrez pointed to “good sales and good stock availability” as the reason
Insurance sector
THE Philippines’ insurance industry recorded a net income of P39.928 billion, driven by the non-life sector, as of the third quarter of 2024. Latest data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed that the total net income of life and non-life insurance companies and mutual benefit associations (MBAS) from January to September 2024 represented a 4.23-percent increase from the P38.307-billion figure recorded in the same ninemonth period of 2023. Non-life insurance companies
booked a net income of P6.406 bil-
lion as of the third quarter of 2024, 17.17 percent higher than the P5.467 billion posted in the same period in 2023.
Total premiums earned by nonlife insurance companies increased to P49.021 billion, higher by 10.26 percent year-on-year from P44.459 billion.
Losses incurred, however, amounted to P21.845 billion, or 19.20 percent higher than the P18.326 billion recorded a year ago. Meanwhile, net income of life insurance companies declined by 0.13 percent year-on-year to P28.752 bil-
behind the increase in car sales in October 2024.
The Campi head also noted that the increase in car sales last month “neutralized the effect of the typhoon Kristine on the operations of dealers nationwide.”
Commercial vehicles (CVs) continued to drive industry performance at 283,501 units accounting for 74 percent of total sales.
Meanwhile, there were 100,809
lion during the nine-month period from P28.788 billion a year ago.
Total premiums improved by 14.49 percent to P263.206 billion year-on-year while benefit payments went down by 14.13 percent to P62.969 billion.
However, invested assets of life insurance companies increased by 15.01 percent to P1.929 trillion from last year’s P1.677 trillion.
Moreover, total net surplus of MBAs rose to P4.769 billion as of the third quarter, up by 17.73 percent from P4.051 billion last year.
Contributions or premiums of
passenger cars sold in the 10-month period, or a 2- percent share of the car sales pie in the January to October 2024.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation continued to dominate the local auto market with 46.43-percent share, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation with 19.09 percent, Ford Group Philippines at 6.12 percent, Nissan Philippines, Inc. with
MBAs increased by 6.27 percent to P12.215 billion as its benefit payments also went up by 9.27 percent to P5.826 billion.
Total invested assets of MBAs reached P148.095 billion, 13.22 percent higher than the P130.802 billion it invested a year ago.
Consolidated data showed the overall insurance industry has P2.377 trillion in total assets as of the third quarter of the year, up by 7.09 percent from P2.219 trillion in the same period last year.
While the industry booked P108.529 billion in total premiums as of end-September 2024,
Tengco expects the electronic gaming sector to raise as much as P78 billion in license fees alone, contributing to the attainment of its P100-billion revenue target for 2024.
“This impressive performance is a strong indication that the use of modern technology and mobile gadgets in gaming and amusement will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of gaming,” Tengco said.
The Pagcor chief remains optimistic that the electronic gaming industry will continue to grow as technology becomes an integral part of people’s lifestyles, such as in shopping, gaming and entertainment.
5.80 percent and Suzuki Philippines, Inc. with 4.36 percent share.
The 384,310 vehicle units sold in January to October 2024 is already 76.86 percent of 500,000 units—the target set by Campi for auto sales this year.
In August 2024, Gutierrez told reporters that for 2024, Campi initially set a “conservative” target of 468,300 units in sales.”
“However, with the excitement and momentum building up for PIMS [Philippine International Motor Show], we are optimistic about surpassing this goal and potentially reaching 500,000 units,” the Campi head said in August.
it also suffered higher losses, recording a 12.06-percent increase in benefit payments totaling P39.248 billion from last year’s P35.025 billion.
Further, Insurance penetration, or the insurance sector’s contribution to the national economy, slightly improved to 1.74 percent from last year’s 1.68 percent, but remains low.
Meanwhile, Insurance density, or the average spending of each individual on insurance, also rose by 12.44 percent to P2,910 as of endSeptember 2024 from P2,588 last year. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
The work doesn’t stop: PRC helps communities prepare for ‘Pepito’
WHILE committed to help save Filipino lives, activating its anticipatory action efforts as Typhoon Pepito enters and intensifies in the country, an official of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reminded the public also to make the necessary preparations.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang said that it would be better if people will be equipped with a “Go Bag” which will help them survive if a disaster hits their areas and help or rescue is far.
“We urge everyone to stay informed and updated on the latest weather news, and follow emergency protocols set by your barangay or local government,” Dr. Pang said.
The PRC said that its Disaster Management Services (DMS) anticipatory action involved helping communities reinforce their homes to withstand strong winds through shelter strengthening, and preventing damage to crops and loss of livelihood through early harvesting.
Local PRC chapters in affected areas are taking inventory of medicines (especially doxycycline), blood, and other response resources and assets, while water tankers, water treatment units, and food trucks are on standby for potential relief operations. PRC’s volunteers and staff are on alert to assist in preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas, and conduct community monitoring and assessment.
Teams on the ground are also being assembled, and oriented on their duties and responsibilities.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon expressed the PRC’s firm dedication to alleviating human suffering, extending solidarity with those whose lives have been severely affected due to the recent storms.
“We share our kababayans’ weariness of the harsh weather in these past months. We are all feeling very overwhelmed and tired with the back-to-back storms and typhoons, but our work never stops, and the Red Cross will never tire of serving the people,” Gordon said. He added that PRC’s volunteers and staff are working very hard 24/7 to ensure communities are informed and safe.
“Based on Pepito’s trajectory, we are closely monitoring its impact on Northern Samar, Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon. All our lifelines are open in case emergencies elsewhere arise,” he concluded. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
2 BusinessMirror reporters receive top honors in Bright Leaf awards
By Andrea E. San Juan
CUTTING-EDGE reportage in agriculture once again came to the fore with BusinessMirror writers’ winning some of the top honors at the latest Bright Leaf Awards Thursday night.
Cai U. Ordinario, BusinessMirror’s Banking and Macroeconomy reporter, was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards. It is an honor bestowed on those who have won a total of five Bright Leaf Awards in any category. The paper’s Baguio-based veteran correspondent Marilou C. Guieb, meanwhile, won the Best Agriculture News Story National Award for “Baguio, Loving Flies, But the Good Kind.” The special report by Guieb focuses on Baguio’s trailblazing experience in using black flies for various food and sustainability purposes, illustrating how an LGU can aspire for a so-called “circular economy.” Meanwhile, receiving the Hall of Fame/Oriental Leaf Award during the 17th Bright Leaf Awards makes Ordinario now the third Hall of Famer produced by the BusinessMirror.
The two other Bright Leaf Hall of Famers of the BusinessMirror are: another Baguio-based journalist, Mauricio Victa (2015); and Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas (2021), BM’s erstwhile agriculture reporter Ordinario’s road to the Hall of Fame can be traced back to the agriculture stories she wrote in 2018,2021,2022 and 2023, some of which she crafted with her colleagues at this paper. In 2023, Ordinario, along with BusinessMirror Reporters Jovee Marie De La Cruz and Jovy Noelle Rodriguez, bagged the Best Agriculture Feature Story
(National) award for “Skyrocketing Sugar Prices Stroke Industry Liberalization Stakes.”
In 2022, she secured the Agriculture Story of the Year award with former BusinessMirror reporter Tyrone Jasper C. Piad for “Global Shipment Woes: Additional Shocks to Philippines’ Food Supply Chain (PART 1) Supply Stiffness to Stay as Shipment Issues seen Spilling Past Yule Season (PART 2).”
In 2021, Ordinario bagged two awards: the Tobacco Story of the Year for “Gold Leaf Farming Sector Still Searching For Own El Dorado” and Best Agriculture News Story-National for “Pre and Post Rice Trade Liberalization Law, Big Traders Gaming Farmer Groups.” Ordinario bagged her first Bright Leaf Award in 2018: Best Agriculture News Story-National for “Snapshot of Rice Consumption Data Remains Grainy As Pinoys Grapple” with former
BusinessMirror reporter Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas. A total of 13 Awardees were recognized at the 2024 Bright Leaf Awards ceremony across these categories: Agriculture Story of the Year, Agriculture Photo of the Year, Tobacco Story of the Year, Tobacco Photo of the Year, Best Television Program or Segment, Best Radio Program or Segment, Best Agriculture News Story-National, Best Agriculture News Story-Regional, Best Agriculture Feature Story-National, Best Agriculture Feature StoryRegional, Best Online Story and Best Story in Tobacco Product Alternatives and the Oriental Leaf Award. The Bright Leaf Journalism Awards is an annual competition open to individuals and teams producing agricultural stories in the Philippines. The theme for this year is “Illuminating Change.”
BAGUIO-BASED BusinessMirror reporter Marilou Guieb (left photo) receives the Best Agriculture News Story National Award for “Baguio, Loving Flies, But the Good Kind.” Right photo, Cai U. Ordinario poses with BM editor in chief Lourdes Fernandez and associate editor Jennifer Ng after receiving the Oriental Leaf award marking her induction into the Brightleaf Hall of Fame. NONOY LACZA
Indonesia ‘considering’ transfer of OFW death row convict to PHL
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
JAKARTA is considering the request of Manila to transfer death row convict Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso to Philippine custody.
The newly-created Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction (Kemenko Kumham Impas) said the plight of Veloso was discussed during the meeting between their Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Philippine Ambassador to Jakarta Gina Alagon Jamoralin last November 11.
In 2010, Veloso was convicted for drug trafficking and meted out the death penalty. She narrowly escaped execution with a lastminute reprieve the Jakarta. Since then, the Philippine government has been requesting then Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo to grant executive clemency to Veloso, whom Manila describes as a victim of an international drug and human trafficking syndicate.
Under the new administration of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the Philippines renewed this call.
Ambassador Jamoralin broached the case of Veloso with the newly formed Kemenko Kumham Impas which coordinates with the three ministries of Law, Human Rights,
Immigration and Correction.
The Indonesian coordinating minister told the Philippine ambassador that Indonesia “upholds legal sovereignty and is committed to enforcing the criminal sanctions imposed by the courts.”
“However, as part of constructive diplomacy, Kemenko Kumham Impas is currently considering the option of ‘transfer of prisoner’ or prisoner transfer for foreign inmates, including Veloso, in line with requests from the inmate’s home country.
“This matter has been discussed internally within Kemenko Kumham Impas and has also been brought to the attention of President Prabowo. We are formulating a policy to resolve the issue of foreign prisoners in our country, either through bilateral negotiations or by devising a policy related to what is referred to in English as the transfer of prisoner,» Coordinating Minister Yusril said in a statement.
If the request is granted, Mary Jane Veloso will continue to serve
Risa seeks separate probes on unauthorized transactions
AMID recent concerns raised over glitches that deprived mobile wallet subscribers of their funds, Sen. Risa Hontiveros has filed a Senate Resolution seeking an official investigation on the recent spate of unauthorized transactions, scams and other irregularities involving mobile financial services.
In proposed Senate Resolution No. 1234, Hontiveros said the Senate must review existing rules and regulations governing the financial technology or ‘fintech’ sector, since there is “no legislative framework yet in place to ensure stability and transparency, build public trust, and promote inclusion vis-à-vis this class of services.”
“Mobile financial services have become a part of daily life for millions of Filipinos, and the fintech sector has been an impor -
tant driver of economic growth and financial inclusion. GCash alone has an estimated 76 million users who posted P6 trillion worth of transactions in 2022—that is almost equal to our national budget next year,” says Hontiveros. “So many people benefit from mobile financial services, especially the “unbanked” or those without the capacity to open accounts with banks. We need a law that protects every Filipino using digital wallets, especially when there are instances of scams, hacking or other irregularities,” she added. Hontiveros’s resolution cited recent incidents and issues which have affected a number of fintech users, such as the recent wave of unauthorized transactions in GCash, a leading mobile financial service provider, in which money from GCash user
her remaining sentence in the Philippines, subject to the conditions determined by the Indonesian court’s ruling, the coordinating ministry said.
“If a foreign national prisoner has been returned to their home country, the responsibility for their rehabilitation rests with that country, including decisions on whether to grant remission or clemency; all of these decisions are handed over to the respective country,” the ministry said.
The Indonesian coordinating minister told Ambassador Jamoralin that the Philippines is “expected to recognize this decision and enforce the sentence as determined in Indonesia.”
“This policy serves as part of a reciprocal cooperation between the two countries to respect and strengthen international law enforcement,” Kemenko Kumham Imipas added.
The coordinating ministry will continue to coordinate with agencies “to formulate further procedures, including through negotiations and bilateral agreements with the Philippine government.”
The minister hopes that this gesture “will strengthen the relationship between the two countries in upholding law enforcement and protecting the rights of citizens abroad.”
accounts were transferred to unknown phone numbers.
GCash operator G-Xchange Inc. has attributed the transfers to errors in an “on-going system reconciliation process” and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has stated that the incident is “an internal issue” rather than external hacking.
However, Hontiveros’s resolution also noted that “similar incidents occurred in 2023, in which multiple GCash accounts were compromised using ‘phishing attacks’ staged through various online gambling platforms.”
The senator also pointed to warnings by the DICT on phishing attempts disguised as official text messages from GCash or PayMaya, another fintech e-wallet service.
The messages, Hontiveros said, were supposedly sent using a device called an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher, which monitors and intercept mobile data traffic by posing as a cellsite.
“The list of risks and complications which threaten the earnings of mobile financial service users grows longer everyday. We urgently need upgraded policies to ensure that mobile financial service providers and fintech firms observe the necessary level of care and accountability in handling digital transactions,” Hontiveros stressed.
“We must act on the cmplaints of our countrymen who are victims of scam or hacking of mobile financial services, and have no means to recover their money. We must implement a system that enhances regulatory oversight over the fintech sector, so Filipinos can trust that their hard-earned money is safe—even online,” Hontiveros concluded. Butch Fernandez
PhilHealth
panel endorses for Board approval expanded benefit packages
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
THE Benefits Committee (BenCom) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board of Directors endorsed on Friday to the board en banc better benefit packages for heart attacks, 10 rare diseases, preventive oral health at primary care, peritoneal dialysis, and assistive mobility devices.
Health Secretary and PhilHealth Board Chairman Teodoro J. Herbosa said that better benefits were endorsed for Board approval ahead of its next regular meeting before the end of November.
PhilHealth noted that there are eight major steps needed to implement a new PhilHealth benefit or to enhance an existing one: 1) benefit development; 2) policy development; 3) policy approval; 4) IT system development; 5) publication; 6) IT system enhancement; 7) user training/orientation; and 8) effectiveness assessment.
Board action is found in only two of these eight: policy development and policy approval. The six other steps are within Management and the President and CEO’s direct control.
“The job of PhilHealth is to pay the health benefits of its members.
It is President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s standing instruction for the DOH to steer PhilHealth along these lines through its Board,” said Herbosa.
The better benefits endorsed for Board approval include a package for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attacks across the continuum of care; ten rare diseases that include Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Methylmalonic Acidemia/Propionic Acidemia, Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria, Gaucher Disease, Pompe Disease, Fabry Disease, MPS II (Hunter Syndrome), MPS IV (Morquio Syndrome), and Osteogenesis Imperfecta; preventive oral health services to complement the PhilHealth Konsulta package; improved coverage for Peritoneal Dialysis; and assistive mobility devices for priority conditions that affect the most in need for physical rehabilitation.
“To lower the health expenses of Filipino families, radical change must happen from within PhilHealth. It has to do better - settling all arrears, paying reimbursement claims faster, and increasing cost coverage. Today’s BenCom endorsement is one of many that the DOH has been leading in that regard,” the health chief said.
DA: Using drones for fertilizer, pesticide application to cut costs, spur efficiency
By Ada Pelonia
THE use of drones for fertilizer and pesticide application in rice farming can lower production costs and boost farmers’ efficiency, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Glenn Estrada, Program Director of the DA’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), explained that most farmers into transplanting normally spend around P10,000 to P12,000 per hectare using traditional knapsack sprayers.
“[That amount] is just the labor cost for one crop establishment,” Estrada told reporters during a press conference Friday in Quezon City, speaking partly in Filipino.
“The full application of drones, including crop establishment, fertilizer application, pesticide, and other chemicals application is estimated at P8,000 [per hectare],” he added,
Estrada said the agency will also provide farmers with a P2,000 voucher subsidy when availing the service. With this, he said local tillers could save about P4,000 per hectare.
He also shared that drone technology could bolster farmers’ productivity in terms of application.
“In manual labor, it will take you half a day to finish one hectare. For the drones, we can have it [done] in 10 to 15 minutes. It’s that efficient,” Estrada said.
The drone initiative is part of the Drones4Rice Project of the DA National Rice Program (DA-NRP), which aims to standardize the protocols for drone applications of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides for rice production in the country.
Estrada shared the project’s initial target to have 150,000 hectares nationwide use drone technology for farming, which is “a small fraction” of areas out of the 4.8 million hectares being cultivated in the country.
“For us to initially approach all these farmers’ groups to really look into and appreciate this technology, we have demonstrations nationwide,” he said.
Estrada said farmers with 20,000 hectares of farmland have already signified their interest in the project, which will unreel in the dry cropping season of 2024 to 2025.
Meanwhile, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) said it will develop a set of protocols, standards, and monitoring for drone use in agriculture.
The FPA explained that despite the availability of drones in the country, and regulations for their use in place, “additional work is needed to reduce regulatory constraints, standardize operations, develop digital precision agriculture (PA) tools, and scale up the adoption of these technologies.”
The agency noted that the guidelines should be complied with by drone controllers, operators, technicians, service providers, pesticide companies, and pesticide end-users. This includes but is not limited to private and public research institutions, state universities and colleges (SUCs), other government agencies, and Local Government Units (LGUs), engaged in the business of drone spraying of agricultural pesticides and other agricultural chemicals to control pests and diseases.
RORE for BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin successfully done
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has successfully conducted a “rotation and reprovisioning” (RORE) mission for troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal last November 14.
“The AFP, supported by the PCG, conducted the regular RORE of supplies to the personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) on Nov. 14, 2024 in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Friday. He added that there were no untoward incidents during the mission.
No other details were provided by the AFP.
“The AFP continues to uphold its mandate of safeguarding Philippine sovereignty and ensuring the welfare of its stationed personnel in the WPS,” Trinidad said. The last RORE for the BRP Sierra Madre took place last Sept. 26 and it was also considered incident-free by the military. Prior to the Sept. 26 resupply mission, the last RORE for the Ayungin Shoal contingent took place on July 27, more than a month after the June 17 harassment incident where Chinese maritime forces boarded and blocked Filipino vessels engaged in that effort.
A Filipino sailor lost part of his thumb in the melee.
MINISTER Yusril Ihza Mahendra (right) and Philippine Ambassador to Jakarta Gina Alagon Jamoralin during their November 11 meeting. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEMENKO KUMHAM IMPAS
Time BusinessMirror Our
Digital fasting to quiet your monkey mind
By Nick Tayag
my sixty-zen’s
WORtH
DO you find it hard to concentrate? Do you ever feel like there are a million thoughts racing through your mind at times? Do your trains of thought keep getting derailed by some old nagging worry or a new idea suddenly popping up in your head or an object of fresh interest you’ve stumbled upon? That’s probably your monkey mind going bananas.
Monkey mind is from Chinese xinyuan and Sino-Japanese shin’en, which literally means “heart-/mind-monkey.” It is a Buddhist term meant to describe the human mind that is like a monkey that jumps and swings through the trees and vines, attracted to everything it sees.
There are many factors that can trigger the monkey mind. But there’s one major stimulant. It’s called social media.
This is true for many seniors and old folks who practically reside in the Internet because they lead sedentary and inactive lives. Old folks usually wake up early and as soon as they get up from the bed, they reach out for, what else, their smart phones or tablets.
My son’s mother-in-law who has become half-paralyzed by a stroke seems to be always on “now active” mode on the Internet even at hours before dawn. This is a cause for worry because in her condition, a sudden surge of blood pressure is bad. As we all know, the Internet can cause our emotions to go up and down all day long and sometimes even in our dreams.
I have a 70-plus-year-old friend who frequently consults the Internet for his health issues. A slight dizziness, a tiny change in his bowel movement or a little numbness on his arm is enough to make him click on his favorite search engine to research on the probable cause, and then he starts palpitating only to be told by his doctor it’s not a major health issue. His doctor has admonished him time and time again not to believe everything he reads or encounters on the Internet. Consider another retired colleague whose mind is so alert to FB’s or smartphones’ notifications we can’t get him to join our conversation during our occasional coffee get-togethers. He would rather scroll through social media. One moment he is loudly laughing or guffawing at something or someone, next moment he’s furiously spewing an effluvia of four-letter words, and before you know it, he is oozing with compliments like amazing or awesome. That’s a sure sign the restless monkey mind has taken over his daily life.
2,430 Cordova seniors receive ₧3.6 million in social pension
By John Rey Saavedra
CEBU CITY—More
than 2,430 senior citizens from the 12 villages of the island town of Cordova have received a total of P3.6 million worth of social pension, an official said on Wednesday.
Mayor Cesar Suan said the recipients comprised the first and second batches for the payout.
He said P2.3 million was initially given to 870 senior citizens from seven villages comprising the first batch, while P1.3 million was distributed to 1,564 elderlies from five villages under the second batch.
The payout for the second batch on Wednesday went smoothly, he added.
The first batch received their benefits on November 11.
Having a monkey mind is normal, and it isn’t necessarily bad. It is a sign that your mind is active and alert and occupied. An active, stimulated mind keeps you on top of things and allows you to navigate your busy life.
The problem, as I see it, is not that we have a monkey mind, but it has us in its grip. In other words it is so pervasive, repetitive, and nonstop. It only leaves us when we are asleep, if it allows us to sleep at all.
Before that happens, you must find a way to turn things around.
For a start, find the will power to unplug yourself from the Internet, the main stimulant that triggers your mind to sway from distraction to distraction. Set an hour or day to abstain from all kinds of digital stimulants. You’ve heard of intermittent food fasting, so why not practice intermittent digital fasting? Going on an intermittent digital diet helps break the cycle of craving—and actually rewires the brain’s response and behavior in the moment.
Furthermore, research suggests such detoxes can have mental health benefits. By disconnecting from your devices, you give your mind a chance to rest and recharge. This can reduce your stress levels, improve your mood, and give you a better sense of emotional wellbeing. It also aids in giving your tired eyes the essential rest they require.
Another way to wean yourself from digital craving is to look for activities to replace your frequent social media surfing. Immerse yourself in creative activities, or mental games or a good book, movie or TV series that can put you on a higher mode of thinking. Catch up with friends, learn a new skill or craft, find a new hobby or practice meditation.
As for me, I have not only curbed my digital enthusiasm, but more significantly, I’ve learned to ride on the back of my monkey mind and rein it towards more engaging creative work. I still surf the Internet, and I still let my mind jump freely from one idea to another, but now it’s in a more purposive way. When a different idea hits me, I don’t let it carry me away meaninglessly. Instead, I snatch it and shelve it in a compartment in my mind for a closer look at a later time.
A great sage teaches us, “we are shaped by our thoughts, and we become what we think.”
The choice is yours. Either you become a restless monkey in your remaining years or you get off the digital treadmill and go back to being a normal human once again.
The first batch came from the villages of Gabi (293); Alegria (191); Catarman (123); Poblacion (393); Buagsong (178); Day-as (242); and Bangbang (144).
Those under the second batch were from Barangays Ibabao (295);
Pilipog (180); Dapitan (176); San Miguel (121); and Cogon (98).
Suan said that every senior citizen in their town has enjoyed the local social pension after meeting the requirements established by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).
During the distribution, Suan announced that the next payout will be made to local social pensioners in December this year.
Aside from the P1,500 pensions to cover the months of October, November, and December, the elderlies will also receive their Christmas cash gift.
“Fulfillment of the promise will never end. While I still lead the leadership of the town, you can all guarantee that our local social pension will continue,” he said.
Roche CEO confident in breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug despite past failures
By Naomi Kresge & Kriti Gupta
ROCHE Holding AG is extremely optimistic that its latest experimental Alzheimer’s drug will deliver a benefit for patients, Chief Executive Officer Thomas Schinecker said, despite a track record of failures in the field.
Roche’s newest experimental Alzheimer’s drug, dubbed brain shuttle because of its technology for slipping past the protective bloodbrain barrier, has already shown to be extremely effective at breaking up the amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of the disease, Schinecker said. The drugmaker presented its latest data from a closely scrutinized patient trial at the CTAD medical conference in Madrid.
“We already know this will work,” Schinecker said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “I would say the likelihood is pretty high. Of course there is no guarantee in life.”
Roche is relying on its portfolio of experimental medicines to kickstart growth through the end of this decade after a more than yearlong overhaul of its research and development units. Failures in Alzheimer’s disease were among the setbacks that soured some investors on the company’s R&D strategy in recent years. In response, Schinecker pared the pipeline and pledged to move more quickly on promising projects, including a challenge to Novo Nordisk A/S in the growing market for obesity treatments.
The immediate revamp is done, and Roche is now “transitioning into more normal portfolio management and prioritization,” Schinecker said on a call with journalists.
Third-quarter sales rose 9% to 15.1 billion Swiss francs ($17.5 billion), the Basel, Switzerlandbased company said, slightly topping expectations thanks to its eye drug Vabysmo as well as medicines for cancer, hemophilia and multiple sclerosis.
Momentum
“ W E RE very confident that we can carry this momentum toward the end of this year but also into the next year,” Schinecker said in the TV interview.
The shares climbed 0.6 percent in early trading in Zurich. Roche has gained 12 percent so far this year, trailing the 14 percent rise in the Bloomberg Europe 500 Pharmaceuticals Index.
Roche pointed to five pharmaceutical sales drivers in the past quarter: Vabysmo, breast cancer drug Phesgo, multiple sclerosis treatment Ocrevus, hemophilia medicine Hemlibra and Polivy, a drug for blood cancer. Together, the medicines brought in 4.6 billion francs of revenue in the period, a 21 percent increase from the year before.
Cancer drug Tecentriq, however, has probably reached its peak in sales, Schinecker said.
The company will provide testing kits for mpox as the disease continues to spread, he added.
Roche confirmed its forecast that adjusted earnings per share will rise in a high-single-digit percentage range at constant exchange rates this year, with sales rising in the mid-single-digit range. With assistance from Guy Johnson and Anna Edwards /Bloomberg
Meanwhile, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) will push for the integration of the coconut and dairy industry in Central Visayas to bolster production in both sectors to benefit local residents including the elderly, an official said on Wednesday.
Dennis Madlos, project development officer of NDA-7 (Central Visayas), said that it is NDA’s desire to improve the production of quality milk from dairy cattle that the agency provided to the coconut farmers.
Madlos said the agency is one of
D-Day
the implementers of the CoconutDairy Integration Project to be led by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). Under the program, the agency gave the farmers cows that can produce good quality milk that can be a source of their income, in addition to earnings from their farm surplus. The project is funded by the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund. PNA
veteran George Chandler,
who recounted the horrors of Normandy landings, passes away
By Danica Kirka The Associated Press
LONDON—D-Day veteran
George Chandler, who sought to counter sometimes glamorous depictions of the landings by recalling the horrors he witnessed escorting US troops to the beaches of northern France as a young Royal Navy gunner, has died, his family said. He was 99.
Chandler, who served aboard a British motor torpedo boat during the invasion of Normandy that began on June 6, 1944, was one of the dwindling cohorts of D-Day survivors who gathered last summer to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landings.
With even the youngest veterans nearing their 100th birthdays, Chandler said he wanted to tell his story to make sure younger people understood the reality of war, not the sanitized version that appears in many history books.
“Let me assure you, what you read in those silly books that have been written about D-Day are absolute crap,” he said in June at an event at Southwick House, on the south coast of England, the Allied headquarters during the Battle of Normandy. “It’s a load of old rubbish. I was there, how can I forget it?’’
Chandler’s torpedo boat was part of a flotilla of British vessels that escorted US Army soldiers to Omaha and Utah beaches during the Iandings. He was on board as the sun rose on June 6, revealing an armada of ships “of all shapes and sizes” stretching from horizon to horizon as waves of aircraft flew overhead. Unfortunately, he said, a navigation error meant the troops he was escorting landed too far to the west and they were mowed down as they hit the beaches, Chandler said.
“It’s a very sad memory because I watched young American Rangers get shot, slaughtered—and they were young. I was 19 at the time.
These kids were younger than me.”
“I will never forget the sight of seeing those brave young men fighting and dying as they struggled to get off the beach,” he added. After spending three months escorting troops across the English Channel, Chandler’s torpedo boat was transferred to the Adriatic, where it struck a mine and sank on April 10, 1945. Nineteen of the 31 crewmen were killed. The family intends to scatter some of his ashes in the Adriatic so he can be with his mates who are buried at sea. Chandler died of pneumonia on October 19, his son Paul said. Chandler, who went on to a long career in the General Post Office and British Telecommunications, lost his sight in later life. He had planned to lead the Blind Veterans UK contingent during Britain’s annual Remembrance Sunday ceremonies next month in central London accompanied by his granddaughters, Lucy Tucknott, 31, and Faye West, 28. The women plan to march in his place, joining the thousands of veterans who will troop past the Cenotaph, Britain’s national war memorial.
ThoMaS SChiNeCker PhotograPher: Betty Laura ZaPata/BLooMBerg
BriTiSh Normandy campaign veteran George Chandler of the royal Navy speaks to the media and poses in the “Map room,” which shows
Editor: Mike Policarpio
CHED bats for local HEI faculties’ global upskilling and reskilling
THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has called for the international upskilling and reskilling of Philippine higher education institutions’ (HEIs) faculty members.
During CHED’S higher education mission in Australia, chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III said in a meeting with Min. Gayle Tierney of Victoria’s Higher Education and Skills/Technical and Further Education that “we’re looking at opportunities to develop not only universityto-university linkages, but [also opportunities for upskilling and reskilling of faculty members by sending them] to short continuing professional development programs in top universities all over the world.”
De Vera said the upgrading of faculties’ skills will raise the country’s HEIs’ quality, in line with Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives: “He has instructed, particularly higher education and basic education, to make sure that we maintain
our niche in terms of producing world-class professionals in specific fields.”
Among priority fields in Marcos Jr. administration’s internationalization focus are medicine, nursing, allied health sciences, information technology, engineering and the maritime sector, among others.
Meanwhile, the minister lauded the Philippines for advancing global partnerships, as she assured continuous assistance in securing Philippine-Australian universities agreements, whether in higher education or vocational education: “We do appreciate the work that you’ve put in so far, and really heartened to hear that you are going to be developing work plans so…everyone understands who’s doing what, so that we can make sure that we do have that
deep-necked, very rich dialogue that takes us forward.”
Tierney said Australia is deemed as a “very popular destination” for Filipino students, as she stressed the need to ensure existing university ties’ sustainability.
“We also know that, [for Filipinos who] live in Melbourne, many of them are attracted to the health-care and home-care health areas,” she said. “If there’s some…synergies that we might be able to work on there, we would be very interested.”
Getting to know each other and deepening relationships, for the Australian government
official, is “absolutely critical in all of our endeavors, in all of the parts that we have influenced so that we can maintain very, very strong links that not only are between ourselves, but [also with] the next generation in each of our countries.”
For its part, CHED vowed to continue ensuring synergies in credit transfers and degree recognitions for both Philippine HEIs and partner-universities.
Eleven Philippine HEIs participated in the five-day higher education mission to secure agreements with various universities in Australia late in October. Stephanie Sevillano/PNA
ENTERPRISE-BASED LEARNING,
UP tops AD Scientific Index ’25
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes
THE University of the Philippines (UP) was recently cited as the country’s top higher education institution in the “AD Scientific Index 2025,” which underscored the state university’s role as the country’s leader in research and scientific innovation.
“On behalf of the [university], I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed scientists for leading the nation as the top institution in the AD Scientific Index 2025,” UP president Angelo Jimenez said. “This achievement affirms the dedication, skill and global influence of our researchers who consistently advance knowledge and innovation. [The] recognition for having the highest concentration of cited scientists underscores the immense value of their work. This recognition not only enhances UP’s reputation, but also strengthens our capacity to address complex national challenges.”
Jimenez also highlighted the state university’s commitment to invest further in research infrastructure and support.
“As we celebrate this milestone, UP will continue to invest in essential research resources to empower our scientists in their impactful work,” he added.
“We hope our researchers see UP as fertile ground for making a difference through science. Together, we aspire to drive national progress with transformative results that uplift communities.”
Professor Emeritus Gisela P. Concepcion, underscored research as the foundation of UP’s innovation work: “Innovation is rooted in research. [The latter] provides the data needed to develop transformative ideas into practical solutions. As
home to top scientists, UP will continue to drive innovation through research.”
One-time UP president and former trade secretary Alfredo E. Pascual also emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s scientific foundation through research and innovation. He said “we must increase the number of PhDs and build expertise in our scientific community to sustain high-level innovation.”
Pascual underscored the need to boost UP scientists’ research publications in internationally recognized journals, as well as expand both local and global research collaborations: “These measures will bring quality innovations to industry. Artificial Intelligence [AI], in particular, is now the lynchpin of these efforts, helping us reach new heights in research and innovation.”
The recent “AI Horizons PH 2024 Conference” on October 24 and 25 at UP-Bonifacio Global City exemplified the university’s commitment to scientific expertise for national development. It gathered experts in AI, data science and engineering for them to collaborate with UP specialists on key areas for national progress. Discussions were expected to yield transformative solutions and stimulate new products and services through strategic partnerships and interdisciplinary work. The AD Scientific Index is a global ranking system that evaluates scientists and institutions based on their research productivity and citation impact, using metrics like the h-index and total citations from Google Scholar data. It assesses both overall and recent performance, offering insights into long-term and current academic influence.
ZTE honors ace students with scholarship program
Grand Prix glory: UST Singers conquer Grieg intl choir fest
ACCLAIMED mixed choral group University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers recently concluded a triumphant 18-day international concert and competition tour entitled “Beyond All Praising.” Their tour covered Switzerland and Norway from September 13 to 30, 2024, as they brought home multiple awards from the “10th Grieg International Choir Festival,” which included the coveted “Grand Prix Award.” Their journey began in Switzerland, where they captivated audiences in cities like Goldach, Schaffhausen, Winterthur, Stein am Rhein and Bern. The 32-member group met with both local communities and Filipino expatriates, as they shared their artistry and celebrated Filipino excellence. During their visit, the choir had the honor of meeting the Philippine ambassador to Switzerland Bernard Faustino Dy, which reaffirmed the group’s dedication in showcasing the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage through music.
A first for the UST Singers, they went to Norway as part of their 37th international tour. In Bergen—the “City of Fjords”—they were met with great enthusiasm and support from the Filipino community and Amb. Enrico T. Fos.
Under the masterful guidance of founder and conductor Prof. Fidel Gener Calalang Jr., the UST Singers delivered a breathtaking perfor -
mance that earned them the coveted Grand Prix award on September 29. Their highly virtuosic rendition of “ Sagayan ”—a powerful piece from the contemporary Filipino choral work “ Mangá Pakalagián ” by Nilo Alcala—captivated the audience and judges alike. The contemporary take from traditional music from the Southern Philippines, with its evocative chants and rituals, resonated within the Grieghallen: a 1,500seat concert hall named in honor of Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg. The UST Singers’ victory extended beyond the Grand Prix, as they also secured first place in the “Mixed Choir” category and second prize in the “Folk Music” category. Their winning repertoire included “ Daluyong ”
by Ily Matthew Maniano: a poignant tribute to the survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda, Norwegian Alleluia by Kim Andre Arnesen: a beautiful piece that seamlessly blends Nordic folk traditions with a modern choral setting, and the contemporary sacred piece Chariots by Dutch-born South African composer Péter Louis van Dijk. The 10th Grieg International Choir Festival provided a platform for the UST Singers to compete against 30 other choirs from countries all over the world that included Estonia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Denmark and Norway.
As the sole Asian and Filipino representative at the festival, they made history by becoming the first
Filipino and Asian choir to claim the competition’s Grand Prix. For UST, the remarkable achievement underscores their unwavering commitment to cultural diplomacy and musical excellence on the world stage.
Founded in 1992, the UST Singers have become a symbol of Filipino musicality worldwide. They are the first and only choir to twice clinch the highly-coveted “Choir of the World Grand Prize-Luciano Pavarotti Trophy” at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 1995 and 2010. As “Cultural Ambassadors of Goodwill of the Philippines,” they have shared the rich cultural heritage of their homeland with audiences worldwide: from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, to the Royal families of Spain and Thailand, as well as numerous other world leaders. From historic concert halls and churches to prestigious musical festivals, the UST Singers have graced stages where few Filipino choirs have ventured before.
Following their most recent international triumph, the UST Singers are set to continue their mission to inspire and uplift audiences with a series of performances and concerts around Metro Manila, according to the university. It said that the group’s journey “serves as a testament to the power of music to transcend borders and connect people through shared cultural experiences.”
LEADING global provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions ZTE Corporation recently announced the launch of its first-ever scholarship program in the country, as it recognized six exceptional students from top universities.
According to the company, the scholarship reflects its unwavering commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation in the digital landscape. The initiative, it said, is a cornerstone of the company’s “S.T.A.R. [Skills, Talent, Attitude, and Responsibility] IndustryAcademe Linkage Program,” which was initiated in 2022 through a Strategic Cooperation-Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among ZTE, University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).
ZTE Philippines’ chief technology officer (CTO) Jin Zhi Chao emphasized that the scholarship program aims to “cultivate emerging talents in telecommunications” as part of the company’s commitment to driving the digital economy forward.
Additionally, the firm’s human resources director Liu Feng highlighted the scholarship’s significance as a pivotal milestone in the industry-academia partnership: He guaranteed that “we will continue to expand our talent pool through collaborations with various educational institutions in the Philippines.”
Gratitude poured in from the partneruniversities, as UST and PUP expressed heartfelt thanks for ZTE’s aid during trying times. According to the former’s vice rector for Finance and Faculty of Engineering regent Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon OP, SThD, DL: “This scholarship is particularly beneficial during these challenging times of [postpandemic and
economic crises]. We are sincerely thankful. Initiatives like this are essential for fostering global cooperation and mutual support.”
Dir. Ana Publico PECE, LPT of the PUP Office of Scholarship and Financial Assistance also expressed her sincere gratitude to ZTE for its vital scholarship support: “The partnership between ZTE and PUP serves as a beacon of hope for ZTE S.T.A.R scholars. The profound impact of the scholarship program is evident in the [scholars’] sustained high academic achievement and holistic development.”
The scholarship recipients also shared their inspiring stories that showcased the transformative power of the program. ZTE-UST scholar Euneez Lara described the experience as a turning point in her life that filled her with gratitude for the opportunities the company has provided. UST’s graduating Electrical Engineering student Marc Distor expressed immense relief as the scholarship eased financial burdens for his family and will allow them to focus on his academic journey. Thomasian Jessie Co, who is a graduating Bachelor of Science-Civil Engineering student, looked ahead with optimism, eager to pay forward ZTE’s kindness through impactful community contributions and academic achievements. Meanwhile, PUP’s graduating
CONDUCTOR and founder Fidel Calalang Jr. with the UST Singers right before their final bow in Switzerland
LEVERAGING THE HALLYU WAVE
MICE tourism levels up with Korea MICE Expo 2024
Photos courtesy of Korea MICE Association
WITH around 300 sellers more than 400 exhibition booths and over 130 domestic and international buyers from 31 countries including the Philippines, the recently concluded Korea MICE Expo 2024 reinforces MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) as an increasingly formidable category of tourism in the post-pandemic era.
Organized and hosted by the Korea MICE Association (KMA), with Incheon Tourism Organization (ITO) as a co-organizer and support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST), Incheon Metropolitan City, and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the annual expo held this year at Songdo Convensia in Incheon is widely regarded as the leading MICE exhibition event in Asia. Attracting over 3,000 domestic and international MICE industry professionals and facilitated around 4,000 business meetings, the event also reinforces the emergence of South Korea as a preferred MICE destination in the region. As one of only three international media (and the only one from the Philippines) to cover the event, we were not only able to attend some of the more important highlights of the event but we were also able to get a better understanding of the MICE industry in Korea.
Pitching zone
KOREA MICE Expo 2024 offered a variety of programs, including exhibition booth promotions, business meetings, conferences, and even a networking dinner (KME Night).
To expand business opportunities for exhibitors, a pitching zone was set up within the exhibition hall to showcase MICE products and services, policies, visions, and potential collaboration partners.
Overseas buyers attending this year’s event were invited following a two-month screening process conducted by the organizing institutions, with a significant portion being first-time buyers at KME. Approximately 70 percent of these buyers are either final decision-makers or purchasers within their organizations and have plans to host MICE events abroad within the next five years, thus promising substantial business outcomes.
More than just Seoul
WHILE most tourists including those who travel for MICE events usually prefer to go to the capital city of Seoul when visiting South Korea, there are actually numerous other
destinations worth considering.
In keeping up with its theme of “Much, More, MICE,” there were meetings dedicated to promoting other emerging MICE venues in Korea such as Incheon, Gwangju, Daegu, Chungbuk and Sejong. Meetings allowed the participants particularly buyers to explore the MICE potential of these places and seriously consider in pitching them to their respective clients.
In an interview with BusinessMirror, Minjoo Jung of the Korea Tourism Organization’s MICE Planning and Management Team identified the cities of Daegu and Busan as “the next MICE destinations in Korea.”
SUSTAINABLE
TBy Benjamin Locsin Layug
Daegu has hosted several international events including the 22nd World Energy Congress, the 2011 World Championship in Athletics and even four matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. While it rose to prominence for the hit horror movie, “Train to Busan,” Busan is also known for its Busan International Film Festival as well for hosting an APEC summit in 2005 and being a center for sports tournaments such as gthe 2002 Asian Games and the FIFA World Cup.
Korea-China-Japan MICE Forum ANOTHER highlight of Korea MICE Expo 2024 is the “Korea-China-Japan MICE Forum: MICE
Industry Status and Future Strategy” forum. The session underscored the importance of MICE industries in Korea, China, and Japan, and how these sectors can sustain development through shared experiences and success stories.
The Korean speaker, Eunjoo Yoon, Vice President of the Korea MICE Association and Director of the Korea Convention & Exhibition Research Institute talked about leveraging the Hallyu wave in MICE. Eunjoo acknowledged how K-Pop, K-drama and well, K-everything has been instrumental in drawing significant international interest and participation in Korea as a MICE destination.
China’s Sun Weijia, Dean of Institute of Regional and International Studies at Beijing International Studies University underscored the significant growth of China’s MICE industry, with a strong emphasis on expanding business travel markets and investing in MICE-related infrastructure.
Showing strong signs of recovery and growth post-pandemic, “China’s MICE industry is expected to recover to 106.2 billion dollars by 2024 and exceed 500 billion dollars by 2027,” Sun pointed out.
For his part, Japan’s Makoto Batori, Executive Director of Pacifico Yokohama said that with “over 150 universities, each with
its own academic societies,” Japan has a very strong domestic MICE market, particularly in the convention sector.
The role of AI in MICE
ONE of the most well-attended programs during the expo was the session on “AI Platform Applications in the MICE Industry,” Veemal Gungadin, CEO of online event management company, Gevme discussed the transformative impact of AI across various sectors, including its use in verifying government videos via QR codes, integration into WhatsApp for group chats, and the potential for misuse in education.
During the session, Gungadin demonstrated Gevme’s AI event management platform and its innovative applications, such as real-time attendee engagement and content summarization. He highlighted the advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-3, which can comprehend vast amounts of data from the internet, enabling the generation of text, images, videos, and sounds.
Gungadin, however, also warned of the challenges in AI adoption, such as intellectual property concerns and the definition of trusted sources, while advocating for responsible AI usage. The session concluded with an open discussion on AI’s role in education and the MICE industry, emphasizing the need for adaptation and embracing new technologies for future readiness.
In a separate interview with BusinessMirror, Korea Mice Association Chairman Danny Hyundae Shin acknowledged the importance of AI in the MICE industry.
“When we make any plans, we can now consult or discuss our ideas with Chat-GPT or any other AI platform. We can then get helpful guidelines, processes and suggestions. So from that standpoint alone, AI becomes an indispensable tool or platform for the MICE industry,” Shin pointed out.
From Incheon to Seoul AS Korea MICE Expo wraps up another successful year, organizers have announced that next year’s event will take place in Seoul at COEX Convention & Exhibition Center or simply COEX.
Hosting more than 200 exhibitions and 2,500 international meetings and events every year, COEX is the most renowned convention center in Korea and has hosted major events like the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 2000, World Cup Media Center in 2002, G20 Summit in 2010, the Nuclear Security Summit in 2012, and the UFI Congress in 2013.
“Korea MICE Expo 2025 will build on the successes of this year’s event to become an even more global MICE event. By hosting KME, South Korea will solidify its position as a leading nation in the MICE industry and serve as a crucial platform for bringing together stakeholders,” Shin concluded.
Leading Airport Hotel ensures that every guest receives exceptional service and comprehensive amenities while actively participating in our sustainability efforts.”
In line with these goals, the hotel has introduced the innovative WeSave Sustainability Program, which aims to reduce its operational impact, such as greenhouse gas emissions, measure its carbon footprint, reach carbon neutrality by 2030, foster a culture of recycling, and integrate ecofriendly practices into daily operations. The program also answers to the sustainability campaign of Megaworld Corporation, MEGreen, in contributing to greener townships. General Manager Ferdinand “Den” Navarro, an OFW for 17 years and a seasoned hotelier, explains, “Our unwavering commitment to being the Philippines’
HE 4-star Savoy Hotel Manila, the Philippines’ Leading Airport Hotel for four consecutive years (2021 to 2024), located just 350 meters from NAIA Terminal 3 (plus seamless access to NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 via the Skyway), stands as the premier choice for travelers seeking both comfort and convenience, enhanced by the warm, welcoming spirit of Filipino hospitality. Leisure travelers, business professionals, millennials, young families, and cherished Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Balikbayans can all share moments at this Newport City hotel—relaxing in its 684 cozy and well-appointed rooms, enjoying the pool, working in the Connect Lounge (a versatile space for meetings, conferences, and social gatherings), staying active at the gym, relieving stress at the spa and sauna room, or savoring delicious bites at Savoy Cafe, Zabana, and the Poolside Bar. Beyond traditional hospitality, Savoy Hotel Manila rises above conventional business practices to contribute meaningfully to environmental solutions and the Philippines’ ongoing efforts against food scarcity. A proud advocate of sustainable tourism, the hotel is an official signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, launched on November 4, 2021. The declaration’s goals include cutting greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030, achieving Net Zero by 2050 or earlier, and annually reporting progress on climate action plans.
Sustainability champion Mr. Karlo Evangelista, the hotel’s Compliance Manager, also added “It’s easy to think of what projects to implement and spend money on, but if people don’t embrace these initiatives then they won’t be sustainable. So it’s about culture, not just the program.”
The hotel’s commitment to sustainability extends to its Sampaguita Initiative, which aims to revitalize the sampaguita industry by incorporating the Philippines’ national flower into its branding and supporting communities in San Pedro, Laguna, once known as the “Sampaguita Capital of the Philippines.” In fact, Megaworld
maintains a 9-hectare, solar-powered Central Nursery in Tanza, Cavite, opened in 2016, that propagates sampaguita as well provides all of the tree seedlings, plants and flowers for their Luzon townships.
Some of their signature dishes, such as the Sampaguita Boursin, the Salmon Tartlets, the Sampaguita Rubbed Pork Barbeque, Sampaguita Polvoron and Mango Sampaguita Cheesecake as well as the SanMaRRa Tea, are infused and enhanced with sampaguita, adding a fresh flavor to a meal or drink.
Through everyday eco-friendly practices, recyclable materials are given new life through third-party processing, with proceeds directed to brighten classrooms in Barangay Villamor, supporting the local community.
A testament to the hotel’s dedication
to sustainability is its Vertical and Rooftop Gardens, where guests enjoy fresh, locally grown produce, reducing the hotel’s dependence on external food sources. To further reduce waste, the hotel repurposed over 500 containers from its Housekeeping Department and used plant boxes made from scrap materials, minimizing the carbon footprint between garden and plate.
The dedicated staff, the backbone of the hotel’s sustainability efforts, embody this commitment by making eco-friendly practices a natural part of their daily routines both at work and at home. A rigorous food waste management system measures waste and identifies spoilage patterns by analyzing every aspect of the food handling process. Future menus align servings with actual consumption, reducing waste and
optimizing efficiency for both Guests and the environment. In November 2022, the WeSave Sustainability Program received a “Badge of Honor” from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc. Additionally, the program’s dedication to reducing food waste earned it the “Guardians of the Grub Badge” from the UK-based Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a testament to the hotel’s commitment to sustainability. Most recently, Savoy Hotel Manila was named one of the top six finalists in the Business Marketing category of the Green Destinations Story Awards 2024 at the ITB Berlin tourism conference. Their Good Travel Story, “WeSave—Empowering Sustainability, Transforming Lives in Pasay City,” has also been nominated for the 2024 “People’s Choice Award,” allowing the public to vote for their favorite destination and Good Practice Story from the 2023 Green Destinations Top 100 competition. For more information, call +63 (02) 5317-2869 or email stay@savoymanila. com.
BusinessMirror
Palawan Gold is accessible via the PalawanPay e-wallet app
IF there is one thing that the pandemic normalized for the jewelry industry, it’s buying and selling online via Facebook, TikTok and other online platforms.
“We were surprised that many people were buying jewelry during the pandemic. We were surprised that whatever we had online would always be sold-out,” said Karlo Castro, president and chief executive officer, Palawan Group of Companies.
Karlo emphasized the importance of buying gold and jewelry online from a reputable source like Palawan Pawnshop, which has been in the business for 39 years. The company was co-founded by Karlo’s parents Bobby and Angelita Castro. From Palawan Pawnshop, the Castros entered the remittance business via Palawan Express Pera Padala, an affordable and efficient means of sending and receiving money.
As part of its diversification, the Palawan Group of Companies recently launched Palawan Gold, which the company calls Afforda-Gold.
“It provides an opportunity for Filipinos to invest in gold, the value of which increases over time. Gold is really an investment. In the last two months, the price of gold jumped by about P300 per month. Going back two years, the price increase per gram has been about 150 percent,” said Karlo.
What sets Palawan Gold apart is that, aside from offering the least expensive option for potential investors, the coins and bars are beautifully designed and take inspiration from Palawan’s endemic birds such as the Palawan Hornbill and Palawan Peacock Pheasant.
“Palawan Gold offers competitive or even better prices than gold found in traditional gold markets, like Santa Cruz and Binondo,” said Sheila Shalduga, chief commercial officer, Palawan Group of Companies. Prices start at P5,600 per 1G of 24k gold. The biggest bar is 20G at P112,000.
“Palawan Gold is pawnable at any of our branches,” said Shalduga.
“Gold is a reliable investment due to historical trends, global economic stability, and its growing demand as a safe hedge against inflation. As people seek secure investment options, this has inspired us to introduce Palawan Gold,” said Bobby Castro,
chairman, Palawan Group of Companies.
As part of its mission of financial literacy and inclusion, the Palawan Group of Companies has also made it easier and less intimidating for Filipinos to buy Palawan Gold. It is available at over 600 branches nationwide and through the PalawanPay app. Palawan Gold can also be availed of via the Bili-Sangla payment option, which allows customers to invest with just a 10 percent upfront payment. Palawan’s sukis, as regular customers are called, can use their Suki Cards for Palawan Gold purchases.
“The PalawanPay app simplifies the purchasing process by allowing customers to buy gold directly using their smartphones,” said Karlo.
D’FESTA TO END WORLD TOUR IN THE PHILIPPINES
A K-POP exhibition that originated in South Korea, D’Festa was created to provide an immersive and interactive experience for K-pop fans, featuring exclusive content from some of the biggest names in the industry.
D’Festa is coming to the Philippines on December 20 after its runs in Tokyo, Seoul, Jakarta and Los Angeles. For the 10th year, Dispatch, an online media outlet in Korea, aims to celebrate music and entertainment with the K-pop community around the world. D’Festa is an immersive exhibit that features never-before-seen performances, photographs, and videos from the biggest K-pop groups, such as BTS, Twice, Seventeen, NCT 127, NCT Dream, Enhypen, Tomorrow x Together, and Stray Kids.
The event will have three main parts for fans to enjoy: The Exhibition, The Movie, and The Experience The Exhibition has three sections. The first will have
colorful portraits with handwritten messages. The second will feature portraits of the artists in blackand-white. The third showcases group and individual photos. All photos that will be displayed are Dispatchexclusive.
The Movie will show exclusive footage of neverbefore-seen performances from the featured K-pop groups. These videos were created using cutting-edge XR filming technology.
The Experience is an immersive 3D LED stage filmed by K-pop stars. A designated mirror wall is available on one side for visitors to take their pictures. There is also a photo booth where guests can pose with their favorite K-Pop singers.
Fans who want to bring home keepsakes from their idols and biases can buy limited-edition exclusive merch items such as photo books, photo cards, enamel pins, and so much more. Cup sleeves and snacks are also sold at The Café only in D’Festa
D’Festa will open its doors on December 20, 2024, at BGC Immersive, third floor inside One Bonifacio, Bonifacio High Street. The event will run until March 19, 2025. Tickets are priced at P1,200 for weekday visits (Monday to Thursday) and P1,450 for weekends (Friday to Sunday). Fans who purchased their tickets online will be prioritized entry in the venue. Walkin tickets will also be sold but will be extremely dependent on the available tickets left for the day. PWD and Senior Citizen discounts are honored when you present your ID upon ticket purchase. Follow D’Festa BGC’s official social media accounts at dfesta_ph and make sure to keep tabs on the merch freebies and ticket giveaway announcements. More information cam be found at www.dfestaph. com. ■
IT firm launches VAPT service against digital security vulnerabilities
BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES
IT solutions firm Yondu Inc. has recently launched Knight Wolf, its flagship Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) service.
Dennis Sanchez, chief information security Officer of Yondu, said Knight Wolf enables local enterprises to proactively detect and neutralize digital security
vulnerabilities through its state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive suite of VAPT services.
Yondu recently showcased Knight Wolf at ROOTCON 18, a prominent hacking conference which brought together over 700 delegates including cybersecurity experts and industry leaders, providing a platform for Yondu representatives to deliver presentations on best practices in cybersecurity and share insights into their experiences with VAPT.
Moreover, Sanchez emphasized that a proactive approach is crucial in the fight against cyber threats.
“Knight Wolf offers unparalleled security knowledge for businesses, allowing them to operate without the fear of digital incursions, thereby focusing on growth and excellence in their respective domains,” said Sanchez.
He pointed out that the launch of Yondu’s VAPT service follows a series of cybersecurity attacks on government agencies and high-profile companies in the Philippines. For example, a top fast food chain reported a data breach affecting approximately 11 million customers last June 2024—one of the largest incidents in Philippine history.
In a separate incident the following month, a major branch of the Philippine armed forces reported foiling hundreds of hacking attempts and launched an internal investigation into a suspected network breach involving one of its personnel. The incident,
which was reportedly linked to an international hacking group, exposed vulnerabilities within military cybersecurity protocols.
In response to the successive cyber attacks in the local scene, Sanchez said Knight Wolf’s strategic launch is aimed at addressing critical security gaps in the national cyberinfrastructure. Moreover, he said the service underscores a shift from reactive security measures to a more proactive stance, anticipating potential breaches and pre-empting unauthorized infiltrations.
Furthermore, Sanchez said Knight Wolf distinguishes itself by promising immediate resolution to present threats and ensuring enduring security strategies. Through a consultative approach, the company provides tailored security solutions and expert consultancy to help businesses assess risks and manage their cybersecurity strategically.
He noted the service’s comprehensive portfolio, including vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and advanced red teaming, boosts its reputation for delivering a full spectrum of cybersecurity solutions.
“Knight Wolf’s introduction is expected to set a new industry standard, nurturing a secure business environment where continual improvement and resilience are the hallmarks of a thriving digital economy,” he said.
PetPal empowers Filipino vets with EMR Portal
THE Philippines’ first all-in-one digital petcare platform from 917Ventures, PetPal is transforming the country’s veterinary landscape with its Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Portal.
This latest innovation marks PetPal’s move in expanding its services to cater to not just pet owners, but also Filipino veterinarians.
The EMR Portal aims to help in streamlining patient management by linking pet owners’ information submitted through the PetPal app with veterinarians’ patient records— providing quick access to comprehensive profiles for faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments.
Martin Luchangco, general manager of PetPal, highlighted that the integration of a digitized system can enhance overall clinic efficiency; guiding veterinarians through the entire process—from initial consultations and scheduling procedures to managing prescriptions.
“We see the Vet EMR Portal as a game-changer for Filipino veterinarians,” Luchangco said. He mentions how the platform’s real-time sync with the information submitted through the PetPal app is what sets it apart from other EMR service providers, making it easier for both vets and pet owners to keep track of their pets’ medical records. He added, “Our goal is to help vets do what they do best—caring for animals. Through the EMR Portal, we are streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing the overall veterinary experience.”
In the Philippines, where 79 percent of households own pets, the veterinary sector faces considerable challenges. With only around 10,000 active veterinarians and fewer than 500 clinics nationwide, the ratio of pets to veterinarians is a staggering 2,000 to 1.
This shortage highlights a substantial gap in the availability and accessibility of veterinary services, which PetPal seeks to bridge by empowering veterinarians using the EMR portal.
For a limited time, vets are offered free access to PetPal’s EMR services. Those interested in exploring the benefits of the EMR Portal may visit org-portal.petpal.asia/login for more details.
CORNING FACES EU ANTITRUST SCRUTINY OVER GORILLA GLASS DEALS WITH PHONE MAKERS LONDON—Corning is facing European Union antitrust scrutiny after the bloc’s watchdog said Wednesday it’s investigating the speciality glass maker’s exclusive deals for its Gorilla Glass used in cellphones.
The European Commission, the 27-nation EU’s top antitrust enforcer, said it opened a formal investigation to determine whether Corning Inc. abused its dominant worldwide position for the toughened glass used in smartphones, tablets and other portable devices.
The commission, which is the EU’s executive branch, said it was concerned about “anticompetitive exclusive supply agreements” requiring device makers to source all or nearly all of their glass from Corning. Under these deals, manufacturers got rebates for buying only Corning glass, and could only take competing offers from rival glass makers if Corning couldn’t match the price.
Strong competition “is crucial to ensure low prices and high-quality glass,” said Margrethe Vestager, the commission’s executive vicepresident in charge of competition policy. “We are investigating if Corning, a major producer of this special glass, may have tried to exclude rival glass producers, thereby depriving consumers from cheaper and more break-resistant glass.”
Corning is “committed to compliance with all applicable rules and regulations where it does business,” the company said in a statement. “As part of that commitment, we work with local regulatory authorities to ensure open discussion and cooperation.”
Brussels has no deadline to wrap up the case, which could result in formal charges and a hefty fine worth up to 10 percnet of the company’s annual global revenue. AP
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Canada orders TikTok’s Canadian business to be dissolved but won’t block app
BY ROB GILLIES The Associated Press
TORONTO—Canada announced on Wednesday it won’t block access to the popular video-sharing app TikTok but is ordering the dissolution of its Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind it.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said it is meant to address risks related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice,” Champagne said. Champagne said it is important for Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices, including protecting their personal information.
He said the dissolution order was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may harm Canada’s national security. He said the decision was based on information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners.
A TikTok spokesmann said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said. “The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
TikTok is wildly popular with young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised fears that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or push pro-China narratives and misinformation. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020.
TikTok faces intensifying scrutiny from Europe and America over security and data privacy. It comes as China and the West are locked in a wider tug of war over technology ranging from spy balloons to computer chips.
Canada previously banned TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices. TikTok has two offices in Canada, one in Toronto and one in Vancouver. Michael Geist, Canada research chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, said in a blog post that “banning the company rather than the app may actually make matters worse since the risks associated with the app will remain but the ability to hold the company accountable will be weakened.” Canada’s move comes a day after the election in the United States of Donald Trump. In June, Trump joined TikTok, a platform he once tried to ban while in the White House. It has about 170 million users in the US.
Trump tried to ban TikTok through an executive order that said “the spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned” by Chinese companies was a national security threat. The courts blocked the action after TikTok sued.
Both the US FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that ByteDance could share user data such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers with China’s government. TikTok said it has never done that and would not, if asked.
Trump said earlier this year that he still believes TikTok posed a national security risk, but was opposed to banning it.
BusinessMirror
5G that delivers:
Why Reddit users are raving about PLDT Home’s new WiFi
WHEN it comes to staying connected these days, internet speed isn’t just a luxury—it’s a lifeline. With everyone working, streaming and gaming at home, PLDT has thrown its hat in the ring with the Home WiFi 5G+, offering uncapped speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps. Priced at just P1,495, it’s no surprise this new modem is making waves and earning raves particularly on Reddit. If you’re tired of corporate fluff, Reddit is where the real stories live, shared by real users who have no reason to sugarcoat their experiences. Think of it as the internet’s water cooler—if someone finds a product amazing, they’ll rave about it; if it sucks, you’ll hear about that too. So I dove right in—specifically the r/InternetPH thread, titled “More detailed 5G+ PLDT review [TLDR it rocks].” Here’s what I discovered from the early adopters of PLDT’s WiFi 5G+.
‘THIS IS AWESOME!’: THE 5G+ MODEM IN ACTION
USER “magisarep” took the lead in the discussion, sharing their initial doubts about whether the 5G+ modem could deliver. But soon after setting it up, they posted: “The modem is in the middle of the room lol. This is awesome.” Even without prime placement, the modem performed at impressive speeds—“almost 200 Mbps,” with occasional peaks up to 500 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
The fact that the WiFi 6-enabled device can connect up to 15 devices without a hitch was another pleasant surprise. “I managed to get 6 devices plus a TP-Link Wi-Fi extender on Access Point mode... and they all worked flawlessly,” wrote magisarep, who even got the desktop connection working smoothly. These kinds of testimonials cut through tech jargon, showing that PLDT’s 5G+ modem can handle a household’s real-world internet demands—whether for work or play.
GETTING OVER THE HICCUPS: REDDIT TO THE RESCUE
WE all know no device is perfect, but that’s the beauty of online communities. Reddit threads like these are gold for troubleshooting tips. User stpatr3k asked: “Super happy pero sa LAN, I can access the modem but there’s no internet (PC). Anyone encountered this?” In true Reddit spirit, the community chimed in.
“You have to configure the router correctly— set it to Bridge mode and not the default,” replied magisarep, sharing their solution for a seeming
dealbreaker. Another router setup problem? No sweat.
“I had to change the WAN port behavior on the AX3 to Bridge AP mode, then everything worked,” they explained. These peer-shared solutions highlight why Reddit is an excellent resource for techie and non-techie consumers alike—real people sharing real solutions in ways that are easy to understand.
FLEXIBILITY AND BETTER PERFORMANCE
THE introductory price of P1,495 comes with 15 days of free unlimited WiFi, giving families a no-risk way to test the service. Plus, flexible prepaid options like UnliFam P1299 for 30 days of unlimited data or FamLoad All Access for as low as P99 ensure there’s a plan to suit any budget.
Reddit users like Common-Celebration74, shared their excitement about upgrading from older devices: “Seriously considering this since I’m just using Smart pocket Wi-Fi right now.” In the same thread, user trettet praised the device’s cooler performance compared to older models, noting: “PLDT runs much cooler, better for home use than F50.”
RELIABILITY
ONE thing that stands out in this discussion is how users found workarounds for every potential roadblock. Even the occasional technical quirks didn’t stop people from appreciating the device’s performance. As user magisarep put it: “If you can get it at MSRP, it’s an absolute bargain.... It works well for family use, individual use, or even just as a backup.”
With Smart Communications covering 97 percent of the population and 5G now available in over 600 cities nationwide, users are finding that the PLDT Home WiFi 5G+ is a reliable, everyday solution for staying connected, whether you’re working from home or streaming your favorite show.
If you’re on the fence about upgrading your internet setup, take it from the Reddit crowd—the PLDT Home WiFi 5G+ is worth considering. Whether it’s the fast speeds, the ability to handle multiple devices, or the budget-friendly plans, this modem is checking all the right boxes. And as another user playfully hinted: “Once it gets the hacking treatment, it will be even more alluring.” For those tired of slow or unreliable connections, this new Home WiFi 5G+ might just be the answer. So, if you’re looking to future-proof your home setup, follow the Reddit users’ advice and check out PLDT Home WiFi 5G+. With affordable data packages, nationwide coverage, and community feedback backing it up, this could be the prepaid internet upgrade you didn’t know you needed. I do plan on getting one myself—hopefully PLDT restocks before the holidays. Already a PLDT Home subscriber? If you are planning to get an upgrade or some add-on service, now might be the best time to do it. PLDT is making holiday dreams come true with its All-Out Travel Giveaway promo, running until December 31, 2024, with up to P1 million worth of travel credits up for grabs. With travel as a top priority for many, a 2024 study showed Japan is the leading destination for Filipino travelers, with 32 percent visiting in the past
year, followed by Singapore (22 percent), Hong Kong (21 percent) and Thailand (18 percent).
Existing subscribers who upgrade their PLDT Home Fiber plan or add-on services like WiFi Mesh, Stream TV, Cignal TV, or Home security cameras can automatically earn six raffle entries for every upgrade or add-on.
Twenty-six lucky subscribers will win in the AllOut Travel Giveaway. PLDT Home is giving one grand prize winner of P100,000 worth of travel vouchers from Philippine Airlines (PAL), three winners of P80,000 PAL vouchers, five winners of P50,000 PAL vouchers, seven winners of P30,000 PAL vouchers, and 10 winners of P20,000 PAL vouchers. These travel credits can be used to explore the Philippines or venture abroad, whether to tick destinations off your bucket list or to fulfill travel goals. Whether you’re a gamer looking for low-latency connections or a remote worker needing stable internet for video conferences, PLDT Home’s Fiber plans power up all your digital activities, ensuring a smooth and high-quality experience at home. Plus, with the added thrill of potentially winning travel credits, there’s never been a better time to make the switch. ■
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A10 SAturdAy, November 16, 2024
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
TOP 10 FINISH FOR PAU IN TAIWAN PARTY GOLF
PAULINE DEL ROSARIO birdied the last two holes for a 69 and share eighth place at the close of the Party Golfers Ladies Open at the Hsinchu County’s Lily Golf and Country Club in Taiwan on Friday.
Ling-Jie Chen won the tournament for the second consecutive year after fending off Thai Pakin Kawinpakorn’s final day rally.
Del Rosario was initially stalled by a double bogey on the par-4 ninth hole but fought back with birdies at Nos. 10 and 14 to recover from a bogey on the 12th and holed out with back-to-back birdies for a 35-34 and a 54-hole total of seven-under 209.
“I wanted to make birdies but didn’t push too hard,” said del Rosario, who earned NT$100,000 for her effort. “I’m happy I was able to finish strong.”
Her eighth-place finish was just short of her sixth-place showing last year but underscored her steady improvement as she prepares for the Epson Tour next year.
victory with a 70 for a 54-hole total of 205 worth NT$900,000.
Unlike her four-stroke triumph last year, this win was a nail-biter, making the back-toback triumph even sweeter for Chen.
Kawinpakorn’s final-round 67 left her one stroke shy at 206, while five players, including former leader PK Kongkraphan, finished tied for third at 208.
Kongkraphan surged early with a 34 on the front nine but was derailed by a double bogey on the 10th , finishing with a 72 to tie compatriots Green Poruangrong and Wannasiri Sirisampant, who carded 70 and 71, respectively, and Tsai-Ching Tseng, who carded a 71 and matched their eight-under total.
Starting the day five strokes behind Chen and Nook Sukapan of Thailand, del Rosario looked poised for a breakout round.
and 14th, although a bogey on the 12th tempered her momentum before unleashing a strong windup to post a second straight three-under card.
Reflecting on her tournament, the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed del Rosario acknowledged initial nerves due to recent swing adjustments.
“Honestly, I was nervous. We made a few changes to my swing, so I wasn’t entirely comfortable with it yet,” she said.
“But was happy I was able to perform and score well,” said del Rosario, the first Filipina to win on the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association in 2017.
After opening with a 71 and improving to a 69 in the second round, she was pleased to finish strong despite missing out on her title hopes.
Estrada seeks commendation for Didal
SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is seeking a Senate commendation for Olympian Margielyn Didal for her victory in women’s street at the Red Bull Buenos Aires Conquest skateboarding competition in Buenos Aires last Sunday.
“Her recent success in Buenos Aires further solidifies her standing as an inspiration to young Filipino athletes, reinforcing the message that with dedication, resilience, and the support of our community, Filipino athletes can achieve great heights on the world stage,” Estrada said in Senate Resolution No. 1235.
“This latest achievement not only reflects her remarkable skill and resilience but also amplifies the presence of the Philippines on the global skateboarding stage, contributing to the increasing recognition of Filipino athletes in international sports,” he added. Didal has recovered from a major ankle injury she sustained in October 2022 and limped her way to a DNF at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and eventually missed all opportunities to compete in qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics. She won gold at the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018 and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Deftac aims to produce more champs
By Josef Ramos
DEFTAC does not rest on its laurels and will aim to produce more world champions, vowed founder and president Alvin Aguilar.
The first-ever Southeast Asian JiuJitsu and mixed martial arts team, Deftac produced five new world champions in the just-concluded 2024 World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Aguilar, the president of Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP), beamed with pride as young athletes Princess Akeisha Reuma, Ma. Althea Louise Brion, Marcus Sebastian Dela Cruz, Yani Alexii Lopez and his daughter Aielle Aguilar won their divisions, while Ella Rosario Daza Olaso earned a silver medal.
Reuma won the junior white 48 kgs by beating Kazakhstan’s Safina Akmetshina, UAE’s Noora Ali Aljaheri, Russian Vasilisa Rakova, and Kazakhstan’s Aisha Zamalbek via different submission maneuvers like Americana, armlock, armbar and kimura.
Brion bagged the infant white 40 kgs gold medal after beating UAE’s Alyazia Saad Alhadhrami, Maha Abdula, and Reem Almansoori all by rear naked choke submission, Nigerian Valerie Umunna by points, 14-0, and Kazakhstan’s Rayana Seitova by points, 1-0.
The seven-year-old Aguilar also bested two opponents for the gold to become a three-time world champion in a new weight class—the kids 2 gray -22 kgs event.
“It has been 26 years since the first time we competed abroad, and we are happy that through those years we have been able to produce world champions. Now, we have five,” Aguilar, also Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) founder and president, said.
“This year the WAP Junior Grappling team made up of homegrown talents from DEFTAC
has already produced 21 champions this year in different tournaments,” he added, crediting Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by President Abraham Tolentino, Tingog Party List, and the WAP for their contributions to the team’s success in the world meet.
Dela Cruz claimed the kid 3 white -24kgs gold medal after submitting UAE’s Mohamed Ali Almazrouei within 20 seconds via rear naked choke and Jordan’s Yousef Hayari also via same submission maneuver within 34 seconds. Lopez took home the women’s junior grey 40 kgs gold by beating Brazilian Gabriella Yamaguchi by points, Syrian Sirmin Salim via America submission in one minute and 45 seconds, Kazakhstan’s Darina Dauletbaeva by points, 3-1, and UAE’s Mahra Badr via points, 9-0.
“We have many world champions despite sending only a few young athletes, who are WAP junior grappling team members. We have five world champions, all trained exclusively in DEFTAC,” Aguilar said.
“It has produced the most national, Asian and world Champions in Asia for MMA and Jiu-Jitsu combined,” Aguilar, the 2016 Asian champion in IBJJF in Japan, said.
Hermans locks horns with Plyouwong
By Rick Olivares
THE five coaches leading their respective nations in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Futsal Championship 2024 paid respect to each other and their respective capabilities during the pre-tournament press conference at the Marco Polo Hotel on Friday.
The Thais wondered if its time of dominance had come to an end but unfortunately for them, the 2011 edition was cancelled. They returned in 2012 with Hermans as the head coach and Plyouwong as team captain.
In the group stages, Thailand bamboozled everyone scoring an incredible 73 goals while conceding four goals for a 4-0 group stage record.
Tied with Chen at 10-under after birdying the 16th, Kawinpakorn’s rally fell short as the local bet responded with a precise approach on the 17th, setting up a birdie putt that gave her back the lead.
She parred five consecutive holes before birdying the par-5 sixth and the par-3 eighth but a double bogey on the ninth hindered her charge.
She parred the final hole to seal her
Undeterred, del Rosario birdied the 10th
Tyson concedes role of Villain to Paul
ARLINGTON, Texas—Friendship is at the heart of how a fight came together between 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and much younger YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Friction helped build the hype for a bout that is testing the formula for how boxing is delivered to the masses, a first-ever combat sports offering from the streaming platform Netflix rather than pay-per-view or traditional cable.
“I think they’re beloved fans of Mike Tyson,” Paul said, trying to explain the boisterous boos that have greeted him when the two have appeared together in recent months to hype the event.
Florence Bisera rallyied with a 70 to tie for 27th at 216, Mikha Fortuna carding a 73 for joint 37th at 217, Chanelle Avaricio dropped to 50th at 221 with a 76, and Mafy Singson rounding out the field at 53rd with a 223 after a 77.
Indonesia’s Arif Kurniawan, Myanmar’s Htay Myint, Thailand’s Surapong Plyouwong, Vietnam’s Nguyen Dinh Hoang, and the Philippines’ Vic Hermans said their teams are ready for the championship that begins Saturday at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
In the semifinals, Thailand showed Malaysia who is boss with a 12-1 win and in the finals, Herman and his boys convincingly defeated Vietnam, 9-4.
Hermans moved on after 2015 while eventually, Plyouwong became the coach and won one.
Indonesia battles Thailand in the opener at 4 p.m. while the host country takes on dangerous Myanmar in the main game at 7 p.m.
Tyson’s first sanctioned professional fight in almost 20 years is set for Friday night at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. A crowd of at least 60,000 is expected while Netflix offers the bout at no additional cost to more than 280 million subscribers globally.
The 27-year-old Paul is relatively new to the sport, the one-time social media influencer bringing a 10-1 record with seven knockouts mostly against mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.
Asked about the friendship earlier in the week, Tyson said, “There’s no feeling attached.” He proved it by slapping Paul
“And I’m the new kid on the block, the disrupter, loud mouth, polarizing figure,” Paul said. “And I’ve built my career as the heel. Naturally people want to root against me, and that’s great for the sport of boxing.”
as they faced off following the weigh-in Thursday night.
Tyson appeared to take offense to the way Paul approached him for the faceoff, but didn’t bother explaining. “The talk is over,” Tyson, who checked in at 228 pounds, said when one of the hosts tried to ask a question.
“Now it’s personal,” Paul screamed into a microphone before storming off the stage. Paul weighed 227 pounds.
Tyson was 50-6 with 44 knockouts when he retired after losing to Kevin McBride in 2005, saying he didn’t have anything left to give the sport. He last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. with no fans during the pandemic in 2020.
A fight originally scheduled for July 20
Everything set for Rock ‘n’ Roll run series Manila
the run, and the Manila spirit. Registration is still open. For more details and to secure your spot, visit www.runrocknroll.com/manila. From November 19 to 22, Robinsons Place Manila will host the AIA Health and Wellness Expo, offering runners and the public an exciting preview of what’s to come. Celebrating the 27th anniversary of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, which began in the 1990s with the vision of making running fun through music, this event has become a
MIKE TYSON slaps Jake Paul during the weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout. AP
was postponed when Tyson had to be treated for a stomach ulcer after falling ill on a flight.
Tyson said in a documentary chronicling the preparations for the fight that he lost 26 pounds in the process of recovering.
global spectacle.
Organized by The Ironman Group Philippines, the event has transformed the running world with its festival-like vibe featuring bands at every mile, festive starting lines, and milestone moments that unite communities worldwide. Princess Galura, general manager of Sunrise Events, part of The Ironman Group, expressed excitement about the event’s growth, noting the runners have enjoyed this musical journey, and that the enthusiasm from the EVO City Front Act Run has amplified excitement for the upcoming series.
The tournament will be played at the Philsports Arena.
The five-nation tourney serves a tantalizing serving of match-ups: Thailand versus Vietnam—the Vietnamese defeated the Thais on home soil in the NSDF Futsal Championship last year—and Philippines vs Thailand.
Regional powerhouse Thailand bagged the gold medal in 2012 and won four more consecutive trophies.
While Thailand has dominated that competition, there is a backstory to that. Thailand won the first seven editions while crushing the competition by 47 goals to the competition’s mere eight goals. However, in 2010, the wheels fell off with Indonesia defeating Malaysia for the gold with Vietnam finishing third and the Philippines fourth.
On Sunday, the Dutch master meets his Thai padawan—it’s the futsal version of Pep Guardiola vs Mikel Arteta.
Guardiola was a senior teammate of Arteta’s with Barcelona and later was an assistant to the former with Man City. Arteta, seen as a protégé to Guardiola, have dueled for the English Premier League championship in the last two seasons.
In front of the media, Plyouwong could only smile as Hermans heaped platitudes on him: “He’s become a very good coach,” underscored the Philippines boss. It isn’t only the Philippines that the Thai coach has to watch out for—there are his nation’s nemeses—Indonesia and Vietnam.
“We are proud that we are ranked sixth best in the world by FIFA,” Plyouwong said through an interpreter. “But we do not take anyone for granted.” The matches will be livestreamed on the Philippine Football Federations’ Facebook page.
ALVIN AGUILAR (back row, center) with (front row, from left) Princess Akeisha Reuma, Aielle Aguilar, Yani Alexii Lopez and Ella Rosario Daza Olaso and (back row, from left) coach Mike Tabamo and Joaquin Marte.
THE Philippines’ Vic Hermans (center) with (from left) Vietnam’s Nguyen Dinh Hoang, Indonesia’s Arif Kurniawan, Thailand’s Surapong Plyouwong, and Myanmar’s Htay Myint.
PAULINE DEL ROSARIO closes out with a 69 to share eighth place at the Hsinchu County’s Lily Golf and Country Club.
World’s top emitters fueling climate crisis revealed at COP29; frustration grows at fossil fuel presence
By Seth Borenstein & Sibi Arasu Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan—Cities in Asia and the United States emit the most heat-trapping gas that feeds climate change, with Shanghai the most polluting, according to new data that combines observations and artificial intelligence.
Nations at UN climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan are trying to set new targets to cut such emissions and figure out how much rich nations will pay to help the world with that task. The data comes as climate officials and activists alike are growing increasingly frustrated with what they see as the talks’—and the world’s—inability to clamp down on planet-warming fossil fuels and the countries and companies that promote them.
Seven states or provinces spew more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases, all of them in China, except Texas, which ranks sixth, according to new data from an organization co-founded by former US Vice President Al Gore and released Friday at COP29.
Using satellite and ground observations, supplemented by artificial intelligence to fill in gaps, Climate Trace sought to quantify heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, as well as other traditional air pollutants worldwide, including for the first time in more than 9,000 urban areas.
Earth’s total carbon dioxide and methane pollution grew 0.7% to 61.2 billion metric tons with the short-lived but extra potent methane rising 0.2%. The figures are higher than other datasets “because we have such comprehensive coverage and we have observed more emissions in more sectors than are typically available,” said Gavin McCormick, Climate Trace’s co-founder.
Plenty of big cities emit far more than some nations
Shanghai’s 256 million metric tons of greenhouse gases led all cities and exceeded those from the nations of Colombia or Norway. Tokyo’s 250 million metric tons would rank in the top 40 of nations if it were a country, while New York City’s 160 million metric tons and Houston’s 150 million metric tons would be in the top 50 of countrywide emissions. Seoul, South Korea, ranks fifth among cities at 142 million metric tons.
“One of the sites in the Permian
Basin in Texas is by far the No. 1 worst polluting site in the entire world,” Gore said. “And maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised by that, but I think of how dirty some of these sites are in Russia and China and so forth. But Permian Basin is putting them all in the shade.”
China, India, Iran, Indonesia and Russia had the biggest increases in emissions from 2022 to 2023, while Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States had the biggest decreases in pollution.
The dataset—maintained by scientists and analysts from vari -
ous groups—also looked at traditional pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals associated with dirty air. Burning fossil fuels releases both types of pollution, Gore said.
This “represents the single biggest health threat facing humanity,” Gore said.
Climate talks wrestle with fossil fuel interests
Gore criticized the hosting of climate talks, called COPs, by Azerbaijan, an oil nation and site of the world’s first oil wells, and by the United Arab Emirates last year.
“It’s unfortunate that the fossil fuel industry and the petro states have seized control of the COP process to an unhealthy degree,” Gore said. “Next year in Brazil, we’ll see a change in that pattern. But, you know, it’s not good for the world community to give the No. 1 polluting industry in the world that much control over the whole process.”
Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for more to be done on climate change and has sought to slow deforestation since returning for a third term as president. But Brazil last year produced more oil than
both Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
On Friday, former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, former UN climate chief Christina Figueres and leading climate scientists released a letter calling for “an urgent overhaul” on climate talks.
The letter said the “global climate process has been captured and is no longer fit for purpose” in response to Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev saying that oil and gas are a “gift of the gods.”
One analysis from the Kick Big Polluters Out coalition said Friday that the official attendance list of the talks featured at least 1,770 fossil fuel lobbyists.
At a press conference with small island nations chair Cedric Schuster said the negotiating bloc feels the need to remind everyone else why the talks matter. “We’re here to defend the Paris agreement,” Schuster said, referring to the climate deal in 2015 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). “We’re concerned that countries are forgetting that protecting the world’s most vulnerable is at the core of this framework.”
Israeli strikes kill 12 rescue workers in Lebanon and 15 people in Syria amid escalating violence
By Sally Abou Aljoud
The & Albert Aji Associated Press
— An Israeli airstrike
EIRUT
Bkilled at least 12 Lebanese rescue workers on Thursday inside a civil defense center in the eastern city of Baalbek, according to health and rescue officials, hours after state media in Syria said Israeli strikes in and around the capital killed at least 15 people. Lebanese emergency workers were digging through the rubble Thursday evening to search for more of their colleagues still trapped under the destroyed rescue center, the group said in a statement. At least three civil defense members were wounded. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Lebanon’s civil defense forces have no affiliation with the militant group Hezbollah, and they provide crucial rescue and medical services in one of the world’s most war-torn nations.
The Health Ministry condemned what it called a “barbaric attack on a Lebanese state-run
health center,” adding that “it is the second Israeli attack on a health emergency facility in less than two hours.”
In southern Lebanon, an Israeli strike on Arabsalim village targeted the Health Authority Association, a civil defense and rescue group linked to Hezbollah, killing six people, including four paramedics, the Health Ministry said. Earlier, Israel carried out at least two airstrikes on the western Mazzeh neighborhood of Damascus and one of the suburbs of Syria’s capital, Qudsaya, killing at least 15 and wounding another 16, Syria’s state news agency said. An Associated Press journalist at the scene in Mazzeh said a five-story building was damaged by a missile that hit the basement.
The Israeli military said it hit infrastructure sites and command centers of the Islamic Jihad militant group.
In Syria, an official with Palestinian Islamic Jihad said the strike in Mazzeh targeted one of their offices, and several members were killed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because
he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
The airstrikes came shortly before Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was scheduled to meet in Syria’s capital with representatives of Palestinian factions at the Iranian Embassy in Mazzeh.
Israel’s military says Islamic Jihad participated alongside the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks from Gaza into Israel that killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and saw 250 others abducted.
The ensuing Israel-Hamas war has spilled into the wider region, affecting Lebanon, Syria and leading to strikes between Israel and Iran. The war has left much of Gaza in ruins and has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Israeli warplanes intensified airstrikes in Lebanon on Thursday, targeting various areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, including the outskirts of the port city of Tyre and the Nabatieh province,
the National News Agency said. Throughout the day, sporadic airstrikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs in a clear uptick in attacks on the district over the past two days, with the Israeli military issuing evacuation warnings for several locations and buildings in the suburbs.
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah targets in the Dahiyeh area, including weapons storage facilities and command centers. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that over the past week, Israel had “struck more than 300 targets from the air across Lebanon, including about 40 targets in the heart of the Dahiyeh in Beirut.”
Lebanon’s state media said an earlier Israeli airstrike hit a building in Baalbek, killing at least nine people and wounding five others. The strike came without warning. The Israeli military did not immediately comment and the target was unclear.
A report by the World Bank on Thursday estimated that Lebanon has suffered $8.5 billion in physical damages and economic losses from 13 months of war.
North Korea tests deadly drone weapons as Kim Jong Un calls for mass production
By KIM TONG-HYUNG The Associated Press
SEOUL , South Korea—North Korea tested exploding drones designed to crash into targets and leader Kim Jong Un called for accelerating mass production of the weapons, state media said Friday.
The country’s latest military demonstration came as the United States, South Korea and Japan engaged in combined military exercises involving advanced fighter jets and a US aircraft carrier in nearby international waters, in a display of their defense posture against North Korea.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency published photos of Kim talking with of -
ficials near at least two different types of unmanned aerial vehicles. They included those with X-shaped tails and wings that look similar to the ones the country disclosed in August, when Kim inspected another demonstration of drones that explode on impact.
The drones flew various routes and accurately struck targets, KCNA said. Its images showed what appeared to be a BMW sedan being destroyed and old models of tanks being blown up.
Kim expressed satisfaction with the weapons’ development process and stressed the need to “build a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production,” noting how drones are becoming crucial in modern
warfare.
KCNA paraphrased Kim as saying drones were easy to make at low cost for a range of military activities. The report didn’t say if Kim spoke directly about rival South Korea, which the North Korean drones are apparently designed to target.
North Korea last month accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North’s capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again.
South Korea’s military has refused to confirm whether or not the North’s claims were true.
Tensions in the region have escalated as Kim flaunts his advancing nuclear and missile program, which
includes various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles that can potentially reach the US mainland.
Kim is also allegedly sending military equipment and troops to Russia to support President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, which raised concerns in Seoul that he would get Russian technology in return to further develop his arsenal.
In addition to his intensifying nuclear threats, Kim has also engaged in psychological and electronic warfare against South Korea, such as flying thousands of balloons to drop
in
Hezbollah began firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. Since then, Israeli strikes and bombardment in Lebanon have killed at least 3,380 people while the number of wounded has surpassed 14,400, the Health Ministry said Thursday. Among the dead were 658 women and 220 children.
In Israel, 76 people have been killed, including 31 soldiers.
Before the war intensified on Sept. 23, Hezbollah said that it had lost nearly 500 members but the group has stopped releasing statements about their killed fighters since.
United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, speaking during a visit to Lebanon, said the UN remains committed to keeping its peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, in place in all of its positions in southern Lebanon, despite intense ongoing battles between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.
UNIFIL has continued to monitor the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah across the boundary known as the Blue Line despite Israeli calls for peacekeep -
ers to pull back 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the border. UNIFIL has accused Israel of deliberately destroying observation equipment, and 13 peacekeepers have been injured in the fighting. Separately, Israeli media reported Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, has been questioned by police over suspicion of altering official records connected to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to benefit his boss. Multiple reports said Braverman is suspected of changing the time stamp of a conversation Netanyahu held with his military secretary in the first minutes of the attack. The reports were confirmed by an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation. Netanyahu’s office had no immediate comment. It was not immediately clear why Braverman made the change.
Aji reported from Damascus, Syria. Abby Sewell in Beirut and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
trash
the South and disrupting GPS signals from border areas near the South’s biggest airport.
Former US Vice President Al Gore speaks during a session on Climate Trace, a database that monitors emissions, at the CoP29 UN Climate Summit on Friday, November 15, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. AP/Sergei gritS
Powell: Fed to tread cautiously on rate cuts amid persistent inflation concerns
By Christopher Rugaber AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON—Chair
Jerome Powell said Thursday that the Federal Reserve will likely cut its key interest rate slowly and deliberately in the coming months, in part because inflation has shown signs of persistence and the Fed’s officials want to see where it heads next.
Powell, speaking in Dallas, said that inflation is edging closer to the central bank’s 2% target, “but it is not there yet.”
At the same time, he said, the economy is strong, and the policymakers can take time to monitor the path of inflation.
ell suggested that inflation may remain stuck somewhat above the Fed’s target in the coming months. But he reiterated that inflation should eventually decline further, “albeit on a sometimes bumpy path.”
“The public,” Powell said, “believed that we would get inflation down, that we would restore price stability. And that’s ultimately the key to it.”
Powell declined to comment on other political topics, including the potential impacts of Trump’s proposals to impose sweeping tariffs and implement mass deportation.
Other Fed officials have also recently expressed uncertainty about how much more they can cut rates, given the economy’s steady growth and the apparent stickiness of inflation.
Economists expect the Fed to announce another quarter-point rate cut in December, after a quarter-point reduction last week and half-point cut in September.
But the Fed’s steps after that are much less clear. In September, the central bank’s officials collectively signaled that they envisioned cutting their key rate four times in 2025. Wall Street traders, though,
“The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates,” the Fed chair said. “The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully.”
now expect just two rate reductions, according to futures pricing tracked by CME FedWatch. And after Powell’s cautious remarks Thursday, traders estimated the likelihood of a Fed rate cut in December at just below 59%, down from 83% a day earlier.
The Fed’s benchmark interest rate tends to influence borrowing rates across the economy, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. Other factors, though, can also push up longer-
term rates, notably expectations for inflation and economic growth.
For example, Donald Trump’s presidential election victory has sent yields on Treasury securities higher. It is a sign that investors expect faster growth next year as well as potentially larger budget deficits and even higher inflation should Trump impose widespread tariffs and mass deportations of migrants as he has promised.
In his remarks Thursday, Pow -
Under questioning, Powell also explained why he considers the Fed’s role as an independent federal agency to be crucial to its ability to fight inflation. During his first term, Trump threatened to try to fire Powell for not cutting interest rates. And during this year’s election campaign, Trump asserted that as president, he should have a “say” on the Fed’s rate policies.
Powell said Thursday that the Fed’s independence from political concerns has made the public confident that the policymakers will keep inflation low over time. That confidence, in turn, has helped reduce inflation after it had spiked in the wake of the pandemic. When consumers and businesses expect inflation to slow, they act in ways that help hold it down—by, for example, not demanding high costof-living raises.
As measured by the central bank’s preferred inflation gauge, so-called core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, have been stuck in the high 2% range for five months.
On Wednesday, Lorie Logan, president of the Fed’s Dallas branch, said it was not clear how much more the Fed should cut its key short-term rate.
“If we cut too far ... inflation could reaccelerate and the (Fed) would need to reverse direction,” Logan said. “I believe it’s best to
APEC leaders to open Lima summit as Trump prepares to return to office
LBy David Biller THE Associated Press
IMA , Peru—Representatives from 21 members representing the Pacific Rim are meeting in Peru on Friday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the first global summit since US President-elect Donald Trump’s victory featuring several major world leaders.
The annual gathering brings together countries and members that jointly account for almost two-thirds of global GDP and half the world’s trade, according to organizers. They confirmed heads of government attending in Lima include outgoing US President Joe Biden, China’s President Xi Jinping, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, among others, as the world wonders how a new US government might upend global dynamics.
ABy JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press
FRENCH MILITARY BASE, France—A French military task force with a festive name—“Champagne”—is wrapping up a mission that’s no party: training a whole new brigade of several thousand Ukrainian troops who will be joining the fight against Russia’s invasion armed with France-supplied tanks, artillery canons and other heavy weaponry.
The approaching return to Ukraine of the “Anne of Kyiv” brigade, after more than two months of intense military training in eastern and southern France, comes at another critical juncture in the almost three-year war.
Russian forces are driving westward in an effort to capture all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. They’ve been bolstered by
Leaders and other representatives will hold closed-door discussions in the morning among themselves, and in the afternoon with members of APEC’s business advisory council. The council met Wednesday and called on APEC nations and members to boost inclusive growth and prioritize the needs of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those led by women and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
“While the global economy remains resilient, APEC economies are grappling with persistent inflation, economic disparities, high interest rates and the urgent need to increase investments for a green, climate-resilient future,” said council chairwoman Julia Torreblanca.
APEC is bound to be one of Biden’s last before leaving office, and White House officials insist that his attendance as well as his subsequent visit to Brazil for the Group of 20 meeting next week will be substantive, with talks to focus on climate issues, global in -
up to 12,000 North Korean troops that have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk border region to help beat back Ukrainian forces there, according to US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments.
The reelection of Donald Trump is also keeping Ukraine and its allies guessing about the impact he’ll have as US president on the war’s future trajectory, following his campaign pledges to swiftly end the fighting and suggestions that Kyiv should cede territory to Moscow in return for peace.
When deployed, the French-trained and -equipped brigade named after a Kyiv princess who became a queen of France could prove to be a formidable force on the battlefields. It will eventually be made up of 4,500 troops, formed of infantry battalions, plus engineers, artillery teams and other specialists, French authorities have
frastructure, counter-narcotic efforts. For the first time since last year’s APEC forum, Biden will meet one-on-one with Chinese President Xi on Saturday. He will also meet with South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol, Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba and Peru’s President Dina Boluarte.
The officials say Biden also will use the summits to press allies to keep up support for Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia’s invasion and persist in negotiating an end to Israel’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza.
Still, analysts say he will be overshadowed at APEC by Xi, who arrived Thursday and proceeded to inaugurate a $1.3 billion megaport that is perhaps the clearest sign of Latin America’s ongoing reorientation in the region.
The Chancay port will shave 10 days off shipping times to China, which has seen trade with South America boom over the past two decades. Peru’s economy minister in June said neighboring nations are actively modifying their supply chains to benefit from the
previously said. The more than 2,000 soldiers who have been training in France are being put through final paces before their return to Ukraine.
The majority of them were recently mobilized and previously had just a few weeks of basic training before their arrival in France in September, the French military says. The Ukrainian military is also training other troops for the brigade back in Ukraine, according to French authorities.
The French military dedicated around 1,500 of its own soldiers to the “Champagne” task force that has been teaching the Ukrainians how to fight effectively together and how to use and maintain their France-supplied weaponry. The French military says the brigade’s arsenal will include 18 AMX 10 light tanks,
port, in which total investment will top $3.5 billion.
Ahead of the inauguration at the port, 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Lima, locals told The Associated Press that the development hasn’t buoyed their economic prospects. On the contrary, they said the port has impaired their ability to fish, threatening their livelihoods.
Discontent has been brewing in the middle-class San Borja neighborhood outside Lima’s Convention Center, where the APEC conference is sited. Metal barriers and police equipped with riot gear surround the perimeter where, for the past two days, anti-government protesters angry about a recent spate of gang-fueled violence have shouted slogans demanding that their wildly unpopular president take action against the crime wave. The rallies have devolved into scuffles with police, who used batons to drive away the more aggressive protesters on Thursday. AP writer Isabel DeBre contributed
18 truck-mounted Caesar artillery pieces, 128 armored troop carriers, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems, plus other weaponry and equipment.
With observation drones buzzing overhead and amid clouds of smoke and bursts of gunfire and explosions, the Ukrainian soldiers conducted exercises this week at a French military training camp, showing how they have learned to defend and storm a complex of trenches like those on the battlefronts in Ukraine.
The French military wouldn’t allow visiting journalists to interview the Ukrainians. French officers involved in the training said the troops are now better prepared for combat that they’ll likely experience in months ahead.
“They have improved a lot,” said Col. Paul. The French military withheld his last name, citing security reasons.
Federal reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks to the dallas regional Chamber during an event in Music Hall at Fair Park on Thursday, November 14, 2024, in dallas. AP/LM OTERO
Unit A & B 20/f
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YU, CHANGXUN Bilingual Human Resources Supervisor
Brief Job Description: The Bilingual Human Resources Supervisor will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.
Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Bilingual Human Resources Supervisor.
HUANG, GANHUA Bilingual Project Secretary
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51. HONG, HAILANG
Marketing
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52. HONG, YINGJUN Marketing And Sales Agent
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53. WANG, XIAOLI Marketing And Sales Agent
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56. BHUPINDER SINGH Purchasing Manager Brief Job
SINGH
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92. YAMAGUCHI, RISA Japanese Desk
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MARUBENI PHILIPPINES CORPORATION L.v. Locsin Building, Ayala/makati Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati
93. ZHAO, WENMO Vice President
Brief Job Description: Lead and direct the transportation and industrial machinery, finance business department.
MAYA BANK, INC.
95. CHANDRAN, SUNI RAMA Credit And Portfolio Manager
