NEARLY a dozen civil society groups have called for prudence, asking authorities not to spend the P60-billion funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) that were initially transferred to the national treasury before the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
preme Court’s recognition that the transfer of PhilHealth funds would have led to grave injustice and irreparable injury without its intervention,” the groups said.
“The
“Despite this victory, the principal issue still has to be decided: the illegality and unconstitutionality of the transfer of GOCC [gov-
ernment-owned and -controlled corporation] funds, especially PhilHealth funds,” they added.
The groups said the P89.9billion unused PhilHealth funds being questioned are premiums of members, and could have gone towards significantly reducing outof-pocket healthcare payments. This matter had been contested earlier by Department of Finance officials, who said the premiums of members are not included in the funds for transfer.
The civil society groups insisted that unused funds belong to PhilHealth members, both direct and indirect contributors, and not to the national government.
The groups noted that PhilHealth premiums are sourced from sin taxes, specifically tobacco taxes and sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, which should be exclusively used by PhilHealth to implement Universal Healthcare.
“Given the TRO, we call on the National Government to act with prudence and caution, and not to spend the P60 billion worth of PhilHealth funds already transferred,” the groups said.
“The fund transfer, originating from the insertion into the budget of hundreds of billions for inefficient, wasteful, corruptionprone ‘pork-barrel’ projects and resulting in the defunding of hundreds of billions of pesos of regular economic and social programs, is grave abuse and is unconscionable,” they added.
The groups also said all involved government entities, including PhilHealth, should be held accountable on the issue of the unused funds.
PhilHealth must also undertake reforms in setting the standards for expanding benefits and healthcare provision, in efficiently,
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
change has increasingly threatened the stability of communities worldwide, but many older Filipinos find themselves grappling with uncertainty about its effects on their lives and families.
A recent survey by public opinion firm WR Numero revealed that 2 percent of Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and the Silent Generation (born before 1945), as well as 18 percent of Gen X respondents (born 19651980), reported being unsure about the negative impacts of climate change.
This uncertainty among older generations raises questions about the effectiveness of climate-change communication and education efforts aimed at these demographics.
In contrast, younger generations demonstrate a heightened awareness, with 79 percent of Millennials (born 1981-1996) and 78 percent of Gen Z (born after 1997) expressing concern about climate change effects.
Regionally, 15 percent of South Luzon residents indicated that they are not concerned about climate change, the highest percentage compared to other regions. Meanwhile, Metro Manila residents reported the highest levels of climate anxiety, with more than 80 percent concerned about climate change.
The concerns extend to other regions, with 74 percent of respondents worried about the implications of climate change in North-Central Luzon and the Visayas.
According to the Philippine Climate Change Assessment, temperatures increased by approximately 0.16 °C per decade from 1951 to 2018, and rainfall in Metro Manila significantly rose. The frequency of Christmas typhoons has also surged by 210 percent since 2012.
The WR Numero survey was conducted face-to-face with 1,765 Filipino adults aged 18 and older across the Philippines from March 12 to 24 this year.
EMERGING-MARKET assets wrapped up a turbulent month as volatility surged in October with rising global yields, a stronger dollar, and investors rushing to reprice risk assets before the US election.
The MSCI gauge for stocks slid for a third day, closing off October with monthly losses of more than 4 percent, the biggest drop since January. All major emerging-market currencies have retreated against the dollar this month, fueling a 1.6-percent decline for the MSCI
TBy Malou TalosigBartolome
gauge for developing currencies.
“We had a confluence of events in October,” said Rajeev De Mello, chief investment officer at Gama Asset Management. “For emerging markets, the combination of higher US yields, a stronger dollar, and the risks of a renewed trade war overshadowed the improvement in the growth picture.”
On the day’s moves, MSCI’s gauge for emerging stocks slumped with global equities, as stocks erased their October gains after
A $6-trillion FX pile is Asia’s shield from resurgent dollar
By Subhadip Sircar and Swati Pandey Bloomberg
A$6.4-trillion foreign-exchange reserve pile in Asia is giving investors confidence that central banks have the ammunition to fight the dollar’s strength stemming from the US presidential election.
Asian currencies have come under pressure in October, as rising odds of a Donald Trump presidency and uncertainties over the pace of the Federal Reserve’s easing bolstered the greenback. A Bloomberg index of the region’s currencies just had its worst month since February 2023, with the Indian rupee near its weakest ever and South Korea’s won close to a three-month low.
Strategists expect the losses to extend, especially if Trump returns to power and reignites a trade war. However, a years-long increase in FX reserves means central banks are in pole position to smooth volatility, according to Barclays Plc and MUFG Bank Ltd. That firepower is important since the Fed is no longer in a tightening cycle, making interest rate hikes to support currencies a difficult option for Asia’s central banks.
“Asian FX reserves have continued to grow and there’s cer-
tainly plenty of ammunition,” said Mitul Kotecha, head of FX and EM macro strategy for Asia at Barclays. While markets have priced in a Trump victory, “we still expect to see some further pressure on Asian currencies should that be the case,” he added.
The $6.4-trillion pile for Asia ex-Japan compares with $6.2 trillion at the end of 2023 and $5.9 trillion the year before, according to data from 10 economies compiled by Bloomberg. China accounts for almost half of the reserves, while India’s has swelled to a record $700 billion. India, Thailand, and the Philippines are among the nations that rank high in terms of the sufficiency of reserves to protect currencies, according to Nomura Holdings Inc. and Bank of America. Vietnam and Malaysia are less comfortably placed, according to MUFG Bank Ltd.
FX volatility
THE sudden weakness in Asian currencies has come as a surprise for many, as the dominant market view until just a few months ago was that the dollar will soften along with the Fed’s easing. Armed with the mountain of reserves, central banks have been vowing action against volatile swings, worried about capital outflows and constraints to their monetary policy room.
South Korea has promised to act swiftly to curb excessive volatility in the won while an Indonesian official said the central bank stands ready to step into the market.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has been vocal about the need to build reserves, calling the stockpile a “safety net” against any volatile capital flows.
There are other tools, also.
In China, foreign-exchange swaps have quietly become a key tool for state-run lenders seeking to prop up the yuan. Malaysia’s central bank has been encouraging state-linked firms to repatriate foreign investment income and convert it into the local currency.
Keeping currencies stable has become all the more important as central banks start lowering rates to tackle slowing economic growth. Bank Indonesia kicked off the region’s easing cycle with an unexpected rate cut in September, followed by South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines in October.
With the greenback likely to be supported amid election-related uncertainties, Asian officials will remain on guard. TD Securities strategist Prashant Newnaha expects a “multi-month dollar run higher.”
He said the Philippines is supporting the initiative of Saudi Arabia, Norway and the European Union, pushing for an Israel-Palestinian twostate solution.
“The Philippines will participate in the meetings and initiatives of the Global Alliance with a view to realizing the two-state solution as soon as possible,” Novicio said.
PHILIPPINES IN ISRAELPALESTINE CONFLICT
THE Philippines has always been supportive of having two independent states—Israel and Palestine.
In 1947, the Philippines was the only country in Asia that voted in the UN for the partition of Palestine into two states—one Jewish and one Palestinian Arab, with Jerusalem as a “special international regime.” The Arabs rejected the UN Partition Plan and launched a war against Israel in 1948.
Politically, the predominantly Catholic Philippines is aligned with Israel. Both have the US as defense ally.
It was only in 1989 when the Philippines joined the call in the UN to recognize the state of Palestine and established diplomatic relations with Palestine.
However, the Philippine position was largely neutral or sometimes inconsistent, when it comes to the IsraelPalestinian conflict, for several reasons: there are thousands of Filipino workers in the Middle East; the country is heavily dependent on oil supplies from Arab countries that are sympathetic to Palestine; and Moro secessionist groups received financial and material support from Muslim countries in the region.
WAR IN GAZA,
LEBANON
THE humanitarian disaster brought by Israel’s retaliatory attacks on
Hamas in Gaza Strip and against Hezbollah in Lebanon since October 10, 2023, have revived efforts for negotiating a lasting peace using the formula that recognized two states, Israel and Palestine.
Novicio reiterated the Philippines’ “grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza and Lebanon. He urged all parties to “refrain from escalating the violence” and to “end this vicious cycle of violence.”
“Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace, harmony and prosperity, and where their rights, aspirations and security are recognized and upheld,” Novicio said.
The Philippines also said it is calling for the “full and immediate implementation” of the UNSC Resolution 2735 of 2024.
The resolution requires an “immediate, full and complete cease-fire” in Gaza in exchange for release of all hostages, full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and multiyear reconstruction of Gaza.
Novicio also said the Philippines welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel’s occupation of Gaza Strip, West Bank and east Jerusalem. The landmark ruling released on July 19, 2024, declared Israel’s occupation as “unlawful, along with the associated settlement regime, annexation and use of natural resources.”
The Philippines also reaffirmed its “full support and confidence” in UN Secretary General António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres.
“We are confident of [Guterres’s] commitment to international peace and security and his tireless efforts reflect our shared desire for an end to violence and for meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of lasting peace in the Middle East,” Novicio said.
Emerging markets cap a turbulent month with losses before US vote PHL joins
disappointing outlooks from Big Tech companies such as Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. Meanwhile, MSCI’s companion gauge for currencies rose for a second day with broad dollar weakness, though Bloomberg’s gauge for the dollar capped off the best month in more than two years.
Some Latin American currencies also got a reprieve on Thursday after slumping earlier in the week on US election jitters. Mexico’s peso outperformed peers, snapping a four-day losing streak. Yet, the Brazilian real slid as uncertainty remained around the timing and size of much awaited spending cuts. Also in the region, Colombia’s central bank ignored pressures to implement faster easing as policymakers considered fiscal risks, which have weighed on the currency.
Mexico’s peso is “outperforming today as markets may be assessing valuations and technicals associated with the peso a little closer. MXN has come under significant pressure since June, and current levels may represent interesting opportunities to enter long MXN
positions,” said Brendan McKenna, strategist at Wells Fargo. With traders on edge ahead of the US presidential election next week, McKenna said a win by Vice President Kamala Harris “would act a source of strength for the peso.” Most polls show a tight contest between Harris and Donald Trump.
Investors also continued to monitor US data for clues on the Federal Reserve’s rate cut path, ahead of Friday’s all-important jobs report. Earlier on Thursday, data showed overall inflation cooled to its lowest level since early 2021, supporting the case for a slower pace of interest-rate cuts. That came on top robust economicgrowth numbers on Wednesday that prompted traders to trim bets on rate cuts. The Fed is set to meet next week.
Higher volatility
SURGING volatility across emerging markets this month has hit carry-trade returns. A Bloomberg index that measures such returns from eight emerging markets, funded by short positions in the dollar, has dropped more than 2
percent in October, on track for the worst monthly performance since September 2022.
“Paradoxically, after the Federal Reserve cut rates by 50bps in September and signaled further cuts this year and in 2025, bond yields rose sharply as investors got worried about politicians’ lack of concern over the large and persistent US budget deficit,” Gama’s De Mello added. “US growth data surprised positively and the worries around an increase in US tariffs hurt currencies. China also failed to clarify many of its announced policies.”
Traders are bracing for more volatility ahead of next week’s US vote, with the cost of hedging dollar moves over the next week reaching its highest level since early 2020. In emerging markets, the Mexican peso, the Chinese yuan and South Korea’s won look vulnerable.
Elsewhere, Eva Zamrazilova, deputy governor of the Czech National Bank, is considering pausing interest-rate cuts due to potential inflationary risks. The koruna rose against the dollar on Thursday. Bloomberg
effectively and punctually managing the contributions of members. These reforms, they said, should also include spending for benefit packages, in doing sound actuarial estimates, in promoting primary care, in safeguarding health technology assessment, in strengthening digital health information systems, in providing timely payments to providers, and in expanding universal health coverage.
Groups that signed the statement were the Action for Economic Reforms (AER); Alternative Budget Initiative Health Cluster; ANG
NARS; Ayos na Gamot sa Abot Kayang Presyo (AGAP); Citizens’ Budget Tracker; and HealthJustice Philippines.
The list also includes the Medical Action Group; Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK); Sin Tax Coalition; WomanHealth Philippines; and Youth for Mental Health Coalition (Y4MH). The statement was also signed by Madeleine Valera, former undersecretary, Department of Health (DOH), and former senior vice president, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) and Anthony C. Leachon, an independent health
advocate.
Court approves Tupperware’s sale to lenders, paving way for brand’s exit from bankruptcy
By Wyatte Granthan-Philips AP Business Writer
EW YORK—A US bank -
Nruptcy judge approved a sale of Tupperware Brands on Tuesday, paving the way for the iconic food storage company to soon exit Chapter 11 protection and continue offering its products while undergoing a hoped-for revitalization.
The sale given the court’s green light in Delaware still is subject to closing conditions. Under terms of the deal, a group of lenders is buying Tupperware’s brand name and various operating assets for $23.5 million in cash and more than $63 million in debt relief.
Tupperware agreed to the lender takeover last week, pivoting from a previously planned asset auction. The brand said it expects to operate as The New Tupperware Co. upon completion of the deal.
Going forward, customers in “global core markets” will be able to purchase Tupperware products online and through the brand’s decades-old network of independent sales consultants, but the new company is set to be “rebuilt with a start-up mentality,” Tupperware said.
The specifics of how that will look are unclear. Tupperware did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for further comment Tuesday.
Tupperware once revolutionized food storage, with the brand’s roots dating back to a post-World War II mission of helping families save money on food waste with an airtight lid seal. The plastic kitchenware saw explosive growth in the mid-20th century, notably with the rise of direct sales through “Tupperware parties.”
First held in 1948, the parties were promoted as a way for women in particular to earn supplemental income by selling the containers to friends and neighbors. The system worked so well that Tupperware eventually removed its products from stores.
In the following decades, the Tupperware line expanded to include canisters, beakers, cake dishes and all manner of implements, and became a staple in
kitchens across America and eventually abroad. But the brand struggled to keep up in more recent years.
An outdated business model and rising competition contributed to some of the company’s challenges. When filing for bankruptcy last month, Florida-based Tupperware noted that consumers were shifting away from direct sales, which made up the vast majority of the brand’s sales, and increasingly favoring glass containers over plastic.
While sales improved some during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when consumers cooked and ate at home more, Tupperware saw an overall steady decline over the years. Rubbermaid, OXO and even recycled takeout food containers snagged customers—as well as home storage lines at major retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Financial troubles piled up in the meantime. In September’s bankruptcy petition, Tupperware reported more than $1.2 billion in debts and $679.5 million in assets.
“This is a situation that was in urgent need of a vast global resolution,” Spencer Winters, an attorney representing Tupperware, said during a US Bankruptcy Court hearing Tuesday. Winters called the sale agreement a “great outcome” that he said preserves Tupperware’s business, customer relationships and jobs.
The sale agreement calls for Tupperware to become a privately held company under supportive ownership of the purchasing lender group, which includes investment firms Stonehill Capital Management and Alden Global Capital.
Last week, Tupperware said the new company’s “initial focus” would be in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, South Korea, India and Malaysia, followed by European and additional Asian markets.
Other closing conditions that must be met before the transaction is completed include an issue with a Swiss entity that still needs to be resolved, according to statements made in court Tuesday.
Gatchalian prods NEA: Ensure resiliency of electric cooperatives during typhoons
SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has prodded the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to ensure that all electric cooperatives (ECs) are compliant with requirements of the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF) Law to mitigate the adverse impact on power supply of natural calamities such as typhoons.
The vice-chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, Gatchalian made the call following widespread devastation brought by tropical storm Kristine that left many households in heavily affected areas still reeling from lack of power supply. With Super Typhoon Leon also now in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), power interruptions could affect even more households across the country, he said.
“The goal of ECERF is not just to provide funds that ECs can tap for the restoration and rehabilitation of ECs’ damaged infrastructure following a fortuitous event such as a typhoon, but to ensure that the distribution utilities are resilient to withstand calamities,” he added.
Lifestyle changes offer direct path to emissions cuts, new study finds
By Kendra Pierre-Louis Bloomberg
ASHIFT in lifestyles, such as wasting less food and eating more plant-based meals are key to getting the world on track to meet the Paris Agreement commitments, according to a study published on Wednesday.
While countries have set emission targets to help the world meet the goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of 2C (3.6F), “it’s very unclear how you would actually make progress towards these targets and eventually achieve them,” said Bjoern Soergel, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the study’s lead author.
To provide clarity, Soergel and his colleagues analyzed three pathways to reduce emissions and meet the sustainable development goals set in 2015. All three scenarios were designed to help countries reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement and meet the Sustainable Development Goals that focus on improving wellbeing agreed to
in 2015.
Researchers found that the pathway focused on lifestyle changes was the least dependent on novel technologies while also having the greatest additional positive outcomes for biodiversity and climate protection.
In this scenario, consumption drops in the Global North, a polarizing idea known as post-growth. Those in favor of post-growth— which involves shifting from GDP as the main economic metric to a more holistic view—argue that humans can’t reduce their ecological impact without moving away from an economic mandate of perpetual growth. Instead, proponents argue, the richest countries should cut consumption and move toward a circular economy.
In practice, this could include “a rapid shift” to a largely plant-based diet that would cut emissions and “have substantial benefits for human health,” Isabelle Weindl, a senior scientist at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and co-author of the study, said in a statement.
Agriculture and land use are responsible for nearly a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Raising animals is a particularly large source, especially cattle. Other analyses have found that replacing beef with another protein for a single meal can cut someone’s daily carbon footprint in half.
The research also found dietary shifts would require less land for agriculture, freeing up by midcentury between 325 and 705 million hectares—an area roughly on par with India or Australia. That would help increase natural ecosystem regrowth and improve biodiversity.
Material waste—including food waste—would also decline in the post-growth scenario, while recycling increases. Transportation would shift to reflect regional needs with urban areas experiencing a decline in car ownership. Income inequality would rapidly fall as well.
In contrast, under the economic growth-focused pathway,
most of the emissions cuts would come from technological advances. Growth would continue unabated and diets wouldn’t change significantly. The third pathway the researchers analyzed was a policyfocused scenario with relatively low income growth in the Global North that resulted in a more middle-of-the-road outcome.
While each of the pathways has benefits, they also have drawbacks.
The economy-driven approach is dependent on technologies that don’t work at scale. That includes carbon capture and storage, which Soergel pointed out is still “in the technological development phase. There are small demonstration plants, but nothing at scale.”
The post-growth approach “makes the steepest assumptions on lifestyle change,” says Soergel. The biggest issue is whether people will undertake the changes necessary in wealthy countries.
One thing is clear in the study, though: “All three of these sustainable development pathways really fare much better than a businessas-usual scenario,” says Soergel. “The most important thing is that we actually start to embark on this transformation towards sustainable development and the Paris Agreement because continuing with business as usual is the worst of all.”
Coal barge accident in Zambales fish sanctuary sparks concern from groups
THE running aground of a coal barge in a Zambales fish sanctuary recently is a major disaster imperiling biodiversity and the livelihood of many communities, according to a nonprofit campaigning for sustainable energy and financing.
The barge, carrying over 11,000 metric tens of coal, ran aground at the Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Seascape and Landscape, the first marine protected area in Central Luzon and considered one of the key biodiversity areas in the country.
The SMC Shipping and Lighterage Corp. reported the matter to authorities.
ippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) as saying that the barge came from Semirara in Antique and was on its way to La Union. “At the height of Typhoon #KristinePH, the barge temporarily stopped at San Salvador Island. Masinloc sea patrol chairman reported that the barge bumped into coral reefs, spilling its cargo. San Salvador Island is classified as a marine sanctuary,”PMCJ said.
generate electricity, they release planet-heating emissions. But coal is also dirty to transport. Transporting coal also causes air pollution and when transport accidents happen, they can lead to coal spills, which is toxic to marine life as well as to water sources and public health,” Nacpil pointed out.
Gatchalian, the principal author of the ECERF law, clarified that “ECs are required to submit on an annual basis vulnerability and risk assessment (VRA), emergency response plan (ERP), mitigation plan (MP), and resiliency compliance plan to NEA.
In addition, ECs are required to submit the accomplished or implementation status of the respective mitigation projects they identified in their respective VRAs and MPs.
“Given that the Philippines is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change risks and natural disasters, ECs need to develop their resilience to prevent power interruption or at least shorten the period of such incidents during and after calamities, the senator pointed out. NEA has requested a budget of P200 million for the implementation of ECERF for next year.
President Marcos earlier urged government agencies to prepare for the impact of Super Typhoon Leon, as most regions continue to recover from the effects of ‘Kristine.’ Butch Fernandez
Moreover, the senator clarified that ECERF was put in place as “a ready fund that can be tapped by ECs for faster restoration of electricity and power facilities damaged by natural calamities.” He also added that the fund is administered and managed by NEA.
Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and development (APMDD) said. “This incident spells another disaster in terms of protecting biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods of communities that depend” on the protected area.
A Philippine Coast Guard station head was quoted by the Phil -
Sadly, noted APMDD’s Nacpil, “it was also around this time last year when a vessel carrying 70,000 liters of diesel oil sank off the coast of Calatagan town in Batangas province and caused an oil spill along another protected area, the Verde Island Passage (VIP).”
The latest incident, besides damaging marine resources, “also highlights the dirty costs of transporting coal and the inefficiency of the fossil fuel system. We all know that when coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, is burned to
The problem is bound to persist, she added, given that, “tens of thousands of vessels are plying their trade on our oceans carrying fossil fuels. They consume a lot of energy and emit a lot of greenhouse gas emissions to transport coal, as well as gas and oil. Extracting and processing these fossil fuels also uses a lot of energy and releases emissions that are harmful to the planet and to human health.”
In short, she lamented, “we have a brutally inefficient energy system” and urged the government “to heed the global call to raise ambition to address climate change.”
She called for “a rapid phaseout of fossil fuels and a direct transition to a renewable energy system.” Fossil technology, which is being undercut by renewables globally, “uses and wastes a lot of energy to produce energy. Renewables, like wind and solar, require no extraction or processing energy, and no need to transport if they are locally generated.” Nacpil cited research showing 63 percent of extracted coal, oil and gas goes to waste in the production, refinement and transportation process. “Over $4.6 trillion per year, or almost 5 percent of global GDP and 40 percent of what we spend on energy, goes up in smoke due to fossil inefficiency.”
The PMCJ, meanwhile, also weighed in on the matter. Zambales climate justice groups who live near the protected waters of Oyon Bay have raised alarm to the local and
DOLE sets over ₧30-M payouts for Tupad program for Kristine
AS part of the government’s intensified recovery efforts for provinces severely hit by tropical storm “Kristine,” the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has facilitated the release of wages of workersbeneficiaries under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Displaced Workers (Tupad) program in the Bicol Region. Tupad Program provides temporary wage employment to workers for 10 to 30 days of community work, particularly in times of disaster and calamities, enabling them to contribute to improving and rehabilitating their respective communities.
In a report of the DOLE in Bicol, the distribution of wages under the government’s emergency employment program is set from
October 28 to November 5, 2024, excluding November 1-3.
The initial payouts amounting to P30,833,750 were awarded to 7,249 affected workers-beneficiaries at designated venues across the municipalities of Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes from October 29 to 30.
According to DOLE Region 5, each beneficiary, who performed various community development projects, including cleanup drives, community-based farming initiatives, planting of disaster-resilient crops, and relief goods repacking, received a salary of P395 per day depending on the rendered days at work.
The first payout on October 29 was conducted simultaneously in Camalig, Albay, where 818 ben -
eficiaries received their salaries amounting to P3.2 million; in Lupi, Camarines Sur, 240 beneficiaries (P948,000); San Jose, Camarines Sur, 248 beneficiaries (P979,600); San Fernando, Masbate, 384 beneficiaries (P3.03M); Masbate City and Mandaon, 182 beneficiaries (P718,900); and San Miguel, Bato, and Virac in Catanduanes province, 107 beneficiaries (P422,650).
Another payout activity was simultaneously held on October 30 in Camalig, Polangui, Tabaco City, Tiwi, Jovellar, Guinobatan, and Oas in Albay province, with 4,274 beneficiaries who received P16.8 million. In Masbate City, 182 beneficiaries received wages amounting to P718,900; while 218 beneficiaries received P1.3 million worth of wages in Catanduanes. In Bulusan, Bulan, Irosin, and Gubat
in Sorsogon province, a total of 596 beneficiaries received P2.6M in assistance. In her message, DOLE Bicol Regional Director Imelda F. Gatinao said the government would continue to extend necessary assistance such as providing emergency employment under Tupad to help workers and their families recover from the impact of any disaster or calamity.
“Secretary [Bienvenido] Laguesma conveys his message that DOLE is ready to support the Bicolanos. We know that each one of you is striving to provide for your family’s welfare. With this assistance from DOLE, we hope to be able to ease your financial needs and face the challenges from the recent storm,” said RD Gatinao, speaking mostly in Filipino.
UAE extends deadline for overstayers to get amnesty
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE United Arab Emirates has extended until December 31 this year the deadline for foreigners to apply for amnesty if they overstayed or absconded from their employers.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi welcomed the extension of the amnesty deadline, as only 723 Filipinos have availed themselves of the amnesty and/or flew back home since September.
change their status.” This, they said, is why they extended the deadline, as there may be others who failed to beat the deadline.
Among those who were trying to beat the amnesty deadline were Filipinos.
Dubai and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Indonesia deploys 2 choppers for PHL storm relief missions
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Indonesian National Armed Forces has deployed two helicopters, one Mi 17V5 and a H-225M, to augment ongoing relief missions of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for communities still reeling from the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” and Typhoon “Leon.”
UAE’s citizenship, customs and border security agency had earlier allowed thousands of foreigners in the emirates who have overstayed to regularize their stay or to leave UAE without being penalized. Amnestied visa violators will also be allowed re-enter UAE. The twomonth amnesty period was supposed to end October 31.
Philippine Ambassador to UAE Alfonso Ver told BusinessMirror that there were OFWs and Filipino residents who only applied on the last day itself, October 31. This is why he welcomed the decision of the UAE to extend the deadline for another two months.
He thus expects that the number of Filipino overstayers who availed of the visa amnesty may be higher than its latest figure of 732.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security said they witnessed “a large number of overstayers wishing to
On October 31, the 10th batch of 35 Filipino amnesty seekers flew to the Philippines, assisted by the Philippine Consulate General in
“Meron pang pahabol kasi from the last day may nag apply pa [There are still more expected because some applied on the last day] and they have 14 days to leave,” Ver explained.
In a separate statement, Ver said the Philippine Embassy, Consulate General in Dubai, and the Migrant Workers Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are “profoundly grateful” for the UAE government’s “generosity in providing more opportunities to Filipino amnesty seekers to legalize their immigration status.”
“(We) highly encourage our eligible kababayans who have not yet availed of the amnesty to take advantage of this generous measure of the UAE authorities,” Ver added.
CAAP shuts down Lingayen Airport for Undas
HE Civil Aviation Au -
Tthority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued a notice to airmen (Notam,) closing the operations of Pangasinan’s Lingayen Airport during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days from 7am of Friday, November 1, until 4pm of Saturday, November 2. The airport’s 1,634-meter runway, which sits across the Lingayen Public Cemetery, is being used by the cemetery’s visitors as a convenient shortcut to reach the grave of their loved ones, making airport operations during Undas
a safety and security concern for the airport. Apart from the suspension of commercial flights, the Notam also covers three flying academies based and operating at Lingayen Airport that affects flight operations.
Kite flying
ANOTHER cause of the airport closure is the traditional practice of Lingayen locals of flying kites at the cemetery during All Saints’ Day. The practice has been traditionally observed for decades with the belief that kite flying
is a tool to communicate with the dead and a vehicle for the departed souls to reach heaven.
Area 1 Manager Ronald Estabillo said that even with the Notam, “OPLAN BIYAHENG AYOS UNDAS 2024” has been put in place to prevent people from crossing the runway for safety and security reasons. He noted that with that huge crowd, security personnel cannot fully stop the arrivals. “It will be difficult for us to control or apprehend people crossing from different directions in almost the entire stretch of the runway,” he added.
Estabillo also said they needed the entire day of November 2 for a cleanup drive at the airport runway in the aftermath of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day so the closure will be necessary.
CAAP oversees the operations of 44 commercial airports nationwide. Among the country’s commercial airports only four: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport; the Clark International Airport; the Cebu-Mactan International Airport; the Subic International Airport do not fall under CAAP authority.
Bong Go helps 1K displaced workers in South Cotabato
SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the significance of expanding livelihood opportunities for the underprivileged as his Malasakit Team visited Polomolok, South Cotabato recently to help displaced workers in the area.
Following the completion of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), temporary job assistance was provided to 1,000 displaced workers through the collaboration of Senator Go, DOLE and local officials such as Mayor Bernie Palencia, Councilors Eliazar Jovero, Ligaya Orbesido, Danny Nograles, and Allan Ines.
“Through this program, we can assist workers affected by crises and provide immediate help for their needs,” Go expressed in his video message. “Let us continue to work together to improve the situation of our disadvantaged and displaced workers. Together, we aim to create a fairer and stronger society for all Filipinos. Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, ang bisyo ko po ay magserbisyo,” he added. Additionally, Go’s Malasakit Team distributed shirts, fans, and vitamins to the beneficiaries. A mobile phone, sling bags, a watch, shoes, basketballs, and volleyballs were also given to select recipients. Go underscored the need to safeguard the welfare of vulner -
national government demanding accountability, immediate investi -
gation, and prosecution, the PMCJ said Friday Last October 18, climate justice groups from Zambales, together with the PMCJ, asked the Department of Environment and
able workers, especially those in rural areas seeking better economic opportunities.
Senate Bill No. 420, introduced by Go, proposes the creation of a mechanism to offer temporary employment opportunities to qualified members of economically disadvantaged families in rural areas. If enacted, the bill lays down a Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) to facilitate shortterm employment for individuals identified as economically underprivileged, poor, displaced, or seasonal laborers.
As head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go emphasized the importance of convenient access to quality health
services, promoting the presence of a Malasakit Center located at Soccsksargen General Hospital in Surallah. Other Malasakit Centers nearby are located at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City and Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City.
Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, principally authored and sponsored by Go, mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila to establish their centers, providing convenient access to government medical assistance programs.
The 166 Malasakit Centers have helped more than 15 million Filipinos nationwide.
Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENREMB) to oppose the expansion of San Miguel Global Power (SMGP)’s Masinloc coal-fired power plant. They claimed the continued presence of the coal plants will continue to destroy marine biodiversity given that Masinloc-Oyon Bay is a protected seascape.
Masinloc-Oyon Bay was declared a Protected Seascape and Landscape (MOBPLS) under Republic Act No. 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, and became the first marine protected area in Central Luzon.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, in a statement, said these aircraft and crewmembers arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Thursday.
“The two helicopters will
augment the PAF in its ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in areas affected by the recent calamity,” she added. With the arrival of these aircraft, Castillo said PAF’s aerial relief capabilities are further strengthened, enabling more efficient delivery of much-needed relief supplies to remote and inaccessible areas.
To date, four neighboring counterparts–Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia–have extended their support to the Philippines’ HADR missions.
Koko bristles as Marikina LGU
tracks kin of exhumed remains
THE Marikina City government on Friday sought to ease public anger over the illegal exhumation of 65—and still counting—human remains that were placed in hundreds of sacks by offering free cremation at Barangka Public Cemetery, which were improperly handled by the cemetery’s personnel.
Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said the local government is currently trying to locate and contact the affected families.
However, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, City Hall cannot completely wash its hands off the case and demanded a full investigation an accountability. Pimentel and his late father, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., have been long-time Marikina residents.
Based on the initial accounting of the City Health Office (CHO), around 65 human remains have been exhumed so far. But, according to a press release Friday by City Hall, it must be noted that the accounting is still ongoing.
“Kinokontak natin ngayon ang mga pamilya na may mga labi na natagpuan nitong nakaraang araw, na nakalagay ngayon sa isang temporary holding facility [We are now trying to reach the families of the dead whose remains were found these past several days],” Mayor Teodoro said.
The mayor said the local government will shoulder the cremation of the remains if the affected families wish to do so. They will be given options such as transferring the remains to the ossuary or columbarium.
“And for those who opt for cremation, we will cremate their relatives’ remains for free and put them in the columbarium,” he said.
He said affected families may contact the new management of the Barangka Public Cemetery or the Marikina City Health Office led by Dr. Christopher Guevara.
The mayor said that the city government will hold a mass at the Barangka Public Cemetery on November 2 to pay respects to the exhumed remains.
On October 31, the local government filed charges against Barangka Cemetery personnel for alleged improper handling of human remains.
The complaint, lodged with the Marikina City Prosecutors’ Office, was filed against a cemetery personnel in collusion with private individuals who conducted unauthorized and illegal exhumation of human remains.
Dr. Christopher N. Guevara, head of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU), and Rolando V. Dalusong, chief of Environmental Health and Sanitation, submitted the complaint, citing violations of Presidential Decree 856 (Philippine Sanitation Code) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), specifically Section 5, which forbids unauthorized exhumation or disturbance of remains without a permit.
An inspection by the City Health Office (CHO) revealed human remains inside plastic bags left in open areas of the cemetery, which were reportedly exhumed without approval from the City Health Office-Sanitation Section. The complaint stressed that these actions not only breached sanitation guidelines but also disrespected the deceased, causing emotional distress to families and the community.
Earlier, Mayor Teodoro ordered a halt to all grave digging as the cemetery undergoes rehabilitation.
Clear negligence: Pimentel AS he weighed in on the controversy, Senator Pimentel said the incident is “unjust and a clear case of negligence by the City Government of Marikina.”
The minority leader said “the Local Government Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 7160, authored by my late father Ka Nene Pimentel, includes the supervision of public cemetries under the city or municipal government.”
Besides the Local Government Code, Pimentel cited Marikina City Ordinance No. 020-2010 that requires a correct process or documentaton before any tomb is opened and any remains are exhumed in a cemetery. “Any one who has a responsibility here cannot just wash his hands. It is clear that the responsibility for supervising the public cemetery is with the City Government of Marikina.”
Departed at LNMB honored by PA, Boy and Girl Scouts
THE Philippine Army (PA) and a team of Boy and Girl Scouts paid homage to all persons interred at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB), Taguig City by conducting a flag-let setting and candle-lighting ceremony Thursday night.
This tribute is to honor departed heroes, former presidents, soldiers, former state leaders and national figures interred at the
LNMB, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said Friday.
“The synchronized candlelighting and flaglet-setting ceremony paid tribute to the ‘welllived’ lives of soldiers, heroes, national artists and scientists and former Philippine presidents of the country who are interred at the heroes’ cemetery,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Grave Services Unit of the Army Support Com -
mand assisted and secured visitors who paid their respects to their departed loved ones ahead of All Saints’ Day. A total of 53,824 remains are interred at LNMB as of October 21.
“In light of the expected uptrend in the number of visitors, the PA deployed explosive and ordnance disposal (EOD); K9; signal personnel; military police (MP); and medical teams to strengthen
PA’s Task Force Pag-alaala,” Demaala said.
PA soldiers assisted a total of 84,300 LNMB visitors in 2023 and 43,709 in 2022. Meanwhile, the Army leadership assured the public that Army units will fully support the Philippine National Police in ensuring the safety and security of the observance of Undas 2024 across the country. Rex Anthony Naval
‘Influencers’
Time BusinessMirror Our
then and now my sixty-zen’s WORtH
By Nick Tayag
TIMES have changed. Being an “influencer” is the new cool career to aspire for, followed by “content creator.” Seeking to leverage the influence of online popularity to achieve celebrity status and financial success, “influencers” are emerging across diverse platforms in the social media sphere. In our village, I know a female food vlogger who now calls herself an “influencer.” She now behaves like a celebrity. As a mutual acquaintance has noted acidly: “Nag comment lang tungkol sa isang bote ng suka, ngayon kumikita na. Di na maabot.”
One video clip from China shows a motley of individuals in front of their respective cameras, gyrating, singing, doing magic tricks, acrobatic acts and other crazy antics while live streaming to anyone on the Internet who would care to watch them and hopefully click the like or follow option.
“Influencer marketing” is the name of the game that marketers and advertisers have been employing for quite a while now.
To put simply, an influencer is a blogger, YouTuber, Instagrammer, or TikTokker with a sizeable number of followers.
Their real intent of many of them is to be noticed by advertisers so they get signed up as partners for branding purposes using their so-called social media clout.
To be an influencer, all you have to do is invest in a phone with a good camera and sound recording function and a cheap tripod and with that you can have your own “mini show”—talk, sing, dance, dress scantily, do some tumbling—literally anything to capture a million eyeballs, day in and day out. Honestly, it is really nothing new. It is just an old dog playing new tricks, or should I say the same old dog dressed in new attire. Take it from me, a retired ad man.
In my days in advertising, we had what was then called “celebrity testimonial” involving the use of a widely known individual such as a movie star or a basketball player to be a product endorser. Later on the term product endorser was elevated to the more classy “brand ambassador,” requiring the celebrity endorser to do live performances in marketing sorties in major cities or corporate milestone celebrations or national sales conferences in addition to the usual print ads, TV commercials, billboards.
The practice of influencers to promote products goes a long way back to the days when radio was still king. I remember Paeng Yabut, a then famous radio personality. Millions of early risers were glued to his early morning program, entitled “Tayo’y Mag-aliw.” His program was a mashup of music, news, stinging commentaries on politicians. But he also promoted products in his program in a way that was “suwabe, hindi garapal” as old folks would say.
Then there was Johnny de Leon who promoted “Bataan Matamis” and “Aji no Moto” in his late afternoon program “Lundagin mo baby” using a sidekick talent with a pronounced speech defect named Ngongo. Even now, I can catch some radio personalities sliding in products such as medicinal remedies or cooking condiments into their commentaries as if they are organically part
Manila’s senior citizens to receive double their monthly support in 2025
By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA—Elderly residents in the country’s capital city will see their monthly allowance from the city government doubled starting next year.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna on Thursday signed Ordinance 9081, increasing the monthly cash benefit of the city’s senior citizens from the present P500 to P1,000 effective January 2025.
of their spiels or narratives. This is just like the press releases our ad agency used to concoct for the products to make readers think they are legitimate news features. That was “envelopmental” journalism.
As you have probably noted by now, influencer marketing is just a rehash of practices, ploys and tricks of the trade in my day. Unlike testimonial ads of yesteryears, where celebrities and products were scrupulously screened and vetted by an Adboard, today’s influencer blurbs are unverified, un-fact checked. Some influencers often fail to disclose sponsorships, leading their followers to believe that their endorsements are unbiased and genuine. As one influencer disclosed: “we sometimes have to sell something that’s supposed to be trustworthy and sincere, but in actuality, isn’t.” When it comes to influencer marketing, the motto “Truth in Advertising” often leaves the conversation.
As we in the old days of advertising used to chant to ourselves: “we do the lying, you do the buying.” Every time you click on the “like” or “subscribe” button, it’s cash-ching for them.
Do our grand kids really need to be guided by influencers? I don’t believe so. Really good influencing should begin at home and enhanced by the school.
As the popular book by Robert Fulghum points out, kids learn everything they know in kindergarten. Things like share everything, play fair, don’t hit people, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess, don’t take things that aren’t yours, when you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together, and always keep in mind the very first words you learned—stop, look and listen.
“Never trust strangers, don’t let strangers into our home” was an admonition embedded in us by our parents. If so, why should we let influencers, who are total strangers, intrude into our homes through social media?
Thinking about it, why can’t we give our grandkids all the good influence we can muster while we’re still here for them? The real dictionary definition of an influencer is a person who inspires or guides the actions of others as in “he was a champion of the arts and a huge influencer of taste.” Who can do better at guiding and inspiring our grand kinds than us?
When we volunteer for a cause, when we practice Clean As You Go, when we call out our grandkids when they throw litter, when they see us devoted to our faith tradition, we are influencing young people in our own little ways that will impact them positively for life.
As for me, I am now using my lifetime experience to mentor my teenage grand daughter on how to do a better job as editor of her high school organ. I hope through my influence she will make a career out of her talent for writing. I devote my time posting a weekly blog to share my thoughts from the perspective of a 70 plus golden ager and having enriching conversations with young people still seeking their own paths.
So when friends would ask me what keeps me busy in retirement, I have a ready answer. I’m pursuing a new rewarding career called “senior influencer.”
The payout will start in March 2025, as the cash allowance will be distributed every quarter.
During the rites for the signing of the measure at the City Hall, Lacuna said this is in response to the constant requests of senior citizens for a higher monthly allowance.
“Our grandfathers and grandmothers do not fail in asking for a hike in their allowance. Now, we have doubled it,” she said.
The present P500 monthly cash allowance for the city’s senior citizens is released every four months, equivalent to P2,000.
Present during the signing of
the ordinance were its principal authors Councilors Philip Lacuna, Fa Fugoso, Uno Lim, Nino Dela Cruz, Jong Isip, Rod Lacsamana, Maile Atienza, Macky Lacson, Lei Lacuna, Charry Ortega, and Marjun Isidro, as well as Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs chief Elinor Jacinto and Secretary to the Mayor Marlon Lacson.
According to Councilor Lacuna, the ordinance was based on State policy to protect and serve the rights of the elderly as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, specifically under Article XIII, Section 11, which expressly provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, and health and other social services available to all the people at affordable
cost and further giving priority for the needs of the elderly, among others.
Isip, meanwhile, noted that with these provisions of the Constitution and the Local Government Code (LGC), it is ensured that the elderly are accorded primordial opportunity to have access to essential goods, and health and social services based on their needs.
Further, the provisions of the LGC empower the Manila city government to adopt measures to ensure the protection of health, social, and moral welfare of its inhabitants, more so for the senior citizens, she added.
“Hence, in pursuit of the above mandate, the increase in the monthly monetary allowance of senior citizens from the current P500 to P1,000 is imperative and it is thus a significant support for our senior citizens to enable them to have access to the best quality of health care services, as well as necessary medicines and essential goods,” the officials added.
The city’s new allowance rate for the elderly matches the national government’s social pension for indigents being disbursed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. PNA
Lilly Ledbetter, equal pay movement icon, dies at 86
By Alexandra Olson | AP Business Writer
NEW YORK—Lilly Ledbetter, a former Alabama factory manager whose lawsuit against her employer made her an icon of the equal pay movement and led to landmark wage discrimination legislation, has died at 86.
Ledbetter’s discovery that she was earning less than her male counterparts for doing the same job at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Alabama led to her lawsuit, which ultimately failed when the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that she had filed her complaint too late. The court ruled that workers must file lawsuits within six months of first receiving a discriminatory paycheck—in Ledbetter’s case, years before she learned about the disparity through an anonymous letter.
Two years later, former President Barack Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which gave workers the right to sue within 180 days of receiving each discriminatory paycheck, not just the first one.
Ledbetter died Saturday night after a brief illness surrounded by loved ones, according to a brief statement from her family and an obituary sent by the team behind a film about her life. She is survived by her two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Ledbetter continued campaigning for equal pay policies for the rest of her life. Last week, she was awarded the Future Is Female Lifetime Achievement Award by Advertising Week, and a film about her life starring Patricia Clarkson premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
“She lost her case and she never saw a dime but she was a tireless advocate for all of us,” said Deborah Vagins, director of Equal Pay Today and the national campaign director of Equal Rights Advocates.
“Every now then, once in a generation, you meet these people who sacrifice everything for something even if it never benefits them,” added Vagins, who met Ledbetter and introduced her to then Sen. Obama soon after the Supreme Court ruling galvanized the movement for what would become the Ledbetter Act.
“She sparked a movement and changed the face of pay equity forever,” she said.
In January, President Joe Biden marked the 15th anniversary of the law named after Ledbetter with new measures to help close the gender wage gap, including a new rule barring
the federal government from considering a person’s current or past pay when determining their salary. But Ledbetter and other advocates have long campaigned for the more comprehensive Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, including by protecting workers from retaliation for discussing their pay.
In a statement on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to “continue to fight for the Paycheck Fairness Act—to honor Lilly’s legacy, and continue building a more fair and equitable future for women, and all Americans.”
Republican lawmakers largely oppose the law as redundant and conducive to frivolous lawsuits.
Obama also praised Ledbetter’s legacy, and said in statement that “this grandmother from Alabama kept on fighting until the day I signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law—my first as president.” Biden said in a statement that “it was an honor to stand with Lilly as the bill that bears her name was made law” when he was vice president.
Also among those paying tribute to Ledbetter was Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who said on the social media platform X that she “forever changed my understanding with the simple but powerful phrase, ‘Equal pay for equal work.’” The team behind the film, “LILLY,” issued a statement of condolence on social media. In her own statement, Clarkson said “portraying Lilly Ledbetter was the privilege of my lifetime.”
The sense of urgency among advocates deepened after an annual report from the Census Bureau last month found that the gender wage gap between men and women
widened for the first time 20 years. In 2023, women working full time earned 83 cents on the dollar compared with men, down from 84 cents in 2022.
Even before then, advocates had been frustrated that wage gap improvement had mostly stalled for the last 20 years despite women making gains in the C-suite and earning college degrees at a faster rate than men. Experts say the reasons for the enduring gap are multifaceted, including the overrepresentation of women in lower-paying industries and the weak child care system that pushes many women to step back from their careers in their peak earnings years.
In 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, Ledbetter wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times detailing the harassment she faced as a manager at the Goodyear factory and drawing a link between workplace sexual harassment and pay discrimination.
Ledbetter had worked at the plant in Gadsden, Alabama, for 19 years when she received an anonymous note saying she was being paid significantly less than three male colleagues.
Two years before she was set for retirement, she filed a lawsuit in 1999 and initially won $3.8 million in backpay and damages from a federal court. She never received the money after eventually losing her case before the Supreme Court. But a dissenting opinion from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who stated that the “ball is in Congress’ court,” inspired Ledbetter to keep up the fight for better laws.
At the Forbes Women’s Summit in 2021, Ledbetter said one of the achievements she was most proud of was that the Ledbetter act passed with bipartisan support.
The law set an important precedent “for ensuring that we don’t just have the promise of equal pay on the books but we have a way to enforce the law,” said Emily Martin, chief program officer at the National Women’s Law Center, which worked closely with Ledbetter. “She is really an inspiration in showing us how a loss does not mean you can’t win,” Martin said.
“We know her name because she lost, and she lost big, and she kept coming back from it and kept working until the day she died to change that loss into real gains for women across the country.” Associated
lillY ledBeTTer looks to the audience as President Barack Obama speaks in the east room of the White House in Washington on april 8, 2014, during an event marking equal Pay day. AP Photo/cAroLyN
Ched, 11 heIs seek further collaborations in Australia
THE Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and 11 higher education institutions (HEIs) have recently started the Higher Education Mission to secure more linkages in Australia.
The five-day mission was in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to boost internationalization of Philippine HEIs.
“In the current administration, we are guided by the strategic instructions of the President [to continue producing world-class professionals in the fields where the country] is well-known,” Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III of C HED said during the Philippine delegation meeting with the country’s ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega. “[Those are] medicine, nursing, allied health sciences, engineering and others.”
Included in the target areas of partnerships with Australian univer -
10th UST Natl Campus Journ. Awards now accepting entries
THE Varsitarian—the 96-year-old official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas (UST)— is now accepting entries from college- and university-level publications to the “10th UST National Campus Journalism Awards (UNCJA).”
The decade-long campus journalism citations will recognize outstanding works from categories that include indepth reporting, editorial writing and feature writing. Winning entries will receive a cash prize of P20,000 and a certificate.
Submissions may tackle all campus, local or national issues, elaborating their relevance to the campus community. Entries should be published or posted online between March 4, 2024 and Nov. 17, 2024.
Print articles must be submitted in PDF format, while online stories that are screen-grabbed must be converted into a PDF file format. Each campus publication may submit a maximum of three entries per category. The 10th UNCJA’s winners will be announced at the “26th Inkblots”—the Varsitarian’s annual fellowship of nationwide campus journalists in January 2025. Campus publications from tertiary schools across the Philippines may submit their entries via bit.ly/10THUNCJA . Deadline for submission is November 18, 2024. For more inquiries, interested campus publications may contact Ralent Panilla (0966 203 1314) and Sofiah Shelimae Aldovino (0962 810 9874), or send an e-mail to uncja.varsitarian@gmail.com.
sities are social sciences, agriculture, information technology, tourism, accounting, hotel and restaurant management, mining engineering, cybersecurity and creative industries, among others. De La Vega lauded the participating HEIs as they “reciprocated” the first business mission in May 2024, which added to the “confidence-building” efforts with their Australian counterparts: “[You’re reciprocating that by coming here and telling them that ‘yes, we are ready to do partnerships,’ whether they are creating] research institutions or partnerships; or ‘twinning’ or obtaining dual degrees.”
Among the 11 HEIs are Arellano
University, Asia Pacific College, Caraga State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Iloilo Science and Technology University, Mariano Marcos State University, Our Lady of Fatima University, Southville International School and Colleges, University of Northern Philippines, University of the Philippines-Manila, and UP-Los Baños.
According to C HED, the Philippine HEIs were scheduled to visit, engage
in best practices dialogs, and secure agreements with Swinburne University, Chisholm Institute, La Trobe University, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, Monash University, as well as Centre for Education Australia until October 25. The target partnerships also aim to secure student exchanges, collaborative research and informationsharing, among others. Stephanie Sevillano/PNA
Benilde boosts hospitality program for global luxury
AS a strategic response to the ever-evolving landscape of the industry, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) introduces the “Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Luxury Management (BS HLM):” a redefined program designed to equip future leaders with the dynamics of the competitive global hospitality and luxury scene.
The BS-HLM under the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) integrates theory and practice to arm learners with solid management skills, excellence in service and essential principles of managing global hotels and resorts, bistros and restaurants, as well as luxurious leisure enterprises.
Graduates are qualified to become leaders who excel in both respected traditional hospitality and luxury brand administration. They will be trained to achieve international service standards in the areas of hospitality and leisure, event planning, as well as food and beverage management. They are armed with the important business acumen to oversee diverse functions: from operations, human resources and marketing to accounting, finance, revenue and risk management.
Undergrads can apply innovative solutions to address organizational challenges and implement strategies, as well as develop entrepreneurial capabilities to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities. They can initiate process improvement using evidence-based practices to drive sustainable growth, while ensuring adaptability and relevance in the dynamic market.
A comprehensive understanding of the service standards, attention to detail, and exemplary customer service are key characteristics to position the brand within the luxury sector.
Learners are also honed for proficiencies in verbal and nonverbal communication in more than two languages to promote effective cross-cultural communication. They are prepared to seamlessly adapt to culturally diverse environments, foster inclusivity, and enhance guest experiences.
Students are mentored by a roster of industry experts, seasoned academicians, and practitioners. They will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities with industry-grade equipment and technology, which provide them with hands-on learning for real-world applications.
Enrollees are granted the opportunity to further widen their knowledge and exposure to global competencies, as well as expand their networks on the international scale through the program’s existing collaborations with esteemed institutions. These collaborations include Louis Vuitton, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in partnership with the Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts in Dubai, Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners Hospitality Management Program, International Trainee Network, Pacific Link and Nova Scotia Community College in Canada, Experience Abroad in Spain, and Amanpulo Luxury Beach Resorts, alongside other notable properties.
BS-HLM consists of 174 units and will run for 10 terms. For more information, visit benilde.edu.ph/undergraduatehospitality-management/.
Instructure’s MS Reflect and Canvas LMS integration boosts mental-wellness tools
LEADING learning technology ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS Instructure has released a new available complimentary integration of Microsoft Reflect into Canvas—a step toward boosting global mental wellness for students and educators.
The integration aims to streamline social-emotional learning (SEL) within the digital classroom through K-12 to higher education, making mental wellness resources more accessible to all Canvas users.
“Integrating Microsoft Reflect within Canvas makes it an even more powerful platform to support student learning and wellbeing,” said Elad Graiver, who is Microsoft Education’s lead product manager. “By embedding SEL checkins into daily routines, schools create
CONTINUING LEGACY: Mapúa University launches 100-day countdown to centennial celebration
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
AS Mapua University celebrates a century of shaping and transforming the country’s education system, the question that echoes through its campus halls is: What’s next?
With less than 100 days until its centennial celebration next year, Mapúa’s leadership, students and alumni reflected on October 17 the breakthroughs that have made the university synonymous with excellence in science, technology and engineering.
From its founding in 1925 by Archt. Tomas Mapúa to its present status as one of Southeast Asia’s leading educational institutions, the university’s legacy has been built on its readiness to embrace each era’s unique challenges and opportunities.
“Mapúa heeded the call of the times in 1925. Moving on for three quarters of a century, he, his son and his grandson continued to heed the country’s evolving needs…providing highly qualified architects, engineers and managers to build the country’s infrastructure,” former president Reynaldo Vea recalled.
From those early years, the higher education institution (HEI) quickly earned a reputation as a “go-to” for engineering education. And it didn’t stop at merely keeping pace with the nation’s needs—it consistently set the standard.
By the 1930s, Mapúa launched the Philippines’ first chemical engineering program, followed by computer engineering in the 1980s and biological engineering in the 2000s, with each addition a response to the country’s evolving industrial landscape.
The turn of the century marked a defining shift for the HEI: In 1999, the Yuchengco Group acquired the institution and transformed itself into a global player, expanding beyond traditional academics into digital and online education.
Vea said the acquisition was more than just a change in ownership: It was more of a “call of the times” to adapt to globalization and the digital age.
just ready for today’s job market, but are prepared to shape the industries of tomorrow.
Future-proof
FOR Mapúa’s current president and CEO Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, the focus is clear: The university has to produce “future-proof” graduates.
Mapúa’s top executive emphasized that programs are designed to meet industry demands, which is why its graduates excel in board exams and are “highly sought” after by employers.
“Our new programs are designed to grow the technically competent and agile labor force that industries need. We ensure that students develop futureproof skills that can be easily applied to any work site,” Dr. Maestrecampo stated, as he cited recent offerings in energy engineering, financial technology, and business intelligence that prepare students for highgrowth sectors.
This year, the university also launched various philanthropic initiatives that aimed to address gaps in education at a national level. Among them are “Mapúa Snippets:” a free platform of interactive English, Science and Mathematics content for elementary students; and “STEMTeach:” a free development program for high-school teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM, providing accessible resources for all educators across the country.
Both programs are housed on the MapúaX platform: an initiative aimed at making quality education available to all: whether they’re future engineers, or elementary students mastering math.
As Mapúa approaches its centennial, it continues to expand not only its academic programs, but also its facilities and partnerships.
New additions to the Intramuros and Makati campuses, including state-of-the-art digital classrooms and a soonto-open Medicine wing in collaboration with Arizona State University, respectively, reflect its dedication to offering worldclass resources for learning and research.
a space for student voice, giving every learner the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings openly. This immediate feedback empowers educators to make timely adjustments, fostering a more supportive and engaging classroom environment.” To further support mental-wellness initiatives, Instructure recently introduced a new “Mental Wellness Hub” within its User Community. This collaborative online space is where 2.25 million educators and learners connect to share and enhance the learning experience. The hub serves as a central resource, offering best practices, professional development and a supportive forum for educators and administrators to discuss strategies for promoting mental health in educational settings.
“At Instructure, we believe mental wellness is foundational to successful learning,” said Melissa Loble, who is Instructure’s chief academic officer. “We’re committed to supporting the whole learner by providing tools and resources that foster emotional well-being and create a positive, supportive environment for both students and educators. When mental health is prioritized, meaningful learning and growth can thrive.”
Instructure’s focus on mental health reflects a broader trend in education: the increasing need to address students’ and educators’ states of emotional wellbeing as key components of academic success. In a survey by Student Minds 57 percent of university student-respondents self-reported a mental-health issue, with 27 percent saying they had a diagnosed mental-health condition, while 30 percent claimed their mental health had declined since starting university. The data indicates that making mental-wellness tools accessible is more essential than ever.
In the years that followed, Mapúa became the first Philippine school to offer fully online engineering programs, launched the country’s first gigabit network, and embraced international accreditations, reinforcing its standing as a leader in Philippine education.
The integration and new hub were spotlighted on Instructure’s social channels throughout October that featured tips, resources, and podcasts to help educators use these tools effectively. Last month’s World Mental Health Day reminded everyone of the importance of fostering healthy, and supportive learning environments. Instructure said it is dedicated to providing its community with the resources it needs to make mental health a priority every day. For more information, visit the Microsoft Reflect and the Canvas LMS web site.
Mapúa’s legacy of “firsts” continues today as it remains focused on what the future of learning should look like in a fast-paced, technology-driven world.
This October, the HEI gained a groundbreaking milestone as the first school system in the Philippines to receive “Quality Matters” certification for select online courses—a rigorous standard that attests to the quality of its digital education.
Its programs, which range from engineering to business, health sciences and digital arts, ensure that graduates are not
The HEI’s reach has expanded as well with campuses in Laguna and Davao, providing more Filipino youth access to Mapúa’s distinctive brand of education.
Focusing into the future, Mapúa’s centennial celebration isn’t merely a look back—it’s a commitment to continue building on a century of resilience, innovation and leadership.
For the university, as Vea described it, “keeping pace” has never been the goal. Rather, Mapúa’s ambition is to stay at the forefront and continue to shape the future as it has done for almost 100 years.
“By contributing and influencing the trajectory of the said high growth economies and the phenomenon of lifelong learning…we can completely transform lives and society and help build the future,” he said.
A6 Editor: Mike Policarpio
THE university’s top officials led by president and CEO Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo (center)
DLS-CSB’S BS HLM graduates are qualified to become leaders who excel in both respected traditional hospitality and luxury brand administration.
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
FROM NECROPOLIS TO METROPOLIS
Why CEMETERy TOuRS aRE POPuLaR WITh TOuRISTS
Story & photos by George Ordoña
Back in the day when I started working as a tour guide, the usual Manila tour included two cemeteries—american cemetery and chinese cemetery. It felt strange to have two cemeteries in a standard Manila tour. Things changed when walking tours became popular and a Binondo walk replaced the chinese cemetery.
Abroad, cemetery tours are quite popular. In Paris, Père-Lachaise, the largest cemetery in Paris, is the most visited necropolis in the world. Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, and Jim Morrison are some of the most visited grave sites there. In Manila, three cemeteries within the boundaries of Caloocan, Quezon City, and Manila are some of the oldest in the Metro.
La Loma
L A Loma is a Catholic Cemetery established in 1884. It is administered by the Diocese of Kaloocan and Archdiocese of Manila. Many religious orders have found their final resting place in this graveyard. Unknown to many, there is a National Cultural Treasure inside. The old St. Pancratius Chapel, commonly called “ Lumang Simbahan,” was a funerary chapel from 1884 to 1962 and used as a fort by Filipino fighters during the Philippine-American War.
After it was decommissioned, it was used as a Cursillo house. Two years ago, restorers from Escuela Taller worked on its facade.
Chinese Cemetery N EA rby Chinese Cemetery offered burial to non-Christian Chinese. Chong Hock Tong Temple, the oldest pre-war Chinese Memorial Temple in Manila, was built in 1878. However, it was demolished in 2015 and replaced by a new structure. It hosts Taoist, b uddhist, and Christian services. If you look closely at the altar, you will see a crucifix together with b uddhist and Taoist images.
During WWII, many executions occurred in the Chinese Cemetery. There is a Chinese Anti-Japanese Memorial Temple which commemorates the heroism of the Wha Chi 48th Squadron composed of Chinese Filipinos who fought against the Japanese.
Manila North Cemetery
WALKIN g past Chinese g eneral Hospital from the Chinese Cemetery is the Manila North Cemetery. It used to be part of La Loma until the latter became exclusive for Catholics, hence, the Jewish and Masonic burial grounds in Manila North. It is one of the most crowded cemeteries in the metro which has interred the rich and the poor alike, from presidents, matinee idols, heroes, athletes, even a gangster. It is also home to hundreds of informal settlers.
Upon entering, you will see the b oy Scout cenotaph honoring the b oy Scouts who perished on their way to a World Jamboree. Manila North Cemetery houses the remains of Presidents Osmeña, r oxas, and Magsaysay. Near the rotunda is the last resting place of Francis b urton Harrison, former American g overnor g eneral. There is a Mausoleum of the Veterans of the r evolution which pays homage to the Filipino revolutionaries of the Philip -
The past couple of weeks saw my news and social media feeds teeming with concerns about air travel. What should have been an exciting experience for many travelers quickly turns into a stressful one. First off, things happen—and not all are good or within anyone’s control. But what any of us can control is how we react and handle even untoward situations. There are ways to take precautions or handle travel travails or mishaps—even minimize the stress to us.
h ere are some ways we can avoid a bad trip from common travel mishaps:
Check your travel documents
Some people tend to forget that visas with ten-year validities are in their expired passports and take only the new one, so make sure you have ALL your passports on hand. Always check that the personal information in all your bookings match. It’s also prudent to have a copy of your passport and travel
documents, as well as
pine r evolution and the PhilippineAmerican War. There is also a memorial to pay tribute to the 29 martyrs of WWII who were executed by the Japanese. Members of prominent families such as b autista-Nakpil are also buried there. Same with cinema great Fernando Poe, Jr. and comedians Chiquito and b entot. Pugilist Pancho Viĺla, even gangster Asiong Salonga have also been laid to rest there.
From Necropolis to Metropolis M ANILA North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz may be the city of the dead but Sta. Cruz is also the city of the living for it was the original downtown. While Quiapo has retail shops and b inondo has wholesale outlets, Sta. Cruz had theaters, hospitals, churches, religious stores, and thrift stores. It even had a hippodrome, San Lazaro, until it transferred to Carmona, Cavite.
Origins, Sta. Cruz Church T HE Jesuits were the first administra -
tors.
predominantly Chinese congregation. Sta. Cruz Church was almost completely destroyed during the b attle of Manila but that did not stop the Manila Symphony Orchestra from performing in the ruins of Sta. Cruz Church in May 1945.
The Hospitals and the Franciscans A SIDE from the Jesuits, the Franciscans were instrumental in the development of Sta. Cruz, particularly in the establishment of a hospital. San Lazaro moved to Sta. Cruz from Intramuros in 1784 and is considered one of the oldest hospitals which catered to the indigents.
Another hospital in the San Lazaro Compound is the Jose r eyes Medical Center. It was established as a children’s hospital but is now a general tertiary level hospital and a medical training center.
Other Places of Worship T HE SVD (Society of the Divine Word) established Espiritu Santo in Tayuman and San r oque in b lumentritt.
Present Sta. Cruz W ITH the construction of the L r T, the area has dimmed but business has recovered and remained brisk. b ambang is known for second hand clothes and, most of all, cheap medical equipment. b lumentritt has a bustling market and a train station. Doroteo Jose is connected to L r T 2. Nowadays, I still go to Avenida to buy a watch and big paper calendars. g ood Earth was revived but Manila COD was not. The glory days of the cinemas are gone. Manila g rand Opera is now a hotel. There is a marker stating that the inauguration of the First Philippine Assembly was held there. There are still “surprising sights” like the relatively unknown San Lazaro Chapel with ruins inside the San Lazaro Hospital and the ancestral houserestaurant Lola g ening’s.
From Necropolis to Metropolis, from the city of the dead to the city of the living, going downtown is well worth it for the memories, nostalgia, and the bargains. Jing Ordoña (Manilakad) leads Manilakad Walks in Intramuros, food crawls in b inondo, Quiapo, & Angeles City and more. Let him guide you to several walking destinations in Manila and beyond. Manilakad (Jing Ordoña) can be reached on Facebook Messenger or through text at 09163597888 and Viber (g eorge Ordona) at 0960-6975930.
In 1973, the SVD turned over Espiritu Santo to the diocese. Eventually, it was granted the title of Archdiocese Shrine of Espiritu Santo. There is a parochial school with the same name. you will also find in Tayuman the SVD Catholic Trade Center and other religious stores. There are also temples in Sta. Cruz, such as the Kuang Kong Temple on Kipuja and the Kiu Sao g rand Temple on Severino r eyes. The Knox United Methodist Church is located on r izal Avenue.
that Immigration o fficers WILL noT help you get ahead even during crunch time.
You will have to ask the people ahead of the line though from experience most will understand your predicament.
Give ample time between flights
Due to a variety of reasons, most flights in and out of m anila in particular are running behind schedule. To avoid missing connecting flights, allow for extra hours for layovers. It is better to have two to three extra hours to rest rather anxiously running to catch the next flight.
Communicate with the hotel staff
Be F o R e you depart for your trip, check to confirm your reservation. o nce you checkin, make sure your reservation is in order and be careful when handing your credit card for verification.
If there is any concern with your room, inform the hotel staff immediately. While the staff might not be able to resolve all possible problems, they can try to help. While staying at the Plataran u bud Resort
in Bali, there was an electrical short-circuit in my room late one night and all the lights and appliances went out! The hotel staff could not fix the problem, but they found a way to move me to another room, helping me with my things and making sure nothing was left behind.
Photos by Charo Logarta
LA Loma Cemetery CHINESE Anti-Japanese Memorial Temple
CHONG Hock Tong Altar Chinese Cemetery
CHONG Hock Tong Temple Chinese Cemetery
ST. Pancratius (Lumang Simbahan)
MAuSOLEO de Sto. Entierro La Loma Cemetery PRESIdENT Magsaysay Grave Site
WAITING
dEPEN d ING on its category, hotels have contingencies in place to address common concerns, problems and requests of their guests (Photos taken at the Plataran ubud Resort, Bali)
BusinessMirror
When art meets technology in TCL’s NXTFRAME TV
IS it an art piece or is it a TV? When consumer electronics brand TCL launched its NXTFRAME TV in the Philippines, it wanted to showcase that its technology could become a canvas, and that the screen was not just a medium on which to watch shows and movies but also to appreciate art.
For the launch, TCL collaborated with Ronac Art Center for “Seamless Art, Beyond Space,” an exhibit that transformed the modern art gallery into a space where art met technology.
“Imagine a world where art is not static but fluid, seamlessly blending into your everyday life,” said Joseph Cernitchez, TCL PH Brand Manager.
For the launch, TCL collaborated with four talented artists from Secret Fresh Gallery: Chill, Reynold Dela Cruz, RA Tijing, and Ronson Cullibrina.
Each artist brought their unique styles to the exhibit , from graffiti and pop surrealism, to create stunning artworks that blend traditional and
contemporary themes. The TCL NXTFRAME TV’s AI art features transformed the space, so guests enjoyed looking at the art and the TV. The matte screen and movable stand showed them that the art could be viewed from different angles for a more enhanced experience.
Bigboy Cheng, owner of Ronac Art Center, welcomed TCL and the guests at the event.
“When TCL first presented the idea of collaboration, I said game right away. I’m so excited to have the launch of the TCL NXTFRAME TV event at the Ronac Art Center side by side with the amazing artworks by our very own Secret Fresh Gallery Artists. On behalf of my art gallery team, we warmly welcome everyone to our humble art haven, where pop art comes to life,” he said.
The TCL NXTFRAME TV features an ultra-slim form factor with a set of mounting options. The TV comes with the magnetic “Dawn birch” frame, which can be detached based on the user’s preference. There are three mounting options. The Seamless Wall Mount turns the set into frame that can be mounted on the wall. The second option is the Adjustable Cabinet Stand, which allows the TV on a surface like usual. The third option is the Movable Floor Stand, which uses an easel (sold separately) so the TV can stand anywhere. Each NXTFRAME TV has a unique AI image generator which can use up to 1,000 keywords to generate art. If the TV is not in use, this is a good way to decorate the home.
The TCL NXTFRAME TV comes with a QLED Pro
PHL must invest in cybersecurity
BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES
BUSINESS leaders in Third World countries such as the Philippines must realize the value of cybersecurity as an enabler of business growth and not a financial challenge.
“In fact, the potential financial and reputational damage from a cyber attack often far outweighs the initial investment in robust cybersecurity. Organizations must remain cautious and proactive in their cybersecurity efforts as attackers would only need a single opportunity to breach systems and steal sensitive data,” Oscar Visaya, country manager for the Philippines, Palo Alto Networks, told BUSINESSMIRRO� in an e-mail interview.
He said Philippine organizations must follow global organizations in increasing their cybersecurity budgets as they recognize the growing threat landscape with 80 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) planning to increase spending on cyber and information security in 2024.
He said Palo Alto expects to progress, as organizations increasingly understand the significant impact of cyberattacks on a company’s bottomline. He added cyberattacks can result in substantial financial losses, including theft of funds, ransom payments, and costs associated with breach recovery.
“Moreover, operational downtime caused by cyberattacks can result in missed opportunities and necessitate costly emergency responses,” Visaya said.
He said companies can reduce the cost by consolidating fragmented security tools. He observed that many organizations use multiple cybersecurity solutions that don’t communicate well with each other, leading to inefficiencies and added complexity. By consolidating these tools into a unified, integrated platform, Visaya said businesses can improve their security posture while also reducing overhead costs related to managing and maintaining disparate systems.
display with 144Hz VRR for maximum color accuracy. It also pairs well with the Bang & Olufsen 3.1.2CH Ultra-Slim Wireless Soundbar for more immersive sound. The TCL NXTFRAME TV will come in two models: A300W and A300 Pro. The A300W retails for P89,990. Meanwhile, the A300 Pro, which is sold with the Bang & Olufsen 3.1.2CH Ultra-Slim Wireless Soundbar, retails for PhP 110,000. The moveable stand is sold separately.
A HOLIDAY TRADITION CONTINUES
THESE days, there are so many e-planners that you can download online but at Starbucks, the tradition continues. Now in its 22nd year, the holiday tradition embodies the spirit of Starbucks, blending a passion for coffee and art. Every year, fans await the items in the collection, whether it’s the planner, tumblers, cold cups, or mugs.
It’s noteworthy that these days, those who collect the stickers for the planners, mugs, tumblers and cold cups are Gen Z, who grew up seeing their parents and siblings do it. Technology may have changed many things but this tradition is still well-loved.
On October 29, Starbucks Philippines launched the 2025 Starbucks Traditions Collection, inviting customers to “Sip, Celebrate, and Repeat” with five exclusive pieces, including one planner, and customers can get each one with only 17 stickers.
The 2025 Sable Planner and Pouch has a leather cover in a rich sable hue, paired with a rose gold pen. A matching leather pouch offers convenient storage for the pen and other essentials.
The pouch looks good enough to be used as a pouch. This is my first Starbucks pen that is not black. I collect these pens and it’s so exciting that I finally have one in rose gold. The other items in the five-piece collection are the Starbucks Turquoise and Indigo Tumblers, 16.5 fl oz flasks with a leak-proof design. Meanwhile, the the Turquoise and Indigo Cold are generously sized 24 fl oz cups designed to keep your iced coffees, teas and other refreshing drinks perfectly cool on the go.
From November 2, 2024 to January 2, 2025, earn an e-sticker with each purchase of a Tall, Grande, or Venti handcrafted beverage. You can opt-in with an e-Promo Card through the Starbucks PH App to track your progress, and redeem a reward of your choice after collecting 17 stickers. For online shoppers, Starbucks Rewards members with a linked Lazada Philippines account can also redeem a Starbucks Traditions reward in the Starbucks PH App with every P7,000 single-receipt purchase.
Visit a nearby store or explore the full collection online. Download the Starbucks PH App, opt-in, then sip, celebrate, and repeat. For more information on Starbucks Philippines’ initiatives, visit www.starbucks.ph/stories or the brand’s social media pages. ■
He warned that the reputational damage resulting from a breach can be severe, potentially leading to longlasting effects on customer trust and overall business viability. Recovering from such damage, according to Visaya, will not only be costly but also time-consuming, with some impacts persisting indefinitely.
He said the hacking incidents experienced by the Marine Industry Authority (MARINA), Maxicare and Jollibee Food Corp. showed that no industries are immune to cyber threats.
Visaya said organizations must maintain their vigilance because threat actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and aggressive in their attacks.
“Organizations, regardless of industries, must stay vigilant by proactively detecting potential threats and strengthening their defenses against potential attacks. Adopting a zero-trust approach—where every interaction is verified—can help mitigate these evolving risks, ensuring
that all access points, whether internal or external, are continuously authenticated and secured,” he explained.
He said artificial intelligence (AI) is now being capitalized to fight cyberattacks, with the AI technology now becoming indispensable in developing a proactive cybersecurity roadmap for both government and business.
“AI enables predictive capabilities, real-time monitoring and threat detection, and scalable defenses. On top of these, he said it can be utilized to create automated threat responses whenever there is a data breach.
By integrating AI into their cybersecurity strategies, Visaya said organizations can stay ahead of cybercriminals, mitigate risks before they escalate, and ensure robust protection for their critical infrastructure and data. At the same time, he said this alleviates pressures on cybersecurity analysts, allowing them to work on more strategic issues rather than mundane tasks.
LONDON—Britain’s competition watchdog said on Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until December 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The UK regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral. AP
GLOBE’S NEAR-LOCAL ROAMING PROMO GOROAM EXPANDS TO MORE DESTINATIONS
MAKING travel plans for the upcoming long weekend? Globe’s got some news that will keep you connected on your next trip in a simpler, more convenient way.
Globe has expanded the reach of its country-exclusive offers at never-before-seen rates to popular destinations including Japan, Canada, Vietnam, and Australia.
GoRoam’s expansion builds upon its successful “Roam Like A Local” promos earlier launched in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and the US.
Now, Pinoy travelers can enjoy the convenience of using their Globe SIM in more countries while paying rates that rival local SIMs—a breakthrough in international roaming.
“This is a complete game-changer for Filipino travelers, saving them time, effort, even money,” said Paula RiveraCastillo, Globe’s head of international business.
“We heard the call of our customers to expand GoRoam to their favorite destinations, and we listened. These -ber months, when you travel to Tokyo, Sydney, or Vancouver, you’ll immediately have access to data packages at prices within your reach without changing your Globe SIM. That’s the power of GoRoam.”
The new GoRoam offers include: Japan—10GB for 30 days at P1,600; Vietnam—5GB for 10 days at P800; Australia—10GB for 30 days at P1,000; and Canada—10GB for 30 days at P2,000
Activating GoRoam is a breeze through the GlobeOne app, with the option to subscribe up to a year in advance. Travelers can also easily track their data usage via GlobeOne, ensuring they stay connected.
GoRoam ensures that Globe customers can share their experiences, stay in touch with loved ones, and manage work responsibilities abroad.
More information about Globe Roaming is available at glbe.co/roam.
A8 Saturday, November 2, 2024 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
BusinessMirror
From grit to glory: Gawad Madiskarte 2024 Moms prove you don’t need
PUT THE FUN IN FUNCTIONALITY WITH LOGITECH’S STYLISH POP ICON KEYS
LOGITECH announced the launch of POP Icon Keys, an innovative, eye-catching new keyboard designed to express yourself and boost productivity. POP Icon Keys personalizes the workspace with its bold design and features that marry style with unparalleled functionality.
“At Logitech, we believe you should get the style and design you want at your workspace without compromising on productivity and comfort,” said Art O’Gnimh, general manager in the personal workspace division at Logitech. “POP Icon Keys delivers a brilliant typing experience and smart productivity shortcuts, in a carefully crafted standout design.” POP Icon Keys’s contoured, low-profile keys offer responsive, hushed, and instantly familiar typing. The keyboard’s fresh colors, transparent finishing, and sleek silhouette will enhance and personalize any desk, wherever you get work done.
Featuring four customizable life-hack Action Keys with the free Logi Options+ app to save time and work smarter, seamlessly transition from “work mode” to “break mode” by accessing a suite of productivity tools, opening up your favorite social media, music and video apps, or launching your favorite AI tools including Logi AI Prompt Builder with a single key press. POP Icon Keys also provides all the widely-used onetouch shortcut keys like mute, emoji menu, screenshot, and more, which can be personalized and accessed easily using the free Logi Options+ app to suit individual workflow needs. The keyboard is designed to work with multiple operating systems and devices, for typing across up to three different computers, phones, or tablets at the press of a button. With up to 36 months of battery life, POP Icon Keys provides longlasting reliability and uninterrupted productivity.
The POP Icon Combo pairs POP Icon Keys with POP Mouse, which features a SmartWheel for precise navigation and Silent Touch Technology that removes 90% of click noise. A perfect companion to the keyboard, POP Mouse features two Action Buttons customizable through the Logi Options+ app to effortlessly toggle between work and leisure modes. With a battery that lasts up to 24 months and the ability to connect and switch between up to three devices, work for longer with this modern, compact, and contoured mouse. Experience the future of workplace personalization and efficiency and with the POP Icon Keys keyboard and POP Mouse—where style and design meets innovation to transform your creative and productive space.
The Logi Options+ app is available to download for free at www.logi.com/optionsplus.
N his keynote at Imagine Live 2024, PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, or MVP, urged the industry to “retire the word
Recounting the story of author David Foster Wallace: “There were two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish—probably myself—who greets them with this salutation, ‘Good morning, boys! How is the water?’ The two young fish swim a little further, and eventually, one of them asks the other, ‘What the hell is water?’”
MVP explained, “Nowadays, if you use the word or adjective ‘digital,’ you’re probably 10 years behind the times.” This perspective reflects the evolution of the term madiskarte, which initially referred to exceptional resourcefulness but has since become a defining mindset for Filipino mothers navigating modern life.
Much like digital, which once signaled a futuristic shift but is now integral to daily routines, madiskarte has grown from a quality to a way of life.
Filipino moms embody madiskarte as they balance work, family and business challenges, applying resourcefulness to every decision.
MVP illustrated this shift with PLDT’s continued innovations, such as expanding its 5G network and launching the affordable Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G to make high-speed connectivity accessible to all. Just like the need for “instantaneous, seamless, reliable, and extensive” connectivity, the madiskarte mindset is vital, enabling mothers to tackle the demands of modern life with resilience and adaptability.
EMPOWERING A COMMUNITY OF MADISKARTE MOMS
THE definition of madiskarte has evolved for Filipino moms, especially in the wake of the pandemic, gaining new depth, symbolizing the unique blend of adaptability, creativity and determination that mompreneurs embody.
Philippine Commission on Women chairman Ermelita V. Valdeavilla captured this perfectly during her remarks at Gawad Madiskarte 2024: “Madiskarte is a powerful word,” and wondered out loud why there is not a single word in the English language that could approximate its meaning.
“In English, it is translated as strategic, wise, smart, inventive, ingenious, resourceful, clever, witty, innovative, and proactive. Yes, it takes 10 English words to describe madiskarte.”
Launched at the height of the pandemic, Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) was created as a supportive space for moms who wanted to earn from home while still dedicating time to their families. It
has since become one of the most influential online communities that empowers Filipino mothers to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. With over 190,000 members and more than 24,900 moms trained through webinars, live sessions and online classes, MMPH has become a trusted resource for women across the Philippines looking to start, manage and grow home-based businesses
GAWAD MADISKARTE 2024
AT the Gawad Madiskarte 2024 awarding ceremonies held at Seda Hotel in BGC, PLDT chief operating officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez applauded the mompreneurs, saying, “You work wonders in three different worlds: the world of home, your own personal growth, and the world of business. You’re actually doing three times the work that men are doing.” This dedication is evident in the achievements of the eight remarkable mompreneurs recognized across three main award categories. Jimenez commended the awardees, expressing that “the true winners are the moms,” and shared that their entrepreneurial journeys have inspired other women across the Philippines to take similar paths, predicting that “eventually our whole country will benefit from what the Madiskarte Moms are doing.”
Gawad Madiskarte 2024 received more than 100 applications, shortlisted 17 mompreneurs and their businesses, and awarded 8 mompreneurs in two main categories (Start-up and Scale-up) and three special awards.
This year’s panel of judges was composed of Butch Jimenez; Jonjon San Agustin, executive vice president for marketing, SM Supermalls; Tweetie de Leon, mompreneur, owner of TdLG Designs; Angelica Chongco, owner of Mayumi Organics; Pia Hontiveros, broadcast journalist; and Annette Gozon-Valdes,
launches the iPhone into the AI era with free software update
APPLE is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology’s latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200. Last year’s premium models—the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max—also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple’s iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the US won’t be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to
help the company fine tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple’s often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile and colorful companion whose presence will be denoted
president of GMA Films.
For this year’s Diskarteng Angat category, the winners are Stephanie Morales, who put up a selfportrait studio called Pixellab (Start-up); and Ricca Cruz del Rosario, who started HTP Clothing (Scale-up) simply from the desire to sell her own clothes, and now sells about 30,000 pieces of clothing a month.
For Diskarteng Eco-Friendly, the winners are Melissa Blanca Moscoso for Xavier & Xandrie Startup, which uses discarded katsa or flour sacks and turns them into bags; and Bianca Mateum of Isay Bags (Scale-up), which upcycles waste into bags and storage items.
For Diskarteng May-Puso, Avon Tuazon Obedoza opened Bahay Ugnayan Educational Services (Startup), an after-school tutoring service that frees up moms’ time after work for more personal time with their families; and Alona Bazar Laylo, who put up Jobiba Baby Diapers and Wipes (Scale-up), a low-cost, high-quality brand of diapers. All six women each received P100,000 in cash, Lalamove vouchers worth P10,000, and kitchen appliances from Tough Mama.
In the special awards category, Jenilyn P. Sicabalo won the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for her business MP Nieva Flower Shop, which grows the abaca used for bouquet wraps. She won P50,000, Lalamove vouchers and Tough Mama products.
Meanwhile, MK Bertulfo, founder of FH Moms, won both the Diskarteng Digital and Diskarteng Homebiz awards. Her business helps women in MSMEs participate in the digital economy, providing training and education in conducting business online, setting up e-commerce platforms, and other digital strategies. She won a total of P100,000 for both awards, along with Lalamove vouchers and Tough Mama products.
A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY AND EMPOWERMENT
ACCORDING to PLDT chief sustainability officer
Melissa Vergel de Dios, “For us at PLDT, sustainability is not only caring for the environment, but it’s also about gender empowerment. This is the embodiment of gender empowerment because it allows women to not only dream but also take action and make a difference in society.”
Through these awards, Madiskarte Moms PH and PLDT Home continue to foster a supportive environment where Filipino mothers can excel as entrepreneurs and role models, inspiring other women to follow their dreams.
Gawad Madiskarte is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of Filipino mompreneurs, showing that sustainable practices and social impact go hand in hand. Visit www.madiskartemoms.ph to discover more inspiring stories from
FROM left: Melissa Vergel de Dios, chief sustainability officer, PLDT; Butch Jimenez, chief operating officer, PLDT; Stephanie Lee Morales, Diskarteng Angat (Start-up); Bianca Mateum, Diskarteng Eco-friendly (Scale-up); Ricca Cruz del Rosario, Diskarteng Angat (Scale-up); Avon Tuazon Obedoza, Diskarteng May Puso (Start-up); MK Bertulfo, Diskarteng Digital and Diskarteng Homebiz; Alona Bazar Laylo, Diskarteng May Puso (Scale-up); Jenielyn P. Sicabalo, Entrepreneurial Spirit Award (Special Citation); Melissa Blanca Moscoso, Diskarteng Eco-friendly (Start-up) winners; and Ermelita Valdeavilla, chairman of Philippine Commission on Women.
Dodgers have eyes on back-to-back WS titles
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Dodgers’ first game of the season in South Korea was overshadowed afterward by Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter hinting at his stealing from the Japanese superstar. Their last postgame was a beer and champagne-fueled celebration of the franchise’s eighth World Series title.
In between came a multitude of injuries, especially to the rotation as well as Mookie’s Bettssbroken hand and Freddie Freeman’s sprained ankle, Ohtani’s historic 50/50 feat, the franchise’s 11th National League West title in 12 seasons, and compiling the best record in the majors.
Then came the playoffs, where the Dodgers proved a resilient bunch.
They trailed rival San Diego, 2-1, in the National League (NL) Division Series and rallied to win in five games. They were pushed to six games in the NL Championship Series (NLCS) by the New York Mets before advancing.
They were about to lose the World Series opener until Freeman delivered
the first walk-off grand slam in Series history. They ran through eight pitchers to eke out a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees to close out the Series in five games.
“We just kept going. Even in the postseason, I don’t think anyone had us picked. I don’t think they had us picked to get out of the first series,” manager Dave Roberts said. “For us to go out there and fight and scratch and claw and win 11 games in October, that’s a credit to our guys.”
Investing a billion dollars to acquire Ohtani and fellow Japanese player Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason certainly paid off, even if Ohtani’s playoff performance didn’t match what he did during the regular season when his offense carried the Dodgers.
Ohtani reached career highs in home runs, stolen bases and RBIs and is the favorite to win NL MVP honors. In the playoffs, he went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after partially dislocating his shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series.
We are committed to Tolentino’s leadership–Panlilio and Canlas
By Josef Ramos
ASKETBALL association head Al
BPanlilio sounded more surprised than honored to see his name on the opposing tickets in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections next month.
Panlilio is the current POC first vice president and will seek the same position in the November 29 elections at the East Ocean Seafood Restautant in Parañaque City.
He’s unbeatable for having his name on both incumbent POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s “Working Team” and challenger Chito Loyzaga’s lineup.
He didn’t sound happy though.
“Nobody can stop him [Loyzaga] from running,” Panlilio told BusinessMirror over the phone on Friday, adding Loyzaga tried to convince him to jump ship and shift his loyalty.
Panlilio said he truthfully declined.
“He [Loyzaga] told me that his team won’t put any candidate for their first vice-president and treasurer positions and we appreciated that,” added Panlilio, also referring to surfing association president Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, at present a member of the POC board.
“I am so surprised to see my name in their list because when he called me, he just told me that they would only leave the first vice-president blank and same thing with Canlas’ treasurer position,” Panlilio said. “It is now confusing. We did not tell them to include our names in their ticket.”
“I told them that I am committed only to Philippine sports, to the Filipino athletes, and to the leadership of Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who did a good job, and we are hoping to make it better or sustainable in the upcoming years,” the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president added. Canlas, president of the United Philippine Surfing Association, said that just like Panlilio, he is a “friend to anybody” but stressed he “will stick to his original commitment” to run under Tolentino’s ticket as treasurer because of the “effective leadership through the years.”
“I’m honored and thankful for considering me…but I declined their offer and told them that I will only stick to my original commitment to run under the leadership of Tolentino,” Canlas said.
“I am for the Philippines sports and for the Filipino athletes. Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has
THE 2024-25 season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) looks headed for the history with an action-packed All-Filipino Conference as its centerpiece. This year’s season opener is scheduled for November 9 under a restructured calendar that’s
“What Shohei’s done to our ball club, the Dodger fan base domestically, globally, I just don’t think you can quantify,” Roberts said. “He was playing with one arm in the postseason. So most guys would probably tap out, but he was going to not be denied at playing and posting and being in the lineup.”
The Dodgers made some key pickups at the July trade deadline, including pitchers Jack Flaherty— who was one of three healthy starters in the playoffs—and Michael Kopech as well as utilityman Tommy Edman, whose offense in the NLCS earned him MVP honors.
Ohtani’s former interpreter is on his way to jail on bank and tax fraud charges when he’s sentenced in December. Ohtani is going back to being a two-way sensation next year when he resumes pitching after he spent this season recovering from a second elbow surgery.
The Dodgers have eight players who became free agents when the World Series ended: Walker Buehler, Flaherty, Kiké Hernández, Teoscar Hernández,
proven himself as an effective leader,” he said. “Ever since, I am for Philippine sports and for the athletes.”
Joining Tolentino, Panlilio and Canlas in the “Working Team” are Richard Gomez of modern pentathlon as second vice-president, volleyball’s Donaldo “Don” Caringal as auditor and Alvin Aguilar of wrestling, Alexander “Ali” Sulit of judo, Ferdinand “Ferdie” Agustin of jiu-jitsu, Leonora Escollante of canoe-kayak and Leah Jalandoni Gonzales of fencing as members of the board.
Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV will again chair the POC commission on elections with Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba Rector and President Rev. Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion, O.P., and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo as members. There are 59 voting members of the POC—34 Olympic national sports associations, 22 non-Olympic federations, two from the Athletes Commission and International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Mikaela María Antonia “Mikee” de los Reyes Cojuangco-Jaworski.
announced his retirement after Wednesday night’s victory, while Kiermaier had already said he planned to retire.
The Dodgers hold team options on Austin Barnes and Miguel Rojas for next season. Clayton Kershaw has a player option and has said he plans to be back after a toe injury kept him out of the playoffs.
But for now the celebration continues.
After winning a neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020 and being denied a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Dodgers have pent-up energy to burn.
“I’m sure there’s no asterisk on this one,” Roberts said.
They will commemorate their championship with a downtown parade and Dodger Stadium celebration on Friday, which would have been Fernando Valenzuela’s 64th birthday. The 1981 NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year
winner died last week. “It’s going to be emotional,” said Roberts, who was friends with Valenzuela. “I know he’s smiling right now and very proud of this organization.” AP
PHL paddlers strike gold mine in worlds
THE Philippines struck a gold mine on the second day of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Dragon Boat World Championships Friday by carting away with four gold medals plus a silver and a bronze at the world-class course off the Puerto Princesa City Baywalk. Under an overcast sky but over calm waters in the morning, the hosts achieved their golden breakthrough off the paddle in a wire-to-wire finish in the standard boat mixed 200-meter finals in a time of 47.07 seconds.
They won the race by two meters off the late charge of the Canada (48.69) and the Individual Neutral Athlete squad composed of Russian athletes (49.03), which came in second and third, respectively, in the competition backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Tingog party-list.
Their splashing outing triggered a deluge of triumphs with the women’s masters squad quickly following it up by securing the mint in the 40+
Tan Epson Tour campaigner, is no stranger to Taiwan’s courses having marked her rookie pro bid with a victory in the TLPGA and Royal Open at the Royal KuanHsi Golf Club in 2017 as the first Filipina to win on the lucrative circuit.
Del Rosario is joined
200-meter event in time of 49.41 seconds, edging Czechoslovakia (50.84) and Hungary (52.12).
The men’s masters team topped the standard board 200-meter event (49.01) while the women added a fourth gold (55.22) in the meet organized by the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation and the Puerto Princes City government led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron.
The hosts also scrambled to take the silver medal in the men’s 20-seater standard boat open event (47.59) and a bronze in the women’s 20-seater 200-meter event (55.22) in rounding out their prolific performance in the meet highlighting the centennial jubilee of the ICF.
“We just executed what we did in training with some slight changes, we just breathed deeply and went full throttle,” said team captain OJ Fuentes of the country’s first gold medal in the opening event of the day.
Buoyed
THE season didn’t start well for Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers but ends with a beer and champagne-fueled celebration of the franchise’s eighth World Series title. AP
Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Kevin Kiermaier and Blake Treinen. Hudson
THE Philippine masters team celebrate their victory.
PANLILIO CANLAS
PAULINE DEL ROSARIO leads the Taiwan campaign.
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Rocket fire from Lebanon kills 7 in Israel as US officials try to push for cease-fires
By Melanie Lidman, Julia Frankel & Fadi Tawil The Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israel—Rocket barrages from Lebanon into northern Israel killed four foreign workers and three Israelis on Thursday, Israeli medics said, the deadliest cross-border strikes in Israel since it invaded Lebanon. Israel kept up airstrikes it says targeted Hezbollah militants across Lebanon, where health authorities on Thursday reported 24 people killed.
US diplomats were in the region pushing for cease-fires in both Lebanon and Gaza, hoping to wind down the wars in the Middle East as the Biden administration enters its final months. Pressure has been building ahead of the US election next week.
In northern Gaza, Israeli forces struck one of the last functioning hospitals, destroying much-needed supplies that the World Heath Organization had delivered to the facility, the UN agency said. The strikes set off a fire that affected the dialysis unit, destroyed water tanks, damaged the surgery building and injured four medics trying to extinguish the blaze, said the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment about a strike on the hospital, which it stormed last week after alleging it was harboring Hamas militants. Gaza’s Health Ministry
on Thursday condemned Israeli attacks on the hospital and called on the international community to safeguard medical facilities in Gaza.
Back-to-back deadly rocket attacks hit Israel PROJECTILES from Lebanon crashed into an agricultural area in Metula, Israel’s northernmost town, killing four Thai workers and an Israeli farmer, officials said.
Hours later, the Israeli military reported another volley of some 25 rockets from Lebanon, striking an olive grove in a suburb of the northern Israeli port city of Haifa. That strike killed a 30-yearold man and 60-year-old woman while wounding two others, said Magen David Adom, Israel’s main emergency medical organization. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran, Israel’s regional adversary. Hezbollah did not im -
mediately claim responsibility for Thursday’s rocket fire. Israel’s military said 90 projectiles were fired from Lebanon on Thursday.
Hezbollah has been firing thousands of rockets, drones and missiles into Israel—and drawing fierce Israeli retaliatory strikes— since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip triggered Israel’s devastating war in the Palestinian enclave.
The residents of Metula evacuated in October 2023, and only security officials and agricultural workers remain.
In addition to the four Thais killed, another Thai agricultural worker was injured by the rocket fire, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said in social media posts Friday. Maris urged all parties to return to the path of peace in the name of the civilians harmed by the continuing conflict.
The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, an Israeli organization that advocates for foreign workers,
said authorities had put them in danger by allowing them to work along the border without proper protection.
Agricultural areas near Israel’s border are closed military zones that can only be entered with official permission. For the few remaining residents, the thump of interceptions by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and wailing air raid sirens punctuate daily life.
Nonetheless, local officials largely support continuing a ground operation in southern Lebanon.
“If the Israeli government accedes to an agreement brought by (the Biden administration)... we will not have it because for us this is rehabilitating Hezbollah again on our borders,” said Eitan Davidi, the mayor of the northern town of Margaliot.
Israeli bombs across Lebanon after evacuation warnings ISRAELI strikes killed 24 people in Lebanon on Thursday, among
them 13 people in the country’s eastern Bekaa Valley, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News agency, a day after the Israel’s military warned residents there to evacuate.
The warnings sent thousands of people fleeing and spread panic across the city known for its colossal Roman ruins.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that over the last 24 hours, Israeli bombardments killed 45 people and wounded 110 in various parts of the country.
Jean Fakhry, a local official in the Deir al-Ahmar region in the Bekaa Valley, said Israeli airstrikes pummeling the area turned the main highway “a parking lot” of fleeing cars stuck in traffic.
Around 12,000 displaced people are staying in the area, he said, with most taking refuge in private homes. At one of the shelters in Deir al-Ahmar, families with luggage were still arriving Thursday.
“Our homes were destroyed,” said Zahraa Younis, from the village near Baalbek. “We came with nothing—no clothes or anything else.”
US officials are in the region seeking a cease-fire SENIOR White House aides Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein were in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials about the conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.
The meetings focused on efforts to secure a cease-fire deal in Lebanon and to assess new proposals floated by mediators to free Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, according to a US official familiar with planning for the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized
to comment publicly. The meetings were attended by Netanyahu as well as Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister; David Barnea, the director of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency; and other officials.
But with the US election on Tuesday, hopes for immediate progress appeared remote—particularly in Gaza where Israel has come under criticism for not letting more humanitarian aid into the besieged north.
The death toll from more than a year of war in Gaza passed 43,000 earlier this week, Palestinian health officials reported.
The Awda Hospital in central Gaza said late Thursday it had received 16 bodies of people killed by Israeli bombardment of two houses in Nuseirat refugee camp.
The hospital said more than 30 others, including a medic and two journalists, were wounded.
Over the past year, the broadening Israeli campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah has killed 2,865 people there, wounded over 13,000 and devastated Lebanese towns near the border.
Some 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been displaced since Israel escalated the conflict into a full-blown war last month, when it launched a wave of heavy airstrikes that killed Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and most of his deputies.
A year of Hezbollah rocket attacks have also forced 60,000 Israelis to evacuate from near the border.
Frankel reported from Jerusalem and Tawil from Deir al-Ahmar, Lebanon. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington and Eleanor H. Reich in New York contributed to this report.
North Korea’s claim of ‘world’s strongest’ ICBM met with skepticism from experts
By Hyung-Jin Kim & Kim Tong-Hyung
The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea boasted Friday that the new intercontinental ballistic missile it just testlaunched is “the world’s strongest,” a claim seen as pure propaganda after experts assessed it as being too big to be useful in a war situation.
The ICBM launched Thursday flew higher and for a longer duration than any other weapon North Korea has tested. But foreign experts say the test failed to show North Korea has mastered some of the last remaining technological hurdles to possess functioning ICBMs that can strike the mainland US.
The North’s Korean Central News Agency identified the missile as a Hwasong-19 and called it “the world’s strongest strategic missile” and “the perfected weapon system.” The official media outlet said leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch, describing it as an expression of North Korea’s resolve to respond to external threats to North Korea’s security.
The color and shape of the exhaust flames seen in North Korean media photos of the launch suggest the missile uses preloaded solid fuel, which makes weapons more agile and harder to detect than liquid propellants that in general must be fueled beforehand.
But experts say the photos show the ICBM and its launch vehicle are both oversized, raising a serious question about their wartime mobility and survivability.
“When missiles get bigger, what happens? The vehicles get larger, too. As the transportererector launchers get bigger, their mobility decreases,” Lee Sangmin, an expert at South Korea’s Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.
The Hwasong-19 was estimated to be at least 28 meters long (92 feet) while advanced US and Russian ICBMs are less than 20 meters long (66 feet), said Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Seoul’s Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. He suggested that the missile’s size likely helped South Korean intelligence authorities detect the launch plan in advance.
“In the event of a conflict, such an exposure makes the weapon a target of a preemptive attack by opponents so there would be a big issue of survivability,” Chang said.
Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said North Korea may have developed a larger missile to carry bigger and more destructive warheads or multi-warheads. If that’s the case, Lee said North Korea could have used liquid fuels as they generate higher thrust than solid fuels. He said some advanced liquid propellants can be stored in missiles for a few weeks before liftoffs.
Lee said North Korea may have placed a dummy, empty warhead on the Hwasong-19 to make it fly higher.
In recent years, North Korea has reported steady advancement in its efforts to obtain nucleartipped missiles. Many foreign experts believe North Korea likely has missiles that can deliver nuclear strikes on all of South Korea, but it has yet to possess nuclear missiles that can strike the mainland US.
The hurdles it has yet to overcome, according to experts, include ensuring its warheads survive the heat and stress of atmospheric reentry, improving
the altitude control and guidance systems for the missiles, and being able to use multiple warheads on a single missile to defeat missile defenses.
“Acquiring reentry technology is currently the most important goal in North Korea’s missile development, specifically for ICBMs, but they just keep increasing the ranges instead. This possibly suggests they still lack confidence in their reentry technology,” Lee Sangmin said.
Chang said Friday’s state media dispatch on the launch lacks details on the technological aspects of the Hawsong-19 and focused
on publicity.
Other North Korean claims about its weapons capabilities have been met with wide outside skepticism.
In June, North Korea claimed to have tested a multiwarhead missile in the first known launch of such a weapon, but South Korea said the weapon instead blew up.
In July, when North Korea said it had test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying “a super-large warhead,” South Korea said the claim was an attempt to conceal a botched launch.
North Korea’s missile program is still a major regional security concern, with the country openly threatening to use its nuclear missiles against its rivals. In a joint statement Thursday, the foreign
ministers of South Korea, the US and Japan condemned the ICBM launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and said they’re committed to strengthening their efforts to block North Korea’s illicit revenue generation funding its missile and nuclear programs.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Friday it has imposed unilateral sanctions on 11 North Korean individuals and four organizations for their alleged roles in procuring missile components and generating foreign currency to fund Pyongyang’s weapons program. The sanctions are largely symbolic given that financial transactions between the Koreas have been suspended for years.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
8,000 North Korean troops at Ukraine’s border expected in combat in days–US
By Tara Copp, Matthew Lee & Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press
ASHINGTON—Some
W8,000 North Korean soldiers are now in Russia near Ukraine’s border and are preparing to help the Kremlin fight against Ukrainian troops in the coming days, the Biden administration said Thursday.
The new figure is a dramatic increase from a day earlier, when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would only say some of the troops had moved toward Ukraine’s border in the Kursk region, where Moscow’s forces have struggled to push back a Ukrainian incursion.
That also would mean most of the North Korean troops that the US and its allies say have been sent to Russia are now on the border with Ukraine.
The US has estimated a total of about 10,000 North Korean troops are in Russia. Seoul and its allies assessed that has increased to 11,000, while Ukraine has put the figure higher, at up to 12,000.
Of the 8,000 in Kursk, “we’ve not yet seen these troops deploy into combat against Ukrainian forces but we would expect that to happen in the coming days,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference in Washington with Austin and their South Korean counterparts.
Russia has been training North Korean soldiers in artillery, drones and “basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, indicating
that they fully intend to use these forces in front line operations,” Blinken said.
North Korea’s efforts to tighten its relationship with Russia has raised concerns around the world about how that may expand the war in Ukraine and what Russian military aid will be delivered in exchange.
It’s become a key topic as US and South Korean leaders met this week in Washington, fueling concerns that the presence of those soldiers will further destabilize the Asia-Pacific region and broaden Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul condemned the deployment “in the strongest possible terms” and called for an immediate withdrawal of the troops. North Korea’s belligerent actions not only places the European continent but also the Korean Peninsula under threat and that Seoul agrees “to take necessary measures accordingly,” he said.
Blinken and Austin said the US is talking with South Korea and allies in Europe about next steps and noted that additional military aid for Ukraine would be announced soon. The US has provided more than $59 billion in military assistance to help Ukraine fend off Russia.
Austin reiterated that Moscow has provided the North Korean troops with Russian uniforms and equipment, another indication they are likely to be used on the front lines.
“Make no mistake, if these North Korean troops engage in
combat or combat support operations against Ukraine, they would make themselves legitimate military targets,” Austin said.
However, he said the injection of North Korean troops was unlikely to cause Ukraine to lose ground in Kursk: “This 10,000 won’t come close to replacing the numbers that the Russians have lost” in the fighting to date.
The US estimates that more than 500,000 Russian forces have been killed or wounded in the more than two-year-long conflict.
The US and South Korean leaders called for China to engage, saying Beijing should be deeply concerned by the movements and the possibility it will further destabilize the region.
There are questions about what new military technologies North Korea might get from Russia in exchange for the deployment and whether it might lead other nations to send their own forces to fight in the war.
North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday for the first time in almost a year, demonstrating a potential advancement in its ability to launch long-range nuclear attacks on the American mainland.
Some experts speculated that Russia may have provided technological assistance to North Korea over the launch.
As the US-South Korea ministerial meeting in Washington was underway, the US, South Korea and Japan released a joint statement condemning the missile launch as a “flagrant violation”
of numerous UN Security Council resolutions and criticizing the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, particularly the deployment of the North Korean troops.
“We strongly urge (North Korea) to immediately cease its series of provocative and destabilizing actions that threaten peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond,” they said. In a dramatic moment during a UN Security Council meeting earlier Thursday, the deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, first noted the number of North Korean troops near Ukraine.
“And I have a very respectful question for my Russian colleague: does Russia still maintain that there are no DPRK troops in Russia? That’s my only question and final point,” he said, using the acronym for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea.
Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Anna Evstigneeva, shook her head from side to side indicating she did not want to respond to the comment at a meeting called by Moscow to discuss the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine.
Besides troops, North Korea also has provided munitions to Russia, and earlier this month, the White House released images it said were of North Korea shipping 1,000 containers of military equipment there by rail.
Lederer reported from the United Nations.
US voters speak out: A nation divided, democracy at stake in historic election
By Ali Swenson & Gary Fields The Associated Press
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Few elections
in the nation’s history have provided such a divide as this year’s, with the two major candidates and so many of their supporters saying the outcome will determine the fate of the country and whether it can hold to its democratic moorings.
As they cast their ballots, voters have opinions on the divide as diverse and complex as the nation itself. Perhaps no place captures this range of perspective more clearly than Charlottesville, Virginia.
It was once a meeting place for Founding Fathers who cautioned about the dangers of political demagoguery. It also was the site of the “Unite the Right” rally in 2017, the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency, when hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis felt emboldened enough to unleash racist and antisemitic violence on the community for its decision to remove a Confederate statue. They chanted “Jews will not replace us” as they marched through the streets carrying tiki torches and Confederate flags.
One rallygoer plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a woman and injuring dozens more. President Joe Biden has said the open display of racism and antisemitism prompted him to enter the race for the White House in 2020.
Associated Press journalists spent three days in and around Charlottesville during early October, interviewing voters about the election that is now days away. These voters have experienced one of the most visible recent examples of the vitriol and division that has long been brewing beneath the country’s surface, a reminder of what can happen when hate erupts and extreme ideas are allowed to fester unchecked.
Here is what they had to say about the presidential election and its consequences.
Extremism is not going away AS a racial justice activist in the summer of 2017, Jalane Schmidt tried to sound the alarm early.
The religious studies professor at the University of Virginia said as she was helping Charlottesville residents prepare
for “Unite the Right” and the other racist demonstrations that preceded it, she was too often told to “just have a dialogue and not be so polarizing or dismissive.”
“I was like, how am I supposed to have a dialogue with someone who desires my annihilation?” said Schmidt, who is Black.
Looking back on that summer, Schmidt says she and other activists saw then what others have started to see since—that extremists pose a real danger that is not going away.
Schmidt said Trump’s return to the White House poses a threat to democracy, one the Founding Fathers warned about.
“I think we have things to learn from some of the warnings that have been given to us about demagogues,” she said. “It is not an overstatement to say that democracy is on the line with this election.”
Political differences should not create enemies
ROB POCHEK , the senior pastor, gathered a small group of men in a meeting room at First Baptist Church on Park Street, a Charlottesville institution approaching its 200th anniversary.
Universally, they denounced the “Unite the Right” rally as hateful and against their values. Pochek said the marchers’ antisemitic comments came “straight from the pits of hell.” Christians worship Jesus, who was a Jew, he said.
While the group had nuanced views about Trump, they all agreed they cannot support Vice President Kamala Harris because of her stance on abortion. Pochek said Trump’s lies, specifically about the 2020 election, and other rhetoric make it a tough decision.
“I think the fact that we have former President Trump and Vice President Harris as the two candidates for president of the United States is in itself a judgment on America, that this is the best we have out of nearly 400 million Americans,” he said. He also tries to build bridges, emphasizing to his congregants that people with different points of view should not be seen as their enemies.
Referring to the symbols of both major parties, Pochek tells them their allegiance is not to a donkey or an elephant: “We worship the Lamb,” he said.
‘The blinders are off’
SUSAN BRO lives in a single-wide trailer in Ruckersville, about a half-hour’s drive outside Charlottesville, a town so small it sometimes doesn’t appear on maps.
The car that struck the “Unite the Right” counter-protesters killed her daughter, 32-year-old Heather Heyer. Bro said that summer awakened her and other white residents to the hatred people of color had long known.
“I think the blinders are off,” she said.
“This existed. We just pretended it didn’t.”
She said she’s terrified of what will happen to the country if Trump wins. She’s concerned about his lies, his promises of retribution and the Republican Party’s failure to stand up to him. She’s not sure whether democracy can survive.
But she also realized that events like what happened in Charlottesville seven years ago can delude people into thinking that hate is exclusive to extremists.
“We all have to watch ourselves with these virulent rhetoric paths that we go down, because once you start on that, it’s really easy to just keep mouthing these phrases, holding on to these ideas,” Bro said. “We have more in common than we think we do.”
‘Trump was right’ about the marchers
AT an early voting office in Charlottesville, Dan and Ruth Suggs said they had cast their ballots for Trump. The couple, married for 53 years, did not see Trump or Harris as an existential threat to the nation’s future.
“It’s not the end of the world. No matter who wins, it is still pretty much going to be the same thing,” said Dan Suggs. “The biggest difference is going to be the economy.”
They both disagreed with how the city handled the removal of the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a downtown park, a decision that sparked the 2017 rally. They said the city should have held a referendum on the issue and that it mismanaged the protest.
“I believe in free speech. I don’t think anybody has the right to try to shut it down, and that’s basically what they were trying to do to the alt-right,” Dan Suggs said. Ruth Suggs said not everyone present was there to cause trouble.
“There were people who just wanted to hear what they had to say,” she said. “Trump was right when he said there were good people on both sides.”
Students from immigrant families see a personal threat, but differently
NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Kushaan Soodan’s parents are Indian immigrants. Eighteenyear-old Arturo Romero is from Mexico and legally immigrated to California in high school with his parents and younger sisters.
The two are now college students and acquaintances at the University of Virginia. But they see the election completely differently, in part because of their experiences hailing from immigrant families. As Soodan registered UVA students to vote on a recent Friday, he said the election is crucial to preserving democracy and making a statement that hate should not have a home in America.
“That sort of hatred—we’ve already seen what that can cause,” said Soodan, standing near the campus walkway used seven years ago by the “Unite the Right” marchers. “And I think that this election is one of the ways we can do that to where we can say, no, we don’t want this, we don’t like this.”
Romero said he feared a Harris victory would push the country to the point of no return. He defended Trump and said his words were often misunderstood, including when he suggested that migrants who are in the US and have committed murder did so because “it’s in their genes.” Romero said Trump was not speaking about all immigrants. He said he had seen how Mexico changed for the worse when more migrants began traveling through to get to the US. He said crime increased, and he doesn’t want the same thing to happen to America.
Romero praised Trump’s overall impact on the economy, border and the nation’s international stability, and he felt Biden’s policies had fallen short: “If we get four more years, then this is not going to be reversible.”
The Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
