ON the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international: Haiyan), a Harvard University survey revealed that Filipinos are more disaster-aware than ever, showing a 42-percent increase in their self-reported readiness over the past seven years.
The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) study measured disaster preparedness across five criteria, such as planning, training, material investment, information, and social support. It showed that Filipinos scored an average of 19.2 out of 50, a notable jump from the 13.5 score in 2017.
However, this calls for a considerable amount of work to be done, especially in a country that has consistently ranked as the most disaster-prone in the world for three consecutive years.
Based on the data, Filipinos’ overall disaster preparedness remains low, with the highest scores recorded in information (4.9 out of 10) and the lowest in social support (2.3 out of 10).
For specific social support activities, only 23 percent of Filipinos belong to a group or association, and just 16 percent are familiar with their local disaster risk officers. Social support has also dropped from 2.7/10 in 2017 to 2.3/10 in 2024.
While 87 percent of Filipinos have taken steps to protect important documents, many also monitor disaster warnings (70 percent) and know rainfall systems (60 percent), indicating frequent exposure to storms and floods.
Although 58 percent discuss emergency plans at home, fewer have prepared disaster plans (20 percent), Go bags (27 percent), medications (32 percent), or firstaid kits (33 percent). In terms of other factors, the survey explained that preparedness is closely tied to education and
wealth, but not to age or gender. Filipinos with only primary education showed lower preparation (15.3/50) compared to those with higher education (24.1). Likewise, the low-income Filipinos reported feeling less prepared (16.1) than the financially well-off (22.8).
Regional disparities REGIONS with the highest preparedness include the Cordillera Administrative Region (24.0), Central Visayas (21.5), and Western Visayas (21.4), while Davao Region (17.3), Negros Island (15.8), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM (15.1) reported the lowest scores. Surprisingly, the National Capital Region (NCR) ranked 11th in disaster preparedness with a score of 19.1, just below the national average of 19.2. Yet, it has shown one of the smallest improvements, A
with only a 22-percent increase (3.4 points) from 2017’s score of 15.7.
“NCR is the heart of the Philippine economy and home for a significant part of the country’s population, yet it is routinely hit by natural hazards; thus, increasing its disaster preparedness is crucial,” said Vincenzo Bollettino, HHI Resilient Communities program director.
BARMM, despite having the lowest preparedness score, saw the greatest improvement, increasing by 90 percent (from 8.0 in 2017 to 15.1 in 2024).
While the region has historically faced fewer natural hazards, climate change has led to more frequent flooding and droughts. Further, its low exposure to disasters, ongoing conflict, and focus on
peacebuilding and poverty reduction have hindered its disaster preparedness.
Other regions, such as Caraga (18.0) and Davao (17.3), also showed minimal progress, with an 11-percent increase (1.7 points).
Investing in preparedness
BOLLETTINO noted that Filipinos are only engaging in 38.4 percent of necessary disaster preparedness activities.
“For a country as vulnerable to disasters as the Philippines, this is not enough, so we must accelerate our efforts to ensure Filipinos are investing, planning, training, and building closer ties to their communities,” he said.
To enhance disaster preparedness, HHI research director Patrick Vinck stressed the importance of
investing in local leadership and technology, particularly to improve early warning systems and community engagement.
“This should be accompanied by investments in resilient infrastructures, local capacities, and anticipatory actions,” Vinck added.
The Philippines already has strong disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) frameworks, according to a University of the Philippines study in 2023.
These include the 2010 DRRM Law, which established national and local councils, and the 1991 Local Government Code, which devolves DRRM responsibilities to local governments.
There is also the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), created to improve resilience in poor communities, which represents a major
advancement in disaster management. However, despite its enactment in 2024, only two local governments have accessed the funds as of 2017.
The UP study also highlighted the role of involvement of international agencies during the typhoon, particularly in relief and reconstruction efforts. However, tensions arose when some foreign organizations bypassed government and local consultations, resulting in duplicated efforts.
Following Yolanda, the influx of foreign aid and expertise became even more significant, the study added.
The HHI survey, conducted with 4,608 Filipinos across regions, gathered data using a standardized questionnaire administered through in-person interviews.
Trump’s election threatens to derail global climate diplomacy ahead of COP29 Summit
By Jennifer A. Dlouhy Bloomberg
THE election of Donald Trump—and his vow to once again undertake a US retreat from international climate diplomacy—poses a decisive threat to the fight against global warming, as the window for meaningful action closes.
Trump’s win comes just days before representatives from nearly 200 nations gather in Azerbaijan for COP29, the annual United Nations climate summit. That twoweek meeting will start Monday in the shadow of a Republican president-elect who has promised to lead another withdrawal from the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement.
A fresh exodus by the world’s largest economy and second-biggest emitter, reprising a move made during Trump’s first term, could have longer-lasting repercussions this time. Trump is now in position to undermine the already-eroding faith in the climate cooperation that has shaped the past decade. His return promises to destabilize the delicate diplomacy that has galvanized worldwide efforts to slash
planet-warming pollution and deploy zero-emission power. Without American engagement, efforts to cut emissions could stall in the decade ahead that’s seen as crucial for keeping Earth’s rising temperatures in check.
Trump’s victory is “an alarming escalation of climate risk for the world’s most vulnerable communities,” said Harjeet Singh, a climate activist for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. “By stepping back from climate commitments, Trump’s actions threaten to unravel trust in a global system already strained by the indifference and inaction of wealthy nations.”
Diplomats are already wrestling with the consequences. Although Trump won’t be sworn in
for two months, his election turns the US delegation to COP29 into lame ducks with diminished credibility and less leverage. It will severely complicate negotiations over how much public finance rich countries can deliver to developing nations on the front lines of climate change, a key aim of discussions at this year’s summit. It’s also likely to constrain countries’ ambitions in setting new carboncutting pledges due next February.
Beyond the fallout at COP29, there could be far more sweeping consequences. Another US retreat from climate cooperation has the potential to obliterate any lingering hope of keeping the world’s temperature rise below 1.5°C, a critical goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement.
“We need dramatically raised global ambition to have any chance of staying below 2—much less 1.5—degrees,” said Alden Meyer, a senior adviser with the climate change think tank E3G. The US reversal has “a real world impact,” he said.
The US has long been viewed as both an unreliable and necessary partner in annual climate talks. The country failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol that underpins the negotiations more than two decades ago, and it has partially reneged on its past pledge to steer billions of dollars to a UN climate fund.
Back in 2017, this lack of dependability culminated in thenPresident Trump’s announcement that he was pulling out of the Paris Agreement. Even though other countries didn’t follow the US withdrawal and President Joe Biden was able to rejoin the agreement in 2021, the exit still sidelined a country that’s been essential to driving momentum on climate action. The US is the largest shareholder of the World Bank, a key institution for financing the energy transition, and American negotiations with China have helped forge bilateral consensus, spur action in Beijing and pave the way for watershed global commitments, including a 2023 agreement to transition away from fossil fuels.
The US also has wielded its diplomatic might—and leveraged its existing relationships with other nations—to secure bigger international climate agreements and deeper emission-cutting pledges. It’s “a pretty powerful diplomacy
machine,” said Jake Schmidt, senior strategic director of international climate at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Having the US not driving that diplomacy will definitely hurt the push to get more finance and more action.”
Other countries will be pressured to step in and fill the void, Schmidt said, but it’s not clear that any can summon the same diplomatic heft. These effects will be on full display at the COP29 summit next week, where US negotiators will be representatives of the outgoing Biden administration. Even before Trump’s win, the talks in Azerbaijan appeared fraught with rifts over who should be contributing to the pools of climate finance needed to help developing nations. There’s also simmering distrust over rich nation’s previous failures to deliver on multi-billion-dollar financial commitments.
European countries have stepped in to offset lackluster contributions from the US in the past, and many diplomats were already discounting the prospect of additional American commitments at COP29 even before the election. But the Trump win further shrinks the likely US payouts, according to COP veterans, and that could reduce the amount other nations may be willing to commit.
Climate finance negotiations in Azerbaijan “will be the earliest test of the resilience of the climate regime,” said Li Shuo, director of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Trump’s ascension could shift the balance of power to other countries and blocs, strengthening the role for the European Union in landing a deal. It could also intensify pressure on the EU to reach an agreement with China, which is being pressured to join the group of wealthy nations contributing to annual climate finance targets.
“If you are the EU” faced with the Trump victory, “you understand we have one less traditional donor,” Li said. “You could be more interested in getting China” into the fold.
Still, the EU itself is entering this year’s negotiations on the backfoot, with several of its top leaders skipping the conference to deal with political issues at home.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has canceled his trip to Baku after calling a snap election, according to a person familiar with his plans, while European Commission Presi-
dent Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron will also be absent.
Some countries are expected to unite in a joint statement committing to climate action in the wake of the US election, mirroring their response when Trump’s 2016 win unsettled UN talks in Morocco. Environmentalists, government leaders and former negotiators have spent months plotting ways to Trump-proof global cooperation. That kind of coordination didn’t happen last time, when Trump’s first win caught so many global leaders by surprise. These efforts now include work by American cities and states to step up their own climate action and collaborate with foreign partners. State-level leaders are set to meet with Chinese officials in Azerbaijan. A joint statement on Wednesday from America Is All In coalition, the US Climate Alliance and Climate Mayors promised that local governments, tribal nations and businesses in the US “will not waver in our commitment to confronting the climate crisis, protecting our progress and relentlessly pressing forward.”
Actions taken in the private sector and at lower levels of government can help fill some of the US emission-cutting gap, but it’s no substitute for a robust federal government push. Under the Paris Agreement, the US had pledged to slash its greenhouse gas emissions at least 50% by 2030 from 2005 levels. Even with existing federal policies—including regulations Trump has already vowed to terminate once in the White House—the US still needed to do more to fulfill its 2030 commitment, according to projections from the research firm Rhodium Group. Biden administration officials have been developing a new Paris Agreement pledge for cutting emissions—known as a nationally determined contribution—before a deadline for delivery in early next February. Advocates and academics have encouraged the US to embrace at least a 65% reduction by 2035. The US may still unveil its commitment this year, but the pledge would be based on some planned and existing policies that would not survive Trump. (A White House spokesman did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.)
[FILE] On the first day of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, climate and debt justice activists welcomed world leaders by transforming the iconic Washington Monument into a wind turbine next to the words “End Fossil Finance” and “Drop the Debt” on April 15, 2024, in Washington. ERIC KAYNE/AP IMAGES FOR GLASGOW ACTIONS TEAM
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Trafigura’s ‘bitterly disappointing’ $1.1 billion loss in Mongolia raises
By Jack Farchy, Alfred Cang, Archie Hunter, Terrence Edwards & Priscila Azevedo Rocha
Group is a giant of commod -
RAFIGURA
Tity trading. On any given day, it handles enough oil to supply the entire needs of France three times over. Its global reach stretches from US crude oil export infrastructure to fuel stations in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Yet in a distant corner of its empire, far from the attention of top executives in Geneva and Singapore, a crisis has been brewing for some time.
This week, the company admitted it faces a loss in Mongolia of up to $1.1 billion, linked in part to suspected fraud by its own employees. Trafigura alleges that staff manipulated payments while concealing a mountain of overdue debts, allowing the exposure to run out of control for years without raising any red flags.
For people inside and outside Trafigura, the revelation was a bombshell. Most shocking was the scale of the likely loss relative to the size of Mongolia’s oil market. There are over 100 countries that use more oil than Mongolia, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration, among them Luxembourg and Nepal. Its consumption of about 35,000 barrels a day is worth roughly $1 billion a year. For Trafigura, Mongolia made up less than 0.3 percent of all the oil it traded.
This account is based on interviews with eight people with direct knowledge of Trafigura and its activities in Mongolia,
who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the subject. This week, Trafigura Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Weir said the company was “bitterly disappointed” by the situation and was confident it was isolated to the Mongolia business, and the company’s investigation is still ongoing.
This week’s announcement, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg, represents a painful sequel to last year’s revelation that Trafigura had fallen victim to a massive alleged nickel fraud.
The debacle is shining another harsh light on the company’s internal controls, and raises questions about why it took almost a year to fully disclose the situation. For outsiders, it reinforces commodity trading’s fast-and-loose reputation, coming months after some of the biggest players—including Trafigura itself—pleaded guilty to corruption charges in the US.
Speaking privately, nine bankers, including at some of the company’s key lenders, said they were astounded by the size of the potential loss, and want to know how Trafigura will prevent it happening again. Still, the loss is unlikely to affect the company’s ability to borrow money, several of them said.
“The key question, as always, is how quickly and effectively one learns from mistakes and implements corrective measures,” said Jean-Francois Lambert, a consultant and former commodity banker. “Not merely by reshuffling or dismissing staff and launching a lengthy recovery process, but by strengthening the company’s governance, internal processes, and controls.”
Profitable niche FOR years, Trafigura had enjoyed a profitable
niche in Mongolia, which relies entirely on imports for its gasoline and diesel — largely by rail from Russia, as well as sometimes from China.
The company supplied about a third of Mongolia’s oil products, with a particularly large position in diesel. Rosneft PJSC and Gunvor Group were its main competitors. The operation turned over a few hundred million dollars every year, with profits typically in the tens of millions, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
It was a small but sweet business for the world of commodity trading, where razor-thin margins are often 1 percent or less.
In Ulaanbaatar, Trafigura’s employees worked from the Landmark, a glass-clad building at the edge of the central business district that overlooks a new park built by mining giant Rio Tinto Group. Next door sits the Soviet-era Bayangol Hotel.
Trafigura’s main oil trader in Mongolia
was Jononbayar Erdenesuren, who had been at the company since 2012. Jononbayar was known in Ulaanbaatar’s close-knit business world for his hard-charging approach to business and for the parties he threw for friends and contacts.
Being landlocked makes the Mongolian market vulnerable to disruptions, and in late 2023 the country was gripped by a fuel shortage. Citizens rushed to queue for petrol and diesel, and the government started to scrutinize the state of oil inventories in the country.
Some people familiar with the matter suggested that the crisis helped lead to the discovery of Trafigura’s financial hole in the country.
But the trading house was also going through its own period of scrutiny after the nickel fraud. And as the company looked more closely at its largest credit exposures, one tiny market stood out.
questions about internal controls
Fuel on credit
SELLING oil in Mongolia is complicated.
International companies like Trafigura don’t have import licenses and so can’t supply the local market directly, instead relying on local distributors. For Trafigura, the main counterpart was a company called Lex Oil LLC.
The Mongolian company would take Trafigura’s oil products and sell them on to fuel retailers. Crucially, Trafigura supplied the oil on credit, with an agreement that Lex Oil would pay in the future after making deductions for customs and freight duties.
Further complicating the picture: the wholesaler itself also provided credit to its own customers, while hedging transactions added another layer of complexity. The result was an ever-changing exposure to Lex Oil and its network of buyers in Mongolia.
What Trafigura’s accountants in Singapore and Geneva had not properly understood was that those exposures had ballooned in size to many hundreds of millions of dollars even as the bills hadn’t been paid when they were due, a person familiar with the matter said.
A person who answered the phone at Lex Oil’s office said that no one was available to answer Bloomberg’s questions, and the company didn’t respond to an e-mailed request for comment.
The issue was finally identified late last year. Trafigura says that it found “deliberate concealment of overdue receivables” by its staff, but the alleged misconduct wasn’t limited to hiding the debt. The company also said its employees manipulated data and documents to misstate the calculations for charges like customs and freight. It believes this had been going on for approximately five years.
Trafigura didn’t name any employees in its statement, saying that it was taking “appropriate disciplinary action.” Jononbayar is among employees who have been suspended, according to people familiar with the matter. A representative for Jononbayar declined to comment, saying he is still an employee of Trafigura and is bound by a confidentiality agreement.
Eight months
AS the size of the problem became apparent, Trafigura’s board brought in forensic accountants. The company’s senior management got involved and Jose Larocca, one of the top executives, flew to Mongolia in February to meet with Lex Oil.
Bloomberg reported the same month that Trafigura had an issue in its Mongolian oil business and faced hundreds of millions of dollars in potential losses. The company said at the time it had recently agreed debt repayment schedules with oil products customers in Mongolia and that it had “a good track record of successfully recovering debts from counterparts in emerging markets.” Even after the report, more than eight months would pass before Trafigura disclosed the full extent of the problem.
The response in Mongolia contrasts with its actions over the nickel fraud, when Trafigura moved to take legal action against the alleged fraudster, Prateek Gupta. It won a freezing order, but nearly two years later has yet to recover any funds. (Gupta has disputed Trafigura’s version of events, arguing that the trading house was complicit in his actions.) Meanwhile, the court case has shone a harsh
JEREMY WEIR STEFAN WERMUTH/BLOOMBERG
A close examination of Trump’s stunning comeback from diminished ex-president to a victor once again
By Jill Colvin The Associated Press
EST PALM BEACH, Fla.—
WAs he bid farewell to Washington in January 2021, deeply unpopular and diminished, Donald Trump was already hinting at a comeback.
“Goodbye. We love you. We will be back in some form,” Trump told supporters at Joint Base Andrews, where he’d arranged a 21-gun salute as part of a military send-off before boarding Air Force One. “We will see you soon.”
Four years later, he’s fulfilled his prophecy.
With his commanding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump achieved a comeback that seemed unimaginable after the 2020 election ended with his supporters violently storming the Capitol after he refused to accept his defeat.
In the years that followed, Trump was widely blamed for Republican losses, indicted four times, convicted on 34 felony counts, ruled to have inflated his assets in a civil fraud trial and found liable for sexual abuse. He still faces fines that top more than half a billion dollars and the prospect of jail time.
But Trump managed to turn his legal woes into fuel that channeled voters’ anger. He seized on widespread discontent over the direction of a country battered by years of high inflation. And he spoke to a new generation—using podcasts and social media—to tell those who felt forgotten that he shared their disdain for the status quo.
And he did so while surviving two attempted assassinations and a late-stage candidate replacement by Democrats.
“This was a campaign of October surprises,” Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita said hours after clinching victory. “When you think about it, whether it was indictments, convictions, assassination attempts, the switching out of the candidate—I mean it was a campaign of firsts on so many different levels.”
‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’
TRUMP had entered the general election after sweeping the GOP primaries and routing a crowded field of candidates. The indictments against him dominated news coverage and forced even his rivals to rally around him as he cast himself as the victim of a politically motivated effort to hobble his candidacy.
A late June debate against President Joe Biden—which the Biden campaign had pushed for—ended disastrously for the president, who struggled to put words together and repeatedly lost his train of thought.
When Trump arrived at the Republican National Convention to formally accept his party’s nomination for the second time weeks later, he seemed unstoppable. Just two days earlier, a gunman had opened fire at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, unleashing a hail of bullets that grazed his ear and left one supporter dead.
After the gunman had been killed, Trump stood, surrounded by Secret Service agents, his face streaked by blood, and raised his fist in the air—
shouting “Fight! Fight! Fight!”—as the crow erupted into cheers. The moment became a rallying cry for his campaign.
“If you want to make somebody iconic, try to throw them in jail. Try to bankrupt them.... If you want to make somebody iconic, try to kill him,” said Roger Stone, a longtime Republican operative who has known Trump for 45 years and was pardoned by the former president. “All of those things failed. They just made him bigger and more powerful as a political force. Every one of those things turbocharged his candidacy.”
A sudden reversal
TRUMP had appeared to be on a glide path to victory. But just days later, Democrats, fearing a blowout loss and panicking over Biden’s age and ability to do the job for another four years, successfully persuaded the president to step aside and end his bid, making way for Harris’ history-shattering candidacy.
Trump campaign aides insisted they were prepared. Videos for the convention had been cut with two different versions: One featuring Biden, the other Harris, and versions attacking both were played on the big screens in Milwaukee.
But the change sent Trump into a tailspin. He had spent millions, he complained, beating Biden, and now had to “start all over” again—this time facing a candidate who was not only nearly two decades younger, embodying the generational change voters had said they wanted, but also a woman who would have become the country’s first female president.
In one particularly hostile appearance, Trump questioned the racial identity of the first woman of color to serve as vice president and to lead a major-party ticket before the National Association of Black Journalists.
“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black,” Trump said of the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, who had attended a historically Black college and served as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
On his Truth Social site, he amplified a post that suggested Harris had used sexual favors to advance her career.
Harris fails to make her case for change
TRUMP’S campaign aides quickly pivoted to taking Harris down. They belittled her as unserious, with ads focused on her laugh. They labeled her “dangerously liberal,” highlighting the progressive policies she had embraced when she first ran for president in 2020. They argued her “joyful warrior” messaging was fundamentally at odds with the sour mood of the electorate, and responded gleefully to Harris telling voters “We are not going back” when many voters seemed to want just that.
Though Trump had left office with a dismal approval rating, that number had ticked up considerably in the years that followed, amid concerns over high prices and the influx of migrants who entered the country illegally after Biden relaxed restrictions.
Harris’ momentum was just a sugar
high, they said. Tony Fabrizio, the campaign pollster, called it “a kind of out-of-body experience where we have suspended reality.” Soon, they predicted, what they dubbed the “Harris honeymoon” would subside.
Trump’s campaign insisted they did not fundamentally change their strategy with Harris as their rival. Instead, they tried to cast her as the incumbent, tying her to every one of the Biden administration’s most unpopular policies. Trump, the 78-year-old former president, would be the candidate of change—and one who had been tested.
Harris played right into their hands. Asked during an October appearance on “The View” if there was anything she would have done differently than Biden over the last four years, she responded that there was “not a thing that comes to mind.”
Trump’s campaign rejoiced when they heard the clip, which they quickly cut into ads.
Harris, they believed, failed to articulate a forward-looking agenda that represented a break from the unpopular incumbent. And she struggled to distance herself from some of the farleft positions she had taken during the 2020 Democratic primary—sometimes denying positions she was on record as having taken, or failing to offer a clear explanation for her change of heart.
She spent much of the final stretch of the campaign reverting to Biden’s strategy of casting Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy.
But the country made clear it was “ready to move in a different direction,” said longtime Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski. “They want someone who’s going to change. They don’t have to think back 20 or 30 years. They can think back to four and five years ago. And they want that back in the White House.”
A new Republican coalition AFTER his 2020 loss, Trump’s campaign worked to grow his appeal beyond the white working-class base that had delivered his first victory. The campaign would court young people and Black and Latino men, including many who rarely voted but felt like they weren’t getting ahead. They seized on divisions in the Democratic Party, courting both Jewish voters and Muslims.
In a scene that would have seemed unthinkable eight years ago, Trump— the man who called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the country and later perused targeted travel bans—appeared onstage at his
last rally of the campaign with Amer Ghalib, the Democratic, Arab American mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan. Days earlier, Trump had gone to the majority Arab American city of Dearborn, Michigan, for a campaign stop.
“They saw him as their last hope to end these wars in the Middle East and bring back peace. And this was made very clear when he came to Dearborn,” said Massad Boulos, the father of Trump’s son-in-law, who led Trump’s outreach with Arab Americans. He noted Harris “didn’t even come close to Dearborn.”
Trump received another boost when the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse either candidate, citing a lack of consensus among its 1.3 million members.
While much of the campaign’s messaging centered on the economy and immigration, Trump also tried to court voters with giveaways, promising to end taxes on tips, on overtime pay and on Social Security benefits.
And his aides seized on the culture wars surrounding transgender rights, pouring money into ads aimed at young men—especially young Hispanic men—attacking Harris for supporting “taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners,” including one spot featuring popular radio host Charlamagne tha God that aired predominantly during football games.
“Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you,” the narrator said.
Trump’s campaign succeeded in its mission, picking up a small but significant share of Black and Hispanic voters, and forging a new working-class coalition crossing racial lines.
“They came from all quarters: union, non-union, African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Arab American, Muslim American,” Trump in his victory speech. “We had everybody and it was beautiful. It was a historic realignment, uniting citizens of all backgrounds around a common core of common sense.”
Podcast bros and Mickey D’s THE campaign decided early that it would focus much of its efforts on lowpropensity voters—people who rarely turn out to the polls and are more likely to get their news from non-traditional sources.
To reach them, Trump began a podcast blitz, appearing with hosts who are popular with young men, including Adin Ross, Theo Von and Joe Rogan. He attended football games and UFC fights, where audiences erupted
into cheers at arrivals broadcast live on sports channels.
The campaign also worked to create viral moments. Trump paid a visit to McDonald’s, where he donned an apron, manned the fry station and served supporters through the drive-through window. Days later he delivered a news conference from the passenger seat of a garbage truck, while wearing a yellow safety vest.
Clips of those appearances racked up hundreds of millions of views on platforms like TikTok, which Trump embraced, despite having tried to previously ban the app at the White House.
The appearances helped to highlight an aspect of Trump’s appeal that is often lost on those who aren’t supporters.
Jaden Wurn, 20, a student at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania who was casting his ballot for Trump, said he was drawn to the former president in part because of his sense of humor.
“Trump is able to just chat,” he said. “It can be policy. It can be culture. It could be golf. It could be whatever it is, and he’s just able to sit down and have a nice, good conversation. Be relatable. Crack some jokes. He’s a funny guy. It’s refreshing.”
A new team and a ground game gamble UNLIKE past campaigns marked by backstabbing and turnover, Trump’s operation was widely praised for being his most competent and disciplined, with credit given to Florida operative Susie Wiles, who will now serve as his White House chief of staff.
Haunted by lessons from 2020, aides were careful to save money for the race’s final stretch even as they were dramatically outraised by Democrats and shelled out millions on legal expenses.
And they took risks, including outsourcing a large portion of their paid get-out-the-vote operation to outside groups, taking advantage of an FEC ruling that allowed unprecedented coordination with a PAC formed by billionaire Elon Musk, his newest benefactor, and Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point group.
Ten days of chaos
AS the race headed into the race’s final stretch, Trump’s team continued to project confidence, even as public polling showing a dead heat. They were on offensive, scheduling rallies in Democratic states like Virginia and New Mexico, as well as what was intended to be the marquee event of the campaign’s end: a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
But the event—which Trump had talked of for years—was derailed long before he even took the stage as a series of pre-show speakers delivered vile, crude and racist insults, including a comedian who called Puerto Rico “a floating pile of garbage.”
Trump was livid, angry that the event had been overshadowed by vetting failures and he was being attacked for something he hadn’t said.
While aides insisted they saw no impact on their polling—their internal data had him leading through the final three weeks of the race, albeit with a razor-thin margin—even Trump’s most diehard supporters expressed concerns
that the fallout was resonating with undecided friends and family members.
“A couple of them were making the comment that he was against Puerto Rico or he’s racist and I’ve been trying to educate them,” said Donna Sheets, 51, a caregiver who lives in Christiansburg, Virginia, describing friends who had yet to make up their minds in the race’s final stretch.
But yet again Trump caught a break. Biden, in a call organized by a Hispanic advocacy group, responded to the insults by calling Trump’s supporters “garbage.”
Trump quickly seized on the gaffe, coming up with the idea of hiring a garbage truck to ride in. Aides quickly scrambled to find a truck and print a “Trump” campaign decal to tape to its side. They also presented him with an orange worker’s vest—which he decided he liked so much that he continued to wear it onstage at a subsequent rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Supporters began showing up at his rallies wearing their own vests and garbage bags. Still, Trump continued what felt, at times, like self-sabotage. He doubled down on his controversial pledge to “protect women,” saying he would do so whether they “like it or not.” He railed against former Rep. Liz Cheney, saying she would be less inclined to send Americans into war if she experienced what it felt like to be standing with nine rifles “trained at her face.”
And on the Sunday before the election, at a rally in Pennsylvania, an exhausted Trump, fully unleashed, abandoned his stump speech altogether to deliver a profane and conspiracy-laden diatribe in which he said he “shouldn’t have left” the White House after his 2020 loss and wouldn’t mind much if reporters were shot.
The performance was so unhinged that Wiles was spotted coming out to stare at Trump as he spoke.
While aides were alarmed, they urged him to stick with the plan. Trump, onstage the next day, seemed to acknowledge their efforts as he repeated a familiar complaint about how he’s not allowed to call women “beautiful” anymore, and then asked that it be struck from the record—saying, “So I’m allowed to do that, aren’t I, Susan Wiles?”
Victory
AS his top aides huddled upstairs in his office at Mar-a-Lago, Trump spent much of election night holding court with friends and club members as well as Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—leaders of a new Make America Great Again majority that bears little resemblance to the Republican Party of old. While aides described him as confident, Trump watched the TVs that had been set up in the ballroom intensely as he mingled. This was more than an election, friends noted. He was fighting for his freedom. He will be able to end the federal investigations he faces as soon as he takes office.
After Fox News had called the race, Trump emerged, flanked by campaign staff and family.
“This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country,” he said.
light on Trafigura’s own processes and exposed internal communications that the company might have preferred to remain private. Its head of nickel and cobalt trading left the company, and several other senior metals executives departed over the coming months, though Trafigura has said repeatedly it did not believe that anyone at the company was complicit in the nickel fraud.
One reason the company didn’t take immediate legal action with the Mongolian oil loss was that it had not yet got a clear account
of the facts of the case, a person familiar with the matter said. Its investigation is still ongoing, the company says. In June, when Trafigura published unaudited results for the half-year ended March, the word “Mongolia” wasn’t even mentioned. The company did report a sharp increase in overdue receivables, but incoming Chief Financial Officer Stephan Jansma explained that higher commodity prices and interest rates meant that “importing countries from time to time will have issues in their payment profile.” The disclosures “reflected management’s
estimate of potential losses at that time across a number of counterparties and countries,” a Trafigura spokesperson said on Thursday. “With an external investigation underway, we were not in a position to provide any commentary on Mongolia.”
Annual accounts BY late September, Trafigura was preparing to close its annual accounts, as Weir announced he would hand over as CEO to gas boss Richard Holtum in January. It was time to decide what to do about the headache in Mongolia. The company had already taken some
action. It stopped new business in the country, suspended Jononbayar, and terminated the contract of its Singapore-based head of Mongolia, Mikhail Zeldovich. (Zeldovich declined to comment.)
And it still hopes to recover some money from Lex Oil, whose debt represents more than half of the $1.1 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter.
“A substantial proportion of the total exposure has been acknowledged as a debt owed to Trafigura by our principal counterparty in Mongolia. We intend to hold the counterparty to their repayment
obligation,” Trafigura said. Ultimately, the company decided to record a “conservative” provision of $1.1 billion in its financial results, and to publicly confirm the alleged misconduct. Some bankers heard about the prospect of a provision on Mongolia during informal conversations with
REPUBLICAN presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret
agents at a campaign rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. AP/EVAN VUCCI
Filipino national scientists featured in Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists list
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
NATIONAL
Scientists
Carmencita Padilla and the late Bienvenido Juliano have been recognized in the newly released “Stanford University’s 2024 World’s Top 2% Scientists” list published through the Elsevier Data Repository, which shows influential researchers from various scientific fields.
Other distinguished Filipino science academicians and scientists acknowledged are Jose Cruz Jr., Glenn Gregorio, Allan Bernardo, Jurgenne Primavera, Raymond Girard Tan, John Jamir Benzon Aruta, Kathleen Aviso, Alonzo Gabriel (+), Lanndon Ocampo, and Aristotle Ubando.
Among those recognized from Ateneo de Manila University are Filomeno Aguilar Jr., serving as Assistant Vice President for Research, Creative Work, and Inno
vation; Jayeel Cornelio, a professor in the Development Studies Department; and Gideon Lasco, a research fellow. Additional honor -
USAID and RRDIC-I unite to propel innovative progress in Ilocos Region
THE Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee—I (RRDIC-I), a committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC), has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RTI International, implementing the USPhilippines partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) Program. With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UPSKILL collaborates with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to bridge the gap between technology innovation and commercialization, aligning these efforts with national development priorities.
The event, held at BakersPH in Laoag City, marks a significant step in advancing higher education and workforce development, not only in the Ilocos Region but as part of a broader effort across the Philippines. Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology Region 1 (DOSTI), RRDIC-I is committed to ensuring that regional innovation projects contribute to socioeconomic growth, with the Ilocos Region positioned as a model for adopting new technologies.
USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Ms. Rebekah Eubanks noted that the MOU is a step in the right direction.
“Regional development is key to making an impact because it brings solutions rapidly to the communities that need them. Combining national policy with hands-on work in the field ensures that innovation takes place where it matters most,” said Eubanks while reaffirming the US government’s commitment to strengthening higher education in the Philippines.
Dr. Richard Abendan, chief of party for the UPSKILL Program, highlighted RRDIC-I’s pivotal role in supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within Ilocos Norte as a template for national expansion.
“The RRDIC, led by DOST-I, has already provided valuable support to MSMEs, like BakersPH, demonstrating the success of USAID’s locally led development model,”Abendan said. He also emphasized that the partnership would unlock further collaboration between government agencies and higher education institutions (HEIs), to develop research productivity and skilled graduates for economic development.
For her part, DOST-I Regional Director and RRDIC-I Chairperson Dr. Teresita A. Tabaog expressed gratitude and described the event as help coming from a big brother. Tabaog also called for future initiatives to focus on cultivating skills while supporting the welfare of workers for inclusive and sustainable progress.
The MOU signing for the UPSKILL Program represents a critical milestone not only for the Ilocos Region but for the Philippines as a whole.
This partnership among local governments, academic institutions, and the USAID strengthens a sustainable framework for innovation and workforce development that can be scaled nationwide.
With a commitment to fostering talent, supporting businesses, and advancing research initiatives that benefit communities directly, the collaboration serves as a model for how local and international efforts can work together to drive inclusive growth and nationwide progress.
ees include Gregory Edward Alexis Bankoff, a research fellow in the History Department, and Jose Eos Trinidad, research faculty in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department.
The field of Clinical Medicine also featured Gianna Gayle Amul, a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Ateneo School of Government, Arianna Maever Amit from the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, and Veincent Christian Pepito, an Adjunct Research Faculty member.
The University of the Philippines Manila also celebrated its faculty members, including Mary Ann Lansang, Antonio Miguel Dans, Carmencita Padilla, Ourlad Alzeus Tantengco, Marie Carmela Lapitan, Ramon Gustilo, Carl Abelardo Antonio, Jacqueline Dee, Mario Philip Festin, Jinky Leilanie Lu, Brian Buckley, Enrique Ostrea Jr., and Paolo Silva.
The list also includes overseasbased Filipino scientists such as Michael Purugganan, Rigoberto Advincula, Josefino Comiso, Carlito Lebrilla, Baldomero Olivera, and Eduardo Padlan.
Basis for inclusion DATA from Scopus was used to identify top researchers, and inclusion in the top 2 percent list is based on several metrics, notably
the C-score, which combined total citations and the h-index. Scientists are categorized into 22 broad fields and 176 sub-fields, with only those in the top 2 percent of their sub-field qualifying for the list, reflecting both longterm contributions and recent achievements.
While the Stanford list is regarded as a credible measure of research impact, the Top 2% Scientists website mentioned that it faces criticism for relying heavily on citation metrics and concerns that self-citations may inflate rankings, despite adjustments for non-self-citations.
It added that skeptics argue that these metrics may not accurately represent the real-world impact or societal relevance of certain studies. The list is updated annually, presenting both career-long and single-year achievements for current relevance.
With LEGO toy bricks, Ateneo physics student builds a chemical purity
USING simple circuitry, polarizing film, and LEGO® toy bricks, an undergraduate physics student from the Ateneo de Manila University recently built an improvised polarimeter that can optically assess the purity of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and other chiral substances. The device has potential applications in classrooms as a learning tool, and may pave the way for more cost-effective means to monitor the quality of some consumer products.
Polarimeters are invaluable laboratory instruments that can help infer the purity of a chemical by measuring the angle of rotation of polarized light that passed through the test sample. However, laboratory-grade polarimeters are prohibitively expensive, with a highend model costing over $11,500 and a commercial manual polarimeter priced at over $1,200. This makes their acquisition and use difficult, if not impossible, for small laboratories and classrooms in developing countries like the Philippines.
That may change thanks to the work of people like undergraduate physics student Ryan Joseph Felicidario and his thesis adviser, Dr. Ramon delos Santos, of the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory. Their work improved
on an earlier LEGO®-based polarimeter built by Norwegian researchers Lise Kvittingen and Birte Johanne Sjursnes. The Filipino researchers modified the original design and refined the detection process to obtain reliable and accurate measurements that
are crucial for ascorbic acid, whose specific rotation is relatively low.
By using easily-purchased items like LEGO® bricks, polarizing film, and cheap offthe-shelf electrical components, Felicidario was able to bring the cost of the polarimeter
tester
down to just over $150. To test the device, he used two over-the-counter samples of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from two different pharmaceutical brands and compared the test results with known theoretical values for pure ascorbic acid. While one of the samples produced values within the acceptable range, the other sample “showed significant deviations from the expected (values), suggesting possible impurities affecting its optical properties.”
“(The) comprehensive approach combining polarimetry and melting point determination proved to be cost-effective compared to other devices typically used for purity assessment, which are often more expensive,” Felicidario and delos Santos said in their paper, “Measurement of ascorbic acid samples’ optical rotation via an improvised polarimeter for purity assessment”, which was published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series on October 23, 2024.
“Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that the polarimeter is not only effective in practical applications, but it also offers educational benefits. Its non-black-box nature facilitates a straightforward demonstration of optical activity and polarization concepts,” the paper concluded.
Beware: ‘Algae in glass houses’ found in Luzon shellfish can cause amnesia
THE densely-populated island of Luzon is home to over half of the Philippines’ population, many of whom consume shellfish on a regular basis. An international team of scientists has just confirmed the presence there of two species of Pseudo-nitzschia diatoms capable of producing a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause severe sickness and memory loss.
Poetically described as “algae that live in glass houses,” diatoms are microscopic aquatic organisms that cover themselves in protective milk-colored silica shells.
While most diatom species are harmless, half of the 58 known species from the genus Pseudo-nitzschia are notorious for producing domoic acid (DA).
A person who has eaten DA-infected shellfish may experience vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In some cases, DA has even caused the permanent loss of short-term memory in a condition known as “amnesic shellfish poisoning” (ASP).
Despite this danger, little is known about the extent of Pseudo-nitzschia proliferation in the Philippines. This prompted scientists from the Ateneo de Manila University
Department of Biology and from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak to study the physical and genetic characteristics of the
diatoms in water samples from shellfish farms in Bacoor Bay and Pagbilao Bay in Luzon.
“It is important to be aware of the toxic potential of these diatoms and to monitor them accordingly, but such efforts must begin by establishing their presence in our waters. To our knowledge, the molecular taxonomy of Pseudonitzschia in the Philippines is virtually nonexistent,” said researchers Lorenzo A. Botavara, Janice A. Ragaza, Hong Chang Lim, and Sing Tung Teng.
They confirmed the presence of the DA-producing diatoms Pseudo-nitzschia pungens and Pseudonitzschia brasiliana in the samples. They also noted that this is the first time that P. brasiliana has ever been found in Luzon.
At times of excessive growth called harmful algal blooms (HABs) or “red tide,” DA can accumulate in large amounts in filter-feeding shellfish such as
and clams. Thus, “Confirming species identities of a genus with half of its constituents known to produce DA is essential to HAB monitoring (in the Philippines),” the scientists underscored.
BIENVENIDO O. JULIANO'S image from UP Media and Public Relations Office.
Christian Dominic I. Casimiro, DOST-I
DR . Carmencita Padilla is conferred the National Scientist title by President Marcos Jr. PHOTO FROM PCO
(LEFT to Right) Mr. Jose Eldie Domingo IV, General Manager of Bakers PH showing a portion of the production area of BakersPH in Laoag City to Deputy Mission Director of USAID Philippines Ms. Rebekah Eubanks, DOST-I Regional Director Dr. Teresita A. Tabaog, and Chief of Party for the UPSKILL Program Dr. Richard Abendan.
THE Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory’s polarimeter setup, built mostly out of LEGO® toy bricks, polarizing film, and cheap off-the-shelf electrical components. FELICIDARIO AND DELOS SANTOS.
about the value of humility–but it can be especially hard for clergy to practice what they preach
BBy Elise Ji Young Choe Boston University
EING a religious leader means wearing many different hats. At times, their congregations expect them to convey passionate confidence—to be models of faith and strength. But wise leadership also means listening and being willing to change your mind: from navigating a congregation in crisis to questioning once-firm beliefs. The ones who can effectively balance these tensions seem to possess a key virtue: intellectual humility.
Psychologist Daryl Van Tongeren and colleagues define this virtue as “humility about one’s ideas, beliefs, or viewpoints.” At a personal level, this involves willingness to own our limitations, along with an openness to revising beliefs in the face of new evidence. Intellectual humility also helps facilitate respect toward people with differing views and caring more about learning than for proving we’re “right.”
This openness can be particularly difficult for leaders. Religious traditions consider humility a virtue, yet many expect adherents to boldly assert their teachings: what researchers call the “humility-religiousness paradox.” At times, strong beliefs can make it hard to acknowledge other perspectives or consider counterevidence. That’s especially true for clergy, who are expected to be
exemplars of their faiths. But religious leaders can also be exemplars of intellectual humility, thanks to their deep study of sacred traditions and texts, combined with how much human suffering they witness. Many also mediate conflicts and different perspectives among their congregants. As psychologists and researchers, we are leading a research project on intellectual humility and religion in “real-world” settings.
Keeping an open mind
THINK of Martin Luther King Jr. The preacher and activist listened to, learned from and befriended leaders of many faith traditions— such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh—whose teachings he incorporated into the Civil Rights Movement.
Research backs up just how important this kind of intellectual humility is to interreligious dialogue and social justice work. Psychology research has found students at Christian seminaries who report more intellectual humility also tend to have greater commitments toward respecting diversity and fostering fairness and inclusion. For example, more intellectually humble leaders in training tended to say they are more committed to working against racism, sexism and poverty.
Humility can also help religious leaders navigate difficult situations in their work. Research has found that the more intellectually
humble someone thinks their religious leader is, the more likely they are to forgive that leader, particularly when it comes to conflicts over religious values. Congregants are also more likely to be satisfied with their clergy’s leadership if those leaders are intellectually humble.
Congregants often discuss mental health issues with clergy, but some religious groups are hesitant to recommend therapy or incorporate psychology into their work. In a study of nearly 400 religious leaders, however, more intellectually humble leaders tended to be more open to integrating psychology with ministry—meaning they may be more comfortable offering spiritual support while also helping congregants access professional mental health support.
Painful questions ON the other hand, clergy’s role can sometimes be in tension with intellectual humility.
Being intellectually humble means being open to new understandings; to deepening or revising beliefs. Religious leaders who are more aware of the possible limitations of their beliefs are less likely to consider themselves superior to other people, according to a study of about 250 clergy.
The researchers of that study, however, also found this kind of awareness can lead clergy to experience anxiety and doubt their connection with God.
Sincerely questioning religious beliefs can be stressful for anyone. It’s all the more true for the head of a congregation, someone members look to as an example of firm faith. This challenge is especially acute in communities or situations where leaders are expected to maintain certainty about their beliefs and where questions or revisions are discouraged—which can intensify shame, fear and isolation for people wrestling with their faith.
That’s not the full story, though. Like any virtue, humility has many dimensions, and some can help buffer the anxiety that comes with questioning beliefs. According to the same study of U.S. clergy, cognitive humility—being humble about your ideas— is less likely to make you feel insecure if you display humility in other ways, as well, whether it’s through respect for other people or having self-awareness.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
PRACTICING intellectual humility can be even harder for clergy who are female, people of color or anyone else who might be discouraged from holding a leadership position.
These people are more likely to have their authority challenged and are often expected to be subservient. Women, for example, tend to be taught a submissive version of humility: modest, deferential and quiet. According
Pope appoints Filipino priest as undersecretary of Vatican dicastery
By Roy Lagarde
POPE Francis on Thursday appointed a Filipino priest as the new undersecretary of a section of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.
The new role is a promotion for Msgr. Erwin Jose Balagapo, who had been serving as head of office in the section “for the first evangelization and new particular churches” since July 2023.
The department is currently led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former archbishop of Manila, in his role as pro-prefect.
Headed by Pope Francis, the dicastery is divided into two sections. The other section, for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, is led by Archbishop Rino Fisichella as pro-prefect.
The Dicastery was established in 2022 by the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, replacing the former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also known as
“Propaganda Fide.” Fisichella’s responsibilities include promoting evangelization, missionary discipleship, catechesis, and Christian social
engagement in countries where Christianity is already well established. Tagle, on the other hand, oversees what has been known as the church’s mission territories.
Msgr. Balagapo, 53, hails from Sulat, a small town in Eastern Samar province.
Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Palo in 1996, he has held several roles, including professor of canon law, head of ongoing formation for the clergy, judicial vicar, and chancellor of the archdiocese.
In Rome, he earned a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the former Pontifical Institute “John Paul II.” As a canon lawyer, he has worked at the Vatican dicastery since 2015, following his advanced studies in Rome. CBCP News
What Buddhism can teach in this moment of deep divisions: No person is ‘evil,’ only ‘mistaken’
By Jeremy David Engels Penn State
DEMOCRACY depends upon using words wisely. With the right words, citizens can live and work together, even in disagreement—and resolve conflicts peacefully. Today, politicians routinely describe their opponents as “enemies,” disparaging them as “evil,” “monsters,” “demonic” and “garbage. By creating the impression that people “on the other side” are irredeemable monsters, such talk undercuts the potential for civic cooperation—for what’s the point of trying to understand, and to work with, someone who is “evil”?
More fundamentally, this “us vs. them” rhetoric of “enemyship”—as I call it—undermines the chances for peaceful coexistence between people who see the world differently.
I am a professor of rhetoric who studies the power of words to build—and destroy—the world we share. I am also a longtime scholar, teacher and practitioner of mindfulness. My research draws on the wisdom of mindfulness and other spiritual practices to reimagine how we teach the basic habits of democratic citizenship.
A lesson from Buddhism seems particularly apt in this moment of enemyship: Treat the people you disagree with as mistaken rather than evil.
Everyone has a ‘Buddha nature’
THERE is a profound optimism at the heart of most Buddhist traditions, rooted in the foundational belief that everyone is blessed with the capacity to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is one of the eight steps along
the noble path the Buddha described to reach enlightenment. To practice mindfulness is to shift from a reactive, to a more deliberate and considered, way of living life.
Practicing mindfulness, it is possible for a person to observe themselves having an experience—a craving, a happy thought, a doubt, a scary emotion—and not to immediately react to that experience. Nor is it necessary to layer story after story on top of the emotion in a way that amplifies the craving, the joy, the doubt or the fright until they are overwhelmed by it.
Watching thoughts and emotions come and go without immediately reacting to them, it becomes possible to make choices about how we want to respond—and to decide more deliberately how we want to live our lives.
Mindfulness is the way to recover our inner freedom as human beings.
The Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh said that everyone has a “Buddha nature.” Everyone is capable of becoming a Buddha by mindfully paying attention to their habitual reactions to experiences, and choosing to cultivate habits of compassion, understanding and peacefulness—just as the Buddha did.
The story of Angulimala
TO illustrate this point, Nhat Hanh told the story of Angulimala, a notorious murderer who lived during the Buddha’s time.
Upon entering the town of Shravasti one morning, the Buddha finds the streets empty, the doors locked and the windows closed.
Angulimala is in town! Though the residents beg him to hide, without fear the Buddha continues his walk.
Angulimala spots him and shouts for
him to stop, but the Buddha does not stop. “I told you to stop, monk. Why don’t you stop?”
Angulimala demands, to which the Buddha responds, “I stopped a long time ago. It is you who have not stopped.”
This puzzles Angulimala. He asks for an explanation. The Buddha replies, “Angulimala, stopped committing acts that cause suffering to other living beings a long time ago. I have learned to protect life, the lives of all beings, not just humans. Angulimala, all living beings want to live. All fear death. We must nurture a heart of compassion and protect the lives of all beings.”
Angulimala is struck by how the Buddha speaks to him: not as a monster, but with patience and a genuine desire to understand. The Buddha insists that Angulimala, too, can change, if he will only commit to developing his capacity for mindfulness— and he offers Angulimala a model for how, and why, to change.
The two men continue their dialogue, and soon Angulimala reveals his deepest fear. He wants to change his ways because he is deeply unhappy. However, he is afraid that society will never forgive him for what he has done, and this fear prevents him from stopping long enough to try to reform.
So the Buddha promises that his community will protect him if he commits to living mindfully, without violence, in harmony with others—and if he agrees to make amends with the families and communities he wronged through compassionate acts. Angulimala does. Eventually he gets a new name: Ahimsaka, the “Nonviolent One.”
This parable reflects a worldview shared by many Buddhist traditions: No person is truly “evil,” in the sense of being an irre -
deemable monster, because everyone can learn to practice mindfulness.
At times humans commit acts worthy of being deemed “evil.” This is not because they are demons; it is because they are acting out of greed and ignorance and giving into fear. Greed can be overcome; ignorance can be enlightened; fear can be tamed. There is always a path out of darkness.
Mistaken, not evil
CONSIDER the consequences of calling fellow citizens “evil,” “monsters” or “demons”: If the person you disagree with is “evil,” it would appear to make no sense to talk to them, and there seems to be no need to understand them.
Some may think that evil people can only be defeated, through violence if necessary. To call someone evil damages the civic fabric, for it undermines cooperation and promotes distrust between people who must learn to live, work and thrive together.
In June 2024, I participated in a two-week retreat on “Engaged Buddhism” at Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village monastery in France. There I heard a very different vocabulary—people on the other side of a disagreement were not “evil,” they were “mistaken,” “ill-informed,” “heedless,” “unskilled,” “unaware” or “unmindful.”
Making this small rhetorical change is not easy, especially in times of fear and uncertainty.
However, it makes a big practical difference. If someone is mistaken, it makes sense to talk with them, to attempt to understand them, and then, if the situation is right, to try to persuade them to see things differently.
The Conversation
to psychology research, women tend to underestimate their own intelligence, while men tend to overestimate theirs.
To overcome those stereotypes, female leaders may feel the need to be especially assertive. But the same actions that would be considered confident in a man could be seen as arrogant for a woman. Displaying healthy humility, on the other hand— openness, awareness, respect for others—can be seen as being “soft” or indecisive. An intellectually humble leader might invite multiple perspectives on a congregational decision, whereas some members might expect that leader to forcefully promote their own vision.
Theologian Choi Hee An argues that sexism makes intellectual humility nearly impossible for women to practice within religious groups
where intelligence itself is seen as a sacred privilege and power gifted to men from God and where women are typically barred from leadership roles. It is hard to have healthy humility in an area where one has not had any empowerment, such as a setting where you haven’t been encouraged to think for yourself or exercise meaningful decisions. There is no winning for a religious leader in these contexts. She is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.
Given these challenges, we are currently studying what kinds of skills and mindsets can help religious leaders practice intellectual humility. But it depends not only on individuals but also their surrounding communities and congregations—which can either reward or punish humble leaders. The Conversation
Bishop renews call to halt mining in E.
Samar on 11th
year of Yolanda
ON the 11th anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda, a Catholic bishop renewed his call to halt mining operations in the islands off Eastern Samar province.
Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan said Friday that Yolanda’s commemoration challenges the public to “deepen” their commitment to caring for the environment.
“I urge our leaders to reconsider and stop the mining operations in the Islands of Homonhon and Manicani, which threaten our natural resources and the livelihoods of our people,” Varquez said.
More than a decade later, the super typhoon, also known as Haiyan, remains one of the deadliest natural disasters to ever hit the Philippines.
On November 8, 2013, Yolanda made its first landfall in the southernmost town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar, which includes the
islands of Manicani and Homonhon. According to authorities, Yolanda, one of the most powerful storms to make landfall in recorded history, claimed more than 6,300 lives, mostly in the Eastern Visayas region.
The bishop invited the faithful to join him in reflecting on the journey they have traveled together.
The moment is not just a remembrance of the challenges they faced, he said, “but a celebration of the resilience and unity that define us as a diocese and as one People of God.”
“Let this anniversary remind us of our true mission and our true humanity. May we always embody the love of Christ in our actions,” Varquez added.
“Together, may we rise anew, filled with courage and hope for what lies ahead,” he also said. CBCP News
Catholicism grew faster than global population in past 25 years
THE number of Catholics has grown at a faster rate than the global population over the past 25 years, according to statistics released by a Vatican news agency ahead of the Jubilee Year in 2025.
As of 2022, the Catholic population reached 1.39 billion, a 36.47 percent increase from 1.02 billion in 1998. This growth outpaced the 33.87 percent rise in the global population over the same period, soaring to 7.84 billion in 2022 from 5.86 billion in 1998.
Despite the rise in the Catholic population, the number of baptisms has steadily declined.
Baptisms fell to 13.33 million in 2022 from 17.93 million in 1998. The highest number of baptisms was recorded in 2000, an Ordinary Jubilee Year when the figure peaked at 18.41 million.
Meanwhile, the total number of priests worldwide rose to 407,730 in 2022 from 404,628 in 1998. Diocesan priests increased to 279,171 in 2022, while the number of priests in religious orders declined to 128,559.
The number of women religious saw a steep drop, falling to 559,228 from 814,779 over the 25-year period. Men religious also decreased, with their total falling to 49,414 by the end of 2022.
These figures were published on Oct. 17 by Agenzia Fides, a news service of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The 25-year summary was published alongside an annual dossier that provides a snapshot of Catholic demographics.
Unlike the annual report, the summary did not break down data by continent. It was published “to help understand the trend of variations in the numerical data related to the presence and mission of the Catholic Church in the world.”
2022 statistics IN its annual dossier, released just before
World Mission Sunday, Agenzia Fides reported that the Catholic population grew by 13.72 million to reach 1.39 billion in 2022. While most continents saw growth, Europe was an outlier, recording a decline of 474,000 Catholics. Africa and the Americas contributed the most to global growth, adding 7.27 million and 5.91 million Catholics, respectively.
Asia gained 889,000 more Catholics, and Oceania added 123,000, contributing to a modest 0.03 percent growth in the global percentage of Catholics to reach 17.7 percent.
Despite the long-term upward trend in the number of priests, the 2022 report noted a global decline of 142 priests compared to the previous year. Europe experienced the sharpest drop, with 2,745 fewer priests, followed by the Americas with 164 fewer priests. As a result, the ratio of Catholics to priests rose to 3,408 from 3,373 in 2021. The number of major seminarians, both diocesan and religious, slid to 108,481 in 2022 from 109,895 in 2021. Minor seminarians also decreased to 95,161. The report included statistics of Catholic educational institutions: 74,322 kindergartens with 7.62 million students; 102,189 primary schools with 35.73 million students; and 50,851 secondary schools with 20.57 million students. Additionally, 2.46 million students were enrolled in Catholic high schools, and 3.93 million attended Church-run universities. The Church operated 102,409 healthcare and charitable facilities worldwide: 5,420 hospitals; 14,205 dispensaries; 525 leper hospitals; 15,476 homes for the aged, chronically ill, and handicapped; 10,589 nursery schools; 10,500 marriage counseling centers; 3,141 social rehabilitation centers; and 33,677 other institutions. Logan Zapanta/CBCP
AN August 10, 2021 file photo of Msgr. Erwin Jose Balagapo at the Nativity of Our Lady College Seminary in Borongan City. PHOTO FROM NLCS
Editor: Lyn Resurreccion
The race for time to save King Cobra
By Jonathan L. Mayuga
IN the Philippines, the hunt for the King Cobra is on—not to kill or extinguish them—but to save the species from extinction.
The world’s longest venomous snake—the King Cobra—is widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
One of the rarest of apex predators that lurks in the forest, finding the King Cobra is easier said than done—and catching a live specimen— including one that was newly discovered by scientists to be endemic to the Philippines, particularly Luzon—is a risky business.
Four distinct species
FOR the longest time, the King Cobra has been known to be a single species.
However, a study by a team of scientists reclassified the species into four distinct species.
They are the Northern King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), which is in northern and eastern India, Myanmar, parts of China, and much of mainland Southeast Asia; the Sunda King Cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus), found in the Sunda Shelf area, including the Malay Peninsula, the Greater Sunda Islands, and parts of the southern Philippines; the Western Ghats King Cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga), found in the Western Ghats of south-western India and the Luzon King Cobra (Ophiophagus salvatana) which is found on the island of Luzon in northern Philippines. Each species has a unique geographic range and morphological characteristics.
Site-endemic snake
T HE Luzon King Cobra which is endemic to the Island of Luzon, the largest of three major islands in the Philippines, was a recently discovered species.
Like the Luzon King Cobra, all King Cobra species are dangerously venomous.
King Cobras are feared not just because of their sheer size but because a single bite can instantly kill its victim.
These species prey mostly, on other reptiles including monitor lizards, and yes—even other cobras that are equally
venomous and dangerous, and the name and title that aptly describe the species—the king of the cobras.
Exceptionally large
TH E paper titled “Taxonomic revision of the king cobra Ophiophagus hannah” (Cantor, 1836) species complex (Reptilia: Serpentes: Elapidae), with the description of two new species, was published in the European Journal of Taxonomy on October 16, 2024.
Named by the researchers “salvatana,” the Luzon King Cobra is exceptionally large, reaching up to 10 feet and 11 inches in length. The discovery of the King Cobra of Luzon came along with the discovery of another new species—the Western Ghats King Cobra. The research team included Indraneil Das, P. Gowri Shankar, Priyanka Swamy, Rhiannon Williams, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, P. Prashanth, Gunanidhi Sahoo, S.P. Vijayakumar, Jacob Höglund, Kartik Shanker, Sushil Dutta, S.R. Ganesh, and Wolfgang Wüster, The species has “robust” bodies with “large,” “flattened” heads and black tongues. Their “large” eyes are ringed with yellow. The edges of its scales are gray, shifting from light gray near its head to darker gray on its tail.
Generally, King Cobra bites are “rare” but, when they occur, they often lead to “rapid death in human beings.”
Vulnerable species
THE Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Center for Biodiversity (ACB) said the distribution range of the Luzon King Cobra is limited to a small region of Luzon. Via email, the ACB told the BusinessMirror on November 5 that while there might be similar-looking species from other parts of the country, their species identities have yet to be established.
All four species of the King Cobra are vulnerable, the ACB said, citing the current
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.
The assessment is for the global risk of extinction of the species throughout its wide range. The current discovery of the Luzon, according to ACB, may prompt a separate assessment for this species.
The ACB, which is based in Mt. Makiling, in Laguna, noted that the Philippines is a renowned biodiversity hotspot filled with a variety of endemic and native wildlife species.
“This richness in bounty, however, comes with the corresponding destructive and abusive human activities [illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss]. Thus, there is a need for immediate assessment of this newly discovered endemic species,” the ACB said.
According to ACB, which promotes the protection and conservation of biodiversity through protected area management and its flagship program, Asean Heritage Parks, the distribution of King Cobra includes Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia (Java, Sumatera, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia), Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
“There are also other Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan,
China, India, and Nepal) where the King Cobra can be found.”
King Cobra Initiative PROTECTING snakes and communities through citizen science and education, aimed at reducing snakebite risks and fostering safe coexistence, the King Cobra Initiative Philippines is tapping netizens to find King Cobra.
Jazz T. Ong, founder of the King Cobra Initiative Philippines uses the Facebook account King Cobra Initiative to gather reports from all over the Philippines—whether they are dead or alive, or needing rescue and rehabilitation.
We want to know if there are still other species of King Cobra out there,” Ong told the BusinessMirror in a telephone interview on November 4.
Saving people, too ALSO, the Founder, Director, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Wildlife Matters, said the purpose of the King Cobra Initiative is not only to conserve King Cobras but also to save people.
“Through citizen scientists, we want to collect data and get information where most of the King Cobras are found,” Ong said.
She said the discovery of the Luzon King Cobra inspired the hunt for similarly large
cobras—with the hope not only of finding new species that may be endemic to the Philippines but also of encouraging the conduct of more scientific studies for the development of an anti-venom that can... “With these data, we can help provide important information to the government like which area needs anti-venom,” says Ong, ,a conservation advocate and expert in herpetology.
Lack of empirical data
O NG said the reason why there’s a shortage of anti-venom, is because of the lack of empirical data that would compel the government to allocate a budget for the development of an antivenom, specifically for King Cobra.
Aside from that, the project also aims to initiate wildlife rehabilitation for the King Cobras. She said in 2022, her organization was contacted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to consult on the release of a King Cobra.
The King Cobra was captured somewhere in Batangas and was eventually released successfully in an undisclosed location.
Like the feared saltwater crocodiles, no community would want a King Cobra released in its own backyard, says Ong.
Born to be wild
A KING Cobra, not like some
snakes, is born to be wild—it will take no longer than two months for a captive King Cobra to perish and succumb while in captivity.
“This is also the reason why King Cobra can’t be bred in captivity,” she said.
King Cobras build nests above ground, unlike other snakes. And unlike most snakes, King Cobras are sometimes aggressive and will attack a person on sight.
But Ong said this may be just a defense mechanism and an act to scare away humans.
“King Cobras may appear to be going after you, but once you’ve started to run, it will not pursue. It’s just its way of scaring off a potential threat,” she explained partly in Filipino.
Hunting for trophy, pet trade LIKE other snakes—cobras, pit vipers, or pythons, King Cobra is targeted by poachers, too.
“Some hunt them for a trophy, or to keep them as a pet—to brag about having one King Cobra as a pet,” she said. However, King Cobra’ die a short time after they are captured in what can be considered a “suicide.” They thrash around rub against the hard material of their cages until they become weak and eventually die.
Ong said she and members of her group have been receiving reports of sightings of King Cobras through Facebook.
“Unfortunately, most of those reported are already dead. That is what happens because when people see a King Cobra, they usually kill it,” she said.
Ong said there are around 200 reports of sightings, but not all are King Cobras.
“Some are other cobra species. Some reports need to be verified,” she said.
Ong said most King Cobras can be found at higher elevations and they rarely descend in lowland areas. “Once they do, it is just to hunt for food,” she said. King Cobras, says Ong, are also prey when they are still young or small—particularly to raptors that prey on snakes, underscoring the need to educate the public not to harm and simply stay out of the way.
Better yet, she encourages those who encounter a King Cobra to report to the King Cobra Initiative to help build a national database to give scientists an idea of where to find one for future research and scientific study.
British member of parliament, ambassador to Manila tour La Mesa Ecopark
MANILA Water President Jocot de Dios had the honor of receiving the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West MP. She was joined by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Laure Beaufils, at the La Mesa Ecopark. With the Manila Water Foundation Team and La Mesa Ecopark Management, de Dios treated the distinguished guests to a guided tour of the park and La Mesa Reservoir.
In a short exchange of messages, de Dios, who is also the president of Manila
Water Foundation, said environmental protection and sustainability are consciously integrated in the company’s operations.
Ambassador Beaufils shared that partnerships across various sectors of society are important to create change, accelerate, and support climate action.
Minister West said that the UK government is also keen on linking technologies and innovations for climate change mitigation.
Manila Water Foundation expressed gratitude to Minister West and Ambassador Beaufils and her team at the British Embassy for the special visit.
THE Manila Water Foundation team, the La Mesa Ecopark Management, and NGO partners joined UK Minister Catherine West and UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils in
a guided tour of the La Mesa Ecopark, a haven of biodiversity in the city.
JAZZ TORRES ONG
NA8 SundAy, november
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
Seeing more than double: Twins taking center stage Sports
ASMUS HOJGAARD of Denmark is a lock to be among the leading 10 players from the European tour who earn a Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour card for 2025, making it the second straight year of identical twins on the PGA Tour. His brother, Nicolai, earned one of those Pierceson and Parker Coody, the grandsons of former Masters champion Charles Coody, had tour More sets of identical twins might not be too far behind Jeremy Paul of Germany has earned a PGA Tour card for 2025 through the Korn Ferry Tour. His twin brother, Yannik Paul, is on the European tour and has an outside chance of getting one of the 10 cards for the PGA Tour.
In Japan, the 22-year-old Iwai twins—Akie and Chisato—each have three victories on the Japan Ladies PGA this year, and both are among the top 50
Identical twins are nothing new in golf—think back to Curtis and Allan Strange—but it’s no longer a novelty.
INETEEN top-caliber Filipino athletes made it to the list of Ayala Foundation’s Atletang Ayala program which supports their training while offering opportunities for career development in the Ayala group. This year’s Atletang Ayala batch represents a diverse set of athletes who have shown immense promise and have made a mark in national and international competitions, including Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics and the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Joanie Delgaco, the first Filipina rower to compete in the Olympics, heads the list.
Taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, who vied in the Paris 2024 Paralympics, is also on the list.
“I see that the Atletang Ayala program will help us in training, conditioning, and nutrition, and will bring us to world-level competitions so that we can become an Olympic and Paralympic medalist in the future,” he said.
The Hojgaard twins are the most accomplished. Nicolai made his Ryder Cup debut at Marco Simone in Italy last year. Rasmus has five European tour titles, two more than his brother. Nicolai is currently No. 55 in the world ranking, Rasmus is at No. 56 going into the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week. Rasmus nearly earned a PGA Tour card last year, beaten out of the 10th spot in the final tournament by Matthieu Pavon.
“It’s probably a good thing that Nicolai went over there to start with,” he said Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. “Now I can sort of guide myself around and hopefully not make some of the same mistakes. We talked a lot about it, and yeah, we’re going to probably find maybe a place over there and make it easier, not traveling over the Atlantic every other week.”
The Hojgaards and Coodys made a small slice of PGA Tour history this year when both sets of identical twins played in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Odds are the Danish twins will be the only ones on the PGA Tour in 2025. Pierceson Coody is at No. 130 in the FedEx Cup, while Parker Coody is at No. 169 with three tournaments left.
The Paul brothers went their separate ways after playing college golf at Colorado. Yannik is No. 155 in the world because of getting more ranking points on the European tour. Jeremy beat him to the PGA Tour—at least for now. Yannik is No. 43 in the Race to Dubai and would need a big week in Abu Dhabi to make up ground and get the 10th PGA Tour card. Oddly enough, their time at Colorado overlapped with another set of identical twins competing for the Buffaloes—Jenny and Kristin Coleman, who have both played on the Epson Tour. Jenny Coleman has made it to the LPGA
JIU-JITSU ace Kimberly Anne Custodio showed the way as Philippine athletes displayed a sparkling performance on the international stage in October.
The program covers four years.
(archery) and Sammuel Tranquilan (fencing).
The Atletang Ayala program augments resources for training and competition while providing opportunities for career growth.
Aside from full-salaried employment with flexible work arrangements, the athletes will be covered by Healthway Medical Network’s Athletes’ Health program, which includes physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and sports psychology.
“Atletang Ayala will help me a lot in terms of extra support for my training here and abroad,” Delgaco said. “It will also help me as a professional in the Ayala group, in terms of new skills and knowledge imparted by the program.”
Also named to the Atletang Ayala program were Amparo Acuña (shooting), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo at Tokyo 2020), Jason Baucas (wrestling), Abby Bidaure (archery) Baby Canabal (taekwondo), Janna Catantan (fencing), Dave Cea (taekwondo; Allaine Cortey (fencing), Laila Delo (taekwondo), John Ferrer (judo), Veronica Garces (taekwondo), Leah Jhane Lopez (judo), Noelito Jose Jr. (fencing), Nathaniel Perez (fencing), Franchette Quiroz (shooting), Jonathan Reaport
They also gain access to worldclass sports and fitness facilities at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite and receive fixed support for international training camps and competitions.
They will also actively participate in sports-related and volunteer programs of various Ayala companies and Ayala Foundation.
AC Mobility CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala welcomed the athletes at a special event held recently at the Ayala headquarters in Makati City.
“Through the Atletang Ayala program, the Ayala group seeks to inspire more Filipinos to pursue their athletic dreams and bring the nation together through sports,” Ayala said.
The Ayala Foundation runs the Atletang Ayala program which is also supported by Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, ACEN, AC Health, AC Logistics, AC Mobility, Integrated Micro-Electronics and the Ayala Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
“Atletang Ayala is the group’s investment in the next generation of sports leaders who will influence and inspire others to excel in whatever field they choose,” Ayala Foundation president Tony Lambino said. Olympian Delgaco and co. join Atletang Ayala program
Notre Dame celebrates arrival of Paris 2024’s iconic trackside bell as cathedral reopens
PARIS—Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral, whose historic bells were silenced following 2019’s devastating fire , will soon echo again with fresh chimes.
On Thursday, the Gothic landmark took delivery of three new bells, including one that was used in the city’s Stade de France stadium during this year’s Paris Olympic Games. The Olympic bell, a gift from the Paris 2024 organizing committee, will be installed alongside two smaller bells, named Chiara and Carlos, above the altar where they will be rung during Mass, officials said. Their arrival ahead of Notre Dame’s reopening on December 8 marks a milestone in the painstaking restoration and modernization of the 861-year-old cathedral, made famous around the world by Victor Hugo›s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, rector of Notre Dame, expressed gratitude for the bells’ arrival during a ceremony.
“What a joy it is,” he said. “At the most important moment of the Mass these bells will ring, just as they did when the victor of a competition could celebrate their victory.”
During the Paris 2024 Games, the iconic Olympic bell was rung by each track and field winner It bears the mark “Paris 2024,” while the two others are adorned with a round symbol combining the image of Notre Dame’s iconic rosary window with a monstrance, a religious vessel central to the cathedral’s altar. Crafted by the renowned Cornille Havard foundry, in Villedieu-les-Poêles, Normandy, the bells embody France’s distinguished bell-making tradition. In a solemn moment, Dumas consecrated the bells with holy water and a tree branch.
Standing on the square outside the cathedral, he and Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, struck the bells with a wooden mallet to mark the occasion.
cathedral’s rafters and roof.
The new bells will be placed in a different location within the cathedral, officials said, where their return will add to the soundscape of Notre Dame’s daily life. They join the eight historic bells from the cathedral’s north tower that were reinstalled in September after being cleaned and renovated. Those bells—Gabriel, AnneGeneviève, Denis, Marcel, Étienne, Benoît-Joseph, Maurice, and JeanMarie—were originally cast in 2013 for Notre Dame’s 850th anniversary.
The cathedral’s two larger bells remain intact on the south tower and were unaffected by the blaze, officials added.
The reconstruction of Notre Dame has involved more than 250 companies and hundreds of skilled craftsmen.
The Olympic bell isn’t the only symbol of old meeting new in NotreDame’s evolving restoration. AP
Custodio reigned supreme in the adult female -45 kgs class of the Jiujitsu International Federation World Championship in Heraklion, Greece, where Jollirine Co (adult female -48kg) clinched a silver medal and Daniella Palanca (adult female -45kg) and Annie Ramirez (adult female -57kg) bagged a bronze medal each. Custodio duplicated her previous title run in the 2022 edition of the world meet in Abu Dhabi, a feat that earned her the nod of the Philippine Sportswriters Association as the top achiever for the month.
The Philippine Volcanoes sevens teams, pool star Carlo Biado and Olympian Hergie Bacyadan grabbed a piece of the spotlight also in October. Isabelle Butler claimed the tiara in the under-18 female -57-kg category of the world jiu-jitsu meet in Greece. Taekwondo jin Tachina Keizha Mangin topped the female -49 kgs competition of the World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, for the country’s first
Wushu young gun Alexander
A‘Mystical Holiday Magic’
It was more than NUSTAR Resort Cebu’s Christmas tree that lit up in a spectacular, meaningful ceremony
NOVEMBER 10, 2024 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com
QUINCY Jones cheated death four times — twice in 1974 due to brain aneurysm, and twice again in 2015 from diabetic complications — before passing on last November 3 at age 91.
But his life as a musician, composer, arranger and producer marks one of the most colorful and exciting chapters in music history.
Fans and the curious alike who’d like to know more about him should watch Quincy, a 2018 documentary currently on Netflix. It has a wealth of information on how
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‘THE SINGER’S THE MESSENGER, THE SONG IS THE SECRET’ Musings from Quincy Jones
he overcomes a hard life in Chicago and finds his calling — first as a trumpet player in the bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie.
His desire to learn arranging for an orchestra leads him to Paris to study with the French conductor/composer
Nadia Boulanger. He recalls what she imparted to him: “There are only 12 notes… I want you to know what everybody did with those 12.”
In 1964, Frank Sinatra, who was then getting ready for a new album with Count Basie and his orchestra, asks Jones to arrange it. One of the best tracks from the album, “It Might as Well Be Swing,” is “Fly Me to the Moon.”
‘Killer Q’ posse
Many more albums later, Michael Jackson asks Jones if he can find a producer for a new solo album. Jones ends up producing three of Jackson’s biggest-selling albums: Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.
Jones recalls working with Jackson on Off the Wall: “When he was ready to record, I got my ‘Killer Q’ posse together — Rod “Worms” Temperton, one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived; (sound engineer) Bruce “Svensk” Swedien; (keyboardist) Greg “Mouse” Phillinganes; (bassist) Louis “Thunder Thumbs” Johnson; (drummer) John “JR” Robinson; (percussionist) Paulhino Da Costa; (trumpeter) Jerry Hey; and many others. We attacked that record.”
In the docu, Jones is seen grooving while seated at the mixing board while listening to the intro to “Rock with You” (written by Temperton).
“We tried all kinds of things I’d learned over the years to help him
(Jackson) with his artistic growth. Things like dropping keys just a minor third to give him more flexibility and a more mature range,” Jones recounts. “He was so shy, sometimes he’d sit down and sing behind the couch with his back to me.”
While recording Off the Wall, Jones says: “My feeling is, always leave at least 20 to 30 percent of room for the Lord to walk to the room… because you’re leaving room for the magic. Records are about capturing magic, real magical moments and capturing them on tape.
“Love is the other word, when love is in the studio, that contributes more to the magic in the studio than anything else.”
The making of Thriller, “in a little more than two months, was like riding a rocket,” says Jones. “Everything about it was done at hyper-speed. Rod Temperton, who also co-wrote several of the songs, and I listened to nearly 600 songs before picking a dozen we liked. We all worked ourselves into a near frenzy.”
On choosing the tracks which made the final cut on Thriller: “I always sit down in the corner, drop the ego, and say, ‘What are the four weakest songs?’ Relatively. You have to be honest about that.
“And I took out some big songs. Mike Sembello wrote ‘Carousel.’ Toto sent me some songs. I wasn’t really crazy about the songs they sent, but … Rod (Temperton) and I were at home and we left the tape on, and after about 20 minutes we heard [humming the melody of “Human Nature”], ‘Durupdup-bom…’
“Didn’t have the lyrics on, and I said, ‘That’s it.’ I was looking for a harmonic
kaleidoscope. I was looking for that to follow the mantra of ‘Billie Jean’ with just three chords in it, you know, and it worked, man, it worked… I was so happy.”
One of several Jones tribute stories on bbc.com has an interesting anecdote on the long drum intro to “Billie Jean”: Jones: “I said, ‘Michael we’ve got to cut that intro.’ He said, ‘But that’s the jelly! That’s what makes me want to dance.’ And when Michael Jackson tells you, “That’s what makes me want to dance,’ well, the rest of us just have to shut up.
“Jones kept the arrangement lean and funky. He even instructed sound engineer Bruce Swedien to create a drum sound with a ‘sonic personality’ that no one had ever heard before. The result is one of the most recognizable intros in the history of pop.”
Yet Jackson didn’t always have his way.
In one video interview making the rounds on YouTube, Jones says that while recording “Don’t Stop till You Get Enough” (the first track on Off the Wall), Jackson wanted the violins removed. Jones had to put his foot down since he knew the strings arrangement was the track’s identifying hook. “I said, ‘No way … You don’t tell me what to do.’”
In another video interview, conducted by the young singersongwriter Khalid for GQ, Jones says one of his insights from a career spanning 70 years is: “The singer’s the messenger, the songs are the secret. A great song can make the worst singer in the world a star, and a bad song can’t be saved by the three greatest singers in the world.”
QUINCY Jones - AP
Some fine music in November
FATHERGORE
“We of the While”
HAILING from Cagayan de Oro City, FatherGore makes a raw and gripping return to form with moody hard rocker “We of the While,” a throwback to the band’s alternative rock roots with a little touch of new wave nostalgia. As guitarist Brando Bartolome cheekily puts it, “We were big on New Wave and Alternative Rock back then. Our latest single fits the whole young and unhinged thing when we wrote it decades ago. Believe me, nobody wants to revisit that (though we did.)”
The recording process itself nodded at the band’s influences; Brando said, “We were trying to be Marr, and I did while trying to channel Cobain,”. The single’s release is not just about the music, it’s a reunion, a celebration of survival, and a reminder that FatherGore isn’t done just yet.
FRANK ELY “Maisayaw”
WITH kundiman-inspired new track titled “Maisayaw,” Filipino singer-songwriter Frank Ely expresses his romantic admiration from a distance, displaying earnestness and levity in the most beautifully understated way. “The song is a serenade for someone whose heart you want to win, a poem for the person who made you feel something you’ve never felt with anyone else\,” shares the breakthrough solo act. Frank Ely’s “Maisayaw” also makes a tech breakthrough with its release in postcard format, having the same function as a vinyl single that can be played in a regular record player or a turntable.
THE BLOOMFIELDS “Get Up”
RETRO-INSPIRED rockers The Bloomfields have dropped a new single “Get Up” which the band originally wrote in 2019. Built around a single-chord jam, “Get Up” draws inspiration from the ‘60s psychedelic rock, brimming with heavy doses of loud, droning guitars and hypnotic soundscapes.
According to the band, they wrote the song without the intention of making a hit. “It felt wonderful to release it as our fourth single and share it with our audience. “It’s a high-energy track that felt perfect to release ahead of our 20th-anniversary show, getting people hyped and ready.”
JRLDM “Feel My”
THE song touches on deep, personal emotions of loneliness and the struggle we face when trying to be understood by others. JRLDM takes listeners on a reflective journey, painting a picture of someone desperate to run away from his dark past, The track also explores themes of escape in lines like, “Take me away, just take me away” to make the song relatable to anyone who has struggled with emotional burdens or felt trapped by their own memories. It’s the first single from JRLDM’s highly anticipated second album that will also highlight JRLDM’s talent for capturing complex emotions and profound themes.
“If I Tell You Why.”
NEW powerhouse band Mondo is set to unveil their highly anticipated single, “If I Tell You Why.” in its original and acoustic versions music video on November 16, 2024 at the iconic Saguijo Café & Bar in Makati. In a private message, Mondo wrote, “The song is expresses emotions for someone without saying the actual words like “I love you”. I found old lyrics when I was sick with Covid and I just wrote the melody in about 20 minutes.”
Offering music fans a fresh perspective on their folk, rock, and blues sound. the band fronted by Mondo Castro (The Pin-Up Girls) on vocals and guitar also features local indie music stalwarts DreiPaman on lead guitar, Dax Balmeo on rhythm guitar, Gaia Royeca (Gaia & Andrei), Mico Marasigan (Jetcoaster) on drums, and Lui Rodriguez on bass.
SHANNE DANDAN
“Kung Iyong Mamarapatin” album
FILIPINO singer-songwriter Shanne Dandan has released her 10-track debut album, “Kung Iyong Mamarapatin,” which serves both as an elegy for the unrealized self and a hopeful anthem for what is yet to come. Shanne penned and recorded album after experiencing profound sadness and struggling to give herself the grace and acceptance she deserves.
“Growing up, I’ve always sung what my mother and grandmother listened to,” said the indie-folk act, adding. “I think there will be a lot of crying to expect from listeners; be it happy tears or not, I want to make people feel however they want to feel and just let all their emotions flow.”
MONDO
A ‘MySticAl HolidAy MAgic’
it was more than NUStAR Resort cebu’s christmas tree that lit up in a spectacular, meaningful ceremony
By Jt Nisay Y2Z Editor
CeBu City—In a sensational holiday spectacle befitting a luxury development, where elaborate decorations and theatrical performances captured imaginations, one, simple moment stole the show.
Premier five-star integrated resort NUSTAR Resort Cebu pulled out all the stops for its recent kick-off celebration to the holiday season, featuring a grand Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. The event lived up to its title, “ NUSTAR’s Mystical Holiday Magic,” an otherworldly showcase where a kaleidoscope of butterfly decorations adorned a towering 35-foot Christmas tree, performers wowed in dazzling costumes, and a rainbow of confetti rained down on the audience.
Of all the things that glittered that night, however, none shined brighter than the smiles of the talents, particularly the young orchestra members. Shortly after the program, they converged in front of the Christmas tree to have photos taken, their faces filled with glee and perhaps relief that the big day was finally over. Some of these performers come from underprivileged backgrounds, the others orphans, who have found new life through music as students of Sistemang Pilipino, a nonprofit organization that nurtures young musical talent across Cebu and the entire country.
The Universal Cultural Foundation Inc. (UCFI) collaborated with Sistemang Pilipino as its first partner in the arts sector, as the foundation actively supports endeavors geared towards the restoration of cultural heritage and support programs on education, environment, and health. UCFI is the philanthropic arm of Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI), which owns and operates NUSTAR Resort Cebu, the homegrown
development of the Gokongwei Group.
As part of the partnership, UCFI made a significant contribution to Sistemang Pilipino, with scholarships awarded to deserving young musicians, enabling them to pursue their dreams and develop their talents. The partnership also covers performance opportunities, including the one at NUSTAR’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, supporting the philosophy of the organization that the best way to train young talents is to let them perform.
According to Katrina Mae de Jesus, NUSTAR AVP, Business Development, UCFI pushes for projects and initiatives that equip beneficiaries with the skills and opportunities that set them up for a promising future.
“We want to support Sistemang Pilipino’s students and members through scholarship grants for international studies and by helping upgrade their music centers and academies,” she said. “We also want to comount concerts to prepare them for a global audience.”
Musical training, values formation, basic needs assistance, and more
SIST eMANG Pilipino was founded in 2012 by violinist and advocate for social transformation through music, Lianne Sala. The idea came to her after watching El Sistema, a 2008 documentary about how music has transformed the lives of children in Venezuela’s most impoverished areas. The film captured the pioneering movement for social justice through music that began in the South American country in 1975 and has now spread to over 40 countries worldwide.
Sala spoke to Y2Z on the sidelines of the
event after the program. She said they are currently supporting about 100 students aged seven to 21. A third are under orchestral training, another 30 participate in children’s choir training, while the others focus on honing their skills at playing strings, covering different instruments such as bandurria, guitar, and violin.
“We provide musical training, values formation, and basic needs assistance through our partner organizations, geared towards performances to develop audiences, artists, and the community,” said Sala, a third-generation music educator and a catholic missionary. “What we also do is try to be a good moral compass to these kids, to be a good example starting with our own lives.”
Sistemang Pilipino started by working with an orphanage in Cebu City in 2013. The organization have grown steadily since then, partnering with schools and foundations. In 2019, they mounted their biggest show to date with approximately 70 students, alongside 40 musicians and teaching artists, before an audience of around 800. Then the pandemic hit. The organization continued its programs online, but saw its student population drop to four.
“Aside from having to keep our costs at a minimum given the significant decrease in donations to our program, our own students did not have sufficient internet connections or gadgets to allocate to music learning,” Sala wrote last year in an essay for The Ensemble, a communications platform that began as a monthly newsletter for the growing el Sistema community.
“Nonetheless,” she continued, “the four students who could continue were motivated and disciplined; one of them became the first Sistemang Pilipino student to pursue a college degree in music. He is now in his [third] year of studies at the University of the Philippines—Diliman. Four of our intermediate string students receive academic tuition support from our network.”
Last year, Sistemang Pilipino became an official part of the el Sistema movement worldwide. An open invitation stands for the group to send their orchestra and choir members to Venezuela. The organization is also working to deepen their relationship with schools and foundations to help more students and communities.
Sistemang Pilpino used to focus on classical music, but has shifted to a more local selection of Cebuano music, as they prepare for a major concert in May.
“The organization is an avenue for the children to express themselves and to develop their confidence,” Sala said, as Sistemang Pilipino students exchanged hugs and smiles in the background after NUSTAR’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. “It even gives some of them a purpose.”
Supporting the youth on all levels
A SIDe from their partnership with Sistemang Pilipino, NUSTAR and UCFI remain active in supporting projects that benefit the youth. The group has had collaborations with esteemed institutions, including Sacred Heart School — Ateneo de Cebu for a medical program that focuses on health and nourishment of students in underprivileged areas. They also helped build and upgrade public schools in General Santos City in South Cotabato. According to De Jesus, the NUSTAR AVP, they are also in talks with non-profit organizations that are mobilized by young leaders endeavoring to create projects on sustainability and waste management.
Championing young talents is likewise applied internally, De Jesus added, as NUSTAR prioritizes developing the team’s young and local talents.
“When the Gokongwei stakeholders invested in Cebu, it was intentional that we also create and develop talents hailing from this province. As a matter of fact, of our 1,800 full-time employees, 90% are Cebuanos, and young Cebuanos at that,” De Jesus said. “It is in our credo that we upskill and retool the Cebu talent to future-proof them as well.”
NUSTAR opened in 2022 as the Gokongwei Group’s homegrown development. It is set to become Cebu’s largest hotel complex by 2027 with a combined room inventory of 1,000 from three brands. There’s NUSTAR Hotel, an ultra-luxurious accommodation; Fili, the first and only Filipino 5-star hotel brand, developed by Robinsons Hotels and Resorts; and Grand Summit Hotel, a contemporary lifestyle accommodation for work (MICe and corporate), play (leisure), and celebrations (socials).
Music and holiday cheers cap a night to remember
THe celebration of NUSTAR’s “Mystical Holiday Magic” culminated with a special afterparty, where guests were treated to the exclusive launch of NUSTAR’s music video, “Balay ni Mayang” (https://tinyurl.com/ yc6sn5ek).
The presentation is a continuation of the “I Love Cebu” music video launched during the Sinulog festivities, and showcases the best NUSTAR has to offer. One
of which is Mall | NUSTAR, which presents a carefully curated selection of luxury fashion brands, upscale boutiques, and specialty stores.
NUSTAR also recently unveiled a “NU universe” with the new look of its NUSTAR Rewards cards. The cards have been reimagined from Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and VIP elite to Star, Sky, Sun, Zodiac, and Universe, respectively, reflecting a new galaxy of rewards
and privileges.
The new cards are now available and everyone is invited to explore the galaxy of benefits the program offers. What’s more, NUSTAR launched on November 6 the NUSTAR Rewards Mobile App, offering members a new level of convenience and control over their rewards beyond tracking points and status.
Over the coming weeks, NUSTAR will unveil more festive surprises, including
the highly anticipated “12 Days of Holiday Magic” promotion, which promises to delight guests with world-class performances by Sistemang Pilipino, ringing in an elevated weekend of music and magic. Guests can also expect daily holiday treats, enchanting decor, interactive displays, and exclusive offers across dining, shopping, and entertainment. More information is available at www.nustar.com.ph
Katrina Mae de Jesus, nustar resort Cebu a ssistant Vice President, Business development with Lian s ala, sistemang Pilipino founder
