BusinessMirror April 06, 2024

RICE PRICES SURGING AS INFLATION HITS 3.7%

By Cai U. Ordinario

RICE prices again jumped to a level last seen when the country had to grapple with supply issues caused by export bans imposed by riceproducing nations, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In March 2024, rice inflation accelerated to 24.4 percent, the highest since the 24.6 percent posted in February 2009. The highest rice prices recorded was 36.4 percent in July 2008.

PSA said the country’s overall inflation rate was at 3.7 percent in March 2024, faster than the 3.4 percent posted in February 2024. However, inflation was slower compared to the 7.6 percent posted in March 2023.

“So, [the] expectation [is], it will actually increase strongly until sometime July because of base effects, unless there is really some intervention in the market [that will suddenly ease the] pressure. We don’t seen any of that now,” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a briefing on Friday, speaking partly in Filipino.

Asked if there is a possibility that rice prices will exceed the 15-year high, Mapa said he would rather wait for the new data to be released in the next few months before he can comment.

Nonetheless, data showed rice prices have been increasing in the double digits since September 2023, when rice prices increased 17.9 percent and started the year with a rice inflation of 22.6 percent.

Rice prices have been rising since January 2022 at 1 percent from the 0.1 deflation in December 2021 and 0.3 percent increase in January 2021. The PSA said regular-milled, well-milled, and special rice categories all exhibited double-digit increases year-on-year and singledigit growth month-on-month.

“[In our] overall inflation for all income at 3.7 percent, rice inflation contributed 1.8 percentage points, about 48 percent of overall inflation. As for inflation for the bottom 30 percent, dito talaga malaki [this is really big],” Mapa said. “To the inflation for the bottom 30 percent of 4.6 percent, as reported earlier, the rice inflation contributed 3.7 percentage points.

So, its contribution to the March 2024 overall inflation is about 80 percent,” he added. Mapa said regular milled rice increased 28.1 percent to P51.11 per kilo in March 2024 from P39.90 per kilo in March 2023. On a month-on-month basis, there was a 1.3-percent increase from the P50.44 per kilo average in February 2024.

In terms of well-milled rice, prices grew 27.6 percent to P56.44 per kilo last month from P44.23 per kilo in the same period last year.

On a monthly basis, the growth was 0.9 percent from P55.93 per kilo in February 2024.

Special rice prices, meanwhile, increased 19.9 percent to P64.75 per kilo in March 2024 from P54 per kilo in March 2023. Compared to February 2024, special rice prices increased 0.5 percent from P64.42 per kilo.

BSP’s outlook, NG’s tracking “INFLATION could temporarily accelerate above the target range in the next two quarters of the year due to the possible impact of adverse weather conditions to domestic agricultural output and positive base effects,” the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said, however, that the national government is monitoring weather conditions and their effects on the supply of key commodities, particularly food and energy. The PSA said food and transport prices were considered the top causes for faster inflation. In terms of transport prices, PSA data showed it increased 2.1 percent on the back of a 3-percent increase in passenger transport services.

NATIONAL Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa

Currency angst going global as strong dollar vexes markets

By Ruth Carson, Carter Johnson, Anya Andrianova &Naomi Tajitsu | Bloomberg News

Aresurgent US dollar is exasperating central bankers and governments around the world, forcing them into action to relieve the pressure on their own currencies.

From Tokyo to Istanbul, policymakers are stepping in to defend exchange rates with both words and deeds as a resilient American economy conspires to keep the greenback strong by pushing back expectations for lower US interest rates.

The greenback has gained against virtually every major peer in 2024, defying many on Wall Street who came into the year predicting a dollar selloff. That’s prompted escalating warnings from Japan on its readiness to intervene to buoy the yen from near a 34-year low. Turkey blindsided markets with a rate hike to boost the lira, China and Indonesia have moved to steady their currencies, while Sweden and India are also under pressure.

Those intensifying efforts are reminiscent of 2022 when officials in Switzerland and Canada lamented their weakening exchange rates amid a surge in inflation and the strong dollar ripped through emerging economies, contributing to Sri Lanka’s historic default. Today, countries burdened by foreign debt remain at risk, with the Maldives and Bolivia particularly vulnerable if dollar strength persists.

“The US dollar keeps turning up the heat on other central banks,” said Helen Given, a foreign-exchange trader at Monex. “Given the current global environment where central banks appear to be looking to end their tightening cycles, there doesn’t seem to be a safe way out from the dollar’s continued dominance.”

Just months ago, a recession in the US seemed all but inevitable. Instead, data show the nation benefiting from a tight labor market, upbeat consumer mood and government subsidies for manufacturing, prompting investors to rapidly reassess their expectations for interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Traders are now pricing under three quarter-point cuts in 2024, down from wagers for over 150 basis points of easing at the start of the year, helping lift a Bloomberg gauge of the dollar more than 2% this year—and pummeling everything from the Indian rupee to the Nigerian naira, which both fell to record lows.

“This is a story of pure US exceptionalism,” said Stephen Miller, a four-decade markets veteran and consultant at Grant Samuel Funds

INVESTORS boost bullish bets on the greenback. BLOOMBERG Management Pty. in Sydney. “Buying the dollar remains the number one trade.”

“As the US dollar continues to hold up relatively well, the yuan and yen will remain in the spotlight. Excessive moves will keep the authorities vigilant, but with messaging to limit currency weakness, volatility will likely stay subdued,” said Bloomberg strategist Mary Nicola.

That has the world’s central banks playing defense.

Japan last week warned of “bold action” to bolster the yen, which remains on the cusp of 152 per dollar—a level that many traders view as a line in the sand. Indonesia has repeatedly intervened in interbank, forwards and bond markets to lift its rupiah. And with China’s yuan at the bottom of its permitted trading band against the dollar, investors are on watch for more forceful pushback, following tweaks to the currency’s daily reference rate. The yuan has acted as a drag on other Asian currencies, including India’s rupee.

Other nations are looking to monetary policy to support their currencies. Turkey unexpectedly hiked interest rates last month, while Swedish officials have said a weaker krona could delay its first move to ease.

Exchange rates matter because depreciating currencies in-

crease the cost of imported goods, stoking inflation as those expenses feed through to prices in grocery stores and factories. Meanwhile, there’s a higher likelihood that money will pour out of a nation with a weak currency in search of higher yields elsewhere—so-called capital flight—harming domestic investment and growth.

The irony, of course, is that unilaterally intervening in currency markets—where $7.5 trillion changes hands every day—can only temporarily alter an exchange rate.

“They’re trying to buy time,” Rajeev De Mello, global macro portfolio manager at Gama Asset Management SA, said of central banks and government intervention in currency markets. “If we start having more doubts about rate cuts by the Fed, then there’s no point in intervening—volatility will go up and the intent will be meaningless.”

While markets still expect the Fed to ease policy this year, not everyone is convinced even that will bring relief in currency markets.

Central banks are about to embark on their most synchronized rate-cutting cycle since 2008, and such a scenario bodes well for the dollar, as the US policy rate is set to remain one of the highest among major developed economies this year.

“The other thing besides intervention that we will see, and we’re already seeing, is a willingness to get ahead of the Fed in terms of easing,” said Carmen Reinhart, professor at Harvard Kennedy School and former World Bank chief economist. “I think they’ll be more shy about doing that if they’re worried about the currency.”

With all the jawboning from global policymakers, “we are seeing acknowledgment from central banks that the Fed cuts are not necessarily going to provide a relief, at least from the currency side of things,” said Michael Cahill, a foreign-exchange analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Investors are also buying into that new reality, adding to bets on dollar strength in recent weeks. A gauge of non-commercial trader positions—a group that includes asset managers as well as hedge funds and other speculative market players — is now the most long since 2022, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission through March 26 show.

For Ed Al-Hussainy, it’s all a sign that the strong greenback is here to stay.

“There’s only one developed currency trade to rule them all,” the rates strategist at Columbia Threadneedle Investment said. “Long the dollar.”

Rice prices surging as inflation hits 3.7%

Mapa said the main culprit was tricycle prices in Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR), where the average fare increased to P17.80 in March 2024 from P17.5 in March 2023 and P17.72 in February 2024.

“If you recall, on Tuesday of the Holy Week, prices of gasoline, diesel went up. So, that’s part of it. So, really from month to month, there’s an increase in prices of oil products, gasoline, diesel,” Mapa said. Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the government will closely monitor food and energy prices moving forward. Secretary Balisacan said these efforts

are crucial in protecting Filipino households from sudden price increases. These efforts, Balisacan said, include assistance to farmers adversely affected by the drought—being done through the Department of Agriculture—and ensuring sufficient water supply of farmers. “To ensure sufficient water supply and support our farmers during the dry season, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been tasked with monitoring water supply in the country,” Balisacan said. The government’s chief economic planner also reported that preparations for La Niña are starting. These measures aim to ensure food and energy security, availability of clean water supply, and public

health and safety.

Moreover, to ease the burden of high electricity prices on vulnerable Filipinos, eligible consumers can receive a 100 percent discount on their monthly bills through the government’s Lifeline Rate program. As of January 2024, 4.9 percent of the 4.6 million Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries have registered for the program.

As confirmed in a full Cabinet meeting held on April 3, 2024, the Development Budget Coordination Committee retains its target range for inflation at 2.0 to 4.0 percent for 2024 until 2028. The committee remains optimistic that the monetary and non-monetary measures will rein in commodity prices and prevent future surges.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Recto counsels taxpayers: Heed April 15 deadline to avoid penalty

ABy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

HEAD of the April 15 deadline for filing

and paying for the 2023 annual income tax, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto urged taxpayers to settle their taxes on time to avoid any penalties.

In a statement on Thursday, Recto assured taxpayers that the government has made certain the filing and payment of their taxes with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) have become “easier than ever.”

“You have an indispensable role to play in our nation’s progress. Our ability to steer the country forward is largely dependent on your cooperation,” the Finance chief stressed.

Under the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act, the filing of tax returns and payments of taxes was made easier through online channels and authorized agent banks (AABs).

Banks will operate beyond working days, specifically on Saturdays, April 6 and 13, and will extend banking hours up to 5 p.m. until April 15, to accept tax returns/payment, as instructed by the BIR.

Taxes can also be paid through certain e-wallets, such as Maya, and online payment portals, such as the Landbank Link.BizPortal and MyEG—a provider of e-government solutions and payment services.

The BIR E-Filing Tax Assistance Center is also open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until April 15, at the BIR National Training Center (NTC) Auditorium to further assist taxpayers.

The BIR has set its goal to collect P405.948 billion this April, higher by 20.80 percent than the P338.02 billion collected in the same month last year.

This is the highest collection goal among all the months of the year as tax season falls within the month.

Broken down, the BIR aims to collect P198.803 billion from taxes on net income and profits and P124.642 billion from valueadded tax (VAT).

The main tax collecting agency also targets to collect P28.907 billion from excise taxes, P27.525 billion from percentage taxes, and P20.437 billion from other taxes.

For 2024, the BIR is tasked to collect a total of P3.055 trillion in revenues, the bulk coming from its operations at P2.967 trillion and P88.014 billion from non-BIR operations.

Recto said these revenues will fuel a “more inclusive and sustainable Philippine economy marked by lower poverty rates, increased infrastructure and human capital investments, more quality jobs for our people, and improved public services.”

The national government aims to collect a record P4.3 trillion in revenues this year, the bulk to be generated by the BIR while the Bureau of Customs (BOC) aims for P1 trillion in earnings.

Earlier, Recto said the Department of Finance (DOF) will not push for new taxes as the BIR and BOC would rely on better performance to generate funds for the state through “creativity, transparency, and efficiency” in tax and customs administration.

Nonetheless, Recto said he would continue to pursue and “refine” the tax proposals started already by the DOF.

These reforms include the Value-added Tax (VAT) on non-resident Digital Service Providers (DSPs); the Imposition of Excise Tax on Single-use Plastics (SUPs); Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP); the Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime; and the Reform on the Motor Vehicle Users’ Charge (MVUC).

‘All about rice’: Inflation busters should focus on rice production

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda said Friday that with the recorded increase of inflation in March, the government’s gameplan to help ease the burden of rising prices of basic commodities should be focused on rice production.

Salceda, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that food inflation accounts for 57 percent of the total inflation in March, which saw an increase in overall inflation to 3.7 percent from the previous month’s 3.4 percent.

“As I said last month, once again, it’s all about rice. Food inflation accounts for some 57 percent of the total inflation this March. Without the abnormal price of rice in the global market, inflation would have been closer to 3.1 percent, which is well within acceptable range,” Salceda said in a statement.

Salceda explained that corn prices, as well as the cost of fish,

vegetables, bread and even bread, are declining.

“The gameplan must be focused on rice,” he declared.

“Because rice is the greatest driver of overall prices, and rice requires the most irrigation of all major crops, the greatest upside risk to inflation moving forward is El Nino,” he continued. He lauded the efforts of the Department of Agriculture in helping farmers increase agricultural production, citing progress in the area of delivering programs such as the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

“Secretary Tiu-Laurel has been more aggressive with distributing rice production support this quarter. He has brought machinery distribution, for example, to about 92 percent of target. The P12-billion rice farmer financial assistance is also set to be completed this June—again, just in time for planting,” Salceda added.

“The Philippine Crop Insurance

Corporation has also begun to issue indemnity insurance payments to farmers affected by drought,” he added.

All of these efforts, Salceda said, will reap benefits for farmers in the future.

“There is significant progress being made in the DA, and his governance cleanup of the NFA will also help make cheap rice available to the poor, as well as provide a better market for rice farmers,” he expressed.

As it is the dry season, Salceda advised farmers to stock up on water as a valuable resource during the long dry spell.

“In the instances where it is available, we should be able to impound water. Farmers with on-farm reservoir systems tend to endure El Nino better—not to mention providing additional opportunities in fish production,” he said.

TBy Samuel P. Medenilla

HE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that a fourth overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was injured from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake which rocked Taiwan last Wednesday.

Salceda noted Pagasa’s forecast that the droughts will begin in May, and the rain that will be experienced this month should provide ample opportunity to impound water.

“We will still see some rain— so we should impound that. The worst droughts will be in May, with the hardest-hit regions being Central Luzon and Bicol. But models suggest that El Nino will taper off in June,” the lawmaker from Albay said.

“Over the long term, we must address the fragility of the country’s food systems. President Marcos has been clocking in very strong rice harvest figures—and recorded the biggest harvest in history in 2023. The path forward with rice is to address pre-harvest costs and post-harvest losses, while making the system more resilient from trade shocks and adverse climate conditions.”

“That also makes them less reliant on large-scale irrigation projects, which, while optimal, tend to take years to complete.”

DMW: 4th Pinoy worker injured in Taiwan quake, but none yet in Japan

Cacdac said.

“The DMW Migrant Workers Offices in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung continue monitoring the situation and will provide assistance to OFWs who need assistance,”

In a social media post, DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans J. Cacdac said the OFW was hospitalized after suffering from minor injuries.  He said the OFW has been discharged from the medical facility.

Last Thursday, DMW reported on the cases of the first three OFWs who suffered minor injuries in the aftermath of the quake in Taiwan.  They were from Taipei, Taoyuan City, and Tainan county.

In a related development, DMW also said it has no report of any Filipino casualty from the magnitude 6.0 earthquake, which jolted Japan on Thursday.

It noted the government is closely monitoring the status of Filipinos in Japan after the quake. Citing data from Japan’s Ministry of Justice, DMW said there are 69,406 Filipinos with working visas in Japan as of December 15, 2023.

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Trilateral of US-PHL-Japan to focus on economies, but SCS part of agenda

TBy Samuel P. Medenilla

HE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the historic trilateral Philippine-Japan-United States (US) meeting next week will focus on economic cooperation, but will also tackle the growing tension in the South China Sea.

In a press conference in Malacañang on Friday, Hans Mohaimin Siriban, DFA Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Association of Southeast Asian Affairs (ASEAN), said the meeting in the US shows the deepening relations among the three countries.

The trilateral dialogue of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be held in Washington in the US on April 11, 2024.

“This trilateral cooperation aims to add value to the existing and prospective areas

of work, especially in the economy and the economic security in order to amplify and sustain the momentum of growth in the Philippines and the resilience of the Filipino people,” Siriban said.

Security matters

THE dialogue will cover multiple issues including inclusive economic growth, developing critical and emerging technologies, climate change cooperation and clean energy, supply chains, as well as promoting peace and security in the region.

“But, of course, that’s not to say we—the security environment will also have to be taken into consideration because for economic resilience and economic growth to happen, we also have to take into account the peace and security of the region,” Siriban explained.

“This trilateral summit is significant and helps further promote dialogue and peace in

the [Indo-Pacific] region. These are countries that share the Philippines’ goal in promoting an international rules-based order and to promote peace and stability in the region,” he added.

A joint vision statement will be issued by the three leaders, which “identifies common principles that guide the trilateral partnership.”

Siriban said the scheme for the trilateral cooperation is still being developed and will complement existing mechanisms in the region such as the Asean.

Alignment of views

THE trilateral meeting was hosted by the US amid China’s growing aggression in the South China Sea, particularly after a ship of its coast guard blasted a Philippine supply ship, which injured its crew last month.

DFA said China’s activities within the West Philippine Sea, the country’s maritime

DBM releases ₧49B to DSWD for 4-M indigent seniors’ allowance

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released over P49 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to cover the

monthly allowance for more than 4 million indigent senior citizens.

In a statement on Friday, the DBM said it allocated a total of P49.807 billion, which

territory in the SCS, will also be tackled in the meeting.

“I think we can expect a discussion on the recent incidents on—of course, the joint vision statement is still under discussion, but we can expect an alignment of views among the three countries on the recent incidents on the West Philippine Sea,” Siriban said.

China has assailed the US for its interventions in the Indo-Pacific region arising from the latter’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines.

Siriban said the Philippines is ready to engage in dialogues with countries, which will oppose trilateral cooperation.

Aside from the trilateral dialogue, Marcos is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Biden as well as engagement with business leaders while he is in the US until April 12, 2024.

was released as early as January this year, to fund the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) Program of the DSWD.

Under the pension program, indigent senior citizens will receive a monthly stipend of P1,000, as determined by the DSWD.

The P49-billion budget under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is higher by 96.83 percent, or P24.5 billion, almost double the P25.30 billion it released in the previous year for the same pension program.

The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPIC) Program, through Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, provides for an additional government assistance of P500 monthly allowance to augment the daily expenses and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens. The fund aims to alleviate hunger and protect them from deprivation, neglect, or abuse.

Senior citizens’ monthly pension has doubled to P1,000 from P500 under the Social Pension for Indigent Seniors Act (RA 11916) enacted in July 2022.

Eligible recipients must be 60 years old and above, frail and sickly, and without pensions from other government sources, such as the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Social Security System (SSS), and private insurance companies.

The pensioners should also not have a regular source of income or support from family or relatives to cover their basic needs.

“We recognize the challenges faced by the elderly and understand the importance of providing timely assistance to alleviate their hardships. The prompt release of this budget allows us to make a tangible difference in their lives,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman was quoted in the statement as saying.

The DBM noted that the released fund is chargeable against DSWD’s built-in appropriations under the FY 2024 GAA.

Based on the state’s document, the DSWD was allotted a total of P245.043 billion budget in 2024 for general administration and support, support to operations, and operations, under the GAA.

Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

Govt tracks El Niño impact on vulnerable sectors as March inflation hits 3.7%

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

AS higher food prices drove the inflation rate to increase in March, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the government is monitoring the effects of El Niño in vulnerable sectors to mitigate inflation.

The Department of Finance (DOF) said that despite the effects of El Niño in March, the government maintained the inflation rate within the target band at 3.7 percent due to “vigorous” implementation of measures that ensured “sufficient” imports of key commodities and “improved” agricultural production.

“The Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook is all hands on deck in monitoring weather-related disturbances as well as other external factors and their effects on the prices of essential goods to protect Filipinos’ purchasing power,” Recto assured the public.

The food inflation rate was tempered by the slower price increases of eggs and other dairy products at 2.3 percent from 3.5 percent, fruits at 7.9 percent from 8.7 percent, bread and other cereals at 4.6 percent from 5.1 percent, and ready-made food products at 4.3 percent from 4.6 percent.

A decline in prices was also recorded for fish at -0.9 percent from 0.7 percent, vegetables at -2.5 percent from -11.0 percent, and sugar at -2.9 percent from -2.4 percent.

“Rest assured, we are doubling down on our efforts to address the ongoing El Niño situation while actively preparing for the anticipated La Niña phenomenon in the latter part of the year,” Recto said.

The Finance department laid out the national government’s interventions to ensure food and energy security, clean water supply, and public health safety, as well as targeted support to vulnerable sectors of El Niño and the looming La Niña.

Among these is the Department of

Agriculture’s (DA) Fertilizer Discount Vouchers (FDVs) continuously provided to farmers to boost agricultural production.

The DOF also said the DA is supporting the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, targeted cloud seeding operations, and the promotion of water-saving technology that rice farmers can apply to reduce their water use in irrigated fields.

Farmers also received P362.56 million in financial assistance through the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA).

The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) also allotted P500 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program to assist 20,000 borrowers, including farmers and fisherfolk, who will be affected by calamities in 2024, the DOF added.

Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration is expanding the distribution of solar-powered irrigation systems to major rice-producing areas to provide stable irrigation, ensure sufficient water supply, and support farmers during the drought season. Water regulatory bodies, such as the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), are undertaking programs to provide sufficient water supply in the country amidst El Niño.

In terms of electricity prices, the DOF said the government is encouraging distribution utilities to avail themselves of the Anti-Bill Shock Program to protect end-users from a sudden increase in electricity rates by allowing electric cooperatives to implement rate adjustments on a staggered basis.

To protect the marginalized sector from the burden of high electricity prices, eligible consumers can receive a 100-percent discount on their monthly bills through the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program of the government, the DOF added.

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In Taiwan, a group is battling fake news one conversation at a time, with focus on seniors

By Huizhong Wu | The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Their days of-

ten began at the crack of dawn. They’d head out to a church, a temple, a park and set up a stall. They’d seek out seniors in particular, those who are perhaps the most vulnerable citizens of the information-saturated society that has enveloped them. To get people to stop and listen, they’d offer free bars of soap—a metaphor for the scrubbing that they were undertaking.

They’d talk to people, ask them about their lives and their media consumption habits. They’d ask: How has fake news hurt you? They’d teach techniques to punch through the static, to see the illogic in conspiracy theories, to find the facts behind the false narratives that can sometimes shape our lives.

Nearly six years later, with just one formal employee and a team of volunteers, Fake News Cleaner has hosted more than 500 events, connecting with college students, elementary-school children—and the seniors that, some say, are the most vulnerable to such efforts. Its people are filling up lecture halls and becoming a key voice in an effort as pressing here as anywhere: scrubbing Taiwan of disinformation and the problems it causes, one case at a time.

Like any democratic society, Taiwan is flooded with assorted types of disinformation. It touches every aspect of a person’s life, from conspiracy theories on vaccines to health claims aimed at promoting supplements to rumors about major Taiwanese companies leaving the island.

Despite its very public nature, disinformation has a deeply personal impact—particularly among Taiwan’s older people. It thrives in the natural gaps between people that come from generational differences and a constantly updating tech landscape, then enlarges those gaps to cause rifts.

“They have no way to communicate,” says Melody Hsieh, who cofounded the group with Shu-huai Chang in 2018. “This entire society is being torn apart, and this is a terrible thing.”

Taiwan is already home to several established fact-checking organizations. There’s Co-Facts, a well known AI-driven fact-checking bot founded by a group of civic hackers. There are the Taiwan Fact Check Center and MyGoPen. But such organizations presume that you’re at least somewhat tech-savvy—that you can find a fact-check organization’s website or add a fact-checking bot.

Yet many of the people most affected are the least tech-savvy. Fake News Cleaner believes addressing this gap requires an oldschool approach: going offline. At the heart of the group’s work is approaching people with patience and respect while educating them

Solon finds way to improve health care access for seniors

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

The chairman of the house

Committee on Ways and Means said on Wednesday that the lower chamber is now working to provide a comprehensive approach, including exploration of a separate insurance fund under Philhealth, to address the challenges faced by senior citizens, particularly in accessing health care.

necessities and the little pleasures that come with dignified old age,” he added.

According to Salceda, the average monthly income for seniors stands at a mere P3,000, pushing nearly half of them below the poverty line.

He said the enormity of the challenge is further underscored by the staggering welfare gap estimated at P9.1 trillion, representing the amount needed to afford all seniors a decent standard of living.

In response to these pressing issues, Salceda, along with House Committee on Senior Citizens Chairman Rodolfo Ordanes and Special Committee on Persons with Disabilities Chairman Alfel Bascug, has been actively addressing various aspects of senior citizen needs, recognizing that the solution extends beyond healthcare alone.

tions like PhilHealth are predominantly directed.

Salceda acknowledged the inadequacy of PhilHealth’s existing packages in addressing these needs, calling for the exploration of a separate insurance fund under PhilHealth, tailored to seniors’ unique risk profiles.

“The unfilled gap is in acute or catastrophic health care. Without insurance, such medical expenses can be ruinous for ordinary families with senior citizens. The very limited case rates under PhilHealth’s existing packages simply won’t do,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Salceda remains optimistic, citing the availability of fiscal resources for health that are yet to be fully utilized.

about the algorithms and norms that drive the platforms they use. Hsieh says she was moved after seeing too many instances of division because of fake news: a couple that divorced, a mom who kicked her kid out of the house. Many such stories surfaced in 2018 when Taiwan held a national referendum on a number of social issues including on nuclear energy, sex education, and gay marriage.

At their second-ever event, Hsieh and Chang met a victim of fake news. A vegetable seller told them he’d lost sales because people had read that the vegetable fern he planted and sold, known locally as guomao, caused cancer. Business faded, and the vendor had to sell off part of his land. For a year, even restaurants didn’t order from him. Keep up the work, he told them— it’s needed.

At a community center hosted by Bangkah Church in Taipei’s Wanhua neighborhood, a crowd of seniors listen to 28-year old Tseng Yu-huan speak on behalf of Fake News Cleaner.

The attendees, many of whom come daily to the church’s college for seniors, are learning why fake news is so compelling. Tseng shows them some sensational headlines. One: A smoothie mix of sweet potato leaves and milk was said to be a detox drink. Another: rumors that Covid-19 was being spread from India because of dead bodies in rivers. He used mostly examples from Line, a Korean messaging app popular in Taiwan.

With just one formal employee and a team of volunteers, Fake News Cleaner has combed Taiwan’s churches, temples, small fishing villages and parks, spreading awareness. While they started with a focus on seniors, the group has also lectured at colleges and even elementary schools. Early on, to catch their target audience, Hsieh and her co-founders would get to the hiking trails near her home by 5 a.m. to set up a stall while offering free bars of soap to entice people to stop and listen.

Now the group has a semesterlong course at a community college in Kaohsiung, in addition to their lectures all across Taiwan, from fishing villages to community centers.

Fake News Cleaner avoids politics and takes no funding from the government or political parties. This is because of Taiwan’s highly polarized political environment, where media outlets are often referred to by the color of the political party they back. Instead, the group focuses lectures on everyday topics like health and diet or economic scams.

The key is to teach people to think about what they’re consuming, and not just reading a fact-checked article. “What we are dealing with is not about true or false,” says Tseng, the teacher. “It’s actually about family relationships and tech.”

In a recent statement, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda emphasized the importance of tackling health care access alongside other facets of senior citizen welfare.

“The problem of access to senior citizen health care is structural, but it should be addressed alongside

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Lother issues with senior citizen welfare,” he said.

“The core of the SC welfare issue is how to address [1] increasing needs for specialized services with [2] reduced personal incomes due to retirement. That naturally produces a gap in personal capacity to finance not just health care but even basic

A significant portion of the welfare gap, amounting to 18 percent, or P1.64 trillion, pertains specifically to healthcare financing, said Salceda.

Within this gap, Salceda identified chronic conditions requiring primary and supportive health care, areas where resources from institu-

“I am exploring a separate insurance fund under PhilHealth to address this gap. The risk profile is different, so the fund also has to be different,” he added.

With approximately P40 billion in excess funds, alongside reserves from PhilHealth, he said there exists an opportunity to bolster seniors’ health insurance systems and alleviate their financial burdens.

indigent seniors get pension in Camarines Sur

By Connie Calipay

CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development-5 (Bicol) has released the social pension of nearly 4,000 indigent senior citizens in Camarines Sur.

In an interview on Monday, Jastine Joy Dichoso Escuro, DSWD-5 social pension information officer, said the qualified seniors received a P6,000 assistance each, covering six months during a payout from March 24 to 26.

“Since the increase of the social pension from P500 to P1,000, the senior citizens in Ragay town in Camarines Sur have received the first payout in the region. There are currently four local government units [LGUs] from Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte scheduled for payout this April, with ongoing processing of other LGUs,” Escuro said.

“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”—Plato

IN the late ’80s, my young family was finally able to move to a house we could now call our own. It was just the standard single-story, low-ceiling bungalow type in a typical subdivision. But to us it was already an astounding upgrade from the cramped dilapidated apartment we lived in for almost 10 years.

Since then, we’ve always been a small home dwelling family.

Without any false modesty, I used to always say to friends, “our home is so small.” One time, my wife’s “balikbayan” relative and husband made an unexpected visit, and while we were chatting, I could detect their eyes wan-

She said the assistance given by the national government was intended for the elderlies’ sustenance and medical support. The eligible beneficiaries are senior citizens who are indigent or have a disability, those who are frail, sickly, or without any regular income or support from their family or relatives, not receiving any pensions from the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association Inc. (AFPMBAI), or any private insurance company.Escuro said 288,155 indigent senior citizens are qualified to receive social pension benefits in the Bicol region. The social pension program implementers require beneficiaries to be available at home for proper identification during validation, a media release of the DSWD-5 said. PNA

piggy bank, so to speak.

By Nick Tayag

dering around our little house, and at the end, probably decided not to stay over after quickly sizing it up. Half-joking, I told my wife, our small house is a good deterrent against unwanted guests. But what our house lacks in size has been more than compensated by positive comments from friends and relatives. A few have told us that they love how cozy and welcoming our home feels, which is such a huge compliment, much to my surprise and to the delight of my wife who was born with an innate good taste and design acumen. There was one time when we considered the idea of moving out to a bigger 2-storey house. But we soon perished the thought. I’m glad we did. For one, the mortgage would have broken our small

It turns out that “small home living” has now become a new trend abroad. More and more retirees now opt to downsize to smaller houses. In fact, 40 percent of current tiny house owners are 50 or older, according to SeniorPlanet.org.

One Seniors Real Estate Specialist explains the trend towards small-home living: “Old people just want to have a simple life; they don’t want complications.” She adds: “You know their first request? They don’t want anything two-story.”

All of sudden, our 30-year-old tiny single-story house with its no-frills interiors is just the right size! It qualifies as a “boutique senior home.” I can’t wait to brag about this new development to my friends who now whine about the problems of living in their big expensively maintained houses.

Now that my wife and I are advancing in age, we’ve fully embraced “la vida pequeña.”

Let me cite a few of the “whys” of loving it.

We never had a big toilet and bathroom, just a basic functional one that is safe. As everybody knows, more accidents happen in bathrooms. Especially for elderly people, every trip to the bathroom can be a risky proposition. This is why my mobility-challenged wife is now all praises for our small and compact toilet/bathroom. She uses the bathroom wall to support and steady herself, no need for installing handlebars.

Since our house was built on a single level, it is so easy to navigate. The moving distance between bedroom, lounge and bathroom is much minimized. It also makes us avoid the challenges that come with big cavernous homes, such as stairs or long corridors. Whenever I see

my wife having a hard time walking, I realize the advantages of living in a house that has no second story.

house like ours means

it encourages us

I are watching TV, I can hear our youngest son talking to his online competitor in a computer game in the other room. A slight holler from us and he would come running towards us.

The important thing is, be it ever so humble, it feels like home. I am grateful for the simplicity of living in a small home that’s loved and fully lived in, which is exactly how a home should be. As one meme puts it: “Less house, more home.”

Now I can look back and truly say “less is more.” Most of all, the senior version of myself is now thanking God for not giving my younger self an upsized ego that would certainly have yearned for a large house.

Volunteers of Fake news Cleaner guide students through the lIne app to identify fake news during a class in Kaohsiung City, southern taiwan on March 16, 2023. An anti-misinformation group in taiwan called Fake news Cleaner has hosted more than 500 events, connecting with college students, elementary-school children—and the seniors that, some say, are the most vulnerable to such efforts. AP Photo/ChiAng Ying-Ying

Photo CourtesY of

Education

DepEd: ‘Catch-Up Fridays’ stays, more interventions set in place

THE Department of Education (DepEd) will provide more interventions for teachers and learners who encounter challenges in the implementation of “Catch-up Fridays.”

In a TV interview, Education Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said the agency is in the process of collating feedback on the ground, in response to calls to halt the program which is in its third month of implementation.

Among the cited challenges are related to learners’ materials, scheduling, time allotment, and proper categorizing of learners based on their abilities.

In Filipino, Bringas said that the Bureau of Learning Development is preparing proper interventions for the concerns, especially in having structured class or structured implementation of reading activities.

He also addressed claims that the program causes “tardiness” in some learners, as he said it is just a matter of providing them with a wider selection of reading materials.

“While…‘Catch-up Fridays’ [is

EDUCATOR Dr. Marian Patricia Bea Francisco, the first Filipino editorial-board member of the American Annals of the Deaf (AAD), continues her mission of championing the value of research in improving the lives of the hearing impaired.

Dr. Francisco was recently reappointed as an editorial board member of the publication, which she first joined as part of its committee in 2021.

First published in 1847 by the Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, AAD is the oldest and most widely read English-language journal dedicated to the deaf and the hard of hearing children and adults.

The professional quarterly periodical is the Council of American Instructors of the Deaf and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf’s organ. It covers a wide range of topics: communication methods and strategies, language progress, parent-child relationships, teacher training, as well as mainstreaming and residential schools, among others.

Dr. Francisco was invited by the editor, who commended her constructive performance and evalu -

LEADING data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital operations and solutions firm

EXL has announced that it has more than a thousand Philippine nurses who have obtained their United States Registered Nurse accreditations.

“In an era where data-driven insights play a crucial role in shaping the future of health care, EXL seeks to foster international collaboration by training skilled Filipino professionals to bridge the gap between available skills and the growing needs of medical institutions in the US and elsewhere in the world,” said EXL senior vice-president and Philippines country head Jaideep Pradhan. “We now have more than 1,100 graduates at EXL working for our clients.”

a non-graded activity, we want to inculcate the] culture of reading in the schools,” Bringas added.

Likewise, the DepEd official reiterated that the materials must not cause additional cost to teachers, parents or learners, with the availability resources that can be utilized in schools.

The DepEd started “Catch-up Fridays” on January 12, aimed at empowering learners’ capacity in reading, writing, critical thinking, and analysis, among others.

Teachers’ benefits

MEANWHILE, Bringas said the DepEd plans to lobby for funding of additional benefits for teachers, the proposals of which will be included in the upcoming budget deliberation. The department, he said, is pushing to include in the new budget proposal the overload and overtime pay for teachers, subject to guidelines.

Besides pushing for additional benefits, the assistant secretary also vowed to improve deployment and the workload of teachers.

The DepEd earlier opened positions for non-teaching staff to reduce the administrative load of teachers so they could focus on actual classroom functions.

Amid these challenges, Bringas admitted that there has been a decline in teachers’ population: “Over the past two years, [we have observed that many, in all regions,

ation. The latter urged her to formally join the panel alongside mentors and experts from diverse global colleges and universities.

Motivated by the belief that assessing articles is her service for the betterment of the field, she continues to bring her training in critiquing to determine the submitted articles’ quality, and provide key points to guide the entrants in improving their works.

“I would like to think I am helping change the world, one manuscript

Pradhan is “extremely proud that as of [the fourth quarter of 2023, our passing rate is at 80.82 percent, which is higher than the global passing rate of 69.33 percent, giving our scholars the highest chance of passing the National Council Licensure Examination or] NCLEX. These milestones signify the growing impact of our efforts to cultivate a work force adept at navigating the complexities of health-care analytics and addressing the industry’s evolving demands.” EXL has an established Healthcare Academy dedicated to learning and development programs for clinical and non-clinical employees. Launched in 2014, the program is designed to aid and enhance the learning for employees, boosting their responsiveness to

at a time,” she shared.

As a published scholar and research coordinator herself, she understands that research is a purpose-driven discipline that derives motivation and curiosity. She also dreams that more works on the Filipino deaf will be recognized in the international scene.

Dr. Francisco, who is the current director of the Center for Deaf Esteem and Formation at the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, highlighted that the institution is empowered to advocate and collaborate with the deaf community to document milestones that are integral in history.

“This is to generate more knowledge in the field of Filipino deaf education and to utilize deaf-appropriate teaching and learning methods supported by empirical research,” she explained. “It will help improve the education, programs and services for the Filipino deaf, as well as their quality of life.”

The educator likewise wishes that others will appreciate, value, and be more open to research, and not only see it as an end-product, but as a means to the end.

“What we do with gathered in -

are going abroad.] They are availing of the exchange-course program.”

To date, the DepEd recorded a shortage of 55,000 teachers for Academic Year 2023-2024’s enrollment.

He however assured that more applicants are still coming to public schools, and that the country is not running out of supply for teacher-applicants, as there are immediate replacements to be readily sourced.

Stephanie Sevillano/PNA

SBy Roderick L. Abad

EEING the huge potential of the beauty and wellness industry here and abroad, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is calling for further capacitybuilding in this sector that will not only open business and employment opportunities, but also bring aesthetic services to more people.

“The increasing demand and standards for aesthetic and beauty-care services present a great opportunity for Filipino workers and entrepreneurs to capitalize on the trend,” said Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu, who is Tesda’s director general.

Leveraging on such, the agency created last year the competency benchmarks in “Aesthetic Services Level III,” according to Mangudadatu.

“Tesda, with its commitment to providing quality technical education, has developed these competency standards with the industry to increase the country’s capability in providing quality training, and produce workers with the necessary skills to thrive in the field of aesthetic services,” he noted.

The Tesda chief likewise urged the country’s training hubs to start catering to training programs on the qualification: “I encourage training centers to use these standards as the bases in offering their Aesthetic Services Level III courses. This industry is among the emerging contributors

formation is more important than the… presentations and citations we have,” she added. “Research results should be shared, reflected on, and applied. What good is knowledge if it is not shared for the good of all?” Decorated

DR. FRANCISCO, whose advocacy likewise includes volunteerism and community involvement, is also the first Filipino Gold Recipient of the prestigious “Duke of Edinburgh International Award.” Established in 1956 by the late Prince Philip, who is the erstwhile Duke of Edinburgh, the distinction encourages the younger generation to foster “a sense of responsibility to themselves and their communities.” She earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education (Special Education) and Master of Arts in Education (Reading Education) from the University of the PhilippinesDiliman, then finished her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from Columbia University in New York. Her research interests delve into deaf literacy, multiliteracies, multimodalities, inclusion, and teacher education.

the needs of both internal and external customers. The program aims to provide employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the dynamic health-care landscape, while ensuring delivery of exceptional services to clients.

The company offers multiple programs, which includes opening a pathway to US licensure for registered nurses in the Philippines. Its “Health Scholars” program provides employees with a comprehensive education, coursework and guidance to assist them in taking and passing the National Council Licensure, which is the standardized licensing exam administered by the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The program also provides credential and licensing

support as well as opportunities for nurses to fulfill their training hours in a hospital.

“As the health-care [sector navigates challenges by the fast-changing landscape, embracing digital services is practical and innovative. We harness technology to help health-care providers and payers solve] immediate staffing gaps, then create a more resilient and adaptable health-care system,” Pradhan concluded.

EXL anticipates an increase in the number of graduates from its Healthcare Academy in the coming years. This year, the target has been set at approximately 360 new hires. It said it is expanding its footprint by offering the same academic program to employees in India.

to economies worldwide.” He added that “by offering these courses, we are not only supporting the individual growth of our [countrymen] but we are also strengthening an industry that can generate more jobs, stimulate innovation, and attract investments.”

Beauty and wellness program

BECAUSE quality and safety are paramount in providing beauty and wellness services, Tesda’s Aesthetic Services Level III qualification will teach trainees advanced facial treatment, chemical skin peeling, light therapy, and heat therapy.

What’s more, it involves a heightened quality of skill sets in facial skin care using advanced techniques, tools and equipment.

Trainees who will accomplish this qualification will be competent to work as aestheticians, and skin-care beauty specialists and consultants.

The course’s competency benchmarks were developed by Tesda, in cooperation with the Department of Health-Cebu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, along with other key players in the industry such as D’ Beauty Trend Center Institute Inc., Skinessence Aesthetic Center, Southern Medical Aesthetic Center, Finessa Aesthetica, and Drip Bar Beauty Lounge.

Training hubs may proceed to their respective Tesda Regional or Provincial/District Offices for assistance in registering for the said course.

By Sanjay Radhakrishnan Advisor, Strategy and Excellence (Teachmint)

M

ICROLEARNING empowers students to strive toward academic excellence by breaking down information into bite-sized pieces. With a content length of 10 minutes or less, it has the following benefits:

Enhanced retention —By delivering content in small, manageable segments, students are more likely to assimilate and retain key concepts.

Flexibility and accessibility—With a rise in digital platforms for schools like the Teachmint ISP with integrated online resources and individual apps, students can access modules and learn on-the-go.

Improved engagement —Microlearning, with its interactive and dynamic nature, improves engagement by leveraging gamification and multimedia elements that can be shared with students in real-time through learning-management systems on platforms like the Teachmint ISP.

Time-efficiency —Microlearning helps students grasp important concepts, covers more in a shorter span, and multiplies the learning impact.

Personalized learning —Each microlearning module focuses on a specific learning outcome, allowing educators to address individual learning needs by tailoring content to match student skill levels.

Continuous learning —Microlearning promotes a culture of continuous learning by delivering short content at regular intervals, encouraging students to consistently engage with the material.

Implementing microlearning in academics

THE availability of digital schoolmanagement systems like Teachmint ISP, powered by ever-expanding technological means, has made microlearning experiences immersive and

engaging through various modes. Teachers can access a variety of resources by leveraging on learningmanagement systems, such as:

Videos —Popular microlearning format with visual aids, animations, and demonstrations that are easily accessible, making complex topics easy for students to understand and retain.

Quizzes —Interactive quizzes serve as effective tools with levels of progressive difficulty, encouraging students to quickly fill learning gaps while promoting knowledge retention.

Challenges —They add an element of gamification to microlearning, making the learning process interactive and enjoyable. Attaching badges or points to various levels of learning can help build a sense of achievement and the desire to learn more.

Infographics —They condense information into visual designs. They are effective at presenting facts, processes, concepts, and more with the visual nature of the medium, ensuring greater retention.

Interactive Simulations —They immerse learners in real-world scenarios, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations by leveraging on technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality.

Apps —They provide a platform for learners to access content anytime, anywhere with interactive modules, quizzes, and more for an immersive experience.

Microcopies—They deliver information in concise formats like summaries, bullet points, and others. Crisp, focused microcopies can help with fast assimilation and longlasting retention of knowledge.

Microlearning has emerged as a powerful tool for transforming education in schools. Its ability to enhance retention, engagement, and flexibility makes it an attractive option for schools seeking innovative teaching methods.

Tourism&Entertainment

AN OFFER NO ONE CAN REFUSE Experience Francis Ford Coppola’s vineyard and wine-tasting in Napa Valley

Visiting California almost every year to see my family and friends has become extra special because of the side trips i make.

On my last visit to the Bay Area, it was a privilege for me to experience the world-famous Napa Valley, thanks to my grade school classmate, Jacqueline Suarez-Secapure, who took me for a ride to finally see it. Napa Valley, located in California, is a renowned wine-growing region that attracts visitors from all over the world. The valley is known for its picturesque landscapes, excellent vineyards, and high-quality wines. Napa Valley is home to some of the best wineries and vineyards in the world. Visitors have the opportunity to go on wine tours, tastings, and learn about wine production processes. The vineyards offer breathtaking views of rolling hills and lush greenery, which add to the overall experience.

Wine lovers are in for a treat in Napa Valley. There are numerous wineries that offer wine tastings, allowing visitors to sample a wide range of wines, including reds, whites, and rosés. The knowledgeable staff at the wineries provide insights into the flavors, aromas, and pairings of each wine.

Napa Valley is often described as a scenic paradise. The region is adorned with vineyards as far as the eye can see, giving it a rustic and picturesque charm. Visitors can take leisurely drives or bike rides through the valley, taking in the stunning vistas and capturing beautiful moments.

Napa Valley is home to world-class restaurants and eateries serving exquisite farm-to-table cuisine. Many establishments offer wine pairings with their dishes, creating a unique and gastronomic experience. Whether you are looking for fine dining or a casual meal, Napa Valley offers a wide

range of culinary options. As we only have one day to explore, we carefully chose the places we want to visit. Top of our list was the famous film maker’s vineyard, and the stunning Castello di Amorosa.

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C AST ell O di Amorosa, located in the heart of Napa Valley, is a stunning reproduction of a 13th-century Tuscan castle. From the architecture to the materials used, every detail is carefully crafted to transport visitors to medieval Italy. The castle tour is a must-do experience at Castello di Amorosa. l ed by knowledgeable guides, visitors have the opportunity to explore the different levels and rooms of the castle, including the Great Hall, the chapel, and the torture chamber. The tour provides interesting insights into the castle’s history and construction, making it an educational and engaging experience. Castello di Amorosa is known for its exceptional wine selection. They produce a wide range of varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Chardonnay, among others. The wine tastings allow visi -

AGODA SPOTLIGHTS

tors to sample these exquisite wines, and the knowledgeable staff provides insights into the characteristics and craftsmanship of each wine.

One distinctive feature of Castello di Amorosa is their use of traditional winemaking techniques, including aging wines in handcrafted Italian oak barrels. This process adds complexity and depth to their wines, resulting in a unique and exquisite flavor profile.

In addition to the castle, the vineyard boasts picturesque grounds. Visitors can stroll through the vineyards, marvel at the beautiful landscaping, and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding Napa Valley. There are also outdoor picnic areas where guests can relax and savor their wine purchases.

The staff at Castello di Amorosa is friendly, welcoming, and highly knowledgeable about their wines and the castle’s history. They are eager to answer questions, share recommendations, and provide an excellent customer experience.

The castle’s stunning architecture and beautiful surroundings make it a photographer’s paradise. Whether it’s capturing the enchanting castle

façade, the vineyard views, or the picturesque interior, visitors will find plenty of photo-worthy moments at Castello di Amorosa.

From Movies to Vineyards

Fr ANCIS Coppola’s vineyard in Napa Valley is a highly regarded and popular destination for wine enthusiasts. Francis Coppola’s vineyard offers a wide range of excellent wines. They produce varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and many more. Visitors have the opportunity to taste these exceptional wines and purchase their favorites directly from the vineyard. The winery provides a pleasant and well-crafted wine-tasting experience. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the wines they offer. They guide visitors through the tastings, providing information about the different wines, their characteristics, and the winemaking process.

The vineyard is set in the stunning landscape of Napa Valley, surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills. The property itself is picturesque, featuring a charming rustic vibe. Visitors can enjoy their wine tastings in outdoor areas, taking in the gorgeous views

Three Philippine havens for mindful explorers

Aand embracing the serene atmosphere.

One unique aspect of Francis Coppola’s vineyard is the movie memorabilia exhibit. Francis Coppola, the renowned film director, has incorporated his passion for filmmaking and wine into the vineyard experience. Visitors can explore the collection of movie artifacts and props, which adds a touch of Hollywood glamour to the vineyard.

The vineyard also offers a delightful dining experience. Visitors can enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant, which serves a variety of delicious dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant provides a wonderful opportunity to savor delectable food paired with the vineyard’s exquisite wines.

Visitors often praise the ambiance and hospitality at Francis Coppola’s vineyard. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure a welcoming and enjoyable experience for guests. Whether it be answering questions or providing recommendations, they strive to create a memorable visit for everyone.

Overall, Francis Coppola’s vineyard in Napa Valley offers a fantastic wine tasting experience in a beauti -

of its electrical needs.

ful setting. From the exquisite wines, movie memorabilia exhibit, to the excellent hospitality, the vineyard provides a well-rounded experience for visitors. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a movie buff, this vineyard is definitely worth a visit. Apart from wine-related activities, Napa Valley also offers various outdoor adventures. Visitors can explore hiking trails, go hot air ballooning for a breathtaking view of the valley, or even embark on a scenic bike ride through the vineyards. It is an excellent destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It also boasts a range of luxurious accommodations, including boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and resorts. Visitors can enjoy a comfortable stay within close proximity to the vineyards and wineries, ensuring a convenient and immersive experience. Napa Valley is a paradise for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers. The region offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, exquisite wines, and culinary delights. Whether you are planning a romantic getaway or a wine-tasting trip with friends, Napa Valley is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.

Siargao, Surigao del Norte

s the Philippine government invests more in its Green Economy Model (GEM), digital travel platform Agoda spotlights three destinations that are leading the pack in more conscious tourism. Coron in Palawan, Panglao in Bohol, and s iargao in s urigao del s ur have been prioritized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their conservation efforts and sustainable practices. The GEM is a collective of Philippine destinations that are lauded for their sustainable goods and services, as well as their effective coral reef ecosystem management. Aside from Coron, Panglao and s iargao, Puerto Galera and El Nido are also part of the collective.

Coron, Palawan

Wo R l D - REN o WNED for its lush islands and serene waters in shades of emerald and turquoise, experiences beyond sea activities can be enjoyed in Coron, too.

Coron and s iargao Island are havens for those seeking tranquility by the sea, while Panglao offers quiet beaches and diving spots. Beyond their stunning seascapes, all three destinations make it easy for travelers to take part in conservation practices that keep these beloved destinations pristine.

Travelers can visit Coron Natural Farms, which holds generations’ worth of knowledge in eco-tourism and indigenous wisdom, for a day tour that will uncover all about the rudiments of natural farming. The activity culminates in an authentic farm-to-table and even a reef-to-table experience, where travelers get to enjoy

cuisine made from local produce like arugula, chicken eggs, and various seafood. The seafood is harvested from the reef which is protected by the farm’s ridge-toreef structure. A trip to Palawan wouldn’t be complete without island hopping. With Agoda’s Activities feature, travelers can book packages such as the Coron Palawan Reef & Wrecks Tour which introduces travelers to marine life and a gunboat wreck from the distant past, at a great deal.

Panglao, Bohol P ANG l A o is every bit an eco-friendly destination starting from the Bohol-Panglao International Airport. Tagged as “the green gateway,” the Philippines’ first ecoairport features natural ventilation and harnesses solar energy to meet one-third

Panglao serves as the perfect jump-off point for travelers looking to explore Bohol province. Aside from its tranquil beaches that have regular clean-ups which tourists can participate in; a short boat ride away is Balicasag Island, a marine sanctuary with sea turtles and colorful corals. A popular activity is a boat tour around Balicasag, where travelers can learn about the efforts Boholanos take to preserve the environment on top of enjoying the sights. Flights and accommodation options are plenty within Panglao. Through Agoda, travelers can enjoy the best deals by booking flights and accommodation packages with the convenience of having everything on one platform.

W IT h the active participation of its friendly locals, s iargao’s diverse ecosystem is protected through regular beach clean-ups, establishment of marine sanctuaries, and reforestation projects. l ocal businesses actively participate in ensuring eco-friendliness through renewable energy, organic toiletries, and locally sourced food. Besides its surf spots, vacationers traveling to s iargao can enjoy boat tours discovering hidden lagoons like s ugba l agoon, exploring the island’s mangrove forests, and trekking the hiking spots within s iargao, such as in Corregidor Island.

Whether for a weekend getaway, an island escape, or a family holiday, travelers can plan their meaningful beach escape with Agoda from start to end. For additional ways to travel more consciously and help fund conservation efforts, look out for Agoda’s Eco Deals 2024 launching 3 March 2024. Travelers can participate in the Eco Deals campaign by visiting www.agoda.com/Ecodeals or by booking properties that showcase the Eco Deals badge on Agoda’s website or app. For each booking

ONE of the most popular posts right now on the app X is one that starts with “some of messy moments in philippine live television—a thread.”

User @Bb_menita03 on X started the ball rolling with Pia Wurtzbach’s Miss Universe win in 2015. She managed to dig up a lot of gems, including the fight involving a Tulfo brother and actress Claudine Barretto, before something inevitable happened.

The quote tweets started to roll in and were so wild and unhinged that if you didn’t live through those times, you’d think they never happened. But I lived through those times when all we had to entertain us was the television set.

Two of the gems came from GMA. In 2018, GMA’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz went viral when he stifled his laughter after correcting himself because he mistakenly called Balitanghali anchor Jun Veneracion, “Josie.” The incident was so funny that Arnold Clavio interviewed Mang Tani about it. As Mang Tani explained it to Clavio, his focus when he’s reporting about a typhoon is the typhoon itself. It so happened that the typhoon was called Josie and Josie was on his mind at that time.

The other GMA incident was when the late Mike Enriquez cued to a report by Bam Alegre on a vehicular incident involving a truck. The eyewitness then recounted how a person hit the truck, corrected himself a couple of times until finally saying two trucks collided with each other.

As I type it, the stories don’t seem so wild but if you watch the videos, they really are hilarious and not in the way that we’re making fun of people and their mistakes and misfortunes. Rather, we laugh because of how the situations seem so far from the usual order of things.

For example, if you’re a millennial or Gen Z, you wouldn’t get the significance of a video with former Miss Mauritius Viveka Babajee announcing “Ruffa Gutierrez” during an awards show while a wide-eyed Gretchen Barretto looked around helplessly. In the quote tweets is also a video of Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz doing a skit for Vice Ganda’s show. The skit involved cookies and the repartee and facial expressions of those involved were hilarious. There’s also a game show where the question was if blank and blank are celebrating their 24th monsthsary, how many years have they been a couple? The answers were so far from the correct one, with one contestant replying “40 years!”

Many of the videos in the quote tweets involved

dentures flying off mouths and people stumbling. But those watching and laughing at the videos were not ridiculing those whose dentures slip and fall. Rather, they are laughing at how very Filipino these situations are.

It’s also very Filipino when we laugh at our own fumbles and falls. Laughing at the videos—at least this is my point of view—doesn’t mean I think I am better than these people. I laugh because I, too, have had my fair share of funny and embarrassing moments. They just haven’t been caught on video and shared with thousands of people.

So thank you to user @Bb_menita03 for making the past few days full of laughter. We needed to look back at those times when we argued with family members and housemates whose turn it was with the TV remote. These days, we’re all on our individual screens, which is okay, but sometimes I do miss those days.

BINI, DONBELLE IN SAMSUNG FANFEST

IF you didn’t get tickets to the BINI concert, you can catch the P-pop girl group at SM North Edsa The Annex on April 13 for the Samsung Awesome Summer Fanfest. Other artists in the two-day (April 13 and 14) event are Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, and Adie. The fanfest celebrates the release of Samsung’s latest A-series phones, the Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G. During the event at SM North Edsa, there will be Awesome Adventure Zones where you can test the phones to take pictures and videos.

If you purchase the Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G on or before April 10, 2024 in any Samsung authorized stores, you have the chance to win meet-and-greet tickets for #TeamGalaxy stars, including DonBelle,

BINI, and Adie. If you buy your Galaxy A55 5G or A35 5G on the day of the event, you can get a guaranteed photo opportunity with DonBelle.

The Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G are perfect for summer because they can withstand water splashes, thanks to their IP67 rating. Both phones are also dustresistant. The phones have the Dual Recording feature and the Single Take feature that allows you to capture up to 14 different types of photos and videos in just three to 10 seconds. At the Awesome Creative Studio during the Awesome Summer Fanfest, you can try the Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G and enhance your portraits like a pro with the Photo Remaster feature. The Object Eraser and Custom Stickers ensure that your photos are always perfect. Purchase your very own Galaxy A55 5G or Galaxy A35 5G on April 13-14 at SM North Edsa The Annex and snag an Awesome Summer Kit along with an exclusive DonBelle Summer photo card set—all for free.

can also get even more

WFH SETUP BENEFICIAL TO WORKING MOTHERS

YUGORITHM, is a key player in the virtual assistant industry, offering unique opportunities for individuals seeking flexible and fulfilling work experiences.

Tracy Kris Escobar, a virtual assistant with Yugorithm for the past 10 months, said the workfrom-home setup has benefitted working mothers and at the same time provided solace and support to them.

Escobar recalled she stumbled upon Yugorithm seeking a work-from-home opportunity aligned with her aspirations and skills. Working as a virtual assistant for Yugorithm, she described it as a liberating experience primarily due to their hands-off management style and emphasis on autonomy. “The leadership and team members are not only accessible but also incredibly approachable, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie among freelancers,” she said.

Escobar said Yugorithm was allowed to take on diverse roles, from serving as an executive assistant supporting a prominent venture capital firm in the Philippines to collaborating as an Amazon virtual assistant with a business in the United Kingdom. These opportunities have expanded Escobar’s skill set but also broadened her horizons, enabling her to establish meaningful connections with clients worldwide.

The Philippines has emerged as a hub for virtual assistants, witnessing a growing number of skilled professionals entering the freelance market. The country’s workforce, known for its adaptability and proficiency in English, has become a sought-after resource for businesses around the globe. Talented individuals, including work-from-home mothers like Escobar, have found their niche in this industry, leveraging their expertise to provide invaluable support to clients.

For WFH mothers like Escobar, entering the virtual assistant industry can be a game-changer, offering a pathway to financial independence and professional growth without compromising their caregiver role. Yugorithm, with its inclusive approach and commitment to nurturing talent, serves as a beacon of hope for mothers striving to balance their family commitments and career ambitions.

She said the flexibility provided by Yugorithm allows work-from-home mothers to design their schedules around their family needs, ensuring they can actively participate in their children’s lives while pursuing fulfilling work opportunities.

“Moreover, the supportive community within Yugorithm empowers these mothers to upskill, learn new technologies, and enhance their expertise, making them more competitive in the virtual assistant market,” she explained.

Globe’s roaming promos available on GCash for customers traveling abroad

TOP telco Globe has made a significant move to enhance its roaming services by making all of its offers, including its recently launched GoRoam and Roam Surf4All offers, available on GCash for its Prepaid and TM customers.

With the popular e-wallet service onboard, Globe Prepaid and TM users can now avail their favorite offers easily using their GCash app. These offers are tailor-made to fit the needs of all kinds of travelers, providing generous data allocations at attractive price points, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity abroad. GoRoam directly addresses the need for affordable and convenient global connectivity, providing

competitive roaming rates that rival those of local SIMs abroad, removing the hassle of switching SIMs while traveling.

Launched in 2023, the service is now available in nine countries: Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, the UAE, Singapore, the USA and, most recently, South Korea.

Meanwhile, Roam Surf4All is the newest innovation by Globe, offering shareable data roaming for up to 5 total users so that only one promo is needed for group travels abroad.

With this new offer, Globe breaks down the limitations of popular alternatives like pocket WiFi where people need to carry an extra device,

pay extra fees like security deposits, and be side-by-side at all times to stay connected.

With Roam Surf4All, there’s no need to carry another device while abroad. With just a few clicks, you can already enjoy connectivity and instantly share GBs to family and friends.

The best part is whether you wish to explore together or enjoy your own free time, proximity is no longer something you need to worry about.

With GoRoam and Roam Surf4All now accessible via GCash for Prepaid and TM subscribers, mobile users will now find that it’s easier to register to Globe’s data roaming packs. Customers

can not only subscribe to promos for their own use, but can also easily buy roaming promos for their family and friends.

“This partnership reflects our dedication to empowering both leisure travelers and even Filipinos abroad with the freedom to travel globally.

With Globe and GCash delivering innovative offers at never-beforeseen rates, more and more travelers can rely on roaming as their trusted connectivity partner abroad,” said Paula Rivera-Castillo, Head of Globe International Business.

More information on GoRoam and Roam Surf4All is available on glbe.co/ roam.

In recent years, the demand for virtual assistants in the Philippines has surged, driven by businesses recognizing the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of outsourcing tasks to skilled freelancers. The trend has bolstered the Philippine economy and created numerous opportunities for individuals seeking flexible employment, especially mothers juggling household responsibilities and professional aspirations.

Yugorithm was founded by Yuri Go, the company’s CEO. It is an outsourcing company specializing in virtual assistant services and social media marketing.

SOMETIMES finding the right smartphone is like entering one of those gelato or ice cream shops on a scorching summer day. You walk in with a specific flavor in mind, but the moment you see the sheer number of available choices on display, you just want to order them all.

Just as you find yourself torn between classic vanilla and exotic mango, trying to decide which will best cool you down and satisfy that craving, shopping for a smartphone requires you to sift through a plethora of options. Each phone, much like each ice cream flavor, tempts with its unique blend of features—some packed with enticing higher-end processors, others more straightforward focusing on a balance of performance, camera quality, and battery life.

In this deliciously complex world of choices, finding the right smartphone is about more than just indulging in the most luxurious or feature-packed option. It’s about discovering the flavor—be it a simple chocolate that nails the basics, or a swirl of pistachio and raspberry—that aligns with your taste and needs without melting your budget.

This week we take a look at two of Honor’s latest midrange devices: the Honor X8b and Honor X7b, both of which can satisfy your daily tech cravings while steering clear of those extravagant toppings and mixins that, although appealing, often go uneaten.

HONOR X8B:

MORE MEGAPIXELS, MASSIVE STORAGE

THE Honor X8b is an update to last year’s X8a which went viral because of its cameras. This time around it brings a 108MP Ultra Clear Main Camera alongside an LED Assisted 50MP AI Selfie Camera, a whopping 8GB RAM, and 512GB of internal storage successor in several stylish colorways including one with a retro luxury back design.

There’s no hiding the fact that the Honor X8b will immediately remind you of an iPhone with its large camera module. But with its sleek, modern aesthetic and a build quality that punches well above its weight class, the Honor X8b stands out in a crowded batch of midrangers. The device comes in four colors, including Cyan Lake, Titanium Silver, Midnight Black, and Glamorous Green that features a leatherette finish that adds a layer of sophistication and tactile pleasure. This finish not only enhances the phone’s visual appeal but also offers practical benefits, like improved grip and resistance to fingerprints and smudges. The device also has an ultra-slim profile, at just 6.78mm thickness, and tips the scales at a mere 166g.

Featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, the Honor X8b shines with its vibrant visuals and 90Hz refresh rate, making for an immersive viewing experience. The peak brightness of 2000 nits ensures legibility in various lighting conditions, further enhancing user interaction. However, the audio experience, limited by a single down-firing speaker, might not meet everyone’s expectations.

The Honor X8b positions itself as a photographic powerhouse with its triple camera setup led by a 108MP main sensor, accompanied by a 5MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro lens. This camera setup is versatile enough and caters to a broad spectrum of photography enthusiasts with enough modes for them to play around with.

The main 108MP sensor is the star of the show, employing pixel-binning technology to produce images that are not only bright but packed with detail. As expected, it can capture great outdoor photos and the results are consistently impressive, with color accuracy and dynamic range making it one of the better ones in its price category. While it’s unrealistic to expect night-time shots to rival those taken in optimal lighting conditions, the Honor X8b’s main sensor still manages to capture commendable photos in less-than-ideal environments. Noise is kept to a minimum, and the camera software’s processing ensures that images retain enough detail and colors. The inclusion of a 5MP ultra-wide camera further extends its versatility, allowing users to capture broader scenes or fit more people in a shot. As for

the 2MP macro, it still adds a layer of creativity for those who want to get up close— just manage your expectations.

The selfie experience is powered by a robust 50MP AI-assisted front camera, and it is particularly adept at capturing detailed, flattering selfies under a variety of lighting conditions, with software enhancements that enhance the quality without over-processing the images. For videos, the Honor X8b can shoot up to 1080p at 30fps, providing clear enough footage suitable for capturing life’s moving moments and is adequate for casual videography, vlogging and content creation, especially when considering its price point. Another feature which the Honor X8b “borrowed” is the Magic Capsule. This small, capsule-shaped area at the top of the display acts as a secondary interaction zone for notifications and app functionalities. Inspired by similar concepts in the industry, Honor’s implementation takes a minimalist and functional approach, focusing on delivering practical benefits to the user. For example, if you’re watching a video or playing a game and receive a call, the Magic Capsule allows you to view and interact with the call notification in a non-intrusive manner. Similarly, it offers quick glimpses into timer countdowns, alarm settings, and more, all accessible with a simple tap.

Storage capacity has become a critical factor for most users and the Honor X8b stands out in this regard with its massive 512GB of onboard storage. Users can store over 125,000 photos, hours of 4K videos, and install numerous apps and games without the need to constantly manage storage space or rely on cloud services for extra room. This storage capacity makes it an ideal device for content creators and professionals who need to store large files, edit videos, or work with high-resolution images directly from their phones.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset and equipped with 8GB RAM (expandable up to 16GB via RAM Turbo), the Honor X8b is capable of handling everyday tasks with ease. During our review, I didn’t experience any frustrating slowdowns or apps closing and I was able to answer emails, create some blog posts, edit photos, and manage my social media feeds without any hitch so you won’t have a problem using it for both work and entertainment. Gaming on medium settings is smooth enough, but do take note that this isn’t a gaming phone so might as well stick to the default settings.

Lastly, the 4800mAh battery easily lasted me a day of moderate usage, which involved being connected to the internet to answer emails, check my feed, and watch YouTube videos. The 35W fast charger isn’t the fastest and it takes about an hour to fully charge the battery. Although it may not set new benchmarks in battery life, it confidently meets the demands of moderate to heavy usage.

With a price tag of P12,999, the Honor X8b is a nifty choice for those looking for a well-balanced smartphone with its trendy design, versatile camera setup, and massive 512GB storage.

HONOR X7B: FOR BIGGER BATTERY

NOW, for those looking for a smartphone that can last up to three days, then the Honor X7b might be the better option. Priced at an accessible P8,999, the Honor X7b challenges the prevailing norms of the budget smartphone market with upgrades focusing on battery life, display and cameras.

Honor takes design cues from its premium range with the X7b, incorporating a two-circle camera design, making it look like the youngest child of the Honor 90 family. It is available in Flowing Silver, Emerald Green or Midnight Black. Kudos to Honor for this design choice as it enhances the device’s aesthetic appeal and adds a touch of luxury often missing in

budget offerings. Its ultra-large 6000mAh battery comfortably sets it apart from its competitors within the budget smartphone market. This power source is engineered to support up to 3 days of usage on a single charge, a feat that underscores Honor’s commitment to addressing one of the most critical consumer demands: battery endurance. Not only that, the brand has also incorporated advanced battery technologies that not only maximize the device’s lifespan but also maintain over 80 percent of the battery’s health even after three years of use. This long-term perspective on battery performance ensures that the X7b remains a reliable companion well into the future, reducing the frequency and necessity for replacements or upgrades. During my review, it was able to last me a week with just light usage making it ideal for travelers to heavy users who are always on the go and require a device that can keep pace with their demanding schedules. However, it comes with a 35W Honor SuperCharge, which is quite underwhelming as it takes about two hours to fully charge an empty battery.

The Honor X7b also has an upgraded 6.80-inch Full HD+ LCD screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience with enhanced brightness and resolution. With its big, clear screen and long battery life, the Honor X7b is ideal for those who love to binge-watch their favorite K-drama and TV series.

Honor likewise elevates the X7b’s photography capabilities with a 108MP main camera, promising detailed shots in well-lit environments. This camera, sharing its lineage with sensors found in Honor’s more premium models, represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor.

Lastly, the phone is equipped with a better Snapdragon 680 chipset which prioritizes a balanced performance with a keen focus on extending battery life. The device offers configurations of up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, accommodating most users’ needs for multitasking and data storage. While it might not cater to intensive gaming or performanceheavy tasks, it excels in everyday use.

Choosing a mid-range smartphone, much like selecting your ideal summer dessert, comes down to prioritizing what matters most to you and finding the perfect balance of quality, flavor and value.

The Honor X8b and Honor X7b present affordable options that blend functionality and style, offering a compelling choice for those looking to enjoy the best of technology’s flavors without compromising on their needs or budget. ■

best-inclass flexibility on non-refundable fares, we are providing our customers more options and control when it comes to their trip itinerary,” she said. The business-to-business unit of Hopper, HTS supercharges its partners’ direct channels with its travel agency, e-commerce stack, travel fintech ancillaries and more. Its unique fintech ancillaries, including Cancel for Any Reason, help turn customers’ worst moments into loyalty-building experience and, at the same time, drive incremental ancillary revenue.

“Integrating fintech ancillaries from HTS can help our partners delight customers with added optionality and flexibility,” said Hopper president and cofounder Dakota Smith. “We are thrilled to team up with AirAsia MOVE to offer greater optionality for refundability, truly for any reason, to travelers.”

A known online travel agent+ for budget travelers, especially from Southeast Asia, AirAsia MOVE is fast expanding its ecosystem through more partnerships with airline, hotels, banks, travel and fintech firms for a more seamless and personalized pre- and post-booking experience.

Likewise, it has launched several first-to-market products like “Fast Pass” and other flight and hotel ancillaries to address unmet traveler’s needs. AIRASIA

Buytrago-Varga duo tops group in AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open

By Aldrin Quinto

SANTA ROSA City, Laguna—

James Buytrago and Rancel Varga came up with a sizzling performance under an unseasonal morning rain before losing steam in an extended match under a scorching sun, but it was enough for the Philippine tandem to secure the top spot in their group in the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open on Friday.

They narrowly lost, 22-20, 26-28, 13-15, to Japan’s Kosuke Fukushima and Hiroki Dylan Kurokawa at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land in the City of Sta. Rosa.

The loss being a three-setter meant Varga and Buytrago squeaked past Fukushima and Kurokawa for the top spot in Pool H, pitting the Philippine pair in the Round of 16 against Indonesia’s Bintang Akbar and Sofyan Efendi, who split their two preliminary matches and wound up No. 2 in Pool B.

The other Philippine men’s team, AJ Pareja and Ran Abdilla, march on to the Round of 16 as the No. 2 team in Pool D after a split of their preliminary matches. They take on Pool G top team Abdolhamed Mirzaali and Abolhassan Khakizadeh of Iran.

Philippine women’s pair

Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola,

The loss was not deflating, said the 5-foot-10 Varga, as they now focus on vying for a spot in the quarterfinals of the event backed by Foton, Akari, Mikasa, Senoh, Seda, Asics, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+ and Pilipinas Live.

“They’ve seen us play, we’ve seen them play. We feel it was an even match, but today they just did better,” said Varga, former star spiker for the University of Santo Tomas.

Buytrago noted they never lost focus nor got too confident after taking the opening set.

“We take it one set at a time. You got one in the bag, the next set’s another thing,” said Buytrago, a former National University star who was also part of the quartet that earned bronze in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. Philippine team head coach Joao Luciano Kiodai of Brazil is eager to see the Filipino deliver better performances in the next matches.

“Just to get out of the pool is already great, it’s good for us. Some things could be better but they fought

Bambol to Hidilyn: You’re still queen

Olusesi, Scorpions storm past Keanzel in Aspirants’ Cup

ABDUL-WAHAD OLUSESI tallied 31 points and 14 rebounds as Centro Escolar University (CEU) blasted Keanzel Basketball, 126-91, on Thursday in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirant’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Scorpions also got solid contributions from Jerome Santos (19 points), Christian Treb Malian (16 points) and Daniel Marcelo (14 points) in their bounce back victory.

CEU absorbed an 89-61 defeat against two-time defending champion EcoOil-La Salle in its debut Tuesday. Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda, meanwhile, smothered CCI-Yengskivel, 126-76, to gain a piece of the lead.

The Red Lions pulled away from the get-go and cruised to their third straight win to keep defending champion EcoOil-La Salle company on top of the standings midway through the six-team tourney.

CEU started slow and trailed by 23-24 after one quarter.

But the Scorpions picked by their rhythm in the second quarter behind Olusesi and Marcelo to seize control at halftime.

CEU broke the game wide open in the third quarter by outscoring Keanzel Basketball, 37-16, to extend their margin to 89-64 entering the fourth. Olusesi and Santos scored 12 apiece in that telling period.

Alfren Gayosa tallied 15 points while Denzel Wong and Earl Ceniza added 15 and 14 points, respectively, for Keanzel which fell to its third loss in as many games.

KMS then scored a 25-20, 25-11 win over Gracel Christian College (1-1), also in Pool A, to

last qualifier for Paris.

It wasn’t unexpected though, Diaz-Naranjo missing a fifthstraight Olympics and another shot at the gold because -59 kgs wasn’t fit to her physique.

“’I’m sorry, Cong, I’m sorry…,” she repeatedly told me,” said Tolentino, who as the national sports association head for cycling when Diaz-Naranjo made her Olympic debut as a 17-year in Beijing 2008, never ceased to follow the Zamboanga City pride’s rise to glory.

“You don’t have to say sorry, again, anak, you’re still the queen, a legend,” Tolentino told Diaz-Naranjo.

Sarno in action on Sunday

VANESSA SARNO competes in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup on Sunday in Phuket hoping for a modest finish to formalize her qualification for the Paris Olympics.

Sarno, 20, is comfortably ranked as the world No. 5 in the women’s +71 kgs category that even an unforced error couldn’t prevent her from becoming the third weightlifter and the ninth

Filipino athlete to qualify for Paris.

“The goal is to maintain my spot in the Olympic rankings,” the backto-back Southeast Asian Games gold medalist from Tagbilaran City told BusinessMirror on Friday.

John Febuar Ceniza and Erleen Ann Ando have already qualified from the Phuket World Cup although the IWF will formally announce the athletes for Paris on April 18.

Sarno will be competing in Group B where 11 other weightlifters are vying, including compatriot Kristel Macrohon.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas coach Christopher Bureros said Sarno’s goal on Sunday is to keep her consistency.

“It will be a bonus if Vanessa [Sarno] wins a medal, but at the same time, she won’t be complacent,” Bureros said. “The priority is for her to qualify.”

Sarno has a best lift of 249 kgs after five Olympic qualifiers for fifth spot in the world rankings— the top 10 weightlifters get Olympic tickets.

Already headed to the Olympics set July 26 to August 11 are boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena. With Josef Ramos

Dutchman goes title-hunting in Caliraya

RUNNER-UP twice already this season, Guido van der Valk hopes to finally take the top spot as the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) goes to Cavinti in Laguna next week for the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Caliraya Springs Championship. The Philippines-based Dutchman bowed to Jhonnel Ababa in a playoff for the Apo Golf Classic before ending up tied for second with Michel Bibat at Rancho Palos Verdes behind Lloyd Go. Van der Valk, who last won in the 2023 PGT season prologue TCC Invitational, is determined to win it all this time in the 72-hole P2.5 million Caliraya

Springs tournament Tuesday.

Four-time Order of Merit winner Tony Lascuña is among the top favorites after a wire-to-wire win last year, but Van der Valk is determined to make a big jump from 12th place finish at Arnold Palmer-designed layout last year to the top spot this time.

also a solo lead after a 25-16, 25-23 win over the Kings’ Montessori School (KMS) in the opener.

Former Philippine Open champion Angelo Que is also seeing action, along with Clyde Mondilla, Reymon Jaraula, Michael Bibat, Keanu Jahns, Jay Bayron, Nilo Salahog, Rupert Zaragosa, Ira Alido, Randy Garalde and former champion Zanieboy Gialon.

Also seeking to steal the show are young talents led by Sean Ramos, who finished tied for seventh finish at Palos Verdes.

Kristoffer Arevalo made his presence felt at Apo before fizzling out in the closing round and will be eager to get another shot at the title, while also vying for honors are Aidric Chan, Josh Jorge, Lanz Uy, Ivan Monsalve, Jonas Magcalayo and Ryan Monsalve.

Adding international flair to the third leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournametns Inc. and supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf are Collin Wheeler, Drew Proctor, Min Hyeok Yu, Kang Chonkoo, Tae Won Kim, Daiya Suzui and Hyun Ho Rho.

Others vying in the event, to be held simultaneously with the 54-hole Ladies PGT, are Jobim Carlos, Fidel Concepcion, Marvin Dumandan, Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo, Art Arbole and Gerald Rosales.

Aldrin Quinto

straight win against La Salle-Zobel (0-1)

and Colegio de Los Baños (0-1) at 12 noon, to cap the girls’ division.

In the boys’ play, leader Umingan, Pangasinan (2-0) tries to widen its lead in Pool B against La VNS

takes on the Golden Whiskers Club (0-0) at 4 p.m.

THE picture says it all—Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo.

Gloves for SenTol Paris Olympics-bound Eumir Felix Marcial gifts Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino the signed gloves he used in knocking out Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam in the fourth round during their recent fight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium—his fifth straight victory as a professional.

Japan’s Riko Tsujimura and Takemi Nishibori, 5-21, 4-21.

Angel R. Calso

The World

Russia renews big attacks on Ukraine’s power grid using better intelligence and new tactics

By Samya Kullab The Associated Press

WHEN the Russian barrage hit the Ukrainian power plant, a worker named Taras was manning the control panel—a crucial task that required him to stay as the air-raid siren blared and his colleagues ran for safety.

After the deafening explosions came a cloud of smoke, then darkness. Fires blazed, and shrapnel pierced the roof of the huge complex, causing debris to rain down on workers. Following protocols, Taras shut down the coal-fired plant, his heart racing.

In the March 22 attack, Russia unleashed more than 60 exploding drones and 90 missiles across Ukraine—the worst assault on the country’s energy infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began in early 2022.

The fusillade reflected Russia’s renewed focus on striking Ukrainian energy facilities. The volume and accuracy of recent attacks have alarmed the country’s defenders, who say Kremlin forces now have better intelligence and fresh tactics in their campaign to annihilate Ukraine’s electrical grid and bring its economy to a halt. Moscow has also apparently learned how to exploit gaps in Ukrainian air defenses.

With more assaults inevitable, officials are scrambling for ways to better defend the country’s energy assets.

The March 22 attack—which left 1.9 million people without power, according to analysts—was among the most intense in Russia’s springtime air campaign targeting civilian infrastructure. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, lost 80 percent of its power generation capacity in attacks on March 22 and 29, the company said. Plants were destroyed across the country. Russia targeted transmission networks as well.

The bombardment blacked out large parts of Ukraine—a level of darkness not seen since the first days of the full-scale invasion. The strikes also tested Ukraine’s ability to make quick repairs. The Associated Press was given access to two DTEK power plants damaged in the March 22 attack on the condition that the names and locations of the facilities and the full names of workers not be mentioned due to security concerns. The AP was not permitted to provide technical details of damage, including the number of missiles that struck each plant or whether the plant could still function.

After previous assaults, power station workers were able to restore service fairly quickly. But that became harder after March 22 because of continuing strikes that prevent rebuilding.

The Kharkiv region, which borders Russia and was the hardest hit, is still enduring power outages weeks later. On Thursday, drones struck the region’s Zmiivska power plant, plunging 350,000 people into the dark.

“They are trying to take us back to the 17th century,” said Serhii, a manager in one of the power plants that was attacked.

Maksym Timchenko, the CEO of DTEK, inspected the grounds of one of the two power stations. Gazing up at the titanic complex, his eyes rested on a gaping hole in the building’s scorched facade. Inside, workers collected debris in wheelbarrows, their faces blackened by floating dust. Cranes removed giant shards of twisted metal and blocks of fallen concrete. In the

dark bowels of the plant’s interior, where an intricate network of large pipes connect to industrial boilers, the steel roof was so pockmarked with shrapnel it resembled a starry night sky.

“I’ve never seen in my life this level of destruction in a power station, and unfortunately it happened to us,” Timchenko said.

He estimates that the company can restore half of the damaged units in two to three months. It’s a Sisyphean task: Workers must repair damage over and over again.

This particular plant was targeted late last year, and one unit was destroyed. Timchenko said DTEK planned to repair it by the end of this year.

“But now the same level of destruction has happened to several power units,” he said, bringing the plant and the company’s strategic plans back to square one.

During the agonizing wait for more strikes, Ukrainian officials

are discussing how to better protect power generators. One solution may be decentralizing them by creating a network of small facilities that are harder to hit than large plants.

The timing of the attacks perplexed many observers.

Russia usually reserves largescale attacks on energy infrastructure for the peak winter months, when demand for heat is highest.

A spring campaign suggests Russia was behind schedule in unleashing new tactics, said Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Kyivbased Energy Industry Research Center.

“I am absolutely sure that they wanted to do this one month before,” he said.

Russia, as expected, targeted energy infrastructure in the last three months of last year, when temperatures dropped below freezing. But the high-voltage grid was prepared to sustain the attacks, and damaged sites were quickly repaired. In December, Russia accepted that the old tactics were not working.

As the winter months went by, Russia began concocting a new scheme.

“They did a huge intelligence job,” Kharchenko said, pointing to the precise nature of the attacks and the damage done. The Russian military seemed to “know everything about the current status of many energy infrastructure objects,” including their defenses.

Once the targets were chosen, Russia swarmed them with missiles at an unprecedented scale. If before they launched three drones and two missiles per target, now they send six missiles and up to 15 drones, he said.

Air-defense systems could not

stop everything. “It was too much,” he said.

Before the March 22 attacks, workers operated under the assumption that air defenses would take down 70 percent of air attacks. The strikes that got through often fell on the periphery of the plant, said Serhii, a plant manager.

“But now the circle is smaller and smaller, reaching our power units and control rooms,” Serhii said.

The result is dire. According to Kharchenko’s figures, Ukraine lost up to 15 percent of its power generation. That means, for now, it cannot cover the demand expected during the peak summer months of July and August.

In the aftermath of the attack on his power station, Taras was traumatized more by the scale of the destruction than the explosions that caused it.

“I wasn’t scared at first, but we got scared when we saw the consequences,” he said.

On the night of March 22, an injured worker was brought into the control room as fires blazed across the complex.

“With one hand, we conducted the shutdown, with the other we bandaged his injured leg,” he said. They left the plant using flashlights to navigate through pitch darkness.

“If the skies were protected, I would feel calmer,” he said. “Power infrastructure is something everything depends on. If there’s no power, nothing works: Plants don’t work. People are left without Internet. You won’t even know when the missiles are flying at you.”

The Associated Press journalist Volodymyr Yurchuk contributed to this report.

Myanmar’s worst violence since military takeover is intensifying the crisis–UN

UBy Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press

NITED NATIONS—Myanmar’s escalating conflict and worst violence since the military takeover in 2021 are having a devastating impact on human rights, fundamental freedoms and basic needs of millions of people—as well as “alarming spillover effects” in the region, UN officials said Thursday.

Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Khaled Khiari told the UN Security Council that “the civilian toll keeps rising” amid reports of indiscriminate bombing by Myanmar’s armed forces and artillery shelling by various parties.

The nationwide armed conflict in Myanmar began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule.

Thousands of young people fled to jungles and mountains in remote border areas as a result of the military’s suppression and made common cause with ethnic guerrilla forces battle-hardened by decades of combat with the army in pursuit of autonomy.

Despite its great advantage in armaments and manpower, the military has been unable to quell the resistance movement. Over the past five months, the army has been routed in northern Shan state, is conceding swaths of territory in Rakhine state in the west, and is under growing attack elsewhere.

Myanmar’s main pro-democracy resistance group said Thursday its armed wing launched drone attacks on the airport and a military headquarters in the capital, Naypyitaw, but the ruling military said it destroyed the drones as they attacked. It wasn’t possible to independently verify most details of the incident, but the military’s acknowledgement that it had

taken place in one of the country’s most heavily guarded locations will be seen by many as the latest indication that it is losing the initiative.

Khiari did not mention the attack but said the National Unity Consultative Council—formed after the 2021 military takeover to promote a return to democracy and comprising ethnic, political, civil society and resistance groups—convened its Second People’s Assembly on Thursday “to further define their common vision for the future of Myanmar.”

He singled out the fighting between the Arakan Army and the military in Rakhine State, Myanmar’s poorest, which he said “has reached an unprecedented level of violence.”

“The Arakan Army has reportedly gained territorial control over most of central Rakhine and seeks to expand to northern Rakhine” where many minority Rohingya Muslims still live, he said.

The Buddhist Rakhine are the majority ethnic group in Rakhine, which is also known by its older name of Arakan, and have long sought autonomy. They have set up their own well-trained and well-armed force called the Arakan Army.

Members of the Rohingya minority have long been persecuted in Buddhistmajority Myanmar. About 740,000 fled from Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh when the military in August 2017 launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in response to attacks in Rakhine by a guerrilla group claiming to represent the Rohingya.

Khiari urged all parties in Rakhine to support the Rohingya, who are caught in the middle of the conflict and continue to experience “significant restrictions” on their freedom of movement as well as denial of citizenship and disproportionate vulnerability to abduction or forced recruitment.

The crisis continues to spill over the

borders and added that conflicts in key border areas have weakened security, Khiari said. The breakdown in the rule of law has

WORKERS clear the rubble after a Russian missile attack at DTEK’s power plant in Ukraine, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Russia is attacking Ukraine’s energy sector with renewed intensity and alarming accuracy, signaling to Ukrainian officials that Russia is armed with better intelligence and fresh tactics in its campaign to annihilate the country’s power generation capacity. AP/EVGENIY MALOLETKA

The World

Israel’s war against Hamas: 6 months in, isolation and domestic division prevail

By Josef Federman The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—When Israel declared war against Hamas last October, it stood unified at home and enjoyed broad backing from around the world following an unprecedented attack by the Islamic militant group.

Six months later, Israel finds itself in a far different place: bogged down in Gaza, divided domestically, isolated internationally and increasingly at odds with its closest ally. The risk of a broader regional war remains real.

Despite Israel’s fierce military onslaught, Hamas is still standing, if significantly weakened. The offensive has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 80% of the population and leaving over 1 million people on the brink of starvation. Yet Israel hasn’t presented a postwar vision acceptable to its partners, and cease-fire talks remain at a standstill.

Here are six takeaways from the first six months of war.

Battlefield stalemate ISRAEL declared war in response to Hamas’ October 7 cross-border attack, in which the militant group killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapped about 250 others.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set two objectives: destroying Hamas and bringing home the hostages. Despite his repeated pledges to achieve “total victory,” his goals remain elusive.

After steadily conquering most of Gaza in a bruising offensive, Israeli ground troops are in a holding pattern marked by small tactical operations and uncertainty over whether the army will march into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Hamas’ last significant stronghold.

Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to invade Rafah, but he faces broad international opposition, including from the United States, because of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians sheltering there. Netanyahu claims to have a plan to evacuate the civilians, but it isn’t clear whether it is ready or would satisfy the Americans.

Even if Israel does invade Rafah, there is no guarantee of long-term success. Although Hamas appears to have suffered heavy losses, its forces have managed to regroup in areas abandoned by Israel.

At the same time, Israel hasn’t been able to halt the daily attacks it faces on its northern front from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. In contrast to Hamas, Hezbollah’s much larger arsenal remains intact,

leaving the fate of tens of thousands of uprooted civilians on both sides of the border up in the air. The tensions have threatened to drag in Hezbollah’s sponsor, Iran, especially after an airstrike widely attributed to Israel killed two Iranian generals in neighboring Syria this week.

Growing isolation

ISRAEL enjoyed broad international support following the October 7 massacre, which was the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust. However, that goodwill has been replaced by impatience and outrage as conditions in Gaza worsen.

More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials whose death toll doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters. International aid officials say roughly one-third of Gaza’s population is dealing with catastrophic hunger.

Initial expressions of solidarity from Israel’s allies have given way to calls for a halt to the fighting. Meanwhile, the UN world court, looking into genocide allegations against Israel, has ordered Israel to do more to protect Gaza’s civilians.

This isolation appeared to peak on March 25, when the UN Security Council, over Israeli objections, passed a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire. The US infuriated Israel by allowing the resolution to pass.

Things have only worsened for Israel since then, especially following its killing of seven aid workers in what it says was an errant airstrike. Six of the victims were volunteers from countries allied with Israel, antagonizing them and outraging US President Joe Biden. The alleged Israeli airstrike on an Iran’s embassy in Syria and Netanyahu’s efforts to shutter the Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera have further alienated allies.

Israel is divided

AFTER a period of broad unity early in the war, Israel has returned to its divided self—with its polarizing leader at the center of the storm.

Weekly protests against the government have grown and attract thousands. They are rooted in longstanding grievances against Netanyahu—from his political alliances with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties to his open-ended corruption trial. However, they have drawn new strength from his failure to bring home the hostages. Roughly half of the hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. But

Israel says 134 remain in captivity. Israel has already declared more than 30 hostages dead—and there are widespread fears that the true number is higher and will continue to rise the longer they are held.

The plight of the hostages and the anguished cries of their families have resonated deeply with the Israeli public. Some hostage families were among the tens of thousands of people who took to the streets this week calling on the government to resign. It was the largest anti-government demonstration since the war began.

Netanyahu isn’t going anywhere

NETANYAHU’S popularity has plummeted since the outbreak of the war, with many holding him responsible for the intelligence and security failures that allowed the October 7 attack to occur. Yet he has rebuffed calls to resign or launch investigations into what went wrong.

Netanyahu faces no immediate threat to his rule. For now, his coalition partners, also facing likely losses at the polls, remain firmly behind him.

Ironically, the biggest immediate threat to Netanyahu is only peripherally related to the war. Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered a halt to a long-standing controversial system of exempting ultra-Orthodox men from compulsory military service.

With over 600 soldiers killed since October 7, Netanyahu will have a tough time continuing this system. But if he tries to force religious men into military service, he could lose the support of his ultra-Orthodox partners and be forced into early elections.

“Netanyahu is incapable of either feeling shame or taking responsibility,” wrote Anshel Pfeffer, a Haaretz columnist and author of a Netanyahu biography. “He has no intention of ever resigning on his own accord.”

Hamas isn’t going anywhere

THE Israeli offensive has caused mass destruction across Gaza and inflicted heavy losses on Hamas. Israel claims to have killed some 13,000 Hamas fighters and dismantled the group’s military capabilities across most of Gaza.

Yet even if these claims are true, Hamas is still intact in Rafah, and its fighters have regrouped in areas where Israel previously declared victory. Although there have been small shows of public discontent with Hamas in Gaza, there have been no public signs of broad opposition to the group.

Khalil Sayegh, a Palestinian analyst, said Hamas keeps reappearing and Israel hasn’t allowed

any alternative to emerge.

“When you’re fighting a guerrilla war, I think the ultimate success or failure is whether you’re able to survive,” he said. “So if Hamas survives as a governing body, then this will be a success.”

Michael Milshtein, a former highranking Israeli military intelligence officer who is now an expert in Palestinian studies at Tel Aviv University, says Israel faces two unappealing choices: Accept a hostage and cease-fire deal that acknowledges Hamas has survived, or step up the military campaign and conquer Gaza in hopes that Hamas will eventually be destroyed.

He said expectations that the Israeli military’s current approach can destroy Hamas or force it to surrender is “wishful thinking.”

No postwar policy

THERE is no consensus for the future of Gaza.

Netanyahu has presented a vague vision that calls for open-ended Israeli control of the territory, with local Palestinian partners in Gaza administering day-to-day affairs. Israel hopes for reconstruction to be funded by the international community, including wealthy Arab Gulf states. These plans, though, clash with visions promoted by the US, other international partners and the Palestinians.

The US has called for a return of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which Hamas ousted from Gaza in 2007, and for renewed efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. The PA, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, recently appointed a new prime minister to address American calls for reform.

Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood or any role for the PA. Meanwhile, there is little appetite among donor nations to contribute to reconstruction without a political consensus. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, says it will not fund reconstruction without a viable twostate approach.

Ofer Shelah, a former lawmaker who is now a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, said the battlefield successes are “almost meaningless” without a diplomatic vision.

“The real threat to Hamas will not be Israeli tanks or warplanes. It’s an alternative to running life in postwar Gaza,” he said.

The Associated Press reporters Melanie Lidman and Julia Frankel contributed.

Biden tells Israel’s Netanyahu future US support for war depends on new steps to protect civilians

By Aamer Madhani & Zeke Miller

WThe Associated Press

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that future US support for Israel’s Gaza war depends on the swift implementation of new steps to protect civilians and aid workers.

Biden and Netanyahu’s roughly 30-minute call just days after Israeli airstrikes killed seven food aid workers in Gaza added a new layer of complication to the leaders’ increasingly strained relationship. Biden’s message marks a sharp change in his administration’s steadfast support for Israel’s war efforts, with the US leader for the first time threatening to rethink his backing if Israel doesn’t change its tactics and allow much more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The White House would not specify what could change about US policy, but it could include altering military sales to Israel and America’s diplomatic backup on the world stage.

Netanyahu’s office said early Friday that

his Security Cabinet has approved a series of “immediate steps” to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including the reopening of a key crossing that was destroyed in the October 7 Hamas attack.

Administration officials had said before that announcement that the US would assess whether the Israeli moves go far enough.

Biden “made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” the White House said in a statement following the leaders’ call. “He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”

Biden also told Netanyahu that reaching an “immediate cease-fire” in exchange for the estimated 100 hostages that are still being held in Gaza was “essential” and urged Israel to reach such an accord “without delay,” according to the White House. Administration officials described the conversation as “direct” and “honest.”

Netanyahu’s office said the Erez crossing, which for years served as the only passenger terminal for people to move in and out of

Gaza, would be temporarily reopened. It also said Israel would allow its Ashdod port to be used to process aid shipments bound for Gaza and allow increased Jordanian aid shipments through another land crossing. The announcement did not elaborate on quantities or types of items to be let in.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson welcomed the moves by Netanyahu, adding that the plan “must now be fully and rapidly implemented.”

“As the President said today on the call, US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these and other steps, including steps to protect innocent civilians and the safety of aid workers,” Watson said.

The leaders’ conversation comes as the World Central Kitchen, founded by restaurateur José Andrés to provide immediate food relief to disaster-stricken areas, called for an independent investigation into the Israeli strikes that killed seven of the group’s staff members, including an American citizen. The White House has said the US has no plans to conduct its own investigation.

Separately, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Brussels that US

support would be curtailed if Israel doesn’t make significant adjustments to how it’s carrying out the war. “If we don’t see the changes that we need to see, there will be changes in our policy,” he said.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby echoed the call for “tangible” and “concrete” changes to be taken by the Israelis beyond reiterating long stated calls for allowing additional aid to get into Gaza.

“If there’s no changes to their policy in their approaches, then there’s going to have to be changes to ours,” Kirby said. “There are things that need to be done. There are too many civilians being killed.”

The demands for Israel to bring the conflict to a swift close were increasing across the political spectrum, with former President Donald Trump, the Republicans’ presumptive nominee to face Biden this fall, saying Thursday that Israel was “absolutely losing the PR war” and calling for a resolution to the bloodshed.

AP writers Matthew Lee in Brussels, Jill Colvin in New York and Lolita C. Baldor, Colleen Long and Chris Megerian contributed.

The World

Yellen calls for level playing field for US workers and companies during China visit

By Fatima Hussein & Ken Moritsugu The Associated Press

GUANGZHOU, China—US

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on China on Friday to address manufacturing overcapacity that she said could cause global economic dislocation and to create a level-playing field for American companies and workers.

Starting a five-day visit to China in one of the country’s major industrial and export hubs, she said she would raise industrial overcapacity and what the US considers to be unfair Chinese trade practices during what will likely be tough talks with senior China officials.

“There are a broad swath of economic interactions” between the US and China “that should remain uncontroversial,” she said at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China in Guangzhou. But, she said, there are “Chinese practices tilting the playing field away” from US firms.

Yellen, the first Cabinet-level official to visit China since President Joe Biden met Chinese leader Xi Jinping last November, earlier told the governor of Guangdong province that it’s important for the US and China to have open and direct communication on areas of disagreement.

“This includes the issue of China’s industrial overcapacity, which the United States and other countries are concerned can cause global spillovers,” she said.

After meeting the governor, Yellen spoke with US business leaders at the American Chamber

event and took questions from them in an auditorium of a marbled convention center in the Baiyun District of Guangzhou.

“I’ve heard from many American business executives that operating in China can be challenging,” Yellen said at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China on Friday afternoon.

Citing a recent survey by the Chamber that found that a third of American firms in China say they have experienced unfair treatment compared to local competitors, Yellen said the US has seen China “pursue unfair economic practices, including imposing barriers to access for foreign firms and taking coercive actions against American companies.”

“I strongly believe that this doesn’t only hurt these American firms: ending these unfair practices would benefit China by improving the business climate here. I intend to raise these issues in meetings this week,” she said in her speech.

Earlier in the day, she also met with American, European and Japanese business representatives to hear their concerns.

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province, a Chinese

Total solar eclipse forecast: Will your city have clear skies Monday?

By Adithi Ramakrishnan Ap Science Writer

DALLAS—Some who hope to witness Monday’s total solar eclipse may see the sun obscured by clouds instead of by the moon. There’s still plenty of time for forecasts to change, but meteorologists predict that eclipse day storms could blanket parts of the path, which stretches from Mexico and Texas through Maine and parts of Canada.

If clouds don’t get in the way, viewers in the path wearing eclipse glasses will see the moon begin to slowly cover the sun until it is completely blocked, a period of darkness called “totality” during which temperatures drop and the sun’s corona will be visible.

What’s the forecast along the eclipse’s path?

Clouds are expected in much of the eclipse’s path Monday thanks to storms that are moving across the central US.

National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard says the northeast US currently has the best chance of clear skies, along with parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.

Canada, too, may have only light cloud cover that won’t significantly impact the view. Higher, thinner clouds should still allow eclipse goers to glimpse the sun, while lower, thicker clouds could obscure the spectacle entirely.

Parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Texas are question -

manufacturing and export hub that is home to telecom giant Huawei and BYD, China’s largest EV maker. Huawei has been hit hard by US restrictions on semiconductor exports to China and is at the vanguard of Chinese efforts to become self-sufficient and a leader in technology. Government subsidies and other policy support have encouraged solar panel and EV makers in China to invest in factories, building far more production capacity than the domestic market can absorb.

The massive scale of production has driven down costs and ignited price wars for green technologies, a boon for consumers and efforts to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels. But Western governments fear that that capacity will flood their markets with low-priced exports, threatening American and European jobs.

Yellen will head to Beijing next. Eswar Prasad, a trade professor at Cornell University, expects Yellen to push Beijing to bolster domestic consumption and ensure fair competition in new technology sectors, especially green energy and electric vehicles, along with adequate market access for US companies. “Concerns about China at -

able. Northeast Texas, Chenard says, “could kind of go either way at this point.” Mexico may also have low to mid-level cloud cover.

Thushari Jayasekara, a physics professor at Southern Illinois University, saw the 2017 eclipse from Carbondale, Illinois, where it was partially hidden by clouds. From her vantage point at the university’s Saluki Stadium, the spectacle disappeared right as the final bit of the sun was extinguished by the moon. The crowd fell silent.

“It was dark, but we were not able to see the sun,” she said. The clouds parted again during totality, allowing those in Carbondale to catch a glimpse of the full effect.

How accurate is the eclipse weather forecast?

“The uncertainty is still pretty high,” Chenard said. The storms moving across the country make it difficult for meteorologists to predict exactly where and when clouds will arrive.

Weather conditions in the northeast US have looked promising so far, but the timing and speed of Monday’s storms may influence what cloud cover looks like for the rest of the country.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center will update the eclipse forecast daily until Monday.

How can I see the solar eclipse if it’s cloudy or rained out?

Eclipse viewers can still watch the total solar eclipse online.

NASA will stream telescope views of the sun and on NASA TV starting at 1 p.m. EDT. Associated Press journalists will also bring live coverage of the eclipse from across the path, starting at 10 a.m. EDT with views from Mazatlán, Mexico, and other locations.

The Exploratorium museum, Time and Date and Slooh will also broadcast eclipse day views.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

tempting to export its overcapacity and simultaneously making a big push into these sectors will be top of mind for the US delegation,” he said.

China has pushed back against the overcapacity concerns expressed by both the US and Europe.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said earlier this week that the growth in Chinese EV and solar exports is conducive to green development globally and the result of the international division of labor and market demand.

He accused the US of interfering with free trade by restricting technology exports to China.

“As for who is doing non-market manipulation, the fact is for everyone to see,” he said. “The US has not stopped taking measures to contain China’s trade and technology. This is not ‘de-risking,’ rather, it is creating risks.”

Yellen said at the American Chamber event that “excess capacity is a concern that many countries share—from a range of advanced and developing countries and is not something that’s new.”

“This is not anti-China policy,” she said. “It’s an effort for us to mitigate the risks from the inevitable global economic dislocation that will result if China doesn’t

adjust its policies.”

Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing—an alliance of businesses and the US Steelworkers union—told The Associated Press ahead of Yellen’s trip that “there is a limited amount of expectations we should have about the Chinese government and how it responds; one thing that Yellen hopefully can and should say is that the US is prepared to use all the tools that we have available through policy to ensure that China’s industrial overcapacity doesn’t negatively harm our economic and national security interests.”

The Alliance released a report in February that says the introduction of inexpensive Chinese autos to the American market “could end up being an extinction-level event for the US auto sector.” The US auto sector accounts for 3 percent of America’s GDP, according to the report.

Yellen told reporters Wednesday during an Alaska refueling stop en route to Asia that the US “won’t rule out” tariffs to respond to China’s heavily subsidized manufacturing of green energy products.

Moritsugu contributed from Beijing.

Billionaire Joe Lewis gets no prison time at sentencing for insider trading, receives probation and fine instead

By Larry Neumeister The Associated Press

NEW YORK—British billionaire Joe Lewis, whose family trust owns the Tottenham Hotspur soccer club, will not spend any time in prison after pleading guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York, a federal judge said Thursday.

Judge G.L. Clarke cited Lewis’ decision to promptly come to the United States to face charges and his failing health, along with a lifetime of good works, in ruling that Lewis will face three years on probation and a $5 million fine rather than time behind bars.

Lewis, 87, was wearing an eye patch and one of his hands shook steadily throughout the one-hour proceeding in a federal court in Manhattan. He has remained in the United States since last July.

Before he was sentenced, Lewis spoke briefly, saying he learned growing up in England during World War II how “precious” life is and decided to devote much of his life to finding a cure for “horrendous diseases.”

“Your honor, I’m here today because I made a terrible mistake. I’m ashamed,” he said.

Lewis said he hoped “to make amends and to rebuild the trust that I have squandered” for the remainder of his life.

US sentencing guidelines had called for Lewis, a citizen of the United Kingdom and resident of the Bahamas, to serve 18 months to two years behind bars. Even prosecutors, though, agreed time behind bars was not necessary.

At his January plea, Lewis admitted that he agreed in 2019 to share secrets about publicly traded companies with several individuals. Prosecutors said afterward that his company, Broad Bay Limited, and Lewis would pay $50 million in financial penalties, the largest such penalty for insider trading in a decade.

His lawyer said Thursday that the money was in escrow and ready to be paid and plans were for him to leave the United States for the Bahamas on Thursday night.

Prosecutors wrote in their presentence submission that Lewis deserved leniency because he is older and “battles significant health issues” that would cause a term of imprisonment to be more difficult for him

than others.

They cited his acceptance of responsibility that he demonstrated by voluntarily surrendering rather than forcing a drawnout extradition battle, and said that he’d “otherwise lived a law-abiding life.”

The government also noted that Lewis is recognized as one of the 500 richest people in the world with approximately $6.2 billion as of February, including homes in several countries; a $250 million yacht; private planes valued at $90 million and an art collection worth $100 million.

When she announced the sentence, the judge said: “It is clear to me that Mr. Lewis’s life would be at serious risk if he were to be incarcerated.”

Defense attorneys said in their presentence submission that Lewis “is nearing the end of life in declining health.”

They said Lewis was aware that his conviction meant he can’t return to the United States to see his children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, who all live in the US.

From the start, Lewis was no ordinary defendant. After his arrest less than a year ago, he had been free on $300 million bail after putting up a yacht and private plane as collateral.

In court papers, prosecutors said Lewis learned secrets about public companies after making large investments. They said that on at least four occasions, he tipped off his girlfriend, personal pilots, employees and friends, enabling them to profit from the secrets.

“This insider trading was not the result of aberrant, one-time conduct, but rather, a troubling pattern of misconduct over the course of several years,” they wrote.

Prosecutors said the insider activity might have resulted from “hubris, ego, and a desire to make a financial gift without parting with his own money, an irrational form of greed, or some other reason.”

But, regardless, “it is clear that Lewis believed he was above the law—that he had achieved a level of wealth and stature that relieved him from having to operate by the same rules that apply to everyday investors,” prosecutors said.

As he left the courthouse, Lewis was surrounded by aides who blocked members of the media from seeing him as he walked a short distance to a waiting vehicle.

THIS satellite image provided by NOAA shows clouds over North America on Thursday, April 4, 2024. NOAA VIA AP

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