THE Philippine economy may again post an average growth of 6 percent or better in the next two years, according to the latest forecast of Moody’s Analytics.
In its Asia Pacific Outlook, Moody’s Analytics said the country’s GDP may grow 5.9 percent this year but will continue to grow faster at 6 percent next year and 6.1 percent in 2026. However, this is lower than the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) GDP growth targets of 6 to 7 percent this year; 6.5 to 7.5 percent in 2025; and 6.5 to 8 percent in 2026 to 2028.
“Fiscal policy in the Philippines is strongly focused on infrastructure development, but actual execution of this policy has been uneven this past year,” Moody’s Analytics said.
“The Philippines must stick to its plans and execute well.”
Moody’s Analytics said inflation is expected to average 3.5 percent this year and will continue to slow to 3.2 percent in 2025 and 3 percent in 2026.
The think tank also estimated that unemployment will average 4.4 percent this year but will increase to 4.5 percent next year and to 4.6 percent in 2026.
The forecast also estimated that retail sales is expected to average 5.2 percent in 2024 but will slow to 3.1 percent next year and in 2026. Home prices are also expected to average 4.1 percent in 2024 but will slow to 3.9 percent in 2025 and increase to 4.2 percent in 2026.
“ The Philippines and Indonesia will not lag far behind Vietnam, but their economies are not as closely tied to the global economy. An aggressive push by both countries to improve their infrastructure will support high rates of growth,”
Moody’s Analytics said.
Earlier, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said 49 Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects are
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
THE national government ramped up its spending in the first half of 2024, rising 14.6 percent to P2.763 trillion, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). D ata from the DBM showed the government’s disbursements increased by P351 billion to P2.763 trillion in the January-June semester from the P2.411 trillion recorded in the same period in 2023. T his also exceeded the P2.734trillion spending program for the period by P24.6 billion or 0.9 percent.
This resulted mainly from
faster infrastructure spending, higher interest payments, and tax expenditures; but was partly offset by the lower-than-programmed subsidy support to government corporations, sans the bigticket releases to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation [PhilHealth],” the DBM said.
In terms of expense class, Current Operating Expenses jumped by 13.5 percent to P2.026 trillion in the first six months of 2024, from the P1.785 trillion posted in the same period in 2023. T his is driven by higher interest payments, up by 33.6 percent year-on-year to P377.2 billion from P282.5 billion due to coupon
payments for bonds issued in FY 2023 and additional issuances, and higher Treasury Bill and foreign exchange rates.
Personnel services went up to P701.9 billion by 13.5 percent year-on-year from P676.6 billion. Meanwhile, allotment to local government units (LGUs) also increased by 7.2 percent to P380.4 billion from P354.9 billion.
M aintenance and Other Operating Expenditures (MOOE) grew by 21.3 percent to P479.2 billion as of end-June 2024 from P394.9 billion in the same period a year ago, due to the wider coverage of the social protection programs of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD). This also includes the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) Program and the payments for health emergency allowance claims of healthcare workers of the Department of Health (DOH), and the expenses of the Commission on Elections for their preparatory activities for the 2025 National Local Elections.
Subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations inched up by 5.5 percent year-on-year to P67.2 billion as of end-June 2024 from P63.7 billion. On the other hand, capital outlays
SBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HANGHAI—Local food and beverage manufacturing firm Liwayway Marketing Corporation has come a long way from producing cornstarch in the 1940s to being a well-known food and beverage manufacturer here and abroad.
E ighty years after it was established by Filipino-Chinese couple Lib Chan and Ying See, Liwayway continues to thrive in the Philippines and has since expanded in nine other countries with the help of their children
Carlos and Manuel Chan.
L iwayway first opened its family-owned cornstarch and coffee repacking business in the 1940s and subsequently ventured into selling other general merchandise such as coffee, candles and pomade.
Fast forward to the year 1975: Liwayway introduced its first famous snack brand Oishi Prawn Crackers and Kirei Yummy Flakes in the Philippine market.
A fter almost 50 years, Liwayway said sales of the said products are still growing and the
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said international maritime stakeholders have backed its call for the deployment of security escorts for ships with Filipino sailors, which will pass through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
D MW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said he was able to secure such support during his meeting with the International Advisory Committee on Global Maritime Affairs (IACGMA) last Friday.
We also had an agreement in our meeting with the international maritime stakeholders, which
means the international ship owners and international seafarer groups [agreed] with our call to intensify having maritime security forces in that part of the world,” Cacdac said in a media forum during the weekend. The maritime security forces are among the conditions set by DMW for ships which will pass through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. D MW has tagged both waterways as dangerous due to the recent threats posed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels that have mounted attacks on ships perceived as being connected, even remotely, with Israel.
WINDMILL WISHES Bebeng Piliin, 71, President of the OSCA Sitio Bugarin in Brgy. Halayhayin, Pililla, Rizal, stands near the iconic Pililla Windfarm,
and
sold are locally grown in Buhatin, Pililla. BERNARD TESTA
expanded by 19.9 percent to P735.9 billion from January to June 2024, from the P613.8 billion posted in the same period in 2023.
Infr astructure spending increased by 20.6 percent to P611.8 billion from P507.2 billion due to the implementation of various road infrastructure programs and the completion of some ongoing projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nationwide.
The balance from the P5.767trillion obligation program for the year amounts to P472.3 billion or 8.2 percent as of end-June 2024.
The DBM said this comprises some P80.1 billion balances in agency-specific budgets and P196.8 billion allocation from Special Purpose Funds (SPFs).
Infr astructure spending and MOOE will continue to drive disbursements for the remaining months of 2024, with 56.1 percent and nearly 52.0 percent of their fullyear program, respectively.
The compensation adjustments of civilian government personnel pursuant to Executive Order No. 64 will result in higher Personnel Services expenditures.
“ The said expenditures will hopefully help buttress strong economic growth by creating demand in the construction sector or supporting other related services industries, while also facilitating the recovery of the agriculture sector,” the DBM said.
NTF-WPS: 8 Chinese ships ram, harass BFAR vessel
By Rex Anthony Naval
AT least eight Chinese vessels on Sunday rammed and harassed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel on a humanitarian mission to bring food, fuel, and medical supplies to fishermen in Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) was heading from Hasa-Hasa Shoal to Escoda Shoal when it was subjected to the “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” from the eight Chinese vessels.
“ The actions of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] vessels were aimed at obstructing the BFAR vessel’s humanitarian mission to resupply Filipino fishermen with diesel, food and medical supplies,” the task force said in a statement.
N TF-WPS said BRP Datu Sanday was targeted by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship 626 and multiple China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, which attempted to encircle and block the humanitarian mission.
“ The CCG vessels made close perilous maneuvers that resulted in ramming, blasted horns, and deployed water cannons against the BFAR vessel, eventually leading to the latter’s engine failure and
forcing an early termination of the humanitarian operation,” it added.
The task force said the Chinese ships’ unprofessional, aggressive, and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve.
However, despite these provocative maneuvers, the crew aboard the BFAR vessel remain on high morale and are unharmed.
A lso, the task force belied as “completely unfounded” what it said were claims suggesting that Philippine personnel fell overboard and were subsequently rescued by the CCG.
“ This fake news and misinformation serves as a clear illustration of the PRC’s willingness to distort the
A l ess progressive wealth tax would still yield a significant amount of $6.3 billion annually. This is based on tax rates of 2 percent on wealth over $5 million; 3 percent on wealth over $50 million; and 5 percent over $1 billion.
“Countries with higher social mobility have more skilled workers because people are encouraged to take chances and are rewarded for their abilities, no matter their background or where they live. But when social mobility is blocked, countries can’t move forward as quickly,” the experts said.
EARLIER , the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) said higher incomes and not just an increase in job creation in sectors like agriculture will allow the Philippines to stop “overstaying” in the Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC) category.
In the CPBRD brief, the think tank of the House of Representatives agreed with Global Source analyst Diwa Guinigundo, who said
truth and engage in disinformation to bolster its public image. HasaHasa [Half-Moon] Shoal is located approximately 60 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan, while Escoda [Sabina] Shoal is about 110 nautical miles away, both well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone [EEZ],” it said.
Following the incident, the Philippine government reiterated its call to China to stop these provocative actions that it said “destabilize regional peace and security.”
It added the Philippines “remains steadfast in asserting its rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [Unclos] and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”
in 2023 that the country has had a seeming “perpetual engagement in this category.”
The brief found that if the country sees an increase in Services ValueAdded per Worker (SVAPW), the probability of it becoming an Upper Middle Income Country (Umic) increases by 174.7 percentage points.
covered by requests for financing through unprogrammed appropriations.
B ased on the latest ODA Portfolio Review, these projects amount to P300.01 billion and are to be undertaken by 12 implementing agencies. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/08/13/p300-b-projectscovered-by-unprogrammedappropriations/).
T he report said that of this amount, some P213.03 billion will be requested to provide budgetary cover for loan proceeds, while about P86.98 billion will be requested for government counterpart funding.
TheNedaalsosaidthegovernment paid $13.87 billion in commitment fees in 2023 due to delays that affected the implementation of the country’s ODA-funded projects.
T he report also stated the same delays have led to six requests for changes in cost and scope due to cost overruns amounting to P57.12 billion. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/08/ 08/delayed-oda-funded-projectsled-to-overruns-fees-payment/).
Per the report, among the projects funded by active ODA loans in 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) and Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) were among those with the highest commitment fees.
B oth projects are part of the North-South Commuter Railway and accounted for $3.41 million in commitment fees in 2023. The SCRP’s commitment fees reached $2.41 million while the MCRP’s reached $1 million.
knew our actions had to be driven by compassion and responsibility. We put the community’s well-being above all else, knowing it was the right thing to do.”
“Our decision to convert our hotels into quarantine facilities was not made lightly,” Chairman Cabangon explained. At the start of the pandemic, there was concern that if it lasted 2 to 3 months, the hotels might be stigmatized, deterring future guests.
Despite these risks, the ALC Group was among the first to respond to the government’s call. “Community needs had to take precedence over business concerns. While we hoped the pandemic would end quickly, immediate action was neces -
sary,” Cabangon said. Their commitment to public service outweighed fears of stigma and loss, and their quick response was met with gratitude from mayors and other government officials, reinforcing their decision.
C hairman Cabangon humbly dedicated the award to the entire ALC Group, emphasizing that their collective effort made a real difference during a difficult time. “Our focus was on helping where we could, without seeking attention,” he concluded.
O ther awardees included Senators Joel Villanueva and Robinhood Padilla, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, and 2nd District of Parañaque Representative Gus Tambunting, among others.
brand remains one of the favorites of snack lovers in the country.
Due to its huge success, Liwayway has managed to put up five factories in several key provinces in the country—Cavite, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Tarlac and Iloilo.
It has extended its business to Vietnam where it established food and beverage production and packaging facilities in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Danang cities.
T he Filipino brand also has operations in Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia; Cambodia, Thailand, South Africa, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh.
But it is in China where Liwayway is considered a force to reckon with in the food and beverage industry, maintaining its position as the fourth largest in terms of sales.
Carlos Chan, visionary BENJAMIN TAN, Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd. vice president, told a visiting delegation of Filipino mediamen that Carlos Chan was a visionary as he immediately saw China’s potential to market its products during his visit in the 1980s.
Some people are just visionary, that’s one word to describe the chairman,” Tan said.
O n the other hand, Liwayway (China) Executive Vice President Li Pei Ming said the company was among the first companies to invest in China’s market when it opened up to the world in 1993.
T hat same year, Liwayway started its first operation in Pudong, Shanghai in China and has continued to expand since then with the establishment of 11 more factories across China in a span of 30 years. These factories are situated in Nanhui (1997), Harbin (1998), Kunming (1999), Jianxi (2003), Hubei (2004), Xinjian (2006), Shandong (2010), Jiangxi Packaging (2010), Qinhuangdao, Henshui and GLG Tianjin.
Cu rrently, Liwayway has close to 1,800 distributors of its wide range of products all over China such as baked snacks, roasted snacks, fried snacks, extruded fried snacks, peanut crackers, prawn crackers, corn curls, pillows snacks and other various flavors.
O n September 30, 2008, Liwayway acquired Great Lakes Juice Companies, offering various fruit drink flavors in China.
L iwayway brands remained famous in Shanghai from 2001 up
The Houthi rebels have already attacked several ships with Filipino sailors onboard.
The more recent object of attack is the Greek-flagged MT Sounion, which became adrift after its engine was damaged by missile attacks. Its crew, which included 23 Filipinos, were rescued by the French Navy. We are asking the shipowner [of MT Sounion] why there was no maritime escort in this situation?” Cacdac said.
to the present and were included in the 100 Star Enterprises of Overseas Chinese in China from 2000 to 2008. It has also employed at least 100 Filipino employees as part of its operations in China and planning to hire more.
Filipinos here are all experts, they are special people. [We have] managers, accountants, engineers, they are all good,” Li said.
Bangladesh, Uzbekistan LEANING on its huge success in China, the company said it is eying to widen its reach in Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, in addition to its existing 30 factories in 10 countries.
A new manufacturing facility is also being proposed in Can Tho, Vietnam.
A side from this, Liwayway’s director of finance in China, Aldrich Calag, said the company will roll out 20 new beverages and chips in the next few months across China. He added that Liwayway has also collaborated with designers to incorporate Oishi into their clothing labels as part of its marketing.
The company has also introduced the use of fresh ingredients and healthy raw materials for its consumers health benefit.
Tan said Oishi is one of the first to cease adding aspartame to its beverages and has removed trans fat and food coloring from the ingredients.
Davao lawyers call for sobriety in hunt for Quiboloy
Davao lawyers’ group pointed out.
TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Integrated Bar of the PhilippinesDavao City Chapter called on the National Police “to respect the rule of law and observe sobriety” in implementing warrants of arrest against those accused in courts, including Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In a statement, the lawyers’ group said that police authorities have the duty to obey orders issued by the court such as warrants for the arrest of a person or persons, the performance of such duty has limitations under
the law.
“If the police have good basis to believe that a person to be arrested is inside a certain place, they have the right to enter the place and even to break into such place if refused admit -
tance after announcing their authority and intention,” the IBP-Davao said.
“However, after conducting a search for the person , or persons, to be arrested within a reasonable period of time, the police do not have the authority to occupy the premises or exclude any lawful occupant thereof from free entry and egress therefrom,” it added.
Likewise, occupants of a place subject of a search or arrest warrant, according to the IBP, are required under the law to allow the police to exercise their authority or they may face possible criminal sanctions.
“Attempts to stop, or hinder, the lawful exercise by the police of their mandate to implement a warrant of arrest may result in criminal liability for obstruction of justice or worse if any act of violence is committed,” the
The person subject of the warrant, according to the IBP-Davao, is also duty-bound to abide by the court order and surrender peacefully to authorities.
It noted that any accused can avail of legal remedies before the court for the protection of his rights and interests.
The IBP-Davao issued the statemen after more than 2,000 police personnel allegedly forcibly entered the KOJC compound in Davao City last Sarurday to search and service the court-issued arrest warrant against Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking, child abuse and sexual abuse cases filed against him.
Reporters in Davao City meanwhile kept round-the-clock watch over the continuing police search inside the compound managed by the
Honasan: PCG has crucial need for hospital ship
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
ON the eve of National Heroes Day, former Sen. Gregorio Honasan has reminded Filipinos of the importance of supporting modern-day heroes like those of the Coast Guard (PCG) who help safeguard the welfare of Filipinos at sea, and the country’s maritime borders.
Thus, the former senator threw his full support for the Coast Guard’s plan to acquire new hospital ship, and
to build a new first responder station for its marine search and rescue operations.
“I understand that in the proposed 2025 national budget, the PCG is seeking an allocation of P385.7 million to procure a new hospital ship, plus P90 million to construct a new First Responder and Nursing Service Facility,” Honasan said in a statement on Sunday.
“I wholly support both Coast Guard projects, as they will surely help save lives,” Honasan added. Honasan once chaired the Senate
Committee on National Defense.
He noted that the PCG, an armed civilian service attached to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), is driven by the motto “Saving Lives.”
The PCG’s Parola-class patrol vessels, each with a complement of five officers and 20 enlisted men, have been at the forefront of maritime security operations in the West Philippine Sea.
Two PCG patrol vessels—officially called multi-role response vessels (MRRVs)—were recently damaged when they encountered hostile China
Coast Guard (CCG) boats whose highly aggressive maneuvers “resulted in collisions” near Escoda Shoal.
The BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bagacay were on their way to resupply outposts on Patag and Lawak islands when the incident happened.
Patag and Lawak form part of the Kalayaan Island Group under the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.
The PCG’s 30,640 officers and ratings are tasked primarily with safeguarding life and property at sea, law
religious denomination of fugitive, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, which the police believed was where the fugitive is hiding.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the regional police director, sent 2,000 police personnel to scour the area and is overseeing the search operation.
The National Police chief, Gen. Rommel Marbil, was also in the city on Sunday.
Several buildings of the Jose Maria College and the 75,000-seater King Dome, a sports and entertainment covered arena are co-located in the sprawling compound.
The police raided the compound anew on early Saturday despite the protest of Quiboloy’s legal team and the presence of several followers of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name (KOKC),
enforcement in Philippine waters, including maritime security operations, and protecting the country’s marine environment and resources.
The PCG is not a branch of the Armed Forces.
However, Honasan said the PCG Law of 2009 provides “that in times of war, as declared by Congress, the PCG or parts thereof shall be attached to the Department of National Defense.”
Last month, Honasan said the Armed Forces’s ongoing modernization program should include the procurement of least three new military hospital ships—one each for deployment to Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao—to reinforce the government’s disaster
who have been keeping a daily vigil and guard at the compound since the the first police raid on June 10 that turned violent. The National Bureau of Investigation also searched the area on August 9, all to serve the warrant of arrests issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 157 in Pasig City, RTC 106 and RTC Branch 112 in Davao City and the contempt warrant of the Senate. Quiboloy and five others have been accused of child and women sexual abuse as well as trafficking of persons.
Aside from the KOJC compound beside the airport, Quiboloy has maintained a Prayer Mountain property in Tamayong, Baguio District northwest of downtown, a private resort in Samal Island, and the KOJC Kitbog compound in Malungon, Sarangani. With Manuel T. Cayon
relief and humanitarian operations.
“Considering that we are an archipelagic nation extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, military hospital ships would be a wise and practical investment of taxpayer money,” Honasan said.
He insisted that the Armed Force “should still acquire its own military hospital ships regardless of the PCG’s welcome plan.”
During his time as failed coup leader, Honasan was once detained in a Navy ship from where he escaped together with the officers he managed to recruit to the Reform the AFP Movement during his “vacation” at the naval vessel.
Meralco gets universities abroad as partners in nuke energy push
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
SEVERAL foreign universities have formally agreed to be “knowledge partners” of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) for its nuclear energy push.
The utility company signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with North American institutions Ontario Tech University in Canada and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the United States.
The power distributor also visited China to sign MOU with Harbin Engineering University (HEU) and Tsinghua University. Both universities are partners of the China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas Ltd.
The partnerships with the foreign universities aim to ensure
provision of adequate knowledge on managing a nuclear power plant, including best practices in the study of nuclear energy. This will also enable the co-development and implementation of nuclear energy related programs and conduct of joint research projects that will be beneficial to the adoption of the alternative power source in the country.
Through Meralco Power Academy (MPA), the company in 2023 launched its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (Fission) program.
The first batch of Fission scholars is set to start their three to four-year nuclear ngineering program in the United States and China.
Meralco engineers Gener Atienza and Amiela Nicodemus will be studying in UIUC, while Marc Ceria, Justin Salas, and Kenneth Tulagan will be deployed to HEU.
The energy education unit of Meralco, MPA, together with the former Dean of Engineering of the University of the Philippines Aura Matias and Filipino-Canadian scientist from the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Ike Dimayuga, shortlisted the top universities offering international graduate program on nuclear science based on world ranking, track record, access to nuclear energy laboratories, and ongoing research on small and micro modular reactors.
Upon the scholars’ return to the Philippines in 2028, they will be reintegrated into Meralco and be assigned to take on a role in its nuclear power generation unit.
“Our commitment to explore the adoption of nuclear energy in the country is reinforced by these milestone collaborations with reputable international institutions. These partnerships will help us in having greater understanding of nuclear technologies, ensuring that challenges are addressed, and plans are well aligned with the government policies prior to deployment,” Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie Aperocho said.
“Through Fission, Meralco hopes to cultivate the next generation of strong innovators in the field of nuclear energy, empowering and further enhancing the competencies of energy professionals to advance sustainable energy solutions for the country,” Aperocho added.
Meralco is partnering with American firm, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. for the development of either micro-modular nuclear reactors (MMR) or small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) nuclear energy technology in the country.
Group uncovers rampant sale of lead-tainted paint
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
DESPITE the ban, leadtainted paint products are still being offered for sale to unsuspecting consumers, including online shoppers.
This was revealed by the group EcoWaste Coalition, which said that some paint products banned by the government four years ago for containing violative levels of lead, a potent neurotoxin not allowed in paint manufacturing are still accessible in the market and online platforms.
The group recently conducted a rapid market investigation from August 22 to 24 in Baguio, Manila, and Quezon cities to check on business compliance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory 2020-1585 issued on August 26, 2020.
At the request of the EcoWaste Coalition, the FDA issued the said advisory against 37 imported spray paint products for containing “significant levels” of lead way above the 90 parts per million (ppm) limit under the DENR-issued Chemical Control
Order (CCO), which, among other provisions, banned lead compounds used as pigments, drying catalysts or anti-corrosion agents in the making of paints and similar surface coatings.
Of these 37 paints, 29 tested with dangerously high lead levels surpassing 10,000 ppm with a grass green King Sfon Spray Paint containing 82,100 ppm.
“The unchecked importation, distribution, sale, and use of these dangerous paint products pose significant health risks to our people, especially the children, women of childbearing age and the workers,” said Manny Calonzo, EcoWaste Coalition campaigner.
“While local paint manufacturers have painstakingly shifted to lead-safe formulations, some foreign manufacturers have not, as evidenced by the proliferation of imported leaded paints in the market, including in e-commerce sites, despite being ‘sternly warned’ by the FDA.”
Of the 37 spray paints representing 19 brands that were banned in 2020, at least six brands can still be found in physical retail stores, as well as in online
Approved House bill tightens regulation of motorcycle taxis
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) is tasked to deputize local governments and other government agencies to assist in enforcing rules governing the operation of motorcycles-for-hire or motorcycle taxis, under a measure recently passed by the House of Representatives that legalizes this mode of conveyance.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte in a statement said that the recently-approved bill provides for the LTO deputation of local governments and other agencies to tighten control and supervision over motorcycle taxis.
Villafuerte said House Bill 10424 mandates the LTO to establish a centralized database to ensure the accurate recording of violations and road crashes involving motorcycles-for-hire, for the purpose of applying the penalties as well as other sanctions.
The bill also directs the LTO to publish quarterly and annual reports of such data on its website which shall be accessible to the public, he said.
HB 10424, or the “Motorcycles-for-Hire Act,” was approved recently on third and final reading by the chamber by a 200-1 vote.
Villafuerte, said that to ensure the safety of passengers,
stores, including Anton Spray Paint (Honda red), King Sfon Spray Paint (grass green), Koby Spray Paint (fresh green and Suzuki red), Sinag Spray Paint (orangered), Standard Aerosol Spray Paint (orange-yellow), and Yandy Spray Paint (jade green).
Further laboratory tests commissioned by the EcoWaste Coalition also detected high concentrations of lead in the other variants of Anton, King Sfon, Koby, Sinag, Standard, and Yandy paint products.
For example, the apple green, blackish green, fresh green, grass green, leaf green, jade green, Shifeng green, Jialing red, Suzuki red, canary yellow, deep yellow, medium yellow, orange yellow, and violet colors of Yandy Spray Paint all tested for lead above 90 ppm. Yandy can also be obtained online for as low as P75 per can.
“The continued proliferation of imported lead-containing spray paints is putting vulnerable sectors, children in particular, at risk of lead poisoning. Until such time when the trade of lead paints and lead chromates—the main leadbased ingredient in paint—is controlled, more children will get
the first order of business for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is to require MTPPs to obtain insurance coverage for both their drivers and passengers, as well as insurance to cover third-party liabilities.
He agreed with the view of Speaker Martin Romualdez that “motorcycles-for-hire not just serve as a safe and economical mode of mass public transportation but also as a viable source of livelihood for Filipinos.”
Motorcycles-for-hire operating under MTPPs or OEPPs shall be regulated by the LTFRB in accordance with its mandate to issue Certificates of Public Convenience (CPCs).
In areas without operating MTPPs or OEPPs, the LTFRB is empowered under the bill to regulate the operations of motorcycles-for-hire, and the number of routes or taxi bikes that may be allowed to operate shall be determined in accordance with the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) as recommended by the concerned local governments.
Also, the bill directs the LTFRB to provide uniform guidelines as to the standards of operation of motorcycle taxis in consultation with the local governments and stakeholders.
“HB 10424 sets the framework for quality assurance among motorcycles for hire, give commuters an alternative for a mode of transportation and ensure a safe road for everyone,” Villafuerte said.
“The goal of legalizing motorcycle taxis is clear: to provide an option for transporting people and helping commuters get to where they need to be—with an assurance that these bikes are safe for commuters to take and ride around.”
DOST launches innovation hubs to develop start-ups
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THE Department of Science and Technology launched in Antique the nationwide innovation hubs (iHubs) intended as a one-stop shop where people can develop start-ups.
The introduction of iHubs marks another effort to encourage people to establish start-ups that can make a change within the community.
IHubs provide a facility for individuals or groups to develop ideas for innovative start-ups that promote advancements in technology and resolve various societal issues.
“[T]he overall objective or the goal of our iHubs is, essentially, to create and strengthen the innovation ecosystems in all the regions and provinces across the country,” Rowen Gelonga, director of DOST Region VI, said during the iHub launching at University of Antique—Sibalom Campus on Wednesday, August 21.
Western Visayas was been the starting point of iHubs in February by the DOST, which inaugurated its first iHub in Guimaras, operated by a consortium that includes the Iloilo Science and Technology University and the provincial government.
harmed by this neurotoxin,” said Jeiel Guarino, Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaigner, International Pollutants Elimination Network (Ipen).
For this reason, Ipen and its members, including the EcoWaste Coalition, are campaigning to get lead chromates listed as hazardous chemicals subject to the Rotterdam Convention’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure.
If listed, companies exporting lead chromates or paints containing them may not ship these commodities to a country that has not consented to receiving them.
Environmental health specialist Geminn Louis Apostol explained: “While lead is harmful to everyone, children are most vulnerable to the detrimental impacts of lead exposure to health and development. Early exposure in life can adversely affect the brain and central nervous system, causing hearing, reading, and learning difficulties, delays in speech and language development, reduced intelligence, poor school performance, attention deficit disorder, and behavioral problems. No amount of exposure is deemed safe.”
Go champions better health care
SEN. Christopher Go’s Malasakit Team attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Anda Super Health Center in Pangasinan on Thursday, August 22.
In collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government of Anda, led by Mayor Joganie Rarang, Go has been at the forefront of pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide, including 26 in Pangasinan.
Anda is an island-TOWN located at the tip of Lingayen Gulf, approximately 90 kilometers away from Dagupan City. The distance and geographic isolation of Anda make access to essential healthcare services a significant challenge for its residents.
This is why, according to Go, the establishment of a Super Health Center in Anda is crucial, as it will provide immediate and comprehensive healthcare services to the community, reducing the need for long and potentially difficult travels. The center will ensure that the people of Anda have access to quality healthcare right within their reach, addressing their health needs promptly and effectively.
The Super Health Center, described as a “medium version” of a polyclinic, will serve as an enhanced rural health unit. It will offer a range of services, including database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostic services (such as laboratory, x-ray, and ultrasound), a pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Additionally, specialized services like eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, as well as telemedicine, will be available to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the community.
During the event, Go’s Malasakit Team distributed some tokens to healthcare workers and extended medical assistance to residents in need.
Inside the iHub, the DOST said, stakeholders can make use of various information and communication technology (ICT) equipment and stay at a coffee shop to develop new start-ups and exchange various ideas.
“We will pursue innovation for the people and create value not only in monetary terms but for the people’s sense of well-being,” Naomi Cossette Luis, assistant director of DOST Region VI, said during the Guimaras launching in January.
The DOST is working with various government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the private sector to provide funding for the research and development of start-ups. As of November 2023, the science agency provided funds of P230 million to over 60 startups under the Startup Grant Fund, which aims to bolster research and strengthen start-ups’ intellectual property.
Regional start-ups are also provided financial backbone under the Regional Start-up Enabler for Ecosystem Development. The DOST has already spent over P120 million as of November 2023, to reach 16 regions.
FFCCCII pushes for Greater Manila Bay Area development to attract investments
THE Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) is advocating for the development of the Greater Manila Bay area, inspired by the success of China’s Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area, as a strategy to attract more investments and advanced technologies to the Philippines.
During the Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations held at the Conrad Hotel, FFCCCII President Cecilio K. Pedro said that Chinese Ambassador of Manila Huang Xilian proposed this initiative to Filipino Chinese businessmen. The proposed Greater Manila Bay area, encompassing the linkage between Bataan and Cavite, as well as Greater Manila and Bulacan, is seen as a prime location for economic development.
“Ambassador Huang Xilian saw the potential in linking up Bataan and Cavite with new infrastructures, and recognized the economic opportunities in the areas in between, including Greater Manila and Bulacan,” Pedro explained.
The FFCCCII believes that this proposal could serve as a catalyst for attracting more investments to the region. Pedro emphasized that the proposed Manila Greater Bay Area could establish a partnership and strengthen economic cooperation with the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay
Area, fostering faster, sustainable, and high-tech economic growth for both regions.
The Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area, consisting of Hong Kong, Macao, and nine cities in Guangdong province, including the technology hub Shenzhen, boasts a $1.98-trillion gross domestice product. This makes it one of the fastest-growing regions in China, surpassing the economies of South Korea and other nations.
As the Philippine government promotes the Luzon economic corridor with the support of the United States and Japan, Pedro said that developing the proposed Greater Manila Bay area could complement these efforts.
“The more, the merrier,” he remarked, noting that attracting investments in various areas would help create more jobs in the Philippines. The recent Manila Forum, which focused on enhancing economic cooperation between the Philippines and the Hong KongMacao-Guangdong Greater Bay Area, was jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy, FFCCCII led by Pedro, the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce led by
Chairman Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, the Association for Philippines China Understanding (Apcu) led by Raul Lambino, and the Hong Kong Macau Guangdong Entrepreneurs Alliance.
RAUL LAMBINO, chairman of the Association of Philippine-China Understanding; Choi Koonshum, Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce chairman; Huang Xilian, China’s ambassador to Manila and Cecilio K. Pedro, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry delivered speeches at the Manila Forum at Conrad Hotel, which prompted economic cooperation between the Philippines and the fast-growing Hong Kong Macau Guangdong Greater Bay Area.
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
unmilled rice output seen flat this year
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE country’s unmilled rice output for 2024 could post flat growth compared to last year’s record harvest particularly if more natural calamities will strike the Philippines in the remaining months of the year, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
“It is possible...that [rice] production will not register an increase compared with last year’s output,” PhilRice Deputy Executive Director Flordeliza Bordey
told reporters on the sidelines of a recent forum held in Taguig. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that palay or unmilled rice production in 2023 reached a record 20.06 million metric tons (MMT). The figure is 1.56 percent higher than the 19.76 MMT recorded in 2022.
PCO: Onion traders, importers face ₧2.4-B fine for collusion
THE government may slap a fine of P2.4 billion against 12 onion importers and traders for their supposed involvement in anti-competitive practice.
This after President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to file cases against the said group in a memorandum he issued through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin last Tuesday.
“The Enforcement Office has recommended a total fine of P2.4 billion against the violators,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy V. Garafil said in a statement issued last Sunday.
As of press time, the Palace has not released the names of the importers and traders who will be charged and ordered to pay fines.
The penalty, Garafil said, is based on the recommendation of PCC after it concluded its investigation on how the said group decided to divide among themselves the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSIC) for onions issued by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
PCC claimed that the 12 onion import -
ers and traders have decided to collude to maximize their profit.
“Respondents also colluded to lessen competition in the market. Evidence showed that respondents, despite being competitors, shared, exchanged, and discussed sensitive business information such as price, suppliers, customers, volume, shipping, distribution, and storage,” PCC said.
Through the said illegal cooperation, the group was able to effectively control 50 percent of the volume of imported onion and violated the Philippine Competition Act.
Last July, President Marcos ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to probe the traders and importers, which were linked to hoarding, smuggling and price fixing, which were blamed for the surge in onion prices in 2022 during a Congressional hearing.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) directive in 2023, Marcos directed PCC and other government agencies to go after smugglers, hoarders and those engaged in anticompetitive practice. Samuel P. Medenilla
‘Private
T“It’s also possible that output may not reach the level recorded in 2023 if the Philippines will be hit by more natural calamities.”
Bordey said the government continues to provide support to farmers to increase the productivity of their farms, such as the provision of inputs like fertilizer and hybrid and inbred seeds.
“We are trying to improve the [seed] varieties that have a better probability of surviving if the crop gets flooded.”
She also said the government has reached its seed distribution target despite the adverse impact of El Niño.
“The weather condition during the dry season affected seed availability this wet season.”
Bordey said, however, that they are fast-tracking seed distribution in preparation for the dry season in 2025.
“Weather permitting, the seeds that we are distributing are of really high quality which improve rice yield.”
However, Bordey noted that many factors could affect palay production, adding that calamities like tropical cyclones could be detrimental to standing crops. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recently adjusted downward the country’s projected palay production for 2024 to 20.1 MMT from the initial projection of 20.44 MMT.
“Since we were affected by El Niño this year and with the upcoming La Niña for the second semester, we’re hoping for parity with last year’s,” Laurel said in a mix of English and Filipino during the budget hearing of the Committee on Appropriations.
“I don’t want to overpromise. I’m expecting there would be one to two strong typhoons that will enter the country, so I have to be more conservative in my estimates.”
sector key to expanding Kadiwa store network’
HE government is forming partnerships with the private sector to achieve its goal of opening 1,500 Kadiwa stores within the term of President Marcos, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA would collaborate with the private sector to reach the agency’s target.
“We have identified at least 650 sites for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores. But for us to reach the 1,500 target we need to open at least one store a day, which is almost impossible that’s why we need the private sector’s collaboration in this project,” he said in a statement.
The DA said it is currently in talks with several food manufacturers to supply Kadiwa stores with basic goods, including canned sardines, cooking oil, condiments, and fresh fish and poultry products.
Raw sugar climbs on dry weather in Brazil
RAW sugar futures climbed for a third day on reports of fire hitting sugar-cane areas and concerns about the impact of dry weather in Brazil’s Center-South, the nation’s topproducing region.
The most-active contract advanced as much as 3.3 percent, after dropping to the lowest in almost two years earlier in the week.
Brazil’s top producer Raizen SA confirmed that a fire broke at a sugar-cane field near its Santa Elisa mill, at Sertaozinho, on Thursday. Flames were controlled in the same day, but hit some company equipment, and part of the mill’s biomass stocks. In the nearby city of Ibitinga, local TV reported that as much as 5 hectares of sugar cane was damaged by a fire on Wednesday. The fires add to concerns of
potential damage to crops coming from persistent dry weather and above-average temperatures. While a strong pace of sugar production in Brazil previously stoked bearish sentiment, fears are mounting over output for the second half of the country’s crop harvest.
“Lack of rains in the forecast raise risks that cane yields will suffer eventually,” said Kona Haque, head of research at ED&F Man Holdings.
Brazil’s sugar production for the year through July was running ahead of last year’s pace, but productivity declined in the second half of the month due to dry weather, according to a recent report from industry group Unica.
Soybean prices SOYBEAN prices rebounded from
Thursday’s decline after the United States disclosed soy export sales for a fifth straight day and the greenback weakened.
The US Department of Agriculture announced Friday that 120,000 tons of soybeans were sold to unknown buyers. The US has sold 1.38 million tons of soybeans including sales to China this week, more than triple the amount reported in the prior week. A weaker dollar has helped commodities produced in US become more competitive against rivals.
Soybean futures were also fueled by concerns with forecasts of high temperatures and dry weather in US corn belt that could hurt soybean crops, even after data from the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour showed soybean pod count in 3-by-3-foot square is above the three-year average in almost all regions visited.
“Pod counts did not directly equate to yield by any means, especially if you have a dry and warm finish to the year,” said Angie Setzer, cofounder of farm advisory Consus Ag Consulting LLC. “There is some worry that we could see the top end being taken off this bean crop and an increase in short-term demand here as well.”
The rise in soy oil futures also boosts soybean prices gains as the market weighs comments that Brazil’s buyers are considering sourcing the beans from Argentina, Setzer said. Bloomberg News
“We’re also talking to manufacturers of other basic goods like condiments, sugar and canned goods to help ease the financial challenges of Filipinos and actualize President Marcos’ vision to provide every Filipino family with affordably-priced food on their table.”
Meanwhile, Laurel said the department would expand Kadiwa stores to Visayas and Mindanao in September as part of the broader plan to widen its store network, which offers lower-priced farm goods in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
“We expect to have at least 60 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores across the country next month to provide more Filipinos with greater
access to affordably-priced agricultural products, including the P29 per kilo rice intended for vulnerable sectors.”
According to the DA, the goal of Kadiwa is to have at least one store in each of the country’s nearly 1,500 municipalities.
“Aside from helping consumers, the program also provides farmers cooperatives and associations a ready market where they can directly sell their produce to consumers, maximizing their returns.”
Laurel said the government is banking on Kadiwa stores to reduce food prices and temper inflation. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/07/22/govtbanking-on-kadiwa-stores-totemper-inflation/)
“[Kadiwa] ang pinaka epektibong paraan para ma -stabilize yung presyo at mabigyan ng mas murang bilihin,” Laurel said in a radio interview.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the National Economic and Development Authority said food inflation accelerated to 6.7 percent in July from 6.5 percent in June. This was attributed to higher inflation rates for meat (4.8 percent from 3.1 percent); corn (17.5 percent from 13.1 percent); fruits (8.4 percent from 5.6 percent); eggs and other dairy products (1.8 percent from 1.3 percent), and ready-made food products (6 percent from 5.9 percent). Ada Pelonia
Back-to-work order issued for 2 major Canada railroads. Union will comply, but plans lawsuit
By Josh Funk & Rob Gillies The Associated Press
TORONTO—The Canadian arbitrator appointed to resolve a messy railroad labor dispute to protect the North American economy has ordered employees at the country’s two major railroads back to work so both can resume operating.
Saturday’s order means Canadian National will be able to continue operating the trains it restarted Friday morning just over a day after it locked out workers. But Canadian Pacific Kansas City likely won’t be able to restart its operations before 12:01 a.m. Monday, when workers were ordered to return.
Railroads play a crucial role in the economy with CPKC and CN delivering more than CA$1 billion (US$730 m illion) worth of shipments a day and carrying billions of dollars of goods between the US and Canada every month. Even though both companies’ trains in the United States a nd Mexico continued operating, the lockouts caused a significant disruption. A number of smaller short-line f reight railroads that handle local deliveries continued operating across C anada but were unable to hand off shipments to either of the major railroads while they were idle.
T he Teamsters union representing workers said that it will comply w ith the Canada Industrial Relations Board order and send its members back on the job, but it will also move forward with a legal challenge of the arbitration order.
“This decision by the CIRB sets a dangerous precedent. It signals to corporate Canada that large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict shortt erm economic pain, and the federal government will step in to break a union,” said Paul Boucher, President of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents more than 9,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers at both railroads.
“ The rights of Canadian workers
have been significantly diminished today,” Boucher added.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon order the lockouts to end just o ver 16 hours after they began because government officials couldn’t b ear to watch the economic disaster unfold if the railroads remained s hut down.
MacKinnon noted the board’s decision in a post on the social platform X a nd said he expects the railroads and employees to resume operations as soon as possible.
Businesses all across Canada and the United States said they would quickly face a crisis without rail service because they rely on freight railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products. Without re gular deliveries, many businesses would possibly have to cut production or even shut down.
C anadian National trains started running again Friday morning but the union threatened to go on strike there starting Monday morning. Saturday’s order nullifies that strike t hreat. CPKC workers have been on strike since the lockout began early Thursday, and the railroad’s trains have remained idle.
“While CN is disappointed an agreement could not be reached at the bargaining table, the company is satisfied that this order effectively ends the unpredictability that has been negatively impacting supply chains for months,” the railroad said in a statement. “CN remains focused on safely getting goods moving again, as efficiently as possible.”
CPKC officially ended its lockout after Saturday’s decision and asked workers to return for the day shift
Sunday. But union spokesman Christopher Monette said workers who h ave been on strike won’t be going back to CPKC before the Monday deadline in the order.
CPKC said it wants to “get the Canadian economy moving again as quickly as possible and avoid further disruption to supply chains.”
The railroads said it could take several weeks to fully recover because they began gradually shutting d own their networks more than a week ago, leaving shipments stranded on customer loading docks and at p orts across the country.
The previous contract, which expired at the end of last year, will remain in force while the arbitration process proceeds, and the board ordered the unions not to disrupt operations further while that unfolds.
T he negotiations at CPKC and CN broke down over issues related to how workers are scheduled and rules in the contract that are designed to prevent fatigue. Both railroads had proposed changing the compensation system from paying workers a ccording to miles traveled to one based on hours worked.
The railroads said doing that would make it easier to provide predictable time off, but the union resisted over worries that the changes c ould erode important fatigue protections and jeopardize job safety.
C anadian National and CPKC
Islamic State group claims responsibility for knife attack that killed 3 in Germany
By Daniel Niemann & Stephanie Liechtenstein The Associated Press
SOLINGEN, Germany—The Islamic State militant group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a knife attack that killed three people and wounded eight more at a crowded festival marking this city’s 650th anniversary.
The extremist group said on its news site that the attacker targeted Christians and that as a “soldier of the Islamic State” he carried out the assaults Friday night “to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere.”
The IS claim couldn’t immediately be verified. It provided no evidence for its assertions.
Police later detained a suspect, the internal affairs minister of North Rhein Westphalia state said early Sunday.
“We have been following a hot lead all day,” Herbert Reul told “Tagesschau,” the news program of the German public television network ARD.
“The person we have been searching for all day has been detained a short while ago.” He was being questioned, Reul said. Reul said police not only had “clues” but also collected “pieces of evidence.”
Officials earlier said a 15-year-old boy was arrested early Saturday on suspicion he knew about the planned
attack and failed to inform authorities, but he was not the attacker. Two female witnesses told police they overheard the boy and an unknown person before the attack speaking about intentions that corresponded to the bloodshed, officials said.
Before the Reul announcement, Markus Caspers, senior public prosecutor from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutors office, said at a news conference Saturday that authorities could not yet speak on the attacker’s motivation.
“So far we have not been able to identify a motive, but looking at the overall circumstances, we cannot rule out” the possibility of terrorism, Caspers said, though he did not offer further details.
The three people who died were two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman, authorities said. Police said the attacker appeared to have deliberately aimed for his victims’ throats.
“We are seeing the first signs of a new wave of terrorist attacks,” said Peter Neumann, a professor of security studies at King’s College in London. IS “is trying to capitalize on the huge mobilization resulting from Hamas’ terror offensive on 7 October 2023, even though strictly speaking it had nothing to do with it,” he said.
“The kind of attack we saw in Solingen is exactly the kind of attack that
(IS) is trying to inspire. It’s calling on people over the Internet to attack ‘unbelievers’ using simple methods. like cars and knives. That way, it is trying to create an impression that (the Islamic State group) is everywhere and could strike anytime,” Neumann told The Associated Press.
Thorsten Fleiss, who headed police operations Friday night, said officers were conducting searches and investigations in the entire state of North Rhine Westphalia.
He said police had found several knives, but added he was unable to confirm whether any of them were used during the attack.
Police warned people to stay vigilant even as well wishers started to leave flowers at the scene. Authorities established an online portal where witnesses could upload footage and any other information relevant to the attack.
Churches in Solingen opened their doors to offer a space for prayer and emergency pastoral care.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited the city Saturday evening and said the government would do everything possible to support the people of Solingen.
“We will not allow that such an awful attack divides our society,” she said, appearing alongside state Minister-President Hendrik Wüst and Reul.
eU: maduro has not shown ‘necessary public evidence’ to declare victory in Venezuela’s presidential elections
By Megan Janetsky The Associated Press
MEXICO CITY—The European Union’s top diplomat on Saturday said that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has still “not provided the necessary public evidence” to prove he was the winner of July’s elections, days after the country’s Supreme Court backed the government’s disputed claims of victory.
The bloc joined a slate of other Latin American countries and the United States in rejecting the Venezuelan high court’s certification.
have said they offered raises in line with other recent rail industry deals. CN said its engineers make about CA$150,000 a year, while its conductors earn CA$121,000. CPKC said its p ay is comparable.
At CN there was also a dispute over its effort to expand its system of temporarily relocating workers to other regions when there are staff shortages. The union didn’t want CN to have the power to disrupt families, but the railroad said the system i s voluntary and is already in place in some places.
At the same time that the Canadian railroads have been struggling to re ach agreements with their union, major US railroads have made a flurry of deals in recent days.
C SX announced the first deals on Wednesday—months before the current contract expires and before the s tart of the traditional national bargaining process that typically drags o n for years—then announced seven more contracts Friday. All together, the new contracts cover more than half the railroad’s workforce. Norfolk Southern and BNSF followed s uit, announcing four deals each with some of their 13 unions on Friday.
The deals will help the US rail industry avoid the kind of difficult labor dispute that drove it to the brink of a strike two years ago before Congress and President Joe Biden stepped in to impose a contract.
Wüst described the attack as “an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country.” But Faeser, the country’s top security official, had not classified it as a “terror attack.”
People alerted police shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday that a man had assaulted several people with a knife on the city’s central square, the Fronhof.
Solingen, a city of about 160,000 residents near the bigger cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf, was holding a “Festival of Diversity” to mark its 650th anniversary. It began Friday and was supposed to run through Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.
The attack took place in the crowd in front of one stage. Hours later, the stage lights were still on as police and forensic investigators looked for clues in the cordoned-off square, but the rest of the festival was canceled.
“Last night our hearts were torn apart. We in Solingen are full of horror and grief. What happened yesterday in our city has hardly let any of us sleep,” the mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, told reporters Saturday.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the perpetrator must be punished with the full force of the law.
“The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. An attacker has brutally killed several people. I have just spoken to Solingen’s mayor, Tim Kurzbach. We mourn the victims and stand by their families,” Scholz said Saturday on the social media platform X. Liechtenstein reported from Vienna.
Authorities repeated calls for Maduro to release the election’s official tally sheets, considered the one verifiable vote count in Venezuela as they are almost impossible to replicate.
“Only complete and independently verifiable results will be accepted and recognized,” Josep Borrell, the high representative of the EU, said in a statement.
Borrell’s comments came as the leaders of Brazil and Colombia also demanded the release of the tallies, saying on Saturday the “credibility of the electoral process can only be restored through the transparent publication of disaggregated and verifiable data.”
The joint statement from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro didn’t go as far as to reject the court certification. Many had been waiting to see how the two leftist leaders would respond to the court because both are close allies of Maduro and have been working to facilitate talks with both sides.
Maduro claims that he won the presidential vote, but so far has refused to release the tallies. Meanwhile, the main opposition coalition has accused Maduro of trying to steal the vote.
Opposition volunteers managed to collect copies of voting tallies from 80% of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide that show former opposition candidate Edmundo González won by a more than 2-to-1 margin.
The Supreme Court and other government entities alleged those tal -
lies were forged.
The Venezuelan government rejected Borrell’s statements, calling them “interventionist.” Its Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the “continued disrespect” to Venezuela’s sovereignty by the EU could “considerably affect diplomatic, political and economic relations.” Lula and Petro said they “take note” of the court’s ruling, but added they are still awaiting release of the tallies.
The Brazilian and Colombian leaders also called on actors in Venezuela to “avoid resorting to acts of violence and repression” as security forces arrested more than 2,000 people and cracked down on demonstrations that erupted spontaneously throughout the country protesting the results. But the two leaders didn’t directly accuse the Maduro government of carrying out the violence. The arrests have again spread fear in a country that has seen other government crackdowns during previous times of political turmoil. At the same time, key opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has since gone into hiding and the government said Friday it will order González to provide sworn testimony in an ongoing investigation, claiming he was part of an effort to spread panic by contesting the results of the election. Both Lula and Petro have previously been criticized for what some say have been lenient policies toward Maduro’s government, but their tone has grown more stern in recent months, especially in the wake of the election fallout.
Their two countries are neighbors to Venezuela and their governments were to witness agreements struck between Maduro and the opposition that aimed to chart the path to free and fair elections, which the opposition and other observers accused Maduro of violating. The two leaders reiterated their willingness to facilitate dialogue between the the government and the opposition.
“The political normalization of Venezuela requires the recognition that there is no lasting alternative to peaceful dialogue and democratic coexistence,” the statement read.
a rare but deadly mosquito virus infection has massachusetts towns urging vigilance
By Nick Perry The Associated Press
arare but deadly disease spread by mosquitoes has one town in Massachusetts closing its parks and fields each evening. f o ur other towns are urging people to avoid going outdoors at night.
t he y’re concerned about eastern equine encephalitis ( e ee ) s t ate health officials announced last week a man in his 80s had caught the disease, the first human case found in Massachusetts since 2020.
t h e town of Plymouth, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Boston, announced f r iday that it’s closing public outdoor recreation facilities from dusk until dawn each day after a horse in the town was infected with the disease. Meanwhile, state health officials warned that a cluster of four towns south of Worcester — d o uglas, o x ford, s u tton and Webster — are at “critical risk” after a man from o x ford caught the virus. s t ate and local health officials urged people in those towns to avoid the peak mosquito biting times by finishing outdoor activities by 6 p.m. until s e pt. 30 and then by 5 p.m. after that, until the first hard frost.
t h ey also recommend that people across Massachusetts use mosquito repellents when outdoors and drain any standing water around their homes.
Jennifer c a llahan, o x ford’s town man -
ager, wrote in a memo that the family of the man who caught the virus in mid a ug ust had reached out to her office. t h ey want people to be aware this is an extremely serious disease with terrible physical and emotional consequences, regardless if the person manages to live,” c a llahan wrote.
s h e said the infected person had often recounted to his family how he never got bitten by mosquitoes. But just before he became symptomatic, he told them he ha d been bitten. s h e said the man remains hospitalized and is “courageously battling” the virus.
c a llahan said the family is urging people to take the public health advice seriously and to do their utmost to protect themselves.
t h e presence of the virus in Massachusetts this year was confirmed last month in a mosquito sample, and has been found in other mosquitoes across the state since then. In a 2019 outbreak, there were six deaths among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. t h e outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and another death.
t h ere are no vaccines or treatment for eee
t h e U s c e nters for d sease c o ntrol and Prevention says that although rare, eee is very serious and about 30% of people who become infected die. s y mptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.
Empowering MSMEs: A path to economic resilience and growth
ThE Philippine Statistics Authority paints a clear picture: micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy. They represent 99.5 percent of registered businesses, employ 62.4 percent of the workforce, and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP and exports.
Despite their significance, many MSMEs face formidable challenges, particularly when accessing financing. Traditional lending practices often leave these businesses at a disadvantage due to lack of collateral. Recognizing this, the Department of Trade and Industry through the Small Business Corp. (SBCorp) has introduced a multipurpose loan program designed to cater to the diverse needs of small merchants. This initiative reflects a much-needed shift in approach—moving away from rigid collateral requirements to a more inclusive model that acknowledges the realities faced by MSMEs. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “SB Corp allots P10B for loans to small merchants,” August 23, 2024).
The multipurpose loan offerings range from micro loans for nascent businesses to more substantial amounts for established enterprises. Notably, the introduction of collateral-free loans for MSMEs with a solid repayment history is a game-changer. This flexibility can empower businesses to invest in growth, purchase inventory, or enhance operations without the burden of collateral constraints.
While the initiative deserves praise, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this is just a starting point. The P10 billion allocation, although substantial, is likely to be insufficient to meet the vast needs of the MSME sector. It would do well for the government to commit to a more comprehensive and long-term strategy that goes beyond just providing loans.
The new multi-purpose loan program offers a variety of options, catering to different needs and business stages. The collateral-free loans, particularly for first-time borrowers, are a significant advantage. However, the loan limits, while increased, may still be insufficient for larger enterprises or those requiring substantial capital investment.
Furthermore, while the interest rates are relatively low, the focus should not solely be on financial assistance. MSMEs require access to a range of resources, including training, mentorship, and market access support. The government should invest in programs that enhance their business skills, improve their competitiveness, and connect them with potential buyers and investors.
Moreover, as the global economy evolves, the government should continue to adapt its support structures for MSMEs. This includes not only financial assistance but also training and resources that equip business owners with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital marketplace.
The DTI and SBCorp must also address the potential challenges of loan repayment. While the program emphasizes track record and creditworthiness, the economic climate can be unpredictable. The government should consider establishing mechanisms to provide support and guidance to struggling businesses, ensuring that they do not face undue hardship in repaying their loans.
Ultimately, the success of this initiative hinges on its ability to empower MSMEs and enable them to thrive. The government must go beyond simply providing loans and create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, growth, and sustainable development. Only then can the true potential of the MSME sector be unlocked, contributing to a stronger and more inclusive Philippine economy.
BusinessMirror
Ipso Facto
IRISING SUN
AM sharing below the exhibit note written by Carlomar Arcangel Daoana for my ongoing exhibition, Ipso Facto, at ArtistSpace in Makati. This also serves as an invitation to all to catch the art show until September 3, 2024. ArtistSpace is located at the Ground Level of the Ayala Museum Annex along Makati Avenue in Greenbelt Park. It will be my honor to have you visit and view my work.
n n n
In his latest exhibition, Ipso Facto, Joy Rojas delves into the intrinsic nature of objects, producing works that embody his enduring artistic themes. The title, which translates to by the fact itself,” reflects Rojas approach to abstraction as a distillation of ideas into their most self-evident forms, directly linked to their essence.
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In collaboration with ArtistSpace, JRFII Studio, and The Saturday Group of Artists, this exhibition presents a diverse collection of works, including mixed-media creations, canvas-shaped pieces, and a captivating sculpture. Rojas continues to demonstrate his emotive expressiveness, using a lyrical brushstroke and a rich, sometimes intoxicating palette of colors.
Among the works on display are
While abstraction remains Rojas’ primary language, a few pieces in this exhibition feature imagery that reveals his personal passions—his love of horses, his deep faith, and his devotion to history. These works incorporate actual objects, such as horseshoes, and images of saints, Jesus Christ, and Mother Mary, alongside historical references marking the birth of the Republic.
those that celebrate the beauty of various places: the delicate cherry blossoms of Japan, the dramatic foliage of New England, and the scintillating summer scenes of the French Riviera. Rojas’ round canvases pay homage to the planet ’s staggering richness and diversity, capturing the colors and textures of nature.
While abstraction remains Rojas ’ primary language, a few pieces in this exhibition feature imagery that reveals his
personal passions—his love of horses, his deep faith, and his devotion to history. These works incorporate actual objects, such as horseshoes, and images of saints, Jesus Christ, and Mother Mary, alongside historical references marking the birth of the Republic. The exhibition s lone sculpture, “Golden Equine,” showcases a horse crafted from an amalgam of wood, poised with its front legs lifted, ready to charge forward. It is remarkable for its sheer simplicity and how it’s able to evoke the energy of spirited motion.
In Ipso Facto, Joy Rojas encapsulates his artistic evolution, merging abstraction with powerful imagery to create works that resonate on both emotional and intellectual levels. The exhibition testifies to the inherent quality of Rojas’ art—where the meaning, by the fact itself, is inseparable from the essence of the work. Through these pieces, he invites viewers to experience the profound connection between form and content, and to witness the distilled truth of his creative vision.
ALC Group chairman honored as Modern Hero
ILITO GAGNI
T did not come as a surprise when ALC Group Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon was named as one of this year’s Modern hero for his huge role in the recent pandemic that laid waste to many business establishments and which challenged old norms.
Edgard, who now steers a business conglomerate that his father, the late Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua established, was honored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the umbrella organization for business firms in the country, for his significant role in taking the sting from the Covid-19.
The Modern Hero award is a testament to Edgard’s role in helping local government units (LGUs) survive the pandemic’s challenge. He acceded to requests from mayors for the free use of the ALC Group’s hotels and motels to accommodate Covid-19 patients, as well as serve as halfway houses for nurses and doctors, like in the case of the Philippine General Hospital.
Ten hotels and motels of the ALC Group that include Citystate Tower in Malate, Manila Grand Opera Hotel in Manila, Orchids, Dahlia and Bermuda Hotel in Pasig and Mandaluyong, as well as Citystate Asturias in Puerto Princesa, were lent free to
the LGUs for ensuring that the Covid-19 is tackled. That free use of the tourism establishments helped LGUs navigate the big headache brought by the pandemic as it allowed them to have additional rooms with which to deploy their Covid-stricken constituents and thus stop its spread.
In the case of PGH, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi came up with a novel approach in the use of the hotel. What he did was to make Citystate Tower be a halfway house for nurses and doctors before they go to their respective homes. That meant that doctors and nurses are assured of sanitized environment after doing their respective rounds at PGH.
Edgard’s selfless dedication to assisting LGUs in navigating the pandemic did not go unnoticed in Congress during the deliberations on the Bayanihan Act. In a particular hearing regarding the aforementioned law aimed at providing assistance
Edgard’s selfless dedication to assisting LGUs in navigating the pandemic did not go unnoticed in Congress during the deliberations on the Bayanihan Act. In a particular hearing regarding the aforementioned law aimed at providing assistance to businesses and citizens through subsidized loans and “ayudas,” then Speaker of the House Alan Peter Cayetano highlighted the case of the ALC Group’s hotels being offered for free use, contrasting with other establishments intent on charging for their services.
to businesses and citizens through subsidized loans and “ayudas,” then Speaker of the House Alan Peter Cayetano highlighted the case of the ALC Group’s hotels being offered for free use, contrasting with other establishments intent on charging for their services.
In hindsight, Edgard’s fear was that the Covid-19 will be over in just two or three months and that made him think that when that happens, the ALC Group will have another challenge: that of taking out the stigma from the use of their hotels and motels for Covid-19 patients.
Lending a hand is inherent to Edgard’s character, a trait he inherited from his father, whose remarkable generosity is widely renowned,
frequently recounted in both boardrooms and churches. In fact, instead of throwing a lavish party when he became eligible for discounts from restos and the like, Edgard saw it fit to donate to several churches. Steeped in the teachings of St. John Bosco, Edgard is used to giving something for nothing. After all, the Lord said that those who help the least of their brethren have also done the same to Him. In one episode of then John’s life as a farm boy, he was admonished “not with punches will you help these boys but with goodness and kindness.”
That spells out Edgard’s continuing passion to be of help when needed. Thus, in lending the ALC Group’s hotels and motels to the LGUs, he also took care of the bills on utilities, sparing the cities of additional financial burden.
In a sense, for him, the profit motive takes a backseat in steering the companies that he is now shepherding—diverse companies that range from banks to hotels, from security agencies to resorts, from memorial parks to a media empire. He always has a soft heart for the employees. In fact, in one meeting, he said that the family could just fold the companies and just enjoy the fruits of the businesses of Ambassador Cabangon Chua, but then what will happen to the employees? Thus, he continues to expand so that more people can be employed. He always cared for the downtrodden, a kind of hero like no other.
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
Antonio L. Cabangon Chua
Benchmarking accountancy licensure examinations
tANIM, Ang Unang Bahagi: A shepherd-leader
Joel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
Part three
H e results of the Certified p u blic Accountant Licensure e x amination in the ph ilippines indicate an average passing rate of 29.5 percent from 2014 to the present, with 53,646 passers out of 181,587 takers. For this period, the highest passing rate of 42.64 percent was in the May 2016 examinations, with 2,967 passers out of the 6,925 takers. t he highest number of new C pA s that joined the profession was in o c tober 2015 with 5,468 passers. it was during my term as chairman of the p rofessional re gulatory Board of Accountancy (BoA) when these results were attained. Meanwhile, the lowest passing rate of 7.44 percent was in o c tober 2021, when the C pA examinations were again offered after its suspension for about a year and a half due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Let’s benchmark these with the AICPA Examinations of the United States of America. Based on Chat GPT research information, the number of candidates taking the AICPA Examinations each year varies. In 2011, there were around 92,000 candidates. Over the years, this number has fluctuated. In 2020, approximately 84,000 candidates took the exam. The numbers dipped in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A significant drop occurred between 2019 and 2021, mainly because of exam postponements, uncertainties caused by Covid-19, and changes in the examination format. By 2023, these numbers began to stabilize with around 75,000 to 80,000 takers.
Historically, the passing rates for the AICPA examinations were around 50 percent. The examinations have four sections or subjects. These sections are Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG).
The four sections of the examinations vary in passing percentages. Between 2011 and 2015, passing rates were relatively steady, with annual averages around 47 percent to 50 percent. By 2021, as remote testing and other accommodations were introduced, there was a slight improvement in passing rates. For example, the passing rates for 2021 were: AUD 47.98 percent, BEC 61.94 percent, FAR 44.54 percent, and REG 59.88 percent.
In 2023, these rates remained consistent, with slight fluctuations across sections. What are the differences between the USA and the Philippine examinations? The passing rates for the AICPA examinations hover around 50 percent. The Philippine CPA licensure examinations averaged 29.5 percent for the past 10 years. Clearly, the US test passing rates exceed those of the Philippines.
The number of subjects or tests to be taken is also different. For the AICPA examinations before the Evolution Examinations, they have four tests, while the Philippine CPA examinations have six tests. As Chairman of the BOA, I reduced the number of tests from seven to six, while integrating several related subjects in 2015 in BOA Resolution 262. I understand that the BOA is now assessing whether or not to revise these subjects along the lines of the AICPA Evolution.
There are differences in the mode for taking the examinations by the candidates. For the
There are differences in the mode for taking the examinations by the candidates. For the Philippines CPA examinations, all takers, after completing all requirements, will take the examinations in designated testing sites in the Philippines over specified three days. The AICPA examinations provide greater flexibility for the candidates, including the option to select the tests to take, the testing site, and the date within 18 months from the date of taking the first examination.
Philippines CPA examinations, all takers, after completing all requirements, will take the examinations in designated testing sites in the Philippines over specified three days. The AICPA examinations provide greater flexibility for the candidates, including the option to select the tests to take, the testing site, and the date within 18 months from the date of taking the first examination.
The questions in the AICPA examinations include not only Multiple Choice Questions, but also Task-Based Simulations (TBS), and, Written Communication Tasks (WCT). In the Philippines CPA Examinations, the questions are all MCQs. For the Philippine case, the reason for sole MCQ type in the examinations is the large number of takers and the legal provision for the the release of the results within 10 calendar days. The question types used alongside MCQs in the AICPA examinations result in a more comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s ability to understand and apply the knowledge needed to perform effectively as a CPA. With the start of the AICPA Evolution examinations and its outcomes in 2024, the USA model brings several best practices and insights that can be considered for the Philippine licensure examinations.
To be continued
Joel L. Tan-Torres was a former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He has also held the various positions of Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consulting.
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
‘Corruption is a sin,” says Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas philippines, during the launching of AniM, an acronym for Alyansa ng nagkakaisang Mamamayan, translated to Alliance of united Citizens. on August 23, 2024, at Club Filipino, AniM, a coalition of six sectors (religious, retired uniformed personnel, women, youth, business and professionals, and civil society) held a thought-provoking presentation of the three main issues that the group believes as the most important but least addressed in society today—corruption, political dynasties, and electoral reform. Moderated by former Chairperson of the Commission on Audit Heidi Mendoza, the two-hour long conference was filled with jaw dropping statistics that any Filipino-loving listener can be easily exasperated on the state of the country!
For instance, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong fearlessly revealed the shocking breakdown of the Rock Netting Project (RNP) in the Cordillera region. As written in the contract, a copy of which Major Benjie acquired through his personal sources, the cost of one unit of steel netting was about P17,000. Yet, in a City Council session, DPWH engineers testified that the actual unit cost is P14,000 as per their records. Having been a corporate executive of Steel Asia, Mayor Benjie managed to get a “quote” of just P6,000 from the engineers of his former company, which happens to be the largest steel manufacturer in this part of the world. Not satisfied with these numbers, the supplier/ subcontractors of these steel nettings reportedly told Mayor Benjie that they were just selling this same unit at P4,300 only. It begs the question—how can a supposed P4,300 product be bought by the government at P17,000? Simply put, kickbacks—Mayor Benjie exclaimed. Per his computation, 55 percent of the project cost goes to the pockets of politicians (a sad truth) who have to recover their election-related costs for them to perpetuate themselves in power (an even sadder truth). I remember my brother Salvador
Mison Jr., who is currently serving as the Defense Department’s Undersecretary for Procurement, candidly telling me a few weeks after his assumption of office last year, that he has to recommend for “termination” quite a few contracts that were grossly disadvantageous to the government. I advised him to pace himself knowing how different the bureaucracy works as compared to the military. A number of government projects, particularly those in the DPWH and DND, are poorly implemented due to kickbacks.
Benjie Magalong continued, “Zero accountability, no transparency!” People in power can act with full total impunity if people who put them in power do not have the courage to stand up and make them accountable. Hence, ANIM has challenged all other well-meaning Filipinos to stop the spread of political dynasties, which is the principal reason why the Philippines has lagged behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia. As if on cue, author Alex Lacson presented mind-boggling statistics about how the country has practically become a feudal state, controlled by political families per local government unit. Using data from the Ateneo University, Atty. Alex shared that there are “fat political dynasties” in 63 out of 82 provinces, 199 out of
254 congressional districts, and 940 mayors out of 1,642 cities and municipalities. When politicians from the same family, whether as spouses, children, or siblings, occupy government positions within the same government unit, they are counted as “fat political dynasties,” as per the Ateneo report. “The fatter the dynasty, the poorer the community.” One foreign observer opined that when politicians make more money than businessmen, there is something very alarming. When politics becomes the most profitable among all “businesses,” the system is broken since service to the public becomes more of a slogan instead of the ultimate objective. My colleagues outside the country who are in the military, in the legal profession, and in business, are simply bewildered how Philippine society, composed of predominantly believers of God, can allow such tragedy and travesty to happen. Simply put, apathy I said. Hence, ANIM is rolling the drumbeat for organizations to join its cause, as part of their legacy. Especially for the retired uniformed officers, particularly generals De Villa, Adan, and Tarrazona, they all yearn to leave the country a little better than they found it during their cadet days decades ago. My father, if he were alive, would surely join the cause! Would be fitting for these generals to make this noble crusade as the highlight in their twilight. At the same time, youth organizations present during the event should be commended for making “love for country” as their business at a young age. I remember being indifferent when I was a student many moons ago, just minding my studies, nothing more. I wish ANIM can funnel the energy of the youth towards its cause. After all, they will “inherit” the problems that beset this country. ANIM’s cause has the right ingredients—the wisdom of retired generals, the energy of the youth, the persistence of women, the intellect of professionals, the vigilance of civil society, and the spiritual guidance from the religious. The bigger challenge ahead is how to put the cause into action. More importantly, a crucial factor here is the front-runner, as the
docility of the followers and the achievement of the objective typically rest on their shoulders. I think ANIM must have a charismatic, benevolent, and grounded steward w ith Christ-like attributes. As Jesus demonstrated while here on earth, the words “love and sacrifice” are badges of a Good Shepherd. In the Gospels, Jesus Christ is described as the good shepherd. In expounding on the verses found in John 10:1-18, lawyer and pastor John MacDonald enumerated eight qualities of a good shepherd. Among the eight, I think being a role model, trustworthy, and sacrificial deserves greater attention. A shepherd leader goes ahead and leads the way in keeping to what John 10:4 tells us, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” ANIM leaders ought to lead by example, not a case of “preaching water yet drinking wine.” Those joining ANIM follow the good shepherd “because they know his voice” (10:4), because the shepherd is always close by his sheep—feeding them, leading them to safe places, protecting them from harm and danger and, laying down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Jesus himself has perfected the latter attribute, as his heart knew that his sacrifice was for saving the entire mankind. Similarly, the good shepherd in ANIM should choose personal sacrifice for the welfare of the organization and of the bigger cause. ANIM has the formula for success especially if it has a leader who has a clear, God-honoring vision and a mindset for personal sacrifice for the future of the Philippines. Can Mayor Benjamin Magalong be the one?
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
Reflection on Peace and Freedom Week: Awakening heroism, united for peace and climate action
By Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez
tHe celebration of peace and Freedom Week begins on the 21st with commemoration of the martyrdom of ninoy Aquino and culminating with the observance of national Heroes Day on the last Monday of August.
In this time of uncertainty at home and disarray abroad as we are buffeted by the challenges of survival: climate catastrophe, armed conflicts, Covid resurgence, a new deadlier mpox variant (a possible pandemic) and collapsing economy, we must remind ourselves of who we are and what we stand for to overcome the existential challenges we face.
The Peace and Freedom Week is meant to remind us of our heroes’ sacrifices—from Lapu-Lapu, Sultan Kudarat, and all our freedom fighters against colonialism from Spanish dominion, American rule, the Japanese occupation, or any incursion of foreign power even local tyranny, and now the need to confront aggression in the West Philippine Sea. It is only proper to express appreciation to the gallantry of our heroes who stood up for our independence and defending our sovereignty while sustaining our self-reliance, care for Mother Earth and deference to the rule of law. Confronted with existential crisis, we must draw lessons from the past to wisely chart the proper course of action and destiny of our people, rather than be condemned to relieve the errors of the past. Our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, had admonished more than a century ago, “Awaken your consciousness of the past, already effected from your memory -- rectify what has been fal-
sified and slandered. Then we shall be able to study the future.”
Our recorded past is sometimes seen as nothing more than narratives of conquest by foreign aggressors, of poor governance and betrayal by our own leaders, of human pain and suffering. But the chronicles of our past also reveal noble and glorious moments, replete with examples of grace and goodness, of sacrifice and heroic struggles, of moments when we can stand proudly and proclaim, “I am a Filipino and the Filipino is worth dying for.”
It is essential to recall the sacrifice of Ninoy whose brutal assassination paved the road to EDSA, where our birthright as a free people was redeemed. It was a shining moment applauded by the international community of nations, serving as an inspiration in the breakdown of the Berlin Wall. The glorious scenario in EDSA is inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World program. This unique heritage is defended by the task of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) from any fake revisionist news that will assault the integrity of history that can cause irreparable damage to our nation’s psyche leading to a confused even schizophrenic perspective of right and wrong. When my late husband, Senator Heherson T. Alvarez, initiated the Peace & Freedom Week observance,
he stressed: “We must highlight the vital importance of knowing our heroes that provide a vision that Filipinos are a tough, resilient, brave, enduring, peace-loving people. Ninoy gave us such a moment. Ninoy returned from exile at a time of national crisis with mortal danger to himself with a mission for peace and a conviction that a non-violent strategy like the ways of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela can prevail in the Philippines”.
In the undelivered statement at the airport, Ninoy reiterated his call that “National reconciliation and unity can be achieved but only with justice for our Muslim and Ifugao brothers. In a revolution, there can really be no victors, only victims. We do not have to destroy in order to build.”
Auspiciously, at long last, we applaud the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law as a most significant potential for fulfilling peace in Mindanao. Peace accord was also praised by the United Nations and the European Union. Peace is a continuing saga of political will, compassion, and a sense of kinship and fairness. There are still the peace talks to be revived with the NPA rebels and the response to the cry for equality from our brothers in the Cordillera region as we reecho the global cry for ceasefire and climate justice to ensure survival on earth. The task for peace continues. All those engaged in this process, including our soldiers that liberated Marawi from the Maute assault, comprise our modern-day heroes.
On Peace and Freedom Week , we underscore pride in our history with the urgent need to break the barrier of political, ethnic, religious, and social differences in a spirit of co-
operation and the union in diversity to peacefully seek freedom from poverty and pollution, drugs and disease, ignorance and injustice, terrorism, tyranny. We must accomplish our country’s commitment to fulfill the SDGs. We in NAM-SERVE with our partners coordinated through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to continue the tradition of remembering August 21st, inaugurated at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport more than three decades ago. We invited Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights champion, Martin Luther King to join then President Corazon Aquino to unveil the following inscription on the marker written by National Artist for Literature, a patriot himself, Dr. Alejandro R. Roces, On this spot Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was assassinated on 21st August 1983.” It is eternally enshrined: For wherever a martyr has shed his blood for truth, justice, peace, and freedom there is sacred ground. The sun cannot bleach, the wind cannot blow, and the rain cannot wash that sanctity away. From ground like this springs that which forever makes the Filipino great,” to inaugurate the tarmac marker at the renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport. We must not forget; we must mitigate any evolving effort to inflict amnesia on our nation. As holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel stated, “Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society no future.”
Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez is the Director,
Behind the rhetoric, a presidential campaign is a competition about how to tell the American story
By Ted Anthony The Associated Press
NEW YORK—
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination “on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth.” America, Barack Obama thundered, “is ready for a better story.” JD Vance insisted that the Biden administration “is not the end of our story,” and Donald Trump called on fellow Republicans to “write our own thrilling chapter of the American story.”
“This week,” comedian and former Obama administration speechwriter Jon Lovett said Thursday on NBC, “has been about a story.”
In the discourse of American politics, this kind of talk from both sides is unsurprising — fitting, even. Because in the campaign season of 2024, just as in the fabric of American culture at large, the notion of “story” is everywhere.
This year’s political conventions were, like so many of their kind, curated collections of elaborate stories carefully spun to accomplish one goal—getting elected. But lurking behind them was a pitched, high-stakes battle over how to frame the biggest story of all—the one about America that, as Harris put it, should be “the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told.”
The American story—an unlikely one, filled with twists that sometimes feel, as so many enjoy saying, “just like a movie”— sits at the nucleus of American culture for a unique reason.
Americans live in one of the only societies that was built not upon hundreds of years of common culture but upon stories themselves—“the shining city upon the hill,” “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” “all men are created equal.” Even memorable ad campaigns—“See the USA in your Chevrolet”—are part of this. In some ways, the United States—not coincidentally, the place where the frontier myth, Hollywood and Madison Avenue were all born—willed itself into existence and significance by iterating and reiterating its story as it went.
The campaigns understand that. So they are putting forward to voters two varying— starkly opposite, some might say—versions of the American story.
How the two parties are using stories
FrOM t he r e publicans comes one flavor of story: an insistence that to “make America great again” in the future we must fight to reinvigorate traditional values and reclaim the moral fiber and stoutheartedness of generations past. In his convention speech last month, Trump invoked three separate conflicts—the r e volutionary War, the Civil War and World War II—in summoning American history’s glories.
To reinforce its vision, the GOP deployed the likes of musician Kid r o ck, celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan and Lee Greenwood
singing “God Bless the USA.” Trump genuflected to the firefighting gear of Corey Comperatore, who had been killed in an assassination attempt on the candidate days earlier. Vance spoke of “villains” and offered up the Appalachian coming-of-age story he told in “Hillbilly Elegy.”
The r e publicans, as they often do, leaned into military storylines, bringing forth families of slain servicemen to critique President Joe Biden’s “weak” leadership. And they made all efforts to manage their constituencies.
Vance’s wife, Usha, who is of Indian descent, lauded him as “a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy”—a classic American trope—while underscoring that he respected her vegetarian diet and had learned how to cook Indian food for her mother.
“What could I say that hasn’t already been said before?” she said, introducing Vance. “After all, the man was already the subject of a r o n Howard movie. ” And the Democrats? Their convention last week focused on a new and different future full of “joy” and free of what Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called “Trump’s politics of darkness.” It was an implied “Star Wars” metaphor if there ever was one.
It was hard to miss that the Democrats were not only coalescing around the multiracial, multicultural nation that Harris personifies but at the same time methodically trying to reclaim the plainspoken slivers of the American story that have rested in r ep ublican hands in recent years.
The flag was everywhere, as was the notion of freedom. Tim Walz entered to the tune of John Mellencamp’s “Small Town,” an ode to the vision of America that r e publicans usually trumpet. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota expounded upon the regularguy traits that Walz embodies—someone who can change a car light, a hunter, a “dad in plaid.”
The former geography teacher’s footballcoach history was mined as well, with beefy guys in Mankato West Scarlets jerseys fanning out across the stage to the marchingband strains of “The Halls of Montezuma.” They even enlisted a former GOP member of Congress to reinforce all the imagery by saying the quiet part loud.
“I want to let my fellow r e publicans in on the secret: The Democrats are as patriotic as us,” said Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois r e publican critical of Trump.
Bringing it all together
WATCHING t he videos and testimonials at both conventions, one storytelling technique stood tall: what journalists call “characterdriven” tales. Whether it’s advocating for abortion rights or warning about mass illegal immigration or channeling anger about inflation, “regular” Americans became the narrative building blocks for national concerns.
Historian Heather Cox r i chardson put it this way about the DNC in her Substack, “Letters from an American,” this past week: “The many stories in which ordinary Americans rise from adversity through hard work, decency, and service to others implicitly conflates those individual struggles with the struggles of the United States itself.”
In the past generation, the tools of storytelling have become more democratic. We are all publishers now—on X, on TikTok, on Instagram, on Truth Social. And we are all storytellers, telling mini versions of the American story in whatever ways we wish. Perspectives that have been long silenced and suppressed are making their way into the light.
Putting aside questions of truth and misinformation for a moment, how can
a unifying American story be summoned when hundreds of millions of people are now able to tell it differently and from their own vantage points? Democratization is beneficial, but it can also be chaotic and hard to understand.
“A people who cannot stand together cannot stand at all,” poet Amanda Gorman said in her remarks at the DNC. But with so many stories to sort through, is unity more difficult than ever? Is there even a single, unifying “American story” at all? Should there be?
In the end, that’s why this election is about storytelling more than ever. Because the loudest, most persuasive tale—told slickly with the industrial-strength communications tools of the 21st century—will likely win the day.
In the meantime, the attempts to commandeer and amplify versions of that story will continue to Election Day and beyond. As long as there is an American nation, there will be millions of people trying to tell us what it means—desperately, angrily, optimistically, compellingly. Stories are a powerful weapon, and a potent metaphor as well. As Walz said about leaving Trump and Vance behind: “I’m ready to turn the page.”
Opra H Winfrey speaks during the Democratic national Convention Wednesday, august 21, 2024, in Chicago. AP/J. Scott A P P le white
Hulk H O gan tears off his shirt while speaking on the final night of the republican national Convention on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. AP/J. Scott A P P le white
Failing meritocracy stalling push to high-income status
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
MAINTAINING the status quo and basing employment and business opportunities on factors other than merit is one reason countries get stuck in middle income status, according to the World Bank. Without merit, people would be discouraged from improving their skills and aiming for success which are crucial in transitioning to high income country status, said a blog post by World Bank Group Senior Adviser to the Chief Economist Somik Lall and Development Research Group Senior Economist Forhad Shilpi.
It may be noted that the Philippines has been classified as a lower middle income country by the World Bank for the past 37 years or since 1987. The country’s estimated Gross National Income per capita is $1,146 to $4,515 annually.
“In many middle-income countries, decisions on who studies where and what, who gets a sought-after job and what they are paid, and who gets to start a business are not based on merit,” Lall and Shilpi said.
This unfair system discourages people from trying to improve
their skills or aiming for success. Why invest in education or strive for success if the system is rigged against you?” they added.
The experts said there is a high demand for talent in many middle income countries. But the existing pool of talent is also not being put to its best use because “it’s not what you know that determines your opportunities.”
To continue their rapid growth, middle-income countries “need to change their mindset and move away from old policies and institutions that keep inequality in place,” Lall and Shilpi said. “Instead, we argue, they should adopt a system that rewards merit and encourages everyone to climb the social ladder,” they added.
The World Bank said in many middle income countries “forces of preservation that stifle social mobility” exist and prevent middle-income countries from graduating to highincome status.
These forces are networks or the power of the elite pact which stressed the importance of who you know rather than what you know. Through this, family ties and social networks can lead to better education and jobs for citizens.
The forces also include neighbor-
hoods or the geography of opportunity. Under this, where people are born and raised will have an impact on their chances in life, such as access to quality education and peaceful surroundings.
The last force are norms or the weight of patriarchy, which favor men over women. Many women continue to face challenges in education, work, and even in starting their own business.
In 2020, BusinessMirror published a story on child brides ahead of the passage of the legislation raising the age of consent. In that report, a total of 59 children got married before reaching their 15th birthday in 2017.
A n overwhelming majority of these children, 51, were girls. PSA added that around 32,353 teenage girls between 15 and 19 years old got married in the same year. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2020/10/18/becoming30-at-12/).
“They [women[ often earn less, have fewer chances to lead, and struggle to access financial services like bank accounts and loans, partly due to unfair laws and customs,” the World Bank said.
In order to break this cycle, the experts recommended that govern-
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
ments invest in education by providing high-quality education for all and identify and support talent by using standardized tests to find competent workers.
The experts also cited a need to expand employment opportunities and make the qualifications more transparent and merit-based, as well as encourage innovation by investing in research and development through partnerships with the academe.
A lso crucial, the World Bank said, is to discipline elites. This means implementing progressive tax policies that can reduce wealth inequality and ensure that elites are made accountable for their actions.
A s early as 2022, proposals for a wealth tax have been made by progressive groups. A study by the Fight Inequality Alliance, Institute for Policy Studies, Oxfam, and Patriotic Millionaires estimated that a wealth tax can increase the country’s revenues by $9.2 billion annually.
This is based on the estimate on a wealth tax of 2 percent on wealth that is over $5 million; 5 percent on wealth over $50 million; and 10 percent over $1 billion.
(See: https://businessmirror.com.
See “Failing,” A2
and Muntinlupa. I
Cebu,
SINKING
acquired at various intervals. Urban areas may suffer greatly as a result of this phenomenon, which can lead to depressions that are more vulnerable to floods, damage to infrastructure, a decline in property values and coastal erosion.
Role of land use
and
Subsidence also occurred in Metro Davao and Metro Iloilo, with Panabo City in Davao del Norte and the cities of Mandurriao, Molo, and La Paz in Iloilo City being particularly affected.
L and sinking has also been observed in Legazpi City in the Bicol region, particularly in coastal areas.
T he tool used in the study, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), measures surface changes on Earth by integrating radar images
COMMERCIAL and industrial complexes are among the most badly impacted places due to the weight of the structures and the extensive groundwater extraction required for industrial processes. Factories producing food, paper, and supplies of metal and concrete are the main causes of subsidence in the province of Bulacan. T he need for groundwater for domestic purposes puts residential areas, especially those with dense populations, at risk of subsidence. Calumpit, Malolos, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Bocaue, and Marilao in Bulacan, as well as Biñan, San Pedro, and Carmona in Cavite, are a few of the impacted places.
Groundwater extraction from agricultural practices like livestock farming and irrigation can potentially cause subsidence. The impacted areas are Guiguinto, Bulacan and coastal towns in Bulacan Province and the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon Navotas and Valenzuela) area. Golf courses in Dasmariñas, Biñan, and Carmona, Cavite, as well as Cebu and Davao metropolises, have also been associated with subsidence, likely due to excessive groundwater extraction to maintain their lawns.
D. EDGARD A. CABANGON, Chairman of the ALC Group of Companies, was honored as Asia’s Humanitarian Hero at the Asia’s Modern Hero Awards held Friday (August 23) at Okada, Manila. The recognition highlights Cabangon’s outstanding leadership and the ALC Group’s critical humanitarian efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly their swift action in converting multiple hotels into quarantine facilities. In response to the government’s urgent call for assistance
during the pandemic’s peak, Cabangon led the ALC Group in offering its 10 hotels across key cities— Manila, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Puerto Princesa—as quarantine facilities for more than a year, free of charge. This decisive move provided safe and secure spaces for individuals, including medical frontliners, and played a vital role in the community’s pandemic response.
C hairman Cabangon, in an interview, thanked the award-giving body for recognizing the group’s efforts. “This award is a tribute
not just to me, but to the entire ALC Group of Companies,” he remarked. “Our decision to offer our facilities during the pandemic was not made for recognition. It was a reflection of our commitment to our community and the values that have guided us for decades.” He emphasized that their actions were guided by “malasakit,” a value instilled by his father, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua. “In a crisis of this magnitude, we
ALC Group Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon receives the Asia’s Humanitarian Hero Award from Asia’s Modern Hero Awards Founder Dr. Ronnel Ybañez.
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Govt rethinking bundling of O&M deals for rail systems
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
The government might be leaning towards keeping the operations and maintenance (O&M) contracts for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 separate, as initial studies suggest that bundling the two deals may not be appropriate.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Railways Jeremy Regino said that while the study on bundling is still ongoing, “significant differences” between the two lines’ markets and operational needs might necessitate a distinct approach for each.
“We see a lot of possibilities in bundling the two contracts or otherwise. We have yet to make a decision, but one of the possibili -
ties is that bundling might not be appropriate at this time because the markets are different and we still need to rehabilitate and expand Line 2,” Regino said in a recent interview. He mentioned the 5-kilometer extension of LRT 2 to South Harbor as well as the planned development towards the eastern part of Metro Manila.
Last year, Cesar Chavez, who
held Regino’s post before transferring to Malacañang as Presidential Assistant for Strategic Communications, said the government plans to bid out the O&M contracts for the two railway systems as a single deal, as this will make it more “palatable” to investors.
Bundling the contracts would necessitate transferring the MRT 3’s management to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), which currently operates the LRT 2.
However, Regino noted that while bundling remains a possibility, it might not be the best approach due to the unique requirements of the LRT 2.
“The best approach for MRT-3 may not be the same as for LRT 2.”
Currently, the International Finance Corp. (IFC) is assessing the LRT 2, while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is studying the MRT 3.
Both studies are crucial to deciding the future of these train lines, particularly whether bundling the contracts would be beneficial for the government and potential investors.
“The fastest conclusion of that study will be around the end of this year,” Regino said.
This timeline aligns with the impending turnover of the MRT 3’s assets and system to the government in July 2025, when the BuildLease-Transfer (BLT) agreement with MRT Corp. of the Sobrepeña Group is set to expire.
Regino noted that although the concession agreement ends in 2025, the development rights under this agreement will continue until 2048.
Running along Edsa, MRT 3 serves as the north-south transport corridor, linking key areas such as Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay. The line spans approximately 16.9 kilometers and includes 13 stations from North Avenue to Taft Avenue.
Unlike the MRT 3, the LRT 2 travels east to west, connecting the cities of Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina, and Antipolo. The line stretches approximately 17.6 kilometers with 13 stations, starting from Recto Station in Manila to Antipolo Station in Rizal.
Platform aims to boost PHL exports
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
PHX Source Platform, a directory-based business-tobusiness (B2B) platform aimed at providing greater visibility and access to international markets for Philippine exporters may go live in September, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport).
Citing QSweep Tech Services Corp. CEO Anton Ojeda, Philexport said in a statement over the weekend that the platform will “enable local exporters to promote their products and services to the world.” Ojeda said the online platform focuses on three features: Exporter Discovery for every exporter to be found; Product or Service
Globe builds more cell towers in H1
lecom i n c. on s
Gnday said it built 352 new cell towers and upgraded 1,942 existing mobile sites 4G during the first half of 2024. i n a statement, Globe Head of s e rvice Planning and e ng ineering Joel Agustin said the network buildup “aims to enhance Globe’s mobile services and data speeds to provide re
Discovery to enable businesses showcase their products, services or capabilities to foreign buyers; and the Contact Tools.
He said this will “allow commerce to happen, the ability to allow the buyers and the exporters to be able to talk to each other and communicate and find out more about each other.”
As to the functions of the platform, Ojeda said the PHX Source platform features include Search, Exporter Page, Product Pages and Request for Quote.
He said the Search feature is designed for the buyers to discover new products and companies and for exporters to “spotlight” anything as a platform.
Ojeda said every exporter on the platform will have its own page. “Think of it like a mini site,
STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK
Last week sHAR e p rices rose for the third consecutive week after the minutes of the United s t ates Federal Reserve’s meeting in July signaled an increase in the probability that it will implement a rate cut in s e ptember.
t he benchmark Philippine s t ock e xc hange index (P s e i) gained 114.59 points to close at 6,961.96 points. i t w as a four-day trading week for the market as Friday was declared as a public holiday.
t h e main index was down just once, with average volume of trade increasing to P6.14 billion.
Foreign investors, who cornered 45 percent of the trades, were net buyers at P6.36 billion.
you have your own site where your information is there, any credential will be listed there as well. Contact information is there and any products that you might have or specialties that you might have will be there.”
“We can even allow for tours or facilities, you can put videos there, you can put information about the manpower and the staff there. So that when a buyer looks at it, it has complete information,” added Ojeda.
Highlighting an “interesting feature” that QSweep developed, he said the Request for Quote feature on the platform is “more like a classified ad where a buyer can put their request.”
Ojeda said the platform could help Philippine exporters showcase their capabilities.
Holdings i n c., e as ycall Communications Philippines i n c., d zon Copper-s lver Mines nc., i mperial Resources i nc., Primex Corp., Kepwealth Property Phils. i nc. and d F NN nc.
This week sHAR e p rices may again rise this week as momentum is on the side of the P s e due to the impetus provided by the Bangko s e ntral ng Pilipinas (B s P ) which recently reduced policy rates.
Broker 2 tr adeAsia said the U s August inflation data, plus jobs data, should solidify the magnitude with which the Fed should move for the rest of the year.
i t w ill be another four-day work week as Monday was declared as a public holiday.
“Many markets don’t know the Philippines exists; they don’t know that we are capable of such things, many markets don’t even know we speak English.”
He said the company is currently in the first phase of the platform’s development which would entail the completion of the directory.
Ojeda said the company will launch the site “sometime next month” and that the North American market will get the first crack at it.
The second phase of the platform development involves “taking the data globally.”
As the company works with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Ojeda said listing products or services is free. Accessing the directory is also free of charge.
i mmediate support for the benchmark index is seen at 6,800, while resistance is at 7,000-7,050.
Stock picks
M Ay BANK s e curities gave a buy recommendation on the stock of Ayala Corp. (AC) after its first-half earnings beat its forecast as well as consensus forecasts.
i t r aised its target price to P1,050 per share from P1,000 to reflect its increase in target price on its banking and telecommunications unit, partially offset by its real estate arm.
“We also apply a higher valuation for GCash as AC now owns 13 percent, up from 5 percent, and GCash was recently valued at $5 billion,” it said.
DMCI to complete QC condo in 2029
By VG Cabuag @villygc
MCI Homes said it is de -
Dveloping a new 57-storey condominium in the area where the iconic Delta Theater in Quezon City was built.
The company said it is building One Delta Terraces, a single-tower residential development rising on the corner of West Avenue and Quezon Avenue in Barangay West Triangle. It is set for completion in November 2029.
Units at One Delta Terraces are priced at P7.3 million to P21.7 million, reflecting both the property’s convenient location and its premium amenities, according to the company.
The spacious unit options, including studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, range from 29 square meters to 95.5 square meters.
DMCI said the units will have ceiling height of up to three meters. The development is less than a 10-minute drive from EDSA and the Quezon Avenue ramp of Skyway Stage 3, ensuring smooth travel for residents and visitors alike from various parts of Metro Manila and beyond.
“For those seeking a dynamic lifestyle, Timog Avenue lies directly across from One Delta Terraces, providing quick access to
popular bars and restaurants, extending to the vibrant Tomas Morato Avenue.”
One Delta Terraces stands as DMCI Homes’ flagship development in Quezon City, the company said.
DMCI Homes said it will place its signature Lumiventt design technology, which ensures an abundance of natural light and fresh air throughout the corridors, creating serene spaces ideal for quiet reflection.
Covering almost 6,000 square meters of land area, the property offers amenities, including swimming pools, a gazebo, a play area, an entertainment room and a fitness gym. These facilities are strategically distributed from the grand lobby to the 6th-floor amenity level and culminating at the roof deck. In its roof deck, there will be an open Sky Lounge and an L-shaped lounge pool.
Residents will also enjoy convenient on-site facilities such as a laundry station, water station, convenience store and snack bar.
The company said One Delta Terraces is equipped with “innovative, industry-first services” like commercial-grade community internet, DMCI Homes’ pioneering RideShare Carpool Program, and the DMCI Communities Mobile App.
Arthaland, First Gen ink RE supply deal
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
Lpower supply deal with First Gen Corp. for the supply of renewable energy (R e ) t o its s a vya Financial Center project in ta guig City. t h e R e supply will be sourced from Unified Leyte geothermal power plants. No other details regarding the contract were provided.
“We envision the s a vya Financial Center as a safe, healthy, and more productive working environment for all its occupants. We made every effort to ensure we source 100 percent renewable energy to decarbonize the building’s operations to provide a positive impact on people and the planet,” said Oliver Chan, senior vice president for sales operations, leasing, and project marketing and chief sustainability officer at Arthaland. i na ugurated in 2022, Arthaland’s 18-story s a vya Financial Center is equipped with features such as energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning, double-glazed low-emissivity glass, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a rainwater harvesting and recycling system. t h ese features allow the building to save up to 40 percent on electricity and water consumption.
Arthaland’s newest agreement with First Gen reaffirms the property company’s
commitment to shift to clean and renewable energy sources all the electricity supply needs of its entire real estate portfolio by year 2030 as part of the property firm’s Net Zero goal. Both companies have been working together since 2019, when they first reached an agreement for First Gen supply of electricity from a renewable energy source for Arthaland Century Pacific to wer (ACP t ) ACP t ho lds the distinction of being the first building in the world to earn a certification as a zero-carbon-neutral building under the ed G e certification program.
“Arthaland and First Gen share a common vision towards a decarbonized and regenerative future. i t i s our privilege to collaborate with Arthaland in helping deliver socioeconomic gains while reducing our impact on the environment,” said Carlo
First
optimized capital expenditures (capex), which stood at $1 billion, 23 percent lower than the outlays in 2023. Agustin said part of the network expansion is the extension of connectivity to over 500 Geographically i s olated and d i sadvantaged Areas (G i d A s), enabling residents in these remote communities to access essential online services, educational resources, and economic opportunities.
“We believe that every Filipino deserves access to reliable communication services. We’re here to empower them with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world,” he said. Globe te lecom’s profit in the first half was almost flat at P14.5 billion. i t s service revenues inched up by 2 percent to P82.23 billion from last year’s P80.40 billion.
Lorenz S. Marasigan
Most sub-indices ended in the green, led by the broader All s ha res index that gained 58.31 points to 3,749.73, the Financials index rose 110.72 to 2,122.39, the i ndustrial index fell 80.93 to 9,237.94, the Holding Firms index climbed 35.23 to 5,883.84, the Property index declined 41.20 to 2,704.59, the s e rvices index surged 70.03 to 2,238.06 and the Mining and Oil index was up 14.11 to 8,155.97. For the week, losers outnumbered gainers 131 to 101 and 16 shares were unchanged.
to p gainers were Mabuhay Holdings Corp., LFM Properties Corp., i t alpinas d ev elopment Corp., Boulevard Holdings n c., Jackstones i n c., s t eniel Manufacturing Corp. and Manila Broadcasting Co. to p losers, meanwhile, were d o minion
“Note that consensus is starting to contemplate two to three rate cuts within s ep tember to d e cember, which implies a target range of 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent rate by the end of the year, or a 75 basis points total reduction,” it said.
“As more pressure is put on central banks to keep in step with what could be rapid fire Fed rate cuts in late third quarter to fourth quarter, this tailwind should be sustained in the medium-term for the more cyclically-aligned P s e i i n fact, as focus gradually moves towards 2025, a stronger pivot towards growth and expansionary stories may be forthcoming given the expected downtrend in funding costs plus generally stabler interest rate and inflation dynamics,” the broker said.
“Retain buy with 70 percent upside potential from the continued performance of the conglomerate’s subsidiaries and improving value creation of its non-listed operations like healthcare and logistics.”
Ayala shares closed last week at P633.50 apiece.
Meanwhile, the broker maintained its buy rating on Areit i nc. as its distributable income jumped 44 percent in the first half, which was in line with its forecast of 41 percent for the year.
“ t h is was driven by the revenue contribution of assets infused and cost controls. We maintain our 2024 and 2025 forecasts and target price of P44.0. Areit offers a prospective yield of 6.2 percent for 2025.”
Areit shares were last traded at P38.55 apiece. VG Cabuag
Grow bamboos to tap financial market–ADB
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
ROWING bamboo in devel-
Goping countries could help farmers access the financial market and bring down the cost of housing, according to an advisor of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Finance Sector Advisor Lotte
Schou-Zibell said bamboo is fast growing and have a high capacity for carbon capture.
Given these attributes and the help of modern technology such as artificial intelligence, Schou-Zibell said farmers in developing like the Philippines, can significantly benefit from bamboo cultivation.
“By harnessing the benefits of bamboo and integrating it with modern technologies, developing countries can create a more inclusive financial ecosystem that supports sustainable economic development and resilience,” Schou-Zibell said.
“Bamboo can revolutionize finance, housing, and sustainability in developing countries. But first, we need to enable bamboo to be a secure, bankable, and tradeable asset,” she added.
Schou-Zibell said bamboo is a tough and versatile grass that grows in Asia and the Pacific that can also be processed into flooring, textiles, and paper. But it can also transform the finance and construction sectors.
Given its many applications, bamboo can be used by farmers as collateral to access financing. It can become a tradeable asset through the use of technology.
Schou-Zibell said by using geocoding and geospatial data from satellites and drones as well as AI, the asset valuation of bamboo along with its future revenue can be determined.
She said the alternative data that can be derived from this are crucial for collateral assessment, access to credit, effective risk management, and fostering investor interest.
Schou-Zibell noted that fintech innovations can increase digital literacy which could also further
IBanking&Finance Tax on single-use plastic bags to hurt PHL economy–trader
efforts to tailor-fit products to specific needs and improve efficiency. It can also provide financial data in real time.
“Farmers can use AI-driven geocoded data to assess the current value of their bamboo crops in real-time. Banks can then use this data to determine asset value, future cash flow, and collateral value, facilitating loans and investments. This integration of technology positions bamboo as a pivotal asset in financial ecosystems,” she said.
Further, Schou-Zibell said AI can analyze historical and real-time data to forecast future yields from bamboo plantations that contribute to financial planning and investments.
She added that insurance companies can use drone and geospatial data to assess risks and offer tailored insurance products, including quick payouts in natural disasters.
“This data-driven risk assessment ensures better-prepared and more resilient projects. AI-powered platforms can also provide real-time monitoring of financial health indicators, sending alerts and recommendations for maintaining financial stability,” Schou-Zibell said.
In the construction industry, bamboos’ carbon-capture capabilities can make it an ideal resource for affordable and sustainable housing in developing countries, according to the ADB executive.
When used as a material for housing, bamboo can promote green building practices, reduce deforestation, enhance disaster resilience, and improve health outcomes.
Since bamboo is locally available, Schou-Zibell said, it can create employment, boost local economies, and help indigenous communities.
“Housing projects that utilize bamboo can generate valuable carbon credits that can be sold to companies and governments aiming to offset emissions,” she noted.
“These credits can also attract investment into such projects and support ecosystem development by trading or selling the credits in carbon markets,” Schou-Zibell added.
Perspectives
TBy Andrea San Juan
HE imposition of an excise tax on single-use plastic bags in the Philippines can have “farreaching” consequences that must be looked into, according to an industry leader.
In a message sent to reporters, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Member Danny C. Ngo laid out “some compelling reasons” the implementation of such a tax “may not be in the best interest of the economy and society.”
Among the reasons Ngo cited is the dynamics of the “underground economy” that, he said, “thrives on tax evasion and operates outside the legal framework, [and, hence] stands to benefit from the imposition of an excise tax on single-use plastic bags.”
By evading taxes, he said this sector “deprives the government of
crucial revenue, ultimately impacting public services and infrastructure development.”
As such, supporting the underground economy can result in illegal activities like smuggling and counterfeit production.
“This not only undermines the integrity of legitimate businesses but also poses significant social and economic risks that could harm the overall stability of the market,” said Ngo.
The industry leader highlighted that operations within the underground economy “often sidestep quality control and safety standards,
jeopardizing consumer safety.” He emphasized that the circulation of substandard and potentially harmful single-use plastic products can pose “serious” health risks to the public.
Ngo underscored that while singleuse plastic waste is a “pressing” environmental issue that demands urgent attention, he said that by “inadvertently” supporting the underground economy through the imposition of an excise tax, efforts to mitigate plastic waste and promote sustainable waste management practices may be “hindered,” adding this may “exacerbate” environmental degradation.
Further, the lack of transparency and accontability within underground economy operations makes it “challenging to monitor and regulate the production, distribution, and disposal of single-use plastic bags,” he said.
“This opacity impedes effective measures to address environmental and health concerns associated with plastic pollution,” said Ngo.
In light of these considerations, he said, “it is imperative to reassess the potential implications of impos-
ing an excise tax on single-use plastic bags in the Philippines and explore alternative strategies that prioritize both economic growth and environmental sustainability.”
In March 2024, the Department of Finance (DOF) proposed a weightbased rate wherein P100 per kilo excise tax on single-use plastic bags will be imposed with a 4-percent annual indexation starting the third year of implementation or in 2026. The tax will apply to secondarylevel plastics made of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic polymer, commonly known as “ice,” “labo,” or “sando” bags with or without handles, used as packaging for goods or products.
According to the DOF, “the proposed measure seeks to curb the high volume of mismanaged plastics in the country and serves as the Philippines’s contribution to the global movement of reducing pollution and adopting more sustainable practices while raising revenues to spur economic growth.” (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/03/26/ tax-on-labo-sando-bags-to-hit%e2%82%b133b-dof/)
Malayan Insurance maintains AM Best ‘B++’ rating
By Reine Juvierre Alberto
YUCHENGO-led Malayan Insurance Co. Inc. announced it maintained its financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and “stable” rating outlook from credit rating agency A. M. Best. In a statement released last Sunday, the non-life insurer said it also retained the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good) and Philippines National Scale Rating (NSR) of aa+.PH (Superior) for 2023.
Malayan Insurance President and CEO Paolo Y. Abaya was quoted in the statement as saying that the
latest A.M. Best credit ratings reflect Malayan’s continuous commitment to providing financial solutions for millions of Filipinos.
“Despite the current economic landscape, we remain vigilant in ensuring that we can support the needs of our clients in any situation,” Abaya added.
A.M. Best affirmed Malayan Insurance’s strong balance sheet, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management in its latest assessment.
The ratings reflect the company’s financial solvency, ability to pay
Cybersecurity considerations 2024: Government and public sector
N every industry, cybersecurity stands as a paramount concern for leaders. Yet, for government and public sector organizations, the game of digital defense takes on a whole new level of intensity. The reason? The sheer volume and sensitivity of the data they manage, which can amplify the potential fallout from any breach. These agencies are the custodians of a vast array of personal and critical data, spanning from citizen welfare to public safety and national security. A misstep in cybersecurity could spell disaster, jeopardizing not just data, but the very health, safety and security of the citizens they serve.
“In this digital era where threats are rapidly evolving, government and public sector security professionals must lead the charge in strengthening cyber governance and risk management. By proactively planning for cyber incidents and integrating innovative technologies, they can stay ahead of the curve and fortify the resilience of the digital environments they manage,” said KPMG in the Philippines Technology Consulting Principal Frits Gerald M. Enriquez. This article delves into the pivotal cybersecurity considerations for the government and public sector. It offers valuable perspectives on critical focus areas and provides actionable strategies for leaders and their security teams to fortify resilience, drive innovation, and uphold trust in an ever-changing environment.
Consideration 1: Supercharge security through automation FOR the public sector, enhanced security through automation is less a choice and more an imperative for multiple reasons.
Firstly, the public sector is not immune to the global skills shortage in cybersecurity. It often has to compete with the private sector to retain talent with
the required knowledge and expertise.
The public sector tends to lose talent to the private sector, creating a vacuum of knowledge and expertise.
Secondly, in many countries, the public sector is constantly under pressure for being too big. By investing in security automation, public sector organizations can help improve operational efficiency, reduce manual errors and optimize resource utilization, ultimately enhancing overall productivity and effectiveness. Automated processes play a key role in helping to ensure ongoing compliance, as they can be updated to reflect new regulations more swiftly and consistently than manual processes.
Lastly, public sector organizations are increasingly expanding their digital presence and adopting new technologies. This can bring enhanced efficiency but also greater complexity. As agencies scale their security operations more effectively, they should be able to adapt to evolving threats and technologies without significantly increasing costs. With the growing range of threats, prioritizing what cybersecurity teams should focus on is key. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) should filter the noise to allocate resources to the most vulnerable areas. Cybersecurity leaders can start by defining the vision and strategy for automation in the context of larger organizational goals. The next steps would be to determine execution through build versus buy decisions and ensure skills for continuous implementation.
Consideration 2: Identity is owned by individuals, not institutions
MANY organizations continue to rely on manual or paper/plastic identity to process transactions, which can be inconvenient, inefficient and full of security risks. When implemented correctly,
digital identity can help alleviate these concerns, providing users with a secure and privacy-respecting experience that enables them to conduct online transactions anywhere at any time. This not only helps save time and effort for the system users but also streamlines the process for the institution.
Individual ownership of identity lies at the heart of protecting sensitive information, ensuring secure access to critical services and upholding the rights and trust of account holders. Digital identity ecosystems rely on authoritative identity data to provide individuals with rights and entitlements, from healthcare and social services to education and voting.
Many organizations remain in the early stages of adapting their systems and processes to keep individual identity front and center. Integrating digital identity into broader cybersecurity and resilience strategies is not just a technological imperative, but a crucial step toward more inclusive, efficient and secure government and public services.
Some government bodies are already leading the way on identity management by rolling out official personal digital wallets and defining minimum requirements for identity service providers. One of the keys is to maintain a flexible approach that accommodates emerging technologies and new regulations.
Consideration 3: Cybersecurity and resilience aren’t mutually exclusive
CYBERATTACKS and security incidents can disrupt critical government and public services, leading to significant economic, social and political consequences. As government agencies collect, store and manage vast amounts of sensitive information, including citizen records, financial data and national security intelligence, cybersecurity is integral to public safety and national security.
Clearly, there are inherent risks that come with today’s digitally connected landscape. Organizations should acknowledge that many cyber incidents are inevitable and simply cannot be prevented. As such, commensurate investment across the lifecycle (i.e. prevention, detection, response and recovery) is required to help ensure true resilience in the event of a breach, so the organization can quickly contain and minimize operational disruption.
Among government and public sector agencies, the integration of cybersecurity and resilience into organizational strategy remains a work in progress, with varying degrees of preparedness across different entities. This is largely because the sector’s approach to cybersecurity tends to be more reactive than proactive, often focusing on immediate threat mitigation rather than long-term resilience planning. This is further compounded by resource constraints. With adequate resilience, government agencies can help minimize disruption and ensure operational continuity.
For resilience, leaders are encouraged to develop a roadmap for how organizations can or should respond in the event of an attack next week, next month or next year. With periodic reviews, plans and frameworks can remain aligned with the evolving threat landscape.
This excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://kpmg.com/xx/en/ home/insights/2024/06/cybersecurity-considerations-2024-government-and-public-sector.html.
claims and capacity to meet debt obligations. At the same time, its National Scale Rating (NSR) indicates how Malayan Insurance addresses ongoing financial obligations compared to other entities in the Philippines. The international institution asserted that Malayan Insurance enhanced its risk-adjusted capitalization in 2023. The non-life insurer’s exposure to credit risk has been further reduced by current reinsurance claims settlements.
Despite natural catastrophes and significant loss events affected its core commercial lines, the rating agency said that motor business
continued to strengthen underwriting results.
“Investment income drove Malayan’s overall earnings,” it added. The rating agency measures the creditworthiness, stability and promptness in paying claims, debts, and other financial obligations of over 16,000 insurance companies worldwide.
Malayan Insurance, established in 1930, is one of the leading non-life insurance companies in the Philippines, offering a wide range of protection products for home, travel, personal accident, motorcar, marine and motorcycle insurance.
BOC seizes smuggled vape products, motorcycle parts
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted P94.075-million worth of smuggled vape products and motorcycle parts and accessories in two separate warehouses in Manila and Laguna on Friday.
In a statement last Sunday, the BOC said agents from the Customs Intelligence and Service-Manila International Container Port (CIISMICP) discovered an estimated P75 million worth of smuggled motorcycle parts and accessories in a warehouse in Quiapo, Manila.
The CIIS-MICP also found vape devices, vape pods and disposable vapes from the brands “Relx” and “Top Fog” amounting to P6.475 million in the same warehouse.
CIIS Director Verne Y. Enciso said the combined amount of illicit products in Manila was around P81.475 million but the prices of vape products and motor parts could be higher. Around P12.6-million worth of smuggled disposable vapes of varying brands, such as “Flava,” “King’s Evo,” “Grio” and “Milan,” were also found and seized in a shop in San Pedro City, Laguna.
The operations were done in coordination with the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio issued two Letters of Authority (LOA).
Rubio said putting an end to the trafficking of smuggled products is crucial in preventing criminal organizations from profiting from unsuspecting consumers.
“I appeal to our consumers: buying
smuggled products puts your health at risk because by not going through the proper process, the safety of these vapes is already compromised,” he added.
The warehouses were temporarily padlocked and sealed to protect the seized items as it is currently undergoing final inventory by the assigned examiners, according to the BOC. The warehouse’s and shop’s owners can face charges for violating Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) and Section 1400 (Misdeclaration in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
They will also face charges in accordance with Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN Law) and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution No. 0792005 (amended rules and regulations governing the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products).
Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Uy underscored the BOC’s partnership with key government agencies and local officials, which led to the seizure of these vape products.
“Since vapes have become quite popular among Filipinos in the past years, we started beefing up our border patrols and collecting information about the potential trafficking of these products,” Uy added. Reine Juvierre Alberto
Behind the rhetoric, a presidential campaign is a competition about how to tell the American story
By Ted Anthony The Associated Press
NEW YORK—
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination “on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth.” America, Barack Obama thundered, “is ready for a better story.” JD Vance insisted that the Biden administration “is not the end of our story,” and Donald Trump called on fellow Republicans to “write our own thrilling chapter of the American story.”
“This week,” comedian and former Obama administration speechwriter Jon Lovett said Thursday on NBC, “has been about a story.”
In the discourse of American politics, this kind of talk from both sides is unsurprising — fitting, even. Because in the campaign season of 2024, just as in the fabric of American culture at large, the notion of “story” is everywhere.
This year’s political conventions were, like so many of their kind, curated collections of elaborate stories carefully spun to accomplish one goal—getting elected. But lurking behind them was a pitched, high-stakes battle over how to frame the biggest story of all—the one about America that, as Harris put it, should be “the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told.”
The American story—an unlikely one, filled with twists that sometimes feel, as so many enjoy saying, “just like a movie”— sits at the nucleus of American culture for a unique reason.
Americans live in one of the only societies that was built not upon hundreds of years of common culture but upon stories themselves—“the shining city upon the hill,” “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” “all men are created equal.” Even memorable ad campaigns—“See the USA in your Chevrolet”—are part of this. In some ways, the United States—not coincidentally, the place where the frontier myth, Hollywood and Madison Avenue were all born—willed itself into existence and significance by iterating and reiterating its story as it went.
The campaigns understand that. So they are putting forward to voters two varying— starkly opposite, some might say—versions of the American story.
How the two parties are using stories
FrOM t he r e publicans comes one flavor of story: an insistence that to “make America great again” in the future we must fight to reinvigorate traditional values and reclaim the moral fiber and stoutheartedness of generations past. In his convention speech last month, Trump invoked three separate conflicts—the r e volutionary War, the Civil War and World War II—in summoning American history’s glories.
To reinforce its vision, the GOP deployed the likes of musician Kid r o ck, celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan and Lee Greenwood
singing “God Bless the USA.” Trump genuflected to the firefighting gear of Corey Comperatore, who had been killed in an assassination attempt on the candidate days earlier. Vance spoke of “villains” and offered up the Appalachian coming-of-age story he told in “Hillbilly Elegy.”
The r e publicans, as they often do, leaned into military storylines, bringing forth families of slain servicemen to critique President Joe Biden’s “weak” leadership. And they made all efforts to manage their constituencies.
Vance’s wife, Usha, who is of Indian descent, lauded him as “a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy”—a classic American trope—while underscoring that he respected her vegetarian diet and had learned how to cook Indian food for her mother.
“What could I say that hasn’t already been said before?” she said, introducing Vance. “After all, the man was already the subject of a r o n Howard movie. ” And the Democrats? Their convention last week focused on a new and different future full of “joy” and free of what Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called “Trump’s politics of darkness.” It was an implied “Star Wars” metaphor if there ever was one.
It was hard to miss that the Democrats were not only coalescing around the multiracial, multicultural nation that Harris personifies but at the same time methodically trying to reclaim the plainspoken slivers of the American story that have rested in r ep ublican hands in recent years.
The flag was everywhere, as was the notion of freedom. Tim Walz entered to the tune of John Mellencamp’s “Small Town,” an ode to the vision of America that r e publicans usually trumpet. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota expounded upon the regularguy traits that Walz embodies—someone who can change a car light, a hunter, a “dad in plaid.”
The former geography teacher’s footballcoach history was mined as well, with beefy guys in Mankato West Scarlets jerseys fanning out across the stage to the marchingband strains of “The Halls of Montezuma.” They even enlisted a former GOP member of Congress to reinforce all the imagery by saying the quiet part loud.
“I want to let my fellow r e publicans in on the secret: The Democrats are as patriotic as us,” said Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois r e publican critical of Trump.
Bringing it all together
WATCHING t he videos and testimonials at both conventions, one storytelling technique stood tall: what journalists call “characterdriven” tales. Whether it’s advocating for abortion rights or warning about mass illegal immigration or channeling anger about inflation, “regular” Americans became the narrative building blocks for national concerns.
Historian Heather Cox r i chardson put it this way about the DNC in her Substack, “Letters from an American,” this past week: “The many stories in which ordinary Americans rise from adversity through hard work, decency, and service to others implicitly conflates those individual struggles with the struggles of the United States itself.”
In the past generation, the tools of storytelling have become more democratic. We are all publishers now—on X, on TikTok, on Instagram, on Truth Social. And we are all storytellers, telling mini versions of the American story in whatever ways we wish. Perspectives that have been long silenced and suppressed are making their way into the light.
Putting aside questions of truth and misinformation for a moment, how can
a unifying American story be summoned when hundreds of millions of people are now able to tell it differently and from their own vantage points? Democratization is beneficial, but it can also be chaotic and hard to understand.
“A people who cannot stand together cannot stand at all,” poet Amanda Gorman said in her remarks at the DNC. But with so many stories to sort through, is unity more difficult than ever? Is there even a single, unifying “American story” at all? Should there be?
In the end, that’s why this election is about storytelling more than ever. Because the loudest, most persuasive tale—told slickly with the industrial-strength communications tools of the 21st century—will likely win the day.
In the meantime, the attempts to commandeer and amplify versions of that story will continue to Election Day and beyond. As long as there is an American nation, there will be millions of people trying to tell us what it means—desperately, angrily, optimistically, compellingly. Stories are a powerful weapon, and a potent metaphor as well. As Walz said about leaving Trump and Vance behind: “I’m ready to turn the page.”
Opra H Winfrey speaks during the Democratic national Convention Wednesday, august 21, 2024, in Chicago. AP/J. Scott A P P le white
Hulk H O gan tears off his shirt while speaking on the final night of the republican national Convention on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. AP/J. Scott A P P le white
The power of ginger unleashed in Body Shop’s bestselling haircare range
THE Body Shop’s iconic Ginger Shampoo first appeared on shelves in the early 1990s. Since then, it has become the brand’s bestselling haircare product for almost a decade, with one bottle of the Ginger Shampoo selling every nine seconds worldwide. What makes the range so popular?
The Ginger haircare range is expertly crafted and proven to treat two of the major hair issues that impact self-esteem: dandruff and hair-thinning.
Over the years, studies have suggested that the way people feel about their hair has a huge impact on self-confidence. And today, The Body Shop announces a game-changing, dermatologicallytested formula upgrade for its bestselling haircare range that is suitable for sensitive scalps. Ginger essential oil is known for its purifying properties. The formula also contains birch bark extract, known for its antioxidant and antidandruff power; and white willow bark extract, a plant extract fueled with soothing and antioxidant benefits.
The revamped range includes the bestselling Ginger Shampoo, Ginger Conditioner and Ginger Scalp Serum—creating the ultimate three-step system that works together to not only reduce flakes, but promote thicker, fuller and denser looking hair.
Bruno Oliveira is the expert behind the formula development and active ingredient usage within the new Ginger range. Here, he debunks some common myths around hair growth and scalp care.
n The Myth: Hair loss is hereditary and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Bruno’s Take: “Although there is no overnight cure, there are a number of ways to help prevent hair loss. One of the best ways to do this is by keeping a clean scalp—if the hair follicles get clogged, it can stop your hair from coming to the surface.”
n The Myth: You should concentrate on the ends of your hair when applying conditioners, oils and serums. Bruno’s Take: “Many of us take the health of our scalp for granted and don’t give the skin on our heads much consideration when in fact, a healthy scalp determines the health of your hair and will directly affect hair growth. Learning how to take care of your scalp by applying the correct serums, oils and in some cases, conditioners, too, will improve its health and growth.”
n The Myth: The natural oils from my hair will keep my scalp clean. Bruno’s Take: “The natural oils in the scalp that people most commonly refer to is sebum, which plays a big part in moisturising the hair and scalp. However, it can also contribute to scalp build-up, which is the accumulation of ‘dirt’ on hair such as skin cells, hair products, airborne pollution, pollen, and even tobacco smoke which can impact the appearance and health of the scalp and hair, slowing down the rate of hair growth. Using a deep cleansing shampoo can break down this build up and make way for healthy hair growth.”
The all-new formula contains the brand’s bestever ginger from remote areas of Madagascar. Last year, The Body Shop forged a new partnership in Madagascar through its Community Fair Trade program with Fairoils—a company that believes in putting farmers first and supporting biodiversity conservation.
In addition, the
Style
The Philippine Legacy Gala 2024 x Michael Cinco: ‘Power of Compassion’
FOR the second year in a row, the Catbaloganraised, Dubai-based world-class couturier will be the featured designer on December 2 at the Marriott Manila Hotel for the fundraising affair, which will benefit the Philippine Missionari della Fondazione di Carità Inc., a nonprofit organization supporting the Missionaries of Charity in aiding vulnerable communities in the Philippines.
In 2023, Cinco was captivated by Spanish culture as he unleashed his collection called The Impalpable Dream of España. This year, he became enamoured with Rome, as he will unveil The Impalpable Dream of Eternal City
A grateful Cinco reflected: “Showcasing my collection at The Philippine Legacy Gala to help poor Filipino families is profoundly meaningful to me. It goes beyond the honor of presenting my work on a prestigious platform; it is an opportunity to use my craft for a greater cause.”
“The success and public demand for Michael Cinco’s showcase at our 2023 gala inspired us to feature him again this year,” said Archie Tan, co-founder and producer of The Philippine Legacy “Through our partnership with Michael, we aim to increase donations, envisioning a society that treats everyone with dignity, provides essential services to the less fortunate, and celebrates the values of love, compassion and selflessness.”
Fellow renowned designer Albert Andrada, coproducer of The Philippine Legacy, expressed his deep admiration for his good friend: “Michael’s collection elevates Filipino fashion and brings attention to our cause. Together with Judith Tan [president and founder] and Charles Pontier [co-founder], who have been instrumental in our organization’s success and ongoing initiatives, Michael’s commitment to using his talent for the greater good aligns perfectly with our mission, showcasing the transformative power of art and generosity.”
WHEN you usually attend events that serve as launches for new makeup or skincare, it’s refreshing to be at one where stories are told and thank yous are exchanged. Leading Filipino brand GRWM Cosmetics recently hosted afternoon tea dubbed “Behind the Beauty,” for its media contacts and friends, many of whom met the founder Mae Layug for the first time at that event. It wasn’t a launch but a sort of thanksgiving from the brand to the people who shared GRWM’s story to the public. Layug told the story behind GRWM and how, as a YouTuber pre-pandemic, she dreamt of owning a beauty brand that would be on store shelves.
“GRWM is not just about me. Our team is one of the major driving forces behind the brand’s success. We would not be here without each and everyone’s effort,” said Layug, who started the brand under Chromaesthetics Inc. in 2021 with her husband Billy Madrinan.
From 11 employees, Chromaesthetics Inc. now has over 100. GRWM started with six SKUs and now they have 336. The Cosmetics Milk Tint, a multi-use creamy tint you can use on your lids, cheeks and lips started it all for GRWM, and the initial six shades has been expanded to 20.
Just how successful is GRWM Cosmetics? When the brand collaborated with animal rescue and shelter organization Pawssion Project, it re-released the discontinued Milk Tint shade Pomelo in special packaging. For that effort alone, GRWM raised P1.6 million for Pawssion Project. This enabled Pawssion Project, a brand-new clinic, broaden their compassionate care services, build an animal park in the shelter called Pomelo, and reinforce its commitment to numerous animal welfare programs.
I know for a fact that GRWM is one of the bestselling brands in Watsons. It is also in SM Beauty and LOOK At Me aside from online channels.
Peninsula Manila, Pontier pointed out: “As we gather here, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to uplift marginalized and underprivileged communities across our nation. We are here to inspire action and foster a spirit of compassion that transcends boundaries. The Philippine Legacy Gala is more than just an event. It’s a movement aimed at bridging the gap between those who have resources and those who lack basic necessities.”
Their mission, Pontier emphasized, is to foster sustainability and provide unwavering support to the Philippine Missionaries Inc. The primary objective is to empower dedicated missionaries to continue their noble work of serving underprivileged and marginalized communities throughout the Philippines. “Our vision is clear. We aspire to create a society where the communities are empowered, poverty is alleviated, and individuals have access to sustainable support and opportunities for a better future,” added Pontier. “Cinco’s artistry and commitment to excellence have made him a beacon of inspiration in the fashion world. His participation elevates our gala, showcasing not only his incredible
In closing, Pontier implored: “I encourage all of you to engage with us, not just through your presence today, but as partners in this vital mission. Whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, your involvement is crucial in making a lasting difference in the lives of many. Let us come together in the spirit of unity and purpose. Thank you for being here, for your support, and for believing in the power of compassion and collective action. Together, we can truly make a difference.”
The Philippine Legacy Gala x Michael Cinco: The Impalpable Dream of Eternal City, to be directed by Robby Carmona, promises to be another spectacular showcase of the best in Philippine fashion.
“Knowing that my collection can contribute to an initiative that directly aids impoverished families in Manila fills me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment,” explained Cinco. “Fashion, in this context, becomes a powerful tool for social good, bridging the gap between creativity and compassion. It underscores the responsibility I have as an artist and professional to give back to my community, and to use my talent to make a positive impact.” n
highlighting the brand’s commitment to making a positive impact in the beauty industry. Before GRWM and other local brands like Issy and Colourette Cosmetics came up with inclusive shades for their face bases, morenas like myself needed to buy imported foundation, skin tints, and concealers because what were available locally turned our complexions gray.
I once heard the owner of a Filipino beauty brand say why they did not have options for morenas and it was because “nobody would buy it.” Well, GRWM and the others did it and we bought them. Aside from animal rights, GRWM also celebrates inclusivity and diversity. The brand’s name, GRWM, was taken from “Get Ready With Me” because Layug wanted her products to be every person’s companion when getting ready for their regular days and special events. The bestsellers, aside from the Milk Tints, are the Radiance Tints (which can be used as concealer or foundation), the Makeup Prep Squad (primers), Lifeproof Setting Sprays, and SPF BFF (a broad spectrum sunscreen). I also love the Glam & Glow Stix and the Quad Goals blushes and highlighters.
DERMACTION PLUS BY WATSONS
HIGHLIGHTS NEW PRODUCTS
DERMACTION Plus by Watsons is a line of dermatologically-tested skincare products formulated with advanced technology and powerful yet gentle ingredients. During the program hosted by Bethany
Face and Body Lotion, and Acne Prone Aqua Gel.
“Dermaction Plus by Watsons offers advanced protection that doesn’t compromise on comfort,” said Grace Laspona, brand manager of Dermaction Plus by Watsons.
The event also featured a highly informative segment by Dr. Bea Chan, a board-certified dermatologist, who covered range of topics, including SPF ratings and the importance of UVA/ UVB protection. Chan also shared practical tips on reapplication and the common mistakes that many of us make.
There were also interactive experiences during the event, including the Animation Experience and the Light as a Feather game. The Instagram-worthy Photo Area was where everyone captured their best moments while the Acne Pop Game was a fun video game where participants popped virtual pimples on a big screen. There was also the Ring Toss Game. Meanwhile, the UV Skin Analysis provided guests with personalized insights into their skin needs and type so they can understand what to focus on in their skincare routines. There were also games such as Bring Me, during which guests were asked to incorporate the lightest item from their bags into their skincare routines. The games’ participants were rewarded with Watsons Club points. The winner of the most creative Instagram Story challenge won 5,000 Watsons Club points.
THE Body Shop Ginger Haircare Range includes Shampoo, Conditioner, and Serum.
MPower, Robinsons Malls extend support to school in Cavite through Brigada Eskwela
MERALCO’S Local Retail Electricity Supplier (LRES)
MPower, in partnership with Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), has extended support to Tanzang Luma Elementary School in Imus, Cavite as part of Brigada Eskwela 2024, reaffirming its commitment to promote quality education and empower communities in the country.
MPower, in collaboration with One Meralco Foundation, teamed up with Robinsons Malls and Robinsons Love Foundation (RLove) to provide the school beneficiary with essential school supplies, including a television set, printers, bags, books, disinfectants, and reusable water bottles, benefiting over 1,000 students and faculty members. Cleaning materials were also donated in preparation for the opening of classes.
The initiative falls under MPower’s
Champion Sustainability:
THE race is on! As the world continues to prioritize sustainable practices and corporate responsibility, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines invites organizations to showcase their commitment to a sustainable future by participating in the Triple P Awards. With the deadline for submission fast approaching on August 30, 2024, now is the time to put your company’s sustainability achievements in the spotlight. The Triple P Awards for planet, people,
THERE was an outpouring of love and support for international and Philippine theatre artists who headlined the “Do You Hear The People Sing?” concert. Newport World Resorts brought back the long-running tribute show for Alain Boublil and ClaudeMichel Schönberg, the creators of awardwinning musicals “Miss Saigon” and “Les Misérables,” as a fundraising event held on August 2 and 3, 2024. By the time the performers made their final bow at curtain call, a total of P10 million had been raised for the beneficiary communities of Upskills+ Foundation.
Onstage on finale night, French composer Schönberg himself praised Filipino talents. “We can never give you back what the Philippines has given us. Without you, Miss Saigon is impossible.”
Speaking to an audience who supported the show and its cause, Newport World Resorts President and CEO Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez shared, “We are once again united by the healing power of music to build more resilient communities.” He also thanked the entire production team, from Boublil and Schönberg, to conductor Gerard Salonga and producer Enda Markey.
Ten years after its first iteration, the internationally acclaimed “Do You Hear The People Sing?” made its grand return to the award-winning stage of Newport Performing Arts Theater in a two-night fundraising concert.
Proceeds from the show will be used to construct a multi-purpose building to serve over 5,000 individuals relocated from Tondo to the resettlement area in
award-winning corporate social responsibility program, iMPower, which is dedicated to fostering community empowerment and making a tangible contribution to supporting education.
The activity also aligns well with RLC’s R Eskwela program which aims to support learning institutions nationwide through the rehabilitation of school facilities and the provision of learning tools.
“Robinsons Malls is honored to partner with MPower for the Brigada
program.
is home to our Robinsons Imus mall, and we are happy that we are able to provide more support to our local community. Together with MPower, we are able to champion education and empower young minds that pave the way for a brighter future,” Robinsons Malls Vice President for Operations and Marketing Joel Lumanlan said.
Tanzang Luma Elementary School is the 29th school beneficiary of MPower over its 11 years of service in the retail energy industry. Through these efforts, MPower has empowered over 31,000 students, contributing to a brighter future for all.
“We always eagerly anticipate forging opportunities with our partners to drive meaningful change. Through initiatives like this, we hope to continue inspiring and supporting the next generation of leaders,” said MPower Head Redel M. Domingo.
Submit to Triple P Awards Before August 30
and progress, honors and celebrates excellence in sustainable business practices, transparency, and impactful communication.
Whether your organization has redefined industry standards through sustainable practices, created a meaningful impact on your community, or demonstrated leadership in environmental stewardship, this is your opportunity to be recognized among the best in the industry.
Why Participate?
AS the corporate landscape evolves, the importance of ESG strategies has never been more critical. Investors, customers, and employees are increasingly prioritizing sustainability and ethical practices in their decision-making processes. Participating in the IABC Triple P Awards positions companies as leaders in this transformative arena, allowing them to highlight their commitments to sustainability and social responsibility.
Melody del Rosario, IABC Chair and ESG Committee head, shared her thoughts on the significance of these awards: “The Triple P Awards represent a powerful opportunity for businesses to demonstrate how they are making a difference. Each entry contributes
to a growing narrative of purposeful business, and I encourage all organizations to share their sustainability stories and inspire positive change.”
How to Submit THE submission process is straightforward. Interested organizations can visit the IABC Philippines website at www.iabcphppp. com, where they will find the submission guidelines and criteria. Remember, the deadline is August 30, 2024 so don’t miss this chance to share your sustainability journey with the world.
Amplify Your Impact THE Triple P Awards is more than just a recognition; it is a platform to inspire others, lead by example, and amplify the impact of your sustainability efforts. By entering, your organization can inspire others and contribute to a broader dialogue on corporate responsibility and sustainable innovation. This is your moment to lead and make a lasting difference.
Submit your entry today and be recognized for your contributions to a more sustainable future.
Naic, Cavite. The facility will offer essential services, including a clinic, a kitchen and bakery, livelihood training rooms, computer classrooms, and a sports center. Through this flagship project, Upskills+ Foundation aims to improve the overall well-being of families by focusing on healthcare, nutrition, skills training, and a supportive environment.
The organization will implement a phased approach to the construction of the building, ensuring that the community benefits from the facility as soon as possible.
The initial phase will focus on establishing the clinic and a temporary kitchen for feeding programs, while subsequent phases will create livelihood training rooms, classrooms, and a sports center. For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts. com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership, download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
SM Green Finds partners with Zarah Juan for its Circularity Campaign
DUBBED “SM Green Finds x Zarah Juan’s The Tarp Project,” used tarpaulins from SM Store are collected, repurposed and given new life. This aligns with the principles of a circular economy which emphasizes the importance of reusing and recycling
materials to minimize waste and lower the environmental impact of SM Store.
For its initial circular project, SM Store is repurposing used tarpaulin that could have ended up in landfills, posing threats to soil and water bodies. When collected, the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in Quezon City will be tasked with the cleaning and cutting of the tarpaulins. The printing and assembly of bags will be done by local bag artisans in Bulacan.
Filipina Designer and Circularity Advocate Zarah Juan said it was a privilege for her to collaborate with SM Store to help promote circularity and green living among Filipino shoppers.
In crafting the design, Juan took into consideration, functionality, practicality and production efficiency. “The seamless coordination of the project hinges on the careful consideration of each step and aspect of the design process. Moreover, I prioritized ensuring that the colors and prints transcend fleeting trends, aiming for enduring appeal and longevity, a reflection of the bag’s overarching purpose,” Juan said.
Proceeds from the sale of the SM Green Finds x Zarah Juan Tarp Project, will be donated to SM Foundation’s youth and education projects, advocating a cycle of empowerment and social impact.
The Zarah Juan line of pouch and tote bags are available at SM Store Makati, SM Store Aura, and select Kultura stores.
MPOWER and Robinsons Land Corporation team up for a donation drive for students of Tanzang Luma Elementary School in Imus, Cavite held during the 2024 Brigada Eskwela. Seen in the photo are, from left, Robinsons Malls
Sustainability Manager Krystel Marquez-Lim, MPower Strategic Account Manager Glaiza Lampa, and MPower Sales Planning and Programs Head Cheyenne Zaldarriaga.
Eskwela
Barangay Tanzang Luma
www.businessmirror.com.ph
BusinessMirror Marketing
PR and fRiendshiP
RELATIONSHIPS are the core and center of public relations. The more people you know, the better. Even better is the way these friendships can be harnessed for shared goals.
“Quality social ties are even more important than diet and exercise, and not having enough of them could be as detrimental as smoking cigarettes,” says Kate Daniel in an article in Nice News.
No matter how many friends are in your circle, you’re likely to have different types, each of whom plays a different role, Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist and friendship expert told Mind Body Green. “If we can treat each of these friendships differently, we can harness what’s best about them in a way that best works for us and the friendship.”
Virtue APAC wel C o mes
Cli V e s i n A s s enior
Content Cre At or A n d
m A r ie l e e A s s enior
s tr Ate gist
SINGAPORE—VIRTUE, the agency powered by VICE, has appointed two dynamic talents to its APAC team, reinforcing the agency’s drive to build brands from within culture.
Clive Sin joins as Senior
Content Creator, while Marie Lee comes on board as Senior Strategist. Both hires represent VIRTUE’s commitment to embracing unconventional talent, going against traditional silos to create the agency of tomorrow.
With a background that spans creative development, content creation, and production, Clive brings a multidisciplinary approach to his work. He was previously at RAPP Singapore and has also worked at Studio 155, Socialyse, and Havas.
Clive will play an integral role within VIRTUE’s con -
Here, Daniel takes a look at The 7 Types of Friendship Everyone Needs and how they can enhance your life.
wo rkplace Friends
A 2022 Gallup poll shows the importance of having a work bestie has increased since the Covid19 pandemic even with the rise in hybrid and remote work.
For PR pros, these could include colleagues in the companies or agencies we work for. This could even be expanded to include media contacts and those we network with.
“Work friends keep up our spirits, validate our complaints about our job or industry,” says Lauren Napolitano, a clinical psychologist told Today. They could also “provide much-needed predictability in our work lives.”
Having a work best friend can
tent and entertainment stud, an end-to-end offering that includes content strategy, creative development, production, and measurement. The agency’s entertainmentdriven DNA will be leveraged to produce high-quality, engaging content for clients and support VIRTUE’s growth and ongoing success.
Marie joins from VaynerMedia, where she spent over two years in a senior strategy role. With a strong foundation in documentary research and experience at Culture Group, her experience has honed her skills in cultural
also make one more likely to be productive, innovative, and willing to share ideas. Plus, says Daniel, “those with workplace friendships have more fun on the clock, less likely to get burned out, among other benefits.”
Close friends
C L OSE f riends “are there for you through it all. They’re your biggest cheerleaders and trusted confidants.”
More than that, clinical psychologist Anjali Ferguson says that “these are the most important relationships for mental health. These relationships challenge us and support us simultaneously while helping us to grow through validation and safety.”
Daniel cautions that “because these tight-knit relationships require time and energy to maintain, most people only have a few.” Research by leading friendship expert Robin Dunbar suggests that around three to five is the sweet spot.
l i felong friends
T H ESE f orever friends, explains relationship expert Wendy Walsh, “remind you to be authentic because spending time with them transports you back to your childhood.”
They likely know your family growing up environment, and understand how they influenced
prediction, strategy, and social insights.
At VIRTUE, she will lead strategy on the global social retainer for prestige beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté, in addition to driving the agency’s cultural foresight and prediction capabilities — a proprietary model for brands to qualify culture capital and identify networks and communities for growth, to provide a deeper and more meaningful view into culture and the context of the world.
Lesley John, Managing Director at VIRTUE APAC, said, “We pride ourselves
their development. While we may not be in touch with them regularly, they can, according to Napolitano, give one a sense of security in the friendship. As we age, Ferguson adds that their stability can be particularly crucial.
o l der friends
W H ILE w e tend to gravitate towards friends our age, multigenerational friendships can be equally exciting and beneficial.
Having been there and done that, older friends can provide us with a wider perspective and offer valuable insights. For PR Pros, these could be our mentors whether in our work or ways we lead our lives.
“Older adults can be incredibly inspiring,” says Daniel. “Whether they’ve amassed professional accolades, are living adventurously in their golden years, or sport their grey hair and wrinkles with pride, their accomplishments and attitude may be a positive influence.”
Younger friends
B E ING more current on technology and popular culture, younger friends can offer us new skills, broaden our horizons, and offer fresh perspectives.
A younger friend can also provide a sense of vitality. While age is just a number, and people
on attracting talent that is fearless in pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo and an ability to think beyond conventional career paths. Clive and Marie are perfect examples of the new generation of creatives and strategists who are reshaping our industry. Their unique perspectives and fluid approaches to how they work will further elevate our ability to create culturally resonant and impactful work for our brands.”
Clive shared, “VIRTUE has a strong reputation of embracing experimentation and
can feel spritely at any stage in life, Daniel says that “younger people tend to be more energetic, which may be infectious and invigorating.”
Friends of convenience RO OMMATES , n eighbors, and yoga class buds may be considered friends of convenience. They may last a few months or a lifetime, but Daniel considers them “essential.”
If these friends are associated with a particular hobby or activity, all the better as they could encourage you to continue pursuing your passion, and in the process, being healthier, happier, and more satisfied with life.
“They can offer a sense of belonging or support during a period of transition or adjustment [which can be a much- needed stress reducer],” says Ferguson. While these friendships are confined to certain circumstances, and tend to be less intimate than a more general friend, “they do serve a role and serve a purpose such that it improves our experience,” Franco told Mind Body Green.
s a me-life-stage friends T H ESE a re friends which poet Brian A. “Drew” Chalker writes are people in your life “for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” Relationships that occur for a “reason” fulfill a specific immediate need,” while those that last a “season can bolster you during a particular life stage. While these relationships may not last a lifetime, Daniel considers them invaluable.
Napolitano agrees in Today: “We need friends who can support and inspire us as they navigate the same challenges. We learn from their mistakes and successes, and we feel that this kind of friend is uniquely invested in helping us navigate this chapter in life.”
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
innovation, and I’m excited to bring my experience to the agency. I look forward to collaborating with a team that values diversity of thought and is committed to building brands that resonate with culture.”
Marie added, “VIRTUE’s approach to strategy is refreshingly aligned with my own philosophy of immersing in culture to inform and inspire. I’m excited to bring my passion for pop culture and brand building to a place that truly values non-conventional thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
Gawilan, Bantiloc flag-bearers for Team PHL
VETERAN swimmer Ernie Gawilan and archer
Agustina Bantiloc were given the honors to be the country’s flag-bearers at the grand outdoor opening ceremony on Wednesday of the 17th Paralympic Games at the Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde in Paris.
J oining them at the inaugural day parade as well are track and field athletes Jerrold Mangliwan and Cendy Asusano, swimmer Angel Mae Otom and taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, according to PH Paralympic team chef de mission Ral Rosario.
“ We had several discussions about who will be the standardbearers at the opening ceremony with the coaches and it was decided among us that Ernie and Tina (Bantiloc’s nickname) were the athletes to do it,” Rosario said from the French capital. Gawilan has been a [bemedaled] national para swimmer and role model for our para athletes over the years while Bantiloc is the country’s first para archer to qualify and represent the country at the Paralympic Games,” he explained of the campaign backed by the Philippine Sports Commission. A former two-time Olympian and
national swimming standout, the Philippine contingent’s point man added that “the priority, of course, for the parade were our athletes so they can experience this memorable moment in their lives.”
B antiloc, 56, was delighted and grateful for getting the distinction of joining the celebrated Gawilan, a gold medalist in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Para Games, in carrying the country’s colors during the festive opening rites.
I’m proud and happy, of course, this will boost me a lot,” said Bantiloc, who will be the first Filipino athlete in action on Thursday in the women’s individual compound at the Esplanade des Invalides archery range.
R osario revealed that the country was originally given 15 to 16 slots, enough for the entire delegation, by the Paris Paralympic Games organizers.
But we received a message last Friday that our allotment was down to 10,” he said.
H e said he yielded his slot while national para coaches Joel Deriada and Tony Ong for athletics and swimming, respectively, also gave way so other team members can get to relish joining the opening-day festivities.
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Editor: Jun Lomibao
Incentives continue to pour for
fencer Samantha Catantan, and triathlon star Nikko Huelgas, also marketing head of the Philippine Olympic Committee, were present in the event.
G ymnastics Association of the Philippines chief Cynthia Carrion also accompanied Yulo to the event.
W
Fittingly feting Yulo’s gold medals in floor exercise and vault of men’s artistic gymnastics, Bounty recognized his exceptional talent and dedication and joined the chorus of admirers of the latest toast of Philippine sports.
Attending the ceremony were Bounty Fresh Group Holdings Chief Executive Officer Atty. Kenneth Cheng, Vice President for Corporate Marketing and Chooks-to-Go
Inc. Executive Vice President for Operations Patricia Cheng-Lim, Chief Finance Officer Diane Choi, and Festival Mall manager Yvette Dizon. Atlanta Games silver winner Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco and
The special ceremony marked a significant moment as Chooksto-Go, Bounty and Yulo expressed their gratitude and commitment to the fans who have supported them throughout their journey. Chooks-to-Go and Bounty have always been more than just a brand, it’s a beacon of hope for Philippine sports,” Cheng-Lim said. “We are honored to reward Carlos Yulo’s extraordinary accomplishments and are excited to share this moment with the fans who have been a crucial part of his success.”
I n nearly a decade, Chooksto-Go and Bounty have made substantial contributions to Philippine sports, including support for Special Olympics Pilipinas and recognition from the Philippine Olympian Association.
The company has also been a steadfast supporter of para athletes, notably backing the Philippine
the
Para athletes’ turn to sparkle in Paris
TWO weeks after French star swimmer Léon Marchand extinguished the Olympic flame to close the Paris Olympics, the spotlight is now on its Paralympic counterpart.
British Paralympians Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan on Saturday lit the flame in Stoke Mandeville, a village northwest of London widely considered the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.
Training camp in Nimes major morale booster
By Josef Ramos
THE training camp in Nimes boosted track athlete Jerrold Pete Mangliwan and the five other Filipino athletes competing in the 17th Paralympics that open on Wednesday in Paris.
“ It will be a momentous week for all of us after our training camp in Nimes,” the 44-year-old Mangliwan told BusinessMirror via internet call on Sunday. “We are all inspired and hoping to deliver for our country,”
“ It’s tapering stage for all of us here in the Athletes Village and everything looks good,” he added.
A lso seeing action for the Philippine Paralympics team supported by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Richard Bachmann are javelin thrower Cendy Asusano, swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Mae Otom, taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and archer Agustina Bantiloc.
T he para athletes trained in Nimes since August 11 before checking in the village last Wednesday where they were joined by chef de mission Ral Rosario and Philippine Paralympic Committee director for sports development Milette Santiago-Bonoan.
We are all praying for a successful campaign,” Mangliwan said. “It’s going to be tougher than our previous competitions, but we will surely do our best for flag and country, for our family and for ourselves.”
M angliwan, who won gold at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, will race in the 400-meter T52 event starting on Friday and the 100 meters T52 on Sunday.
The flame will now travel to France under the English Channel for a four-day relay from Atlantic Ocean shores to Mediterranean beaches, from mountains in the Pyrenees to the Alps. Its journey will end in Paris on Wednesday during the Paralympics opening ceremony—with the lighting of a unique Olympic cauldron attached to a hot-air balloon that will fly over the French capital every evening during 11 days of competition.
The Paralympic Flame lit THE lighting ceremony of the Paralympic Heritage Flame was held in Buckinghamshire, where the Stoke Mandeville Games were first held in 1948 for a small group of wheelchair athletes who had sustained spinal injuries during World War II.
The man behind the idea was Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish neurosurgeon who fled Nazi Germany and worked at Britain’s Stoke Mandeville hospital.
At the time, suffering a spinal injury was considered a death sentence, and patients were discouraged from moving. Guttmann made the patients sit up and work muscles, and hit upon competition as way to keep them motivated.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I can feel his presence here today, no doubt about it,” said Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, at Saturday’s lighting ceremony, referring to Guttmann.
The President of the Paris 2024 organizing committee Tony Estanguet said that two weeks after closing the Olympics, the French capital was “proud and excited” to host the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympics, the first ever for France.
We are “ready to make it unique and memorable for France and the whole world,” Estanguet said.
The Stoke Mandeville Games later grew into the first Paralympic Games, which took place in Rome in 1960.
The Heritage Flame ceremony in Stoke Mandeville was first held ahead of the London Paralympics in 2012.
Crossing the English Channel
THE flame will on Sunday cross the sea like its Olympic twin did when it arrived in France from Greece in May—but this time via the Channel Tunnel to mark the start of the Paralympic relay.
A group of 24 British athletes will embark on the underwater journey through the 50-kilometer long (30-mile) tunnel. Midway through, they will hand over the flame to 24 French athletes who will bring it ashore in Calais. It will be used to light 12 torches, symbolizing 11 days of competition and the opening ceremony.
1,000 torchbearers, 50 cities ONCE on French soil, the flame’s 12 offshoots will head in different directions to kick off the Paris Olympics’ encore and aim to rekindle enthusiasm for the Games.
PA mong 1,000 torchbearers will be former Paralympians, young para athletes, volunteers from Paralympic federations, innovators of advanced technological support, people who dedicate their lives to others with impairments and people who work in the non-profit sector to support carers.
T hey will take the flame to 50 cities across the country to highlight communities that are committed to promoting inclusion in sport and building awareness of living with disabilities.
A n exceptional flame will be lit in Paris on Sunday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the French capital from Nazi Germany occupation during World War II. Highlighting para sport infrastructure and innovation The relay will highlight places that are committed to developing para sports, as well as places where famous Paralympians grew up, such as Lorient, home of double Paralympic sailing gold medalist Damien Seguin. It will also stop in Blois, which has a sports complex named after its Paralympic track athlete MarieAmélie Le Fur who has nine medals, including two golds from Rio. The relay will go through Châlonsen-Champagne,
Chambly, which, with its three sports facilities adapted for para sports, has served as a training camp location alongside Deauville and Antibes. AP
BRITISH
SPOTLIGHT’S on swimmer and Ernie Gawilan and archer Agustina Bantiloc.
CARLOS YULO with Chooks! dine-in restaurant Chief Operations Officer Gerald Quelapio, Festival Mall Alabang General Manager Yvette Dizon, Bounty Fresh Group Holdings Chief Financial Officer Dianne Choi, Chooks-to-Go Sports and Marketing Services Head Mel Macasaquit, Samantha Catantan, Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, Bounty Fresh Group Holdings,
HILIPPINE Navy Cadets finished with 44 gold medals while the much bigger units of Army Warriors settled with 42 and Air Force managed 18 in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games National Championships at the Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite.
I n the schools category,
SENATE Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino says two shooters, a boxer and a kickboxer are highly recommended for inclusion in the national training pool.
