meeting next year, Governor Eli Remolona said Friday.
W hile the Federal Reserve is less dovish now, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is “still at the same trajectory as before” on monetary easing, Remolona said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s David Ingles and Annabelle Droulers.
We ourselves are neither more dovish nor less dovish,” the central bank chief said. Core inflation will likely ease next year, he added, supporting the case to further ease the policy rate which Remolona described as “still somewhat restrictive.”
The Philippine peso gained on Friday after closing at the record low of 59 to the greenback the day before. The nation’s benchmark stock index inched higher, bucking losses in the region. The BSP capped off the year with a third quarter-point rate cut on Thursday, as inflation remained on target and economic growth slowed. It also signaled more rate cuts next year at a measured pace. At the same time, the BSP flagged potential price risks from geopolitical developments, as the world contends with uncertainties
over incoming US President Donald Trump’s economic policies.
Trump’s win has also triggered a resurgence in the US dollar, causing currencies around the world to slump. The BSP has been “more active than usual, but not that active” in the foreign exchange market, Remolona said Friday.
The central bank chief also said that monetary authorities are watching the peso “very closely” to ensure that its weakness won’t fan inflation in the Southeast Asian nation that imports oil and rice needs.
Currency defense
FROM Brazil to South Korea, emerging-market central banks are forming a line of defense as a rising dollar pushes their currencies to multi-year lows.
BOI’s 2025 target: ₧1.75-T investment pledges, 8% up
By Andrea San Juan
THE Board of Investments is aiming to secure P1.75 trillion in investment pledges next year, in hopes of luring capital into areas of semiconductors, mineral processing and high-value manufacturing, among others. Initially we are targeting P1.75 trillion so that’s about 8 percent higher than current approvals,” Lanie O. Dormiendo, BOI’s Director for International Investments Promotion Service, said at a briefing on Friday.
W hile BOI still expects renewable energy projects to occupy a huge chunk of the investment pledges pie next year, Dormiendo noted: “But we’re beefing up our promotion initiatives to be able to register manufacturing and other sectors such as semiconductors. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring in companies that are into mineral processing, those highvalue manufacturing.”
Th e investment promotion agency attached to the Depart-
ment of Trade and Industry (DTI) has approved P1.62 trillion in investments in 2024 as of December 17, surpassing the agency’s initial P1.5-trillion target for the year. BOI also noted that this marks the “highest level of investment approvals in the BOI’s 57-year history.” The P1.6-trillion investment pledges greenlighted by the BOI
this year is 28 percent higher than the P1.26 trillion recorded in the same period in 2023. In terms of sectors, renewable energy projects led the approvals as it amounted to P1.38 trillion, a 40-percent increase compared to the recorded approvals in the same period in 2023. Th is was followed by Air and Water Transport at P121.20 bil-
lion; Real Estate Activities (Mass Housing), P37.26 billion; Manufacturing, P31.67 billion; Water Supply, Sewerage, Waste Management, and Remediation Activities,P16.28 billion; Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, P11.02 billion; Wholesale and Retail, P8.25 billion, and ITBPM at P7.34 billion.
Meanwhile, Local Investments have posted a 150-percent uptick, with Filipino companies contributing P1.23 trillion worth of investments.
The Calabarzon region is the leading recipient, with P630.97 billion in investments, followed by Central Luzon, P277.80 billion and Western Visayas, P252.88 billion.
Other high-performing regions include the Bicol Region, P144.97 billion; the National Capital Region, P129.17 billion; and the Ilocos Region, P88.32 billion.
Trade Secretary and BOI Chairman Cristina A. Roque said these investments will “fuel job creation, drive innovation, and foster dynamic economic progress.”
By John Eiron R. Francisco
APHILIPPINE-BASED international school, renowned for nurturing diverse student intelligences, asserts that its methods, including the long-standing student-led enterprise, are key to equipping students with essential skills for success in the 21st century, in line with global educational standards.
Dr. Mary Joy Canon Abaquin, Founding Directress of Multiple Intelligence International School (MIIS), told the BusinessMirror about the importance of exposing students to global experiences. This exposure, she said, is not directly tied to academic competence but is essential for preparing students to meet the demands of the future workforce.
Without such exposure, children may struggle to develop the skills needed to compete globally, cultivate a sense of care for the environment, and make a meaningful impact on the world, regardless of their intellectual capabilities, she explained.
“ What matters most is how your intelligence impacts the world,” she said.
New set of skills
BASED on the World Economic Forum (WEF), thriving in today’s innovation-driven economy requires a new set of skills compared to previous generations. Alongside foundational abilities such as literacy and numeracy, workers must also develop competencies like teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, as well as character traits like perseverance, curiosity and initiative.
“As a school, especially for the parents who have entrusted their children to us, our goal is to prepare students for the future,” she said.
ELI REMOLONA , BSP Governor: “We
From left: Dr. Mary Joy Canon Abaquin, MIIS Founding Directress; Leane Ysabelle Ventura, Global Youth President of the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines and President and Founder of the MIIS Leaders for Sustainable Development Club; and Anica Catarina Abaquin, MIIS Marketing & Business Development Officer. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIIS
MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL
Students can be prepped as successful entreps
W hile this is a common objective for many institutions, she emphasized that the true measure lies in the opportunities and experiences provided to the children.
These, she believes, gradually help shape their sense of self, which they can apply beyond the institution as they navigate the real world.
In 2000, the institution pioneered its Kids Bazaar, the first and only youth entrepreneurship bazaar managed by elementary students.
According to Abaquin, the proceeds from the event initially went to support children with disabilities under the care of Bahay Mapagmahal.
O ver the years, she said, the bazaar has supported various causes close to the students’ hearts, including establishing a forest watershed in collaboration with students from Tranca, Laguna, assisting children with cancer, conducting river clean-ups, organizing feeding programs, and addressing a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges.
A sked about the most rewarding aspect of seeing students participate in entrepreneurship and community engagement, Abaquin said, “It’s the joy and confidence—they light up. That kind of experience builds their confidence to become empowered learners.”
She explained that their approach is to start integrating real-world applications into lessons from preschool, rather than waiting until high school.
Every lesson is designed to connect with practical, real-life scenarios, she said.
A baquin explained that the students were able to develop products or business plans by applying their les-
sons in math and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that this process equips them not only with business acumen but also with 21st-century skills identified by the WEF.
“ The MI Kids Can! Bazaar allows students to build confidence as they engage with the real marketplace and the public,” Abaquin shared, noting that they take on various roles during the event, such as those of cashier, marketer, booth designer and product packager.
A sked about parents’ feedback on the initiative, she replied, “Our parents are our partners,” adding, “One of the great things about our community is the strong collaboration we have with parents.”
They also create, Abaquin added, “opportunities because they willingly open doors for their children.”
Students champion UN SDGs THIS year, the institution continued its tradition with a one-day bazaar on Sunday, December 1, at UP Town Center, Ayala Mall. The event showcased 26 student booths, each representing a class from Preschool to Grade 12, with every product intentionally crafted or chosen to support a specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
One of the booths at this year’s bazaar is the vegetable market, which the students have named “Bayong All You Can.” Available in two sizes, it can be purchased for P450.
L eane Ysabelle Ventura, a Senior High student at MIIS and the Global Youth President of the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines, as well as the President and Founder of the MIIS Leaders for Sustainable Development Club, explained that with
the vegetable market, customers can buy a bayong (basket) and fill it with as many vegetables as they want before taking it home.
She said the vegetables are sourced directly from farmers, emphasizing that they are able to offer them at lower prices by purchasing straight from the farms.
Ventura noted that issues like transportation and market access contribute to the higher prices of vegetables sold to the public.
Food price disparities
ACCORDING to the study “Food Security and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources” by Pinstrup-Andersen, P., and Pandya-Lorch, R. (July 1998), several factors contribute
to significant food price disparities within the country. These include increased input costs, which are ultimately passed on to consumers.
A mong the primary drivers of higher food prices are low agricultural productivity, the long distances between farms and markets, and the associated transportation and transaction costs.
The study emphasizes that boosting agricultural productivity, intensifying production, and enhancing resource-use efficiency are essential strategies for alleviating poverty, ensuring food security, and improving the quality of life in rural areas.
“ We’re not just marketing the product, of course. We market the background and the reason behind it,” Ventura said.
She explained that they aim to highlight the value behind the entrepreneurial initiative, presenting it as a comprehensive package that showcases what they’ve achieved, what others can contribute, and the collective impact it can create.
With even a small effort, she emphasized, this initiative demonstrates how far support can go.
“ You’re not just buying vegetables. It’s more than just vegetables you’re taking home—you’re contributing to building a sense of community and sustainability,” Ventura said.
L ast year, the initiative generated P91,000, with the institution setting its sights on achieving a “gold out.”
According to Abaquin, this year’s event is not solely about selling products but also about championing the broader advocacy of “Leadership for a Sustainable Future.” All proceeds from the one-day bazaar will be allocated to their new “premier school,” located in Parlinks Estates and set to open in 2025, which is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders dedicated to sustainable development.
She emphasized that the event serves as an opportunity to nurture future leaders by encouraging students to apply their skills and creativity in ways that contribute to positive change and a more inclusive world.
‘Nurturing confidence, entrepreneurial skills’ MEANWHILE , Abaquin said that in today’s world, fostering empowerment is crucial for building one’s confidence. Firstly, we are a developing country. Not everyone has access to resources or education, and when you consider the issues surrounding access and poverty, it becomes even more challenging,” she explained.
A s an educator, she believes in the importance of self-confidence. “If you don’t believe in your own ability to contribute, you may feel overlooked just because you’re not an A student or because you don’t see opportunities at school.”
She shared an example of a student who was once introverted and talented in drawing. They realized that if they didn’t nurture this skill and help the student develop additional skills to leverage their strengths, the student
BOI’s 2025 target...
Continued from A1
“By focusing on international trade, we are laying the foundation for sustained and inclusive economic growth. This is in line with our goal to transform the Philippines into Southeast Asia’s hub for smart and sustainable manufacturing and services,” the trade chief added.
Meanwhile, foreign investments amounted to P383.31 billion.
“As we approach 2025, we are determined to build on this momentum. We will continue to refine and implement forwardlooking policies that attract investments in these key industries, ensuring that the Philippines remains a prime destination for
innovation and growth. Our commitment is to create an environment where businesses thrive, sustainability is prioritized, and economic opportunities benefit all Filipinos,” Roque said. Meanwhile, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), another investment promotion agency attached to the DTI, announced that it approved P214.176 billion in investments, a 21.89-percent increase compared to P175.709 billion last year. Th is is equivalent to 255 projects approved for the year, PEZA noted.
Th e P214.176-billion greenlighted investments, PEZA said, are seen to generate 72,469 direct jobs and $4.656 billion in exports
might fall behind and lack an entrepreneurial mindset.
It’s not about being shy; it’s about lacking the courage to believe in one’s own ideas,” she explained, emphasizing that the key is helping students recognize their strengths. The institution encouraged the student to go beyond creating physical drawings and to digitize her artwork. Abaquin noted that while hand-drawn pieces have their own value, digitizing them opens up new opportunities, such as creating keychains or stickers featuring the students’ artwork.
“ When we recognized this potential, we urged her to not only focus on the physical art but to also digitize all of her drawings,” she explained.
She added that while encouragement is important, you can’t force them; they need to recognize their strengths.
“ They have to believe in something. They have to have an interest,” she said.
Unique talents
ABAQUIN emphasized that while education is crucial, it should also focus on developing a child’s unique talents.
Unlike traditional education, which tends to mold all students in the same way due to its generalist approach, the speaker argued that a specialized education is necessary to prepare students for the competitive, borderless world.
On a global stage, what is sought after is not just the willingness to work, but the specific skills one possesses. This requires giving students the opportunity to explore and practice their interests, such as in linguistics, music, and other forms of intelligence, she added.
Education is not a business, but education is everybody’s business,” Abaquin said.
She said their institution is open to collaborating with businesses, as she believes a company cannot thrive without strong human resources.
receipts.
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga expressed confidence that the agency will grow by 10 percent in investments for 2025, or about P235 billion.
“ To do this, PEZA plans to focus on attracting investments in a wider range of sectors, with electronics continuing to play a key role in driving the country’s export portfolio. Other priority industries include EVs, smart manufacturing, data centers, food agro-processing, green ore mineral processing, renewable and alternative energy production, marinebased industries, and pharmaceutical ecozones,” the investment promotion agency said in a statement on Friday.
Continued from A1
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is watching the peso’s drop closely and has stepped up intervention in the currency market, Remolona said Friday. Brazil’s central bank has spent almost $14 billion in the past week to support the real while Bank Indonesia vowed to guard the rupiah “boldly” to build market confidence.
Authorities in developing economies are on the defensive as the greenback’s strength wreaks havoc across global markets, with South Korea’s won falling to the lowest in over 15 years while India’s rupee and the real crashed to all-time lows.
A rapid decline in currencies risks worsening the impact of imported inflation for emerging markets, and may also increase the cost of servicing debt on foreign liabilities.
It is hard to go against a strong USD trend,” said Christopher Wong, a currency strategist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. in Singapore. “Intervention in such an environment can only slow the pace of currency depreciation. Despite that, central banks may still have to use a mix of verbal and actual intervention tools.”
The MSCI Emerging Markets Currency Index has fallen 3.3 percent since end-September to head for its biggest quarterly drop in two years. The move comes after the Federal Reserve forecast fewer interest-rate cuts next year and signaled that inflation concerns are back on the radar.
With the dollar expected to remain strong, policymakers in developing markets are taking action. South Korea said Friday it will ease the cap on banks’ foreign-exchange
forward positions by 50 percent to boost inflows and address demand and supply imbalances in the local currency market. China’s central bank continued to support the yuan with its daily reference rate by setting it significantly stronger than the market’s forecast. The pushback against a stronger dollar comes at a cost, with monetary authorities forced to dip into their foreign-exchange reserves to defend their currencies.
“The bullish dollar climb has been supported by the Fed’s tilt to be less dovish but the thinner liquidity in December can also create pronounced exaggerated moves,” said Alan Lau, an FX strategist at Malayan Banking Berhad in Singapore. During this period, central banks
MI KIDS CAN! BAZAAR: EMPOWERING STUDENTS THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A vibrant showcase of creativity and social impact, the MI Kids Can! Bazaar lets students dive into the real marketplace, blending learning with community action. From vegetable markets supporting local farmers to products promoting sustainability, the event is more than a sales pitch—it’s a lesson in leadership and global responsibility. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIIS
DTI, DOF bare interim rules to hasten application of CREATE MORE provisions
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Board of Investments (BOI), and the Department of Finance (DOF) have released interim rules to facilitate the immediate application of some provisions under Republic Act (RA) No. 12066 or the CREATE MORE Act, which updates certain provisions of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act. This measure is meant to bridge the gap while waiting for the issuance of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
The CREATE MORE Act took effect on November 28, 2024. It mandates the Secretaries of the Trade and Industry and Finance to work together to release the necessary IRR within 90 days of the law’s effectivity. The process of drafting these rules has included consultations with key government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the BOI, and other Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), as well as private stakeholders.
The interim rules, published on December 17, 2024, allow IPAs to register projects and offer incentives under the new law while waiting for the CREATE MORE IRR. It also provides the process for transferring existing preCREATE projects, including expansion projects, to enable them to avail of CREATE incentives. Further, registered projects under CREATE with investment capital exceeding P15 billion may transfer their registration to CREATE MORE. Transferring projects may signify their intent by 31 December 2024.
The interim rules also clarify that the application of liberalized incentives such as Value-Added Tax (VAT) exemption on importation and zero-rating on local purchases, and 20-percent income tax rate for enterprises availing of the
enhanced deductions regime shall take effect on 28 November 2024. This allows registered business enterprises with incentives granted prior to the CREATE MORE Act to already enjoy the liberalized incentives while the IRR is still pending.
According to Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, CREATE MORE demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to creating a conducive investment environment. He stressed that the policy’s regionally competitive incentive framework will support both domestic and foreign investments, generate quality jobs, boost incomes, and drive sustainable economic growth for the country.
“The DTI-BOI extend its deepest gratitude to SAP Frederick Go for his relentless support in advancing CREATE MORE,” said DTI Secretary Cristina Roque. “Beyond improving business conditions, this law is a crucial step in ensuring that the benefits of growth reach the Filipino people—creating more high-quality jobs, advancing economic mobility, and addressing poverty through inclusive growth and development.”
The interim rules are designed to ensure a smooth transition and support investor confidence as the government moves forward with the updated tax incentive laws.
The policy for transferring preCREATE projects to the CREATE Act was initially established under BOI Memorandum Circular (MC) 2024-002 dated May 9, 2024. With the issuance of the interim rules that cover the transfer of both preCREATE and CREATE projects, the BOI has issued the advisory for the applicable process and forms to implement the measure.
The BOI encourages all eligible businesses to submit their applications as soon as possible to take advantage of the benefits available under the new law.
ICTSI gets 25-yr extension to run Mindanao Container Terminal
MINDANAO International Container Terminal Services Inc. (MICTSI), a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), has secured a 25-year extension to operate and manage the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT).
The extension, awarded by the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, allows MICTSI to continue managing the MCT until 2058.
Located within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, the MCT serves as a key gateway for trade in southern Philippines. To enhance the terminal’s capacity and efficiency, MICTSI plans to invest more than US$100 million in infrastructure upgrades. The investment includes a 300-meter berth extension and the acquisition of new equipment to handle the expected growth in cargo volumes. These enhancements are projected to significantly boost the terminal’s annual capacity from its present 350,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The new berth will enable the shipping industry to deploy larger ships on new service routes to support growth and demand from Mindanao’s importers and exporters. Additionally, the expansion project will further promote PHIVIDEC’s agenda
EU delays by one year sked of exports’ deforestation rules
By Andrea E. San Juan
THE European Parliament has “formally endorsed” the oneyear delay in the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was supposed to take effect on December 30 this year, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport).
In a statement on Friday, Philexport said the postponement, which was approved on December 17, 2024, gives companies more time to prepare for the enforcement of the “controversial” law.
“For large and medium-sized companies, the delay moves their compliance deadline to December 30, 2025. For micro and small enterprises, the regulation will take effect on June 30, 2026,” Philexport said in a statement on Friday.
The umbrella organization for Philippine exporters said the official postponement ends the “uncertainty” that followed the November vote, when EU lawmakers voted not only in favor of the delay but also added some “substantial” changes to key provisions of the regulation.
The EUDR requires operators and traders of certain commodities and products they plan to place on the EU market to prove their goods did not originate from plots of lands that have been recently deforested or that these products have not contributed to forest degradation.
“This requires them to establish a due diligence system and file due diligence statements. Inability to provide proof will mean these commodities and products cannot be exported to the Union market. The same principle applies to exporting products from the EU,” Philexport explained.
The EU measure was designed to limit the EU market’s impact
on global deforestation and to reduce the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gases.
Philexport said the endorsement of the European Commission’s proposal to delay the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products followed months of pressure from industry representatives and several exporting countries.
For instance, it noted that some developing countries like Indonesia and Brazil have argued that the EUDR’s rules are unfair and could hurt their economies, saying the legislation was “discriminatory and punitive.”
Moreover, China, one of the EU’s main suppliers of furniture, plywood panels, and cartons, opposes the EUDR and refuses to share geolocational data due to “security concerns.”
Meanwhile, smallholders assailed the EUDR for lacking “important elements” to safeguard land rights and support smallholders, the group of Philippine exporters noted.
While the implementation of the measure has been deferred, Philexport noted that the legislation will now be subject to “inter-institutional negotiations” and must be approved by the Council and Parliament before it can be enacted.
Meanwhile, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) will be repealed as of December 30, 2025, one year later than planned. Timber products will transition
SMC will waive toll on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve; ready for holiday rush
Ito grow its locator base.
“ICTSI is proud to continue our work at Mindanao Container Terminal, a critical hub for trade in southern Philippines,” said Aurelio C. Garcia, MICTSI president and general manager. “This extension allows us to implement our vision for the terminal’s future, with significant investments in new technology and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the region.”
PHIVIDEC administrator and CEO Atty. Joseph Donato J. Bernedo said, “Today’s signing ceremony reflects our commitment to growth and sustainability of PHIVIDECIA under this administration, and we will continue to grow with our other projects and initiatives that are lined up to benefit not only Northern Mindanao but also the entire country. I would like to thank Mr Aurelio C. Garcia, president and general manager of MICTSI, PHIVIDEC-IA’s chairman
Engr. Augustus N. Adis and the members of our Board for their support in making our dream of expanding our MCT Port into a reality.”
The extension highlights the strong partnership between ICTSI and PHIVIDEC-IA in developing critical infrastructure to facilitate trade and drive economic growth in Mindanao.
N the spirit of the Yuletide season, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), through SMC Infrastructure, is continuing its annual tradition of waiving the toll at expressways it operates on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to make holiday travel smoother for motorists.
Toll
ACROSS SMC’s expressways—including the Skyway System, NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), STAR Tollway, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)—will be waived from 10pm on December 24 to 6am on December 25, and again from 10pm on December 31 to 6am on January 1, 2025.
“This is our way of saying thank you to everyone who uses the expressways we operate. It’s something we look forward to every year because it helps thousands of motorists get home to their families a little easier, especially during Christmas and New Year,” SMC Chairman Ramon S. Ang said.
Ang said the company has also laid out operational initiatives to ensure the safety and security of motorists along its tollway network.
Starting 12 noon on December 20, patrollers and security
personnel are to be deployed in critical areas, while emergency response personnel will be placed on alert.
Traffic monitoring centers at each of the expressways will be staffed round-the-clock to keep watch over the flow of vehicle traffic.
Roadworks that may affect traffic flow will be suspended, starting noon of December 20, up to January 3, 2025 to free up space along carriageways.
Tow trucks and other emergency vehicles are also being pre-positioned at strategic areas to be able to respond to incidents quickly.
Meanwhile, SMC Infrastructure has stepped up its coordination with the traffic management offices of local government units, to minimize traffic bottlenecks in their jurisdictions.
Congestion at local roads usually contribute to traffic flow at expressway exits, which in turn trigger vehicular congestion at the carriageways.
“We appeal to our motorists for patience as we anticipate heavy traffic around Metro Manila, which may affect their travel plans or scheduled flights. We advise them to plan their trips ahead and allot more time for travel, to make sure they arrive at their destinations on time,” the company said.
The expressway operator reminded motorists to ensure they have enough load in their Autosweep RFID accounts, to prevent delays at exits. Motorists are also asked to avoid tailgating at toll plazas so that RFID scanners can read their tags properly.
For those who have not yet registered, the company encourages motorists to sign up for Autosweep RFID, which is free of charge. Loading Autosweep RFID accounts is quick and convenient through electronic payment systems, online banking, e-wallets, or by visiting Autosweep customer service centers and kiosks located across the expressway network.
Additionally, SMC Infrastructure advises motorists to check their vehicles before traveling to ensure they are roadworthy and avoid potential incidents while on the expressways.
For road emergencies, motorists may contact the following hotlines for assistance: n Skyway System and NAIAx (02-53188655 or 0917-5398762); n SLEX (049-5087539 or 0917-6877539); n STAR Tollway (043-7567870 or 0917-5117827); n TPLEX (0917-8880715)
Mayor Jeannie strengthens Malabon LGU’s flood mitigation efforts
MALABON Mayor Jeannie Sandoval and the local government have enhanced the city’s flood mitigation efforts in line with commitment to ensure the safety of the Malabueños during heavy rains and the high tide.
“Several storms have hit the
city, compounded by the high tide and other problems that caused flooding. But we Malabueño stood united and unfazed. We help ensure everyone’s safety. You have our commitment that we will do everything to make sure we won›t see a repeat of that flooding and the lives and well-being of every -
to EUDR compliance from December 30, 2025; however, EUTR provisions will remain for products harvested prior to June 30, 2023 until December 31, 2028. The EUDR targets seven commodities due to their significant role in driving deforestation and forest degradation. These are cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya, and wood.
The EUDR prohibits the placing on the EU market or the export of relevant commodities and products from the Union unless they are “deforestation-free,” meaning the products contain, have been fed with, or have been made using relevant commodities that were produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation. In the case of products containing or being made with wood, the wood should have been harvested from forests without inducing forest degradation after December 31, 2020.
“Despite the one-year respite, stakeholders are advised not to be lax and instead view this delay as an opportunity to continue preparing for compliance. For businesses, this extra year should be seen as a critical opportunity to refine their processes, improve data quality, and strengthen due diligence systems. Analysts say the fundamental goal of the EUDR— creating deforestation-free supply chains—remains unchanged,” said Philexport.
Caap ready for holiday passenger surge
By Nonie Reyes
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) is ready for the anticipated surge in passenger traffic this holiday season. Under the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Pasko 2024, which runs from December 20, 2024, to January 3, 2025, CAAP is committed to ensure safe, efficient, and comfortable travel at the 44 airports under its jurisdiction. The agency has ensured the full operational readiness of its Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ ATM) systems. Comprehensive contingency measures have also been put in place to address potential flight disruptions and ensure seamless airport operations despite the expected passenger influx. To enhance the travel experience, Caap is providing:
one will be assured” the mayor said, speaking partly in filipino.
As part of the flood mitigation measures under Mayor Sandoval’s leadership, the local government built, repaired, and upgraded pumping stations (PS) and flood -
See “Malabon,” A4
n Malasakit kits containing essential items such as biscuits, coffee, and hygiene products.
n Malasakit Help Desks, which are available to assist air passengers with inquiries and concerns.
See “Caap,” A4
Herbosa: PhilHealth execs dealing with ‘broken system’
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
APPARENTLY frustrated as the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) management is trying to work a “broken system,” Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa on Friday hit the management of the state-run health insurer for treating its funds “like a pension fund.”
“That’s why their emphasis has been to protect the fund and resist paying the health benefits of its members!” Herbosa’s statement read, clarifying that Philhealth Management is distinct from the board of directors.
“We need to fix this broken system,” added Herbosa, who is also the chairman of the PhilHealth board of directors.
Herbosa said that he is aware of the comments about the Philhealth issue.
“It seems many do not understand the difference between pension and health insurance. Pension insurance and health insurance serve distinct purposes, providing financial protection in different ways,” he said.
PhilHealth, he stressed, is not like a pension insurance like Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Health advocates slam PhilHealth budget
ALSO on Friday, the Medical Action Group and Action for Economic Re -
forms called the 2025 Corporate Operating Budget (COB) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) a “do nothing” budget. It’s a “do nothing” budget because it shows an increase of only 10 percent when its expenditure for 2024 was already higher by 22 percent over the previous year, with two months yet to go (P122 billion in 2023 vs. P155 billion as of October 2024). The new packages approved in the last six months are likely to increase reimbursements in 2025 to well over P200 billion. Direct contributors–many of whom are from the working class, OFWs, and informal workers–are expected to cover P202 billion of the PhilHealth budget, which will cover their own reimbursements as well as the reimbursements of indirect contributors–the indigents, older persons, and persons with disabilities, according to AER and MAG. Reimbursements by indirect contributors have exceeded those of the direct members in 2024, with seniors getting 30 percent of all reimbursements. This trend will
likely continue in 2025.
PhilHealth’s 2025 COB can only support the existing packages since the increase of 10 percent from 2024 will be insufficient to cover the increase in benefits payouts which increased during the last six months of 2024. This limited budget will further delay any significant rollout of the primary care benefit package–the Konsulta package–that supports the mandate of the Universal Health Care (UHC) to register all Filipinos with a primary care provider.
Currently, Konsulta provides reimbursements for only one percent of the Filipino population. The full implementation of the Konsulta package will cost PhilHealth P194 billion annually, providing a P1,700 primary care package for each of the 114 million Filipinos. The package was approved in 2022, and if it had been rolled out nationwide then, PhilHealth would not be accused of a “surplus” of P150 billion and reserves of hundreds of billions of pesos, the two groups pointed out.
“The Konsulta package can drastically change the face of primary care in the country, which the Department of Health (DOH) admits is underfunded. The country spends $6 per capita for primary care while average expenditure of primary care in Asean is $20 per capita a year.
“Underspending in primary care has resulted in overcrowded government hospitals. DOH has reported that hospitals in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol have occupancy rates of over 180 percent. This leaves no room for mass casualties and epidemic surges.”
The actual premium contribution collected from 36,738,227 direct contributors now stands at P192 billion. Without any premiums for 25,340,992 indirect con -
tributors from the government, the entire 2025 contribution of direct members will be fully expended next year on reimbursements alone. The bicameral conference committee’s defunding of PhilHealth, added the advocates, “destroys social health insurance, particularly the principle of solidarity and the pooling of resources, leaving the working class to carry the burden of funding PhilHealth through contributions deducted from their hard-earned monthly salaries.”
In addition, even the full service coverage of longstanding and Sustainable Development Goalsrelated benefits and packages like the maternal care (covering only 50 percent of pregnancies) and newborn care package (covering only a third of all newborns) and TB (directly observed therapies or DOTS) Benefit (covering only 30,000 of 612,000 TB patients) will not be sufficiently funded in this status quo budget. This underfunding already manifests itself in the country’s increasing maternal and infant mortality rates, higher incidence of tuberculosis, and rising occupancy rates of DOH hospitals.
Despite his criticism of the executive officers of PhilHealth, Herbosa as chairman was also slammed by the two groups: “It is most shameful that the PhilHealth President, Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr. and concurrent PhilHealth Chairman, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa have condoned, and have even excused, the emaciated PhilHealth budget. We thus direct our appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to immediately correct this unfair and unlawful budget by ordering Congress to restore the full premium subsidy of P150 billion for 25 million indirect contributors.”
Caap. . .
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“Caap recognizes the importance of a stress-free travel during the holiday season. By ensuring the reliability of our systems and the readiness of our facilities, we aim to deliver smooth and safe journeys for all passengers,” said Caap Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo.
Caap is working closely with
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gates/river walls located at different parts of the city.
Following the MalabonNavotas River navigational gate malfunction incident in July, Mayor Jeannie immediately coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who operated the floodgate for its immediate repair. The navigational gate was repaired and was again activated in September.
The City Engineering Department (CED) also conducted sandbagging operations, monitoring of flood sensors, upgrading, and repairing other pumping stations.
In September, Mayor Jeannie and the city government inaugurated two new and modern pumping stations in Sto. Rosario II, Brgy. Baritan and Dulong Adante, Brgy. Tañong. These modernized pumping stations will ensure effective and efficient operations when flooding affects different parts of the city.
There are about 52 pumping stations in the city that are operated by the local government, DPWH and MMDA as of November this year.
airline operators and other government agencies to maintain efficient airport operations and ensure passenger satisfaction. Travelers are advised to:
n Plan trips early n Arrive at the airport 2-3 hours ahead of their flight schedules n Follow airport guidelines for a hassle-free journey n Sharp and pointed objects, such as knives, scissors, and similar items are not allowed in handcarry luggage.
Three pumping stations in Barangays Tinajeros, Baritan, and Muzon are also undergoing the modernization project of World Bank and DPWH.
The city government also conducted the rehabilitation of drainage systems on Florante St. , Brgy. HulongDuhat, Luna II St., Brgy. San Agustin, Kaunlaran St., Brgy Muzon (Phase IV); Mangustan Road, Brgy. Potrero (Phase II).
The CED and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office also conduct clean up drives and declogging operations along rivers and drainage systems to ensure that waterways will not be clogged due to wastes during typhoons and the high tide.
Mayor Jeannie assured residents that the city government will closely monitor flood mitigation facilities and equipment and coordinate with national agencies to create a long-term solution to the flooding problem in the city.
“We are doing everything we can to remedy the floods, so you can be assured that more projects are in line to ensure everyone’s safety,” the mayor shared.
According to the CED, five pumping stations are currently under modernization/ upgrade conducted by the city. These were the MCM PS in Brgy. Tañong, Suarez PS in Brgy. San Agustin, Ugnatan PS, Brgy. Concepcion, Adante PS, Brgy. Tañong, and Sto. Rosario I PS, Brgy. Baritan.
Escudero to DFA: Provide legal aid to free more Pinoys jailed abroad
SENATE President Francis G.
Escudero called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to provide legal assistance to Filipinos jailed overseas to secure their freedom.
Escudero made the call in the wake of the return of Mary Jane Veloso last Wednesday from Indonesia, where she was sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
Veloso had spent more than 14 years in an Indonesian prison, and Escudero said her case should serve as “a wake-up call for all of us to focus on the plight of similarly situated Filipinos,” as he put to task the DFA to make an accounting of those Filipinos languishing in jail
or facing legal woes.
“I hope that Mary Jane’s repatriation is only the first of many Filipinos similarly situated in various parts of the world,” Escudero said, noting that Veloso’s return proved that “President Marcos and his government truly care for Filipinos who are in foreign lands and away from their families.”
In all instances, Escudero said “the State should make the Filipinos in distress overseas feel “the long arm of government to protect and shield them whenever they need help.”
He added that the DFA, through its foreign missions, “should work alongside the Department of Mi -
grant Workers (DMW) whenever they are alerted about cases of Filipinos facing legal troubles overseas.”
“They should determine the nature of the cases against them. What has been or can be done to help them regain their liberty... and assist them to make their detention more bearable.”
Escudero added that “part of the government assistance should also include checking on the families of the affected Filipinos to see “if they are alright and how we can help them visit and see their loved ones deprived of liberty abroad.”
The Senate President added: “If necessary...the government should explore and push for treaties with more countries that would allow Filipinos convicted in foreign courts to serve their sentences in the Philippines “so that they can be closer to their loved ones.”
After spending more than 14 years in prison in Indonesia for drug trafficking, Veloso has returned home after the Marcos administration successfully negotiated for her release and transfer to Philippine authorities. Veloso had been sentenced to death, but she was spared from execution after the late former President Benigno Aquino III made a personal appeal with his Indonesian counterpart. Butch Fernandez
Time BusinessMirror Our
104-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor honors fallen heroes with a salute
PBy Audrey Mcavoy The Associated Press
EARL HARBOR, Hawaii—Ira
“Ike” Schab, a 104-year-old Pearl Harbor attack survivor, was so determined to stand and salute during a remembrance ceremony honoring those killed in the Japanese bombing that thrust the US into World War II some 83 years ago that he spent six weeks in physical therapy to build the strength to do so.
On Saturday, Schab gingerly rose from his wheelchair and raised his right hand, returning a salute delivered by sailors on a destroyer and a submarine passing by in the harbor. His son and a daughter supported him from either side.
“I was honored to do it. I’m glad I was capable of standing up,” he said afterward.
“I’m getting old, you know.” Schab is one of only two servicemen who lived through the attack who made it to an annual observance hosted by the US Navy and National Park Service on a grass field overlooking the harbor.
A third survivor had been planning to join them but had to cancel because of health issues.
The December 7, 1941, bombing killed more than 2,300 US servicemen. Nearly half, or 1,177, were sailors and Marines on board the USS Arizona, which sank during the battle. The remains of more than 900 Arizona crewmembers are still entombed on the submerged vessel.
Dozens of survivors once joined the event but their attendance has declined as survivors have aged. Today there are only 16 still living, according to a list maintained by Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.
Military historian J. Michael Wenger has estimated there were some 87,000 military personnel on Oahu on the day of the attack.
Schab agreed when ceremony organizers asked him earlier this year to salute on behalf of all survivors and World War II veterans.
“He’s been working hard, because this is his goal,” said his daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs, who traveled to Hawaii with Schab from their Beaverton, Oregon, home. “He wanted to be able to stand for that.” Schab was a sailor on the USS Dobbin at the time of the attack, serving as the tuba player in the ship’s band. He had showered and put on a clean uniform when he heard the call for a fire
rescue party. He hurried topside to see Japanese planes flying overhead and the USS Utah capsizing. He quickly went back below deck to join a daisy chain of sailors feeding shells to an anti-aircraft gun topside.
Ken Stevens, 102, who served on the USS Whitney, joined Schab at the ceremony. USS Curtiss sailor Bob Fernandez, 100, was unable to come due to health issues.
Attendees observed a moment of silence at 7:54 a.m., the same time the attack began eight decades ago. F-22 jets in missing man formation flew overhead shortly after.
Fernandez, speaking in a phone interview from California, where he lives with his nephew in Lodi, recalled feeling shocked and surprised as the attack began.
“When those things go off like that, we didn’t know what’s what,” Fernandez said. “We didn’t even know we were in a war.”
Fernandez was a mess cook on the Curtiss and his job that morning was to bring sailors coffee and food as he waited tables during breakfast. Then they heard an alarm sound. Through a porthole, Fernandez saw a plane with the red ball insignia painted on Japanese aircraft fly by.
Fernandez rushed down three decks to a magazine room where he and other sailors waited for someone to unlock a door storing 5-inch (12.7-centimeter), 38-caliber shells so they could begin passing them to the ship’s guns.
He has told interviewers over the years that some of his fellow sailors were praying and crying as they heard gunfire up above.
“I felt kind of scared because I didn’t know what the hell was going on,” Fernandez said.
The ship’s guns hit a Japanese plane that crashed into one of its cranes. Shortly after, its guns hit a dive-bomber that then slammed into the ship and exploded below deck, setting the hangar and main decks on fire, according to the Navy History and Heritage Command. Fernandez’s ship, the Curtiss, lost 21 men and nearly 60 of its sailors were injured.
Many laud Pearl Harbor survivors as heroes, but Fernandez doesn’t view himself that way.
“I’m not a hero,” he said. “I’m just nothing but an ammunition passer.” Associated Press journalist Terry Chea contributed from Lodi, California.
Davao CHO rolls out free pneumonia, flu vaccination
DBy Che Palicte
AVAO CITY—The City Health Office (CHO) has started providing free vaccines for influenza and pneumonia at local health centers, prioritizing senior citizens, individuals with comorbidities, and front-liners. CHO head Dr. Tomas Ababon encouraged residents to visit their nearest health centers for vaccination schedules. While the influenza vaccine is available for residents aged 18 and above, priority is being given to highrisk groups. Pneumococcal vaccines are limited to senior citizens due to
Swift rollout of Expanded Centenarians Act urged
By Wilnard Bacelonia
Senator ramon revilla Jr. on Wednesday urged the national Commission of Senior Citizens (nCSC) to ensure the implementation of republic act 11982 or the expanded Centenarians act by January 2025.
Under the law, elderlies will receive P10,000 upon reaching the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95 which should be claimed from NCSC within one year after reaching the milestone age.
Centenarians, or those who reach 100 years old after the law takes effect, will continue to receive a onetime cash gift of P100,000.
“The NCSC must not fail to implement this immediately. I trust they won’t disappoint our lolos (grandfathers) and lolas (grandmothers) who have been waiting for this since March,” Revilla said in a news release.
“We ensured funding for this in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or the 2025 National Budget. I coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management to secure the funds. Now, it’s up to the NCSC to implement it and make sure no senior is left behind,” he said.
The senator noted that approxi-
Don’t
Arestricted supply. “The vaccines will also be available for city government employees at Osmeña Park from Dec. 18 to 20. We will cater to walk-ins from the priority groups, distributing vaccines while supplies last,” Ababon said in a statement through the City Information Office on Thursday. The city received 2,900 vials of influenza vaccines for distribution. Ababon emphasized that flu vaccines are the best protection against influenza, which can cause severe complications for certain groups. Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against bacteria that cause pneumococcal diseases, he added. PNA
mately 200,000 senior citizens stand to benefit from the law.
Early this month, the NCSC announced that senior citizens who turned 80, 85, 90, or 95 from March 17, 2024, or when RA 11982 became effective, until Dec. 31, 2024 may start their application.
However, their names would still be placed on the waiting list until the funds are released next year.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier said thousands of elderly overseas Filipino workers stand to benefit from the Expanded Centenarian Act, which will be fully implemented in 2025.
The agency expects an efficient distribution of benefits through the Elder Living System, a program designed to address the needs of thousands of elderly OFWs and their families.
DMW Undersecretary Dominique
Tutay and Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi signed the 2024 Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 in Quezon City on Nov. 27, alongside the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and several government departments including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Commission on Overseas Filipinos.
The JMC establishes guidelines for providing benefits to Filipino octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians as per RA 11982, which amends RA 10868 (Centenarian Act of 2016).
The Elderly Data Management System, a digital tool, will help facilitate the distribution of the benefits, ensuring that qualified senior citizens, especially those living abroad, receive assistance efficiently and transparently.
The DMW has prioritized senior OFWs in its 10-Point Agenda, pledging to develop specialized programs that tackle the unique challenges faced by elderly migrant workers. The DMW also stated it will collaborate closely with the NCSC and other agencies to ensure the successful worldwide rollout of the Expanded Centenarians Act. PNA
let your old body drag down your spirit
much beauty exists in the ordinary world around you that bring joy into your life. But we must be now more attentive to see them.
By Nick Tayag
FTER a few days in a foreign land, a husband and wife in their 70s are at an impasse. The husband wants to walk at a slower pace because he’s got severe knee arthritis and a weak heart. But the wife is worried because there were so many sights yet to see and their 3-day visit is almost over.
Gifted with stronger knees, she is impatient and wants to walk at a brisker pace. Breathless, the weakkneed husband finally sits down on a bench and tells his wife to go ahead. “Don’t wait for me. My spirit is willing but my poor body can’t keep up. Take my spirit with you and I’ll eventually catch up with both of you later.”
about spiritual conditioning, it’s never too late to do it. On the contrary, the older you are, the better. The spirit of love, joy, compassion, forgiveness, patience, perseverance and so on. We have it all inside us. All you need to do is to allot more time to tend to it, nourish them through
Gradually, that way you continuously expand your vision and deepen your awareness and understanding of life around you. You see the ordinary things and the routinary in a fuller perspective. As the late theologian and psychiatrist Karl Rahner said, “The spiritual life does not consist in ecstasy or exemplary conduct or visions or miracles, but in the refusal to become a subject without depth, a single plane where everything takes place.”
As for me, I don’t have a set ritual for my spiritual exercises. I use the routines that I already do and extend or transform them into a daily spiritual practice.
Beginning at 60 and most specially at 70, it’s time to quiet down your physical preoccupations and obsessions and listen to your inner voice and tend finally to your neglected and overlooked inner self.
After all, you can’t look and feel as young as you once did. Don’t be like other foolish old folks who try so hard to condition their physique even when it’s past beyond its service life. It’s a pathetic sight when I drive past a few seniors in the early morning feigning to jog for a while, but all they can do really is trot.
The remaining golden time of your life opens the way to invest in your spirit. To expand it, deepen it, enrich it. And where the spirit goes, the body will follow and catch up later. Find the time, make an effort to exercise your spirituality in the same way you used to work on your physicality. Think of it as a daily flexing of your spiritual muscles. The thing
the continuous feeding of uplifting thoughts, feelings and spiritual practices.
Spiritual conditioning doesn’t have to mean sitting in meditation or attending masses or praying the rosary or reading the bible.
Doing spirituality can be anywhere, anytime. As a beginner, just continue with your daily routine. But this time, be more attentive of the moment and what you’re doing. Zen Buddhists call this “mindfulness.”
When you encounter or experience the everyday and the ordinary, do it with a deeper awareness. Reflect on what you see and how you feel. The music I am now hearing, why am I moved? What is it telling me, the listener? Take notice of the small details as you go through your day. The smell and taste of the fresh coffee you’re sipping, the chip on the edge of your favorite mug, the way the sun shines through the trees and so on.
You might be surprised at how
For example, in mid-morning, I usually take out the wet garbage and bury it in our small backyard, which to me helps fertilize the soil. This gives me the opportunity to be outside under the sun for 10 to 15 minutes to do some light nature observation and contemplation and do the practice of reverence for and communion with creation. I greet the plants, talk to them, touch their leaves, allow the energy to flow through me (particularly when I feel tired or depleted). When I get back into our house, I feel uplifted and ready to welcome whatever the day will bring.
A meal is also an occasion for spiritual practice to help connect me to the living earth and practice the spirit of gratitude for what the land provides as well as for the people who have given their time and effort to bring it to your table. I don’t just eat with abandon. I chew each bite and savor it with my senses.
When I read a book, or watch a movie, or talk to a friend or colleague, I listen intently to phrases, sentences, or snatches of dialogue that can give me something to reflect on or an insight or little epiphany to be unlocked. I also find myself preferring to converse with people who are called “old souls,” persons who are not frivolous or shallow by nature,
who share my interest in life’s deeper more meaningful matters.
If you want to read spirit-enriching books, expand your reading beyond the bible. Savor the spiritual verses of Rumi, Hafiz, Kabir, Meister Eckhart and other ecstatic poets. Commune with them and their reverence for the mysteries of life. Their writings are truly elevating and uplifting.
Here’s a valuable tip. Invest time in the arts. When I was in San Francisco, California a few years ago, I was tired and bored at seeing super highways and skycrapers, and the usual tourist destinations. I was also physically drained. Then we happened to pass by an art museum. It was exhibiting works by Claude Monet, the French painter. Seeing those paintings reinvigorated my spirit. Art can startle our senses, ignite the mind, take our breath away, and move us on an inner level. Works created by talented artists have the power to “touch our very soul.” So find the time to visit an art museum, attend a music concert, watch an award-winning movie. Create what is called “sacred space” for yourself where you can have your private intimate conversations with that Divine Being. This could be your “altar” that can be a center of your spiritual practice and can provide a sense of transcendence—being connected to something greater than oneself in complete peace and contentment. But what does it all mean to your old tired body? A fully active spirit will re-energize your body cells and enable blood to flow again through your capillaries to awaken cells in formerly unreached parts of your body. Eventually your tired worn out body will be able catch up and feel renewed and reinvigorated but in a disciplined way.
Most of all, a richer spiritual life will give us the serenity at the edge of life. It will help us know how to live gracefully and embrace the inevitable physical pain and hardships that old age brings, without losing hope and faith, resting in the warm embrace of Divine grace.
Pearl Harbor survivors, Ken Stevens, 102, of Powers, Ore., second from the left, and Ira “Ike” Schab, 104, of Beaverton, Ore., wait before the start of the 83rd Pearl Harbor remembrance Day ceremony on December 7, 2024, in Honolulu. AP Photo/Mengshin Lin
a DePartment of Social Welfare and Development staff turns over P100,000 to a centenarian at the Pagudpud municipal hall in Ilocos norte on march 19, 2024. Senator ramon revilla Jr. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, urged the national Commission of Senior Citizens to ensure the implementation of republic ac t 11982 or the expanded Centenarian law by January 2025.
Photo courtesy of the PAgudPud Lgu
US donates P7.6 M in learning materials to typhoon-affected schools in Region 5
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently donated educational tools to support the learning continuity of more than 18,500 students in areas severely affected by recent typhoons in the Bicol Region.
Globe marks ‘G DAY’ with Digital Thumbprint Program school tour; promotes digital safety and ethical AI usage
REAFFIRMING its dedication to promoting digital citizenship and online safety, Globe recently organized a school tour as part of the annual “G DAY” celebration as it brought its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) to five schools nationwide.
The training workshops were held at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina, STI Caloocan, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Bintawan National High School in Nueva Vizcaya and the University of Southern Mindanao, which brought together more than 1,000 students.
The DTP is a series of capacitybuilding workshops organized by Globe that aim to empower students and communities by promoting responsible digital citizenship and raising awareness about online safety, digital discernment, cybersecurity, mental health and wellness, as well as the sustainable technology use.
The need for such programs is urgent, according to Globe in a statement. The Philippines faces significant challenges with online sexual abuse and exploitation of children or OSAEC. Exacerbated by high Internet usage, poverty rates and advanced digital technologies, the country ranked second globally in cyber tip reports on child sexual abuse, with nearly 2.8 million incidents recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2022. The International Justice Mission estimates that 1 in 100 Filipino children has been trafficked for online exploitation.
Globe’s DTP initiative empowers students, teachers and parents to proactively protect themselves and their communities from online risks, which is aligned with the telecommunications firm’s mission of creating a safer and more inclusive digital space. In 2023, it blocked more than 404,730 malicious sites and links associated with child exploitation, illegal gambling, and online piracy—a 45-percent increase from the previous year—demonstrating its continued commitment to online safety.
In light of the increasing relevance of artificial intelligence, Globe has expanded DTP to include discussions on AI ethics. LinkedIn and Microsoft’s “2024 Annual Work Trend Index” study revealed that 71 percent of employers prefer candidates with AI skills, highlighting the need for students to understand and navigate AI responsibly.
At the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina, 50 students from the College of Criminology participated
in a session designed to provide them with skills to safeguard their communities from online dangers. This training supports their future roles in public safety, especially in combating cybercrime.
Students found the DTP Learning Hour helpful in raising awareness about online security. Key takeaways included avoiding scams by verifying emails, texts and links; being cautious with public Wi-Fi; and thinking before clicking. They valued learning ways to protect personal information and stay safe online.
STI Caloocan also welcomed 50 Information Technology students who, as part of their Foundation Day celebrations, learned the importance of digital responsibility in their techdriven careers.
Meanwhile, at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 365 students from the College of Information Systems and Technology Management gained valuable insights about AI that helped them navigate the digital
world and lead with integrity.
“Educating students on digital safety is essential as they prepare for a future where technology is deeply intertwined with everyday life,” said Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto of Globe. “Through DTP, we aim to empower the youth to use technology responsibly and ethically, ensuring they are equipped for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
As part of its broader efforts, the telco also participated in the University of Southern Mindanao’s “Pasiklaban 2024,” as it enhanced festivities with a special #GDayEveryday celebration. Informative sessions on “Telco 101,” “Wi-Fi 101” and the DTP helped students gain practical knowledge about the digital world.
In another G Day highlight, Globe visited Bintawan National High School in the mountains of Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya as a gesture of appreciation for the students’ commitment to education. The visit reinforced Globe’s belief that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and dream big.
To further engage students, the telco added an exciting raffle during the DTP sessions, offering winners GFiber Prepaid plans. These provide fiber-fast connectivity without a lockup period, immediately installed at the winners’ homes to support their academic and digital activities.
For details on DTP and its advocacy for digital safety, visit www. globe.com.ph.
Canva boosts AI, workplace tools with Dream Lab and Visual Suite upgrades
ALL-IN-ONE visual-communication platform Canva recently unveiled a suite of new products and features set to transform the way people design at work and beyond. This announcement coincides with Canva reaching the major milestone of 200 million monthly active users: an increase of more than 115 million over the last two years, as the company also achieved $2.5 billion in annualized revenue.
In a statement, Canva’s latest innovations introduce exciting possibilities for smarter work, better collaboration and stunning visual content creation. The launch of Dream Lab empowers teams across all industries and professions to unlock new levels of creativity, design precision and efficiency in their work.
The company also shared that, five months since the introduction of Canva Enterprise—Canva’s subscription for large organizations—
industry leaders like the New York Stock Exchange, Atlassian, HP, Snowflake, Ray White, DHL Express, Tecnocasa, and Docusign have begun leveraging the offering to streamline their organization’s content creation and scale their brand.
As Canva’s footprint expands across workplaces, the platform is experiencing explosive growth, with more than 30 billion designs created to date—at a remarkable rate of more than 300 new designs every second. Users from more than 190 countries have also crafted more than 2.5 billion presentations and 500 million documents.
Additionally, usage of Canva’s AI tools has skyrocketed, with more than 10 billion uses to date.
“We’re incredibly excited to now be empowering more than 200 million people in nearly every country across the globe. From over 95 percent of the Fortune 500 to millions
of small businesses, classrooms and nonprofits, it’s certainly an exciting milestone but we feel we’re still just 1 percent of the way there,” said Melanie Perkins, Canva’s cofounder and CEO.
“As we double down on empowering everyone to turn their ideas into designs, we’re introducing dozens of new features across our ‘Visual Suite’ at the intersection of creativity and productivity,” Perkins added. “From more interactive designs to a suite of AI-powered upgrades, we hope these new features help our community to continue achieving their goals.”
Dream Lab
THREE months on from Canva’s acquisition of Leonardo.Ai, the firm has introduced “Dream Lab:” a powerful generative AI tool designed to transform any idea from a simple text description into dynamic and highly dynamic photos
and graphics.
Powered by Leonardo.AI’s advanced Phoenix foundational model, Dream Lab supercharges Canva’s AI image generation capabilities with tools that effortlessly turn a kernel of an idea into a spectacularly vibrant output in unprecedented ways.
Users can generate multiple variations in more than 15 different styles that include 3D renders and illustrations; use an existing image as a style reference to precisely influence the output; unlocking possibilities like generating stock photos for a company’s style; as well as create complex multi-subject images and photorealistic portraits.
At the same time, Canva is reaffirming its commitment to safe and responsible AI use by ensuring Dream Lab is backed by Canva Shield: the company’s rigorous and industry-leading approach to AI trust and safety.
According
“We recognize that education is not just a means of learning, but a lifeline that helps restore hope and builds resilience,” Acting Education Office Director Yvette Malcioln of USAID Philippines said. “We hope that these resources will help students and teachers recover and ensure that education can continue despite disruptions to learning caused by recent disasters.”
The aid package includes 18,600 learner kits and 8,884 early-grade reading materials that will help guarantee learning continuity for students in Kindergarten through Grade 3. The US agency also donated 528 teacher kits that will support teaching staff across 54 affected schools in the region.
“DepEd faced a challenge in printing textbooks. USAID and the ABC+ project came to our aid by providing us with materials and books for the children. They did not skimp on the quality of their materials and their assistance to us,” Angara said. “We are grateful to USAID and the ABC+ project.”
AIM confers honorary Doctorate in Mngt degree on DMCI chair-president
THE Asian Institute of Management (AIM) proudly conferred a Doctorate in Management honorary degree on Dr. Isidro A. Consunji, who is the chair and president of DMCI Holdings Inc. (DMCI).
The conferment ceremony was held on December 8 during the AIM graduation rites at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Dr. Consunji has cemented his legacy as a decisive leader who steered DMCI from its roots in construction to becoming a multifaceted business empire. With over four decades of experience, he has reshaped the construction, mining and power industries, while driving progress and ingenuity at every turn.
Known for his meticulous attention to detail and pursuit of excellence, he has built a career rooted in a passion for construction that has fueled his growth. His time at the institute strengthened his business foundation, complemented by advanced leadership training at the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He also earned a Civil Engineering degree from the University of the Philippines.
In his commencement speech, Dr. Consunji attributed his success to lessons learned at AIM: “[It] gave me the tools to think beyond operations, equipping me with the confidence to make decisions that would change the course of my career.”
Looking back, he admitted that the institute was not merely a stepping stone; it was the cornerstone of his growth, both professionally and personally.
With his forward-thinking approach, Dr. Consunji has positioned DMCI into becoming one of the Philippines’ most prominent and diversified conglomerates, achieving blue-chip status with a market capitalization of P240 billion.
Under his guidance, DMCI has thrived in key sectors and set the benchmark for innovation and operational excellence. His ability to lead through times of change and inspire growth at every level of the organization is his career’s hallmark.
Beyond his business acumen, Dr. Consunji is an ardent advocate for corporate social responsibility and sustainability. His dedication to nation-building is reflected in the business’ efforts, such as providing affordable housing and championing eco-friendly construction practices. His leadership also extends to disaster-relief initiatives and partnerships with the government on key infrastructure projects, ensuring his legacy of creating lasting and positive change that goes far beyond the boardroom.
In 2022, the Management Association of the Philippines cited his exceptional contributions to the business community by naming him “Management Man of the Year.” The accolade, along with his recognition as “Asia’s Best CEO” by Corporate Governance Asia at the 2023 and 2024 Asian Excellence Awards, reflects his profound influence in the corporate world, while shaping a future where businesses thrive responsibly and sustainably.
“Dr. Isidro Consunji’s remarkable journey of resilience and foresight sets an inspiring example for future business leaders,” said AIM president and dean Jikyeong Kang PhD. “At AIM, we celebrate his exemplary leadership and share his belief in the transformative power of education to drive positive change.”
The DMCI leader had this to say to the graduating class of 2024: “Growth happens when you challenge yourself to see things from a new perspective. Step out of your comfort zone.”
He also emphasized the importance of embracing ongoing trials: “Challenges never end. Embrace them.”
As he closed his speech, Dr. Consunji revealed his “magic potion” for success: ideas, hard work, teamwork, friends, good values, and a bit of luck. “There is nothing wrong with being the right person at the right time, in the right place.” He encouraged the graduates to use this recipe to make a difference not just for their own communities, but for their country: “Business at its core is a…very powerful tool. It can solve problems, create opportunities, alleviate poverty, and leave the world better than we found it.”
For AIM, the honorary degree of Doctorate in Management recognizes Dr. Isidro Consunji’s journey, defined by vision, perseverance, and a deep commitment to building a thriving business and a better society. The institute said it honors his exceptional leadership and enduring impact on the national economy, underpinned by his belief in education as the catalyst for progress and sustainable success.
THE Globe team with Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina students at a recent DTP session
AIM’S Dr. Jikyeong Kang and DMCI’s Dr. Isidro Consunji
Tourism&Entertainment
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
NEVER A DULL MOMENT
Why Luang Prabang is now a preferred SEA destination Part 1
THE warm sun glistening on Mekong and Nam Kan rivers with fishermen in their sampans and birds chirping, a freshly-made croissant with a mug of fresh-brewed coffee, and the smell of Laotian coffee beans roasting in the air makes for in idyllic, languid morning. That is what waking up in Luang Prabang is like almost every single day.
Laos is slowly becoming a highly recommended travel destination. From January to September 2024—much of which are the so-called lean and shoulder months, Luang Prabang welcome over 1.5 million tourists—this writer included. The former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 for its combination of traditional Lao-French architecture and Theravada Buddhist structures set amidst natural landscapes. Since then, it has become a symbol of cultural and architectural preservation in Laos. The building code in Luang Prabang is so strict that efforts are made to preserve edifices and even new construction must adhere to existing design elements. There are no busy urban areas, no skyscrapers—or anything taller than four floors or that matter (except for temples in elevated areas).
Award-winning journalist Abner Mercado—
who incidentally just launched his very own adventure travel company, fell in love with Luang Prabang. His travels inspired me to go on my solo, DIY trip to Laos—guided by his hacks and contacts. Luang Prabang is not a vibrant, bustling place. Rather, it’s quiet and tranquil—a place time seems to have left behind with just enough of the modern amenities for convenience and comfort. While nary a beach in sight, Luang Prabang offers much in its lush forests, heritage, history and culture. The town may be different from other destinations in Southeast Asia, but it is certainly not boring or dull.
What to do or see? Read on: Find solace, silence, sights and sounds in the temples AS a regional hub for Theravada Buddhism, Luang Prabang is a perfect place for reflection and introspection. Buddhism continues to be part of the daily fabric of life in Luang Prabang. Families
is one of the
continue to send their sons to become monks in one of hundreds of temples. There’s a temple every few hundred meters—most of which you can freely visit and stay as long as you like. Many of the monks are friendly and welcome the opportunity to converse in English with travelers.
During my stay, I found that resting after a long walk and even chilling with a tall glass of iced coffee while reading a book inside temple grounds was always a pleasant experience. It’s quiet, peaceful and you can hear yourself think. It’s part of the charm of the slow life in Luang Prabang.
Curating a must-see list among the hundreds of temples is necessary. You don’t want to get temple fatigue and miss out on seeing sights that enrich what we only read about in Asian history. Staying in a modest but charming villa across the Mekong River recommended by Abner allowed me to visit most of the temples either by walking or taking a short tuktuk ride. The majestic Wat Xieng Thong is less than a thousand steps away from where I stayed. Built in the 16th century, the temple is one of the highest symbols of Buddhism—which is why it was always spared from being sacked and wrecked even when
Laos was invaded. The main hall’s façade has an elaborate tree of life mosaic and intricately carved walls adorned with sparkling gold patterns. There are murals and reliefs showing Buddha’s life, the Jataka tales, and even Hindu gods.
Wat Visounarath is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple—dating back to the 1500s. Though further away from the old town, it is worth seeing the unique That Mak Mo (watermelon stupa).
A t night, the monks residing at Wat Sensoukharam gather at the temple’s viharn to pray. It’s mesmerizing to hear them, even if you can’t understand the lines. Located in the center of Luang Prabang old town, the temple was built in 1718 and is believed to have been made with 100,000 stones from the Mekong River. The chapels and surrounding areas are lit to showcase its intricacies—including the grandeur of the golden standing Buddha statue.
Serve in Sai Bat
SAI BAT describes the action of giving offerings to the monks. It’s a practice deeply steeped in the Laotian Buddhist faith. Devotees give food— typically rice, packed cooked meals, fruits and
PALAWAN SETS SAIL
By John Eiron R. Francisco
snack items, to hundreds of monks living in the temple’s monasteries. The ceremony begins before sunrise. It’s a deeply moving, wondrous sight to behold and experience.
Just note that while tourists are allowed to participate, the Sai Bat is a religious ceremony. Appropriate attire, conduct, decorum and silence must be observed. Unfortunately, some of the devotees lamented that not all tourists are conscious of this. And indeed, after I gave my offerings to the monks and quietly observed and took photos of devotees and monks in queue to receive the offerings, a big group of tourists from neighboring mainland China arrived their loud voices grating to the ear. I couldn’t stand the noise so with the very limited Mandarin I know, I calmly but firmly asked the group to keep quiet and respect the Sai Bat.
Chase the sunset (or sunrise)
WHETHER you book a dinner cruise package or hire your own sampan just for the ride, cruising along the historic Mekong River is a must-try experience. The fresh breeze, calm waters and the golden hues of the sun make for a relaxing treat.
A FUSION of chinoise, Lao-French architecture and Theravada Buddhist elements so well-preserved make Luang Prabang a world heritage wonder
THE "watermelon" stupa of Wat Visounarath EVENING prayers with the monks at Wat Sensoukharam
THE Sai Bat, or alms-giving is a deeply religious tradition in Luang Prabang
SUNSET from the Mekong River
BUILT in the 16th century, Wat Xieng Thing
highest symbols of Buddhism
Parents seek more protection for kids from harmful online content, said Accenture
THE internet is not a safe place for children and in 2025, more and more parents will realize this.
“Parents have started restricting their children from using gadgets, interacting, or making transactions online,” said Accenture in its Life Trends 2025 report.
According to Accenture’s report, those aged 18-24 are more than twice as likely as those over 55 to say social media impacts their identity. About two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennials said they’re spending more time online than they would like to (67 percent and 64 percent, respectively).
The report sees the return of candy bar phones, with the likes of Nokia 3210, which allows children to communicate with their parents and guardians but not have access to social media platforms and communication apps.
“A ‘back to the future’ shift in marketing can be expected, with an even mix of digital and offline strategies to reach parents and children,” said the Accenture report.
The report stated: “For adults, the convenience [bundling every possible facility into a single device] is valuable, but this is neither required nor desirable for children. Most parents want their children to be locatable, contactable and sociable, and able to pay for things while they develop their independence. Unbundling everything else will be a challenge, because of the dominance of smartphones in the market and their integration into all parts of people’s lives.
“We believe it’s reasonable to expect a societal shift toward banning smartphones for the under-14s [possibly the under-16s] on a local and maybe even global scale. Any business that targets children and teens will feel the impact, including social media, technology platforms, technology hardware, telcos, banks, fast-moving consumer goods [especially food and drinks], hospitality and media,” said Accenture. Parents being suspicious of their minor children’s
THIS season, how about gifting your home with the coolest new gadget that will keep you connected at 5G speeds while perfectly complementing your interiors?
Globe At Home is taking home
online access and activities is one of five macroconsumer trends forecasting the changing dynamic between technology and users identified by Accenture in its Life Trends 2025 report. Called The Parent Trap, this trend is about parents facing the challenge of helping the next generation (their children) have a healthy relationship with digital technology.
“As new technologies, including generative AI, reshape everyday experiences, people are adapting their interactions to maintain control,” said Nick Law, creative chairman, Accenture Song. “Today, online trust is a critical issue, with everyone becoming more discerning about what they see and believe. Naturally, this shift is influencing how customers engage with businesses vying for their attention.”
The insights crowdsourced from around the globe helped Accenture Song, a tech-powered creative group.
The other Life Trends 2025 are:
■ Cost of hesitations. People’s trust in online platforms is being challenged by scams and generative AI is even making them more confused. About 33 percent of people reported deep-fake attacks or scams in the past year.
According to Accenture, over half of people these days question the authenticity of online content. This has affected their online shopping habits and brand interactions.
■ Impatience economy. Last year’s Decade
your home
connectivity to the next level with the launch of its groundbreaking 5G WiFi using wireless technology.
Designed to deliver high-speed internet without the hassle of wires or complicated installations, this innovative device is perfect for busy professionals, streaming enthusiasts, and anyone in need of reliable connectivity at home.
■ NO WIRES, NO WORRIES. The 5G WiFi device offers fast internet connectivity without requiring messy wires or permanent setups. Simply plug it in, turn it on, and enjoy instant connectivity.
Ideal for renters, students, and those in temporary living spaces, the geolocked device ensures consistent and reliable service within its coverage area.
Plus, with its sleek and modern design, the modem seamlessly complements any home interior,
of Deconstruction trend showed how goals and priorities are changing. According to Accenture, three out of four consumers said they wish companies would respond faster to their changing needs. Over half of people want quick answers and guidance and turn to crowd-sourced information for faster results. Influencers who were once focused on style, travel, and music now include life, wealth and happiness in their content.
■ The dignity of work. Three out of four people find generative AI tools helpful because it makes work more efficient (44 percent) and improves the quality of work (38 percent). However, some are concerned generative AI limits creativity (14 percent), makes work more transactional (15 percent), and creates anxiety about job security (11 percent).
“As generative AI enters the workplace, dignity needs to be factored into new expectations around how people will work with the technology. Leaders must foster motivation and agency, as they are key to producing high-quality work,” said the Accenture report.
■ Social rewilding. The Accenture report showed 42 percent of people attributed their most enjoyable experience in the past week to something they did in real life. In contrast, only 15 percent noted a digital experience.
According to Accenture, this reflects “a renewed desire to reconnect with nature and each other, people seeking balance between technology and moments of joy and well-being.”
“The relationship between humans and technology is undeniably shifting, and increasingly complex,” said David Droga, CEO of Accenture Song. “While embracing new technologies to drive growth and relevance, we cannot deprioritize or outsource trust and humanity.”
To read this year’s Accenture Life Trends 2025 report, check out www.accenture.com/LifeTrends2025 or explore the findings in Accenture’s thought leadership app Accenture Foresight. ■
adding a touch of sophistication to your space.
■ SMART SUPPORT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. With its user-friendly LCD display, the 5G WiFi modem makes troubleshooting as simple as a tap. Check your signal strength, optimize your connection, and access one-click support directly from the device.
■ SHARE THE CONNECTION, NOT THE PASSWORD. Forget the hassle of long, complicated passwords. The 5G WiFi modem lets users scan a QR code directly from its LCD screen to connect securely and effortlessly. Perfect for hosting guests or family gatherings, this feature simplifies sharing without compromising security.
■ RISK-FREE, STRESS-FREE. To ensure customer satisfaction, Globe At Home offers a money-back guarantee. Try the 5G WiFi for seven days and,
if you’re not completely satisfied, return the modem in good condition to receive a full refund.
■ HOLIDAY OFFER ALERT. As a special holiday treat, Globe At Home is offering up to 250GB of data for 30 days at just P899. This limited-time deal is the perfect gift for anyone looking to enhance their internet experience.
“Globe At Home’s 5G WiFi is designed to adapt to the evolving needs of our customers, providing innovative solutions that fit modern lifestyles. Whether you’re streaming, or working from home, this device offers unparalleled convenience and performance. Plus, it’s easy on the eyes, making it a tasteful addition to your living space,” said Abigail Cardino, vice president and head of brand management for Globe At Home. More information is available at www.globe. com.ph.
Sonar launches products to help in safe adoption of AI
CLEAN code solution provider Sonar recently launched the Sonar AI Code Assurance and Sonar AI CodeFix, two new product capabilities to help organizations accelerate the safe adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in software development
Tariq Shaukat, CEO of Sonar, said the new capabilities reinforces the company’s commitment to improving the developer experience and increasing developer productivity to support the delivery of better code.
He said the AI Code Assurance helps organizations ensure the quality of AI-generated code by thoroughly analyzing the codebase for issues, ensuring that projects using AI tools to generate code meet high standards of quality and security.
With AI CodeFix, Shaukat said Sonar users can now detect and fix issues in their code with the click of a button in the same workflow they use today. The features are currently available for both SonarQube and SonarCloud.
“AI is transforming the way developers work, streamlining processes and enabling prioritization of complex tasks. As the adoption of AI coding assistants grows, however, we are seeing a new issue emerge: a crisis of accountability over the quality and security of AI-generated code. Developers feel disconnected from the code that’s written by these assistants, leaving gaps in review and testing,” said Shaukat in a press statement.
“With these new capabilities, we are evolving the way developers and organizations address issues, instilling ownership of code, whether it’s AIgenerated or written by human developers.” Organizations and developers alike are excited about the benefits of AI assistants—improved productivity, faster development cycles, and more. According to Gartner, 75 percent of enterprise software engineers are expected to use AI code assistants by 2028. With this increased speed of code development comes an increased risk of bad code seeping into codebases. Today, bad code is already estimated to cost businesses more than a trillion dollars.
“AI can’t replace human critical thinking or review completely. Who, or what, writes code is changing but ensuring quality, security and effectiveness of code will still be the core responsibility of a software engineering team,” said Fabrice Bellingard, Vice president of product at Sonar.
“Through AI Code Assurance, developer confidence in the quality of the code improves, and trust in the ownership of the code increases. Working in parallel, AI CodeFix improves the developer experience and accelerates productivity by streamlining the identification of code issues and recommended fixes.”
With AI Code Assurance for SonarQube and SonarCloud, Shaukat assured developers that they can be confident that their AI-generated code is clean and secure. By implementing the Sonar AI Code Assurance workflow, organizations have the assurance that all code (AI-generated and humandeveloped) have been thoroughly scanned for issues. This new feature provides developers with certainty that the projects where they are leveraging AI tools to generate code are meeting high standards of quality and security.
Clean code is software code that is easy to read, understand and maintain. It’s written with clarity, simplicity and efficiency, enabling a pleasurable working experience for both the original developer and those who come after.
Coolest new gadget for
BusinessMirror
Sound that speaks to you: Unwrap personal audio bliss
LAST week, we kicked off our gift guide with a spotlight on audio solutions that elevate home aesthetics and listening experiences.
This week, we’re taking it to the next level by focusing on more personal audio picks. From immersive earbuds designed for daily commutes to portable speakers perfect for spontaneous adventures, and innovative gadgets that blend style with cuttingedge technology, we’ve curated a selection that delivers exceptional sound and functionality. Our featured brand? JBL—the name synonymous with audio excellence.
Why JBL? Over the course of the year, we’ve put countless audio brands to the test, and JBL consistently stands out for its combination of sound quality, innovative features, and value for money. Their iconic PartyBox series, for instance, has inspired a wave of imitators, but as the saying goes, nothing beats the original. JBL continues to set the standard in the audio world, offering products that are stylish, durable and uncompromising in performance.
In this second part of our guide, we’re diving into JBL’s impressive lineup of audio devices. From sleek earbuds to party-ready speakers, their range is designed to suit every personality and occasion. Whether you’re shopping for a tech-savvy audiophile, a party enthusiast, or someone who simply enjoys great sound, this guide ensures every recipient unwraps a gift that brings a smile to their face and music to their ears.
■ FOR THE TRAVELING AUDIOPHILE: JBL TOUR PRO 3. Perfect for jet-setters, tech-savvy commuters, and remote workers, the JBL Tour Pro 3 redefines what personal audio can do for the modern traveler.
The Smart Charging Case features a 1.57-inch touchscreen that allows users to control their music, check notifications, and adjust settings without ever needing to take out their phone. But what makes this charging case truly smart is its wireless audio transmission capability. The earbuds can connect directly to in-flight entertainment systems, TVs and PCs using included AUX or USB-C cables, making them ideal for frequent flyers. Additionally, the
inclusion of Auracast technology transforms shared listening by allowing users to broadcast their audio to nearby devices effortlessly. This means you can watch a movie or listen to music with a travel companion without needing to pass an earbud back and forth.
The JBL Tour Pro 3 also delivers incredible sound quality, thanks to JBL Spatial 360 Sound and hybrid dual drivers. With Real-Time True Adaptive Noise Cancelling, these earbuds block out ambient noise.
■ FOR THE PARTY HOST WITH THE MOST: JBL PARTYBOX CLUB 120, PARTYBOX STAGE 320. If you’re shopping for someone who loves to entertain, look no further than JBL’s PartyBox lineup. The PartyBox Club 120 and PartyBox Stage 320 are premium party speakers designed to transform any gathering into an unforgettable event. Adding to their appeal, the sleek new white color variant elevates these speakers into design statements, making them as much about style as they are about sound.
The PartyBox Stage 320, in particular delivers that JBL Pro Sound with deep bass and crystal-clear audio capable of filling any space. With adaptive lightshows that sync to the music, this speaker creates a sensory experience that will captivate any audience. It has an impressive 18-hour battery life.
For smaller gatherings, the PartyBox Club 120 offers a more compact yet equally impactful option. It boasts a 12-hour battery life and the same dynamic lightshow features, ensuring every party is vibrant and energetic.
■ FOR THE FUN-LOVING ADVENTURER: JBL BOOMBOX 3. For the person who believes music should go wherever they do, the JBL Boombox 3 is the ultimate gift. This portable powerhouse takes sound quality and durability to the next level, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and on-the-go party lovers alike. Featuring upgraded JBL Original Pro Sound, the Boombox 3 delivers deeper bass, sharper clarity, and lower distortion, all wrapped up in a rugged design that’s built to last. The metal handle and IP67 rating for dust and water resistance ensure this speaker can handle the elements, whether it’s at the beach, by the pool, or on a camping trip. It has an impressive 24-hour battery life.
■ FOR THE MULTITASKER ON THE MOVE: JBL SOUNDGEAR SENSE. The JBL Soundgear Sense is a good choice for anyone who wants exceptional sound without losing touch with their surroundings. Featuring JBL OpenSound technology, these innovative open-ear headphones provide clear, immersive audio while keeping you aware of ambient noise—ideal for multitaskers, fitness enthusiasts, and commuters.
Unlike traditional earbuds, the Soundgear Sense rests just outside the ear, offering a secure, lightweight fit with flexible hooks for stability during
activities like running or cycling. Its open-ear design delivers JBL’s signature sound with deep bass and crisp highs, ensuring music, calls and podcasts sound incredible without isolating you from the world. With intuitive touch controls for calls, music, and volume, plus dual microphones for clear voice quality, the Soundgear Sense is as functional as it is stylish. A 10-hour battery life and quick-charge feature make it a reliable companion for busy days.
■ FOR EVERYDAY LISTENERS: JBL’S TUNE AND WAVE SERIES. High-quality sound in a compact, stylish package and more affordable prices. The Tune Series, including the Tune Beam 2, Tune Buds 2 and Tune Flex 2, is designed for everyday use. With Adaptive Noise Cancelling and Smart Ambient technology, these earbuds allow users to fully immerse in their audio or stay aware of their surroundings. The Personi-Fi 3.0 technology, accessible through the JBL Headphones app, ensures customizable sound to suit every preference.
The Wave Series, featuring the Wave Flex 2, Wave Beam 2 and Wave Buds 2, is designed for those who live active lifestyles. These earbuds offer JBL Pure Bass Sound, ergonomic designs for all-day comfort, and seamless switching between up to eight Bluetooth devices. With up to 40 hours of battery life, they are the ideal companion for workouts, commutes, or casual listening. These series make thoughtful gifts for students, professionals, or anyone who appreciates reliable, stylish audio gear.
■ FOR THE FASHION-FORWARD TECHIE: JBL SOUNDGEAR FRAMES. One of my favorite devices of 2024, the JBL Soundgear Frames are the are the perfect fusion of fashion and functionality. These innovative audio glasses feature ultra-thin speakers embedded in their frames, offering a unique way to enjoy music while staying aware of your surroundings. Available in three translucent colors and two chic designs, they’re as stylish as they are practical. The frames are prescription-lens ready, ensuring they fit seamlessly into the wearer’s lifestyle. With intuitive touch controls and JBL OpenSound Technology, users can manage music and calls effortlessly. The frames power on when opened and switch off when closed, adding a touch of convenience to their sleek design. Perfect for multitasking or outdoor adventures, the Soundgear Frames are a standout gift for trendsetters and tech enthusiasts alike. Wrap-Up: This holiday season, gift more than just tech—gift experiences that resonate. Whether it’s unforgettable parties or personal audio that inspires, JBL has something for everyone. Make your celebrations even brighter by exploring these products at JBL.com, Lazada, Shopee, or in JBL stores near you. ■
RAKUTEN VIBER SUPERAPP, SMART PARTNER
LEADING communications app Rakuten Viber and mobile services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) are spreading some early
Embarrassing night for Curry, Warriors
MEMPHIS, Tennessee— Stephen Curry had a game like none other in his career.
It was part of an awful night for the Golden State Warriors.
Curry didn’t make a shot from the field in his 24 minutes—the first time he’s played that many minutes without a basket in his 16-year career—and the Warriors fell behind by 57 points in what became a 144-93 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.
We ran into a buzz saw,” Curry said. “We obviously know we are better than that. I’ve got to be better than that.”
The 51-point final margin and 57-point deficit were both the largest in the National Basketball Association (NBA) this season.
“ You lose by 51, that’s humbling,” coach Steve Kerr said after his team, which started the season 12-3, lost for the ninth time in its last 11 games.
Curry was 0 for 7, missing all six of his tries from three-point range. It was only the fifth time in Curry’s career that he’d taken a shot in a game and not registered a field goal— he was 0 for 1 once, 0 for 2 once, 0 for 3 once and 0 for 4 once.
He’s one of the toughest covers in the history of the NBA,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.
Not on Thursday, however.
That was embarrassing,” Curry said.
It was only the fifth time in Warriors history that they lost a regular-season game by more than 50 points. Of those, three have come in the last five years—by 53 to Toronto at Tampa, Florida in 2021, by 52 at Boston on March 3 and Thursday’s 51-point loss.
The franchise regular-season
record is a 63-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. The Philadelphia Warriors lost by 51 at Boston in 1962.
“ It wasn’t any of our nights,” Kerr said. “Including mine.”
C urry and Draymond Green had never combined for zero field goals in a game in which both played, until Thursday.
There’s a first time for everything, right?” Curry said.
Brandin Podziemski and Andrew Wiggins combined to make 15 of their 24 shots for Golden State. The rest of the Warriors shot 17 of 66—25.8 percent—with Dennis Schroder going 2 for 12 in his Golden State debut.
Jonathan Kuminga also shot 2 of 12.
The Warriors have now trailed at least one game by 45 points in each of the last six seasons.
“Once we’re all locked in defensively, you see what type of team we can be,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said.
The Grizzlies now have the two biggest victory margins in the NBA this season. They beat Portland by 45 on November 10.
Memphis also led Golden State by 55 in Game 5 of the 2022 Western Conference semifinals, ultimately winning that game by 39 points. The Warriors went on to win that series in six games and eventually won that season’s NBA title.
UE–after 39 long years–wins a UAAP cage title
I know who we are. I know what our team is about,” Kerr said. “I know we’ve got competitors, and I know we’re going to bounce back and we’re going to regroup. So, I’m not concerned about that. But we’ve got a lot of work to do to execute and learn how to execute under pressure and take care of the ball and get good shots.” AP
AFTER 39 long years, a University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball championship is finally headed back to Recto.
U niversity of the East (UE) seized the moment with a dominant 78-47 victory over University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the winner-take-all Game 3 high school boys Finals on Friday morning at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. The last time UE celebrated a basketball championship was in Season 48 (1985) when its men’s team, led by legends Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera, won the crown—incidentally against a UST team headed by their fellow legend Pido Jarencio.
The Junior Warriors, on the other hand, last tasted high school basketball glory in Season 44 (1981), under coach Gabriel Reyala with standout players Codiñera, Modesto Hojilla and the Longalong brothers.
Finally, after how many years. It’s important for the school and the program,” UE head coach Andrew Estrella said. “As I’ve said before, this would be enough to lure the players.”
T he Junior Warriors were dominant all season-long and absorbed only two losses—81-66 to Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby in the eliminations and 98-84 in Game 1 of the Finals.
U E turned the series around with a hard-fought 76-70 win in Game 2 to force the decider.
I n Game 3, UE broke away in the second quarter and never looked back. Brian Orca and Ethan Oraa sparked a 19-point explosion for the Junior Warriors that broke a 15-15 count in the first quarter.
G ab Delos Reyes then anchored UE’s defense that saw UST score only eight points in the second quarter for a 34-23 halftime lead.
U E unloading a telling 9-0 run to open the second half to lead by as many as 33 points, 72-39, in what Estrella described as a “perfect game.”
It was a perfect game, the boys wanted it,” Estrella said. “They delivered, they didn’t veer away from the game plan.They wanted the championship and here it is.”
By midway the third quarter, the UE community—led by school president Dr. Zosimo Battad—was already on its feet, dancing to the beat of the UE Drummers in celebration. This is so sweet. This is my first time in the UAAP. Credit to the UE community and, most especially, SGA, Boss Frank, Boss Jared, and Boss Jacob [Lao] for building this team,” Estrella said. “Three months of sacrifices. We went through adversities but we rose above it.”
D errick Pumaren, who coached UE to its first boys’ basketball title in Season 35 (1972), was also on hand to witness the victory.
We are thankful to Manong Derrick for motivating us with a speech before we headed to the court,” Estrella said. “The boys realized that they were playing for a higher purpose.” Delos Reyes, a lanky forward from
San Beda-Alabang, was named Finals MVP after averaging 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in the series. He capped his stellar performance in Game 3 with 16 rebounds on top of six points and three blocks. We just played the game as told by our coaches,” De los Reyes said. O raa led UE with 13 points, while Enrico Bungar chipped in 11 points, Jared Ferreros contributed nine points and Jolo Pascual and Orca added eight apiece.
UST struggled in the absence of Andwele Cabanero, who was suspended for Game 3 after striking Neil Garcia twice during a loose ball scuffle in Game 2.
W ithout the Mythical Team member to stabilize the Tiger Cubs, UST shot a dismal 20.5 percent from the field, including a woeful 1-of-31 from beyond the arc.
D ustin Bathan led UST with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, while another Mythical Team member, Jhon Canapi, managed just 11 points on 1-of-24 shooting.
Josef T. Ramos
current 111 include European and Middle East royalty, leaders of international sports bodies, former and current Olympic athletes, politicians, diplomats, industrialists and an Oscar-winning actress O nly IOC members can be presidential candidates and the other contenders are board member Kirsty Coventry and three more presidents of sports governing bodies: Johan Eliasch from skiing, David Lappartient from cycling, and Morinari Watanabe from gymnastics.
future host cities.
U nder the hands-on presidency of Thomas Bach, who reaches his limit of 12 years in office next year, members now simply rubber-stamp a single host candidate that has worked with the IOC administration.
Two members of the Bach-chaired IOC executive board, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. and Prince Feisal al Hussein, joined Coe in promising to empower members to have a bigger role in the Olympic body.
T hey also promise to raise the retirement age for members from 70 to 75 years.
M embers must be invited to join the exclusive IOC club and the
T he manifesto releases are one of just two set-piece events in a mostly opaque campaign with strict rules to limit self-promotion and engagement with voters. Candidates will present themselves to voters, though not take questions, at a Jan. 30 meeting at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The IOC has had no female president and just nine men leading it in a 130-year history. Eight of those presidents were from Europe and one from the United States. Coventry, the 41-year-old sports
minister of Zimbabawe, is just the second female candidate ever to run for the IOC leadership and is widely seen as Bach’s preferred choice to continue his policies.
C oventry and Coe are twotime Olympic champions in swimming and track, respectively. Coe also led organizing the 2012 London Olympics.
Coe upset the IOC establishment—including some voters—this year by committing World Athletics to pay $50,000 prize money to gold medalists in track and field at the Paris Olympics. The sport also will pay silver and bronze medalists at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games. AP
COACH Yeng Guiao is pleased to see Rain or Shine survive crunchtime against Magnolia and stay within striking distance of the leaders in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
“ It is a good sign that we were able to come back and close out the game despite trailing in the last quarter. It only shows that the character of our team has improved a lot—and that is a good sign heading to our upcoming games,” Guiao said.
The Elasto Painters pulled off a 102-100 win over the Hotshots last Wednesday, recovering after losing a 77-64 third quarter lead and trailing by eight, 86-98.
A Mark Barroca three-point shot looked to have dashed the Elasto Painters’ chances, but Andrei Caracut, Adrian Nocum, Leonard Santillan and import Deon Thompson regained composure and notched their third straight
win after suffering a defeat in the conference opener.
“ We lost our momentum and were able to find a way to get back into the game,” Guiao added.
“That is important. We must compete all night long and we showed it, so it is a good sign.”
S antillan is averaging 14.5 points in four games while Thompson has averaged 19 in three games.
R ain or Shine looks to close out the year with a fourth straight victory when it takes on Terrafirma on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Despite playing without guard Gian Mamuyac and Luis Villegas, Guiao and the Elasto Painters are doing well with Adrian Nocum, Felix Lemetti and Jhonard Clarito providing firepower.
A fter losing to Meralco, 111-121, on December 1 in a battle of importless teams, the Elasto Painters bounced back with a 99-81 rout of Hong Kong Eastern followed by a 107-93 victory over San Miguel Beer.
World community turns up pressure on Israel to end occupation, provide aid to Palestinians
By Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS—The
UN General Assembly approved a resolution Thursday asking the UN’s highest court to state what Israel’s obligations are in Gaza and the West Bank to provide humanitarian assistance essential for the survival of Palestinian civilians.
The vote on the Norwegiansponsored resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice was 137-12, with 22 abstentions. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, voted against the resolution.
Resolutions in the 193-member General Assembly are not legally binding, though they do reflect world opinion.
It follows the ICJ’s condemnation of Israel’ s rule over lands it captured 57 years ago. In a non -
binding opinion in July, the court said Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on Israel to end its occupation and halt settlement construction immediately.
Thursday’s resolution also follows Israeli laws passed in late October, which take effect in 90 days, that effectively ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, from operating in the Palestinian territories.
UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres has stressed that no other UN agency can take on UNRWA’s role, and a UN spokesman reiterated Thursday that under international law, as the occupying power, Israel would be responsible for fulfilling the basic needs of Palestinians if UNRWA is banned.
Norway’s deputy foreign minister, Andreas Kravik, told reporters that the international community has a responsibility to react to tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza and virtually the entire population experiencing acute hunger, and some near famine.
He said many countries, the UN and its agencies, and aid organizations are ready to step up their humanitarian efforts but the problem is “there’s a lack of access.”
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the assembly before the vote that its members were debating “the same recycled nonsense, where all that matters is attacking Israel and challenge its right to protect its citizens.”
“This time the Palestinians are using a new tool in this diplomatic circus: the International Court of Justice,” he said.
The resolution demands that
Israel comply with all its legal obligations under international law, including by the UN’s top court. It expresses concern about the Israeli legislation on UNRWA and Israeli measures to impede assistance to the Palestinians.
The resolution seeks the ICJ’s guidance on additional questions about its July ruling, including what Israel’s obligations are “to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently
US economy grows 3.1% in third quarter, driven by consumer spending
By Paul Wiseman Ap Economics Writer
ASHINGTON—The
WAmerican economy grew at a healthy 3.1 percent annual clip from July through September, propelled by vigorous consumer spending and an uptick in exports, the government said in an upgrade to its previous estimate.
Third-quarter growth in US gross domestic product—the economy’s output of goods and services—accelerated from the April-July rate of 3 percent and continued to look sturdy despite high interest rates, the Commerce Department said Thursday. GDP growth has now topped 2 percent in eight of the last nine quarters. Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of US economic activity, expanded at a 3.7 percent pace, fastest since the first quarter of 2023 and an uptick from Commerce’s previous thirdquarter estimate of 3.5 percent.
Exports climbed 9.6 percent. Business investment grew a lackluster 0.8 percent, but investment in equipment expanded 10.8 percent. Spending and investment by the federal government jumped 8.9 percent, including a 13.9 percent surge in defense spending. American voters were unimpressed by the steady growth
needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population.”
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 17 ISRAELI airstrikes slammed into two schools sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on Thursday, a Health Ministry official said, killing at least 17 people including five children in one of the schools. Rescue workers said at 30 people were also
and exports
under Democratic President Joe Biden. Exasperated by prices that remain 20 percent higher than they were when an inflationary surge began in early 2021, they chose last month to send Donald Trump back to the White House with Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Trump will inherit an economy that looks healthy overall. The unemployment rate remains low at 4.2 percent even though it is up from the 53-year low 3.4 percent reached in April 2023. Inflation hit a four-decade high 9.1 percent in mid-2002. Eleven interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve in 2022 and 2023 helped bring it
down—to 2.7 percent last month. That is above the Fed’s 2 percent target. But the central bank still felt comfortable enough with the progress against inflation to cut its benchmark rate Wednesday for the third time this year.
The president-elect has promised sweeping changes in economic policy, including cutting taxes, imposing big tariffs on foreign goods and deporting millions of immigrants who work in the United States illegally. Many economists fear those policies will fuel higher inflation.
“This week’s data show the economy is set to end 2024 on a solid note, which is fortunate
since we’ll have to contend with heightened policy uncertainty and possibly greater challenges in 2025,” Oren Klachkin, an economist at Nationwide, wrote in a commentary.
Within the GDP data, a category that measures the economy’s underlying strength rose at a solid 3.4 percent annual rate from July through September, an upgrade from the previous estimate and up from 2.7 percent in the April-June quarter. This category includes consumer spending and private investment but excludes volatile items like exports, inventories and government spending.
Wednesday’s report also contained some encouraging news on inflation. The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge—called the personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE—rose at just a 1.5 percent annual pace last quarter, down from 2.5 percent in the second quarter. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core PCE inflation was 2.2 percent, up modestly from the previous estimate but down from 2.8 percent in the AprilJune quarter.
Thursday’s report was the Commerce Department’s third and final look at third-quarter GDP. It will publish its initial estimate of October-December growth on January 30.
Impeached South Korean president defies summons amid martial law investigation
By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces of being compelled to appear.
Yoon is focusing on defending himself at the Constitutional Court, which following his impeachment will decide whether to remove him from office or reinstate his powers.
Yoon’s
shockwaves through financial markets at a time when the country was already grappling with a faltering economy. The country’s acting leader, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and other officials have tried to reassure allies and diplomatic partners that things are returning to normal, but tensions between rival political parties are only escalating as they clash over government policies and the appointments of new justices to the Constitutional Court, which has three vacant spots. See “Impeached,” A12
wounded across both locations.
Israel said Hamas operated command centers inside the shelters, without providing evidence. Elsewhere in the region, Israel launched heavy airstrikes in Yemen on ports, oil and energy infrastructure in rebel-controlled areas, killing nine people, shortly after a Houthi rebel missile badly damaged a school building in Israel.
More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in 14 months of war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but has said more than half of the fatalities are women and children.
The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people.
Human Rights Watch on Thursday became the latest among a growing number of critics to accuse Israel of genocidal acts in its war in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegations, saying its war is directed at Hamas militants, not Gaza’s civilians.
EU leaders insist no decisions can be taken about Ukraine without Ukraine, or behind their backs
By Lorne Cook The Associated Press
BRUSSELS—European Union leaders insisted on Thursday that no decisions can be taken about the future of warravaged Ukraine without its consent—or behind the backs of its partners in Europe, barely a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Ukraine’s position is precarious, more than 1,000 days into the war. Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield, pushing the front line gradually westward despite suffering heavy casualties. Ukraine’s energy network is in tatters and military recruits are hard to find.
In a show of solidarity at a summit in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, many EU leaders repeated a variation of what has become a common mantra—nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about security in Europe without Europeans.
“Only Ukraine as the aggressed country can legitimately define what peace means—and if and when the conditions are met for credible negotiations,” summit host António Costa said at the end of the daylong meeting of the 27-nation bloc.
“So now is not the time to speculate about different scenarios. Now is the time to strengthen Ukraine for all scenarios,” said Costa, the president of the European Council.
On January 20, Trump returns to the White House, having promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly and talked up his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many Europeans are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine.
The other big worry is that Putin will
use any interregnum to rearm and cause more strife.
Rumors are swirling in Europe about possible peace talks in early 2025, and whether European peacekeepers might be needed to enforce any settlement, but the EU leaders are trying to keep a lid on speculation about what they are prepared to do so as not to tip their hand to Russia. The priority now, they say, must be to strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it’s important to “ensure long-term aid to Ukraine—it must be clear that we are prepared to enable support as long as it is needed.” Air defense, artillery and ammunition are high on the list, he told reporters.
Asked about Trump, Scholz said that his impression from talking to the presidentelect “is that good cooperation between Europe and the U.S. is possible.” He said that “the principle is always: no decisions over Ukrainians’ heads, and that of course means over those of the European states.” Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden had a similar message.
“We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step...needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union. The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere,” he said.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof underlined that only Ukraine can determine the conditions for talks, “and it is not for us to talk about that. At the moment, Ukraine has not yet indicated that
A PALESTINIAN child wounded during the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip receives treatment at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah on Thursday, December 19, 2024. AP/ABDEL KAREEM HANA
UKRAINE’S President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaks with European Council President Antonio Costa as they arrive for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels on Thursday, December 19, 2024. AP/GEERT VANDEN WIJNGAERT
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Trump’s tariff threats on Canadian oil raise concerns over energy costs, inflation in US
By Damian J. Troise Ap Business Writer
NEW YORK—The US increasingly relies on Canadian crude oil to meet domestic demand and that relationship faces potential strain amid the threat of tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump.
More than 50 percent of crude oil imported to the US comes from Canada, up from 33 percent in 2013. The increase follows a jump in production from Canada’s western provinces and growing pipeline capacity to its southern neighbor. Another roughly 10 percent of imports come from Mexico.
Trump has threatened blanket tariffs of up to 25 percent on products from both Canada and Mexico. That has raised concerns about higher energy costs trickling through the entire US economy, making gasoline and other petroleum products more expensive and reigniting inflation. “All three countries remain
heavily reliant on each other economically, and hefty taxes on key US imports like crude oil or softwood lumber risk exacerbating US consumer inflation,” said a report led by Solita Marcelli, chief investment officer of the Americas for UBS Financial Services.
Canadian officials say they’re studying how they would respond if Trump follows through on his threat. The leader of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, has suggested barring imports of American-made alcohol and restricting energy exports. But the head of oil-rich Alberta has ruled out cutting off oil exports and hopes to find a solution.
Canada, with its proximity to the US, is also the nation’s biggest trading partner. Nearly all of Canada’s oil is exported to the US.
Canadian oil makes up the majority of overall oil imports in the US, despite the nation’s own oil boom over the last decade. That
boom has made the US the world’s biggest producer of crude oil and a net exporter. But a mix of chemistry and infrastructure, along with geography and prices, means the US still has to import a significant amount of oil to meet demand.
Geopolitical shifts: Erdogan’s Turkey outmaneuvers Putin’s Russia in the aftermath of Assad’s downfall
By The Associated Press
THE rapid downfall of Syrian leader Bashar Assad has touched off a new round of delicate geopolitical maneuvering between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
With the dust still settling from the stunning events in Damascus, the outcome for now seems to be favoring Ankara, which backed the victorious rebels, while Moscow suffered a bruising blow to its international clout.
“In the game of Czars vs. Sultans, this is Sultans 1 and Czars 0,” said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute. “Far from being allies, Turkey and Russia are competitors. And in this case, Turkey has outsmarted Russia.”
The Assad regime’s demise opens another chapter in the complex relationship between Putin and Erdogan, with wide-ranging implications not just for Syria but also for Ukraine and the two leaders’ ties with Washington. Russia and Turkey share economic and security interests—along with an intense rivalry. The personal relationship between Putin and Erdogan often sees them both praising each other, even as they jockey for political and economic gains.
“There are currently only two leaders left in the world—there is me and there is Vladimir Putin,” Erdogan said recently, reflecting the respect for the Kremlin leader. Putin, in turn, has often praises Erdogan’s political prowess.
Conflicts and deals
RUSSIA and Turkey backed opposing sides in Syria’s civil war that started in 2011, putting them on a collision course. Tensions spiraled when a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian warplane near the Turkey-Syria border in November 2015, soon after Moscow launched its air campaign to support Assad.
The Kremlin responded with sweeping economic sanctions that halted Turkish imports, drove Turkish companies from the lucrative Russian market and cut the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey’s resorts. Faced with massive economic damage, Erdogan apologized months later. Soon after, Putin staunchly supported him when he faced an attempted military coup in July 2016, helping to warm ties quickly.
In 2018, Moscow and Ankara negotiated a ceasefire and de-escalation deal for the rebelheld Idlib province in northwestern Syria on the border with Turkey and sought to anchor the often-violated agreement with follow-up deals in the next few years.
But even as they cooperated on Syria, Moscow and Ankara also vied for influence in Libya, where Russia supported forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Hifter while Turkey backed his Tripoli-based foes. Turkey also aggressively sought to increase its leverage in the former Soviet Central Asian nations competing with Russia and China.
In 2020, Moscow backed off when Turkey’s
ally Azerbaijan routed ethnic Armenian forces in the fighting over the breakaway region of Karabakh. Even though Armenia hosted a Russian military base, the Kremlin has engaged in a delicate balancing act, seeking to maintain warm ties with both Azerbaijan and Turkey.
While their political interests often clashed, economic ties boomed, with Russia boosting natural gas exports to Turkey via a Black Sea pipeline; by building Turkey’s first nuclear plant; and by providing the NATO member with advanced air defense systems—to Washington’s dismay.
Relations amid the war in Ukraine
TIES with Turkey grew even more important for Putin after he invaded Ukraine in 2022, Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. The West responded with economic sanctions that barred Russia from most Western markets, restricted its access to international financial system, shut transport routes and halted exports of key technologies. Turkey, which didn’t join the sanctions, has emerged as Russia’s key gateway to global markets, strengthening Erdogan’s hand in negotiations with Putin.
While Turkey backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity and supplied Kyiv with weapons, Erdogan echoed Putin in accusing the US and NATO of fomenting the conflict. Putin has praised Erdogan for offering to mediate a settlement.
In March 2022, Turkey hosted Russia-
Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul that soon collapsed, with both Putin and Erdogan blaming the West for their failure.
Later that year, Ankara pooled efforts with the United Nations to broker a deal that opened the door for Ukrainian grain exports from its Black Sea ports, an agreement that helped drive down global food prices before falling apart the following year.
Turkey’s balancing act in Ukraine is driven by its dependence on the vast Russian market, supplies of natural gas and a flow of tourists.
Russia’s focus on Ukraine has eroded its clout in regions where Turkey and other players have tried to take advantage of Moscow’s withering influence.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan reclaimed control over all of Karabakh in a one-day blitz while Russian regional peacekeepers stood back. That hurt Russia’s ties with Armenia, which has shifted increasingly toward the West.
Moscow’s new look at Syria
FOCUSED on Ukraine, Russia had few resources left for Syria at a time when Hezbollah similarly pulled back its fighters amid the war with Israel and Iranian support for Assad also weakened.
Russia tried to sponsor talks on normalizing relations between Turkey and Syria, but Assad stonewalled them, refusing any compromise.
Assad’s intransigence helped trigger the Turkey-backed opposition’s offensive in November. The underfunded and demoralized Syrian army quickly crumbled, allowing the rebels to sweep across the country and capture Damascus.
Even as it has offered asylum to Assad and his family, Russia has reached out to Syria’s new leaders, seeking to ensure security for its troops still there and extend leases on its naval and air bases.
At his annual news conference Thursday, Putin said Russia offered Syria’s new leaders to use the bases for humanitarian aid deliveries and suggested Moscow could offer other incentives.
While Assad’s demise dealt a heavy blow to Russia, some believe Moscow could navigate the rapidly changing environment to retain at least some clout.
“Syria’s opposition forces well understand that the country’s future is uncertain,” said Nikolay Kozhanov, a consulting fellow with Chathan House’s Russia and Eurasia program, in a commentary. “They want Russia, if not as a friend, then a neutral party.”
Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey contributed.
The US produces mostly light, sweet crude, which is easier to refine than heavier crude oil, like the kind that Canada mostly produces. But refining infrastructure in the US is geared toward heavier crude oil because of a history of having to
Authorities have already arrested Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several other military commanders involved in the attempt to enforce the martial law decree, which harkened back to the days of authoritarian leaders the country hasn’t seen since the 1980s.
Yoon and his military leadership have been accused of attempting to block parliament from voting to end martial law by sending hundreds of heavily armed troops to encircle the National Assembly. Yoon says the troops were there to maintain order.
Kwak Jong-keun, the now arrested commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, testified in parliament that Yoon had asked for his troops to “quickly destroy the door and drag out the lawmakers who are inside” the Assembly’s main chamber where the vote occurred. Kwak said he did not carry out Yoon’s orders.
Yoon has also been accused of ordering defense intelligence officials to detain key politicians, including opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik and the ex-leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hun, according to a high-ranking intelligence official and Han himself, a reformist who supported investigations into corruption allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The joint investigation team is also seeking an arrest warrant for Maj. Gen. Moon Sangho, commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, who was detained this week over suspicions that he sent troops to the National Election Commission in Gwacheon city after Yoon declared martial law.
Yoon defended his decision for troops to be deployed at the election commission as other forces were encircling the National Assembly. He claimed the troop deployment
“only together the United States and Europe can stop Putin and save Ukraine.” He said that the only effective security guarantee remains NATO membership.
Zelenskyy, in his speech to the leaders posted on his website, thanked France for its “initiative for a military contingent in Ukraine as part of these guarantees and (calls) on other partners to join this effort, it will help bring the war to an end.”
It’s difficult to predict what Trump might do, and whether history might be a reliable guide.
Under his previous presidency, in 2020, the United States inked a deal on a military withdrawal from Afghanistan directly with the strongest player—the Taliban insurgents—mostly playing down the concerns
import that type. Heavier crude is less expensive to purchase because it is tougher to refine. Oil prices have been mostly stable throughout 2024 and the Opec cartel has been limiting production amid weaker global demand. Energy commodities have been broadly falling throughout the year, helping to ease the rate of inflation.
Fuel oil costs eased 19.5 percent in November from a year prior, contributing to an overall decline in energy commodity costs of 8.5 percent, according to the US government’ latest report on consumer prices. Gasoline prices have also fallen from a year ago. Tariffs on energy would likely trickle down to consumers through products made from the refining of oil. The most obvious impact would likely be at the gas pump and higher gasoline prices tend to fuel broader inflation.
was necessary in order to investigate supposed vulnerabilities to the commission’s computer systems potentially affecting credibility of election results.
Yoon’s failure to offer any evidence in support of his claims raised concerns that he was endorsing conspiracy theories from right-wing YouTube channels that April’s parliamentary elections were rigged. The Democratic Party had won those elections by a landslide. The election commission rejected Yoon’s allegations, stating there was no basis to suspect election fraud.
Moon, the military intelligence chief, is also suspected of discussing operational plans for enforcing martial law with two subordinates and retired former defense intelligence commander Noh Sang-won at a fast-food restaurant, just two days before Yoon declared martial law.
Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer and spokesperson for Yoon’s legal team, defended the president’s actions on Thursday. He echoed Yoon’s assertion that he didn’t commit rebellion but saw martial law as an emergency measure to counter the main opposition Democratic Party, which used its parliamentary majority to obstruct his agenda. Seok insisted that Yoon had no intentions to paralyze the parliament’s functions, despite the troop deployment to the National Assembly, and claimed he never ordered politicians to be detained.
When asked whether Yoon would continue to ignore authorities’ requests to question him and search his office, Seok declined to give a specific answer, saying that these matters would be handled by Yoon’s legal team, which he said has been nearly assembled. Some experts say any attempt to compel Yoon to appear for questioning would ultimately require consent of the country’s acting leader, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is locked in a standoff with the opposition Democratic Party after he vetoed several controversial agricultural bills backed by the party.
of the Afghan government and president. The chaotic exit in 2021, finally ordered by President Joe Biden, humiliated Washington and its allies in NATO as the Afghan security forces they had trained for years and invested billions in collapsed and the Taliban swept to power.
In Ukraine, the 27-nation EU has provided at least as much support—more than 180 billion euros ($187 billion) since Russia began its full-fledged invasion almost three years ago—as the United States. But while the world’s biggest trading bloc can probably continue to prop up Ukraine’s ravaged economy, the EU is almost certainly unlikely to be able provide the military backing that the country’s armed forces would require to prevail.
The Associated Press writers Raf Casert in Brussels, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report.
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