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3Gs STILL AN ELECTION THREAT IN DAYS OF 5G www.businessmirror.com.ph www.businessmirror.com.ph www.businessmirror.com.ph

Sunday, December 2021 Vol. Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 Vol. 17No.No. nnSunday, December 5,5,2021 Vol. 1717No. 585877, 78, 79

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In the days of fintech and social media, can the traditional “3 Gs” of guns, goons, gold still distort the genuine voice of voters? Yes. And authorities are not standing down.

By Rene P. Acosta

HE Philippine National Police has stepped up its operations against private armed groups (PAGs), political warlords and threat groups as it works with other agencies, including the Commission on Elections, to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the elections next years.

‘DIGITAL DIASPORA’

In these days when fintech and social media have drastically reshaped the way politicos influence voters, the so-called “3 Gs” (guns, goons, gold) may seem like a trite term, but the record shows they re-

main as much a risk to free and orderly elections. Hence, responding to the threats they pose remains top priority for both PNP and Comelec. See “3Gs,” A2

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(BIR) certification that the latter had paid his taxes and fines in full, contrary to claims of some of the petitioners that there is no record on file of such payment having been made. The document was signed by Arsenio Tomeldan of the Collection Section of BIR Region No. 7B -East NCR of Revenue District Office No. 42-San Juan and certified that Marcos Jr. paid all “computation of deficiency income taxes and fines” for “taxable years” 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. See “A Battle,” A2

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NMEDIA | DREAMSTIME.COM NMEDIA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Onlineshopping shoppingplatform platformnotes notesbehavioral behavioralshift shift Online Amakers BATTLEamid OF CERTIFICATIONS: amongconsumers, consumers,brand brandmakers amid Covid among Covid BBM SHOWS BIR TAX RECORD

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

A battle... Continued from A1

The “total deficiency taxes and penalties” paid in 2001, amounting to P67,137.27, is the exact amount that the 1997 Court of Appeals (CA) decision had ordered Marcos Jr. to pay. The document shown by Rodriguez was also signed by Revenue District Officer Thelma D. Mangio of BIR’s Revenue District Office No. 42-San Juan. “This certification from the BIR is undeniable proof that former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. complied with the payment of deficient taxes and fines as ordered in the 1997 CA ruling. This invalidates the ‘mother of all lies’ being propagated by some petitioners bent on derailing his presidential bid in the 2022 elections,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez concluded: “So wala hong pagkakautang na buwis or tax deficiency or penalty or interest. Bayad ho at binayaran, na matagal nang panahon. [So he does not owe the government any tax or tax deficiency or penalty or interest. It was paid a long time ago.]” In early December, some of the petitioners challenging Marcos Jr’s candidacy presented a document from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court attesting there is “no record” of compliance of payment with the 1997 Court of Appeals decision on his tax case. The group of lawyer Theodore Te recalled that the Court of Appeals had ordered Marcos Jr. to pay fines for failure to file income tax returns between 1982 and 1985. The court also ordered him to pay the BIR the deficiency income taxes due with interest.

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BTr to borrow ₧200B from local debt market in January 2022 By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury will borrow P200 billion from the local debt market in January 2022.

Based on the schedule of government securities offering for next month, the Treasury programmed to raise P140 billion by auctioning off Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds) and P60 billion via Treasury Bills (T-Bills). The Treasury will offer P15 billion in 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day T-bills for each of the first four Mondays of the month. Meanwhile, it will also offer P35 billion in T-Bonds on each of the four

Tuesdays of the month. Seven-year T-bonds will be auctioned off on January 4 and January 25. Meanwhile, four-year and 10-year IOUs will be offered on January 11 and 18, respectively. For 2022, the national government programmed to borrow P2.47 trillion, down by nearly a fifth from P3.07 trillion this year. In August this year, National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon told reporters

that next year’s borrowing program is smaller due to the expected reduction in the budget deficit. In its December 14 meeting, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Meeting expects the budget deficit next year to settle at P1.65 trillion or 7.7 percent of the country’s GDP. This is lower than the programmed budget deficit this year at P1.86 trillion (9.5 percent of GDP). However, economic managers expect this year’s budget deficit to settle at P1.606 trillion (8.2 percent of GDP), lower than the programmed budget deficit.

As of the end of the third quarter this year, the country’s debt as a percentage of GDP has climbed to 63.1 percent due to the unexpected costs of the pandemic and lower revenue collection given the lockdowns. The internationally acceptable debt-to-GDP ratio threshold for emerging markets is at 60 percent. Earlier this year, the Department of Finance projected the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to settle at 59.1 percent by year-end and peak at 60.8 percent by 2022 before tapering down to 60.7 percent in 2023 and 59.7 percent in 2024.

Govt infra spending surges 38.1% to P702B in 10 mos

TATE infrastructure spending surged by 38.1 percent from January to October compared to the same period last year. Data released on Thursday by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed government infrastructure spending for the 10-month period grew to P702.4 billion this year from P508.5 billion in 2020.

The higher infrastructure spending was attributed to the implementation of projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nationwide and capital outlays of various departments, such as the aviation transport projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program of the Depart-

ment of National Defense. More o v e r, t he DBM pointed out that the growth i n st ate i n f ra st r uc t u re spending mainly drove the increase in overall government spending during the period. Total state spending as of end-October rose by 11.5 percent year-on-year to P3.7 trillion from P3.3 trillion. Meanwhile, state infrastructure spending rose by 6.7 percent to P60.9 billion for the month of October this year from P57.1 billion in the same month in 2020. According to the DBM, the increase was due to the infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, flood mitigation structures, drainage systems, and multipurpose buildings. “ The direct payments made by development partners for the various foreignassisted road network and f lood control projects of the DPWH and the foreignassisted rail transport sector projects of the DOTr also contributed to the said increase,” the DBM said in its report. With higher infrastructure spending, overall gov-

ernment spending also increased by 9.6 percent to P317.4 billion in October this year from last year’s P289.6 billion. Apart from higher infrastructure spending, notable increases in other expenditure items such as maintenance spending, personnel expenditures, and interest payments contributed to the rise in overall government spending for the month. Citing preliminary data, the DBM also said they expect that the growth of disbursements for November would likely outpace that of last year as agencies have until the end of the year to obligate available funds. The DBM said this could propel spending as they try to complete the implementation of programs and projects and pay outstanding due and demandable obligations before the end of the year. “This should also support the strong growth momentum coming into the fourth quarter as prospect for economic recovery remains sanguine,” it said.

Bernadette D. Nicolas

MB caps interest rates, fees on small-value loans

HE Monetary Board (MB) is capping the interest rates, penalties, and other fees and charges on small-value, short-term, general purpose, and unsecured loans provided by lending companies (LCs), financing companies (FCs) and their online lending platforms (OLPs) to mostly low-income borrowers. In a statement on Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the MB set the nominal interest rate ceiling of 6 percent monthly or 0.2 percent per day. This refers to the amount of interest paid on the borrowing, excluding the other fees and charges. The effective interest rate, meanwhile, has a ceiling of 15 percent per month or 0.5 percent per day. This covers the nominal interest rates and applicable charges such as processing fees, service fees, notarial fees, handling fees, and verification fees, among others, but excludes fees and penalties for late payment or nonpayment. The maximum penalty for late payment or nonpayment of the loan is at 5 percent per month.

The interest rate ceilings apply to loans not exceeding P10,000 and area payable within four months or less. “In determining the interest rate caps, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas [BSP] sought to maintain a balance between protecting consumers and allowing lending and financing companies to price in credit risks and remain viable,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said. The interest rate caps will be subject to periodic review by the BSP, along with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the industry. As the primary regulators of LCs, FCs and their OLPs, SEC is tasked with formulating and promulgating the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the related circular’s effectivity date. The Central Bank said it is “committed to protecting financial consumers and promoting a conducive environment for lenders such as LCs, FCs, and their OLPs to viably serve the needs of low-income borrowers amid the pandemic.” Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

3Gs...

Continued from A1

On Thursday, the Comelec en banc released several issuances it crafted, including Resolution 10741. This contained the guidelines on the establishment and operation of checkpoints and the ban for carrying firearms and other deadly weapons, as well as engagement of security personnel. Full story on Comelec resolutions in Nation, page A3. The PNP is one of the three agencies—the two others being the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard—that make up the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC), which was formed this year to undertake coordinative effort, primarily to ensure the integrity of the local and national elections in May next year. The formation of the body was made with the constant reminders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, and PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos for soldiers and policemen to remain apolitical. Ensuring the credibility of the elections and its peaceful conduct was one of two most important tasks of the police and military under the last year of the Duterte administration. The other is ending insurgency before the end of the President’s term in June next year. The PNP said it is working to disband PAGs following its identification initially of six groups which could pose a threat to the peaceful holding of the electoral exercise next year. The operations, in its early stage, includes profiling the members of the group, their links to politicians and the extent of their capabilities. “Aside from these, there are also about 138 potential PAGs that [we are] monitoring. Now that the election is fast approaching, we might expect that these groups may be activated,” Carlos said. “If an area is infested with PAGs, deployment will be augmented in those places,” he added. Murder, mayhem and cheating, or at least allegations of dishonesty against politicians, have always characterized the country’s elections, and the JPSCC wanted to do away with this tag under President Duterte.

Cases of violence

Late last month, gunmen ambushed and killed a councilor of San Simon, Pampanga and his companion. Carlos said that although it could not be concluded yet as election-related as the polls remain six months away, politics was certainly among the motives that investigators are looking into. Early this month, gunmen also ambushed two municipal mayors of Basilan while they were walking toward a mosque in Zamboanga City, kiling one of them. In tightening the lid on PAGs, the police wanted to restrain these groups from being used by their political patrons against opposing candidates, halt their criminal activities and stop them from intimidating voters and harassing communities. Since the communist group has been making financial killings during elections through its “permit-to-campaign” and “permit-to-win” fees over political candidates as claimed by the government, police and military officials have called on the candidates not to fall prey to this scheme. “The PNP will be decisive as ever in seeking to disband and disarm these private armed groups. Simultaneous with interdiction operations, we will deny these PAGs the economic support systems that sustain its operations through criminal activities such as robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal gambling and other illegal ventures,” Carlos said. “The PNP takes shelter under the authority bestowed by Comelec as its deputized agency to meet head-on any and all threats to the May 2022 elections,” he added. Under the Omnibus Election Code, policemen and soldiers are not allowed to go inside voting precincts, but are tasked to maintain peace and order around its areas. The PNP and AFP are also mandated to secure the transportation of ballots and other election paraphernalias. Aside from PAGs, the New People’s Army and other armed groups, the PNP also wanted to rein in political warlords who are elected into office throught threats and intimidation, and even by killing their opponents. A classic case of political warlordism in the country was the election-related killing of supporters of a candidate in Maguindanao in November 2011. All in all, 58 people were killed during the massacre, including 32 local journalists. Carlos said the PNP is working this early to foil attempts by warlord politicians to employ and mobilize private armed groups in their plans to influence the outcome of the elections in their favor. As part of the overall effort to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections, the PNP has intensified its campaign against loose firearms, which the military is also duplicating in Mindanao, especially in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi where security challenges persists. Indeed, while a massacre of the scale of Maguindanao’s carnage may no longer be repeated, the threat of violence continues to cast a shadow over next year’s exercise. How far it succeeds in distorting the results is anyone’s guess.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Comelec issues resos on liquor, guns, other poll-related ‘taboo’

ITH only a few months left before the 2022 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) came out with six new resolutions containing the rules on the prohibited acts as well as its preparations for the forthcoming electoral activity.

der 10742 with the Comelec Law Department. Both restrictions for public works and changes in the status of government employees in relation to the next polls will take effect on March 25, 2022 until May 8, 2022.

Public works restrictions

AS in previous elections, Comelec also issued its rules and regulations for the liquor ban in connection with the May 9, 2022 polls through its Resolution No. 10746. The issuance prohibits the selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving, or taking intoxicating drinks nationwide on the day before the election (May 8, 2022) and on election day (May 9, 2022). Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature duly certified by the Department of Tourism as tourist-oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists may be exempted from the said restriction. But the said establishments may apply for exemption from the said restriction through the Regional Election Director of the National Capital Region, provincial election supervisors, and city election officers. Comelec noted that requests for exemption will not be necessary in cases of bulk movement from one warehouse to another or to retail outlets, of which, sale and/or payment was already completed before the two-day ban.

AMONG the new issuance promulgated by the Comelec en banc last week is Resolution No. 10747 containing the rules and regulations on prohibition against release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds and construction of public works and issuance of treasury warrants and similar devices. The prohibition will not apply to maintenance of existing and/or controlled completed public infrastructures; work undertaken by contract through public bidding held, or by negotiated contract awarded before March 25, 2022; payment for the usual cost of preparation for working, drawings, specifications, bills of materials, estimates, and other procedures preparatory to actual construction; and emergency work for the restoration of facilities damaged by a public calamity. For the implementation of the said resolution, all government offices, including Government Owned and Controlled Corporations, Government financing institutions and State Universities and Colleges will be required to submit ongoing or projects that have already been awarded, or negotiated public works projects that commenced before March 25, 2022 to the Comelec Campaign Finance Office. Any public works projects, which are not included in the submitted lists, shall be covered by the public works ban.

Status quo for govt workers

COMELEC also released Resolution No. 10742 containing rules on the prohibition against appointment or hiring of new employees, giving salary increases, transfer of civil service employees, suspension of elective officials and filing of leave of absences of local treasurers. Any violation of the said provision will be considered as an election offense. The restriction will not apply to “designation” of an incumbent official or employee in a committee or office, which involves the imposition of additional duties. Government offices may also request for the authority to be exempted with the restriction un-

Liquor ban

Other resolutions

COMELEC also issued the guidelines for the deputization of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and other law enforcement agencies to help in the conduct of the 2022 polls (Resolution No. 10743). It also approved Resolution 10741 containing the guidelines on the establishments and operation of checkpoints and the ban on the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons as well as engagement of security personnel. Last, the poll body released its Resolution No. 10745 for the implementation of the Omnibus Election Code by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. All of the six resolutions were promulgated by the Comelec en banc on December 16, 2021 as part of its preparations for the conduct of the 2022 National and Local polls.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Tangub under lockdown after gun attack vs 3 local political leaders By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) imposed a lockdown in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, while dragnet operations are under way to capture the suspects behind the shooting of three local political leaders on Wednesday evening. Reports reaching the PNP Command Center in Camp Crame said that policemen from the Provincial Mobile Force Company of Misamis

@claudethmc3

& Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE Philippines has gained an additional medical option to treat Covid-19 after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Covid treatment pill Molnupiravir (under the brand name Molnarz). The approval paved the way for the pill’s supply to health-care facilities and medical workers through the Department of Health (DOH) and under the guidance of National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of adults aged 18 and older.

‘Big step’ in Covid fight

“This development is another big step in the country’s still ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and will provide Filipinos more options for treatment,” said Faberco Life Sciences Inc.’s [Faberco] Board Chairman Vinay Panemanglor. Faberco is the local pharmaceutical firm who applied for the EUA. In granting the EUA, the FDA said, “It is very reasonable to believe that

the drug may be effective to prevent and treat Covid-19.”

No more CSP

FDA Director General Enrique “Eric” D. Domingo, however, said the agency will no longer be issuing additional Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) for Molnupiravir. With the issuance of the EUA, Domingo said, medical practitioners will now be allowed to only prescribe Molnarz for the Covid-19 treatment of their patients. He noted the other brands of Molnupiravir can only be used locally once their pending EUA application is approved by FDA. Hospitals with existing CSPs for other Molnupiravir brands will be allowed to exhaust their existing stocks of the said drug, but Domingo ex plained they would have to comply with Executive Order No. 2021-0053 of the Department of Health (DOH), which contains the guidelines for the procurement, distribution and rational drug use of Covid-19 drugs under EUA. Under the FDA-approved EUA of Molnarz, the drug, which comes in 200 milligram capsules, will only be allowed to be given to adult patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms or those with risk

Occidental and Regional Mobile Force Battalion of Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 were fielded to assist the local police in setting up mobile checkpoints around Tangub City. Upon the instructions issued by PNP Chief General Dionardo Carlos, PRO-10 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) that will coordinate all investigative efforts of PNP Units. According to reports from Acorda, a single gunshot at 8:45 p.m. marred

a Christmas party in Sitio Pulao, Barangay VII, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, that was attended by local political personalities led by Congressman Henry S. Oaminal. Wounded in the shooting were Mayor Michael Gutierrez of Lopez Jaena municipality who is running for vice governor of Misamis Occidental, former Oroquieta City Mayor Jason Almonte, who is a candidate for congressman for the 1st district of Misamis Occidental and Oaminal who suffered minor bruises in the

arm and back of the head. Gutierrez suffered a gunshot wound in the head and is under medical treatment at the Misamis University Medical Center, Ozamiz City, while both Oaminal and Almonte are in stable condition and have been released from the hospital. Police teams were formed to provide security to all three shooting victims while forensic investigators are now processing the crime scene.

Keep that natural look: Consumers warned on facial creams laced with ‘toxic’ chemicals By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HREE products being marketed as skin whitening beauty creams that were earlier banned in the Philippines for containing toxic lead and mercury are still being sold in some retail stores and online shopping sites, waste and pollution watchdog EcoWaste Coalition warned on Thursday. This developed as New Zealand health authorities issued the same warning to consumers against using the whitening beauty creams for containing the same toxic chemicals, the group said. Through an “alert communication” issued on December 22, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (or Medsafe), which is a business unit of the Ministry of Health, told consumers not to use Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day, and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free, and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream. The three products were laboratory tested, and found to contain mercury and lead “at levels that would make them prescription medicines.” “These products contain mercury, which is dangerous to your health. It may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, and on the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes. It can also affect the development of unborn babies.” Medsafe warned, “These products also contain lead, which may also affect your health.” According to Medsafe, “Lead poisoning may affect neurological development in children, and affect the gastrointestinal and nervous systems, and have other effects in adults.”

FDA grants EUA to Covid-19 treatment pill Molnupiravir By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 A3

factors for developing severe Covid-19 like senior citizens and those with comorbidities. “It should be given as soon as possible after diagnosis and it must be within the first 5 days after the onset of symptoms,” Domingo said in a television interview on Thursday. Molnupiravir was developed by Merck & Co. (also known as MSD). It is likely to be effective against all known coronavirus variants as it does not target the spike protein of the virus that differentiates the variants.

Pioneering pill

IT is the first oral antiviral drug that will prevent mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 from progressing into a severe disease that may require hospitalization. Faberco started distributing the drug to several private hospitals in the country in November, through its partner RiteMED, under the CSP it received from the FDA. FDA noted that Molnupiravir should be given twice a day for five days and should be given i m med i ate ly a f ter d i ag nosi s with Covid-19. It should not be given to pregnant women or those with a possibility of getting pregnant.

“The alert issued by New Zealand’s Medsafe further justifies the Philippine ban on the said mercurylaced beauty creams and the need for tougher action to stop their entry into our ports and their eventual sale by offline and online vendors,” Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition said in a news statement. “New Zealand’s detection of ‘high levels of lead’ on these skin whitening cosmetics indicates the importance of testing samples not only for mercury but also for other hazardous substances not permitted in cosmetics,” he added. The Food and Drug Adminis-

tration (FDA) issued public health warnings through Advisory No. 2013-053-A against Golden Pearl Beauty Cream and Advisory No. 2017-289 against the two Goree Beauty Creams. The agency most recently issued Advisory No. 20213060 against Golden Pearl Beauty Cream, which now comes in a new packaging design, Dizon noted. Despite the ban, however, the three beauty creams, which are manufactured in Pakistan as stated on their labels, are still being offered for sale in online shopping platforms and in beauty and herbal product stores located in some shopping malls. “This morning alone, we saw nu-

merous online product advertisements for Golden Pearl and Goree Beauty Creams in both Lazada and Shopee despite the FDA’s public health warnings and the EcoWaste Coalition’s repeated calls to have the products delisted,” Dizon said. “This has to stop in line with the 2020 global phase-out deadline for mercury-added cosmetics.” Skin whitening products containing mercury above one part per million (ppm) are among the mercury-added products whose manufacture, import and export were phased out in 2020 under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which counts the Philippines among the 137 state parties.

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Report predicts hike in PHL rice yield to 12.5 MMT for MY ’21-’22 By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE country’s rice production in the market year (MY) 2021-2022 will rise slightly to a record-level of 12.5 million metric tons (MMT) on the back of expanded area and improved yields nationwide, according to an international report. A Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report projected that Philippine rice output in MY 20212022, which started in July and will end in June next year, will reach 12.5 MMT, which is 84,000 metric tons (MT) higher than the 12.416 MMT recorded in MY 2020-2021. The latest rice output estimate by the Gain report, which was prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila, was an upward revision from its earlier forecast of

12.3 MMT for MY 2021-2022. “FAS/Manilaincreasestheestimate for MY 21/22 milled rice production to 12.5 million, supported by both expanded area and improved yields beyondearlierexpectations.ThePhilippines reported first quarter production and area planted were both up seven percent year-over-year,” the report, which was released recently, read. “Industry contacts continue to note the role of the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s support programs for rice, which have positively influenced producer decisions, specifically as it relates to subsidies for hybrid seeds and fertilizers— prices for which have risen sharply,” it added. In terms of rough production, palay output in MY 2021-2022 will reach 19.841 MMT from 19.708 MMT recorded in the previous market year, according to the Gain report.

The Gain report estimated that rice yield in the current MY 20212022 will reach 4.1595 MT per hectare compared to the 4.1386 MT per hectare recorded in the previous MY. Meanwhile, total area harvested will reach 4.77 million hectares from 4.762 million hectares. Despite the slight increase in output, the USDA-FAS Manila maintained its 2.5 MMT rice import forecast for the current MY as imported staple “continues to be attractive” compared to locally-produced rice in terms of prices. The projected rice imports is 25 percent higher than the 2 MMT recorded in the previous MY. “For MY 21/22, Post maintains the rice import estimate at 2.5 million MT. Imported rice continues to be attractive at local prices with reported exports to the Philippines increasing 78 percent [865,411 MT vs. 486,104 MT] during the first

quarter of MY 21/22 vs. MY 20/21,” the report read. “Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Bureau of Plant Industry [BPI] reported rice import arrivals during the same time period of 727,268 MT and 434,900 MT, respectively,” it added. The Gain report also noted that the BPI did not stop issuing sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) for rice imports. However, the issuance of an SPS-IC for rice imports is now “taking up to one month to process,” according to the report. Furthermore, the Gain report also kept its total rice consumption estimate for the Philippines in the current MY at 14.85 MMT, which is 400,000 MT higher than the 14.45 MMT recorded in the previous MY. “Post holds consumption unchanged and representative of Post’s earlier market assumptions. Retail prices for rice remain steady,” it said.

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Police keep tight watch on commodity overpricing, hoarding in calamity areas By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) will implement antioverpricing and hoarding regulations as requested by local officials in areas ravaged by Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has made it clear that overpricing and hoarding of products, especially basic commodities, are punishable acts under the Consumer Act or Republic Act 7394. “Some LGUs [local government units] inVisayasandMindanaoalready directed the different government agencies to assist in the monitoring and apprehension of these establishments or businesses that are violating the Consumer Act provisions. PNP’s assistance has been sought to make sure that no one will be above the law,” PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said. The PNP observed long queues in grocery stores, water refilling stations, gasoline stations and ATMs

where basic necessities are transacted and bought. “We remind the public to exercise discipline so as to avoid incidents of altercation and commotion,” Carlos stressed. Some LGUs, like in Cebu City, have also directed the PNP to issue citation tickets to motorists who are occupying the streets beyond the vicinity of the gasoline stations, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., while waiting for their turn to gas up. “There is already an order from the local government, so we will abide. We ask for understanding from the general public that we have to strictly implement this mandate to veer away from heavy traffic congestion, especially in the main thoroughfares,” Carlos said. The implementation of antioverpricing and hoarding came as the government, particularly the military, Philippine Coast Guard and the PNP continue to ferry and transport relief assistance to provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao that were devastated by the typhoon.

State insurance firm for crops set to indemnify typhoon ‘Odette’ farm losses By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

TATE-RUN Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) is set to indemnify insured farmers and fisherfolk for crops, animals and other farm property damaged by Typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai) initially estimated to be around P828.072 million. The first estimate of damage largely represents standing rice, corn, and high-value crops (HVC) in over 63,695 hectares of farms in 28 provinces and six regions. Other losses include live-

stock and non-crop agricultural and fisheries assets, mostly small boats or bancas. The damage is subject to further validation by the field personnel of PCIC. The number of insurer farmers and fisherfolk affected stands at 79,217, about 89 percent of who come from the Visayas. PCIC indemnifies its insured farmers and fisherfolk within 20 working days from the date of filing of notice of loss, provided these are properly supported by documents. This time frame is much shorter than the 60

days allowed by law. The PCIC has also ordered the regional and head office staff to ensure quick payment for all damage claims, especially in times of widespread calamity. Among the regions, Central Visayas (Region 7) suffered the biggest cost of damage estimated at P464.565 million or 56.1 percent of the total estimate. This is followed by Western Visayas (Region 6), with P173.119 million (20.91 percent); and Eastern Visayas (Region 8), with P90.159 million (10.89 percent). Caraga (Region 13) sustained esti-

mated losses at P75.299 million, over 9 percent of total estimated damage; MIMAROPA (Region 4-B), P18.173 million (2.19 percent); and Northern Mindanao (Region 10), P6.757 million or less than 1 percent. Sustaining the greatest damage among crops are HVC at P389.206 million or 47 percent of the total estimate. Next to crops is rice accounting for P140.691 million (17 percent) and corn at P99.129 million or 12 percent. By size of farms affected, rice topped the list with 28,809 hectares of damaged crops; HVC with 19,156 hectares; and corn, 15,730 hectares.

BBM brings joy to Aeta villages in C. Luzon

ARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has brightened up and brought joy to the children and residents of Aeta communities in Tarlac and Pampanga when he played Santa Claus and brought toys, food packs and other gifts for them on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. The “army” of children warmly welcomed Bongbong to the Marcos Village gymnasium, where the Christmas gift giving was held. “Alam nyo po talagang para sa mga bata ang Pasko, kapag nakita ko silang ngumiti at natuwa ay naramdaman na natin agad ang Christmas spirit. Kaya’t mag enjoy po kayo para sa mga bata lalo ang mga taga-Marcos Village. Maraming salamat sa inyo, muli Merry Christmas at Happy New Year,” he said. Marcos distributed some 500 toys to more than 300 children from Barangay Marcos Village and at least 200 children from the Aeta Indigenous Cultural Communities in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, and Tarlac. At least 500 food packs were also distributed to the residents of the said areas. Marcos has visited Barangay Marcos

Village numerous times in the past. In his last visit, his sons, Simon and Vincent, accompanied him. After holding a consultative meeting with the residents, Marcos and his sons attended their celebration, joining them in their ritual dancing. “Naalala ko nga dati nuong nagpunta kami dito pati mga anak ko sumayaw sa gym ninyo. Kaya hindi ko kayo makakalimutan na mga taga Marcos Village, lalong lalo na ngayon na naalala ko ulit ang mainit na salubong na ibinibigay ninyo sa akin,” he added. Marcos stressed that his father, the late strongman and former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. always gave importance to indigenous peoples by promoting their rights and welfare. “We must remember that indigenous Filipinos ang mga unang Pilipino at matagal na natin silang tinutulungan, mula pa noong panahon ng Tatay ko. The thing we have to do is stop categorizing them as second class citizens, they should have all the rights and benefits that all Filipinos have,” he said. The Marcos Village in Mabalacat was one of several Aeta resettlement sites developed by then President Marcos in different provinces in the ‘70s.

DA-BFAR deploys relief vessel to typhoon-hit coastal towns

HE Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), is sending help led by BRP Lapu-lapu (MMOV 5001) to conduct relief operations in areas isolated by typhoon “Odette” (international code came Rai). The first official leg to a series of relief operations, DA-BFAR’s BRP Lapu-Lapu, which is a multi-mission offshore vessel, will sail to Caraga Region and later on, Eastern Visayas, to deliver hundreds of sacks of rice, canned and dried goods, and hygiene kits from DA-BFAR’s Regional Offices in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley, DA-BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona said in a news statement. “The DA-BFAR will go all-out in our

relief assistance to coastal communities affected by Super Typhoon Odette. More floating assets will be deployed in the coming days including M/V DA-BFAR to carry more relief goods and boat repair materials,” Gongona said. The DA-BFAR is also rolling out recovery efforts to assist Filipino fisherfolk to get back to their livelihoods at the soonest possible time. An initial hundred units of marine engines and boat-construction materials for washed out and damaged boats were also loaded on board BRP Lapu-lapu. DA-BFAR allocated separate supplies for the construction of 5, 000 units of wooden and fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) boats for the two regions. Jonathan L. Mayuga

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PhilFida data: Abaca output rises 10.1% to 62,307 MT from January to November By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE country’s abaca output continues to sustain its double-digit expansion as production from January to November rose 10.1 percent year-on-year to 62,307 metric tons (MT), latest government data showed. Data released by Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFida) on Thursday showed that abaca output during the 11-month period expanded by 5,703.59 MT

from the 56,604.32 MT recorded in the same period of last year. PhilFida data showed that abaca production in seven regions posted increments during the reference period, with certain regions registering double-digit growth rates. Abaca out put in Nor ther n Mindanao grew 81.3 percent to 7,530.83 MT from 4,152.71 MT, while production in the Davao Region rose by 11.6 percent to 13,197.60 MT from 11,826.31 MT last year, PhilFida data showed. Data also showed that Cara-

ga’s abaca production grew 8.9 percent to 9,155.03 MT from 8,408.39 MT. Bicol region’s abaca production, the country’s biggest producer of the natural fiber, declined during the 11-month period by 10.4 percent to 18,481.58 MT from 20,636.9 MT due to lower output in Catanduanes. PhilFida data showed that abaca output of Catanduanes fell by 9.1 percent to 15,455.49 MT from 17,010.38 MT. PhilFida Executive Director Kennedy T. Costales earlier explained

that the increase in the nationwide abaca production is attributed to the massive distribution of abaca seedderived planting materials by the government. “We have been massively distributing abaca seed-derived planting materials to our abaca farmers on a first-come, first-served basis for more than four years now,” Costales said in an earlier statement. He said the industry is now seeing the benefits of the distributed planting materials since an abaca plant matures for a maximum of

two years. “Our farmers are now starting to reap its full benefits,” he said. “The second reason is the continued good weather. We again pray for good weather up to the end of the year.” Costales also cited the improvements in PhilFida’s monitoring of traders and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions nationwide contributed to the hike in abaca production. He noted that buying prices by grading baling establishments (GBEs) have been “very stable” and “attractive” to abaca farmers.

Govt eyes procurement of vaccine for kids below 12 after EUA okay

HILDREN below 12 years old may soon get vaccinated against Covid-19. This after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application of Pfizer for its Covid-19 vaccine for children from 5 to 11 years old. In a television interview on Thursday, FDA Director General Enrique “Eric” D. Domingo said they approved the EUA based on the study of the vaccine expert panel on the use of the vaccine in the United States, Europe and Canada. “It has a high efficacy rate. 90 percent for children 5 to 11 years old and at the same time there were no adverse events in the clinical trial. Only mild [side effects], only mild fever and soreness in the area where it was injected,” Domingo said. “There were no unusual or important safety signals for us not to grant the EUA,” he added. He stressed the Pfizer Covid-19 jab used for the said age group will be different from those used for 12 years old and above.

Additional procurement

THE new vaccine, which has the

product name Tozinameran, Covid-19 mRNA vaccine has dosage strength of 10 microgram per dose. “This is of a lower dosage and concentration compared to those used by adults,” Domingo explained. Domingosaidheonlyinformed National Task Force for Covid-19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez Jr. and the Department of Health (DOH) on the need for the procurement a new batch of Covid-19 vaccine Pfizer if they intend to inoculate those who are 5 to 11 years old. He noted the current supply of Pfizer Covid-19 jabs of the government could only be used for those who are 12 years old and above. Kezia Lorraine Rosario of the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) said the proposed procurement is currently under study. “The number of doses [of the new Pfizer vaccine] which will be purchased is currently being studied. This is being done by our policy team, which procure vaccines,” Rosario said. “We don’t have yet the exact figure of the amount. We will share it as soon as we have it,” she added. Samuel P. Medenilla

DTI extends aid to ‘Odette’-hit MSMEs in Visayas and Mindanao By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is allotting a P20-million livelihood seeding program (LSP) to aid the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai) in Visayas and Mindanao provinces. Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters on Thursday that they have offered livelihood grants to about 2,000 MSMEs in Siargao under the Negosyo Serbisyo Sa Barangay program. The department is “currently assessing MSMEs affected in other affected provinces and municipalities and DTI will provide the needed livelihood support,” he said.

‘Relief and rehab’

THE grant in kind is for the “relief and rehabilitation” of the MSMEs, Lopez explained, noting they are given P8,000 to P10,000 worth of products or equipment for their operation. In addition, DTI’s attached agency, the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) will initially allocate a P200-million lending facility. “MSMEs get LSP from DTI and resorts can borrow from the SB Corp. CARES [Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises] program,” Lopez said. The LSP seeks to expand DTI’s efforts in business development assistance through coordination with local government units.

Beneficiaries

THE trade department, through Barangay Development Councils, trains barangay personnel in providing basic business advisory or information services to the MSMEs. The beneficiaries include sole proprietors, cooperatives, or sectoral associations that are located in identified barangay.

Covid-19 cases reach 2,837,903 as DOH logs addl 288 infections on Thursday

OTAL number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 2,837,903 after Department of Health (DOH) logged 288 additional infections on Thursday. There were also 270 recoveries and 65 deaths. Two laboratories were not operational on December 21, while 11 laboratories were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. Based on data in the last 14 days, the 13 non-reporting labs contribute, on average, 9.1 percent of samples tested and 4.0 percent of positive individuals.

Of the 288 reported cases, 241 (84 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days (December 10 to December 23). The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were National Capital Region with 63 or 26 percent, Region 6 with 38 or 16 percent and Region 4A with 27 or 11 percent. Of the 65 deaths, two occurred in December 2021 (3 percent), six in November 2021 (9 percent), 14 in October 2021 (22 percent), 31 in September 2021 (48 percent), four in August 2021 (6 percent), one in July 2021 (2 percent), three in June 2021 (5 percent), three in May 2021 (5 percent), and one in April 2021 (2

percent) due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya. Of the total number of cases, 0.3 percent (9,251) are active, 97.9 percent (2,777,671) have recovered, and 1.80 percent (50,981) have died. Two duplicates were removed from the total case count. These two are recoveries. In addition, 167 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count. Of these, 167 are recoveries. Moreover, 60 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

BJMP avails of Tarlac ARBOs’ agri produce to feed inmates By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will now be the institutional buyer of agricultural produce of four farmers’ organizations based in Tarlac Province, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced on Thursday. The DAR and the BJMP recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program wherein four agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the province will be assured of the steady market for their products. In a news statement, DAR-Tar-

lac Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Jocelyn Ramones said BJMP-Tarlac would regularly buy the vegetable and egg produce of the four ARBOs to provide for the food requirements of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the area. Ramones said the ARBOs who will supply the food requirements of the PDLs in the area are the Ginintuang BUTIL Farmers Association in San Juan de Mata, Tarlac City, Bacabac Farmers Producers Cooperative in Bacabac, Camiling, San Sotero PMPC in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac and San Agustin Agrarian Reform Farmers Association in Victoria, Tarlac. “DAR will assist and empower the agrarian reform beneficiaries [ARBs] and their ARBOs to increase their production and engagement in

agri-based and related enterprises,” she said. The project is being implemented to provide the ARBs the assurance of a ready market for their products and as a form to motivate them to enhance their agricultural production. “The project has a two-way benefit, both for the farmers, for them to get better returns of their investments, and for the PDL consumers, who will have access to better quality food products,” Ramones said. The DAR official hopes to identify more institutional markets that would be interested to buy farmer’s products through marketing agreements, which may include government hospitals and military camps.

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Spain to adopt mask-wearing outdoors amid record surge M ADRID—panish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is convening a special Cabinet meeting Thursday to pass a law by decree that makes it mandatory to wear masks outdoors, amid a record surge in Covid-19 cases. Sánchez announced at a meeting with the leaders of regional governments Wednesday that he was consenting to their appeals

to extend mask-wearing rules, his office said. A decree-law does not require a debate and vote in parliament before taking effect. He also announced a raft of other measures, including an offer to deploy the armed forces to help the regions step up their vaccination rollout and put military hospital beds at their disposal if they are needed. Sánchez said he is targeting 80

percent of the 60-69 age group to have received booster shots by the end of next week, among other goals. Also, Covid-19 tests for professional use will temporarily be placed on sale at pharmacies, amid a reported shortage of tests, and medical teams will be reinforced with retired staff and specialists who earned their qualifications outside the European Union.

Furthermore, fully vaccinated people won’t need to quarantine if they have been in contact with an infected person—a measure that seemed to be aimed at avoiding the shortages of essential personnel. Spain on Tuesday officially recorded almost 50,000 new cases of coronavirus. That’s higher than last January, when a surge placed the national health system under

severe strain. Spain is reporting almost 700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days, more than double the accumulated cases before last year’s Christmas holidays. The Omicron strain has soared from 5 percent of new cases in Spain to 47 percent within one week. Still, vaccinations are credited with sparing many people from

the virus’s worst effects. While last January some 30,000 Covid-19 patients were in the hospital in Spain, now it’s fewer than 8,000. Sánchez told the Spanish parliament Wednesday that 90 percent of the target population 12 and over is fully vaccinated. He told lawmakers: “Don’t worry, families will be able to celebrate Christmas. Spain has prevailed.” AP

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S. Korea marks deadliest day of pandemic as Omicron looms

EOUL, South Korea—South Korea set a new record for Covid-19 deaths on Thursday as officials warned that the highly transmissible Omicron variant could soon become the dominant strain.

In recent weeks, South Korea has been grappling with soaring infections and deaths after it significantly relaxed restrictions in early November as part of efforts to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said a record 109 people died in the last 24hour period, raising the country’s total number of pandemic fatalities to 5,015. It said the number

WHO chief: Blanket booster drives risk prolonging Covid-19 pandemic

ERLIN—The head of the World Health Organization warned Wednesday that blanket booster programs in rich countries risk prolonging the world’s battle with Covid-19 and said that “no country can boost its way out of the pandemic.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the priority must be to reduce deaths and help all countries meet minimum vaccination targets that many still haven’t reached. And he noted that “the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, not unboosted people.” Tedros said that, while vaccines have saved many lives this year, their unequal sharing “has cost many lives.” In 2021, 3.5 million people were lost to Covid-19, he said, and “all of us need to take extra precautions” as the new Omicron variant advances. AP

of patients in serious or critical conditions also hit a fresh high of 1,083. The agency said that additional 6,919 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the national caseload to 589,978. It said authorities have also confirmed 12 more cases of the Omicron variant, pushing the total to 246. The Delta variant is currently accounting for a vast majority of the newly reported cases in South

Korea, but that could change soon. Senior health official Lee Sangwon said earlier this week that it’s possible the Omicron variant would become the dominant strain in South Korea within one or two months. Jaehun Jung, a professor at Gachon University College of Medicine in South Korea, also said that “a meaningful [level] of infections caused by Omicron could occur in our country in February or March.” Alarmed by record-breaking surges of new infections and deaths, South Korea on Saturday restored its toughest distancing rules, such as a four-person cap on private gatherings and a 9 p.m. curfew on restaurants and cafes. The surge has threatened to overwhelm hospitals and was straining the country’s health care. Health Minister Kwon Deokcheol said Wednesday that South

Korea is at “a critical juncture” as the danger of its medical system reaching limits grows. He said breakthrough infections and transmissions among unvaccinated people are responsible for a rising number of critically-ill patients, which he said is much higher than the government had earlier expected when it eased distancing curbs at the start of November. According to government data, 36 people have died at home or facilities while waiting for beds between November 28 and December 18. Other data show that as of Wednesday, about 80 percent of beds at intensive care units for Covid-19 patients in South Korea were occupied. Kwon said the government plans to secure thousands of new beds and establish a capacity to deal with 10,000 new cases. AP

Belgium to tighten rules to counter Omicron rise B

RUSSELS—Belgium will further tighten coronavirus restrictions because of the surging Omicron variant, authorities announced Wednesday, but the country shied away from a full lockdown like in the neighboring Netherlands. Cinemas, theaters and concert halls will be closed and indoor activities banned in Belgium. Sports fans won’t be allowed into stadiums and indoor venues. Shopping will be curtailed with visitors spread out and groups entering a shop limited to two adults, possibly accompanied by children. Bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open until 11 p.m. but under limits. And families were advised to keep visitors to a minimum for Christmas but did not face exact limits. The measures will take effect

Sunday. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said “there is reason for concern. We are facing Omicron.” He added that “what we know about it is bad news,” referring to Omicron’s high transmissibility. “It is a tough package,” virologist Marc Van Ranst said. But much about the Omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. The Belgian measures came despite a strong and steady decline in new Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions. The government said, however, that the lightning fast transmission of Omicron made it necessary to take action earlier rather than later. “It will be dominant soon,” said De Croo. “We have to be more careful that ever.” Emmanuel Andre, who heads

Belgium’s Covid-19 reference lab, said Omicron represented 27 percent of new cases, doubling in as many days. Since last weekend, Belgium’s northern neighbor, The Netherlands, has closed all nonessential stores, bars and restaurants until Jan. 14 and shut schools and universities until Jan. 9. Belgium’s major carnival, in Aalst, was canceled even if the festival drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year was slated for late February. Belgium’s daily new Covid-19 cases have declined 36 percent over the week ending Sunday, to reach about 8,300 in the nation of 11 million. Hospital admissions have declined 34 percent to reach 173 a day. The number of Covid-19 dead has surpassed 28,000. AP

China locks down city of 13 million in protracted battle against Covid-19

hina locked down the western city of Xi’an on Thursday to stamp out a persistent Covid outbreak, its biggest such move since the pandemic started in Wuhan, underscoring how the country’s zero-tolerance approach hasn’t allowed it to move on since the virus emerged nearly two years ago. The 13 million residents of X i ’an were told to remain in their homes and to designate one person to go out every other day for necessities, triggering fights over access to food. Non-essential travel out of the city was banned. This came after a second round of mass testing pinpointed 127 Covid infections scattered across 14 districts, making containment of the virus “grave and complicated,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The rising number of cases underscores the challenge China faces at a time of increased holiday travel and preparation for the winter Olympic Games, which will feature an influx of athletes and their entourages in February. The vast majority of the infections stem from the Delta variant, which spread through most of the world in the summer and fall. The country is girding for the more infectious Omicron strain, which has been shown to evade immunity from vaccination or previous infection.

C hinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan urged “swift” measures to curb the spread of infections, the report said. Sun, whose membership in the 25-person Politburo makes her one of China’s mostsenior officials, also stressed the importance of tightening restrictions on the movement of people to prevent large gatherings in key areas, according to Xinhua.

Protracted battle

The lockdown of Xi’an is the latest escalation in China’s efforts to extinguish local transmission of the Delta variant as it becomes the only country in the world still bent on eliminating the virus and bringing cases to zero. To prevent the infections in Xi’an from flowing into other areas, the city cancelled all domestic flights on Thursday, local media reported in the Paper. Throughout the pandemic, officials have been able to stamp out outbreaks within about a month through mass testing, aggressive contact-tracing and targeted lockdowns. Yet as the virus’s new strains become more infectious, increasingly disruptive measures have been needed to contain outbreaks, putting pressure on the world’s second largest economy. It’s been more than two months since there were no new local cases of Covid in China.

While local authorities have in the past used targeted lockdowns to slow outbreaks in smaller places in China, no major city has been put under mass restrictions since Wuhan in early 2020. It has a similar population size as Xi’an. Officials in Beijing on Thursday acknowledged that there will inevitably be Covid infections at the winter Olympic Games, which are set to begin in early February. They urged all participants to get booster shots to better protect against the virus, especially those caused by the immunityevading Omicron variant.

Covert spread

The outbreak in the city, the capital of many ancient Chinese dynasties that’s known for its terracotta warriors, traced its roots to a flight from Pakistan. A cleaner at a quarantine hotel got infected two weeks ago after disinfecting the rooms of travellers who tested positive upon arrival in China. The virus quickly spread to coworkers, while another chain of transmission may have brought it from the airport to local communities. Many of the early cases were caused by a subtype of the Delta strain. Yet the virus’s subsequent spread hasn’t been fully accounted for, enabling it to covertly fan out across the city and triggering the sweeping lockdown in an effort to

contain it. More than 200 cases have been detected through Thursday. While the number of infections remains small, the fact they are scattered across the city’s 14 districts shows how difficult it will be to contain the outbreak. Officials still haven’t identified some chains of transmission and the city is initiating a third round of mass testing in hopes of spotting them. Subsequent cases have been found in two other cities in the Shaanxi Province, where Xi’an is the capital. Infections also occurred in Beijing and the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Dongguan, where two dozen cases linked to the Xi’an outbreak were detected. On China’s social media, some people described the outbreak as the worst the city has encountered. Videos posted online show people fighting over food and other essential goods in supermarkets as they stock up for the lockdown.

Entrance examination

The outbreak comes as the city is set to hold a graduate school entrance examination for some 135,000 people next weekend. Some have been told to sit for the exam in other cities or provinces, while those who are infected or have been identified as a close contact w ill take the test in quarantine. Bloomberg News

This image provided by Pfizer in October shows the company’s Covid-19 Paxlovid pills. US health regulators on December 22, authorized the first pill against Covid-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. Pfizer via AP

Pfizer pill becomes 1st home Covid treatment

ASHINGTON—US health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against Covid-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. The long-awaited milestone comes as US cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the Omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals. The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster way to treat early Covid-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorized drugs against the disease require an IV or an injection. An antiviral pill from Merck also is expected to soon win authorization. But Pfizer’s drug is all but certain to be the preferred option because of its mild side effects and superior effectiveness, including a nearly 90 percent reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease. “The efficacy is high, the side effects are low and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. “You’re looking at a 90 percent decreased risk of hospitalization and death in a high-risk group—that’s stunning.” The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s drug for adults and children ages 12 and older with a positive Covid-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risks of hospitalization. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease, though the drug is not recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. Children eligible for the drug must weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms). The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against Omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside. Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available worldwide, with roughly 60,000 to 70,000 allocated to the US. The company said it expects to have 250,000 available in the US by the end of January. Federal health officials are expected to ration early shipments to the hardest hit parts of the country. Pfizer said the small supply is due to the manufacturing time—currently about nine months. The company says it can halve production time next year. The US government has agreed to purchase enough Paxlovid to treat 10 million people, and it will be provided free to patients. Pfizer says it’s on track to produce 80 million courses globally next year, under contracts with the UK, Australia and other nations. President Joe Biden said the pill marks a “significant step forward in our path out of the pandemic” and said his administration will work with states to ensure equitable distribution. Health experts agree that vaccination remains the best way to protect against Covid-19. But with roughly 40 million American adults still unvaccinated, effective drugs will be critical to blunting the current and future waves of infection. The US is now reporting more than 140,000 new infections daily and federal officials warn that the omicron variant could send case counts soaring. Omicron has already whipped across the country to become the dominant strain, federal officials confirmed earlier this week. Against that backdrop, experts warn that Paxlovid’s initial impact could be limited. For more than a year, biotech-engineered antibody drugs have been the go-to treatments for Covid-19. But they are expensive, hard to produce and require an injection or infusion, typically given at a hospital or clinic. Also, laboratory testing suggests the two leading antibody drugs used in the US aren’t effective against Omicron. Pfizer’s pill comes with its own challenges. Patients will need a positive Covid-19 test to get a prescription. And Paxlovid has only proven effective if given within five days of symptoms appearing. With testing supplies stretched, experts worry it may be unrealistic for patients to self-diagnose, get tested, see a physician and pick up a prescription within that narrow window. “If you go outside that window of time I fully expect the effectiveness of this drug is going to fall,” said Andrew Pekosz, a Johns Hopkins University virologist. The FDA based its decision on company results from a 2,250-patient trial that showed the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89 percent when given to people with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 within three days of symptoms. Less than 1 percent of patients taking the drug were hospitalized and none died at the end of the 30-day study period, compared with 6.5 percent of patients hospitalized in the group getting a dummy pill, which included nine deaths. Pfizer’s drug is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors, which revolutionized the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. The drugs block a key enzyme that viruses need to multiply in the human body. The US will pay about $500 for each course of Pfizer’s treatment, which consists of three pills taken twice a day for five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid and the third is a different antiviral that helps boost levels of the main drug in the body. AP

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US economy grew at 2.3% rate in Q3, up from earlier estimate

In this image provided by the Ukrainian Board Guard Press Office, Ukrainian border guards watch as a special vehicle digs a trench on the Ukraine-Russia border close to Sumy, Ukraine on December 21. Ukrainian Board Guard Press Office via AP

Russian FM: Security talks with US, NATO to start next month

OSCOW—Russian and US negotiators will sit down for talks early next year to discuss Moscow’s demand for Western guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine, Russia’s top diplomat said Wednesday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia in January will also start separate talks with NATO to discuss the issue, adding that separate negotiations under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will also be held. Last week, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back the alliance’s military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. Washington and its allies have refused to provide such pledges, but said they are ready for the talks. Moscow presented the demands amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine that has stoked fears of a possible invasion. US President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in a conference call earlier this month that Russia will face “severe consequences” if it attacks Ukraine. Putin has denied having plans to launch an attack but has described NATO’s expansion to Ukraine and weapons deployment of the alliance weapons there as a “red line.” “We don’t want a war,” Lavrov said Wednesday. “We don’t want to take the path of confrontation. But we will firmly ensure our security using the means we consider necessary.” Speaking in a live interview with Russian RT television, Lavrov hailed Washington’s “business-like” approach that helped quickly agree on parameters of the future talks. He added that Moscow would be ready to consider Washington’s demands, but warned that the talks mustn’t drag out indefinitely. “I hope that they will take us seriously given the moves we take to ensure our defense capability,” he said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also hailed reaching a quick agreement on the start of the talks, but noted that they should be “aimed at reaching concrete results and not become drawn out.” He added that Moscow expects Washington to present a detailed platform for the talks and be ready for a constructive discussion. “We want these talks,” he said in a conference call with reporters. “And, certainly, the talks are held to discuss each other’s positions.” A key principle of the NATO alliance is that membership is open to any qualifying country, and the US has said it won’t give Russia the kind of guarantee on Ukraine it seeks. In the meantime, the American side is conferring with its European allies. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Ukraine on Wednesday with Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. “They emphasized the need for coordinated action to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and reaffirmed that any further Russian military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences for the Russian Federation,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. Separately, US Army Col. Dave Butler, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, spoke Tuesday with Russian Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff. He said the generals discussed regional security issues, but no details of the conversation were released. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and shortly after cast its support behind a separatist rebellion in the country’s east. The fighting, which started more than seven years ago, has killed over 14,000 people and devastated Ukraine’s industrial heartland, known as the Donbas. Ukraine’s security chief said Wednesday that the country now faces more than 250,000 troops amassed in western Russia. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said that 122,000 Russian troops are concentrated within 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) of the Ukrainian border and another 143,500 Russian soldiers are within a broader, 400-kilometer (250-mile) distance from it. He added that the Ukrainian authorities are closely monitoring the situation. “If the situation exacerbates, it can’t happen momentarily,” Danilov said. “It will require preparation, and we are watching it.” Moscow has rejected Western concerns about the troop concentration, saying it’s free to deploy them wherever it deems necessary on its territory. It has denied the allegations of a planned invasion as a Western smear campaign and, in its turn, accused Ukraine of an intention to reclaim control of the rebel-held areas by force. Ukrainian officials have denied having any such plans. On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that more than 120 US private military contractors are currently operating in two villages near the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, training Ukrainian troops and setting up firing positions in residential buildings and different facilities. He also alleged that they stockpiled toxic chemicals in preparation for a possible provocation. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry strongly rejected Shoigu’s claim as part of a Russian disinformation campaign. In Tuesday’s speech before top military brass, Putin warned that Russia will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if the West continues its aggressive course “on the threshold of our home.” “They must understand that we have nowhere to retreat,” Putin said. Peskov on Wednesday wouldn’t specify what those military-technical steps may include, saying only that they will imply “an entire range of measures to ensure security of the Russian Federation and the deterrent parity.” AP

ASHINGTON—The US economy grew at a 2.3 percent rate in the third quarter, slightly better than previously thought, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. But prospects for a solid rebound going forward are being clouded by the rapid spread of the latest variant of the coronavirus. The third and final look at the performance of the gross domestic product, the nation’s total output of goods and services, was higher than last month’s estimate of 2.1 percent growth. The new-found strength came primarily from stronger consumer spending than what was previously thought, as well as businesses rebuilding their inventories more than initial estimates revealed. The 2.3 percent third quarter gain follows explosive growth that began the year as the country was emerging from the pandemic, at least economically. Growth soared to 6.3 percent in the first quarter and 6.7 percent in the second quarter. The emergence of the Delta variant in the summer was blamed for much of the third quarter slowdown. Now with the appearance of the Omicron variant, coming on top of high inflation and lingering supply chain issues, there are concerns that

growth could be constrained heading into 2022. Those fears have sent the stock market on a turbulent ride in recent days, although new optimism that the Omicron risks will be manageable sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring 560 points Tuesday and rising another 261 points on Wednesday. President Joe Biden convened on Wednesday a meeting of his supply chain disruptions task force virtually and in-person in Washington, where he touted what he said was significant progress in alleviating bottlenecks at the ports and other issues that had created shortages of goods and contributed to higher prices for consumers. Biden said that retail inventories are up 3 percent from last year and on-shelf availability for products is at 90 percent, close to where it was before the pandemic. “Packages are moving. Gifts are being delivered. Shelves are not

empty,” Biden said. Still, it is what is unknown that is of concern to many economists, who say it is far too early to declare an all-clear on the threats posed by the new variant. “History is repeating itself with the Covid virus suddenly reappearing and dampening economic growth prospects,” said Sung Won Sohn, an economics and business professor Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Oxford Economics has trimmed its forecast for economic growth for the current quarter from 7.8 percent to 7.3 percent, which would still represent a sizable rebound from the third-quarter slowdown. After Sen. Joe Manchin voiced opposition to his party’s spending plans, Goldman Sachs cut its GDP forecast to 2 percent from 3 percent for the first quarter, 3 percent from 3.5 percent for the second quarter, and 2.75 percent from 3 percent in third quarter. Kathy Bostjancic, chief US financial economist for Oxford, said the firm’s current assessment was that the resurgence of Covid-19 could reduce growth next year from 4.3 percent to 4.1 percent and that if Biden’s Build Back Better program is completely derailed, that could likely shave another 0.4 percentage points in 2022, lowering it to around 3.7 percent and chop a half-point from growth in 2023, reducing it to below 2 percent. She said under these assumptions, job growth could be 750,000 lower by this time next year if economic growth slows as much as

she fears. “Omicron has been so rampant,” Bostjancic said. “We think it is going to take a pretty big toll on economic activity.” And it is not just the resurgence of Covid that could hold the economy back next year. Inflation has spiked to the highest level in nearly four decades, prompting the Federal Reserve to start pulling back the massive amounts of support it has been providing to the economy as it switches from trying to boost job growth to fighting inflation. Economists expect GDP growth this year to come in around 5.5 percent, which would be the best showing since 1984 and a reversal from last year when the economy shrank by 3.4 percent and the global pandemic erased 22 million jobs early in the year. Wednesday’s report showed that consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of economic activity in the US, grew at a 2 percent rate in the third quarter, down from the 12 percent surge in the April-June quarter, but up from last month’s estimated quarterly gain of 1.7 percent. It is the uncertainty of what is to come, however, that is now concerning economists. “The Omicron variant poses a downside risk in the near term as do supply-chain disruptions and shortages that could be a constraint for households and businesses over coming months,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief US econom i st at H ig h Frequenc y Economics. AP

Omicron may double risk of getting Covid infection on planes–IATA

ircraft passengers are twice or even three times more likely to catch Covid-19 during a flight since the emergence of the omicron variant, according to the top medical adviser to the world’s airlines. The new strain is highly transmissible and has become dominant in a matter of weeks, accounting for more than 70 percent of all new cases in the US alone. While hospital-grade air filters on modern passenger jets make the risk of infection much lower on planes than in crowded places on the ground such as shopping malls, omicron is rapidly spreading just as more travelers take to the skies for year-end holidays and family reunions. Business class may be safer than more densely packed economy cabins, said David Powell, physician and medical adviser to the International A ir Transport Association, which represents almost 300 carriers worldwide. As before, passengers should avoid face-to-face contact and surfaces that are frequently touched, and people sitting near to each other should tr y not to be unmasked at the same time during meals, he said. “The relative risk has probably increased, just as the relative risk of going to the supermarket or catching a bus has increased.” Powell, former chief medical officer at Air New Zealand Ltd., spoke with Bloomberg News on Tuesday about flying during the pandemic. Here’s an edited transcript:

masks, d istancing , control ledboarding procedures, try to avoid face-to-face contact with other customers, try to avoid being unmasked in f light, for meal and drink services, apart from when really necessary. The advice is the same, it’s just that the relative risk has probably increased, just as the relative risk of going to the supermarket or catching a bus has increased with Omicron.

What about masks at meal times? For a two-hour flight, it’s pretty easy to say, ‘just keep your mask on the whole time.’ But if it’s a 10-hour flight, it becomes pretty unreasonable to ask people not to eat and drink. What most airlines have been doing is encouraging, but not insisting, on customers trying to stagger their mask-off periods a little bit. In simple terms, two people masked have minimal transmission from one to the other. If one of you removes your mask, then that person’s at greater risk of transmitting and at slightly greater risk of receiving. But if both of you remove then obviously, there’s no barrier there and you can freely transmit one to the other.

What are the risks of infection during a flight? Whatever the risk was with Delta, we would have to assume the risk would be two to three times greater with Omicron, just as we’ve seen in other environments. Whatever that low risk—we don’t know what it is—on the airplane, it must be increased by a similar amount.

Would it be safest not to fly at all? The greatest protection you can give yourself is to be vaccinated and boosted. The protection that you give yourself from an extra mask or a different type of mask, or not flying at all, frankly, is probably less than the benefit you would get from just being fully boosted. There’s a sort of a rule of thumb starting to appear, that essentially Omicron loses you one vaccine dose of benefit. So, two doses against Omicron is about similar protection to one dose against Delta. That’s not established in hard science, but it roughly seems to correlate with what’s coming out in studies.

What should passengers do to minimize the risks? Avoid common-touch surfaces, hand hygiene wherever possible,

Is it safe for healthy passengers if an Omicron case is sitting on the plane? It’s an enclosed space, but it’s a

leaky box, and we pressurize it by putting a huge airf low on one end of it, and then having an exhaust valve out the other end. So you’re sitting in a very high-f low airf low environment. It is an enclosed space, but that doesn’t shout ‘risk ’ to me. An Irish pub with a fan in the corner shouts ‘risk ’ to me, or a gymnasium with a whole lot of people shouting and grunting and sweating. But any f light you take does involve airports as well, which are a little bit less controlled. So, there is risk there. What can you do? Vaccination, testing, maskwearing, distancing. Are surgical masks better than cloth masks? Yes, probably. On average, maybe 10-20 percent. Having said all that, still, it’s been our observation throughout the pandemic, that airline f lights have been less conducive to spread than other indoor environments. Again, we’re not saying perfect, but compared with restaurants, buses, subways, you know, nightclubs, gyms, all of those that have been studied. The likelihood of transferring to another person is less on an aeroplane. Most of the documented cases of spread in f light are from way back in March 2020—before we had testing, before we had masks, before we had organized boarding procedures, before there was a high degree of awareness about not f lying if you were unwell. What about leaving middle seats on rows empty? It’s incredibly appealing, intuitively. It does give a greater physical distance between you and the next person. But we haven’t seen that actually deliver a whole lot of benefit. But if there’s some cross airf low from the aisle to the window, or the window to the aisle, and you remove the person from the middle seat, you’ve helped the person who would have been in the middle seat. You probably haven’t helped the person in the next seat a whole lot, because it’s likely to drift across without the obstruction of that first person.

Should cabin crew wear full protective clothing, such as body suits and face shields? Probably not. There hasn’t been a lot of passenger-to-crew transmission throughout Covid. There has been some, but it’s very, very small numbers. It’s tended to be passenger-to-passenger or crew-to-crew. And again, very small numbers of crew-to-passenger. Let’s just be stringent about the measures already in place, and wait until we have a bit more data on Omicron. What are the risks of infection at the airport? The requirements for airf lows on board are much more stringent than they are for airport buildings generally. The protections for the airline cabin are: everybody stays seated, facing the same direction, there are these physical barriers that are in the way, you have a high degree of airflow that’s by and large from ceiling to floor, minimal drift along the airplane, a little bit more drift across the airplane. Roughly 50 percent of the airf low is fresh from outside, 50 percent is recirculated, but when it’s recirculated, it’s HEPA-filtered, so it’s clean. Most of those aren’t present i n t he a i r por t ph a se. You’ve got much more random movement, much more potential for face-to-face contact, you’ve got generally reduced airf lows. A ir port ventilation rates are a 10th, maybe, of what they are on the air plane. What about children on the flight? How should families manage them? The risk of severe illness to small children themselves from traveling is low, just because the risk of severe Covid is so low for children. It’s one of the unanswered questions with Omicron. The risk is not so much to them. The risk is that they may be mildly infected, not know it, and potentially be spreading whilst they’re traveling. And so that is a risk. Getting them to keep a mask on is hard. The smaller they are, the harder that’s going to be. Bloomberg News

Biodiversity Sunday BusinessMirror

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A10 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area

A critical habitat in a wetland of intl importance

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

Ecotourism

n the town of Sasmuan, a coastal municipality in Pampanga province, where fishing is a way of life, protecting its coastal resource that harbors some of the world’s unique but threatened species of birds as well as mangrove is a top priority.

Recognizing its importance to saving this important ecosystem that is frequented by migratory birds, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu recently issued DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2021-36 declaring the 405-hectare Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Coastal Wetland in Sasmuan town as a critical habitat and ecotourism area. Under the DAO, the coastal wetland will now be known as the Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (SBMCHEA). It will be managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) local office and the local government of Sasmuan. The declaration, incidentally, also aims to intensify government efforts in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay, while protecting the area against destructive human activities. Paquito Moreno Jr., executive director of the DENR Central Luzon Regional Office, said the DAO would serve as a legal framework to protect the SBMCHEA mangrove forests and mudflats, which are a valuable ecosystem found within the more than 3,000-ha Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetland. It was declared a wetland of international importance in February being the eighth Ramsar Site in the country and the very first in Central Luzon. TheRamsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It is named after Ramsarin Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971.

Haven for migratory birds SBMCHEA is an important habitat to many endemic and threatened water

birds, Moreno explained. He said it is essential to maintain its ecological services and other biological and cultural values, which are fundamental to conserve and enable this ecosystem as a driving force in the region’s socioeconomic and ecotourism growth. With the declaration of the Bangkung Malapad as a critical habitat and ecotourism area, stricter monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws will be done to avert and combat destructive activities within the SBMCHEA. The DAO prohibits the dumping of waste detrimental to wildlife, squatting or occupying any portion of the critical habitat, burning, logging, quarrying, mineral exploration and illegal fishing and fishponds and dumping of hazardous wastes within the SBMCHEA. Moreno also urged the public to report to the DENR any person found violating the law in order to stop them from destroying the environment and sustain the rich natural resources in SBMCHEA. The DENR, along with the local government and communities, will likewise implement the ecotourism area management plan to address site management strategies and activities on habitat protection, rehabilitation, community organizing, promotion of environmental education and awareness, and other sustainability measures.

Mangrove islet A small mangrove islet in Pasak River and part of the large and enclosed sea of Manila Bay was formed by the volcanic sediments from Mount Pinatubo’s devastating eruption in 1991. The area is known for its vast mangrove forests, where species like the Api-api tree, are abundant.

According to Salac, the fact that the area draws tens of thousands of migratory birds, makes it a potential tourist magnet. He said the area, while set aside for conservation, will also be developed for low-impact tourism. “We already have a boardwalk there but we plan to rehabilitate it because it was already dilapidated,” he said.

Information, education

The Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area Photo courtesy of DENR-CL PAO/Don Guevarra More importantly, it continues to serve as an important staging ground for migratory birds that travel halfway across the globe during winter to survive the cold weather.

Sanctuary of endangered birds Interviewed via Zoom on December 10, Audie Salac, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office chief of Pampanga, said under Section 25 of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act the government established guidelines to protect the population of important species. In the case of SBMCHEA, it is established to protect the Philippine duck, black-faced spoonbill, Chinese egret, and far eastern curlew. The area is also a host to the Malaysian plover. Based on a study, SBMCHEA in Batang II barangay, is host to endangered species of migratory birds under the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Since the area is outside a Protected Area, establishing it as a critical area is important. “I am happy to report that this is the first in Region 3 [Central Luzon] and No. 8 in the country that is declared as a critical habitat by virtue of a law or an administrative order issued by the DENR,” Salac said partly in Filipino.

Stronger partnership Don Guevarra, the chief public affairs officer of DENR Central Luzon, said the DENR is strengthening partnerships with the local government units (LGUs) and the community stakeholders, specifically the tourism office. “To promote not only SBMCHEA but the entire Sasmuan, Pampanga Coastal Wetland, we launched a podcast, Project Kalikasan, together with the youth, particularly the Ayala Young Leadership Association-Central Luzon Cluster to give them briefing orientation.We educate them about the importance of SBMCHEA. Some of the members of the podcast project are Pampanga-based. It is important to involve the youth on this because it is new and they don’t know it yet,” he explained. Hunting in the area, in particular, is strictly prohibited. Fortunately, Salac said Sasmuan Pampanga Wetland and the SBMCHEA are safe from bird hunters. However, recently, in Candaba Swamp, some hunters who were trying out their guns in the swamp were arrested. A case was filed against them and the case is ongoing, he added.

Co-management Salac said with the establishment of SBMCHEA, a memorandum of

agreement will be signed by the DENR and the LGU of Sasmuan for the comanagement of the critical habitat. “We will then craft a critical habitat management plan jointly with the LGU and the communities and the fisherfolk to address the sustainable management of SBMCHEA,” he said, adding that he expects funding for the activity by January next year. Crucial to the management of the SBMCHEA, he said, is the protection of the existing mangrove forest, and the conservation of mudflats and seagrasses around it.

Fish trap, artificial reef He shared that branches of mangroves, particularly the Api-Apihan, are being harvested by fishermen to be used for a fish trap-cum-artificial reef, locally known as “bumbon.” to lure fishes that they will catch. “We plan to strictly implement the ban on harvesting from this area to protect the mangrove,” he said. He added that a station was put up by the DENR on the side of the SBMCHEA to enforce the ban. “Cutting off branches and harvesting of natural resources in the area is a big challenge. But we are getting a lot of help from the LGU which is deploying people in the area, too,” Salac said.

Soils in old-growth treetops can store more carbon than soils under our feet T N

Guevarra said the DENR through the Public Affairs Office use social media to educate the people on the protection and conservation of SBMCHEA. “We really need it [social media] to reach the young generation. This year, when it [SBMCHEA] was declared as Ramsar site, we launched a massive education lecture in the communities in the four barangays in Sasmuan. We talked to the barangay, to provide the information and education about the importance of Bangkung Malapad,” he said. “We want to let them know that there are 8,0000 migratory birds that visit the area. But it doesn’t mean that they have 80,000 birds to hunt and divide among themselves,” he joked.

Important ecosystem function Salac said migratory birds play a very important role in the ecosystem. He noted that SBMCHEA is healthy because of the presence of organisms that serve as feed to waterbirds. More importantly, the more birds that visit the area, the more bird droppings that fertilize the mangroves, the mudflats and seagrass areas in the SBMCHEA, which are essential to maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem. “Right now, we are denying requests to plant propagules in the area unless they are accompanied by a DENR officer. We want to protect our mudflats, especially the seagrass, because seagrass is where dugongs and marine turtles go to feasts, too,” Salac said. Guevarra said the DENR’s Public Affairs Office in Central Luzon is actively educating the people about the importance of critical habitats “because if they are destroyed, the benefits of a healthy ecosystem like food and ecotourism are lost forever, too,” he said.

WWF PHL: Address challenges to achieve sustainable tourism

EW ORLEANS—Story carbon on treetop soils? Yes. New research reveals a previously underappreciated way oldgrowth forests have been recycling and storing carbon: treetop soils, an American Geophysical Union (AGU) news release said. The research found out that forest canopy branches can hold caches of soil that may store substantially more carbon than soils on the ground beneath them, and scientists are just beginning to understand how much carbon canopy soils—which exist on every continent except Antarctica— could store. The new research on the unique soils that was presented on December 15 at AGU Fall Meeting 2021 marked the first attempt to quantify carbon capture by canopy soils. The work highlighted another way old-growth forests are rich, complex ecosystems that cannot be quickly replaced by replanting forests. It said that tree branches collect fallen tree leaves and other organic material over hundreds of years, like the ground does. On top of the branches,

the plant litter decomposes as it accumulates, forming a carbon-rich layer that can be several inches thick. The researchers climbed up into the rainforest canopy in Costa Rica, instruments in hand, to find out just how much carbon canopy soils can contain. Active carbon, a short-term storage pool of organic carbon, was three times higher in canopy soil compared to soils underfoot, the researchers found, AGU said. “We knew these would be really organic-rich soils, but we didn’t expect the extremely large amount of carbon compared to mineral soils,” said Hannah Connuck, an undergraduate researcher at Franklin and Marshall College who will be presenting the study results. The researchers are still calculating the total concentration of organic carbon at their research site, but other research has found canopy soils to have up to 10 times higher concentrations of organic carbon, according to soil scientist Peyton Smith, a study co-author and Connuck’s soil science mentor at Texas A&M University. Connuck and Smith also measured

Organic soil formed from epiphyte mats on a tree branch in a tropical humid lower montane rainforest at the Texas A&M University Soltis Center for Research and Education in Costa Rica. H. Connuck photo

how much carbon dioxide was being released by microbial organisms living in the canopy soils, which is critical for knowing whether soils are storing or releasing carbon overall. They found that even though the microbes were releasing higher volumes of carbon dioxide than ground soils, their rate of carbon storage was rapid enough to compensate, likely making canopy soils a net carbon sink that has not been considered in carbon models yet. “It could be a substantial carbon sink, and we need to account for it,” Smith said. Like other soils, canopy soils take a long time to form, and therefore take a long time for a forest to recover if an area of old growth is cut down. The soils also host unique microbiomes, including highly diverse microbial organisms and canopy-specific plants like epiphytic orchids, the AGU news release said. “It’s a good argument for keeping primary and other old-growth forests around, rather than harvesting and replanting with secondary growth forests,” Connuck said.

By Rizal Raoul Reyes

he country has to address three main challenges in order to achieve a genuine sustainable tourism program, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines said. Melody Melo-Rijk, project manager for t he W W F-Phi l ippines’s sustainable Diner Projects, told the BusinessMirror in a recent e-mail interview that one of the major hurdles facing the tourism industry in terms of promoting and implementing sustainable programs is to be one of the top go-to destinations in Asia and in the world. At the same time, Rijk said the country must have vigorous conservation and protection programs of its natural resources. “Another challenge would be to maintain and preserve our cultural heritage and historical attributes which highlights our uniqueness and contributes to our leverage in the field of tourism,” she said. Rijk said the national government and local government units must prioritize the strict implementation of laws pertaining to the environment, most especially in tourist destinations. She added that they should create and implement a sustainable tourism development plan in the local and national level. She said consultations with the private sector could provide support on how they can include sustainability in

their operations. By investing in efficient and sustainable technologies, Rijk said both the government and private sectors can strengthen local economies by providing job opportunities within the communities, providing capacity development among industry players, provision for research and development among others. Meanwhile, Rijk said WWF’s Sustainable Diner Project aims to promote and integrate sustainability principles in the food service sector. Concerning rea-estate development projects, Rijk said, Presidential Decree 1586, or the Establishment of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ succeeding administrative orders and memorandum circulars related to the EIS System, should be complied with and implemented in the pre-development stage of any project in order to balance socioeconomic growth and environmental protection. She pointed out that concerned national government agencies must thoroughly study, evaluate and analyze the materials and documents provided by the project proponents. “Furthermore, public consultations with the local government units and communities must be doneto ensure that the property development must be consistent with or supported by the local land use and tourism development plans,” she said.

Science Sunday

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

BusinessMirror

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 A11

Winning non-invasive wound bacteria detector gives hope for immediate cure

By Lyn B. Resurreccion

Physics department, Anacan noted that with its latest inventions and breakthroughs, the institution aims to create a “culture of excellence and innovation.”

he diagnosis of infectious wounds takes long processes, costly and panful, and which medication, at times, leads to drug resistance. These concerns may end soon with the use of a portable device developed by two students from Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) Manila that allows for fast administering of the right drug. The project—a non-invasive bacteria detector on wounds—is an electrochemical sensor that identifies microbes found in wounds and other topical cuts through quick gas absorption. TIP Manila Electronics Engineering fresh graduates Angelica Moneth Lozano and Shania Xylene Miguel worked on the medical instrument for over a year, the TIP web site said. The project made the team qualify to compete with 33 more student entries in the 2021 James Dyson Awards. The device finished runner-up at Philippine leg of the awards, JDA said in a news release. “Our prototype gives immediate diagnosis of infectious and decaying wounds, skipping long processes of laboratory sampling, which is rather costly and painful,” Lozano said on the TIP web site.

Design

She added that the team tested the device “on diabetic patients at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.” “For results to be accurate, the device’s sensors need to absorb the fumes emitted by the wound from an ideal distance of 1 millimeter to 4 millimeters only. Bacteria present will be shown through an LCD screen in less than five seconds,” Lozano explained.

How the device works The electrochemical gas sensor detects four chemicals—such as ammonia, benzene, toluene and methane—to produce a single output, a concentration of the chemicals in the type of bacteria in the wound, the JDA explained. The signal from the sensor will be picked up by a transducer element, a combination of a bioreceptor and an electrical interface. The transducer signal will be converted into an electronic signal and amplified by a signal amplifier that will then be processed in LCD. The whole system is compacted into a device that could be brought anywhere

The portable non-invasive bacteria detector on wounds (top) and the image on how it works. James Dyson Awards photo inside the hospital as long as there is a power source, JDA added.

Project’s goal The goal of the project, according to Lozano, was to make healthcare accessible to all, especially in a time of crisis.

“Our prototype allows doctors to straightway administer the right drug, since periodic medication makes the human body immune over time,” said TIP Innovation Technology Support Officer Engr. Rommel Anacan. The head of TIP Manila’s Math and

The project underwent an engineering design process that involves constraints, application of engineering standards and tradeoffs among alternatives.Among the design options were: electrochemical sensor, optoelectronic sensor and temperature sensor. It was based on client requirements to create a non-invasive device for detecting bacterial species in infectious wounds considering the following design constraints: reliability, portability, sustainability, economic and safety. “Sensitivity analysis determined the winning design by considering the level of importance of each design constraint,” JDA said. It said that Pareto optimality analysis then validates this. Among the options, a non-invasive detection system using an electrochemical sensor was ultimately considered in creating the prototype based on the client requirements, sensitivity analysis and Pareto optimality analysis. The Pareto analysis identifies the problem areas or tasks that will have the biggest payoff, thereby helps peopleorganize their workloads more effectively.

Alternative tool The project is an alternative tool for checking the bacteria present in a wound faster and more economical way. It can save time in getting the re-

sult than the normal process, where it takes several days to process the laboratory tests. At the same time, it costs cheaper since it will not require another medical machine to identify the bacteria. Instead, a direct portable scanner is used. It can also be used by other nonmedical staff to secure over-the-counter medicines for antimicrobial resistance, the JDA added.

Project prospects The device can be commercialized or sold to health centers to identify open wound bacteria. It can be used as first aid for emergency cases in health-care facilities in rural areas that are not accessible. Being portable and with no need for additional medical equipment to test the wound, the result is faster and can serve more patients at a given time. This could also lead to portable-based medical innovations in the country. “If the innovations are continuously developed, they can evolve into an intelligent portable-based medical tool that can even recommend an appropriate antibiotic and alternative medicines,” JDA said in its web site.

Awards The invention was among the Top 5 in the St. Luke’s Student Innovation Awards in 2019 with the theme, “A Safer, Sustainable, and Connected World.” The James Dyson Awards is an annual global competition that celebrates the works of the brightest and youngest minds in design engineering.

How do fireworks work? The science behind the brilliant colors and sounds

Screenshot from the film “Sinag,” which looked at the science behind solar power, featuring Richelle Joan Gareza Enriquez of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines NCR. DOST-SEI photo

Screenshot from the Best Film in the Youth Category titled, “Snooze,” a documentary on the science of sleep, created by Micah Paulina C. Limlengco of Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus. DOST-SEI photo

Young filmmakers explore science mysteries in 5th Indie-Siyensya

rom the mundane mysteries, such as sleep and solar power to social issues like vaccine hesitancy and environmentally sustainable fishing traditions, everyday science comes to life in the able explorations of the young documentary filmmakers of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI’s) fifth IndieSiyensya Filmmaking Competition. Over five dozen entries from schools and individuals across the Philippines, from Abra to Maguindanao, joined the contest. Their entries consisted of short documentaries relevant to the theme “The Scientist in Me,” aimed at explaining the science behind everyday things. DOST-SEI chose the theme in response to the need for public safety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a way to encourage the youth to see science as an essential part of their everyday lives. “Science is so much more than just a set of facts: it is a way of life, a way of seeing the world,” said DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo. “This innate ability to see the

world anew is a philosophy of hope that is much needed, especially in these times. It is for this reason that we chose the theme, ‘The Scientist in Me,’” Biyo added. Despite the constraints of the pandemic, the the number and quality of entries didn’t disappoint. For “Youth Category” for high school, tertiary school and outof-school youth aged 13 to 20, the winners were: “Snooze,” a documentary on the science of sleep, by Micah Paulina C. Limlengco of Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus “Agam- Agham,” a Filipinolanguage investigation of vaccine hesitancy, by Mary Antonette G. Agapito, Malena Riz C. Ballon, Juliana Krishna W. Guevarra, Val Allen U. Eltagonde, and Divine Mae R. Manadong of Rizal National Science High School (Region4 A) “Marvels of Science: NonNewtonian Fluid,” an exploration of the strange properties of a homemade material, by De La Salle University Integrated School-Manila (National Capital Region [NCR]) For the “Open Category” for college students, teachers, and S&T

professionals, the winners were: “Sinag,” a look at the surprising science of solar power, by Richelle Joan Gareza Enriquez of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines NCR “Super Sci Yan,” an exploration of alternative energy sources, by Kenneth Peterson F. Leviste of Arkos Digital NCR “Yankaw,” an investigative documentary of a sustainable traditional Filipino fishing practice, by Khristine L. Sandoval of NU Sports Academy, Laguna, Region 4A The films were judged based on scientific content, idea execution, and filmmaking technique. Winners for each category received trophies and cash prizes worth P100,000 for the Best Film, P50,000 pesos for the second prize, and P30,000 for the third prize. In addition, both “Marvels of Science: Non-Newtonian Fluid” and “Yankaw” also received the Viewer’s Choice Award, with an additional P20,000 each. The winning entries may be viewed for free at the following link: https://bit.ly/5thIndieWinners.

S&T Media Services

or many people around the world, the very first moments of the new year will be filled with the sounds and colorful light shows of fireworks. From loud bangs to long whistles, bright reds to pale blues, there are thousands of variations of fireworks and an entire branch of chemistry that explores these fun explosions. I’m a chemist and president of the Pyrotechnics Guild International, an organization that promotes the safe use of fireworks and their use to celebrate holidays like the New Year. There are hundreds of chemical formulas—or as I like to think of them, pyrotechnic recipes—for fireworks. These recipes are still based off an ancient mixture of chemicals that produces the quintessential bang, but modern fireworks use all sorts of chemical magic to put on the incredible shows of today.

It all starts with black powder

The first ingredient of any firework is the ancient explosive black powder. It was discovered by Chinese alchemists more than a thousand years ago, and the recipe has been virtually unchanged in the centuries since. To make black powder, all you need to do is mix 75 percent potassium nitrate, 15 percent charcoal and 10-percent sulfur. To make a basic firework or fire cracker, you just put this powder in a container, usually made of thick cardboard or paper. Black powder is used to launch the firework in the air as well as ignite and propel the effects—like color—into a pattern in the sky. So how does it work? Once lit with a fuse or spark, the sulfur melts first at 235 F (112.8 C). The sulfur flows over the potassium nitrate and charcoal, which then burn. This combustion reaction quickly produces a large amount of energy and gas—in other words, an explosion. If there is a small hole for the gas to escape, the reaction launches the firework into the air. In a very confined space, it blasts the components of the firework apart and ignites everything nearby. In addition to changing how confined the black powder is, changing

Fireworks over Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve 2007 Wikimedia Commons the size of the granules of powder can change how fast it burns, too. Think about a campfire. When you add a large tree limb the flames burn longer and slower. If you toss a handful of sawdust into the flame it burns hot and fast. Black powder works similarly, and this makes it easy to control how much and how fast energy is released.

Different chemicals for different colors

If you put very fine black powder powder in a confined space it explodes in a cloud of heat, gas and noise. So where do the colors and bright light come from? When you heat up any material, what you’re really doing is putting energy into the electrons of that material’s atoms. If you excite the electrons enough, when they fall back to their normal energy levels they release that excess energy as light. There are a number of different elements that, when added to a firework and heated, release different wavelengths of light that appear as different colors. Strontium makes red. Barium produces green. Copper burns blue, and so on. Making fireworks that produce blues has long been a challenge for fireworks chemists. Deep blues are too dark and can’t be seen against the night sky. But if the blue is too light, it appears white. So the wavelength of the “perfect blue” has to be very precise. This is hard to achieve because blue light has a shorter wavelength—meaning the distance between the peaks and valleys of the wave of light are very close together.

Certain elements produce different colors, but what about sparkles and flashes? To make these effects, various metals can be added to the pyrotechnic formulas. Aluminum, magnesium and titanium all produce white sparks. By adding iron you get gold sparks. Mixing in various types of charcoal can produce red and orange sparks. Each of these elements burns at a different speed and in a different way and so produces varying colors and intensities of light.

Making a whistle or a boom

The final piece of a good firework is an exciting sound effect. To add sound effects to fireworks you need a formula that produces a large amount of gas very quickly. If a firework has a small opening for the gas to exit through it will produce a whistling sound. The velocity of the gas and size of the opening will vary the pitch and sound of a whistle. Making a boom is much easier. Simply put an energetic formula in a confined space with nowhere for the gas to go. W hen ignited, the pressure will build and the firework will explode, producing a sudden boom or bang. As you watch the fireworks this New Year’s Eve or launch some of your own in the backyard, you’ll now know how they work. Fireworks are a lot of fun, but the explosions and burning chemicals are dangerous—even if they do come in colorful packaging. If you can legally launch consumer fireworks in your town, please handle them properly. Paul E. Smith ,Purdue

University/The Conversation (CC)

Faith

Sunday

A12 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph

‘Let us celebrate the birth of Christ through kindness, compassion and generosity.’

Surigao Bishop: ‘Calling Odette supertyphoon is understatement’ B ishop Antonieto Cabajog of Surigao appealed for prayers as the diocese reels from the aftermath of the powerful supertyphoon Odette that wreaked havoc across the nation.

He said Surigao del Norte suffered “sizeable damage” from the typhoon, which made its first landfall on the province’s Siargao Island, a popular tourist and surfing destination. “Please continue to pray for the Diocese of Surigao,” Cabajog said in a message sent to the bishops’ conference from Butuan City. “Never in my entire life have I encountered such a typhoon. To say ‘super’ is an understatement,” he said. The typhoon, according to him, manifested its “super strength” around 1 p.m. and unleashed more strength and peaked around 3 p.m. on Thursday last week. “Blinding torrential rains and howling winds no man could take standing up hammered us for more than three hours,” he said. Siargao and Dinagat province, the prelate said, “were worst hit with unofficial reports of many casualties.” Odette intensified into a super typhoon before making a landfall on Siargao on Thursday, forcing mass evacuation in low-lying areas. Packing a maximum sustained winds of up to 195 km, the 15th typhoon to enter the Philippine territory this year destroyed houses displacing thousands of families. T he second-most power f u l typhoon to hit the country this year also cut power and communication lines in the affected areas. Power and communication lines were down the areas on Odette’s path, hampering efforts to get the extent of damage difficult.

The prelate said mainland parishes seem to have suffered lesser damage than those in the city. The storm also devastated several heavily populated areas, including Bohol, Cebu and Southern Leyte provinces. As of Wednesday at least 11 people have been confirmed dead due to the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRR MC) reported. The agency said it is still validating reports of another 166 deaths due to the typhoon. Meanwhile, NDR R MC said Odette has affected 3,473 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Appealing help for the typhoon victims, the bishop said that food and water are priority needs in badly hit areas. “In spite of a l l these, the strong faith of the people stands out as their pillar of comfort and support,” he said.

‘Avoid lavish Christmas parties, help typhoon victims’

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the faithful to do away with lavish Christmas parties in solidarity with the victims of typhoon Odette. CBCP president and Bishop Pablo Virgilio David urged Catholics to instead set aside money

With no visible house standing, residents salvage whatever they could from their destroyed houses in Ubay town, Bohol province, a day after Supertyphoon Odette ravaged the town. COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF TAGBILARAN

for the devastated communities. “Perhaps instead of spending a lot on lavish Christmas parties and exchange gifts, we can put together whatever we can and contribute it to relief operations,” David said.

Caritas PHL raises emergency aid for typhoon victims

Caritas Philippines has launched an appeal to help the communities devastated by typhoon Odette that claimed dozens of lives. National Caritas Executive Secretary, Fr. Antonio Labiao, said many dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao regions were “devastated” by the typhoon. “They need shelter materials, food, water and medicines urgently. That is why we are appealing for your help,” Labiao said. “Let us please respond with generosity,” David said.

Of the at least 10 dioceses the Caritas initially reported that were ravaged by the ty phoon, the Cebu archdiocese and the dioceses of Tagbilaran, Maasin and Surigao are considered “severely damaged.” “We are sending this appeal to everyone. As we prepare for Christmas, let us not forget the Filipino families, especially children, who were affected by typhoon Odette,” Labiao said. “Let us celebrate the birth of Christ through our kindness, compa ssion a nd generosit y,” he added. Several dioceses held a second collection during Sunday Masses to augment the Church’s emergency response. An initial P3 million from the church’s Alay Kapwa fund was released for the affected dioceses’ emergency relief operations.

Caritas Manila also provided an initial P2.5 million to help in the church’s relief efforts. David, bishop of Kalookan, said the “Alay Kapwa Solidarity Fund” will be used for the Church’s collective emergency response. “We encourage everyone to remit all collections to Caritas Philippines that will then plan and implement our overall response,” David said. The church’s social action arm, he added, will also provide the dioceses reports and updates on a regular basis. “May this season of giving offer us more opportunities to do consistent acts of Alay Kapwa [offering of oneself],” he also said.

National days of prayer

The Catholic Church has set national days of prayer for families affected by Supertyphoon Odette.

The CBCP called on dioceses to dedicate December 25 and December 26 to pray for the recovery of communities affected by the typhoon. For his part, Pope Francis asked for prayers and assistance for victims of the super typhoon. After praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the pope expressed his closeness to Filipinos suffering from the devastation caused by Odette. “I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong ty phoon, which has destroyed many homes,” the pope said. “May the Santo Niño [de Cebú] bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire all of us to give concrete help. The first concrete help is prayer, and other aids,” he added. CBCP News

Pope Francis: Let us focus on helping others this Christmas

ATICAN—A good way to get out of a cycle of selfpity or a negative mood is to help others, following the example of the Virgin Mary, who went to help her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, Pope Francis said recently. “Let us learn from Our Lady this way of reacting: to get up, especially when difficulties threaten to crush us. To arise, so as not to get bogged down in problems, sinking into self-pity and a sadness that paralyzes,” he said in his Angelus prayer. “But why get up?” he asked. “Because God is great and is ready to lift us up if we reach out to him. So let us cast away the negative thoughts, the fears that block every impulse and prevent us from moving forward. And then let’s do as Mary did: let’s look around and look for someone to whom we can be of help.”

During his weekly address and Angelus prayer, the pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, in which Mary, who just received the news that she is pregnant with the Son of God, sets out “in haste” to see her older cousin Elizabeth, who she has heard is also pregnant. “She arose and went,” Francis said. “In the last stretch of the journey of Advent, let us be guided by these two verbs. To arise and to go in haste: these are the two movements that Mary made and that she invites us also to make as Christmas approaches.” The pope encouraged people to do a small kindness for someone else, such as calling an elderly person, or giving them a little company. “By helping others, we help ourselves to rise up from difficulties,” he said. Pope Francis also emphasized

Pope Francis gives the Angelus address on December 19. VATICAN MEDIA

the Gospel’s words that Mary went “in haste” to her cousin Elizabeth, explaining that this does not mean acting “with agitation, in a hurried manner.” “Instead it means conducting our days with a joyful step, looking ahead with confidence, without dragging our feet, as slaves to complaints, always

looking for someone to blame,” he stated. Explaining that Mary’s journey to Elizabeth’s house was made with a heart full of God and his joy, he encouraged people to ask themselves how they are moving through life. “Am I proactive or do I linger in melancholy? Do I

move forward with hope or do I stop and feel sorry for myself?” he said. “If we proceed with the tired step of grumbling and talking, we will not bring God to anyone,” he continued. “Instead, it does great good to cultivate a healthy sense of humor, as did, for example, Saint Thomas More or Saint Philip Neri. We can also ask for this grace, the grace of a healthy humor: it does so much good.” The pope also recalled the importance of greeting the people we encounter with a smile. “Let us not forget that the first act of charity we can do for our neighbor is to offer him a serene and smiling face. It is to bring them the joy of Jesus, as Mary did with Elizabeth,” he said. “May the Mother of God take us by the hand, and may

she help us to arise and to go in haste toward Christmas,” he concluded. After praying the Angelus, a traditional Marian prayer, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow and closeness to the people of the Philippines, who were struck by devastating supertyphoon Odette (international code Rai) on December 16, with winds around 120 miles per hour, hit the south-eastern islands, destroying homes, schools, and hospitals. “I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong typhoon, which has destroyed many homes,” he said. “May the Santo Niño [de Cebú] bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire all of us to give concrete help. The first concrete help is prayer, and other aids.” Hannah

Brockhaus/Catholic News Agency via CBCP News

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, December 24,2021 2021 A13 A13 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26,

A14 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

‘We are policemen; we are not robbers!’

F there’s a contest for Best Quotation of the Year, these words uttered by an angry National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief, Police Maj. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr., should be 2021’s runaway winner. They were castigating words addressed to police scalawags arrested for stealing P30 million from a couple in Pasig City, but they had a reassuring effect on us, ordinary citizens. Danao’s words reflect what kind of discipline he wants to instill into his organization in pursuit of ethical behavior. And his message is clear: “We are policemen,” sworn to serve the community, protect the people and maintain peace and order. “We are not robbers,” we don’t abuse our authority; we don’t steal. Period. The PNP’s work is rarely presented to the public in a positive light. And we want to take this opportunity to commend and congratulate the responding members of the Pasig City police force who nabbed four active-duty Taguig City policemen that reportedly stole over P30 million in cash from a Japanese national and his Filipina live-in partner in Pasig City at midnight on Saturday. The scalawags in uniform made it appear that they are conducting an antiillegal drugs operation. Danao was fuming mad when the suspects were presented to him, knowing that these cops have impaired the credibility of the PNP’s campaign on illegal drugs. “We are policemen; we are not robbers!” Danao hollered, as he reminded them that they couldn’t conduct such an operation without a search warrant. Investigation showed that the suspects entered the house of the victims in Brgy. Kapitolyo in Pasig City around 12:10 a.m. on December 18 for alleged violation of Republic Act 9165. However, after ransacking the house, they did not arrest the couple, and instead cleared out in haste, riding two motorcycles and taking with them P30 million in cash and an iPhone13 Promax worth P100,000 (Read, ‘We’re cops, not robbers!’ NCRPO chief fumes as 4 policemen rob Japanese man in Pasig, in the BusinessMirror, December 18, 2021). After the suspects fled, the victims quickly ran outside the house to ask for help. “Fortunately, they saw a police nearby who immediately called for assistance and our Pasig policemen immediately responded,” said Danao, who commended the Pasig City police for their quick action. Responding policemen from Pasig City arrested Police Staff Sergeant Jayson Bartolome, Police Corporal Merick Desoloc, PCpl Christian Jerome Reyes, and Patrolman Pat Kirk Joshua Almojera. A civilian, identified as John Carlo Atienza, was found dead. Danao said a manhunt operation is ongoing for two other suspects identified as Ferdinand Pallaria, a dismissed policeman, and Rowel Galan. In 2018, President Duterte fulfilled his campaign promise to increase the salaries of cops and soldiers when he signed into law Congress Joint Resolution No. 1, s. 2018, which doubled the base pay of a Police Officer I in the Philippine National Police or a Private in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and equivalent ranks in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. “Nakakaiyak lang, eh, naibigay namin lahat ng pondo na dapat at maaaring iparating, pinaparating ko na. Dinadagdagan ko nga para walang mangyari na ganito,” Danao lamented. Our cops don’t always get any appreciation from the public for the dangerous work they do. We are lucky to have brave policemen like the members of the Pasig City police force that arrested their fellow active-duty policemen who committed the crime. We salute you, sirs! You are the kind of cops that this country needs. May your tribe increase. We are grateful for your dedication and hard work.

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All About Social Security

ow fast time flies as 2021 is almost over. A few days from now, we will be welcoming another year—2022! It’s time to set new goals and plans for the New Year, which may probably include a change in employment, business ventures, financial investments, and travel opportunities. But whatever lies ahead, or whatever choices we make for our personal or professional improvement, we are full of hope that the coming year is going to be better. When you have plans of travelling, even local or overseas, it is a basic requirement for an individual to have a proper identification especially if you will be applying for your passport. And for that, you will need to present your valid identification card before you can facilitate and complete your transaction. Automatically, one of the major IDs being acknowledged specifically in banks, private and government transactions is the Unified MultiPurpose ID card being issued by the Social Security System. Why is this so? Primarily because it easily verifies the card holder’s identity as the one the cardholder claims to be, it gives access to the member’s record, and the IDs with EMV chip can even be used as an ATM or as a contactless payment method like what SSS has added to its UMID card’s features. The UMID card can be used to

transact with government agencies, not just with SSS but also with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG. During the pandemic in 2020, we have suspended the UMID Capture effective April 2020 as basic precautionary measures to prioritize the health and safety of our members. Starting September 27, 2021, SSS has resumed the acceptance of UMID card applications in its branches. Under the guidelines, UMID Card applications must be submitted at SSS branches through walk-in following the number coding system, or by setting an appointment with your preferred branch using the Appointment System in the My.SSS Member Portal. Visit the SSS Website to find the list of SSS branches/ Service Offices accepting UMID card applications. Those who are qualified to ap-

ply for SSS-issued UMID cards are members with at least one posted contribution. It is free of charge for first-time applicants, but for those who lost their UMID cards or need to update them, they will have to pay P200 replacement fee at the SSS branch. Members who applied for an SS Number online starting December 10, 2020 will no longer need to fill out a UMID card application form. They just need to set an appointment with their preferred SSS branch for biometric data capture and present their printed SS Number application and transaction number slip. However, they may still opt to file for manual UMID card application in SSS Branches/Service & Foreign Offices. To apply, members need to bring the following: 1. One properly accomplished UMID application form. To minimize the time spent in the branch and to facilitate filing of UMID application, we encourage you to download the form from the SSS web site at www.sss.gov.ph and accomplish the same before going to the SSS branch. 2. One primary valid ID or in its absence, two secondary valid IDs. A notification will be issued to UMID card applicants when their cards are available for pick-up. For members who are applying for work in Taiwan, the SSS will continue to issue certification in lieu of the SSS-issued UMID card to facilitate their visa application. SSS is the only institution authorized to produce the UMID card for

Agriculture: Our economy’s backbone Cielito F. Habito

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Aurora C. Ignacio

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Resumption of the Unified Multi-purpose Identification Card Application

EAGLE WATCH

Sour economy reeled under the severest lockdown imposed anywhere in response to Covid-19, few probably realize that our agriculture sector actually demonstrated strength and resilience. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show that at the economy’s worst contraction in the second quarter last year, agriculture actually grew by 1.6 percent when both the industry and services sectors suffered double-digit declines of 21.8 and 17.1 percent, respectively. The sector also continued to provide more jobs, actually absorbing workers displaced from industry and services. As the pandemic raged on in Q3-2020, agriculture continued to grow positively (by 1.2 percent) while industry and services continued double-digit declines. This innate strength that agriculture showed would not be evident if one looks only at the sector’s aggregate growth rate for the full year 2020 (-0.2 percent) and the first three quarters of 2021 so far (-1.0 percent). But drilling down into specific crop industries reveals the sector’s resilience. Remarkably,

rice production grew well during the worst of the pandemic, i.e., in Q2 and Q3 of 2020, by 7.2 and 15.4 percent, respectively; in 2021, it has grown by 5.2 percent so far. This defies doomsayers’ alarmist claims that the Rice Tariffication Law that ended government monopoly and control over rice trade would discourage production

and kill the industry. Instead, what appears to be unfolding is the intended effect of that long-delayed reform: induce greater productivity, lower production costs, and improve competitiveness in the industry— and push government to make that happen. Meanwhile, sugarcane grew by 25.3 percent in 2020, and zoomed 100.9 percent in Q3-2020. Important crops like corn, pineapple, cacao, rubber, and coffee likewise defied the pandemic recession last year, and even more so this year, based on data for the first nine months. In fact, the only reason full year growth was slightly negative last year was that in the first quarter, the Taal volcano eruption wrought damage to crops in CALABARZON, the fourth largest agricultural region of the country. Then in the fourth quarter, Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses wreaked their havoc. Without those calamities, agriculture would have posted positive growth throughout last year. On top of the calamities, the rampaging African swine fever killed a large segment of the country’s swine population, pushing livestock into significant negative growth. The swine

workers in the private sector. Please be wary of the scammers and fixers who offer their services online or on the street claiming that they can produce the UMID card for a minimal fee. Do not risk the integrity of your personal information by sharing them with unscrupulous people trying to make money by tricking other people. If you know someone who is involved in this illegal activity, you may report them to: Special Investigation Department 4/F SSS Main Office, East Avenue, Quezon City Telephone Number: 8709-7198 local 5313 to 5316 Let me also add that the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is now included in the Standard List of Identification (ID) cards/ documents for SSS transactions. It will be accepted as sufficient proof of identity. This is in compliance with Republic Act 11055 also known as the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act dated August 06, 2018. Always keep your IDs safe and secure. Please also refrain from posting your IDs online as this may lead to identity theft and other cases of fraud. Let us keep safe and healthy during this holiday season. My warmest greetings to everyone. Merry Christmas to all!

Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer. We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss. gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.

pandemic persists in 2021 and has led to even deeper contraction (-19.7 percent) in livestock so far. Omitting livestock, the rest of agriculture actually grew by 2.2 percent this year so far. Further back, agriculture had actually grown even faster than the industry sector in the early part of the century (2000-2005), at 3.6 percent annual average versus the latter’s 3.5 percent. Unfortunately, the sector had since become a drag on overall economic growth, with its average annual growth rate slowing down successively in the next five-year periods to 2.2 percent (2006-2010), 1.4 percent (2011-2015), and 1.2 percent (2016-2020). Still, it should be noted that domestic production remains the dominant source of food for Filipinos, with sufficiency ratios for various farm products ranging from 60-156 percent (80156 percent if beef is excluded). In fact, PSA data show that per capita food availability has increased since the 1990s for major food crops including rice, vegetables, meat, and fish, even as we hear claims that the country has become more dependent See “Eagle Watch,” A15

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

EagleWatch. . . continued from A14

on imports. The data indicate that even as agricultural imports rose in absolute terms, these have actually not dislodged domestic production on a per capita basis. But Food and Agriculture Organization data show that Philippine agricultural productivity remains low compared to its Asean peers and lacks diversification. All together, these observations tell us that there remains great scope for improving agricultural performance in the Philippines. Apart from having shown innate resilience and wide scope for faster growth, there are other reasons why agriculture is crucial. It is the economic sector that is most inclusive, both sectorally and geographically. It directly contributes a fifth of all jobs in the economy, or even up to two-thirds if we count other closely linked industries. It has wide backward and forward linkages in the domestic economy. It is present in every region of the country, including the National Capital Region, especially now that the pandemic has highlighted opportunities in urban agriculture. And unlike industry and services that are dominated by Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces, agriculture production is much more evenly distributed across the country’s regions. All told, we must look to agriculture as our economy’s ultimate backbone as we chart our path to economic recovery and post-pandemic growth. It is the sector whose growth would be the tide that truly lifts all boats. Cielito F. Habito is a Professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University and Director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

The Other Night before Christmas Tito Genova Valiente

annotations

ong before the Three Magis were born, a discussion ensued among the Archangels and other Angels. They knew that nothing in this universe was ever left to chance. Destiny lorded it over creation. God knew that. He, of course, would not want to belabor that. It would cause much philosophizing, too much talk and He knew how speech ruined kingdoms. If there was a curse that he hurled like a tired lightning, it was that men (for it was only men considered then during that Time before Time) possessed varied languages, that they be given not the gift of understanding but the curse of confusion. The problem with this bane was God neglected to issue a caveat. The result was a blooming of different thought couched in the words that Angels and Archangels, Seraphims and Dominations themselves could not make sense of. Imagine winged, powerful creatures marveling at each other’s divine strength. Imagine these beings hearing sounds without sounds travelling through the ether and imagine them not being able to read the cuneiforms and hieroglyphics floating mindlessly in front of them. The heavens knew what happened when angels, slightly lower than God, went into debate: they wrestled with their mind, which could bring about deluge or even the birth of Snakes that challenged the gatekeeper of the Garden where the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was planted.

We all knew the consequences of the Snake and the Deluge. Anyway, there was chaos once more in Heaven during that day. That day was the moment—which meant a thousand lifetime among the clouds—when the conference for the First Christmas took place before the citizens of God’s kingdom. Why should they be kings? Raphael was contesting the idea that kings be the ones to lead the search for the birthplace of the Messiah. The idea of the Son of God was already processed for millions of years but it was the bright idea of Uriel, He of the Light and Fire of God, that three Kings from the East be sent signs about the birth of Jesus. The sign would be a blazing Star. Michael was non-committal and was not quite active in the fiery exchange of ideas, which was a bit odd seeing how he was brandishing his flaming sword. He had only one concern – that no Devil would show himself in that cave in Bethlehem. A cave? Azrael was baffled. The Angel of Death seemed shocked that birth would occur in a place that

prayed to dying. Alright, alright, it was Raphael again, he of wisdom and intellectual pursuits, beaming, his mouth glistening with a million suns and his brain tingling with more stars that there were in Heaven. Let us change them to “Magis.” Banish kings. Let us have Wise men. Men of Science. They will be charting the skies, not manipulating political plans. They will consult writings older than the Four Rivers in the Garden of Eden. Another Archangel was quiet during the tumult. He was Gabriel. His duty was to tell a Woman many news, all of them mysterious and beyond human comprehension. It was a grave duty. First, Gabriel should make sure his message was clear and not open to misinterpretation. And so while all his cohorts were bothered about kings and wise men, he was deep in thoughts about his task. These were Gabriel’s ruminations: How can I convince this woman that she would bear child without knowing a man? And would she believe that what she would give birth to would be the Son of God? As if that was not enough, Gabriel almost gagged at the thought that, maybe, he needed to tell the poor husband of this woman to accept the news. But he did well, Gabriel. While all the village was quiet, he caused the

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 A15

small window to the simple room of the Woman. There was no question about it, he would not be his usual majestic self. He would be simple, too. No mighty wings. No macho, handsome face. Just a voice, soft and comforting: Hail, M… Gabriel knew it was not original. Another god once showed himself to

Niobe as a flash of light. But how would the Wise Men find the birthplace of this Son of God. Jophiel, the Angel of Beauty, would not miss this moment for his sacred life: The Wise Men would follow the scent of the most beautiful of flowers. Ariel, the archangel of animals and nature, had a better idea: Why not

The Lame Duck Presidency Biden tries Covid cajoling, But everything’s not lost on avoids new decrees that divide President Duterte whom I have faithfully served during the first By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar

Associated Press

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden’s message to the American people on confronting Omicron comes with a heavy dose of cajoling, while some other countries are issuing edicts to their citizens as the new coronavirus variant takes over with breathtaking speed. America’s polarized reaction to vaccines and masks, and its system of government in which states have broad authority over health matters, limit some of the options Biden can exercise—at least without igniting political flareups that could distract from the urgency of his message. “What we have learned is politics matters,” said Jen Kates, who directs global health work for the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. “You would have expected us to weather the storm, and we haven’t.” “We are a big country, we are a complex country, and on every issue partisans are divided,” she said. “That, coupled with local control, and we end up with a disjointed response.” In France, Prime Minister Jean Castex has banned public concerts and fireworks displays at New Year’s celebrations while calling on people to avoid large gatherings and limit the number of family members coming together for Christmas. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal government is advising citizens not to travel, backing that with a stiff warning that if they test positive abroad they won’t be able to get on a flight to return, and could be stranded. In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and state governors agreed on restrictions to take effect before the new year, including limiting private gatherings to 10 people, closing nightclubs nationwide and holding large events like soccer matches without in-person audiences. In the US, Biden has not issued fresh travel warnings nor urged the cancellation of public events. He stands by his workplace vaccine mandate, which is caught up in litigation. But he has held back from actions such as a vaccination requirement for air travel, which some public health experts have called for.

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, the president seemed to be taking pains to try to connect with viewers on TV. He avoided a catchphrase that he and other members of his administration have often used —“pandemic of the unvaccinated”— and instead tried to appeal to vaccine refusers as fellow Americans. “I, honest to God, believe it’s your patriotic duty,” Biden said, urging the unvaccinated to get their shots. He even invoked his Republican predecessor. “Just the other day, former President [Donald] Trump announced he had gotten his booster shot,” Biden said. “It may be one of the few things he and I agree on.” To vaccinated Americans, the president’s message was a flashing yellow light to use caution and common sense as they go ahead with their holiday plans. To the unvaccinated, it was meant as a flashing red light to pause, take a good look, and reconsider their stance. “You have an obligation to yourselves, to your family,” said Biden. “Get vaccinated now,” he pleaded. “It’s free. It’s convenient. I promise you, it saves lives.” But it’s unclear what, if anything, will persuade some 40 million US adults who remain unvaccinated. A Kaiser foundation poll out this week found that only about 1 in 8 unvaccinated adults said the emergence of Omicron has made them more likely to get a shot. Earlier Kaiser polling highlighted the partisan and ideological splits. A survey last month found that 55 percent of unvaccinated adults are Republicans or lean to the GOP. That’s compared to 16 percent for the Democrats. A quarter of all Republicans say they will definitely not get a shot, compared to just 2 percent of Democrats who say the same. The US under Covid is like two nations, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He’s not sure Biden’s message will connect with vaccine refusers. About two-thirds of Americans understand that vaccines can help them, Hotez said, but about onefourth to one-third “are living under a rock.”

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

O be called a lame duck president is the unkindest description ever given to a sitting president. He remains in power but his days in office are numbered since he will be replaced by a successor who has been elected or soon to be elected. Becoming a lame duck is the common destiny of all presidents during their dwindling days in office while waiting for their duly elected successor to be inaugurated and assume power. It must be a terrible period for someone who once held all the powers in the world and occupied the center of the universe to be stripped of his position, privilege and pelf. How does a president spend his waning days in office? In his book, “Pitiful Giants: Presidents in Their Final Terms”, author Daniel Franklin said: “Lame duck periods for presidents are typically sad times, full of nostalgia and reflection. They are particularly difficult when the opposing party wins the election.” Many lame ducks are content to perform merely perfunctory functions, quietly carrying out administrative duties devoid of any policy initiatives, which they reserve for their successor. In more ways, the incumbent president is more concerned with setting the orderly transition of power in favor of the incoming president. It’s definitely not the time to initiate bold policy measures prior to his departure from Malacañang. However, some presidents continue to work hard and pursue their agenda until they turn Malacañang over to its new tenant. For instance, I don’t think President Carlos P. Garcia or President Cory Aquino slowed down during their pre-departure from the palace by the Pasig River. They might have different motivations for their actions. One might be driven by his perverted design to undermine the next administration while the other to sublimely protect her legacy encouraged by a friendly successor who took over her place. Others don’t take losing their po-

sition in good spirit and even create chaos before leaving. One example is the case of former US President Donald J.Trump who was even impeached after losing his re-election bid. Some lame ducks try to subvert their successor’s agenda, particularly when the latter belongs to the opposite party, by enacting pieces of legislation that would be detrimental to the incoming administration. While others make midnight appointments by naming their loyal political lieutenants to powerful and sensitive posts before they turn over the key to the gates of Malacañang. Normally, the outgoing president’s behavior during the dying days of his term depends on whether what will ensue is a friendly or hostile takeover of government. President Duterte will soon become a lame duck President, if he is not yet now. Some political pundits see some early signs of his declining influence and power. Others observe that he no longer commands the same level of respect among his followers. His signature swearing and cursing, which he interspersed in his speeches, once instilled awe and trepidation among his political opponents. Now, they have lost their sting. Senator Dick Gordon disrespects him every time he issues indecent and unpresidential remarks. Even his own political ally, Senator Imee Marcos, has shown President Duterte the gumption on how to deal with alleged corruption and joined forces with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in pursuing the Pharmally

two years and four months of his presidency. If he genuinely cares for his legacy, he should use his remaining 188 days in Malacañang to improve the lot of his countrymen.

investigation. This was unthinkable in the early days of the President’s rule. Instead of meeting the investigation head-on without fear or evasion, President Duterte has banned his cabinet officials from attending the hearing. His overwhelming supporters in the Senate are hardly heard to defend the administration in this alleged “mother of all plunders”. In the past, even the presidential son, now Representative Pulong Duterte, had appeared in the congressional hearing with much bravado and blunted every maneuvering of his accusers. Now, President Duterte’s protégés in the Senate have failed to protect the President and his accused allies “in aid of the administration”. Most importantly, President Duterte dismally failed to put up credible and viable candidates for president and vice president in the forthcoming elections despite all the powers and resources of his office. He has forfeited his right to be the kingmaker and to call the shots in the next presidential election. He may be relegated to the background and end up playing second fiddle to the likes of presidential aspirants Bongbong Marcos, Isko Moreno or Manny Pacquiao. And you know you’ve joined the lame duck club when your endorsement no longer carries the weight and the clout of your powerful office. What kind of lame duck president will President Duterte be during his final weeks or months in office? Although he has yet to announce his preferred presidential bet, will he prepare for an orderly transition of power if his anointed candidate wins? But what if his nemesis emerges victorious at the polls? Will he not roll out the red carpet in Malacanang? Will he engage in political sabotage to create imbalance to the

observe the flock of birds, for where they would be going at night, at cold, cold night, would signal something auspicious. Let us make it simple, the cherubs chorused: Let’s command the sky to put the brightest star and let it beam down to where the birth would take place. In a cave, with animals, Ariel was contented with the scenario. The Seraphims all smiled. They knew their task; they would sing: Glory to… And so it came to pass that in the little town, the magnificent birth occurred. The Archangels could have taken the credit for the production design of that magical night but they knew someone with greater intellect than them took care of the process. God also played a tiny trick and this was to allow, not kings and not wise men, but poor shepherds to be the first to worship the Child. As for the Three Kings who thought they were the Three Wise Men, they offered their gifts and became the first diplomats, crossing dangerous borders and telling splendid lies to an old king who would not believe a Child would be more powerful than him, and that loving one’s enemy would be the most popular discovery in the field of human relations.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

new administration? However, this early some political pundits have now seen some early telltale signs of his lame duck presidency. Some observe that he no longer commands the same level of influence over other politicians, whereas before his every word captures their attention. Powerful politicians and business personalities no longer gravitate to him like flies unlike yesterday. His flip-flopping decisions whether to run for a public office or not has seriously impaired his credibility. His loyal followers around the country who had chosen to align with him politically and run under the PDPLaban banner do not even have a presidential bet. But everything’s not lost on President Duterte whom I have faithfully served during the first two years and four months of his presidency. If he genuinely cares for his legacy, he should use his remaining 188 days in Malacañang to improve the lot of his countrymen. It’s not yet too late to address the menace of the pandemic, the horrors of the drug war, the ravaged economy and the disastrous impact of climate change. He can devote his dwindling time to deliver his unfulfilled promises. There are some easy hanging fruits that he can still achieve with little chance of failure. He can still pass much needed legislation, which will leave a lasting imprint on our people’s minds and hearts. He can expand social services and protection to help our depressed people weather the vicissitudes of life. President Duterte is a strong-willed leader and for the last time he can press his team to undertake and pursue initiatives that have been languishing in the doldrums during the first five and a half years of his presidency. And I don’t mean embarking on a foreign trip, granting pardons or mending political fences to ensure the victory of his chosen candidate. Holding clean and honest elections in 2022 under the aegis of his administration will be a proud moment of his presidency. He should rise above partisan politics. His performance at this critical juncture of his presidency will spell the difference, whether he will go down in history as a statesman or a demagogue. It’s your call, Mr. President!

BusinessMirror

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

24 INCH GAUGE CONSTRUCTION INC. L4 Blk. 4, Near Kay Buboy Bridge, San Dionisio, City Of Parañaque

CHEN, FEIFEI Quality Construction Specialist 1.

Brief Job Description: Review, inspects and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current bond program

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in identifying local construction technologies and construction material sources; Can carry out and monitor testing and inspection of products and materials to ensure the finished products meets quality standards

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyong

Brief Job Description: Manage procurement of goods or services, payment or settlement for the goods or services received. Boost vendor compliance, cut savings erosion, improve discount capture using preferred suppliers, and confirm pricing and terms prior to payment.

Brief Job Description: Contribute to various tasks to develop and improve natural language processing. This includes developing, maintaining and improving nlp, training and or evaluate nlp or dialogue systems, identify errors/regressions and propose solutions; contributing to various nlp tasks assigned to the team/creating, reviewing, annotating nlp linguistic data.

Basic Qualification: Complexity (degree of difficulty of an assignment or the level of problemsolving assessment and resolution required, as measured by degree of problem-solving, strategic vs. Routine focus, and stakeholder interactions (e.g. – executives, supervisor, etc.): requires analysis and solving of increasingly complex problems; interaction is with peers within Accenture before updating supervisors.

Basic Qualification: Native level speaker of Korean language and fluent in English. Minimum of bachelor’s degree in linguistics, computation linguistics or related discipline. Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts, learn inhouse tools. Keen interest in technology. Keen interest in nlp, linguistics and linguistic resources. Attention to detail and good organization and communication skills Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

ALORICA TELESERVICES, INC. 12/f, Three Cyberpod Centris - South Tower, Eton Centris Edsa Corner Quezon Avenue, Brgy Pinyahan, Diliman District, Quezon City

BATRA, GAURAV Division Vice President 5.

Brief Job Description: Formulating and implementing the strategic plan that guides the direction of the business or their area of responsibility. Creating & communicating the organization’s vision

Basic Qualification: More than 20 years experience in senior operations management roles in the BPO industry. Post graduate M.B.A. degree in advantage. Knowledge & training in the field of customer service. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

10.

11.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Mandarin Speaking

12.

Brief Job Description: • Train new workers in performing equipment inspection, and preventive maintenance of the Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery Equipment. • Knowledge in safety usage of hand and power operated tools in repairing and maintaining Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery. • Can follow and explain instructions to other workers clearly. Ability to train lower-level workers in Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery equipment mechanical repair techniques. • Responsible for repair and maintenance of the Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery

NGUYEN HUU DUC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

WIEGANDT, PATRICK Supervisor, German Offshore Team 13.

Brief Job Description: Supervision of document support and billing/ controlling.

Brief Job Description: The Site Manager bears operational responsibility for all activities in the preparation and phase of the project

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Mandarin Speaking

AWASTHEE, POONAM VIRK Vice President 18.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MARTON, TAMAS Assistant Controller Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Mandarin Speaking

15.

VAN DAMME, JOERIE JULIUS L. Multilingual HR Professional Brief Job Description: Provides technical support in Dutch

NIAN, YONGAN Technical Advisor Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Mandarin Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

19.

16.

BERGLAND, TONE Multilingual Service Desk Member Brief Job Description: Provides technical support in Norwegian language

Brief Job Description: Closely sit & discuss with FC to take care of business issue and team

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: At least 6-8 years working experience in a multinational corporate environment, with exposure to internal & external audit experience. Fluent in English. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

20. Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Mandarin Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

21.

Basic Qualification: Written and spoken proficiency in the German language.

22.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in written and verbal communication in English language and excellent knowledge of Dutch. Proficient computer and technical skills

Basic Qualification: Proficient in written and verbal communication in English language and excellent knowledge of Norwegian language, proficient computer and technical skills Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

CHINA WUYI CO., LTD. 4/f Commodore Bldg., 422 Arquiza St., 072 Bgy. 667, Ermita, City Of Manila

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing call, chats and emails

UNG TUYET NHI Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing call, chats and emails

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Vietnamese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZHAO, DEMING Mandarin Site Technical Officer Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FIBERHOME PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati WU, LIKUN Marketing Manager 23.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: University or Higher professional education with focus on construction management 10 years project manager experience in international dredging and land reclamation project environment

LE THAI QUYNH TRAM Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

ECHOTECH SERVICES INC. 18/f Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: The Marketing Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal. ZHANG, ZHI Project Manager

24.

Brief Job Description: The Project Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Marketing Manager, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Project Manager, Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FILFLY CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT INC. #1295 G. Araneta Ave. Cor., N.s. Amoranto, Sto. Domingo 1, Quezon City HO MAN NHU Administrative Staff 25.

CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC. 2/f One World Square, Mckinley Hill, Pinagsama, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Have a broad awareness of dependencies that could impact value realization and engage with relevant counterparts to ensure dependencies don’t jeopardize committed business benefits.

Basic Qualification: Experienced in fixed asset Intangibles process, specifically in software Capitalization and proven leadership and decision making skills

DIAGEO ASIA PACIFIC SHARED SERVICES CENTRE LIMITED, INC. 10th Floor, Commerce & Industry Plaza Bldg., Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Mandarin Speaking

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Project Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

DEUTSCHE KNOWLEDGE SERVICES PTE LTD. 15th-19th Flr. Four/neo 4th Ave. Corner 31st. St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

ELZENGA, JENS MATHIJS Site Manager

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Project Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

17.

B&M GLOBAL SERVICES MANILA, INC. (B&M SUPPORT CENTRE) #3030 8th Floor Bgc Corporate Center, 11th Ave. Cor. 30th St. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

JIN, MAJIAN Technical Advisor

Brief Job Description: • Train new workers in performing equipment inspection, and preventive maintenance of the Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery Equipment. Knowledge in safety usage of hand and power operated tools in repairing and maintaining Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery. • Can follow and explain instructions to other workers clearly. Ability to train lower-level workers in Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery equipment mechanical repair techniques. • Responsible for repair and maintenance of the Specialized SANY Heavy Machinery

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

JIANG, BIN Mandarin Project Supervisor

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

14.

XU, SHIHONG Technical Advisor

AMIGO’S EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS AND TRADING INC. Tanchua Bldg., 432 San Fernando St., 026, Barangay 282, San Nicolas, City Of Manila

No.

WU, WENXIANG Technical Advisor

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LEE, SEE HYUNG Tech Writing & Translation Sr Analyst

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WU, WENBIN Technical Advisor

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SAMARAWEERA, SRIMANTHA Procure To Pay Operations Senior Analyst

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

SONG, JIAPENG Technical Advisor

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YU, YANG Quality Construction Specialist

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, Friday, December 24,2021 2021 A17 A17

Brief Job Description: Provides administrative support to ensure efficient operation of office. GONG, YIXIAO Marketing Staff

26.

Brief Job Description: Supporting the manager in overseeing the departments operations YANG, NIAN Marketing Staff

27.

Brief Job Description: Supporting the manager in overseeing the departments operations

Basic Qualification: Can do multi-tasking across range of responsibilities. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Solid knowledge of marketing techniques and principles Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Solid knowledge of marketing techniques and principles Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor, Silver City 4, Ortigas East, Ugong, City Of Pasig

CHEN, BINGCAN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 28.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

A18 A18

BusinessMirror

Friday, DecemberDecember 24, 2021 24-26, 2021 Friday-Sunday,

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

DU, XUEJIE Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 29.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

LAN, PIQI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 30.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

LIANG, LI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 31.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

LIN, BIN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 32.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

TIAN, XIAOPING Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 33.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

ZHOU, MINMIN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 34.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

35.

Brief Job Description: Evaluate and authorize the approval of Indian loan application.

41.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

36.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

KWON, SEJONG Korean Customer Support Representative 43.

37.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Graphic and Web Developer will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

LEE, JAEWON Korean Customer Support Representative 44.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with at least five 5 years work experience in the related field.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Graphic and Web Developer, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

38.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Information System Analyst will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Information System Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

XU, PEI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 45.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

ZHU, GAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 46.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

DEIN YEING Myanmari Customer Support Representative 47.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

DONG, YUEQING Chinese IT Support Specialist 48.

Brief Job Description: Generally perform any all acts connected with the business or arising there from or incidental LIU, CHUANG Chinese IT Support Specialist

49.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. PENG, CHUAN Chinese IT Support Specialist

50.

Brief Job Description: Generally perform any all acts connected with the business or arising there from or incidental ZHICHAO, WANG Chinese IT Support Specialist

51.

CHAU VINH QUYEN Mandarin/Cantonese Speaking Coordinator 39.

Brief Job Description: Provides general leadership, guidance & support to relative team members in order to collaborate, give feedback, develop plans and reach team and individual goals.

VALENCIA SUNYER, ESTER People And Culture Business Partner Director 52.

TRAN CHANH HUNG Mandarin/Cantonese Speaking Coordinator 40.

Brief Job Description: Provides general leadership, guidance & support to relative team members in order to collaborate, give feedback, develop plans and reach team and individual goals.

Basic Qualification: 2-3 yrs. working experience in customer service/ support; fluent in Mandarin Cantonese (both written and oral); can operate the computer in Chinese characters.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Korean and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

55.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

56.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

57.

58.

59.

Brief Job Description: Comprehensive knowledge of HR processes (org design, TA, talent management LR) knowledge of labor legislation. Understanding of the corporate P&C strategy and corporate values. Strong communication skills. Strong stakeholder management.

LI, ZHIWEI Sales Executive 53.

Brief Job Description: Identify business opportunities, researching and analyzing sales options. Identify product improvements or new products on industry trends, market activities, and competitors. Responsible in maintaining good relation with customers.

60.

Brief Job Description: IT Support Specialist to provide technical assistance to our staff.

TSAI, CHUN-HUNG a.k.a. TSAI, CHUAN-YU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Open and maintain customer accounts by recording account information YU, TSUNG-HUA Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Open and maintain customer accounts by recording account information

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the new & existing premium mas business by identifying, building & developing premium mass players

ZHU, SINING Host, Business Development - Asia 61.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate can speak Mandarin & English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, international relations or any other related field. 7+ years of relevant experience in P&C (diverse experience in GSC/market, several locations preferred) 3+ years in people management position.

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Batchelor’s/ College Degree in Business Studies/Administration/ Management, Marketing or equivalent. Excellent knowledge with communication and interpersonal skills. Active listening skill, resilience, self-motivated and competitive. Able to establish trust with the customer/clients

Basic Qualification: Must be Bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yeras of working experience in the related position, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 2 yrs. Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the new & existing premium mas business by identifying, building & developing premium mass players

Basic Qualification: Proven experience in the VIP services and/or premium player fields, at least 1 yr experience in sals or customer service field, preferably in resort marketing Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience in the vip services and/or premium player fields, at least 1 yr experience in sals or customer service field, preferably in resort marketing Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MG PRIME PHARMACEUTICAL, INC. 72 Gf, Richmack Mindanao Ave. 1, Project 6, Quezon City

62.

SHANKAR, PRANAV General Manager Brief Job Description: Has experience of branded and generic brand

Basic Qualification: Meet financial targets for the company and to ensure company value growth Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati LIU, CONG Mandarin Marketing Specialist 63.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MAGKING SERVICES CORPORATION Unit 5d Rose Industries Bldg., #11, Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

54.

Brief Job Description: Open and maintain customer accounts by recording account information

LIN, PING-YU Host, Business Development - Asia

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business opportunities ZHOU, QINGXIA Mandarin Operations Specialist

64.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency

ZHANG, DONGDONG Mandarin Technical Support 65.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

66.

67.

68.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KIM, DOWAN IT Support Specialist

TSAI, CHIA-WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Can speak Mandarin & English

Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 2 yrs. Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

MELCO RESORTS LEISURE (PHP) CORPORATION City Of Dreams Manila, Aseana Ave. Cor. Roxas Blvd., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in BURMESE and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Brief Job Description: Marketing assistant support marketing managers and executives on project such as developing sales strategies.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Marketing assistant support marketing managers and executives on project such as developingsales strategies.

TANG, HOI CHING Marketing Assistant

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Korean and at least college level with related BPO experience.

JUDD WISY GROUP INC. Unit 2c One Ecom Bldg., Ocean Drive Mall Of Asia Complex St. Zone 10 District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HYUNDAI ROTEM COMPANY MANILA BRANCH 3/f Unit B One Felicity Center Bldg., Commonwealth Ave., Holy Spirit, Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

SEO, YUNG SUG Marketing Assistant

Basic Qualification: Having experience in construction & responsible of scope implementation of the project

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: 2-3 yrs. working experience in customer service/ support; fluent in Mandarin Cantonese (both written and oral); can operate the computer in Chinese characters. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

JT INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) INC. Penthouse, W Office Building, 28th St. Cor. 11th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HIGH 5 SYSTEM SOLUTIONS INC. 31st/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Having experience in construction & responsible of scope implementation of the project

No.

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 9/f 100 West Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YANG, FAXIANG Mandarin Information System Analyst

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GUO, BING Mandarin Graphic And Web Developer

Brief Job Description: In charge of monitoring of plans and designs effective for implementation based on scope for construction activities

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

LIN, RUI Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer

Brief Job Description: In charge of monitoring of plans and designs effective for implementation based on scope for construction activities SEO, SUNGHO Rolling Stock Maintenance Manager

42.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OH, HEUNG SEUB Rolling Stock Maintenance Manager

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GOLDEN HAMIR LENDING AND TRADING CORP. #246-d, D. Tuazon St. 1, Manresa, Quezon City JASPREET SINGH Indian Loan Supervisor

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

69.

70.

DIAO, JUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DUONG VAN DUOC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires DUONG VAN MUOI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

HO DINH NHAT Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

HO HONG DUC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

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80.

81.

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83.

84.

85.

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HOANG THI XE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG VAN DIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HUA QUOC LUC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KOH KAY KIAT Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LAM KE LAC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LAN THI NHU QUYNH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LILIS SUSANTI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LUAN VAN SU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUONG VAN QUYNH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUONG VAN TAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LY THI NGUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MA THI NHIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGO THI THUY LINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUY DINH THUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN HUY HUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THANH BINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN VAN LINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN VAN QUY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NONG THI BACH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM HUU TIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

PHAM THI MEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

PHAM VAN CHIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

No.

93.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

94.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

95.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

96.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

97.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

98.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

99.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

100.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

101.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

102.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

103.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

104.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

105.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

106.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

PHAM XUAN DUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAN VAN HAU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PHUNG VAN MINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PHUNG VAN QUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries QUACH THI HUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TA VAN QUANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires THONG A DIEU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRAN THI HOAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRIEU THI YEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRUONG HOANG MAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRUONG TUYEN TIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TSAN BUI PHU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VU HONG MEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, DECAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

JIANG, MINGLIN Mandarin Deputy Project Supervisor 107.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Deputy Project Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIU, XUEZHI Mandarin Mechanical And Electrical Maintenance Supervisor 108.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

HAN, YANJUN Mandarin Mechanical Superintendent

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

109.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Mechanical Superintendent will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

CAO, XUEFENG Chinese Customer Service 112.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Site Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file the documents.

CHANG, FUCHENG Chinese Customer Service 113.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file the documents.

CHEN, ZUOZHEN Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

114.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file the documents.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

GAO, YUANYUAN Chinese Customer Service 115.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

116.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 117.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

LIU, JIE Chinese Customer Service 118.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file the documents.

LIU, CHENGDOU Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file the documents.

HE, QUANFU Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

LIU, TIANHAO Chinese Customer Service 119.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Deputy Project Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Mechanical Superintendent, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Special Heavy Equipment Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f, Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive, Don Galo, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Site Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

110.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Special Heavy Equipment Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

111.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MA, XUEPING Mandarin Site Supervisor

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LIN, ZHONGHAI Mandarin Special Heavy Equipment Supervisor

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

No.

PENG, SHUAI Chinese Customer Service 120.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

QIU, HUAPING Chinese Customer Service 121.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

WANG, MENGLEI Chinese Customer Service 122.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NEPC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORP. 15/f Cyber One Bldg., Eastwood Cyberpark City, Bagumbayan 3, Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, Friday, December 24,2021 2021 A19 A19

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

WANG, MIN Chinese Customer Service 123.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

WANG, WENLONG Chinese Customer Service 124.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

WANG, XIAOCUI Chinese Customer Service 125.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1yr experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1yr experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1yr experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1yr experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1yr experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Preferably 1 Year experience in the similar field speak and fluently native language and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Preferably 1 Year experience in the similar field speak and fluently native language and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

A20 A20

BusinessMirror

Friday, December 24, 2021 24-26, 2021 Friday-Sunday, December

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

131.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, YUANHUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, CHUNHAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, YOUCHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YU, ZIMING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YUAN, JINHUA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, JINMING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SHINE AUNG Myanmari Customer Service 132.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

133.

Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls

134.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

135.

Brief Job Description: Represent the ship owners/principals in the selection and negotiation for the terms and condition of the deployment of Filipino seafarers

Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in reading writing and speaking in mandarin

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must have at least 5 years of administrative experience. Excellent in communication and with interpersonal skills

136.

Brief Job Description: Project Manager and Micro tunneling Operator Coordinate field work with superintendent & subcontractors. Review and respond where necessary to all project documents including, but not limited to, correspondence, drawings, specifications, submitting, RFI’s, and change requests. Use CADD program to provide technical layouts Prepare change cost estimates and proposals and maintain proposed change order logs and records.

137.

Brief Job Description: Handles all around Design (ISP, OSP, TSSR, CEF, BOQ, HLD, LLD) and monitors design to make sure that all are within the OSP/ISP standards.

145.

146.

147.

138.

Brief Job Description: Contractor Management, Evaluation, Scheduling and Audit; Coordinates with clients, do strategic planning and reporting; Reviews and evaluates products; Conducts technical survey, installation survey report and generates BOQ; Installation, power tapping, commissioning, testing and integration; Will do documentation not limited to Site Folder.

139.

WANG, HAILIN Chinese Project Manager

140.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Preparation and cooking of traditional Chinese food

YANG, LINJIA Chef 5 Brief Job Description: Preparation and cooking of traditional Chinese food

Brief Job Description: Helps CEO and CCO ensure initiatives stay on track and communications occur regularly

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the day to day management of the operation center and creating forecasts for call volumes and handle times base on historical ACD data.

LOW SENG CHUAN IT Support Specialist 149.

156.

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints DEDDY SETYAWAN Indonesian Language-Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

Brief Job Description: responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

WU, KUNZHE Mandarin Customer Support Representative 150.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions and responding to complaints.

WU, LUHUA Mandarin Customer Support Representative Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions and responding to complaints.

CHEN, JIANDONG Executive Assistant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 157.

Brief Job Description: Develop and sustain level of professionalism among staff and client

153.

Brief Job Description: maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

DOAN THI NHAN IT Specialist Brief Job Description: maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

154.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity

Basic Qualification: Excellent Indonesian language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

158.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

XINCHUAN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PHILIPPINE PROJECT LTD CORP. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

CHEN, JIANLIN Executive Assistant Brief Job Description: Develop and sustain level of professionalism among staff and client

LIU, SHUAIDONG Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications

159.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

PANG, LONG Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst 160.

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Mandarin with wide knowledge in traditional Chinese cuisine

ZHANG, YIHENG Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst 161.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be able to perform and undertake the programs of the call center including Avaya experience

LUO, JIANTING Mandarin Quality Inspector 162.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Quality Inspector will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

TAN, QIAO Mandarin Quality Inspector 163.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WU, XUEWEN Mandarin Quality Inspector 164.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 300 vacancy/college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and english speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 vacancy/college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Quality Inspector, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: With experience in assisting foreign affairs

Basic Qualification: Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Mandarin with wide knowledge in traditional Chinese cuisine

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati LIANG, WANLU Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both oral and written; With extensive background in telecommunication multinational company

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St., 072, Bgy. 669, Ermita, City Of Manila

YE, SHUANGXIN Chinese IT Specialist

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Chinese language

WORLD MEDICAL RELIEF-PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BUSINESS AND COORDINATION CENTER FOUNDATION, INC. 14-d 14/f Ocean Tower, Condo. Roxas Blvd., 077, Bgy. 701, Malate, City Of Manila

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both oral and written; With extensive background in telecommunication multinational company

155.

ZHANG, FAN Chinese Language-Customer Service Staff

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 14/f Socialdesk Tower, H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

TANG, JUN Chef 4

KUMAR, VITHIK Director For Workforce Management

152. LIU, DENGWEI Chinese Project Manager

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp., 213 Buendia Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both oral and written; With extensive background in telecommunication multinational company

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TELUS INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. Units 23/f, 31st/f - 37th/f Discovery Centre, Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both oral and written; With extensive background in telecommunication multinational company

HOANG THI MAI Customer Service Representative

SHIH, HSIEN-LI Executive Business Administrator

151. HU, YING Chinese Project Manager

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both oral and written; With extensive background in telecommunication multinational company

No.

STANDARD CHEM. & PHARM. PHILIPPINES, INC. 30/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both oral and written; With extensive background in telecommunication multinational company

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SODEXO ON-SITE SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 11/f Ba Lepanto Bldg., 8747 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

148.

PRIMUS@KNOWLEDGE SPECIALISTS, INCORPORATED 3rd Flr. Oac Bldg., San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

ZHANG, ZHENXIAO Chinese Design OSP/ISP Manager

144.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: with experience in Micro tunneling; college graduate; Professional written and spoken English; as a leader and mentor in developing a stable and proficient local team;

Brief Job Description: Product Sales, technical presentations and other promotional activities; Collect information in the Telecom Industry for the potential marketing development; Make analysis on particular product/s and identify probable market; Planning and implementation of projects, ensuring achievements with the sales objectives; Sales and marketing plan; Support and assist in managing projects; Build long term relationship with customers.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg., Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PIPESOLUTION INC. #247, Apo St., Maharlika 1, Quezon City WONG YEW FEI Technical Director

143.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Generally in charged with overseeing accounts receivable in a company; Manage the billing department and usually work with supervisors to make sure that a company’s billing and receivables operations maintain orderly cash flow for the enterprise; Delivering an efficient billing processing service by ensuring that the Billing team achieve productivity and quality targets in line with business objectives; Account Reconciliation; Payment Update; Payment for posting; Processing of adjustment. RAO, ZHIYAN Mandarin Hr Business Partner

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

PHELIPPE BARKO MANAGEMENT, INC. 4/f 107 The Exchange Corner Bldg., V.a Rufino St. Leg. Vill., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ZENG HUIYI, WENDY Marine Assistant Crewing Officer

142.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

NEWBAY INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INC. 2/f Mezzanine Tower 1, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, City Of Makati LI, JIHONG Mandarin Technical Support

141.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YANG, JUN Chinese Project Manager

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

NEW WEATHER FORCES GROUP INC. 26/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2, 6766 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati FU, LULU Chinese Customer Officer

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

LIAO, YUANJIAO Manila Field Service Supervisor 165.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Field Service Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Field Service Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Dec 23, 2021

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Figaro prices initial public offering at ₧0.75 per share

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

igaro Coffee Group Inc., one of the pioneers of the local coffee shop industry, has priced its initial public offering (IPO) at P0.75 a share.

such as Angel’s Pizza and Tien Ma restaurants in the IPO. As of November 10, the group owns a set of retail restaurants with 99 branches including international territories that serve a wide variety of food offerings and services. The company operates 55 Figaro coffee shops, 35 Angel’s Pizza outlets, five Tien Ma’s Taiwanese cuisine restaurants, three TFG Express outlet and one Café Portofino outlet. Abacus Capital and Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp. and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. were picked as joint issue managers, joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners of the IPO. “We intend to use the net proceeds from the offer primarily to fund the following projects and plans: store openings and renovations; commissary expansion; debt repayment; IT infrastructure developments; and potential acquisitions,” the company said. “As part of our growth plans, we

plan to have a total of about 150 system-wide stores by the end of 2022 and more than 300 systemwide stores throughout the country by the end of 2029. As part of our store network expansion plan, we consider the viability of potential locations subject to various factors such as market and economic conditions, and results of our operations and performance,” the company said in its registration statement. The company said it will expand its company-owned stores for the next three years. For Angel’s Pizza, it will expand to viable locations in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga and Batangas, with 35 company-owned stores. For Figaro Coffee, it will expand to six locations mostly in Metro Manila including malls, hospitals and mixed-use areas or central business districts and also Metro Manila for Tien Ma’s, with two more branches and TFG Express, with 18 additional branches.

The company also reduced the offer size to just over 1 billion shares. In a notice, the company said it will sell 930.16 million in primary offer shares and an over-allotment option of 93.01 million shares. “The pricing was arrived at after discussion with the underwriters as would reflect the fair value of the company and at the same time, in the view of the company, allows a reasonable return to investors.” At the current offer size, the company will raise some P767.37 million, down from its previous target

of P1.77 billion. Figaro had initially targeted to sell 1.26 billion primary common shares and up to 126 million overallotment shares, for an indicative price of P1.28 apiece. The offer period will run from January 10 to January 14. Figaro is a purely Filipino and home-grown diversified food group, operating through its wholly-owned subsidiary Figaro Coffee Systems Inc., with over 28 years in the industry. In its documents, the company said it will include its other brands,

MHI sees 10% rise in traffic volume

CEB issues reminders on relief cargo

PC AL A Holdings Inc. (MHI ) a nt ic ipates a 10-percent increase in traffic volume between December 23 and January 4, prompting it to deploy its Oplan Biyaheng Ayos, its program to address the holiday surge. Under the program, the toll road operator placed Calax’s operation on “heightened alert status to guarantee safe, secure, reliable, and convenient toll passages for travelers during the holiday rush.” “The holiday season has been anticipated to increase mobility of our motoring public, more so with government loosening travel restrictions. Together with our other related congestion management measures, we are suspending roadworks in Calax from December 23-25 and Dec 31-Jan 2 of the new year 2022 to give our motorists unobstructed access,” said MHI President Roberto V. Bontia. He added that MHI will continue to offer 24/7 patrol and security personnel for motorist assistance, as well as placing the emergency medical service team, towing service provider, and incident response team on optimum level and positioned at Greenfield compound to respond to motorists’ emergency situations within 15 minutes upon notice. Calax Customer Service Centers will also be available 24/7 anticipating RFID installations for seasonal motorists with no Easytrip RFID stickers, and reloading services for regular account holders to avoid inconvenience at the toll plazas. The toll operator will also offer free towing for Class 1 vehicles from December 24 to December 27, and January 1 to January 3. Lorenz S. Marasigan

ebu Pacific (CEB) is now focusing on transporting relief goods to provinces devastated by Super Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai), as it works toward stabilizing its operations in the aftermath of the cyclone. CEB has started transporting relief goods on the night of December 18 to Cebu and has been mounting humanitarian flights to bring home stranded individuals from provinces that were greatly affected by the typhoon which lashed the VisayasMindanao areas last week. “We have been getting numerous requests to ship relief goods to areas hit by Odette. We are doing our best to accommodate all requests to help the provinces and communities which need supplies,” said Michael Ivan Shau, Cebu Pacific Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. To inform the public on the kind of relief goods that are safe to carry by air and how to properly pack these, here are some guidelines. The following items are not allowed due to safety and logistical concerns: 1. Genset—Its content is considered as a Dangerous Good. Even if the genset is empty, CEB is unable to accept due to safety provisions and concerns on possible traces of oil and gas. If no traces of fume, the item may be accepted in general cargo. 2. UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) - not allowed 3. Power Banks—not allowed in checkin and cargo 4. Live Animals, Seafood, Fruits, and Vegetables—CEB does not encourage shipping during this period due to logistical constraints to and from the destination. The following items are allowed, on the conditions indicated below: 1. Rubbing Alcohol (isopropyl or ethyl)—Flammable liquid so the airline cannot accept those if not from Cebu Pacific certified shippers or forwarders. 2. Solar Panel—May contain hidden dangerous goods (radionucleotides or chemicals). These cannot be accepted if

not from Cebu Pacific certified shippers or forwarders 3. Drinking Water—Jugs of 6L or 5 gallon or 1 gallon should be in boxes so the staff can stack them properly and safely in the cargo space. Bottled water should be packed in boxes too. 4. Rice—sacks of rice should be in boxes or jack wrapped prior to delivery at the cargo warehouse 5. Clothing—clothes should be packed in boxes 6. General Grocery Items– should be packed in boxes 7. Frozen Meat—Frozen pork and pork products are prohibited by Cebu province. Frozen beef, chicken and beef products are allowed but subject to Bureau of Quarantine requirements. 8. Medicines/Vitamin Supplements— Over-the-counter medicines, prescription medicines and vitamins carried by passengers are allowed. If intended for cargo, please coordinate with Cargo Sales for documentation requirements. For other concerns regarding shipment of relief items and other goods intended for cargo, the airline urged flyers to contact: cargocare@cebupacificair.com. As air travel continues to pick-up this week, CEB and Cebgo is appealing for the understanding and patience of passengers. Here are the airline’s reminders: 1. Do not proceed to the airport without a confirmed booking As the situation remains fluid, passengers are advised to only go to the Airport if your flight is confirmed. 2. Allot ample time for security inspection, check-in, bag drop and other pre-departure requirements Passengers with flights during this peak travel period are encouraged to be at the airport at least three hours before departure for domestic flights, and four hours for international flights. 3. Ensure travel requirements are complete before proceeding to the airport Always check if your destination re-

quires certain documents prior entry. Visit the CEB website for the most updated information. 4. Check-in online—whether on the CEB mobile app or website Online check-in is available from seven days up to one hour before scheduled time of departure for domestic flights, while international fliers may check-in up to four hours before their scheduled departure. Guests flying out of select domestic destinations (Manila, Davao, General Santos, Bohol, Iloilo, and Zamboanga) are encouraged to self-tag their check-in luggage prior to proceeding to counters for bag drop. 5. Bring only one hand carry item on board Hand carry must not exceed 7kg in weight and with dimension of up to 56cm x 36cm x 23cm. This dimension includes most wheeled cabin bags and backpacks which fit in the overhead bins. Adult passengers traveling with infants may carry-on one additional bag containing baby food and necessities, aside from their allowed hand-carry baggage. Assistive or medical items such as walking canes, foldable walkers; as well as items purchased inside the airport (airside) are on top of the hand-carry baggage allowance for each passenger. If needed, pasasengers may purchase additional baggage allowance through CEB’s “Manage Booking” portal. 6. Wear face masks at all times Guests without masks may be denied entry. Face shields are optional. 7. Input own contact details on booking Guests are advised to update contact details on their bookings to ensure preflight reminders, flight changes, and the like are received in a timely manner. All check-in counters close one hour before the scheduled time of flights to ensure there is ample time for all necessary pre-flight procedures. Boarding commences 45 minutes before the scheduled departure.

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

Group: 5K mobile users avail of MNP By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ince it was first introduced in September, around 5,000 individuals have successfully availed of the mobile number portability service nationwide, the Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. (TCI) reported on Thursday. “Being able to implement the interoperability of all mobile players in the Philippines is a feat in itself. What’s important is that customers now have the choice which network they want to be in without changing their number. MNP gives them the power to choose the network that suits their needs,” TCI General Manager Melanie Manuel said. TCI is the joint venture of DITO Telecommunity (DITO), Globe Telecom (Globe) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) that supports the government in implementing MNP. “MNP is here for customers who want to experience better services while keeping their numbers. It is TCI’s mandate to make the porting process safe, secure, and convenient for those who need this service,” Manuel added. She assured that systems are in

place “in case TCI gets a huge number of porting requests in the future.” TCI, she said, also supports the measure mandating the registration of SIM cards as it will further strengthen the joint venture’s resolve to ensure a safe, secure, and more convenient MNP experience for Filipinos. “It will complement the objective of TCI. Subscribers will also now have a more compelling reason to keep their numbers, which would be registered under their name,” Manuel said. TCI hopes to continue driving MNP services in the country to boost competition in the telco space. “Right now, we’re conducting customer surveys, asking for the feedback of the first adopters of MNP so that we can use this information to improve our processes and services,” Manuel said. “We recognize that in the first couple of weeks, there were bottlenecks, but we have addressed those issues already. There were also concerns about going to the physical stores because of the pandemic, so together with the operators, we have opened virtual stores to help facilitate MNP.”

Aboitiz allots ₧9M for ‘Odette’ victims T he Aboitiz Group, through its various business units including its foundation, has earmarked close to P9 million for its disaster relief efforts in Visayas and Mindanao. The relief operations cover various cities in Cebu province, such as Cebu City, Naga, Toledo, Lapu-Lapu and Balamban, as well as other typhoon-hit areas like Bohol, Bacolod, and Bukidnon. The Aboitiz Group said it immediately responded to calls for aid to areas in the Visayas region that were hit by Typhoon Odette, mobilizing food and water donations and reenergization efforts initially in Cebu. Aboitiz Foundation, the social development arm of the group, also opened an online donation campaign through its crowdfunding platform Kinder. As of December 20, the company was able to raise a total of P3.7 million through Kinder and online donations, which will be used to purchase food packs and cover costs of power restoration efforts of the Group. The relief goods include food packs with noodles, canned goods, rice, water, and biscuits; essentials kit with power bank, flashlight, blanket; hygiene kit with bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry soap and towel; and sleeping kit with blanket and sleeping mat. “Much damage was done and many lives were seriously affected. In light of this critical situation, I would like to assure you that the Aboitiz

Group is responding in every way we can now and in the future when we rebuild,” Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. president and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz said. Aboitiz said the company has released assistance, including calamity assistance, calamity leave and emergency loans, to its affected team members. In addition, their end-ofyear salaries have been credited in advance to provide timely financial support to their families. Last weekend, as soon as the typhoon passed, Cebu Private Power Corp., a power plant located in the heart of Cebu City, was operated by AboitizPower to supply much needed electricity and directed this to priority customers like hospitals, the Metro Cebu Water District pumping stations, and government facilities. Visayan Electric, its distribution utility company, has reported that power is back up in certains areas of Cebu City, such as portions of Banilad Road and M.L. Quezon Avenue. Restoration is taking longer in areas where Visayan Electric’s distribution facilities sustained heavy damages such as toppled poles, downed wires and damaged transformers. Its utility group also brought in teams from its subsidiaries Davao Light, Subic Enerzone and Cotabato Light to accelerate debris clean-up and power restoration throughout the city. Close to 50 linemen arrived over the weekend and they will also aid in relief operations activities in affected areas. VG Cabuag

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Meralco gets DOE approval for TOR of power auction By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

anila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced on Thursday that the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the supply of 170 megawatts (MW) of peaking power under the competitive selection process (CSP).

“We thank the DOE for the timely approval of the TOR that will allow us to proceed with the emergency procurement for the supply needed to meet the anticipated increase in demand in the coming months,” said Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Office Jose Ronald V. Valles. The CSP covers power supply agreements and is underwritten by distribution utilities like Meralco to build up their supply portfolio. The DOE’s Third Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) called on interested generation companies to participate in the CSP for the contract covering the period

February 26 to July 25. Interested parties may submit their Expression of Interest on January 5. A pre-bid conference is slated for January 12, and the bid submission deadline is scheduled for February 2. “This will help Meralco ensure availability of reliable and costcompetitive supply, which is especially critical during the 2022 dry months and the upcoming national elections,” added Valles. The presidential elections will happen in May or during the hot dry season, when energy consumption increases sharply. Ensuring a steady supply of energy during the

JTI bags award for Batangas factory

elections is critical, given that historically, blackouts are often used as excuses for election-related cheating. In October, Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said there is indication that the utility firm will exceed the consolidated core net income (CCNI) achieved last year, despite spiraling fuel prices. The sudden but significant rise in the prices of gas, coal and oil which can affect Meralco’s generation margins, and the lingering effect of the pandemic remain key risks to the company’s outlook for the fourth quarter. Still, Pangilinan is confident that full-year core profit will improve

compared to last year. Meralco reported that its CCNI at end-September this year grew by 15 percent to P18.1 billion from last year’s P15.7 billion driven by the combined effect of the 6-percent increase in energy distributed with the easing of quarantine restrictions, and increased contribution from its different business units and subsidiaries. Reported net income improved by 47 percent year-on-year to P16.5 billion from P11.3 billion due to lower exceptional charges arising from the impairment recognized from the company’s investment in PacificLight Power Ltd. in 2020.

mutual funds

December 23, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

227.05

-0.91%

-3.85%

-0.41%

-0.07%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6234

23.18%

4.31%

4.42%

23.64%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1453

-0.64%

-7.27%

-3.28%

0.39%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7516 -7.28%

-5.92% n.a.

-7.53%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7581 1.17%

-3.06% n.a.

2.22%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

1.71%

-1.51%

1.31%

2.66%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.7613

-0.89%

-3.4%

-2.4%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

93.32

-8.01%

-8.13% n.a.

-8.39%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

46.7379

-1.12%

-2.14%

1.33%

-0.22%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

487.8

-1.09%

-2.13%

0.57%

-0.23%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

5.0729

1.1358

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.332

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

35.6308

4.46% n.a. n.a.

3.51%

13.38%

1.64%

3.32%

14.02%

1.94%

-1.3%

1.92%

2.48%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9147

-0.61% n.a. n.a.

0.19%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.8171

-0.38%

2.01%

0.54%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

804.48

-0.52%

-1.41%

1.96%

0.36%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.732

0.65%

-5.57%

-1.39%

1.82%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6794

0.49%

-3.61%

0.34%

1.53%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.917 - 0.97%

-1.75%

1.67%

-0.08%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-1.72%

2.35%

1.16%

-1.2%

2.45%

3.3571

0.3%

-1.4%

-1.94%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

108.2272

-0.26%

0.63%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.1193

-5.48%

7.2%

6.02%

-6.95%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7917

7.99%

16.41%

11.49%

7.11%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities

or continuously generating employment and conducting skills development programs at the height of the pandemic, Japan Tobacco Inc.’s (JTI) manufacturing arm, JTI Asia Manufacturing Corp (JTIAMC) has been conferred anew by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) the PEZA Outstanding Employer Award for 2020. This is the second consecutive year that the JTI-AMC factory, which is located inside the Lima Ecozone in Malvar, Batangas, has been feted with the award. JTI-AMC, which commenced operations in 2017 employs 900 people, and serves 15 global markets where JTI has a presence. PEZA also cited JTI-AMC for its Outstanding Community Project, the first time it has bestowed this award to JTI under the CSR category. “We extend our sincerest gratitude to JTI for its notable efforts towards generating significant employment and providing excellent employee welfare programs together with social welfare programs that greatly benefit the Filipino community,” PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza said. Elena Trusova, President of JTI-AMC, said the two awards won by JTI-AMC confirms the

company’s deep commitment to its employees’ welfare and its continuing effort to give back to the communities where JTI does business. “This PEZA award further validates our global Top Employer award which we have received for the past seven years. It was made sweeter by PEZA’s recognition of our Community Investment (CI) projects that are focused in sectors and communities where we believe we can make a real difference,” Trusova said. The community project cited by PEZA was the donation of pandemic response packs by JTIAMC, including PPEs, sanitizers, facemasks, face shields, and food packs to communities heavily impacted by Covid-19 last year, and transport support to locallystranded employees. JTIP General Manager John Freda lauded PEZA for its role in promoting and championing the export sector and manufacturing industry, which are key drivers in a country’s economic development. “A robust export sector with a strong manufacturing base are key ingredients in achieving economic development. We are extremely proud to be part of this essential role recognized by PEZA,” Freda said.

ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.6623

-0.4%

-0.01%

0.35%

-0.38%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2481

-2.01%

0.47%

0.71%

-1.63%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6578

0.62%

1.38%

2.43%

1.18%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2067

3.56% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

0.82%

2.37%

2.54%

1.9882

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7069

-2.62%

1.39%

1.48%

-2.19%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.5888

-2.49%

1.21%

1.42%

-2.07%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0871

-0.83%

1.33%

-0.19%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5925 -0.03%

-0.78%

1.03%

0.54%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9776

-4.7% n.a. n.a.

-4.4%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9233

-3.51% n.a. n.a.

-2.73%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9113

-3.15% n.a. n.a.

-2.34%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

4.37%

5.28%

0.9346

0.14%

1.35%

4.34%

1.07%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a

$0.03798

-3.04%

2.58%

1.78%

-2.86%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.057

-7.56%

4.21%

3.79%

-6.46%

4.99%

11.64%

8.55%

4.19%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1852 0.62%

6.51%

4.51%

0.14%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7021

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

374.38

0.91%

2.94%

2.59%

0.88%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8854

-0.75%

0.51%

-0.08%

-0.78%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2442

0.97%

3.02%

3.94%

0.9%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2508

-2.02%

1.85%

1.62%

-2.07%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4272 -0.98%

3.21%

1.97%

-1.06%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3991

3.94%

1.71%

-4.99%

-5.03%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3201

0.02%

3.8%

2.83%

-0.09%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9755

-0.26%

4.33%

2.85%

-0.64%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0289

-0.98%

4.88%

2.2%

-1.4%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1946

-0.09%

4.95%

3.58%

-0.36%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-0.99%

4.04%

2.88%

-1.31%

1.732

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$489.68

1.24%

3.01%

2.56%

1.17%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.9

0.34%

1.11%

0.31%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2033

-5.93%

2.28%

1.89%

-5.98%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 -2.26%

1.45%

1.03%

-2.26%

-0.31%

-0.37%

-5.98% -1.22%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0248

-6.24%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.5089

-1.01%

4.95%

3.1%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0623359

-0.08%

3.04%

2.04%

0.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1985 -0.84%

3.7%

2.01%

-0.78%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

2.56%

1.04%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0578 0.96% n.a. n.a.

131.17

0.93%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1

1.41%

1.3152

1.09% 1.47%

2.8% 2.6%

2.53%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0605

0.79%

1.46% n.a.

0.65%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3297

20.08% n.a. n.a.

17.71%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d

$0.96

-2.04% n.a. n.a.

-2.04%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.). 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

BSP assures enough money supply in typhoon-hit areas

HERE is enough supply of money in areas affected by Typhoon Odette, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) assured the public on Thursday. “Amid electricity and internet connection outages, BSP offices and branches continue to fully service the currency requirements of banks in the Visayas and Mindanao,” the Central Bank said in a statement on Thursday. The BSP said it is ready to assist the banks in their currency needs, providing full tellering services. It reminded the banks in typhoonstruck areas to ensure the availability of cash in their automated teller machines (ATM) to meet the public’s withdrawal needs. “The central bank is committed to meeting currency demands in typhoon-struck provinces to support the immediate recovery of affected areas,” the BSP added. Meanwhile, financial institutions have been mobilizing initiatives to provide assistance in the Visayas and Mindanao provinces that were affected by the typhoon. Fintech Alliance Philippines recently announced it has teamed up

with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), and other financial institutions to raise relief funds. “What happened in the VisMin region during the past days that Super Typhoon Odette ravaged the country was unfortunate, most especially that we are about to celebrate Christmas. We are one with thousands of our kababayans in getting back stronger from this disaster,” Fintech Alliance Philippines Chairman Lito Villanueva said. “The Alliance urges our partners and members to join the campaign and use our networks in calling for donations and financial aid that will benefit families from the devastated areas. It is in times like this that we can truly live the real meaning of Christmas,” he added. YGG (Yield Guild Games) Pilipinas, an association of gamers of a play-to-earn cryptocurrency game, has accumulated P31 million worth of donations. It has been coordinating with government agencies and different organizations to send relief goods to the victims of typhoons. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

The STARS in event planning shine a new light

N such a short time, the pandemic has completely changed the way associations have organized and conducted their events. Running and delivering an event is a significant part of an association’s benefits portfolio in order to engage with their members, share knowledge, solutions and trends, and celebrate successes. Equally important, events are also a big source of revenue, e.g., registration fees, merchandising sales, and sponsorship. In my January 31, 2018 column, I wrote about the five essential aspects to consider in event planning which I referred to as the “5 STARS” (for Site, Theme, Activities, Resource persons, and Secretariat). Due to the pandemic, there have been major shifts to the “5 STARS” and these are: 1. From site to screen: As most inperson events now have been converted into virtual or hybrid, the prepandemic event considerations as to the country destination, venue (e.g., hotel, conference center), and the facilities needed, have all switched to the selection of technologies for video conferencing, exhibition and networking platforms. 2. From thematic to time-effective: In the past, an event was built around a theme and the session topics were designed and developed to be spread over two to three days to allow for more discussions and peer learning. Merely converting this event design into today’s online environment will never work as it is impossible to keep attendees being glued to their computer screens for too long. 3. From activities to animated sessions: Usually, an in-person event has networking, social and leisure components aside from the learning sessions. Networking virtually has its limitations and certainly online socials and leisure activities are very much different from a face-to-face setting. Introducing interactive methodologies and gamification

Alas Oplas Alliance Firms

options have made virtual sessions more interesting. 4. From resource persons to riveting presenters: Whether it is an in-person, hybrid or virtual event, the choice of speakers has also changed. More than knowledge and content, there is now a demand for presenters capable of holding the event participants’ attention and capturing their imagination. 5. From secretariat to staff tech support: The event management team has also changed their skillset from that of an administrative secretariat team for an in-person event to a tech support staff cum production crew for a virtual event. Event planning and implementation aspects have been transformed in many ways over the span of just more than a year. Associations which have yet to adopt these changes will be losing out in the event space, and consequently, even their members. Moving forward, attendees of association events will be looking for more engaging and impactful experiences, more showcases for fresh content and solutions, and more opportunities for peer learning and business networking. The STARS have indeed shone a new light!

The column contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is the founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives. The purpose of PCAAE—the “association of associations”—is to advance the association management profession and to make associations well-governed and sustainable. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org

Mark Joseph U. Abao, Managing Partner of M.J. Abao Accounting and Auditing Services recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement as new member of Alas Oplas Alliance Firms together with Donnies Alas, President. Abao is the first member in Eastern Visayas, coming from Ormoc City, which expects a boost in investments and business opportunities. Alas Oplas Alliance Firms is an association of independent CPAs practitioners and firms that deliver invaluable training and tools to equip members in providing first-rate services to clients. Alliance Firms has more than 130 Partners, 80 Firms and now in 14 regions nationwide.

Citi consumer banking biz sale to UnionBank to close by H2 ’22

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@Tyronepiad

HE Union Bank of the Philippines’s acquisition of Citigroup Inc.’s consumer banking business, whose total assets currently stand at P89.5 billion, is slated to be completed by the second half of next year.

Following initial reports about the sale transaction, the Aboitizled bank formally announced on Thursday that it has entered into a share and business transfer agreement with several subsidiaries of the American multinational investment bank to buy the latter’s consumer banking business. The acquisition covers Citi’s credit card, personal loans, wealth management and retail deposit businesses. In addition, the transaction includes its real estate interests in relation to Citibank Square in Eastwood, three full service bank branches, five wealth centers and two bank branch lites.

As of end-June, Citi’s consumer banking business has gross loans amounting to P59.7 billion; total liabilities of P71.7 billion, including deposits of P67.8 billion; investment AUM (asset under management) of P95 billion; and nearly 1 million customer base. The transaction will take effect following the asset and liability transfer of the consumer banking activities of Citibank, N.A., Philippines Branch; sale of the shares in Citicorp Financial Services and Insurance Brokerage Philippines Inc.; and sale of Citibank Square building. On top of cash payment for Citi

Philippines’ consumer business net assets, UnionBank will pay P45.3 billion in premium. The valuation is subject to customary closing adjustments. The required equity is about P9.7 billion as of end-June based on the anticipated increase in riskweighted assets. The financing for the transaction is supported by internal resources and a P40-billion stock rights offering (SRO). “The Bank ’s shareholders— Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., The Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd. and Social Security System—are committed to fully subscribe to their respective allocations as well as to any SRO shares not taken up by other shareholders,” UnionBank said. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals from the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Competition Commission, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission and Insurance Commission. The listed bank noted that Citi is business as usual until the completion of the transaction. The American financial institution will reach out to their customers in the coming

months with more details. “Rest assured that there will be no immediate impact to your account and all steps will be taken to ensure a seamless transition,” Citi told its customers in an advisory on Thursday. UnionBank tapped Morgan Stanley as its exclusive international financial advisor for the acquisition. Meanwhile, Milbank LLP and Romulo Mabanta Buenaventure Sayoc & de los Angeles are serving as its legal advisors. “This acquisition further cements our position as a leading bank in the Philippines, as well as fast-tracks our growth aspirations in the retail banking segment,” UnionBank Chairman Erramon Isidro M. Aboitiz said in a statement. “There are clear synergistic opportunities in this engagement. We intend to learn from Citi’s expertise to enable UnionBank to effectively build on its success and take the business to the next level,” UnionBank President Edwin R. Bautista added. As of end-September, Union Bank reported net income of P10.7 billion, which showed 26-percent year-onyear growth, thanks to 9-percent growth in revenues. Return on equity stood at 13.6 percent.

DOF orders tax-, duty exemptions for typhoon goods By Bernadette D. Nicolas

Association World Octavio Peralta

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

@BNicolasBM

INANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III ordered relevant agencies to expedite the processing of tax and duty exemptions of donations to the communities that suffered from the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. Dominguez informed President Duterte in a letter dated December 21 that the Department of Finance (DOF) stands ready to quickly process applications on the grant of these tax and duty exemptions for imported goods to be donated for the typhoon victims. Upon the request of Finance Undersecretary and Revenue Operations Group Head Undersecretary Antonette Tionko, Dominguez tasked several officials and personnel of DOF’s Revenue Office (RO) to be deployed and to work in round-the-clock shifts to speed up the processing of Tax Exemption Indorsements (TEIs) and the quick release of importations of donated relief consignments. The latter are expected to come from foreign governments and international organizations or institutions. Relief consignments include food, medicine, equipment, and materials for shelter, vehicles, and other means of transport that are donated or leased to government institutions and accredited private entities, for free distribution to the affected population or for use during relief and rescue operations in disaster-affected areas. Government agencies such as the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, of Foreign Affairs, and of Health and the Office of Civil Defense may apply for TEIs that grant tax and duty exemptions to importations under Relief Consignment in the Bureau of Customs. The local government units (LGUs) as well as private or nongovernment organizations (NGOs) duly registered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate government agencies may also apply for TEIs. The DOF-RO has made it easier to apply for tax and duty exemptions by shifting the registration process online at https://teslite. dof.gov.ph. Dominguez also approved Tionko’s request to disseminate to the Office of the President and the public the guidelines and requirements on the issuance of TEIs as provided under Section 121 of the

Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). Tionko said she made these requests “pending the issuance of the proclamation by the President declaring a state of national calamity

because of Typhoon Odette” and “in compliance with the President’s call to expedite the delivery of relief and rehabilitation efforts.” Duterte declared on Dec. 21 a state of calamity in six typhoon-battered

areas: Regions 4B (Mimaropa–Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 10 (Northern Mindanao) and 13 (Caraga).

BusinessMirror

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Digital wallet player expands investment products BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor GCASH has broadened the chance of investing in its GInvest products with two new funds for investors with aggressive risk appetite and have a five-year investment horizon. The mobile e-wallet service provider now makes it affordable and accessible to invest in Bank of the Philippine Islands investment funds through BPI Investment Management Inc.’s (BIMI) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund for as low as P1,000. As a US dollar-denominated feeder fund whose target fund is handled by the world’s largest asset managers, BlackRock, it will invest at least 90 percent of its assets into a single collective scheme. It invests globally in the full spectrum of permitted investments including equities, equity-related securities to guarantee dividends to the investor. Meanwhile, GInvest users can place a buy order in the Philippine Stock Index Fund for as low as P50. This new BIMI fund seeks to track the performance of the Philippine Stock Exchange Index, comprised of the country’s top 30 largest and most traded companies. Both BPI managed funds add to ATRAM’s five managed funds—Money Market Fund, Philippine Total Return Bond Fund, Philippine Smart Equity Index Fund, Global Technology Feeder Fund, and Global Consumer Trends Fund—bringing seven options now to every kind of GInvest investors. Using the GInvest platform, it takes just five minutes for an investor to register and one valid ID to fully verify his GCash account. From there, he can place buy orders and sell orders, track his investments, and even set regular investment reminders to invest consistently. Since its launch last year, GInvest has helped the mobile wallet gain 70 percent of the home market for total Unit Investment Trust Fund accounts in just six months.

CES PRESSES AHEAD WITH IN-PERSON TECH CONFERENCE DESPITE DROPOUTS

THE Consumer Technology Association pushed ahead with plans to host the annual CES technology conference in person next month in Las Vegas, despite cancellations from several major tech companies and exhibitors. “CES 2022 will go forward as important innovation for world health and safety, mobility and solving problems will be exhibited,” the trade group said in a statement. “Furthermore, thousands of smaller and medium-sized companies rely on CES for their business.” Over the past few days, exhibitors, like T-Mobile US Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. have curtailed plans to attend the gathering in person. Other high-profile attendees, such as Amazon.com Inc. and Twitter Inc., won’t be going either. But the CTA said Wednesday that the cancellations add up to less than 7 percent of its exhibit floor. The organization said it has received 42 cancellation notices from exhibitors but that it has added 60 new ones since last week. Lenovo Group Ltd., one of the largest exhibitors at the annual showcase, announced later on Wednesday that “after closely monitoring the current trends surrounding Covid,” it has decided to “suspend all on-site activity in Las Vegas.” The CTA added the “vaccination requirement, masking and availability of Covid-19 tests—coupled with lower attendance and social distancing measures” give it confidence that “attendees and exhibitors can have a socially distanced but worthwhile and productive event in Las Vegas.” But organizations aren’t relying only on the physical event; there will be an online version of CES for those not attending in person. “Registrations for both our digital access and our Las Vegas event are continuing to show strong momentum, with thousands more registrations in the last few days,” the CTA said. BLOOMBERG NEWS

HANDWRITTEN messages are left at the memorial site at the memorial site on December 7, 2021, outside Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, after a 15-year-old allegedly killed these four classmates, and injured seven others in a shooting inside the northern Oakland County school one week earlier. AP

TikTok posts referencing violence raise anxiety at schools BY KANTELE FRANKO AND MATT O’BRIEN The Associated Press

OLUMBUS, Ohio—Some parents kept their children home, police stepped up patrols and educators tightened security protocols Friday in response to viral TikTok posts alluding to unconfirmed threats of violence that raised anxiety levels at schools nationwide. Vickie Cartwright, the interim superintendent of schools in Broward County, Florida, one of the nation’s largest school districts, said the US government should take action if TikTok won’t get rid of dangerous posts that hurt American schools. “I’m asking for our federal government at this point in time to intervene. We need help. I cannot fathom that any other country would allow this type of attack to be occurring on their education system,” she said. With stress levels already soaring from the effects of the pandemic and a rash of hoax threats following a deadly school shooting in Michigan on November 30, districts said they were taking precautions out of an abundance of caution. The posts circulating online said schools would face shooting and bomb threats Friday. In a tweet, the US Department of Homeland Security said it did not “have any information indicating any specific, credible threats to schools but recommends communities remain alert.” Some districts opted to cancel classes for the day or limit where students could go inside school buildings. Many others increased security staffing. More than a half dozen school districts in the Houston area

told middle and high school students to leave their backpacks at home Friday in response to the TikTok posts, though none of the districts had received credible threats, officials said. TikTok has been deleting posts spreading “misinformation that is generally sparking alarming warnings” but is not finding posts that are promoting violence or making threats, company spokesman Hilary McQuaide said. “We are removing the alarmist warnings,” she said. “Those are misinformation.” McQuaide said the company began hearing the rumors late Wednesday and has been working with law enforcement agencies to try to get to the bottom of them. The post most widely associated with Friday’s fears is “not really a threat, it’s just saying they are hearing this thing is happening,” said Justin Patchin, a criminal justice professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and codirector of the Cyberbullying Research Center. How to respond to that presents a dilemma both to TikTok and educators, especially since many of the previous panics about TikTok challenges have proven to be bogus and acknowledging them can make them more influential. “It definitely puts schools in a tough spot,” said Patchin, whose center has worked with TikTok and other social media companies in the past to research online bullying. “There are these potential threats they can’t ignore but they also can’t shut down schools every time someone posts a generalized threat on social media.” Educators have been on edge in many places since

Dota 2 pro player takes hiatus to be a dog dad and team mentor N0TAIL SUNDSTEIN with his puppies named Bjørn and Ulv. PHOTO: @OG_ N0TAIL ON INSTAGRAM

HAD the privilege of being in a roundtable discussion with Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, one of the a Dota 2 professional player who’s one of the world’s most popular in his field. One of the first things Sundstein talked about was his new role as a dog dad to two puppies. “They are named Bjørn and Ulv which basically means bear and wolf,” said the two-time champion

who decided to take step away from the playing role and is instead playing a backend role with this year’s OG squad. He really is so in love with the puppies and couldn’t stop talking about them. “I want to do a lot of things. But of course I have to take care of the puppies and I want to take a break from being in front of the computer all the time. I think I’m making the right choice.” On his to-do list are making some content and maybe even casting some games. Someone at the roundtable discussion organized by Red Bull Philippines asked Sundstein, who is Danish, if he would consider being a hair model (as he now has long hair) and he said “yes.” But Sundstein is still founder and former in-game captain and he will continue mentoring the new squad, which includes Artem “Yuragi” Golubiev, Bozhidar Bogdanov, Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, Tommy “Taiga” Le and Mikhail “Misha” Agatov. The new

squad is playing in the Dota Pro Circuit Western Europe 2021/22 Tour 1: Division I. Sundstein is known for winning back-to-back world titles in Dota 2. He also has major titles, including a victory in the Philippines at the Manila Major. Sundstein, according to a report from German company Statista, leads all esports players in the world on overall earnings with $6.97 million. His team, OG, has won at least $11 million at The International 2018, and $15 million at The International 2019. Sundstein is believed to be taking at least a year off from esports and had been vocal about want to help mentor a new generation for OG. He said winning back-to-back world titles in Dota 2 is his biggest legacy in esports so far. “My biggest legacy would probably be TI9. TI8 is, of course, a great start. But winning another one right away, that probably is as good as it gets. I don’t think it gets any better.”

the deadly shooting in Michigan as copycat threats have led to isolated cases of schools switching to remote learning over the last several weeks. In Newtown, Connecticut, all schools were open Friday, with an increased police presence. District schools had switched to remote learning Tuesday, the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, due in part to threats that schools elsewhere were receiving in the aftermath of the Michigan shooting. As her 15-year-old son studied for his big algebra test, word of vague threats of school violence on TikTok prompted Kelley Swiney to quiz the freshman about other calculations: What’s your fastest exit from that classroom? Where would you run? Do you feel safe going to school Friday? Swiney, a mom of three school-age boys in Upper Arlington, Ohio, said she’d had a similar conversation with him and her middle son, a sixth-grader, after the recent school shooting in Michigan. She asked them to take a few seconds in each classroom they enter to think about where they could hide and how they could get out. She told her son that if he felt truly unsafe—not just trying to skip the test or the last day before holiday break—he could stay home Friday, even if it meant a failing grade. “I think it’s really pretty depressing that we live in a world where I have to have that conversation with my child,” Swiney said. On Friday morning, he felt comfortable enough to head to school for the exam, and by midday he was safely back home. ■

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

HEART EVANGELISTA USES DIGITAL PLATFORM TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES IN line with its main goal to promote wellness and entrepreneurship, actress Heart Evangelista and sister Camille Ongpauco said they will tap the online platform to promote the products of Pure Living Wellness International, the siblings’ latest business venture. In a recent online press briefing, Evangelista said Pure Living wants to promote wellness and beauty, and at the same time provide business to mothers and other home-based women. “We want to empower modern-day entrepreneurs. “My sister and I wanted to come up with a company to give everyone a chance to experience attainable luxury living. It’s been a long time coming and I’m glad we’re finally sharing this with all of you,” she said. Being a homegrown organization, Evangelista said Pure Living believes in the power of digital technology not only to promote beauty and wellness but also in transforming lives especially to the Filipino women who have played a special role in these challenging times,” Evangelista explained. “With Pure Living, you can be your own boss, build and grow your businesses, whenever, wherever,” Evangelista added. Using the power of digital technology as their main platform, Evangelista said Pure Living “allows members to create communities of enterprise reselling brand advocates, earn commissions from personal and group sales, and avail of exclusive incentives or promotions.” “I am really for self-care, feeling good about yourself, and being healthy. And I think it was natural, the beauty line and working with my sister, all of that because of the nature of my work being exposed to a lot of people. You get to understand their concerns and I’m often asked about what I do. This is my way of showing them what I love and helping them to an extent,” she stressed. Currently, Pure Living carries three brands under its wing such as VitaSense, a brand that offers vitamin-infused kitchen and shower water filters; Luxelle, and Ultima. Moreover, K-drama actor Ji Chang Wook has been tapped as the brand’s ambassador.

ALIBABA CLOUD OPENS UP IOT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM

THE digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, Alibaba Cloud announced it has opened the source code of Yun on Chip (YoC), its proprietary full-stack technology development platform for IoT devices. This initiative follows the company open-sourcing the XuanTie IP core series—the custom-built processors based on RISC-V instruction-set architecture—last October. “This announcement is further proof of our continuous support for the RISC-V software ecosystem, and our commitment to the open-source community,” said Dr. Jing Yang, senior director of Ecosystem Development at Alibaba Group. “Opening up our technology development platform, along with the IP cores of our in-house IoT processors, demonstrates that we are dedicated to assisting global developers and helping them build their own RISC-V-based IoT systems in an efficient and cost-effective way.” YoC adopts the design concept of minimalist development to enable developers to achieve efficient full-stack development from edge to cloud. The platform is composed of four layers including a hardware specification layer, a core service layer, an application component layer, and a business framework layer. It provides software frameworks in a variety of application domains to further reduce the development difficulty of application solutions. Currently, the YoC platform provides connectivity, BLE/MESH, intelligent voice, visual AI, security and GUI frameworks. It also features deep optimization and rich software components. The critical software in YoC is highly optimized for higher code density and more robust performance, supporting RISC-V acceleration SIMD instructions. The platform’s diverse software components include the RealTime Operating System, network protocol stack, audio and video stream processing, generic file system, device management, and low power consumption management. It also boasts comprehensive security features, providing both system-level and chip-level security protection. Earlier this year, Alibaba Cloud announced opening up its XuanTie IP core series, among other upcoming cores. Developers can now access the source code of the XuanTie series IP cores on Github and Open Chip Community to build prototype chips of their own, which can be customized for IoT applications such as networking, gateway, and edge servers. In addition, XuanTie-related software stacks, which support multiple operating systems, including Linux, Android, RTOS, and Alibaba’s own AliOS, have also been opened.

Oh Christmas breach issues will allow us to learn and adapt faster. We will never be done when it comes to security as the world will change with increasing speed. We have to admit that we can’t do it alone.” Maclang concluded.

JBL GIFTS THAT FITS YOU

HILE most of us were hunting for big discounts and vouchers to add to our Lazada and Shopee carts for the 12.12 Christmas sale, hackers were also labouring tirelessly—scamming BDO Unibank account holders. Several BDO users lost thousands of pesos due to an online banking scam where unauthorized transfers were made to a Unionbank of the Philippines account with a bogus name “Mark Nagoyo.” Depositors were surprised to receive email and text notifications from the bank notifying them of successful bank transfers with the hackers somehow able bypass the one-time PIN (OTP) security feature. BDO, the country’s largest bank, immediately alerted its depositors to change their passwords and issued statements that it was taking additional security controls to block further attempts and protect bank credentials. It later issued a statement saying they were processing the reimbursement of close to 700 clients affected by the recent online fraudulent transactions. The recent alarming developments show that even formidable, long-established companies like Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs) are not exempt from hacking and data breaches which can cost tremendous financial loss and reputational damage to these organizations. Former Commissioner Raymund Liboro of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) pointed out that highly technological heists and systematic attacks exploit vulnerabilities both in human beings and the banking systems. “It is not a question of whether a breach is possible—but rather when it will happen, adding that since “cybercrimes are man-made, they can be prevented and mitigated. The critical issues regarding cybersecurity and data protection were discussed at the recent webinar “Cybercrime: a Collective Defense.” Moderated by cyber security advocate and tech editor Art Samaniego, the webinar was held in partnership with Digital Pilipinas, a movement that seeks to address long-standing socioeconomic challenges through technological adoption; and Fintech Philippines Association, the leading independent industry association representing the interests and growth of the fintech community in the Philippines. Digital Pilipinas Convenor Amor Maclang said creating strong cybersecurity that can protect the business community from hackers, who tend to band together in groups, is no longer an individual initiative. “One thing is absolutely clear: we will only be stronger if we work together. Sharing our security issues will allow us to learn and adapt much faster. When one of us is victimized by cybercrimes, all of us are victimized. Collective security is not a field for competition, but for collaboration.” She then identified “new allies” of the financial system once its players start conducting countercybercriminal dialogues: “The White Hat Hackers [referring to cybersecurity professionals who employ the methods of online terrorists to find flaws in a company system and then fix them], advocates of Open Finance, the academe, and media.” “Cybersecurity and cyber defense is a whole-ofnation, whole-of-society concern. Sharing security

WHILE I have tried a lot of audio brands, JBL will always be one of my favorites as it was the first “branded” speaker I received for Christmas. I remember how impressed I was at the difference in sound quality, which made listening to all those Christmas songs even merrier. This holiday season, share that special feeling with your loved ones by giving them the gift of great sounding music. JBL has something for everybody, from headphones, active earbuds to waterproof speakers. With their Gift That Fits You promo, you can get either a Link Music, Endurance Peak or Live 200BT free when you buy specific devices. Here are some of our top picks from the list of participating JBL products. ■ JBL PARTYBOX ON-THE-GO: Since it was launched last year, this had been on my wishlist because it was always out of stock. From beach parties to impromptu karaoke sessions, this speaker lets you see, hear and feel the beat with 100 watts of powerful JBL Pro Sound and synced with a dazzling light show. With a bottle opener, padded shoulder strap, rechargeable battery and IPX4 splash-proof protection, the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go has everything you need to get the party started—and take it with you. It offers continuous and convenient music playback with its six-hour battery life, Bluetooth and USB port music sources. ■ JBL PARTYBOX 310: Another party speaker you might want to consider is the bigger sibling of the PartyBox On-the-Go. Instead of a strap for easy portability, the JBL PartyBox 310 has wheels and a handle for smooth transport. It has 240 watts of JBL Pro Sound power delivered through its two 2.5-inch tweeters and two 6.5-inch woofers. ■ JBL XTREME 3: As the name suggests, this one is meant for the outdoors with a rugged design, IP67 waterproof and dust-proof protection. It has four drivers and two pumping JBL Bass Radiators that effortlessly deliver dynamic, immersive sound with deep bass and plenty of detail. And to make sure the party can last way into the night, it has an incredible 15 hours of battery life. Get any of these speakers and you will receive a free Link Music speaker. If you’ve always wanted a smart speaker that sounds as good as it looks, then this is the one you want. The JBL Link Music pulses sound in every direction thanks to its transducer with 360-degree capabilities. Whether you put it in your kitchen or living room, JBL Link Music delivers crystal highs, sharp mids and deep powerful bass. Just say “Hey Google” to get started and play and control your favorite music, access Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music and listen without interruptions. ■ JBL CHARGE 5: This is the speaker series that introduced me to the JBL sound and is perhaps the best portable bluetooth speaker for traveling and small outings. There is the super punchy bass that is balanced with the highs and mids delivering that impressively rich and clear audio. You get that big room sound even when outdoors, and with 20 hours of battery life, IP67 waterproof and dustproof certification there’s no reason not to bring it with you everywhere. ■ JBL LIVE PRO+ TWS: One of the best looking pairs of TWS earbuds, the Live Pro+ TWS delivers an immersive TWS experience with smart ambient that connects you to your environment, or lets you focus on the music with Adaptive Noise Canceling (ANC). With the noise and wind isolation technology and beam forming mics, your voice is flawlessly conveyed to the other end giving you the feeling of a live conversation. All commands are on the earbuds, so

you can manage music and calls with your finger only. Get help from your Google or Alexa through your voice or with a tap on the earbud. With up to 28 hours of playtime from Qi-compatible wireless charging and super-fast wireless recharging, they’re always ready to power your day . ■ JBL LIVE FREE NC+ TWS: Whew! the name can be a mouthful but it does deliver sound that can make you speechless. The Live Free NC+ TWS is a great choice for people who want to experience JBL Signature sound quality, beautiful ANC, and up to 21 hours (seven hours for the earbuds + 14 hours in the case) of battery life. It also features wireless charging and IP67 rating sweatproof /waterproof so you don’t have to worry about a light drizzle during your runs. To qualify for the promo, purchase selected JBL products from participating stores and dealers until December 31 and register them at www. harmanwarranty.com. ■

YouTube TV restores access to Disney after dispute resolved NEW YORK—YouTube TV began restoring access to Disney content after a dispute between the companies led to an interruption of service over the weekend. YouTube told viewers Sunday they were restoring service so customers could once again watch networks provided by Disney such as ESPN, FX, National Geographic and local ABC stations. During the outage, viewers lost access to all live Disney content including recordings they had saved to their libraries. The outage stemmed from a breakdown in negotiations between YouTube and Disney over the contract between the companies, which expired late Friday. YouTube had wanted Disney to charge the company the same rate to carry its content that it charged other TV providers of similar size. The companies reached agreement Sunday. YouTube apologized for the disruption and said it would provide a $15 credit to impacted customers. AP

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Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

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Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ryan Seacrest, 47; Stephenie Meyer, 48; Ricky Martin, 50; Diedrich Bader, 55. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: You are right on target. You are smooth, confident and ready to make the most of what you’ve got. Your instincts and insight are also on target, and your power of persuasion is ready to take on anyone and anything you encounter along the road to success. Preparation will pay off, and positive lifestyle changes will take place. A partnership looks promising and contracts beneficial. Your numbers are 6, 14, 25, 29, 31, 33, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Slow down, get the facts and pace yourself. Refuse to let an emotional issue stop you from having a good time. Your happiness is up to you. Enjoy what life has to offer, and ignore anyone who upsets you. HHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): An emotional moment will overwhelm you. You’ll gain if you invest in something that interests you. Someone will do something that takes you by surprise. Be gracious when accepting a proposal, and the rewards will keep on coming. Romance is favored. HHHHH JUAN F. ALFONSO, Light Rail Manila Transit Corp.

KEVIN ANG, AIA Philippines

JOSE C. CLEMENTE III, Rajah Tours Philippines

FRITZ OCAMPO, BDO Trust and Investments Group

Christmas wishes 2021

WAS all so ready for this year’s Christmas celebration. This would be the first time I’ll be spending the holidays with Big Sis and family since the pandemic happened. Then Typhoon Odette unleashed her fury in many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, even affecting some parts of Palawan. What incredible damage this typhoon has wrought on so many cities, smashing homes, killing people, and downing so many utilities. As I write this, many provinces are still without power and water, while mobile phone signals from the usual providers are spotty. So, how can anyone be in a truly celebratory mood this Christmas when so many people are suffering? The key, I suppose, is to help. Give. Share whatever we can with those whose lives were upended by Odette. Social-media posts are rife with numbers to call, GCash and bank account numbers, and addresses of foundations, civic centers, and volunteer groups to which you can course your donations. Many individuals and private companies have already stepped up, sending the survivors food packs and jugs of water. Aside from these, the survivors also need blankets, clothing, toiletries, new underwear, wood planks or G.I. roofing, tarps or tents, hammers and nails, and other materials that can help them build temporary shelters. Let’s not wait for government to take care of us. We have to take care of each other. My prayers go out not only to those who have been affected by the typhoon, but also to the relief organizations and their staff, and transport operators who are helping bring our donations to Odette survivors. Thank you! nnn I ASKED a number of friends, CEOs, and key leaders in the private sector what their Christmas wish this

year would be, and not surprisingly most of them hope for the country’s deliverance from Covid-19, better health, more family togetherness, and economic recovery, and they also look forward to a truly inspirational and inspiring leadership next year. n JUAN F. ALFONSO, PRESIDENT AND CEO, LIGHT RAIL MANILA TRANSIT CORP. My Christmas wish is for our country to recover. I hope that more people are able to work, children are able to return to school, and that all we learn to live in this age while staying protected health-wise from this virus. As 2022 will be a year of transition and changes, I also wish that our countrymen will choose the leaders aligned with their values who will work to give our children a better future. n KEVIN ANG, CEO, AIA PHILIPPINES. I have three wishes for Christmas this year: first, for Covid to remain under control; second, for the Philippines to be spared from severe natural calamities. Lastly, for the country’s economy to recover, and, consequently, for everyone’s livelihood to normalize. n JOSE C. CLEMENTE III, PRESIDENT, RAJAH TOURS PHILIPPINES. My Christmas wish is, of course, the end of the pandemic. We are about to enter the third year of it and countries have been battered by the virus with tourism being one of the worst affected industries. Finding a way to control it, weaken its effects, or totally eliminate it would be the perfect Christmas gift for everyone. As a personal wish, I want to just wake up one morning without having to think about any obligations I need to meet. Just to wake up knowing that I have the whole day to myself and what I want to do. It’s as simple as that. n FRITZ OCAMPO, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, BDO TRUST AND INVESTMENTS GROUP. I wish the Philippines would achieve herd immunity and a successful booster rollout by the first half of 2022. This milestone would allow the economy to remain open and expand during the year. BDO forecasts the gross domestic product to grow by 6.5 percent, driven by stronger household consumption and investments in 2022. It is also my hope that our kids could return to school so that they could learn, play and interact with one another once again. n MONETTE AND ATOY CO, BUSINESSMAN. They say that each day you wake up and you and your family are okay and healthy, is a blessing! We want that blessing to continue. We wish to be able

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A change may not be what you want or anticipate, but it will turn out beneficial. Sit back and let things unfold naturally. Be open to suggestions and willing to do your fair share. Don’t let anger ruin your day. HH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do something with someone you love. Talk about the future, and set goals you can share. Combining your skills and effort will help turn your dreams into a reality. Joint ventures will enhance your life and a meaningful relationship. HHHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Consider the improvements you want to make, and start talking about the resolutions you plan to put into play. Let your enthusiasm build, and listen to the suggestions friends and relatives make. You’ll be one step closer to the goal you set. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Live in the moment and think positively. Recognize what you have, and extend a warm welcome to friends and family. The joy you offer others will be received well and encourage better relationships and a bright future. Romance is in the stars. HHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be gracious about what you receive. Give what you have to offer, and be mindful of what you say. Help a cause, and spread joy to those who look sad or lost. Be the bright light that warms the room. HHHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Tone things down. Find peace in observation and joy in what others offer. Relax, and let the magic of the moment lead to answers that have eluded you in the past. Change is upon you, and good things are yet to come. HHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Distance yourself from anyone who makes you angry. Keep the peace at gatherings. It’s in your best interest to take the high road and show patience and goodwill. Don’t give others something to talk about; protect your reputation. HH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s all about giving, sharing and making the world a better place. Refuse to let the little things get to you. Put on a happy face, and be kind to others. A positive change you make will surprise someone you love. HHHHH

MONETTE and Atoy Co

to spend more time with our two little grandsons because the pandemic has made us wary that we may unknowingly spread the virus when we visit them. But since more of us are vaxxed and boosted, hopefully, we can see them more and hug them as much as I want. May our work and that of our children continue to be blessed! May our people choose wisely our next set of leaders in the coming elections. Truly, we want a better country for our apos. A silly Christmas wish is to watch LIVE a BTS concert! More Christmas wishes next week.... n

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep busy; too much idle time will result in an unnecessary feud. Keep your life simple and your emotions under control. Offer kindness, understanding and a helping hand to those in need. Positive change begins with you. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A kind gesture toward someone who can influence your goals will pay off. Use your charm, and you will persuade others to help you gain ground and overturn a matter that concerns you. Be part of the solution, not the problem. HHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are analytical, punctual and responsible. You are generous and astute.

‘silent night’ BY PAUL COULTER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Amanda Rafkin

ACROSS 1 Place to enjoy a mud mask 4 Electrically flexible 8 Ceiling 11 Lead-in to “Major” or “Minor” 13 Mild yellow cheese 15 The “C” of TLC 16 Op-ed piece, e.g. (note letter 15 in this clue’s answer) 19 Play matchmaker for 20 “...but I could be wrong” 21 One might take place in a conference room (letter 4) 26 “Rubaiyat” poet Khayyam 27 Relieved sounds 28 O-shaped earring 29 E or G, e.g. 30 Hamster’s home 32 Fanatics 34 Bothers incessantly (letter 1) 36 Says “I am what I am!” 40 Resistance units 41 CEO’s degree, sometimes 44 Hilarious person 45 Cavs, on a scoreboard

46 Word before “ring” or “lighting” 47 Very slim possibility (letter 3) 52 Luther star Elba 53 Home with a bird’s-eye view 54 Person in charge (letter 13) 59 Pretentiously cultured 60 Root beer-and-ice cream treat 61 Celeste of All About Eve 62 “For sure!” 63 Legendary Himalayan beast 64 Animated movie set in Brazil DOWN 1 The world revolves around it 2 Suppose 3 “In a manner of speaking...” 4 Visibly surprised 5 “That’s a ___-out!” 6 Expected 7 Disk drive inserts 8 Word on yellow tape 9 Pitcher’s asset 10 Writing tool for crossword solvers 12 Buzzing 14 A lot, for some? 15 Provide apparel for

17 “German sausage jokes are just the wurst,” e.g. 18 Final number in A Chorus Line, inaptly 21 ___ choy 22 It’s a long story 23 One helped raise Romulus and Remus 24 Agree silently 25 Apple Maps tech 30 Cinematic FX 31 Pantry pest 32 Relatives, for short 33 “___ not easy being green” 35 Moisturizing butter type 36 British singer Rita 37 Drag queen’s hairpiece 38 “Don’t give me any clues” 39 Boring 41 Keep an eye on 42 Tenor Andrea 43 Suffix for “Gator” or “Power” 45 Not at all cheap 46 Grassy wetland 48 Letters seen outside a hit Broadway

show 49 Minor quarrel 50 Desert plants 51 “Isn’t ___ bit like you and me?” (“Nowhere Man” lyric) 54 Capital of Korea? 55 Fury 56 Groundbreaking tool? 57 Enjoy some samosas 58 Paramore genre Solution to today’s puzzle:

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‘CLASSICAL TO CROSSOVER’ AT SUNSHINE PLACE ONLINE THE Sunshine Place completes this year’s Sunshine Classics online concert series with Classical to Crossover featuring award-winning Filipino soprano-songwriter Lara Maigue and pianist Mariel Ilusorio. This can be viewed until December 31 via the Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center’s YouTube channel. Viewers can get a private link to the concert upon ticket purchase. With one click, registrants can access the concert video as many times as they want. Maigue will delight music lovers with well-loved classics like “The Doll Song” (Donizetti), “Der Hölle Rache Kocht in Meinem Herzen” (Mozart), “Nessun Dorma” (Puccini); and Broadway hits like “If I Loved You” (Rodgers/Hammerstein), “Phantom of the Opera” (Webber), “Tonight” (Bernstein), “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Peretti, Creatore, Weiss) and “On My Own” (Schönberg). She will then crossover to contemporary masterpiece “Con Te Partiro” (Sartori/Quarantotto) and Filipino songs “Sa Kabukiran” (Velez), and her own award-winning composition, “Nasaan.” Lara Maigue is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Music major in Voice. She was recognized by the Aliw (Entertainment) Awards Foundation as Best Female Classical Performer for 2017 and Best Female Crossover Artist for 2018. She also won Best Jazz Recording at the 2019 Awit (Sing) Awards. Contact Mariel Ilusorio at 0917-7092255 or marielilusorio@hotmail.com. This series is made possible through the generosity of individual sponsors, as well as 98.7 DZFE and Clark Trading Freeport Trading Resources Inc. The Sunshine Place (www.sunshineplaceph.com), a senior recreation center under the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, is a venue for adults to live actively by engaging in recreational classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It is the venue to be entertained, socialize and reflect; a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body and soul.

Chris Noth out at ‘The Equalizer’ amid sex assault claims LOS ANGELES—Chris Noth will no longer be part of the CBS series The Equalizer in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the actor. Universal Television and CBS made a joint announcement Monday that Noth would no longer be part of filming “effective immediately.” Noth has played a former CIA director on The Equalizer, which stars Queen Latifah. Noth will appear in at least one upcoming episode. Noth’s representatives had no immediate comment on The Equalizer decision. Two women accused Noth of sexual assault in a story reported last week by The Hollywood Reporter. Noth vehemently denied the allegations, which date back to 2004 and 2015. “The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false. These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago—no always means no—that is a line I did not cross,” Noth said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. One of the women who accused Noth of assaulting her said his reprisal of his Mr. Big character on the Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That... prompted her to speak out about the actor. Noth’s demise in the first episode of the show led to widespread attention. Series stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis issued a joint statement Monday on social media saying they were saddened by the allegations against Noth but supported his accusers. “We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences,” a statement signed by the three read. “We know that it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.” AP

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

The Mary of the first Christmas in cinema OLIVIA HUSSEY as Mary

VEN the sacred tales from the Bible have not escaped the power of cinema to retell the story, re-interpret the Good News, as we Christians call the stories from the Book. In these narratives, we have learned to imagine figures and characters that would have remained obscure or abstract without the filmmakers’ lenses. While in some old religions it is taboo to put onscreen the face of Jesus Christ and the prophets, films have shown to naturally breach this difficult rule. If ever, when Christ’s face is not shown on-screen, it is no more than a style—a kind of stagy editing— rather than obeisance to or observance of letting the forbidden remain so. The traditions of portraying sacred-historical individuals that may be metaphorical can be fascinating. Actors learn how to deal with stock characters or proceed to flesh out significant roles from the ancient past by tapping into sources that vary from the anecdotal to apocryphal and the conjectural. At the start of these Biblical films, caveats appear on the screen telling us how the production has used poetic license to bring to life the stories that happened thousands of years ago even as they are careful to respect the text. It is the tolerance of the believers and the free spirit of literatures that help gloss over the sometimes highly excitable delineation of these kings and queens, and saints and sinners. In this season of Christmas, I spent hours watching films dealing with Jesus. My interest is not to focus on the Christ because that would mean my account would be drawn toward his Passion and Death. I was devoting hours marveling at the episodes touching on the first Christmas. I was approaching more the life of Mary and the birth of the Messiah. In The Greatest Story Ever Told, Dorothy McGuire, is a most distractingly glamorous Blessed Virgin Mary. It could be the technology or the narrative of the period but up close, she looks more like a 1950s fashion catalogue model than one who has suffered earlier the judgment of a society that has rigid, if not primitive laws on a woman who bears a child outside wedlock. With three directors acknowledged—George Stevens (A Place in the Sun, Giant), Jean Negulesco (Johnny Belinda, Three Coins in the Fountain) and David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia, A Passage to India)—The Greatest Story Ever Told is well remembered then for the sweeping, dramatic visuals. Lean and Stevens were known for their monumental films; Negulesco was once dubbed the “first master of the cinemascope.” There is an obscure, made-for-television film called Mary, Mother of Jesus, which looks at the life of Jesus from the point of view of his mother, Mary. Given such a focus, we are given a wide space to confront the portrayal of this woman who is central to the story of Christmas. Mary is played by two actresses—with the Swedish-American actress Melinda Kinnaman in the part of the young Mary; and Pernilla August, a Swedish actress, as the Blessed Mother when she returns from the 12-year exile in Egypt with the young Jesus and her husband, Joseph. Pernilla has

the gravitas—a Best Actress in the 1992 Cannes for her film with Ingmar Bergman, The Best Intentions; Kinnaman has the face that we identify with the Mary of our catechism class and Catholic upbringing. Both actresses acquit themselves very well in the character but, given how the character has been written, the young Mary of Kinnaman is truthfully young and innocent, as we have been told for years. She is alone in the field when she senses something in the air. From afar, she sees a man in white robes, the sun seemingly gleaming where the face is. Terrified, she is about to turn away when the voice comes. Annunciation! We, too, hear that voice and we, too, recognize those lines: “Hail Mary....” Then she bows and says the eternal line we know by heart, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” In Mary, Mother of Jesus, we see the struggle of the Virgin Mother and that appellation. In one scene, as Mary arrives near the place of her cousin Elizabeth, she ominously encounters a woman being stoned to death because she is an adulteress. Here in this film, we see a more robust, temperamental, human Joseph. He cannot understand the idea of the Holy Spirit being the cause of that thing in the womb of the woman betrothed to him. Interestingly, we share that disbelief as the magnificently realistic scene unfolds. Mary, Mother of Jesus is directed by Kevin Connor and stars Christian Bale as Jesus.

However, in Christ’s passion and death, or in His Birth, there is only one Mary in my book. She is Olivia Hussey, the English-Argentine icon of the late 1960s and 1970s. As the Virgin Mother in the 1977 British-Italian epic film and TV drama serial, Jesus of Nazareth, Hussey’s youth and ethereal beauty are drafted once more by the same master filmmaker, Franco Zeffirelli, to delineate the singular purity of the woman fated to be the Mother of God. Earlier, in 1968, Hussey finally realized for us the true age of Shakespeare’s Juliet—well, close to it. Remember, in Shakespeare’s words, Juliet “hath not seen the age of fourteen years,” meaning she was 13. Olivia Hussey was 15 during the filming of the tragic tale and Leonard Whiting as Romeo was 17. The same infinite youth is apparent in the Virgin Mary of Jesus of Nazareth. But, outside the age, it is the clean, clear, delicate grace on the face of Olivia Hussey that captivates us when, at night, the small window to her room opens and a soft breeze and a softer light wake her up. She retreats amazed and scared; then she slowly bends down, half-kneeling, half-seated on the ground, as she whispers, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.” It is a tableau vivant that will inspire arts and artists through centuries, a moment that will confound theologians. But there in that humble act comes forth the very first Christmas. n

GTV now second most-watched channel in PHL GMA Network’s second free-to-air channel, GTV is now the second mostwatched channel in the country. Based on November to December 11 data from Nielsen Philippines, GTV recorded a total day people audience share of 11.3 percent in Total Philippines. GTV’s closest competitors TV5 and A2Z only registered 10.5 percent and 4.1 percent people audience shares, respectively. The network’s main free-to-air channel, GMA, meanwhile, remains strong in the top spot with a dominant 41.5 percent people audience share. Aside from continuously improving its content, GTV’s ratings success was also a result of the network’s on-going efforts to expand GTV’s reach and clarity of reception in areas outside of Mega Manila. Following GTV’s launch in February, the network commissioned six analog TV station upgrades in

different parts of the country: Tandang Sora in Manila, Mount Sto. Tomas in Benguet, Mount Banoy in Batangas, Naga in Camarines Sur, Legazpi in Albay, and, just recently, General Santos City in Mindanao. Viewers can also expect that more areas will be added to this growing list

of upgrades by 2022 as GMA further strengthens its digital terrestrial television (DTT) roll-out through transmitter upgrades. GTV’s programming lineup consists of world-class news and public affairs, as well as entertainment shows which cater to both the young and

young-at-heart. Catch news programs Dobol B TV, Regional TV News, Balitanghali, Dapat Alam Mo!, Good News Kasama si Vicky Morales, State of the Nation (SONA), along with the simulcast of 24 Oras, 24 Oras Weekend and Saksi. Meanwhile, well-loved public affairs and lifestyle shows, include Farm to Table, I Juander, Pinoy A+, Brigada, Reporter’s Notebook, Tunay na Buhay, Stories of Hope, On Record, Taste Buddies and Pinas Sarap. GTV also offers a variety of foreign dramas, as well as local and Hollywood films on movie blocks Siesta Fiesta Movies, Afternoon Movie Break, and G! Flicks. Meanwhile, sports fans should watch out for the next season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association on GTV. More information can be found on www.gtv.ph.

B8 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

It’s time to revisit Quest Plus Clark Pampanga

Global Cars Phils. pilots Ford dealer to roll out ‘Balik Baterya Program’

LARK Freeport Zone in the heart of Pampanga is fast becoming the destination of choice by domestic tourists looking for a quick escape and relaxing staycation. With the influx of out-of-town travelers, Quest Plus Clark is ready to welcome leisure guests with new offerings for a fresher experience. Newly-renovated rooms await overnight guests, with a modern and clean design and complemented by the hotel associates’g signature Filipino hospitality. For a more private and exclusive getaway, there is the Quest Plus Villas which boast of more generous space and a private pool for a consummate Christmas and New Year vacation. Your stay will be filled with recreational and fun activities just in your quest for a memorable family holiday bonding. Quest Plus Clark has forged an exclusive partnership with the newly-opened Clark Safari and Adventure Park as part of the hotel’s Live Love Local campaign. Hotel guests can avail of a 20% discount

on their ticket entrance at the park where they will get to discover a world where wildlife and nature thrive. Guests who prefer to stay within the vast Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City, there are outdoor activities such as biking, badminton, jogging, picnic at the sprawling Clark Parade Grounds, and al fresco dining at Charley’s Restaurant for the enjoyment of guests. Quest Plus Clark is part of the Chroma Hospitality group of the Filinvest Hospitality Corp. Visit www. questhotelsandresorts.com/clark.

Sun Life make it in the ‘Top 100 Brands in the Philippines’

REPRESENTATIVES from the PBSP and Ford Dealer Principals and dealerships across the country attended the virtual signing ceremony last October 22 to mark the significant milestone for the flagship battery recycling program.

HE LausGroup of Companies (LGC), owner of dealer principal Global Cars Philippines, is the pilot Ford dealership to fully implement the Balik Baterya Program, in partnership with Ford Philippines, Motolite, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). First launched by Motolite in 2006, the battery recycling program aims to collect used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) from PBSP’s member companies for proper recycling and production of new automotive and industrial batteries. In turn, the participating companies and partners may allocate the proceeds of the sale of their ULABs for CSR projects in health and education, or for

their chosen beneficiaries. As the pioneer Ford dealership to adapt the Balik Baterya Program, LGC’s Global Cars Philippines has collected over 75 used car batteries within seven months and has just transferred its first batch for recycling to Motolite. In her keynote speech, LGC Chief Executive Officer and 2021 Ford Dealership Honoree Lisset LausVelasco said, “It is our hope that through this program, we are able to affect change in our communities by pioneering sustainable business practices, geared towards promoting progressive countryside development that is shared by all.” “Through the Balik Baterya Program,

we are able to bring to life Ford’s global commitment to environmental sustainability in the Philippines and work with our Ford dealers and likeminded partners such as Motolite and PBSP to reinforce this advocacy. At the same time, the program provides an opportunity for our dealer partners to create and even expand their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to support more beneficiaries,” Ford Philippines President and Managing Director Michael Allen Breen said. To know more about the Balik Baterya Program, visit www.lausgroup. com.ph or www.ford.com.ph, or visit Ford Global Cars Philippines dealerships in Metro Manila and Pampanga.

OR the eighth year in a row, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. (“Sun Life”) was hailed the top insurance brand in the Campaign Asia-Pacific study dubbed “Top 100 Brands in the Philippines.” The study was conducted in early 2021 by global information and insights provider NielsenIQ. Participants were asked to name the best brand that comes to mind in 15 major brand categories including alcohol, apparel & accessories, automotive, beverage, consumer electronics, courier services, financial services, food, home appliances, household and personal care, media and telecommunications, restaurants, retail, sports, and transport, travel, and leisure. The term “best” is defined as the brand they trust the most or has the best reputation in its category. Sun Life was the only life insurance

company to land in the Top 100, ranking 67th. “Years ago, having a life insurance company land in a list of top brands was unheard of. We are happy to bring our industry to the forefront, especially at a time like this when Filipinos could truly benefit from the products and services we offer,” Sun Life Philippines CEO and Country Head Benedict Sison said. “We thank our clients for choosing Sun Life as their partner in their financial journey. To gain their trust especially in these uncertain times is biggest achievement we could hope for.” Now on its 126th year, Sun Life ranks as the Number 1 life insurance company in the Philippines, with its lead in premium income, new business annual premium equivalent (NBAPE), and net income in 2020.

Enjoy great savings with Trip.com’s year end sale and extended vaccinated discount campaigns

Experience ‘The Joy of Gifting with Avon’, find something for everyone

OOGLE reports that global searches for “online gift” increased by 80% in 2020 compared to 2019. It also expanded beyond the usual special occasions like birthdays and the holidays, as well as giving gifts beyond immediate family or social circles. Facebook also shares that about 73% of holiday shoppers in the Philippines agree that the holidays is the best season to find deals. Now, look no further as Avon gives you the easiest access to gift-giving packages and exciting holiday deals. If overwhelmed by all the various options in choosing the perfect present, visit www.avonshop.ph and you’ll find everything and anything you need for every loved one– from make-up, fragrances, skincare, jewelry, intimates,

accessories, and more– all in one shop. Celebrate beauty and elegance with the women in your life with Far Away Royale fragrance. Share the gift of glowing youthful skin with Avon Anew Essence. Also check out Avon’s latest Avon x Love Marie Collection Plate set, to make sure the family’s Noche Buena is extra special.You’ll definitely find the perfect gift for everyone at avonshop.ph! “Gifting is at its peak during this season, regardless of whether or not there are social restrictions in place,” shares Anna Garces– Director of Commercial Marketing, Avon Philippines. “Through Avon Shop, we want everyone to find the perfect present for every person in their life, that’s why we make sure that the catalogue has something for everyone.”

The Avon Shop’s vast selection provides quality and affordable selections for holiday gifting for almost any loved one – siblings who just started enjoying makeup, eco-conscious BFFs, or even on-the-go career individuals, so avoid the hassles of hopping from one site to another. Choosing and buying gifts become easier with just a few clicks or taps on your screen – whether you’re browsing the latest digital brochure or processing payment through online transactions.The best part? You can save on shipping fees as you can find almost everything you need for the holidays from just one source! Visit www.avon.ph or like and check out Avon Philippines on Facebook to find out how you can shop your favorite Avon products.

ROM 10 December 2021 to 16 January 2022, Trip.com’s Year End Sale campaign in the Philippines will offer local users amazing accommodation deals – with discounts up to 60 percent. Trip.com also announced today the extension of its Vaccinated Discount Campaign till 30 June 2022. “These campaigns seek to highlight the best travel opportunities that our country has to offer. We will continue to ramp up our efforts to support the recovery of the travel industry and work closely with our stakeholders to introduce initiatives that will facilitate the recovery and progress of our domestic travel industry,” said Jerome Dela Cruz, General Manager of Trip.com (Philippines). This year-ender promo, Trip.com will be offering discounts of up to 60 per cent for selected hotel bookings on the platform. Users can choose from a wide array of hotel packages from over 40 participating hotels, including packages featuring a breakfast for two. Participating hotels include The Lind Boracay, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay, Discovery Suites Manila and Crosswinds Tagaytay, among many others. Sunish P. Sadasivan, Vice President of E-Commerce and Revenue Management at Chroma Hospitality, said, “Trip.com has been our trusted partner for more than 5 years, and we are extremely thankful to have collaborated with them on various campaigns during the past two years

which have been tough for this industry. It has been a challenging year for many, and we are ready to welcome guests to our properties where a wonderful experience awaits them this festive season!” For a limited time only, book your hotel stays at https://www.trip. com/sale/w/3054/2021_yearend_sale. html?locale=en_xx&openapp=3&curr=PHP. And as part of its support to the ongoing local government’s vaccination drive, Trip.com's extension of the discount campaign for will reward fullyvaccinated users with exclusive benefits and discounts for domestic travel opportunities when they book with Trip. com. Launched in September 2021, Trip. com has since onboarded close to 200 hotel partners for the campaign. Winceslao Taunan, Operations Manager of the Boracay Ocean Club Beach Resort, said, “We are proud to be one of the participating hotels working with Trip.com on its ‘Vaccinated Discount Campaign’ which has boosted the recovery of the domestic tourism industry. The extension of this campaign till June 2022 will provide more opportunities for fully vaccinated individuals to enjoy discounts on their accommodation bookings at Boracay Ocean Club. Boracay will launch more exclusive packages through this campaign in the coming months.” Visit https://www.trip.com/ sale/w/2749/yourshotatdiscounts. html?curr=PHP

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www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 B9

Abra matriarch marks 100th birthday 1,000 miles away M

ANILA—The Covid-19 pandemic might have “spoiled ” Mama Elsa’s long-planned homecoming to celebrate her 100th birthday in the Philippines, but there’s no stopping her children, grandchildren, and relatives from celebrating this extraordinary milestone though they may be thousands of miles away from her. Elsa Bañez Valera, fondly called Mama Elsa, was born in Bangued, Abra, on December 17, 1921, to Mercedes Paredes Purugganan and Dr. Colonel Leon Crisologo Bañez, who shaped the foundation of her values as a woman of faith, family, education, and strength. “We started planning for Mama’s centennial birthday as early as last year [2020] thinking that the pandemic would be over by then. Like many of us Filipinos, Mama would like to spend Christmas in the Philippines. We did plan to have a reunion and celebrate her 100th birthday in Manila. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 threat persists, that’s why we did not push through with it,” said her son Rene, now based in Connecticut, USA. Mama Elsa was the second eldest

SOME of the children and grandchildren of Elsa Bañez Valera (Mama Elsa) shortly after the Thanksgiving Mass held in her honor at the SVD District House chapel in Ubbog, Bangued, Abra, on December 17, 2021. Her homecoming to celebrate her 100th birthday in the Philippines was put on hold due to the pandemic. COURTESY OF OEUVRES DE ONAMORE FB PAGE

of five children, and she is no stranger to having a big support system with her two brothers—Dr. Leon Bañez

and Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Bañez—and two sisters, Bella Bañez Cabanos and Estrellia Bañez Garcia.

Mama Elsa was taking up nursing when World War II broke out. Her studies were interrupted by the

Japanese invasion in 1941. After settling down, she returned to her studies in Commerce at the Philippine Women’s University. Later, she married Felixberto Garduque Valera and they were the definition of a power couple. This brought on the extension of her family through 12 children who are her love and light: Chedes Garcia, Ellen Martinez, Etta Vered, Michael Valera, Elgie Valera, Virgilio (Gelly) Valera, Sue-Zette Valera, Chona Trinidad, Marissa Banez, Olga Bigornia, Angelee Niedermeyer, and Rene Valera. Despite her role as a mother, her career was also an important part of her life. Mama Elsa was appointed general manager of the Rice and Corn Administration (now known as National Food Authority) under President Diosdado Macapagal. Other notable roles include being a board member of The Catholic Women’s League Abra and Philippine Girl Scouts for the Province of Abra. With her retirement from the Ministry of Education and Culture in 1981, this enabled her to immigrate to the US in pursuit of a better life for her children and future generations.

Today on her 100th birthday, she is mother to 12 children, grandmother to 24 grandchildren, and greatgrandmother to 20 great-grandchildren. Although her family is great in numbers, it is her unconditional love, support, strength, and wisdom that guided her family to be where they are today. The Bañez and Valera clans— from the United States, Metro Manila, Abra, and other parts of the Philippines, started their respective celebrations on Friday morning with a Thanksgiving Mass at the SVD District House in Ubbog, Bangued, many of them attending the live-streamed Mass online. “We are grateful to have her and be a part of this milestone. Join us in our celebration of Elsa Bañez Valera,” Rene said. Mama Elsa is a niece of Don Quintin Paredes who served as Philippine Solicitor General from March 1, 1917 to 1918, as Secretary of Justice from 1920 to 1921, and as Attorney General from 1918 to July 1, 1920, and who was a member of the first parliamentary mission to the United States in 1919. (Contributed by Kristen Valera)

Feeling powerless, American families bring elderly home By Adam Geller

glances at her daughter, Susan Ryder, and flashes a blissful grin. It’s probably just as well that, a year after Ryder took her mother out of a nursing home locked down against Covid-19 to rescue her from isolation and neglect, the retired sandwich shop worker never remembers what comes next. “OK Mom, I’m going to put your stockings on,” Ryder says. “I don’t want to help!” the 79-yearold growls. The pudding smile is gone. “I can’t do this!” By the time Bednarowski’s family brought her home they, and thousands more with loved ones in nursing

AP National Writer

OTTERDAM JUNCTION, N.Y.—Pushed up to the breakfast table, Betty Bednarowski folds and refolds her napkin with studied intensity, softly singing “Winter Wonderland” without the words, the same as she did in March and July and September. Dessert today is a tiny cup of pudding, like yesterday’s, with seven pills Bednarowski can’t swallow, crushed into the butterscotch. Between mouthfuls, Bednarowski, who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease,

facilities slammed by the pandemic, were desperate. After months of separation, Bednarowski had dropped 20 pounds. Her delight in other’s company had given way to a hollow stare. Her hair was filled with lice. That’s in the past now. But only because Ryder is her mother’s keeper. “Oh God! Oh God!” Betty wails. “I’m too...” Before she can finish the sentence, the thought slips away. Crouched on the floor, Ryder struggles alongside a nursing assistant to pull the compression hose over her mother’s scarred calves. Today is easier. On mornings without help, she presses her face against

And the winner is…A senior citizen By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

ECENTLY, I was invited by a friend to a virtual event that was supposed to award 100 Filipinos on an online community called LinkedIn Philippines. At first I was hesitant because when I took a cursory look at the nominees, they were all relatively young. Still being curious by nature, I acceded. I’m glad I did, because even if I was among a sea of millennials, I never felt out of place on that evening. I discovered that it is an inclusive circle where age or calling in life does not matter. As a writer who puts great significance on words, I immediately liked the name. “Link” means you are connected to others and then “in” means you are embraced by a group. That’s it, the two words say it all. I also found out that it’s a global community and LinkedIn Philippines is our local community network. The very first thing that made me completely comfortable was the reassuring presence of a senior citizen who gave the keynote message in a chatty friendly way. This fellow I am referring to in this article’s title has been winning in this event for the past 3 years and he would probably have won it again this year. I guess the organizers felt

he’s won enough and instead honored him as the first recipient of the hall of fame award. His name is Francis Kong, columnist, mentor, resource speaker, consultant and one of the more prominent personalities who can be found on LinkedIn Philippines. I myself read his columns in a daily broadsheet, which are echoed in a radio station. I’ve picked up many things from his “talks” and it’s no wonder his LinkedIn site scores high on the engagement criterion. The top 100 Filipinos on LinkedIn Awards is the brainchild of Virginia Bautista, a personal branding strategist, who, I believe, was among the first to be on LinkedIn in the Philippines. I believe her objective in launching this event is to put the spotlight on Filipino professionals and achievers who can inspire others in the LinkedIn global community. As I was looking at the faces of the individuals and hearing their names being called one by one, I was transported back to my school days when the high school principal was calling the names of those who made it to the honor list. In my first year and second year, I was not called on the stage. But in my heart, I resolved to be in the list the next year. And I made it happen.

Someone said: “Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.” And being better means you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone, for often what you want is there. It is apparent that on LinkedIn, people are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves. A British author and professor named Sarah Bakewell says it well for all of us: “You might think you have defined me by some label, but you are wrong, for I am always a work in progress.” I have to admit that perhaps not all who are on LinkedIn are authentic. Maybe some profiles are fictitious. As one expert puts it, the digital world gives “the tools of fiction-making to everybody equally, so long as they have access to a computer.” Social media rewards acquisitive networking and its platforms are “a marketplace of selfhood,” an idea that echoes in the post-modern way of the sociologist Erving Goffman’s Presentation Of Self In Everyday Life, an old book of mine that I should perhaps read again because I might discover social observations that still ring true today. For better or worse, our way of making a living is being done at least half in public, with individuals in search of followers and perhaps their collectives or kindred spirits. This is why this event is a good thing. Its set of criteria separates the authentic from the fictive. Content alone will give you away.

Betty’s knee to hold it down. “I know Mom,” she says. “I’m sorry. You’re doing great Betty.” Mothers and children have battled over getting dressed forever, only here the roles are reversed. If anyone can relate it’s the many families who made the same decision: to bring home the people they love and find peace in comforts and consequences that could outlast the pandemic itself. “We mostly hear two things. One, they’re really happy they did it. They’re genuinely happy to have their loved ones at home,” says John Schall of the Caregiver Action Network, which What you post is a clue to what you really are. You can’t fake it. In her LinkedIn site, Virgie reveals that for this year, there were 343 nominees, 217 qualified based on the criteria, and only the top 100 with the highest number of followers made it to the final list. This event is definitely not one of those bogus award-giving bodies that insouciantly give away awards to any individual or company willing to pay the asking price. I wish we had LinkedIn 50 years ago when I was a young employee on my first job. Then you had no one to talk to, no mentor to guide you about your career. The HR departments were incompetent or useless when it came to career counseling and mentoring. I could not share or exchange best practices because my workmates were inexperienced themselves and were just too focused on how to pay the bills. I had to make my own career path by myself, reading a few magazines and books, mostly biographies or autobiographies of successful people. I never had an idea about other careers or trends in the industry. But I managed to slog along. But I could have stepped forward much faster if I had a community of kindred aspirational spirits like the ones in LinkedIn. All we had were classified ads that were not even useful because they never gave out any context about the job being offered. Some were misleading, promising a high salary only to be told during the interview that there was a quota to be met to get it. To get a better job during that time, you had to have connections or you know someone in a company who alerted you when a job

has fielded calls from thousands of distressed families. “The other thing we hear is, ‘Oh My God, how difficult this has turned out to be.’ ...It really is fairly unrelenting.” To families like Bednarowski’s, the longer the lockdowns stretched on the less that leaving loved ones in a nursing home felt like a choice. Patients, many frail and unable to communicate their needs, were walled off from the family members who could advocate for them, even as staffing shortages and pandemic restrictions sharply reduced care. Covid has killed more than 140,000 residents of US nursing homes, with becomes vacant. Now with LinkedIn you are connected to your fellow professionals. You get to engage with them as well as your future employers. Through your profile, you can showcase your professional life, milestones, skills and interests. With the Open To Work feature, you can privately tell recruiters or publicly share with the LinkedIn community that you are looking for new job opportunities. It’s awesome to learn that LinkedIn has 750 million plus members around the world, which include 7 million Filipinos. That’s a vast community and a cornucopia of useful and varied content that you can access for knowledge, insights and opportunities, whether you’re just starting a new job, or you want to enhance your present career or veer off to a second career. It is like enormous living breathing organism, because it continuously evolves in real time, as more new members join and current members update and manage their individual profiles and keep refreshing their contents, some on a regular basis. LinkedIn doesn’t just help connect people better to opportunities, it continuously builds up a vast reservoir of talents and skills that organizations and corporate entities can tap to recruit new employees or to draw powerful insights that they can use as they plan the future of their work force. The thing I like most about the LinkedIn community is the intergenerational mix among the members. It would have been understandable if young members would shy away from interacting with more mature members be-

deaths from other causes also far surpassing previous years. And Ryder and others like her— standing at nursing home windows watching the condition of their loved ones deteriorate—felt powerless to do anything about it. “It was fear for her safety, for her well-being—this is your mother!” says Ryder, herself the parent of two 20-somethings. “I mean, I don’t know if you have kids. But can you imagine being at work and the school calls and says ‘We’re going to lock the school and we’re going to keep your kids for their own safety’?” cause every new generation usually has mixed feelings about people who remind them of their parents and grandparents whose orbit they have just escaped. But on LinkedIn, the engagement level for personalities past 50 is high even among young individuals. Proof is that Francis Kong, a senior citizen, is the member with the most number of engagements in the Philippine LinkedIn community. It means young people are willing to listen to his age-old insights and words of wisdom. And why not? As an old English proverb says: “There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle.” In fact this mixing of the old and the young should be encouraged in any community whether in business, education, public service or even religion, because both can enrich each other’s lives and careers. The truth is mature adults can have what I call a seasoning effect on the young, by offering a perspective based on life and work experience that a 30-something individual doesn’t have yet. So I have to thank my friend for inviting me to this virtual LinkedIn event. Indeed as the blurb outs it, it is a recognition and a celebration. And most importantly, I found a community that would embrace me warmly, even in advanced maturity, as a member. They say that the world will continuously change because of what has happened and what is happening. But if you are in a community of kindred spirits like LinkedIn with whom you can share your experience and learn from, the world becomes a more empowering and co-creative working environment.

B10 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

Education BusinessMirror

Editor: Mike Policarpio

USAID, DepEd pursue high-quality early-grade learning

VIRTUAL conference showcased nearly 400 innovative projects from educators in Bicol and Western Visayas that focused on strengthening early-grade literacy development during the pandemic. School leaders developed and implemented their projects after attending the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) “Instructional Leadership Training: Strengthening Learning Conditions for Early Literacy” from December 8 to 10. The training focused on developing literacy leaders who can foster conditions for integrating social and emotional learning, gender equity and social inclusion, as well as developmentally appropriate practices to support quality literacy instruction.

USAID officials, Department of Education representatives, educators from DepEd Regions 5 and 6, the National Educators Academy of the Philippines, as well as other key partners and stakeholders attended the conference, where teachers and administrators shared their results. “As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic [ties between our two countries and the 60th anniversary of USAID in the Philippines, the US government, through USAID, remains committed to supporting DepEd

in its goal of providing Filipino children and youth with] necessary skills for their growth and development,” said USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Sean E. Callahan. The event featured a virtual poster and video exhibition of project initiatives, a virtual area which displayed USAIDsupported early-grade learning materi-

als, and read-aloud events which featured books in Filipino, English, and mothertongue languages developed with the aid agency’s support. The conference also included discussions on literacy leadership, home partners’ literacy programs, school climate, as well as gender equality and social inclusion. “The initiatives of the USAID Ad-

vancing Basic Education (ABC+) project on early-grade reading proficiency and knowledge-sharing for capacity building provides significant contributions to DepEd’s directive on decisively addressing the challenge of quality on basic education,” said Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno A. Malaluan. “I look forward to the documentation of the presentations and the proceedings of this learning conference [as] a readily available reference material for a range of good practices in early-grade literacy in basic education.” USAID, through its ABC+ project, has trained more than 10,000 teachers, school heads, supervisors and principals since 2019. It has provided 9 million early-grade learning materials. For the past 60 years USAID has worked with the Philippine government and local organizations to achieve shared development goals, supported by more than P247.5 billion (or $5.1 billion) worth of investments.

‘School of Living Traditions’ Stratpoint Tech., Phinma Educ. prime IT pros for job market earns UNESCO nod for PHL

ARIS—The 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) cited the Philippines on December 16 by inscribing the School of Living Traditions (SLT) in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. SLT is a flagship program of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCC A) dedicated to safeguard and support the continued practice and passing on to the younger members of the community the indigenous and folk traditions, skills and knowledge of cultural-heritage elements that are manifestations and expressions of the creativity and ingenuity of Philippine cultural communities. It harnesses the latter’s own “cultural masters” to teach and guide its young members using their own approaches. There are a total of 28 SLTs being implemented across the Philippines; in Luzon: Benguet, Ifugao, Abra, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Bulacan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Palawan, and Rizal; in the Visayas: Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Capiz, Antique, and Guimaras; and in Mindanao: Agusan del

Sur, South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, Basilan, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and North Cotabato. Head of Delegation Junever M. Mahilum-West, who is the Philippine ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO, thanked members of the ICH Committee, as well as the evaluation body, as she welcomed the recognition during the session: “SLT ensures that indigenous knowledge, practices and living traditions continue to be safeguarded and revitalized by [enabling] apprenticeship of the younger generation.” Through Deputy Executive Director Marichu Tellano, NCCA Chairperson Arsenio J. Lizaso also extended his gratitude for the SLT’s inscription: “This honor is a profound recognition of our cultural communities’ [sharing with all their counterparts] in the world.” SLT is the Philippines’s fifth element to be inscribed in the Lists of ICH, with others namely: the Hudhud chants of the Ifugao, the Darangen epic of the Manarano people of Lake Lanao, the Tugging rituals and games, and the Buklog thanksgiving ritual system of the Subanen.

RIDGING the gap between the academe and job market, Stratpoint Technologies and Phinma Education have launched a “Technology Faculty Immersion” program, which equips educators with first-hand information technology (IT) experience and skills that they will pass on to their students as they become work-ready professionals. Through this initiative, a batch of teachers from Phinma schools will be assigned to Stratpoint for one academic semester, or five months. In the first phase, they will undergo a technical bootcamp under the tutelage of Stratpoint software, cloud, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) engineers. It will have self-paced courses, live lectures, and actual coding projects. The program’s second stage is apprenticeship in an actual software-development project. Included in a project team, the participants will be asked to finish tasks where they have to apply their learning from the bootcamp, under the guidance of Stratpoint peers, leads and project managers. At the end of the semester and upon

graduation, they will translate their newly acquired technical and business knowledge into a classroom experience, enriching the curriculum with practical lessons that will better prepare their students nationwide for employment in the IT industry. The entire program is done remotely to enable educators from more Phinma Education schools—University of Pangasinan, Araullo University in Cabanatuan, Southwestern University in Cebu, University of Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro College—to participate. With this training-the-trainer approach, Stratpoint and Phinma Education generate a multiplier effect, and scale the job-preparedness initiative all over the country within months. “By directly working with a respected industry leader such as Stratpoint, our teachers will enhance their already stellar academic credentials with real-world accomplishments. They will return from deployment armed with new teaching tools: on-the-job exposure to clients, users, and fellow IT professionals to take our talentreadiness initiatives to the next level,”

SoKor bestows educ aid to war veterans’ kinfolk 9 Pinoys qualify

in Asean Young Climate Leaders’ Programme

T.I.P.ians capture Local People’s Choice, global nomination in NASA Space Apps Challenge

WO groups of computer engineering students from the Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.) reaped awards in the 2021 NASA Space Apps Challenge, with both of their entries victorious in different categories. Quaranteam’s personalized Covid-19 proximity-risk assessment application “Agapay” was hailed as Local People’s Choice, while Team Aguhon’s mangroveplanting app “Our Shores” was chosen as global nominee. Agapay, as its name suggests, acts like a companion to keep safe from the virus. It checks if a person is Covid-positive or not, identifies the number and severity of cases in a specific location, provides a list of the nearest health-care facilities, and suggests ways to avoid getting infected. “The challenge we chose is very close to home. Even with the lockdowns, alternative solutions and other preventive measures against Covid-19 are still needed. Agapay is our answer to that,” said group mentor Engr. Richard Roman. Said app, made by David Evangelista, Sam Ryan Ruiz, Kurt Daniel Macamay, Mark Joseph Pollente and Axle Rhon Purugganan, used data from the Department of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), World Health Organization, Humanitarian Data Exchange, and Johns Hopkins University. It also advises which personal-protective equipment to use when going out. Meanwhile, from being a local winner

to global nominee, “Our Shores” urges community members to plant trees along coastlines by just tapping on their phones. With the app, people can “grow” their own virtual garden, which will be planted by local government units or nongovernment organizations. It helps reduce carbon emissions, protect against storm surges, and provide opportunities for fisherfolk. Data from NASA, Geo Portal, and Mangroves Matters PH were used to point out the sites for planting, which users can select alongside their species of choice. Once their trees have fully grown, users will be given a unique certificate or ID that they can show to visit their plants in person. “‘Our Shores’ won because of its lasting socioeconomic and environmental impact. Most people think that engineering is just all about making money, but there’s actually more to it as proven by our students who are set to make a positive change as they compete globally with pure knowledge and skills,” said Engr. Cris Hate, who mentored the group of Arnauld Reubin Anin, Mica Antonio, Franklin Nazareno, Marlowe Ojano and Joshua Pontillas. The NASA Space Apps Challenge is the largest annual hackathon in the world. More than 400 students and professionals competed nationwide this year. For more information, visit tip.edu.ph or T.I.P.’s official social-media accounts through @TIP1962official for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

said Phinma Education Country Head Raymundo Reyes. “As an educational institution, it will be an honor to nurture a student body that will become the future leaders of IT.” “We know…our intelligent and skilled talent pool is key to our success in a highly competitive space [as we still] create the environment for our talents to flourish through cadetship and professional-development programs,” added Stratpoint CEO Mary Rose dela Cruz. “This time we escalate our efforts into [a partnership of industry and academia]—thanks to Phinma Education which has a strong commitment of investing in teachers] to reach more students, and hone the potential of more talents.” Dela Cruz further stated: “Our first batch of participants are a [select few, but their learning] will be echoed to classrooms nationwide, in locations and numbers we don’t typically reach through regular cadetship programs. I’m looking forward to a time when I will work side-by-side with students who will benefit from our immersion participants.”Roderick L. Abad

AMBASSADOR Kim In-chul (fourth from left) meets students who will receive scholarships as Korean War veteran-relatives. KOREAN EMBASSY-MANILA/PNA

T least 210 scholars who are relatives of Korean War veterans will benefit from this year’s P3.67million educational aid courtesy of South Korea. Its embassy in Manila said the scholars—a mix of high-school and college students—will receive about $300 to $500 each as annual support until they graduate. “[The allocated amount is $73,000 for a total of 160 who] are in high school and middle school, while 40 are in college,” the embassy told the Philippine News Agency. Ambassador Kim In-chul said the assistance is in recognition for the service of the students’ family members who were veterans. “We always appreciate all…who fought in the Korean War, and we sincerely hope that this small token of appreciation can help a little bit in your journey to achieve your dreams,” he said. The envoy awarded the cash assistance to four of the 210 students during a cer-

emony at the embassy earlier this month. Since 2010 Seoul has provided about $800,000 (around P40.27 million) in education assistance to veterans’ family members. The Philippines was the first Asian country to send combat troops—a total of 7,420 elite members of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK)— when communist North Korea invaded its southern neighbor in 1950. After the bloody battle to regain the latter’s freedom, PEFTOK suffered a total of 112 casualties, over 300 wounded, and 16 classified as “missing-in-action.” Even amid the pandemic, South Korea has been consistent in recognizing the valor of Filipino soldiers who fought alongside its nationals when the war broke out. Last year it donated thousands of masks to the PEFTOK and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, as well as personal protective equipment to crew members of BRP Conrado Yap. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

AK ARTA—The Asean Foundation has announced that 108 applicants from the region’s member-states, including nine from the Philippines, were selected to participate in the Asean Young Climate Leaders Programme (AYCLP). Said applicants will get a four-day virtual-training session, project proposal development training, and a chance to have a $20,000 aid for project execution. Successful applicants from the Philippines are Rhainne Cshyra Dimatatac (Lyceum of the Philippines UniversityBatangas), Mark Jacinto (University of the Philippines-Diliman), Ma. Karen Capundan (Filamer Christian University), Rejaynil Valdez (University of the Philippines-Los Baños), Nalwa Isun (Basilan State University), Jomar Herry (University of the Cordilleras), June Philip Ruiz (Pangasinan State University), Divine Cagayan Suyu (St. Paul University), and Jayve Cabañero (Bohol Northern Star College Inc.). The AYCLP seeks to create an opportunity for young people from Asean to share and exchange ideas on sustainability, environment, and climate action-related issues in the region, as they collaborate with others to resolve these issues. The program is organized by the Asean Foundation, in cooperation with German software company SAP, German development agency GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, or German Corporation for International Cooperation), and Common Purpose, a UK-based leadership organization.

Sports BusinessMirror

Editor: Jun Lomibao • mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

MANILA CLASICO

ON CHRISTMAS DAY T

By Josef Ramos

HE “Manila Clasico” returns on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel clashing with Magnolia in what could go down as the most-watched Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) showdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. There were no fans when the last “Clasico” was played last July 25 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City with Magnolia beating Ginebra, 89-70, behind Paul Lee’s 22 points. Starting at 6:45 p.m. at the Big Dome, the Gin Kings and Hotshots clash anew before their screaming fans—although the league continues to limit live attendance in the Governors’ Cup to a maximum of 4,000 fully-vaccinated fans. “It’s all about getting back to normal and giving the fans a very memorable game on Christmas Day,” Ginebra Head Coach Tim Cone said. “It’s an honor to be chosen in a Christmas Day game and we’re very super motivated with each other on Christmas Day.” “Magnolia is really tough, they are playing in a very high level game—and the Manila Clasico is always a battle,” Cone said. “It's always a little tougher focusing during the holidays, but our guys are doing their best to do so.” Magnolia Head Coach Chito Victolero and his Bolts doesn’t want pressure weigh them down. “It’s just another game but the crowd will be a huge factor,” Victolero said. “We just want to prepare against Ginebra just like the other games.”

GINEBRA head coach Tim Cone and his Magnolia counterpart Chito Victolero are in for a Christmas Day showdown.

Victolero added: “I don’t need to motivate my players in this kind of game. The hype and the fans are motivating my players already. I am hoping we can execute to give the fans a great Christmas gift.” Ginebra has won 10 of 11 games it played on Christmas Day while Magnolia is 1-5. Head-tohead, the Gin Kings are 4-0 over the Hotshots.

But records, Cone said, doesn’t make his Gin Kings invulnerable. Magnolia, he stressed is a cohesive team that loves a fast-paced game, qualities that gave them a 2-0 start in the Governors’ Cup. Cone and the Gin Kings, on the other hand, are 3-0 won-lost to shadow the front-running NLEX

Road Warriors (4-0), who take on the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (2-2) in the first game at 4 p.m. The Gin Kings, however, will be playing without Stanley Pringle who’s having left knee issues. “We know how tough Magnolia is so we're going to have to be at our best,” Cone said. Victolero said they’re not taking any chances and are going to the gym on Friday. “It’s a big game for both teams because the crowd is back,” Vitolero said. “Everybody is excited about the ‘Manila Clasico.” The two-day PBA Christmas special on Christmas Day and Sunday is aptly called “Season of Joy” with the league celebrating the holidays with a live audience at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Quezon City Mayor’s Office has partnered with the PBA in the special presentation, with Belmonte throwing support in the event that serves as part of her “Pamaskong Handog” to her constituents. “These are all about giving back and of expressing the league’s deep gratitude,” PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said. “Mayor Belmonte gave consent to the opening of the Smart Araneta Coliseum to our dear fans. And now, she’s with us with her support for our Christmas special. Our deep gratitude to her.” On Sunday, it’s San Miguel Beer versus Terrafirma at 4 p.m. and TNT Tropang Giga opposite Rain or Shine at 6:45 p.m. Complimentary tickets will be distributed to Quezon City residents by the Office of the Mayor. BRAZIL’S Leticia Bufoni in action in skateboarding which made its Olympic debut in Tokyo. AP

Pasig-Sta. Lucia salvages bronze in MPBL hoops

B11

PSC relief operations for Vis-Min underway

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will release P2 million for relief efforts in the Odette-devastated Visayas and Mindanao areas. PSC Chairman William Ramirez tapped Fr. Vicente Uy, a former PSC Executive Director and Commissioner who served during Ramirez’s first term as chief of the sports agency, to lead the distribution of care packages in the typhoon-ravaged areas. Uy is Central Visayas president of the Private Schools Athletic Association. The PSC’s relief operations will be staged in coordination with concerned local government units, universities and parishes. The PSC’s Philippine Sports Institute Deputy Director Marlon Malbog is organizing all sports coordinators in the area to assist Uy in the distribution of care packages. “Fr. Uy has the leadership and integrity to be on top of this on the ground. We are directly coordinating with him,” Ramirez said. “The PSC, archdioceses, universities, teachers and the sports community will come together and help.” “The PSC’s compassion for the calamity victims and passion for the cause of humanity are deeply appreciated,” Uy said. The PSC partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday on transporting about 10,000 bottled water and 900 units of mattresses to Bohol. The PSC Board also approved the release of a P15,000 financial assistance for each of the 136 athletes and 31 coaches severely affected by the typhoon.

ZUMBARANGAY WINNERS

In its final episode for 2021, THE PSC’s web series “Rise Up! Shape Up!” will announce the winners of its Zumbarangay Pilipinas: Solo On Cam Dance Challenge on Christmas Day. From more than 400 entries submitted since April, the PSC shortlisted the aspirants to 25 entries in the Women Frontliner, Women Open, LGBTQ and Kids and Young categories. “A strong body and mind are vital to every Filipino,” PSC Women in Sports Oversight Commissioner Celia Kiram said. “We hope that this program encourages the public to incorporate physical movement in their day-to-day lives.” Kiram said that the Zumbarangay official dance exercise “Igalaw-galaw Ating Katawan” is a call for everyone to take up dancing, exercise and movement “to rise up, shape up and move our bodies for better health and improved quality of life.” The web series will also air the special performances from the Zumbarangay Pilipinas judges—world-class dancesport athletes Stephanie Sabalo and Michael Angelo Marquez—and international dance choreographer Chips Beltranand, as well as the dance challenge finalists from the Awards and Gala Dinner held at the Subic Travelers Hotel last December 9.

Frayna one victory shy of third national women’s chess crown

ASIG-STA. LUCIA vented its ire on Imus-Buracai de Laiya, 100-80, to salvage the bronze medal in the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational powered by TM bon Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Realtors were coming off a tough 72-77 loss to Basilan-Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot on Wednesday and the team used that heartbreaking loss to fuel their rally against Imus-Buracai de Laiya. "We felt bad about that loss [Basilan], we wanted to much to be in the finals,” Pasig head coach Bong Dela Cruz. “But in our chat group, team captain Jeric [Teng] inspired everyone to go on this bounce back win.” After a seesaw affair in the first quarter, the Realtors stepped on the gas and controlled the match en route to their biggest lead on Allen Mina’s triple, 94-63, with six minutes remaining. Jeckster Apinan led the 20-point beating with 16 points and nine rebounds while Teng played his best game in the Invitational with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Ryan Costelo and Jerald Bautista added 12 points apiece while Mythical Five member Fran Yu, who just played 13 minutes, was limited to three points and four assists. Pasig-Sta. Lucia also banked P200,000 third-place prize. "We're just all thankful that basketball is back and that the Chooksto-Go MPBL is back in action," Teng said. "We had small expectations from everyone but I think we exceeded it. So we were looking forward to the next tournament.” Genmar Bragais paced Imus-Buracai de Laiya with 23 points to go with six rebounds and two assists. Kurt Reyson chipped in 14 points, including four triples, while Jhaymo Eguilos had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Adi Santos missed the contest after suffering a sprained ankle in their 82-76 loss to Nueva Ecija earlier.

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

OP seed Janelle Mae Frayna drew with third seed Jan Jodilyn Fronda in 40 moves of a Queen’s Pawn opening to cling to the lead after the 10th and penultimate round of the National Women’s Chess Championship at the PACE Building in Quezon City on Thursday. Frayna, 24, kept her grip of the No. 1 spot with 7.5 points, half a point ahead of Shania Mae Mendoza and Kylen Joy Mordido, who downed their respective opponents to stay in the title race. Mendoza destroyed 13-year-old Ruelle Canino’s Pirc Defense in 44 moves while Mordido, who is close to becoming a Woman Grandmaster like Frayna, used the Sicilian Defense to annihilate Francois Marie Magpily in 36 moves. The title is not yet in the bag for Frayna

TOKYO OLYMPICS EXPENSES $1.8B LESS THAN EXPECTED

HE Tokyo Olympics cost $1.8 billion less than anticipated, local organizers said Wednesday, four-and-a-half months after the Games ended. Organizers said the estimated official costs were $13.6 billion. Officials said part of the reduction was because there were no fans—forced by the pandemic—and therefore vastly reduced labor costs. They also said other outlays were lower than expected. Official estimates over the last year said the costs would be $15.4 billion. However, government audits over several years suggested the real costs were much higher—perhaps twice the official estimates. Olympics costs are notoriously difficult to track, and there is always debate about what are and what are not Olympic costs. A study by the University of Oxford concluded that Tokyo was the most expensive Olympics on record. Organizers indicated final expense figures would not be available until after spring 2022 with venues still being restored and contracts still subject to revision. The biggest blow to the budget was the loss of $800 million in ticket sales, a shortfall that has to be made up by Japanese government entities. Officials said the privately financed part of the budget—more than $3 billion coming from sponsors, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sources—amounted to $5.9 billion. The rest of the money was supplied by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the government of Japan. This amounts to about 60% of the overall funding if the current

estimate is creditable. The IOC contributed about $1.5 billion to the total cost of running the Games. Its payoff, however, comes in billions of dollars in income from the sale to broadcast rights and sponsorships. Despite the reported savings, the estimated costs are about twice as much as organizers said they would be when the IOC awarded Tokyo the Games in 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some of the higher costs are because of the one-year delay caused by the pandemic.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

SIMONE BILES understands now that she was struggling long before she arrived at the Tokyo Olympics, where the unofficial face of the Games and one of the greatest gymnasts of all time was unable to force a smile and push her way through on the world's biggest stage. Biles had persevered through the widespread sexual and emotional abuse scandal that rocked the gymnastics community. She continued her intense training and preparation for the Olympics through its yearlong pandemic delay. She was fine, she convinced herself. But when the seven-time Olympic medalist stepped onto the floor in July for the women's team final, she was not fine. Biles was suffering from “the twisties,” a phenomenon in which she'd lost her sense of air because her mind and body could not sync, and she walked off the floor. “I think it’s definitely pent up emotions, aggressions for the past couple of years, trauma that led to that moment of once I got on the global scene, it just cracked,” Biles said.

Recognizing that she was not in the right head space to compete safely, Biles ultimately pulled out of four events. She returned to win a bronze medal on the beam, but that shiny piece of hardware represented a much larger victory for Biles. Her very public admission that she was struggling, which followed a decision months earlier by tennis player Naomi Osaka to withdraw from the French Open and not play Wimbledon, redefined the mental health discussion that’s been coursing through sports. AP

Casimero keeps belt

HE World Boxing Organization (WBO) ruled in favor of Johnriel Casimero on Thursday to retain his belt after failing to fight challenger Paul Butler last December 11 at the Coca-Coca Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Casimero reasoned out that he had

as she clashed with Mendoza late Thursday while Mordido tackled unpredictable Mariel Calimbo, who lost to Lexie Hernandez in the 10th round but caught a big fish in No. 4 Marie Antoinette San Diego the round before, also in the last round. Frayna is seeking her third national crown while Mendoza her second in the event that stakes P50,000 to the champion and a berth to the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in May next year. For Mordido, she is more focused on gaining rating points and securing the last of the three norms needed to emerge as the country’s second WGM. Fronda slipped to solo fourth with 6.5 points, half a point ahead of San Diego, who survived Rino Mariel Sadey’s upset try.

gastritis. The WBO has given the 31-yearold Casimero (31-4 win-loss record with 21 knockouts) 10 days to explain his side as he failed to join the official weigh-in last December 10 that resulted to the cancelation of the mainer of the fight card promoted by Probellum. The WBO also gave Probellum 10 days to inform the body as to where and when the fight will be rescheduled.

GOLF TOUR PACKAGES LAUNCHED IN U.S. Philippine

Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer joins the 2021 Ambassador’s Cup Golf Tournament—hosted by the Golden Gate Golf Team in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism USA, Philippine Airlines, and Mango Tours— last December 5 at the Coyote Creek Golf Club with 156 golfers in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley joining the event that aims to promote the newest golf tour packages to the Philippines. Philippine Tourism Attaché in San Francisco Soleil Tropicales says they are looking forward to bringing Fil-Am golfers starting next year for group tours to play at the different golf courses around the country. More information on the packages are available at the DOT USA website at https://www. philippinetourismusa.com/. PHOTO REY GUARIN

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

B12 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

Editor: Tet Andolong • www.businessmirror.com.ph

BYD Philippines partners with Meralco

ARMAKER BYD has partnered with Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) subsidiary, eSakay, Inc. (eSakay) to serve Meralco’s Green Mobility Program with BYD pure electric vehicles (“EVs”): the BYD e2 and BYD T3. Through this breakthrough program, Meralco has initiated its big leap towards the electrification of its vehicle fleet in the coming years. This is all part of the company’s commitment to deploy and utilize greener and more sustainable transportation solutions. During the launch of new EV f leet last December 7, Meralco C h ief Su st a i n abi l it y O f f icer and eSakay President and CEO

Raymond B. Ravelo said: “Beyond delivering accessible and reliable electricity ser v ice to hou s e hol d s a nd b u s i ne s s e s ,

we, in Meralco, are also at the forefront of providing sustainable solutions to our customers. With our important and intensified shift to vehicle electrification, we hope to inf luence and inspire others to follow suit and to likewise embed sustainability in their operations.” Further, he added, “Our strategic collaboration w ith BY D underscores eSakay’s continuing commitment to promote the country’s important transition to electrified transport. It also highlights and heightens our pledge to provide our clients w ith top-notch, reliable, and fit-for-purpose electric vehicles, supported by requisite charging infrastructure solutions. This is all geared towards enabling our clients to enhance their operations while advancing their sustainability agenda.” “I’m so proud to be part of this Green Mobilit y prog ram and honored to enable companies and individuals that lead by example towards sustainable mobility ultimately preserving our

environment. I’m excited to take part in serving our community more, with every conventional vehicle’s switch to electric expected to benefit everyone, and not only the ones who bought them,” said Mark Andrew Tieng, Managing Director of BYD. BYD’s EV and HEV line up consists of the Dolphin, a five-door fully electric hatchback with a range of 300 km on a full charge; the T3, a seven-seater fully electric van with a range of 250 km per charge; the Tang, the premium

luxury flagship 7 seater SUV with a range of 500 kms; and the Han, the premium luxury flagship sedan with a range of 600 kms. Its cars also include Song Plus, a new generation hybrid SUV that is powered by BYD’s DM-I technology and has a 60km EV range and a 1.5 liter engine that acts as a EV range extender, which also powers the motors and recharges the battery, and only propels the vehicle when speeds are more than 80 km/h. BYD, which stands for “Build

You r Drea ms,” h a s been t he most aggressive among all carmakers that use electricity. The company has led the EV-olution of vehicles in China and is now making its presence felt all over the world. Its cars use gamechanging blade batteries that are safer, lighter, more reliable and more energy dense. In the Philippines, STAR Corp. is the exclusive distr ibutor of BY D vehicles, headquartered in 1702 Dian St. corner Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City.

Honda’s Verstappen is F1 champ Hot Honda

ONDA has made history by winning its first Formula One (F1) in 30 years. The F1 is the ultimate test of man and machine partnering to achieve car racing’s pinnacle. It wasn’t easy. It was dramatic. It was a win for the ages. Max Verstappen of Red Bull-Honda was the underdog when he scored the unexpected victory last week against the heavily-favored and defending champion Lewis Hamilton of England. Verstappen winning the 22nd and last run of the F1 in Abu Dhabi was just barely enough to deflect Hamilton’s historic bid to become the first eight-time winner of the annual race. In victory, Verstappen gave himself his first world title and Honda’s first since Ayrton Senna won it in 1991. Verstappen, a 24-year-old Dutchman, made his F1 debut in 2015 at age 17, making him the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Verstappen won 10 races, starting with the second round in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, and following it up with that historic race around the streets of Monaco, as well as in his home Grand Prix on F1’s return to Zandvoort. Teamwork was key to his victory. “I kept saying to myself, I am just going to give it my all,” said Verstappen. “With that safety car restart in

the last lap, we had the fresher tires but you still need to do the move. I want to thank Checo [his Honda teammate]. Because of his performance, I won. He’s an amazing teammate.” Verstappen was overly magnanimous. “Lewis is an amazing driver, there is no discussion about it,” he said. “We had our moments, but after everything, we had an amazing fight this season.” An issue with the usage of tires also cost the crown for Hamilton, whose defeat kept him tied for seven titles apiece with the now-retired Michael Schumacher of Germany. “This Championship came down to the last lap and that pit stop onto the set of softs [tires] made it happen for Max,” said Christian Horner, the Team principal. “Checo was the perfect teammate today, keeping Lewis behind, on totally worn-out tires. Without him, Max probably wouldn’t be champion. The whole Team executed their strategy f lawlessly.” Said Honda President Toshihiro Mibe: “Congratulations to Max and to Red Bull Racing, our partner since 2019. For Honda, this title is the goal we set ourselves ever since we returned to F1 in 2015. I’d like to thank all the Honda employees who have made it possible. Well done!”

WHEN it rains, it pours goes the cliché. A nd so, in keeping w ith Verstappen’s breakthrough w in in the 2021 Formula One, Honda captured seven awards in the just-ended ST V 2021-2022 Autofocus People’s & Media Choice Awards. Now on its 17th year, the event is organized by Sunshine Television and Marketing Services, Inc. (ST V) headed by Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa with the expert shepherding of Jenny Bleza. Honda’s v ictor ies include the Honda Odyssey as the best in Luxury Standard Van/MPV for the seventh consecutive year. The other winners were the AllNew Honda City Hatchback for Best Design and Best Engine Performance, the Honda Brio for Best Engine Performance and Best Safety Features, the Honda Accord and Honda Civic for both Best Engine Performance in their respective segments. “Honda expresses its gratitude to the STV team, to the people who voted, and to the media for the recognition of Honda’s commitment to always give our best to our customers,” said Masahiko Nakamura, president of Honda Cars Philippines Inc. PEE STOP In the spirit of the holidays, Lexus is giving free P20,000 fuel cards this month to customers who will purchase any of the following: IS 350 F Sport, IS 300h Premier, IS 300h, LM 350 4-Seater, LM 350 7-Seater, R X 450h, R X 350 F Sport, R X 350, UX 200 F Sport, UX 200 and the 2020 LS 500h. Lexus is also providing Special Financing Packages from 30 to 50 percent downpayment, and 0-percent Interest for up to 36 months. Cheers!...Merry Christmas!

BusinessMirror

December 24-26, 2021

What day is it? How the holidays warp our sense of time

BusinessMirror DECEMBER 24-26, 2021 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

YOUR MUSI

TAKING A DIFFERENT PATH Irish-Filipino sensation Andreah on dealing with breakups

By Stephanie Ching

OR many artists, music is a way to vent out their emotions. Through their craft, they are able to capture their raw emotions and make others feel something. Music can also be used to advocate, with many artists using their platforms to either raise awareness or to protest certain issues.

Publisher

: T. Anthony C. Cabangon

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: Aldwin M. Tolosa

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: Edwin P. Sallan

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: Bernard P. Testa Nonie Reyes

Y2Z & SOUNDSTRIP are published and distributed free every Sunday by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing Inc. as a project of the

The Philippine Business Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd Floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines. Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025 Advertising Sales: 893-2019; 817-1351,817-2807. Circulation: 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. www.businessmirror.com.ph

For Irish-Filipino singer songwriter Andreah, music is both a way for her to deal with emotions and to champion causes at the same time. Though her latest single “Tell Me” started out as a way for her to cope after a break up while in quarantine, it quickly became a vehicle for her to champion the causes of the differently-abled community. “I went through a mini break up, and I had to sort of deal with it alone in my room, I couldn't really see anyone about it. I didn’t have a piano per se, but I did have an app on my phone that could track chords. So I started improvising the chorus; ‘tell me, tell me’ because these were all the things I wanted to hear from the guy,” she explained. A soft and melancholic piano lead number, “Tell Me” is a song that ponders on the idea of a second chance at love, but soon realizes that letting go is the best option. Though it starts out somber and pleading, the song ends in a steady note, signifying the resolve to move on and learn. And it is this message of learning to find hope again that reaches differently-abled visual artist, TJILI. Born in Cambodia in 2001, TJILI was the only survivor of triplets abandoned on a hospital doorstep in Phnom Penh. Tough years of love, physio and physical exercises has resulted in TJILI being able to run, swim, cycle and horse-ride. Now coupled with a cochlear implant and speech-language therapy, TJILI communicates through a combination of sign language,

gesturing, reading and writing. According to Andreah, Tjili had come across the demo of “Tell Me” that she posted on Youtube, which greatly inspired her to create what would become the single’s cover art. “She found the saddest clip of my face, and then she drew an exact replica of that. And TJILI is known for very colorful art, but she

ANDREAH

could feel my emotions and feel that the song is really sad, so she kept it black and white. But she added a teardrop to symbolize sadness and she added her signature rainbow colors to signify hope that things will get better,” she said. “Music is such a wonderful way of bringing people together. It doesn't matter where you are or what disability you have, just being able to appreciate music is such a cool and unique experience anyone can share. And it also raises awareness that there are people dealing with these severe disabilities,” she added. A special video documenting the journeys of both artists has been released on YouTube following the release of the track. “Tell Me” by ANDREAH is now available on all major streaming platforms.

soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | DECEMBER 24-26, 2021

BUSINESS

SoundSampler by Tony M. Maghirang

Hot new music for a cold December T

NO ROME It’s All Smiles

IGNED to UK-based Dirty Hit label that’s also home to the 1975 band, No Rome born Guendoline Rome Viray Gomez is a twenty-something Filipino musician who showed a lot of potential in his initial releases on SoundCloud. That early promise is now fully realized in his debut album that the Pinoy artist has described stylistically as “shoegaze R&B.” In practice, the music on “It’s All Smiles” goes beyond the traditional concept of the shoegaze genre with now London-based No Rome applying an experimental slant in places on his take on contemporary R&B. Sweeping synths add extra heft to the swooning croon on “Issues (After Dark). Reverb and skittering drumbeat tease the melodic pop high of “When She Comes Around.” Lead single “I Want You” is a genuine easy listening number that justifies the initial buzz on a budding international artist from the Philippines. “It’s All Smiles” is OPM pushed out of its comfort zone and it’s certainly a creative blast.

WINTERLAND Session Sphere

HIRTY seconds in and all preconceived notions about the place of the piano in a rock album goes pfft. Opener “Nostalgia” finds the piano setting up the pace for what turns out to be a mid-tempo instrumental piece. True to its title, “Vision of Uncertainty” is where the keys crash and burn as the thrashing guitars and pummeling drums go for a doom metal ambience. Final track “Passing Storm” emulates instrumentally the passage of the eye of a typhoon with the piano again keeping track of the melodic thread while the other instruments contribute their share in matching sonically the escalation of intensity as the storm waxes and wanes. “Session Sphere” is one odd twinkle in the fading post-rock galaxy.

PROJECT MOONMAN Gemini

N surface, this album points to a heavy influence of ‘70s Pinoy rock, but listen closely and the package contains some of the most accessible, thought-provoking and downright enjoyable music without going indie on you. The overall vibe is laidback though not ganja-stimulated carefree. Track titles like “Fuck You” and “Igabf” are certified attentiongrabbers even as the album cover appears to be a space age punking of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark of the Moon.” Of course, the band tries its hand on a lot of creamy pies: rock and roll (“Streetlights”), reggae (“I got a bad feeling”), boy band flourish (“Fuck You”)

and soft rock (“I Care”). The songs tackle failing relationships, personal feelings, sunny days, and well, caring for another. “Gemini” should be your desert island of subversive fun in the coming deluge of holiday cheer.

KRITIKO, Tama Ko’y Mali

HERE’S nothing political nor critical about the album while the right that has gone wrong in the title is falling for someone who’s already taken. It’s an eternal issue in the arts but Kritiko, for all the generic implications of his chosen subject matter, unearths new perspectives in music and lyrics with respect to being in troubled relationships. His core argument goes: “Alam kong mali kapag tayo’y nagkikita/Pag dating sayo ako’y mahina/Kailan ba kayo mag-aaway nang ako’y mapuntahan mo?” So come hell or an avenging lover, he’ll be rapsinging “Bakit Ikaw?” and “Kahit Di Tayo” in tones that pierce the heart of the lonely and the soul of the abandoned.

CONVERGE and CHELSEA WOLFE, Bloodmoon: I

ARDCORE poster boys meet dark rock princess. In brief, their collaboration at the intersection of instrumental

crescendos and operatic vocals Converge has made the unintended sacrifice of slowing down their charging metalcore to almost blues-rock tempo not only to highlight the anguish in the voices of Converge vocalist Jacob Bannon and Chelsea Wolfe but also to accommodate the melody-ingloomy- circumstances that’s new to the hardcore guys. Ms. Wolfe is at her element in most tracks, particularly in “Scorpion’s Sting” and “Coil.” Mr. Bannon show off his melancholic side in “Lord of Liars” and “Scorpion’s Sting.” The rest of the band explodes magnificently in the frenzied title track and much to the credit of their passion for chaos, they adapt marvelously to the slower tracks.

PORTICO QUARTET Monument

LECTRONICA collides with customary jazz arrangements in the sophomore release of accomplished instrumental group Portico Quartet. The innovations lay not just in the occasional forays to rock but in the addition of electronic sounds in and around the interplay of guitars and sax, for instance. In effect, electronica help heighten the atmosphere which in the case of the album Monument lean towards tranquil moods. Despite the tonal shifts and melodic textures in the likes of “A.O.E.” and “Warm Data,” the overall feeling they deliver in the end is quiet contentment. Welcome to the next age of jazz?

What day is it? How the holidays warp our sense of time By Adam Osth

Using memory to gauge time would work consistently if memories always got worse as time progresses. However, there are circumstances where memory for an event can improve with time. A great deal of experimental research has found memories for certain events improve when we return to the conditions in which the memories were formed. This is because we form memories by linking various aspects of an event—the location, the people at the event, the music we were hearing—together in our minds. When we attempt to remember something, we use various aspects of the event to retrieve the others, much like using a Google search.

The University of Melbourne

he holidays are here. You may have been navigating crowded parking lots in the heat, shuffling from one holiday party to the next, not to mention trying to avoid recently arrived relatives. Amid this chaos, you might experience time a bit differently. You might forget what day it is. New Year’s Eve might sneak up on you when Christmas felt like it was just yesterday. And before you know it, the holidays are over, the trays of mangoes are gone, and the relatives have packed up and left. It might seem like there’s a temporal vortex every December, but these distortions make sense when you understand how the mind perceives time.

How does the mind perceive time? The mind can’t perceive time directly. We don’t have watches, hourglasses, or calendars in our heads. Fortunately, the mind is quite good at approximating things it can’t measure directly. Our vision does this regularly. We can’t measure depth with our eyes, but we can

“We’re no longer working, which means the events that normally signal to our minds it’s a weekday are gone.” Photo by Nicole Michalou from Pexels approximate how far away objects are using various cues in our environment. Objects further away are smaller in our visual fields, less textured, and move less than objects closer to us. While this isn’t perfect, it serves us well enough for us to navigate our environments. Our minds do something similar with time. We use cues from both our environment and our memory to indicate how much time has passed. There are often a number of cues in our environments that signal what day it is. If you work 9 to 5, working or commuting only happens on weekdays; going out for brunch or playing tennis during the daytime only occurs on weekends. Our minds combine each of these cues to give us a sense of what day it is. Many of these cues are disrupted when we go on holidays. We’re no longer working, which means the events that normally signal to our minds it’s a weekday are gone. Several of the things we do on holidays,

such as going to parties and having big dinners with our relatives, are things we usually only do on weekends, but can occur any day of the week on holidays. This disrupts our mind’s reference points for what day it is. This is why the holiday period might feel like one long weekend even though you know that’s not the case.

Where do memories fit in? There are many cases where we lack external cues to give us a sense of how much time has elapsed. Fortunately, we can use our memory to fill in the gaps. You don’t need a memory scientist to tell you that more recent memories tend to be more vivid and detailed than older memories. So, the vividness of a memory is another cue we use to figure out how long ago an event occurred. I might see somebody who looks familiar but I can’t recall their name or how I met them. It’s probably safe for me to say I didn’t meet them very recently.

Remembering past Christmases In the holiday season, we often return to the circumstances where previous holiday memories were formed. We’re often surrounded by the same people, eating the same foods, and hearing the same holiday songs. This gives our minds additional cues to retrieve memories from past holiday seasons, such as gifts you may have received or arguments that happened over the dinner table. So, you might find yourself remembering a lot more memories from past holidays in greater detail and vividness than before. Because the mind uses vividness as a basis for time perception, this might have the effect of last Christmas season feeling like it was just last week, instead of a year ago. If your sense of time goes a bit haywire over the holidays, don’t worry. When you return to the structure of your daily life, your sense of time and memories will go back to normal. The Conversation ON THE COVER: Photo by lilartsy from Pexels

The five best books of 2021, according to Asia’s richest man

radically different from those we are experiencing now. A must-read for policy-makers, entrepreneurs, executives, and, most importantly, the youth.

loomberg New Economy asked Reliance Industries Ltd.’s Mukesh Ambani which books helped him make sense of 2021 and are preparing him for 2022. Stuff your stockings with these recommendations from Asia’s richest man. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria Fareed captures certain stark similarities between the Covid-19 pandemic and some of the most disastrous events of the recent past to show that global crises often emerge from unsustainable lifestyle practices and weak governance structures. You realize that these issues need to be addressed urgently, which can be done only through efficient leadership, lifestyle transformation, and effective international cooperation. A quote in the book that has stuck with me is “outbreaks are inevitable, but pandemics are optional.”

Reliance Industries Ltd.’s Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia with an estimated net worth of $90 billion, recommends Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail by Ray Dalio, described as a “must-read for policy-makers, entrepreneurs, executives, and, most importantly, the youth.” Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail by Ray Dalio An interesting book that elucidates the dynamics that have consistently determined successes and failures of major countries for over 500 years of history. It helps you discover why the times ahead will likely be

4 BusinessMirror

The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People—and the Fight for Our Future by Alec Ross It delves deep into how the social contract—the unsaid agreement between governments, businesses, and people—that sustained modern civilization for several decades is undergoing a fundamental shift in the digital age. The book has interviews with some of the greatest thinkers of our time on the political and economic forces that have contributed to this shift and on what lies ahead for our civilization. 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything by Mauro Guillén

December 24-26, 2021

The book is full of insightful projections about the state of the world in 2030, especially about potential changes in demography and its impact on global economic prospects. It also explores trends in urbanization, technology, gig economy, and automation that are bound to shape the post-Covid world. Big Little Breakthroughs: How Small, Everyday Innovations Drive Oversized Results by Josh Linker This one is a must-read for entrepreneurs. You will realize that it is the small creative acts that unlock massive rewards in business. And by cultivating daily micro-innovations, individuals and organizations can effectively tackle tough challenges and seize transformational opportunities in the post-Covid world. Bloomberg

Friday-sunday, december 24-26, 2021

Rizal monument in Manila’s Rizal Park

TALES OF MONUMENTS TO RIZAL’S GREATNESS

The very first Rizal monument located in Daet, Camarines.

Rizal monument, designed by Lucban artist Don Ysmael Villaseñor, stands in Plaza Rizal, Lucban.

Rizal statue in Sto. Domingo in the province Ilocus Sur.

The second tallest Rizal monument found in Calamba, Laguna.

BusinessMirror

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 3

Tales of monuments to Rizal’s greatness D

Story & Photos by Benjamin Layug Locsin

ecember 30 of this year will be the 125th anniversary of the execution of Filipino nationalist, writer, revolutionary and National Hero Jose P. Rizal. Almost every city or town plaza here in the country (there are currently 118), and even abroad (in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America) has a monument, in stone, granite or bronze, dedicated to the National Hero and the values he stood for. Of course, the most notable monument of them all is the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park (formerly Luneta). This imposing, 12.7 m. high monument itself, with its bronze statue of Dr. Jose Rizal standing on a rhombic base of solid granite rock below a 50-foot high obelisk, is his burial place (not the site of the execution, as many people think, which is about 100m north-northwest). It had its beginnings in 1907 when a design contest for a monument dedicated to Rizal was held. Sculptors from America, Europe and other parts of the world began sending their entries in scaled miniature plastic cast models. The P100,000 grand prize entry was won by Italian sculptor Carlos Nicoli’s Martyrs of Bagumbayan. However, it was not able to post the required sizable performance bond and so the P50,000 secondplace winning entry Motto Stella of Dr. Richard Kissling (of Zurich) was used instead and cast in Switzerland. The monument was started on December 10, 1910 on land in the Luneta set aside for such by virtue of Philippine Assembly Act No. 234 on September 28, 1908. It was completed on April 26, 1913 and unveiled on December 30, 1913, the anniversary of Rizal’s

death. His remains were finally transferred here on June19 and the Luneta was renamed Rizal Park. Today, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., two stoic Marine guards from a platoon of 33 honor guards take two-hour shifts of duty keeping vigil in Rizal’s honor as well as secure the safety and dignity of Luneta. Its changing of the guard is a spectacle in itself. Wreath-laying ceremonies are held here during national holidays and state visits. In late 1961, during the centenary of Rizal’s birth, an attempt was made to modernize the Rizal Monument by adding an infamous aluminum pylon atop the old granite obelisk to make it look taller. Denounced as “carnivalistic” and “desecrating,” this “artificial top hat” was removed in 1962. An exact replica of the Rizal Monument can be found in Madrid, Spain where Rizal stayed in for most of his European sojourn (1882 to 1891), and in Jinjiang, Fujian in China, where Rizal’s family roots can be traced. Other countries (even those Rizal never set foot in) with plaques and Rizal busts or sculptures bearing his likeness include Singapore (Rizal visited Singapore four times), Hong Kong (where he served his self-imposed exiled in 1888); Tokyo, Japan (where he

Rizal monument in Tabaco City in Albay. stayed for 45 days from February 28 to April 13, 1888 and fell in love with Seiko Usui), Wilhelmsfeld, Germany (where he stayed for 3 months, attending lectures and writing the last chapters of Noli Me Tangere); Montreal, Canada; Paris, France; London, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Prague and Litomerice (home of friend Ferdinand Blumentritt), Czech Republic (which he visited in 1887 with friend Maximo Viola); Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lima, Peru; and Rome, Italy (he stayed here from June 27-30, 1887). Rizal first saw America on April 28, 1888, and visited the cities of New York, Oakland, Reno, Chicago, and Boston. In, the United States, there are Rizal sculptures in Juneau (Alaska); Kauai and Lihue ( Hawaii); Chicago (Illinois); Orlando (Florida); Carson (California); Cherry Hill (New Jersey); New York City, and Seattle (Washington). Though the Rizal Monument may be the most well-known and over a century old, it is not the first and oldest monument erected in honor of Rizal. Though Rizal never set foot in this town, that honor falls to a sparsely decorated, but

still impressive and majestic monument in Daet in Camarines Norte. This 3-tiered, 20ft. high stone pylon, near the bank of the Daet River, was designed by Lt. Col. Antonio Sanz, a soldier-artist, revolutionary head of the local government and a Mason like Rizal, and Lt. Col. Ildefonso Alegre. Just two years after Rizal’s death, the groundbreaking for the construction of this monument was done on December 30, 1898, in observance of the first-ever Rizal Day (the first province to do so), decreed on December 20 by then Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo. It was completed sometime in February 1899, shortly after the outbreak of the Philippine-American War antedating, by 14 years, the more famous one built in Luneta. Unlike other monuments today, this piece is also rather unique as it does not bear a sculpted image of Rizal. Calamba City, being the birthplace of Rizal, is home to the 6.7 m. (22-ft., representing the 22 languages Rizal spoke) high bronze statue of Rizal, located on a 6.7-hectare government property across the modern, 4-storey Calamba City Hall and

the highway in Laguna, is the second tallest statue of the National Hero anywhere in the world. The statue, sculpted by Jonas Roces, stands on a 2.8 m. high tiled concrete pedestal mounted on a platform surrounded on all four sides by 15-step (representing 150 years) flights of stairs. The monument’s total height is around 13.1 m. (43 ft.). This was the tallest statue in the country from 2011 until 2014 when the 7.93 m. (26 ft.) high bronze Rizal Monument, sculpted by Toym Imao (son of National Artist for Sculpture Abdulmari Asia Imao) in Santa Cruz, Laguna, was unveiled for the 2014 Palarong Pambansa hosted by the province. Depicting Rizal wearing a fencing uniform and holding an epee, it is the only one of its kind in the world. The third highest is a 16-ft. high bronze statue, built by Jordanian philanthropist Mahmoud Asfour, in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Calamba City is also home to the smallest statue of Rizal, a bronze statue of Rizal as a child in the Rizal Shrine, done by Duddley Diaz and unveiled on June 19, 1998. The Rizal Shrine is a 10-minute drive from the monument.

BusinessMirror

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 5

CineMapúa looks forward to more int’l films in 20th year as Benilde, FEU lead awardees Story by Seymour B. Sanchez

‘C

ineMapúa has grown so much that it has become an institution with this yearly event being much awaited by students from many parts of the country and, hopefully later, in many parts of the world.”

Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, Mapúa University President and CEO, painted this rosy picture of CineMapúa’s future during its 19th edition’s awards night last December 4. Broadcast Media students Lester Cal and Crystal Jade Mates hosted the event, which is considered “the longest-running and one of the most anticipated

student short film festivals in the country.” Prof. Benigno B. Agapito Jr., Dean of Mapúa’s School of Media Studies and Chair of CineMapúa, shared Vea’s hopes after getting more than 100 submissions for both collegiate and high school categories—the highest since its inception in 2002—and having

international film entries in exhibition this year. “The films reflect the young imagination and creativity of the students towards social realities. This 19th year of CineMapúa empowers students to continue creating quality stories to tell digitally despite the claws of pandemic,” Agapito added.

Collegiate Category When the dust had settled, Sina Alexa, Xander at Ang Universe by Vahn Pascual from De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde emerged the big winner in the collegiate division by bagging P10,000 for the Cardinal Gold Film Award. Continued on page 6

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6 Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021

CineMapúa looks forward to more int’l films in 20th year as Benilde, FEU lead awardees Continued from page 5 The film explores the theme of gender equality in its modern treatment of a “coming out” story of a teenage student who awaits the results of a beauty pageant with his mother. Apart from the grand prize, the film also added the Cardinal Best Performance of an Actor (Pascual), Best Editing (Corlisse Nicolas), Best Production Design (Melissa Cuaderno and Ralph Mojica) to its growing list of achievements, which includes Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay from CineMandirigma 2021 organized by the University of the East’s Silangan Film Circle, and an official selection from last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival Student Short Film Category, among others. Pascual made it a double victory after getting the Special Jury Award for his other CineMapúa film finalist Silang Mga Naligaw sa Limot, which focuses on a teenage girl who wakes up after a typhoon surge and eventually sees a lifeless body lying by the seashore. Earvic Noay from the UP Open University brought home t he C a rd i n a l B est D i rec tor Award for Miss Informed. The film revolves around a female nurse who snaps from her typical routine of helping COVID-19 victims after a conversation with a disillusioned survivor of the virus about recent events. Miss Informed bag ged P7,000 for w inning the Card ina l Si lver Fi lm Award (2nd Best Film) as well as the Value of Socia l Rea lit y Award, Best Screenplay for Noay and Jodie Dantes, and Best Production Desig n for Cat her ine Chu. Veteran thespian Ruby Ruiz took the Cardinal Best Performance of an Actress for Ang Pagdadalaga ni Lola Mayumi for playing an old woman who hires a callboy and rents a motel room to experience having sex for the first time. In addition, the film by Shiri Francesca de Leon from Meridian International College received P5,000 for the Cardinal Bronze Film Award (3rd Best Film). De Leon, Darlene Ballano, and Bryant Gali also won Best Sound and Musical Scoring. The Best Cinematography and Most Gender-Sensitive Film Award went to Lysistrata by John Patrick Manio from UP Diliman. It is about a woman with an ugly past who confronts the demons haunting her. Manyaok by Kate Villanueva from UP Visayas and Tugaw sa

Uma by Raphael Jay Cordova from Mindanao State University shared the Cultural Heritage Award for best depicting and preserving Philippine arts and cultural heritage. Jerico Felicilda of Polytechnic University of the Philippines got the Animated Narrative Picture Award for the film Bycatch. The Congressus by Jan Darryl Villafuerte of Mapúa brought home the Most Viewed Award and Audience Choice for Film Teaser while Blood Stew by Aaron Neil Domingo from Far Eastern University took the Audience Choice for Film Poster. The other finalists in the collegiate category are Ang Laswa ni Lola Mame by Vincent Joseph Entuna from UP Diliman, Maupay Nga Aga, Puniti Kita by Chicken Ligaya from University of San Carlos, Cebu City, The Girl from Nowhere by Flory Ann Tacuban from UP Visayas, The Transfiguration of Saint Mike by Jermaine Tulbo from MINT College, and Unsaved Changes by Andrei Francis Arrocena from Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City.

High School Division

In the high school category, FEU’s Cinemorayta Film Festival winner ILAW (stylized in all capital letters) dominated the field by garnering the Cardinal Excellence Film Award (Best Film for both categories), Cardinal Gold Award with a cash prize of P7,000, Best Performance of an Actress for Teri Lacayanga, Best Cinematography for Stephen Dominic Bonifacio, Best Pro-

duction Design for Althea Luna and Vian Waoi, Best Sound and Musical Scoring for Jan Angelo Segador and Donelle Serrano. ILAW tells the tale of a mother (Lacayanga) and her unending love, sacrifice, and survival against humanity. Both Aldwin Jerico Atutubo and Pascual, directors of the two winning short films in the high school and college divisions, respectively, graduated from FEU High School and are now studying film in Benilde. Ethan John Dela Cruz and Marie James Palisoc from Siena College of Taytay shared the Cardinal Best Director award for Dapithapon with Jadrien Marc Morales from MINT College for Sa Labas. In Dapithapon, a young woman struggles mentally to move on from her sister’s untimely death while her condition worsens as she seeks courage to save her sanity. In Sa Labas, a young man who has lived in a bunker for a long time suddenly finds a way to reconnect with the outside world in the year 2037. Dapithapon also won P5,000 for the Cardinal Silver Award, Most Viewed Film, Best Teaser, Best Poster, and Best Editing for Dela Cruz. On the other hand, Sa Labas took home P3,000 for the Cardinal Bronze Award as well as Best Production Design for Morales and Kyle Bryan Bumatay. Ahmad & Abdul by Muhaliden Cawi from MSU-Malabang Community High School, Lanao del Sur won the Cardinal Best Performance of an Actor for Abdul Fais Boloto, Best Screenplay for

Norjannah Haron, Value of Social Reality Award, and 3rd Most Viewed Film. It centers on two young men as their friendship is tested by a “rido” or clan feud. Orpheus by Vince Ivan Vesiete from General Santos City National Secondary School of Arts and Trades won the Most GenderSensitive Film Award while the Cultural Heritage Award went to Babo Kikasoy by Nabelah Dimaocom, also from MSU-MCHS. Lente by Tereon Jay Tulaña from University of Perpetual Help System Biñan, Laguna is the 2nd Most Viewed Film. My Dearly Love by Joseph Marc Salas from St. Mary’s School of Cagayan de Oro, The Elusive Star by Norbert Francis Baylon from Kabankalan Catholic College, and The Girl from Paradeyes by Amelia Elizabeth Perez from Catholic Filipino Academy, complete the film finalists in the high school division.

YFilms and World Section

Aside from the CineMapúa organizers, Vea also commended the Yuchengco Museum for its new digital platform YFilms, which hosted the festival’s online screenings from November 22 to 28. “We note that Filipino students, including those still in high school, simply love to tell stories through film. Before the pandemic, busloads of high school students from the provinces came to Mapúa to watch and root for the entries of their schoolmates. We ran out of chairs for them in our venue,” Vea recalled. “Now, I guess, we can ac-

commodate more in the online space courtesy of the Y Museum,” referring to the hub which was created to offer and promote independent Filipino filmmakers and cultural films. “What I said of the Filipino student may surely be said of students in other countries as well. We all love watching films. Note that CineMapúa has opened this year the World Short Film Section, a film exhibition section for foreign student filmmakers globally,” Vea revealed. Grandma’s Tale of the Magical Outenga by Rishab Thakur from India, My Black Heart by Garush Ghazaryan from Armenia, Split by Kang Zheng Shueen from Malaysia, and Tears of Gold by Richie Chooi from Taiwan comprised the official selection for CineMapúa’s inaugural World Short Film Section. Agapito, for his part, was elated by the overwhelming response that CineMapúa got from student filmmakers. He said that the festival has served as a testament to the power of visual storytelling through film technology and it has helped in uplifting the spirits and articulating the concerns, dreams, and hopes of the viewing public despite the pandemic. The organizers will consider having a competitive section for international films next year as the festival turns 20. “CineMapúa reminds them that stories have no boundaries and limitations. No matter what situation or experience the world has now, film narratives are there to shape up people’s lives and characters. This health crisis needs more visual narratives to deliver information and knowledge formation among the people. Their visual storytelling could be a compelling channel for human and social development, particularly during this time of global health emergency,” he concluded. Dr. David R. Corpuz, Mapúa Digital Film program head, led the CineMapúa selection committee which determined the finalists, with fellow SMS faculty Celina Mae Medina and Duztine Clyde Delos Angeles as members. The jury is composed of director James Robin Mayo, actress Elora Españo, and this author. After hosting CineMapúa via YFilms, Yuchengco Museum Director Jeannie E. Javelosa disclosed that they will continue “to strengthen its online direction with the launch of a series of education and entertainment culture-related initiatives.”

The Multiple Hats of Winford Manila A

By Jami Ledesma

s the world slowly acquaints itself with the ‘new normal’, companies in virtually every industry have had to act fast to recalibrate their corporate compass as they navigate uncharted waters towards an uncertain future. Among all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both the tourism and hospitality sectors were arguably the hardest hit. As coronavirus stealthily carved a disruptive intercontinental path, countries around the globe shut their borders, forcing airlines to ground their fleet and hotels to temporarily close their doors. In the gentrified locale of San Lazaro, Manila, a luxury casino hotel was not spared from this grim reality. Winford Manila Resort & Casino is just one of many hospitality establishments in the country that was forced to temporarily halt operations in March of 2020 and find ways to reinvent the wheel of its core business at the height of the global health crisis. For starters, Winford Manila launched in August last year a food delivery and takeout service, dubbed Winford on Wheels and Curbside Pickup, respectively. Aside from providing the company with an alternative revenue stream during its closure, it allowed them to reconnect with

loyal patrons quarantined at home, longing for the hotel’s signature dishes like the popular Winfredo’s Pizza. To comply with safety protocols mandated by health authorities in preparation for its reopening in the new normal, Winford Manila renovated its ground floor gaming area to allow more slot machines and electronic table games to operate simultaneously, without having to compromise social distancing. “For the most part of 2020 and 2021, these were the only lifelines available to Winford Manila that would help us weather the storm and, ultimately, emerge with our heads above water,” said Jeff Evora, President and Chief Operating officer, Winford Manila. As a result of the safety and security enhancements, things took a turn for the better in July of this year when Winford Manila earned the coveted Safety Seal Certification issued by the Department of Tourism (DOT). The distinction is given to travel and tourism establishments in

Check in to one of Winford Manila’s spacious 128 suites

Zabana Pool Bar on the 11th floor outdoor deck will serve as the venue of Winford Manila’s NYE countdown party the country that diligently observe safety protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to combat the spread of COVID-19. “Making the necessary upgrades to comply with safety guidelines mandated by health authorities was a top priority for us while we awaited the green light to reopen. Our efforts were recognized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) who then accredited Winford Manila as a safe haven to accommodate returning overseas Filipinos required to comply with government protocols for all individuals arriving from abroad,” Evora added. Fast forward to November of this year when the COVID-19 Alert Level in the metro was downgraded, finally allowing Winford Manila and other hospitality establishments to fully resume operations,

with safety protocols issued by the government in place. Since November 12, Winford Manila has been authorized to accept leisure, business, and essential bookings. Banquet events that require the use of Winford Manila’s facilities such as the ballroom for special events are also permitted, with strict adherence to safety guidelines. Depending on the type of set-up, Winford Manila’s ballroom on the fourth floor can accommodate 600 to 700 people, making it an ideal venue for weddings, conferences, and MICE events. A not her popu lar attraction at Winford Manila is Copa de Manila, a restaurant café that pays homage to the country’s heritage with delectable Spanish-Filipino cuisine like traditional Madrileño dish Callos and Pinoy comfort food favorite Beef Kaldereta, among many others. Guests are also invited to partake in a daily buffet, with food conveniently served to them by fullyvaccinated waitstaff to minimize risk of contamination for everyone’s safety. Those looking for a respite on New Year’s Eve without having to venture out of the city may also check in to one of Winford Manila’s 128 spacious suites— minus the prohibitive rate typical of most luxury hotels. Each room features sleek décor that incorporates subtle colors and themes for an Asian-inspired touch. On December 31, guests are invited to join a countdown party to usher in 2022 at Zabana Pool Bar located on the 11th floor open air deck that offers a stunning panoramic view of Manila. For inquiries or to make a reservation, call Winford Manila at +63 (2) 8528-3600, visit https://www.winfordmanila.com/, or follow Winford Manila Resort & Casino on Facebook.

BusinessMirror

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 11

A Mother’s Tale in Sub Rosa poetry book

By Carla Mortel-Baricaua

hrough her poems, she unveiled her feelings and laid bare her life’s reflections, and for years, kept them from the public’s eyes. Thanks to the cheering and goading of people close enough to appreciate her talent and musings, “Sub Rosa: The Crucifix of a Poet and other Poems” was eventually born of Maria Linda Hanihara, an award-winning creative writer, editor, lawyer, wife and devoted mother to her special child, Mina Ellen. Despite completing Imaginative Writing, Maria Linda still felt inadequate as a writer. She believed her “reservoir of experiences were shallow” since her youth was lived in comfort. In UP College of Law, writing was like a mistress she attempted to hide and undermined what a friend of hers called her “gift.” For her, “writing was more like a hobby, the pursuit of which subsided when ot her f ield s beckoned.” There were periods of drought alternated with an inundation of creative output. “I was immersed in my study, but I allowed myself to be distracted by composing poems even in the classroom. A classmate, who would go on to distinguish himself in the legal profession, was my pen friend and we would exchange notes and writings. I would write even on the white pages of our law books as my inspiration seemed to overflow. At that time, my seniors were the editors of The Collegian and they asked me to contribute articles,” says Maria Linda. She received a Focus Literary award as a student. She finished her Bachelor of Arts, major in English as cum laude and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She also has an M.A. in International Relations, major in International

Politics, from the University of Japan. She attended both the UP Summer Writers Workshop and the Siliman University Writers Workshop in the late 70s. She contributed poems and short stories to several magazines and to her surprise, she won a poetry award from one of them. Notably, her poems were published in the October 1983 Edition of Caracoa III, the poetry journal of the Philippines Literary Arts Council. She was awarded an Accomplishment of Merit for the outstanding literary piece “Flowers” in the book, Inspirations in Ink. After a brief stint at the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Office of the Solicitor General, she worked for The Japan Times, a major English daily, as a writer and International Desk and People Page editor. “When I moved to Japan to take up my master’s degree in international relations, I realized how wrongly I had arrogated unto myself God’s hold on the pieces that were to define my life.” Then life took another turn after her husband, Keiji Hanihara, an executive of Sumitomo Steel, was assigned to the United States. In 1994, their daughter Mina Ellen was born and was diagnosed later as autistic. Maria Linda then resigned

MOTHER and child, Maria Linda (right) and Mina Ellen Hanihara, share happy moments in a snapshot.

MINA Ellen’s artworks are featured in her mom’s poetry book. (Previous page) Art pieces from Mina Ellen Hanihara’s past exhibits. from her media work and focused on taking care of Mina Ellen. “A daughter had been born to me and as she grew God began to open His box of surprises. I have heard people refer to their children as possessions and I deigned to understand, although in a sophomoric way, what they meant. Loving someone has always been easy for me, and I knew that it would require no extraordinary feat to love my child. “But Mina Ellen was not going to be just an ordinary child— she was going to be different. She wasn’t going to collect gold medals like I did but she was going to teach me about my-

self. Because of what she was, I was going to return to myself, or to that part of myself that I had lost. Because of who she was, I began to draw from an inner strength that I never knew existed. Because God chose me to be her mother, I went through experiences I could never have imagined. Slowly, reality began to see myself in a different light; I began to see myself as the person that I really was.” Guided by her muse and encouraged by sister, Miles F. Viernes, she began to compose herself and her words. “Sub Rosa is my offering to appease the past and inspire the

future. I recognize the certainties only divine intervention can change. I now embrace tomorrow and accept all the little surprises God has in store for me. I am beginning to really live,” shares Maria Linda. First printed in May 2014, “Sub Rosa” features poems Maria Linda has written over a span of several years. The poetry book offers 125 poems, including the masterpieces that first appeared in Focus magazine, 1976, 1980; Literary Apprentice, 1981-82; Inspirations in Ink, 1992, and Caracoa III, 1983. In between chapters, readers will also find some of Mina Ellen’s artworks as an accomplished painter. Mina Ellen’s artistic talent showed early as a student at the Cradle of Learners. In 2017, she had her first solo exhibition sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Her second solo exhibition was again organized by the DENR entitled “September to Remember” in 2019. Thirteen acrylic paintings on canvas were displayed at the Biodiversity Management Bureau, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife. The second printing of Sub Rosa in June 2017 was dedicated to Maria Linda’s passing after she succumbed to breast cancer. Copies are available on Amazon.

British Council and Forest Foundation

to Champion Craft Changemakers T

he British Council in the Philippines and Forest Foundation had teamed up for Woven Networks— Craft changemakers conserving forests. The one-year collaboration aims to strengthen the voices of local communities by highlighting their sustainable practices and vital role as artisans through research grants. The project advocates for more inclusive and gender-sensitive forest management by sparking collaboration and knowledge exchange between forest-dependent craft communities and wider society. In line with this is the launch of the Woven Networks Scoping Grants. Ten grants of up to Php285,000 each will be awarded for the research and development of projects that champion indigenous knowledge and the sustainable resource management of craft communities. The scoping grants are open to Philippine-based designers, researchers, creative social entrepreneurs and community leaders who believe in the importance of local and international collaborations in responding to systemic challenges. The research projects must take place between April 2022 and July

2022. They should involve craft communities who rely on forest products in any of Forest Foundation’s focal landscapes in: Sierra Madre (Region II, Region III and some areas in Region IV-A: Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Quezon); Palawan (Region IV-B); Samar and Leyte (Region VIII); Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental (Region X).

Proposals should also include network-building activities between local partners and collaborators within the Philippines and United Kingdom. Recognizing that not all interested applicants may be familiar with grant proposal writing, there will be an information session on January 7, 2022, at 5.00 p.m. (PH time). Proponents can apply as an individual or as an organization via the

British Council’s website. The deadline for applications is January 29, 2022. There are around 60 million indigenous people who rely on the forest for their livelihood, according to the United Nations. In the Philippines, many of them are women artisans and weavers. They greatly depend on non-timber forest products like rattan, abaca, raffia, or pandan, turning them into clothing, baskets and other objects. However, mass production of craft products has led to overexploitation of forest resources, unsustainable practices, and increased vulnerability to climate change. Despite policies that support community-based forest management in the Philippines, there are still complex factors preventing indigenous peoples, particularly indigenous women fromparticipating more in forest conservation. They often face extreme marginalization and discrimination.The location of their homes, usually in remote areas, makes it difficult for them to be represented or access opportunities. The Woven Networks project is supported by the British Council Crafting Futures global programme.

My Childhood

By Suzie Moya Benitez, PhD

My childhood years were spent in the place where I was born, my mother’s provincial town, and in my mother’s ancestral home. The house with the wide open windows was airy and looking back was a house that I would see now in old photographs and magazines. We were five siblings looking forward to going home every summer with excitement. I miss those days where we could run to the sea, undetected as we were not allowed to do so without company . I remember waking up to the happy chatter of fishermen as they dock by our window. I would run to see our helpers haggling for the biggest catch. At night, the sound of the rondalla across the ocean made me both sad and happy. Around the yard beneath I see fire flies envelop the Tambis tree and the sound of the cicadas puts me to sleep, off to dreamland. I played with my siblings, gathered fruits around the yard, and traveled to the nearby bukid in a balsa, or on a carabaodriven cart with the family. Strange, but the smell of the carabao still lingers in my consciousness. The beauty of nature, the forest and the scenes from the sapa gurgling brook, where we would take a dip; the serene peaceful life I miss. Why did I take all that for granted then? Life in the barrio, I miss that kind of life!

My hometown

Tabing, Tabango, a sleepy town in the northeastern part of Leyte. I was born here and spent all my summers here. I’m a barrio lass, believe it, or not and I love the rural lifestyle. Quiet, friendly neighbors, fresh food, and more importantly a life like no other. The property borders four roads, the garden filled with fruit bearing trees. I would climb and eat the fruits while hanging on the branches. Elderly folk would come around and tell us endless stories about our grandparents, stories of political banquets held in our sala. At night, I would look out the window facing the sea. Hearing music from across the waters makes me sad. I think of people alone in their little huts surrounding our property, perhaps musing and longing for company. Don’t know why as a child I felt so much loneliness. Music affects me, it hits me to the core. My childhood summers have remained in my heart forever. As I travel the world I would always think of Tabing fresh air, a loving neighborhood, a simple uncomplicated life. The precious moments growing up feels so nostalgic and happy at the same time. Precious memories of the past which I hope my own children and grandchildren will experience—it is what makes me so grateful for a life so unique and priceless.

Sunshine Place:

Senior Recreation Center is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreational classes and ageappropriate physical training programs. These activities promote happiness and wellness among senior adults. The center was established in October 2014 under the management of the Felicidad Tan-Sy Foundation. Sunshine Place, together with Dr. Oscar Peñaranda -an award-winning short-story writer and educator, conducts Memoir Writing workshops. Suzie Moya Benitez, PhD, trustee and executive director of Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation, chairman of Asia Federation for International Festivals and associate vice president of PWU Campus Life, is one of their students.

FATIMA

Medium Archival Pigment Ink Pen on Gesso Prepared Birchwood Panel

Size 60 X 48 Inches

Year 2021

BusinessMirror

Friday-Sunday, December 24-26, 2021 15

Open Secret: Artistic Revelations of Robert Besana

Story by Jay Bautista

WARD-WINNING visual artist Robert Besana has always been interested in spiritual matters, particularly religious art. During the Holy Week this year, he became reflective in Our Lady’s apparition to three young shepherds in the town of Fatima, Portugal in 1917. There were three secrets that were revealed; what got his attention are the whys and hows of the third secret has already been revealed, but still remains to be controversially unfulfilled according to some scholars. If indeed it was truly fulfilled, according to some claims, why have we not fully experienced the promises of Our Lady? These may perhaps be the reason why its effects continue and are gravely felt to this day. The third secret is the absolute consecration of Russia by the Pope and all cardinals together. And after many attempts by various Pontiffs through the years, as well as repeated gatherings by cardinals, what resulted were the many damages leading to our world’s destruction. The biggest repercussion was during World War II with the Philippines being one of the most heavily besieged. Ongoing at the Eskinita Art Farm in Tanauan, “Fatima” is a four-painting series that resulted in Besana’s in depth artistic realizations on this unfulfilled third secret—how pride and deceit caused the world’s obliteration from 1939 to 1945 as Manila was left in ruins next to Warsaw. Using archival pigment ink pen on gesso prepared birchwood panel and canvases, Besana presents an assertive depiction on the fall of our institutions causing us to sink deeper in the quagmire of our morals. With archival photos as reference, Besana has graphically rendered in stark black the grim horrors of war. The motivation was primarily to depict the consequences of the third secret and there’s no appropriate imagery than showing the war itself through these photos. Fatima, the biggest piece in the exhibition, the destruction may be the most obvious as it is physically grueling seeing a tank rummaging an arch of St. James

Decay Medium Archival pigment ink pen on canvas Size 18 X 24 Inches Year 2021

Aftermath Medium Archival pigment ink pen on canvas Size 18 X 24 Inches Year 2021

Decomposed Medium Archival pigment ink pen on canvas Size 18 X 24 Inches Year 2021

in Intramuros. Besana proves that its effect runs deeper than brick and mortar but is deeply embedded in culture. Fatima symbolizes the eradication of our Spanish influences and the imbibing heritage that was wiped out by solely greed.

Decomposed represents how education as provided by the United States teaches us the wrong morals through war—how the war suspended learning and disrupted its classes caused by the delay in the acquiring of knowledge of our

citizenry. Forgetting may take longer than the rebuilding of its columned stones. Public administration as imposed by the Americans is mercilessly toppled in Decay. This resulted in a crisis in our

Philippine presidency as evident in our having two presidents in President Manuel Quezon and President Jose Laurel. We were never the same after this episode and our concept of humanity was jaded and abused. Aftermath remains the most painful picture of all, as it reflects the million Filipino lives lost both military and civilians alike. Staring at this image only proves we have never recovered from this setback. In a personal context, “Fatima” is about the destruction of institutions, moral structures, our ongoing war with misinformation, and other ideologies that break the most basic unit of society, which is the family. As his creative reaction to the sacred issue, Besana is never afraid to show the ugly face of war and its discontents—its gruesomeness— during the Second World War as it is the peak of hatred as countries were aligning against Russia and its allies. After rendering Besana then splashes yellow ocre to add his signature visual style while hastily doing it in wet-on-wet technique he does with confidence. “Fatima” is situated in the sprawling expanse of Eskinita Art Farm in Tanauan, Batangas, an artist-run space by Alfredo Esquillo Jr., Besana’s mentor while growing up in Las Piñas. They are both active members of Kalye Art Kolektib having collaborated in many art and mural projects together. It is through Esquillo’s influence that Besana is guided in the course of where the brushstrokes of his realism would lead him in the future. Robert Besana is an awardwinning artist and independent curator. His defining characteristic is his ability to imagine the Filipino—our folk identity, religiosity, and culture—juxtaposing them with contemporary issues and concerns while interpreting them in the most authentic and realist way to tell our stories. His art practice spans two decades and holds a master’s degree in Fine Arts and Design at the Philippine Women’s University. Besana has exhibited in both local and international galleries and museums. Currently he is the Executive Director of the School of Multimedia and Arts at the Asia Pacific College in Makati City. “Fatima” is ongoing until January 9, 2022.

Members save record-high P52.5B in Pag-IBIG Fund in Jan-Oct, up 35%; MP2 Savings breach P21 B, up 110%

ag-IBIG Fund members have saved more than P52 billion in the last 10 months, breaking yet another record for the period and exceeding full year figures from before the pandemic, top agency officials said. From January to October, the amount collectively saved by members with the agency totaled P52.47 billion – the highest for any 10-month period. The savings collected so far this year grew 35 percent from the same period in 2020 and 26 percent higher compared to figures from 2019, which is the agency’s best performing year yet. “Even during these challenging times, we are happy to see that members are still keen on growing their savings with PagIBIG Fund. With the amount of savings increasing by P13.66 billion compared to last year and P10.81 billion compared to our best year in 2019, these numbers clearly show that Pag-IBIG Fund has already recovered from the effects of the pandemic. In fact, the P52 billion savings collected as of October this year already exceeds the amount of savings collected for the whole 12 months in all previous years. With more savings, Pag-IBIG now has more funds for its programs to help more members in the coming months and even years. This is our contribution to the recovery of the nation, which is being led by President Duterte,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Driving the growth is the agency’s voluntary savings program, the Modified Pag-IBIG 2 or MP2, according to Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy

P. Moti. He said that in the last 10 months, MP2 savings amounted to a record-breaking P 21.43 billion or 41 percent of the total savings collected for the period. “We have seen the dramatic increase in MP2 in the last five years. In fact, the MP2 is the only figure that did not show signs of slowing down, and even grew during the pandemic. But the growth in 2021 is truly remarkable. The P21.43 billion MP2 savings as of October is more than double

the P10.21 billion collected in the same period last year and is already P8.16 billion more than the P13.27 billion collected for the whole 2020. To put it into another perspective, MP2 has grown so much this year that savings as of October is higher than the total amount collected from 2012 to 2019 combined!,” said Moti. The agency added that the increase in purely voluntary savings corroborates the results of the 2021 Philippine Trust Index that ranked

Pag-IBIG Fund as the most trusted GOCC. “We thank our members for their continued trust in Pag-IBIG Fund and in choosing to rely on us to grow their hard-earned savings. We still have a few more weeks before we end the year, and with numbers such as these, I am optimistic that 2021 will be another milestone year and the start of another wave of ‘best year evers’ as we help even more members securely save for their future goals,” said Moti.