BusinessMirror February 18, 2023

PHL’s mission of compassion

Pinoy rescue, recovery, medical contingent rushes to Turkey following a deadly magnitude 7.8 quake

By Rex Anthony Naval

DESPITE working far from their regular area of operations, the Philippine contingent in quakebattered southern Turkey is now working as fast as they can to provide rescue, recovery and medical care to Turkish citizens affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated a big part of the Western Asian nation on February 6.

A nd while the Filipinos had yet to rescue any earthquake survivor as of February 15, the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) has so far treated a total of 168 Turkish patients as of February 14 (Turkey time). PEMAT

is attached to the Philippine InterAgency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC), an 82-member team with the following personnel: 30 from the Department of Health, 33 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (21 from the Army’s

hospital set up in the Adiyaman Octagon Bus Station, which has been in operation since February 10. On February 13, the PIAHC urban search and rescue (USAR) team retrieved two dead victims and recovered a severed human leg at “Sector N” of the southeastern city of Adiyaman.

Two more bodies were recovered by the USAR team in an apartment complex in the same vicinity on February 14. As of this writing, reports said the death toll following the tremor has exceeded a whopping 40,000.

Hoping to save lives

MEANWHILE, Filipino soldiers

tapped to join the Philippine rescue contingent still hope to make a difference by rescuing Turkish nationals still trapped among the concrete shards and hulks of the buildings that collapsed in the quake.

A ir Force Major Erwen Diploma, PIAHC commander, gave this impression during an online interview arranged by the Office of Civil Defense on February 13. “ We will continue to perform our tasks safely and hopefully we will find live victims [with help from] local responders on the ground,” he said. Diploma said he hopes they can do this in the

PHILIPPINE Red Cross chairman Richard J. Gordon receives from Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and other lawmakers the donation of Congress to the PRC’s humanitarian mission to Turkey.

CONTRIBUTED

MEMBERS of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent dig a casualty site together with local volunteers, February 11, 2023. JOSE ANGELO MANGAOANG/OCD

PEMAT members attend to patients and conduct referrals at the field hospital on Monday, February 13, 2023. JOSE ANGELO MANGAOANG/OCD

From tents to tanks; a big year in Ukraine for NATO allies

By Lorne Cook The Associated Press

BRUSSELS—The

after Russia

“In this very evolving and difficult situation, it’s hard to predict what will [happen] in the future, but allies are providing support and are very committed to continue,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. What that support might look like was an open question.

‘Evolution’ of support

IN the months that followed, Ukraine’s supporters at NATO and elsewhere sent fuel, helmets, medical supplies and other non-lethal support. Then, after much handwringing, came artillery and air defense systems in the hope that these would not provoke Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

NATO, as an organization, was wary of being dragged into all-out war with nuclear-armed Russia. Technically it still is, but a year on the Ukraine Contact Defense Group this week held talks at NATO’s Brussels headquarters, where the alliance’s leaders, ministers and envoys usually sit.

Having just secured a promise of sorely needed battle tanks Ukraine wanted more: fighter jets.

“Ukraine has to win this war,” said Hanno Pevkur, the defense minister of Estonia, a Baltic country that shares a border and a long history with Russia and is extremely wary of Putin’s intentions.

The government has stepped up conscription and NATO has boosted its troop presence there.

“We had many questions. Should we send tanks? Now this decision is made,” Pevkur said. “Always, there has been the question before, and then the answer after that. We know that Ukraine needs any kind of help, and that means also jet fighters.”

A ll that’s missing, it might seem, is the boots of allied troops on the ground. Indeed, the public in Europe and North America could be excused for believing that their taxes funding the world’s most powerful security organization are being spent in a war with Russia.

In the year since the Russians

invaded, the US has provided more than $27 billion in military help to Ukraine. Two senior defense officials estimated this week that other allies have stumped up more than $19 billion worth, with over $1 billion each from Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland.

That’s on top of the tens of billions the West is sending to keep Ukraine’s battered economy afloat.

For the nationalist government of Hungary, a NATO ally, there is no doubt about what this means.

If you send weapons, if you finance the entire annual budget of one of the belligerents, if you promise more and more weapons, more and more modern weapons, then

you can say whatever you want. No matter what you say, you are in the war,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban said last month.

Not so, says Stoltenberg. Even as he exhorted allies and partners this week to give Ukraine more weapons and ammunition, the former Norwegian prime minister insisted, in response to a question from The Associated Press, that NATO is not at war with Russia.

“Neither NATO nor NATO allies are party to the conflict. What we do...is to provide support to Ukraine. Ukraine is defending itself,” he said. “The type of support that we provide to Ukraine has evolved as the war has evolved.”

‘Grinding war of attrition’

INDEED it has, and some of it is tough to find despite the West’s best intentions. Ukraine now fires daily as many artillery shells as a small NATO country orders during a peace-time year, and Europe’s defense industry just can’t keep up. “ This has become a grinding war of attrition, and therefore it’s also a battle of logistics, and this is a huge effort by allies to actually get in the ammunition, the fuel, the spare parts which are needed,” Stoltenberg said.

Perhaps one of the most important changes sparked by the war has been the realization that

NATO’s collective defense guarantee—the pledge that an attack on any ally will be met with a response from them all—is no longer an abstract promise.

Former US President Donald Trump undermined confidence in that guarantee by threatening to abandon any ally that he considered was not spending enough on its armed forces.

Upping the ante

EARLY in the war his successor, Joe Biden, vowed that NATO would defend “every inch” of its territory, to dissuade Putin from targeting any member. Finland and Sweden even gave up their traditional stance of non-alignment to apply to join NATO and secure that very protection.

One year on, some 40,000 troops are under NATO command in eastern Europe, from Estonia down to Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Around 100,000 US troops are stationed in Europe. Some 140 warships ply European waters, aerial surveillance runs round the clock and a total 130 aircraft are on permanent standby.

Those forces are only meant to remain on allied territory but member countries near Russia’s borders, like Lithuania, say they are prepared to go “all the way” in their support for Ukraine. They believe the country should be permitted to join NATO, war or not.

W hen NATO leaders meet in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in July, they are likely to consider upping the ante with more hi-tech equipment. It’s hard to believe that any ally might ponder sending troops. But 18 months ago not even NATO believed that Putin would invade Ukraine.

PHL’s mission of compassion

coming days in coordination with local rescuers whom they are aiding with their search operations techniques and equipment in locating survivors of the quake.

He stressed that they are “physically capable” of doing their mission. Diploma also remains confident that their collaboration with local rescuers will be rewarded by a successful and safe retrieval of trapped earthquake victims. All efforts are being maximized to ensure that they cover as much ground as possible in the coming days, he added.

Initial reports indicated that Adiyaman was hard hit by the earthquake, and had many buildings toppled by the tremor, trapping a large number of people.

Meanwhile, PEMAT head Dr. Alfonso Danac said they are very motivated to help despite this being their first mission abroad. He added that they are well trained for these kinds of incidents.

We are prepared for this, although this is our first international deployment. Despite all the challenges, the team is very well motivated,” Danac said.

R anny Magno, the head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority USAR team attached to the PIAHC, said contingent members are all in “high morale” as they were able to provide much-needed assistance to the affected people.

He is confident they are doing a good job in probing “collapsed structures” to determine whether there are survivors inside.

Hospitality amid tragedy

THE Turkish people are hospitable to them despite the tragedy. And while Filipinos are hard to beat when it comes to hospitality, the Turkish citizens whom the Philippine contingent are helping managed to surprise them by demonstrating their own brand of welcome.

Magno recounted how Adiyaman residents they encountered were quick to offer them food. This is despite the fact that the Philippine contingent brought its own food rations so as not to further

strain whatever is left for the local citizens.

“Most impressive is that they are so hospitable, even if we have our own food rations, they still provide us with water and meals,” he narrated. This includes offerings of hot tea, which Magno says seems to be the Turkish beverage of choice as it is very useful in warming one’s body amid the subfreezing temperature.

First on the ground

THE Filipino rescuers arrived in Adiyaman on February 9 and started operations right the next day. The PIAHC left for Turkey on February 8, arriving in the Turkish capital of Istanbul the next day.

According to the OCD, one major challenge facing the team is the extreme cold weather condition, which also affects their equipment. Another is the language barrier, but interpreters are present in the area of operations.

Despite this, the PIAHC is still going about its search and rescue mission for those believed still trapped in the rubble and providing health care to those injured.

The team provides the necessary assessment of victims in the area. Vitamins as well as prescription medicines, depending on their needs, are provided to the patients.

The Turkish government is very thankful because the Philippine contingent was the first medical team that responded four days after the incident,” the OCD said. PIAHC brought with them 13,412 kilograms of cargo consisting of medical supplies and equipment, field hospital tents, personnel shelters, search, rescue and retrieval equipment, food rations, and engineering tools and equipment for collapsed structure search and rescue.

The OCD said PIAHC has two types of teams and these are the socalled “Type 1 Emergency Medical Team,” which provides outpatient initial emergency care of injuries and other significant health care needs, and the “Composite Medium Urban Search and Rescue Team,” which is deployed for all collapsed or failed structures, includes search and rescue operations for heavy timber,

reinforced masonry construction or steel frames.

The Department of National Defense and OCD also procured 11,205 blankets, 5,000 bonnets and 420 gloves for donation to the earthquake victims.

Turkey appreciates PHL assistance MEANWHILE, Turkey’s Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Akyol on February 13 thanked the Philippine government and the Filipino people for sending people and resources to aid his country.

The envoy expressed his country’s gratitude to the Filipino people after House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez turned over $100,000 in financial assistance for Turkey’s earthquake victims in simple rites held at the Speaker’s Office at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

Th e fund came from the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative launched during his 59th birthday celebration last November 14 to help disaster victims.

“ You know in an event like this, it’s very good to know you have your friends on your side,” Akyol said. Amid the disaster, the envoy said the people of Turkey are consoled by the fact that the international community has come out really strong to help them, with 99 countries offering assistance to date.

“And we have on the ground almost 10,400 rescue workers, and of course the Philippines is one of the major contributors. On that note I would like to express my government’s and my personal heartfelt gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his leadership, for his swift instruction for Philippine authorities to get into action,” Akyol said.

He noted that within 48 hours of the disaster, there was a Philippine search and rescue and medical team of 82 young Filipino “heroes” in Turkey, braving extreme cold to provide assistance.

In addition, he said the Philippine Red Cross led by its chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon has also provided assistance to the earthquake victims.

day

invaded Ukraine, the leaders of NATO’s 30 member countries held an emergency summit to address what they described as the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades—the launch of what would become the biggest land war in Europe since 1945.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (center left) convenes NATO leaders, both in person and on screen, for a virtual summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday, February 25, 2022. AP

95% EFFICACY: ASF VAX AVAILABLE SOON IN PHL

KPP Powers Commodities Inc. (KPP Powers), a local agricultural product company in the Philippines, has partnered with a reputable Vietnamese company for the local distribution of the first commercially available vaccine against the African swine fever (ASF) in the world.

ASF is a vir al hog disease affecting pigs and wild boars with up to 100 percent case fatality rate and that has devastated the swine industries of many countries across the globe since its resurgence in 2018.

O nce infected with ASF, pigs die within a matter of days resulting in huge losses to hog farmers.

In the Philippine s, ASF is directly responsible for more than a 50 percent decline in the local swine population, resulting in loss of livelihoods of local hog backyard raisers, shutdown of large commercial pig farms, decline in feed mill operations and loss of revenues of allied industries with an estimated economic value of more than P100 billion a year.

In a recent statement, KPP Powers announced its exclusive partnership with AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Co. for the Philippine distribution of the AVAC ASF Live Vaccine, which has been proven effective in protecting pigs against ASF disease.

KPP P owers Managing Director Juancho Robles said that AVAC is “the only company in the world that has a commercial use ASF vaccine with a valid certificate of product registration [marketing authorization].”

This vaccine is being produced by AVAC in Vietnam, where the vaccine underwent rigid clinical trials and field testing that were strictly monitored by the Vietnamese government.

AVAC is the first veterinary vaccine factory in Vietnam certified under the World Health Organization-Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) standard.

KPP Powers, meanwhile, specializes in the distribution and importation of veterinary products, raw materials, nutritional feed additives, vaccines and other agri-related products.

This company is currently the local partner of many reputable multinational companies, including BASF, ADDCON, Premex, Neogen, Zamira and Daeho Co. Ltd.

KPP Powers carries many well-known agri-vet products such as Luvicross, Natugrain TS, Natuphos E, Formi NDF, Zamax, Green Culture, Zambac MD100, Zambac ZN150 and Iron Glycinate.

Robles said that AVAC is part of the RTD Group Vietnam, which has more than 25 years of experience in the business of production of veterinary vaccines, pharmaceutical products and related farm systems.

AVAC has patented the DMAC Cell Line, which is the only ASF vaccine cell line that does not significantly degrade when used for commercial ASF vaccine production.

The company first received approval for

commercialization in June 2022. Since then, many large commercial farms in Vietnam have been using the vaccine and have reported successful results of vaccine efficacy rates at 95 percent.

T he Vietnamese government recently reported that more than 600,000 doses of the AVAC ASF vaccine have been administered in field trials since July 2022.

B ecause of the highly favorable results, the Vietnamese government will also start this month its own nationwide distribution of the vaccine to help local hog farmers.

O ther relevant information regarding ASF and the AVAC vaccine follows:

n Currently, only the AVAC ASF Live vaccine is commercially available to safely combat the dreaded ASF disease. The vaccine has a proven high efficacy rate of 95 percent;

n The AVAC ASF Live vaccine has been proven safe to use via intramuscular injection on growing pigs from four to eighteen (18) weeks of age, with no shock or local inflammation. Only one injection is necessary to protect growing pigs;

n The AVAC ASF Live vaccine is commercially used by many swine farms in Vietnam, including Charoen Pokphand Foods, one of the world’s biggest integrated animal and food corporations;

n Currently, the AVAC ASF Live vaccine is the only ASF vaccine that has a Certified Product Registration (CPR) issued by its country of manufacture (Vietnam);

n Since 2018, ASF outbreaks have been reported in dozens of countries around the world. This animal disease resurfaced in the Philippines in 2019, spreading across more than 3,800 barangays in 53 provinces by July 2022;

n Because of ASF, local pork production in the Philippines fell by almost a fourth over the June-October 2021 against the comparative period in 2020. Owing to this big decline in production, market prices of pork products went up to beyond P400 a kilogram (kg) that time from the previous per-kg average of P250;

n ASF has resulted in significant economic losses affecting a multitude of agri-related industries in the Philippines such as backyard farming, commercial farms, feedmill operations, local wet meat markets, and other allied industries with an economic value of more P 100 billion pesos a year; and

n Currently, the AVAC ASF Live vaccine is undergoing local trials under the supervision of the Bureau of Animal Industry. The safety and efficacy farm trials are being conducted by KPP Powers in coordination with four reputable local companies, namely, San Miguel Corporation, UNAHCO (a Unilab company), Charoen Pokphand Philippines and Pilmico. These trials are expected to be completed by April 2023.

Opamine, DHSUD eye to build 1-M homes annually in east Mindanao in next 6 years

DAVAO CITY—The Office of the Presidential Assistant for MindanaoEastern (Opamine) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) have embarked on an ambitious program to build houses for a million indigent families each year toward the end of the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The Opamine said in a statement that it has joined forces with DHSUD for the implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program of the Marcos administration with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the multi-year project on Thursday.

Secretary Leo Tereso Magno signed the MOU for the Opamine and Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar signed for DHSUD.

The MOU has both officials agreeing “to help each other in ensuring that the megahousing project would benefit the homeless, especially in Opamine’s area of jurisdiction, namely, Regions 11 [Davao Region], 12 [Soccsksargen] and 13 [Caraga].”

A total of 6 million housing units would be constructed with one million houses per year for the next six years of the Marcos

Neda prodded to frontload IRR of Public Service Act

By Butch Fernandez

NOTING that the amended Public Service Act (PSA), was enacted into law as Republic Act No. 11659 nearly a year ago, Senator Grace Poe on Friday urged the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to finish the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law.

RA 11659, which updated the 85-year-old Commonwealth Act No. 146, was signed on March 21, 2022, and relaxed restrictions on foreigners to completely own businesses in the country, but “with clear safeguards.” Poe, who chairs the franchisegranting Public Services Committee, said the provision relaxing old restric -

tions on foreigners to completely own businesses in the country was a key reform measure.

In a statement, the senator called on concerned Executive agencies to “expedite the release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Public Service Act (PSA) to allow the people to benefit from improved services and goods with more investments.”

The lawmaker lamented that the IRR intended to facilitate the law’s implementation “has yet to be issued close to a year after the PSA became a law.”

Airing her plea to the concerned Executive officials, Poe said, “I would like to appeal to the Executive, particularly the National Economic and Development Authority, to speed up the drafting of the IRR so that the

benefits of the Public Service Act will finally be realized.” She pointed out, “It is in the law that within six months from the effectivity of the measure, the IRR shall be ready.”

Specifically, Poe pointed out that the law “allows full foreign ownership” of businesses in select industries such as telecommunications, airlines and railways.

She, however, added that “some sectors will remain restricted to full foreign equity,” such as public utility vehicles, water, electricity, petroleum pipelines and seaports.

“The final law was a product of years of deliberation and inputs by various stakeholders to ensure its soundness and positive impact on the lives of our people. It’s time we reap its benefits,”

Poe said.

At the same time, Poe recalled that the PSA was among the legacy bills passed by the 18th Congress to help shore up economic development. The other laws include the Foreign Investments Act and the Trade Liberalization Act.

In the Senate session this week, Poe acknowledged fellow Senator Robin Padilla for pointing out that the Filipinos have yet to feel the effects of the PSA without the rules and guidelines in place, adding, “We hope the IRR will be out soon. It is the broken thread to the full implementation of the PSA.”

“We may have an effective law, but we need one with clear guidelines to be implementable,” she said.

VP Sara’s proposal to upgrade learners’ skills competencies gets PSAC’s support

By Manuel T. Cayon

DAVAO CITY—A private sector council advising President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on important policy moves has declared its support to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s proposal to revise basic and higher education to improve skills competencies of Filipino students.

“Under the leadership of Duterte, PSAC fully supports their [Department of Education] efforts and comprehensive plans for improving the Philippine basic education system. We believe that it will bring about positive change for students, educators, and the country as a whole,” said former Trade Secretary Joey Concepcion, currently the Jobs Lead of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

The PSAC was formed last year upon the instance of President Marcos to Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz to form an advisory group from among business leaders and experts to help him steer the economic goals of his administration.

Concepcion is president and CEO of the family-owned RFM Corp. and also founded the Go Negosyo program.

“PSAC is committed to working with the government and other partners to help achieve the goals DepEd has set out and to contribute to the development of a welleducated and skilled workforce,” he said.

Concepcion said PSAC had already met with Marcos, Duterte and other high-ranking government officials on December 9 “to discuss concrete plans to create more and better jobs for Filipinos,” or a month before Duterte disclosed the weaknesses of the current Philippine education, especially on the failure of the 12-year basic education program to produce a skills-certified graduate of the Kindergarten+12 basic education.

Makabansa agenda to address the challenges and roadblocks that young learners face.

“We will engage with CHED, Tesda and various industry partners to address the issue of skills mismatch in our senior high school program. We will need your help to make our graduates employable, we appeal to the industries and to employers to accept our students in work immersions and hire

them when they graduate,” she added.

“We will make the curriculum relevant to produce competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens,” Duterte said.

The VP also said DepEd would strengthen the numeracy and literacy programs and to “revitalize our reading, science, technology, and math programs by utilizing the gains of previous programs.” She added the

programs would be benchmarked by local and international best practices, “consulted with experts, and will be research- and evidence-based.”

“We will improve English proficiency while recognizing linguistic diversity. We will work towards the goal of English language proficiency within the context of a multilingual nation,” she added.

administration, the Opamine said.

Both agencies agreed to coordinate with each other in identifying qualified properties and beneficiaries and monitoring of the implementation of the housing project.

In a message during the signing of the MOU, Magno assured Mindanaoans “of their fair share of the housing program of President Marcos considering that there are still considerable number of Filipino families in Mindanao that do not own a house.”

“This administration knows that we have to build houses to foster homes. Good homes would mean better Filipinos. Better Filipinos would pave the way for a better Philippines. We hope that this massive housing project of the Marcos administration would pave the way for a better life for all of us, most especially those who truly need and deserve to be given a better chance in life,” Magno said.

“Thus, I thank the DHSUD for partnering with us to give homeless families in Eastern Mindanao a better home, a better future. Rest assured that Opamine-Eastern will tediously do [its] responsibilities and obligations to faithfully execute the implementation of the project in Regions 11, 12 and 13,” Magno said.

One of PSAC’s proposals presented to Malacañang was to build skills and capabilities that would allow longer-term competitiveness, Concepcion said.

The PSAC Jobs Sector recommended “identifying specific skills for long-term competitiveness and revamping basic and higher education and workforce development to drive productivity and encourage entrepreneurship,” he added.

“The specific skills identified during the December 9 meeting were English proficiency, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] related skills, and digital readiness,” Concepcion said.

In addition, he said, PSAC recommended further integration between DepEd, the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and to work with the private sector to set standards, update curricula, and design training programs that match with the real skill needs of priority sectors.

“These recommendations were reflected in the speech of Vice President Duterte and the DepEd’s MATATAG agenda,” he said.

The PSAC said Duterte outlined in her January 30 report the current state of basic education in the country as she also launched DepEd’s MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang

Saturday, February 18, 2023

DTI, OPAIEA: PBBM’s foreign trips since last year start to ‘bear fruit’

By Samuel P. Medenilla

ATOTAL of $4.349 billion or P239 billion of the foreign investments from the overseas trips of President

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. since last year have started to “bear fruit.”

T he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Investment and Economic Affairs

(OPAIEA) made the report during their recent meeting with Marcos. “I can already report that some of the MOUs that we signed in Indonesia and in Singapore, mayroonngresulta[already have

results]. And in fact, I think in the next couple of weeks, we will be starting to inaugurate some of these projects already,” the President said after the meeting. In a sta tement issued on Friday, the

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) disclosed the said “materialized” investments—those in various stages of implementation—were part of the 116 projects worth $62.926 billion or P3.48 trillion, which were signed during seven presidential trips.

T hese include trips in Indonesia, $8.48 billion; Singapore, $6.54 billion; United States, $3.847 billion; Thailand, $4.62 billion; Belgium, $2.20 billion; China, $24.239 billion; and Japan, $13 billion

Of the said amount, $29.712B or P1.7 trillion have existing memorandum of understanding or letters of intent.

The remaining $28.863 or P1.5 trillion is in the planning stage.

Investment obstacles

THE President said also meet with concerned government agencies to determine how to “take advantage of the contacts.”

Also t o be discussed, he noted, will be how to address the “obstacles” in the implementation of the other investments despite the government’s already “liberalized” business laws and policies.

“It is no w time for us to consolidate all of that and put it together and see what is needed for those projects to go forward. Marami kaming nakita na kailangan baguhin...yung ating mga rules and regulations na kung minsan ay di sympatheticsamga investor. [We saw a lot of things tha t needed to be changed–our rules and regulations, which are sometimes ‘unsympathetic’ to investors],” Marcos said in a video message posted by the PCO in its Facebook page last Friday.

Last w eek, the President announced the government would be putting up a “green lane” for foreign investors to make it easier for them to process business permits and licenses.

Trade dept counts on ECCP support for resumption of PHL, EU FTA talks

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI) is hoping that the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), along with European companies, will assist in pushing for the resumption of the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement (PH-EU FTA) negotiations.

“

The DTI would appreciate ECCP’s unified effort in pushing for the resumption of the FTA negotiations by conducting similar surveys supporting the PH-EU FTA negotiations,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said during the ECCP Membership Luncheon Meeting on Thursday in Makati City.

“ We request that you assist us in disseminating information to key European companies because we need their support to push for the conclusion of the FTA,” Pascual added.

T he trade chief highlighted that as the Philippines implements existing FTAs and concludes new agreements, products from Europe will be competitively disadvantaged as they enter the Philippine market.

P ascual said the DTI is setting its sights on resuming negotiations between the Philippines and EU, as it is an “essential mechanism” in the Philippines’s relationship with the bloc. In addition, the trade chief said, “it is consistent with the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.”

Mor eover, he said it supports the EU’s goal to “diversify” suppliers and enhance its cooperation on supply chains in the Asean region.

P ascual also noted that the “timely conclusion” of the PH-EU FTA negotiations would further expand the scope of market

access for goods, services, and investments.

H e cited anew a survey conducted by the German Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) in 2020, which showed that 83 percent of German companies deem the resumption of the Philippine-EU FTA “highly important.”

Last mon th, the GPCCI divulged that Philippine companies stand to gain from European firms that are adopting the “China Plus-one policy,” as they look to diversify their resources.

We see a lot of efforts with the China plus-one policy here with the geostrategic way of going forward and we do see a lot of chances here for the Philippine companies to have a boost also from companies from Europe, not only from Germany, looking a bit over the edge of China to invest in the future and we are here to help,” Christopher Zimmer, Executive Director of GPCCI, told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Outlook 2023 last month.

Zimmer divulged tha t while he could not reveal figures and names of German firms willing to invest or expand in the Philippines, he said the German companies are “selecting now other investment places outside China.”

It ’s worth noting that another European country, Czech Republic, is also eyeing the Philippine market as it looks into spreading out its export activity after bearing the brunt of a series of crises in Europe.

I n a statement on Wednesday, the Czech chamber said it is keen on expanding their business engagements beyond European markets, especially in the Philippines, which it said is considered by Czech companies as a “great potential haven of investments.”

DSWD, DFA and BSP affirm validity of ePhilID as ‘valid’ proof of identity

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Bangko

Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released issuances and advisories for the acceptance of the ePhilID as a “valid” proof of identity.

The DSWD, in a memorandum, directed all its offices, including its attached agencies, to recognize the ePhilID as a government-issued identification document for individuals availing of services and programs of the agency. This includes the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

The DFA also issued a public advisory on the acceptance of the ePhilID as an accredited government-issued valid ID for passport processing. This covers the application for and renewal of passports.

In addition, the BSP issued a memorandum to all its supervised institutions for the use and acceptance of the ePhilID as sufficient

proof of identity in its supervised banks/non-bank financial institutions. This means that individuals can do financial transactions, such as opening a bank account, using the ePhilID.

“The implementation of the ePhilID is anchored on PSA’s [Philippine Statistics Authority] commitment to providing registered persons immediate access to services and programs,” said PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General. “May this significant step from DSWD, DFA, and BSP be followed by more institutions delivering services to all Filipinos through the ePhilID.”

Meanwhile, the PSA continues to issue more ePhilIDs by implementing a plaza-type and houseto-house distribution parallel to fast-tracking PhilID production and printing. The PSA has also pilot-implemented a web site allowing registered persons to download a PDF copy of their ePhilID on their mobile devices.

Jollibee Group, Manila LGU partner anew to offer jobs for senior citizens, PWDs

Quezon town is 2022 model LGU for elderly program in Region 4A

By Belinda Otordoz

LUCENA CITY—Sampaloc

town in Quezon was named the model local government unit (LGU) for 2022 for the diligent implementation of the social pension fund for senior citizens in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) or Region 4A.

Of the town’s 1,800 registered senior citizens, 1,632 receive a monthly pension of P500.

THE Jollibee Group recently announced the resumption of its inclusive employment program to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in Manila after renewing its partnership with the city government of Manila.

T he partnership is consistent with Jollibee Group’s commitment to provide equal employment opportunities to different sectors, while promoting and practicing inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.

Jollibee Group will hire 28 senior citizens and 17 PWDs as customer relations staff across the Manila branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King through the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Manila PESO will screen and determine qualified candidates before endorsing them to the company. Applicants must also secure a medical clearance from the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, the accredited hospital for this program.

We started this program in 2019 with the Manila LGU. Working on this program in the past few years have allowed us to see how our elderly and differently abled individuals have appreciated the opportunity to find gainful employment.

The Jollibee Group continues to support this initiative of the Manila LGU, and we have been very fortunate to have a partner that shares the same desire and passion as the company in looking after the interest of our

elderly and PWDs,” said Ruth Angeles, Jollibee Group Vice President and Head for Human Resources-Philippines and Global Organization, Leadership & Culture.

“

We look forward to forging more partnerships with other LGUs so we can improve more lives and find reliable staff who can join us in our mission to share the joy of eating with everyone,” Angeles added.

T he signing of the new memorandum of agreement held on January 31 was attended by Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, and Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marlon Lacson, as well as officials from Jollibee Group represented by Public Affairs AVP Atty. Raul Academia and Philippine Region Human Resources Director Anna Prado.

Interested applicants can get more information on this employment program from the Manila Department of Social Welfare and the Office of Senior Citizen’s Affairs.

Back in 2019, Jollibee Group was the first restaurant company in the Philippines to partner with the Manila LGU in providing jobs to over a hundred qualified senior citizens and PWDs in the combined 39 branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, and Greenwich in Manila. Besides Manila, Jollibee Group also partnered with the LGUs of Antipolo and Pasay in 2019 to implement the same inclusive employment program.

Those who receive other social pensions, like from the Social Security System, are no longer qualified for the LGU benefit.

An additional P200 is given during the birthday month of the senior citizen.

Mayor Angelo Devanadera, accompanied by Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer Mylene

By Tatyana Monnay

FEINSTEIN,

DIANNE

the old-

est member of the US Senate at age 89, isn’t running for reelection in 2024, but there are many octogenarians who will still grace the halls of Congress after she leaves.

T here are 21 members of the Silent Generation—born between 1928 and 1945—in the House and eight in the Senate, according to the Pew Research Center. Baby Boomers, born after World War II, dominate both chambers, making up two-thirds of the Senate and nearly 45 percent of the House.

T he House is trending younger— with an average age of 57.9 years, down from 58.9 years in the two-year Congress that adjourned last month, according to Pew. That’s thanks in part to 26-year-old Democrat Maxwell Frost, the first member of Gen Z elected to Congress.

But the Senate continues to age, with a median age this year of 65.3 years, up from 64.8 in the 117th Congress, 63.6 in the 116th and 62.4 in the 115th.

SAMPALOC

Gariguez, received the award handed out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Tagaytay City on Wednesday.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Gariguez said the town was recognized as it achieved a 100-percent implementation of the social pension fund program in all four quarters last year.

“We promptly downloaded the fund from the national office allocated for the social pension of our senior citizens and immediately disbursed them, according to the schedule given to us,” said Gariguez.

Gariguez attributed the recognition to the cooperation displayed by all beneficiaries as they completed their requirements.

She also clarified that a senior citizen who wants to receive the grant need not be a registered voter of the town to be included in the program. PNA

in US Congress

Representative Grace Napolitano, California Democrat, born in 1936.

Representative Bill Pascrell, New Jersey Democrat, born in 1937.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia Democrat, born in 1937.

Representative Hal Rogers, Kentucky Republican, born in 1937.

Representative Maxine Waters, California Democrat, born in 1938.

Representative Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, born in 1939.

Representative Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, born in 1940.

Representative Jim Clyburn, South Carolina Democrat, born in 1940.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont Independent, born in 1941.

A majority of Americans, spanning across political affiliations, favor installing age maximum limits on elected officials, according to an August CBS News poll. In the same poll, 40 percent said the maximum age for elected officials should be 70 years old.

More than a dozen US lawmak-

ers are older than President Joe Biden, 80, the oldest US president ever elected. Here are the lawmakers who were born before Biden’s birth on Nov. 20, 1942.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, born in 1933.

Senator Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican, born in 1933.

Representative Danny Davis, Illinois Democrat, born in 1941.

Representative John Carter, Texas Republican, born in 1941.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, born in February 1942.

Representative Frederica Wilson, Florida Democrat, born on November 5, 1942. Bloomberg News

What kind of Greek are you? MY

IT is interesting that the ancient Greeks asked themselves the same questions we are asking today: given this mess all around me, how should I act? Where do I find pleasure? How do I avoid suffering? What really matters? How does it all make sense?

T hese questions gave rise to a roster of great Greek philosophers who attempted to formulate answers. They not only influenced Western civilization but their thinking even bequeathed to us words we now use to label the personalities of people.

By Nick Tayag

SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

Cynic. Hedonist. Epicurean. Skeptic. Stoic. These terms pop up in our modern conversations but few of us know that they are derived from the various schools of thought in Ancient Greece that go back around several millennia ago. It turns out there’s a little Greek in each of us.

L et’s take a closer look at each of these five words imported from Ancient Greece and find out which one best fit the kind of person you are.

S keptic is how we call the type who likes to question everything including commonly held truths. He is a disbeliever who doubts the truth or value of an idea or belief.

The term comes from the Greek noun “skepsis,” which means examination, investigation or inquiry. Followers of this school of thought founded by Pyrhho were called “skeptikoi.” They embraced a way of life that was devoted to constant inquiry.

I f you are habitually scornful,

always finding fault in others or being negative about what’s happening in a contemptuous or sneering way, then you belong to the cynic category. The root word is “kynikos,” an adjective meaning “doglike,” from kuōn, “dog” which was the nickname given Diogenes, the group’s most famous exponent. He is said to have led his life like a dog, stripped of all elements of civilization and social convention just to prove a point and to shock the citizens of Athens into practicing self-denial. He believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.

T he term “cynical” probably acquired its sneering and mocking connotation because of the vexing way and contemptuous attitude shown by the followers of Diogenes who hounded, reproached and shamed their fellow citizens for their attachment to pleasures and luxuries, which they considered superfluous, worthless and detrimental to virtue.

But if you are more strongly inclined towards the enjoyment of material pleasures, then you must be a hedonist, derived from hēdone the ancient Greek word for pleasure. Hedonism is the belief that pleasure, or the absence of pain, is the most important thing in life. But the pleasure in hedonism is of the superficial kind, like sex, cars,

drugs, rock music and what we call sinful vices.

I f you prefer your pleasures to be more of the refined kind, such as enjoying a symphony concert, watching a good movie, reading a good book or savoring fine foods, you must be an epicurean, an adherent of Epicurus, a Greek philosopher who took the pursuit of pleasure in another level. For him, the most pleasant life is one where we abstain from worldly desires to achieve an inner tranquility by being content with simple things, and by choosing the pleasure of intellectual conversation with friends.

If skeptic, cynic, hedonist or epicurean does not fit you, are you then stoic?

A stoic is the kind of person Reinhold Niebuhr probably had in mind when he penned the famous serenity prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” A stoic thinks that as long as he behaves virtuously and does the right thing, he need not concern himself with the impact of external events that lie outside of his control. In short, let nature or destiny take its course. This kind of thinking was developed by Zeno and his followers in the market of ancient Athens while pacing back and forth through a columned portico called a “stoa” whence the term stoicism.

A stoic person practices selfdiscipline, of body and of mind to become resilient to the hardships and obstacles that life throws at him. This is why the modern dictionary defines a stoic as “a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing his feelings or complaining.”

T he more I learn about the back stories of these terms, the more I feel that the ancient Greeks are speaking to me across the millennia. They may not provide ultimate answers to the messiness at the center of our lives but they help me understand and accept myself more in the waning years of my life. Which to me is important because as Socrates said: “Know thyself” and wisely added: “the unexamined life is not worth living.” I used to accept what I believed were established certainties that tradition and the academe handed down to me. Now that I am advanced in age, the skeptic in me is manifesting itself more and more. I’m inclined to question many things, although I still have deeply rooted beliefs regarding my spiritual path.

I confess that in my younger restless days, I gave free rein to the hedonist self in me. I sowed my wild oats as the saying goes by indulging in various worldly pleasures and even associated for a while with happy go lucky people who I naively thought had the key

to a quicker and pain-free way to money, status, and fame.

T hankfully, the cynic in me emerged just in time. I realized that those things were all empty, worthless and inconsequential. I managed to gain greater self-control and made a decision to veer my life’s direction towards the virtuous and spiritual path.

Nowadays, my perspective on pleasure and happiness is more epicurean, towards simple tranquil moments that are spiritually enriching and edifying. My enjoyment of material pleasures is checked or balanced by my belief in postponed gratification as a way of life.

B ut through it all, my saving grace has been the strong stoic mind and heart in me.

Since childhood I chose to bear misfortunes, failures and painful incidents with quiet acceptance, and striving to learn from the experience, maintaining the mindset of a Buddhist Zen monk that life is a floating world where everything passes away. Thus, my life is not burdened with regrets.

To sum up, there are multiple Greeks in me: increasingly skeptical, epicurean in taste, a cynic from time to time and underneath it all, a steadfast stoic.

W hat about you? Have you found out what kind of Greek are you?

town in Quezon province was named the model local government unit for implementing the social pension fund for senior citizens in Region 4A (Calabarzon) during the “Panata Ko Sa Bayan Awards” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development at the Tagaytay City

International Convention Center in Cavite on February 8, 2023. The town achieved a 100-percent implementation rate. COURTESY OF SAMPALOC, QUEZON FACEBOOK

With Feinstein set to retire, these are the oldest lawmakers

JOLLIBEE Group and Manila LGU officials convened anew for the signing of a new memorandum of agreement that will create employment opportunities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Jollibee-owned stores across Manila City.

SEN. Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the US Senate at age 89, is not running for reelection in 2024. BLOOMBERG PHOTO

Mike Policarpio

Asean, India youth leaders urged to help attain peace, prosperity

“In realizing the shared goals of the Asean and India, [it] is crucial that the youth, as our current and future leaders, could hone their skills and capabilities for them… to contribute to the advancement of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” Asean secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn said in his virtual message during the opening ceremony of the fourth Asean-India Youth Summit last February 12.

With “Strengthening AseanIndia Partnership in the IndoPacific” as the theme, the secretary-general said the summit could serve as a platform for the 175 youth leaders “to exchange ideas and perspectives and other important issues facing our world today” during the four-day event.

“To our youth delegates: I would like to impress [upon] you…with your continued engagement and passion to make a difference. You have…a golden opportunity to make possible changes across Asia-Pacific, and of course across your regions,” Kao added.

He thanked the Indian government, particularly the city of Hyderabad and the Ministry of External Affairs, for hosting the

Asean-India Summit, in collaboration with India Foundation and Asean Foundation.

“I hope you will remember this event as [a life-changing experience that offers you a chance to contribute in bringing the Asean and Indian people’s governance] closer” the Asean official exhorted.

For his part, India Foundation director Maj. Gen. Dhruv Katoch hoped that through interaction, the youth leaders would forge bonds of friendship that “are indeed unbreakable” and “last a lifetime.”

India’s Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy said the summit could further explore cooperation in equipping the youth with skills and knowledge in emerging areas such as digital technology and the sustainability in economic relations, digital transformation, financial inclusion, climate change and environmental protection.

“[The Asean-India Youth Summit is a step to facilitate…further activities, sociocultural exchanges between the countries of this region to further strengthen the

values of] tolerance, pluralism and diversity,” Reddy said in his keynote.

The young leaders in the fields of politics, media, think-tanks, education and science and technology discussed and brainstormed on improving various fronts that include good governing and regional development; entrepreneurship and skill development; digital partnerships for the 21st Century, Asean-India connectivity; and promotion of cultural and people-to-people ties.

Eight young leaders from the Philippines participated in the summit, who are seen to help create a shared vision for wider regional partnership across both security and economic issues.

They are Sangguniang Barangay member Eufelu Badiang Anino from Davao de Oro; Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson Jhansien Galvez Malapit from Cebu City; Mart Greggy Jones Callao

Embassy funds Phil. Studies program implementation at Belgium university

Aying of National Youth Commission’s Mental Health Youth Hub; SK chairperson Michael Christophe Racimo Agustin from Ilocos Norte; entrepreneur Trizia Ann Tingson Magalino; Krystyna Louise Dy and Mashan Bernice Espiritu of Stratbase; and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel Abellar.

Abellar, former National Union of Students of the Philippines president, said the summit will serve as an opportunity for them to discuss with fellow young leaders common issues affecting the youth in every nation.

“These…include education, digital connectivity, employment and others. The contingents are very diverse because [they came from nongovernment organizations], government and youth network. That kind of diversity can be a source of rich ideas from among the youth,” he shared.

Jelly Musico/PNA

DIGITAL LEARNING RESOURCES

On February 10 the Japanese government and the United Nations Children’s Fund Phils. turned over 50 tablets installed with Science and Math digital stories as well as apps to Valenzuela City. The donation was aimed to increase the ease of access for young school learners to the said subjects by using the early-grade digital learning resources developed together with the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Mathematics Education and Research. According to its embassy in Manila, the project forms part of Japan’s $2.5-million support to Unicef’s cross-sectoral pandemic response by way of protecting the most vulnerable children in the Philippines from a child-rights crisis caused by Covid-19.

EDUCATORS SPEAK

Shaping the global Filipino student for the future

By Dr. Bonifacio T. Doma Jr.

Executive Vice President, International Alliance & Cintana Partnership Executive Director, Mapúa University

RECENT global events are reshaping the nature of education in various ways. The pandemic has compelled academic institutions to rethink the role of technology in facilitating human connections that serve as the backbone of t eaching and learning, while the extent of globalization and ultraconnectivity urge them to reevaluate their programs to suit the demands of fast-evolving industries and markets.

The Philippines, in particular, is in a very unique global position. Because of its large expatriate population, many Filipinos are exposed to an international worldview and are primed to explore opportunities outside the country. Moreover, the Filipino diaspora has enabled the adoption of digital technologies to stay connected with families around the world.

As a result, there is a pressing need for the local Philippine educational system to adapt to a more global student experience to ensure that Filipinos can succeed in their chosen careers, no matter where in the

world they decide to go.

Mapúa’s partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) is the first step in a long-term vision of creating a truly global education culture that incorporates an international digital focus while continuing to stay true to its core Filipino values.

O ur collaborative programs in business and health sciences reflect the quality of leading educational institutions across the world, centered on the core pillars of international linkages and opportunities, real-world experiential learning, and digital expertise.

H owever, it is equally important for us to acknowledge the distinct identity and situational experiences of Filipino students, and t he need to craft innovative programs that are uniquely Filipino in context. Finally, it is imperative to ensure that these programs are inclusive and accessible to every student nationwide.

Our partnership with ASU in these fields of study underscores this vision. From gaining a unique skill set that is up to par with t he demands of an ever-evolving labor market to developing a global sensibility that i s Filipino at its core, we aim to produce well-rounded global students ready to lead the future of the Philippines and the world.

Applied learning with int’l opportunities

IT is vital to note that the speed at which technologies are adapted have changed the future of work, as well as of education.

For the Filipino student to become a global leader, he must be prepared for a world of work that may not yet exist, and for careers that may no longer survive the next decade. Today’s students need to be adaptable and resilient, and universities must adopt a pragmatic approach to teaching.

Our collaborative programs, which bring together our combined technological expertise, will enable Filipino students to enter the w ork force with global acumen and a unique skill set that will produce effective leaders not only in the country, but across the world; enable them to pivot when needed and move between industries and jobs in the future with confidence and ease; and prepare them for the fluidity of roles and borders.

We combine innovation, real-world experience, and a focus on sustainability with case studies and situational problemsolving, exposing students to issues that they will face in the real world. We also offer Global Signature Courses that feature collaborations between two to three professors from different universities around the

PHILIPPINE Embassy in Brussels chargé d’affaires and consulgeneral Pablito A. Mendoza and cultural officer Liza Jane V. Estalilla met Prof. Annick Castiaux who is the rector of the University of Namur and Prof. Isabella Fontana who is the director of the university’s International Relations Office on January 18, as the two Filipino officials formally turned over a Deed of Donation amounting P5,000,000 from the Philippine government.

Said donation is for the implementation of the Philippine Studies program in the aforementioned Belgian learning institution starting June 30.

The University of Namur has divided the program into the following four major projects: 1) Lectures, seminars and international conferences; 2) The university’s Filipiniana collection enhancement; 3) Research and publication on Philippine history, culture, politics, society, Filipino-Belgian relations, Filipinos in Belgium, and Belgians in the Philippines; 4) Awards for the best Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts (MA) and/or PhD theses on the Philippines: one long-term and four short-term study grants for PhD/postdoctoral/researchers and students from the Philippines at the university.

Since 2000 the Belgian university has been engaged in collaborative projects with Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, Central Mindanao University, Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan, and the

University of Saint La Salle-Bacolod. These projects focused on research in environmental sustainability; land, water and coastal-area management; as well as community integration and knowledge in the government’s socioeconomic and environmental planning with exchange programs for teaching and research staff, MA, and PhD students.

During the meeting Prof. Castiaux gave an overview of the University of Namur and its 11 interdisciplinary institutes. She also proposed the conduct of a familiarization tour by embassy officials of the university’s library that contains ancient manuscripts from the university’s Jesuits founders, including other research and teaching facilities.

In response, Mendoza thanked the professors for the warm welcome, as he turned over two coffee-table books on the Philippines as additional resources for the university’s Filipiniana collection.

The consul-general and Estalilla likewise informed the university’s team of the wealth of opportunities and collaborative projects that the embassy and the university could look into under the Philippine Studies program.

The university is at the center of the lively and multicultural city of Namur, the capital city of Belgium’s Wallonia Region. The city is known for its 17th Century citadel built by the famous military architect Vauban.

Filipino narrative shines at Emirates LitFest 2023 with ‘Pinoy’ authors

world, and where students from different countries can work on projects and assignments together, exposing them to a global lear ning experience.

Finally, we provide our students access to internship opportunities abroad, and they can work with international faculties in numerous global signature courses and joint lecturing programs, further cementing their international exposure and experience.

Global Filipino leaders for a better future

IT is my view that future Filipino leaders need to learn within a globalized education ecosystem. Through the Mapúa partnership with ASU, Filipino students become part of a vast international network of universities that will enable them to enter the labor force with global acumen as they learn to communicate, collaborate and integrate with f ellow students from all over the world.

As we continue to shape the leaders of our country and the world, we are committed to providing Filipino students with t he necessary skills for the future, enabling them to build global networks, make real connections, and personally interact with peers from across the globe while staying true to their Filipino core.

ABU DHABI—Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

(UAE) Alfonso A. Ver, on February 4, interacted with Filipino authors and artists at the annual Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature (Emirates LitFest), led by historian Ambeth Ocampo, award-winning novelist Dr. Miguel Syjuco, poet Danabelle Gutierrez, authors Angelo R. Lacuesta and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, as well as writer Budjette Tan and illustrator Kajo Baldisimo of comic book-turned-Netflix animated series “Trese.”

On its 15th year, the Emirates LitFest featured 10 Filipino authors— the largest Filipino contingent in its history—plus the abovementioned writers who held talks and interviews that shed light on their creative process, ways their works manifest their Filipino identity, and prospects writers face in introducing the next generation of “Pinoys” in diaspora to Philippine culture and identity.

Ver attended three thoughtprovoking sessions: Prof. Ocampo’s “Dirty Ice Cream, Banana Ketchup and Stinking Fish: Deliciously Filipino,” Tan and Kajo’s “ Tabi-Tabi Po:

Entering the World of Trese,” and Kwentong Filipino” with Gutierrez, Dr. Syjuco and Lacuesta.

“In my discussions with the…Filipino [authors and artist]…and having attended their talks today, I can say with confidence that the future of Philippine culture is in good, talented hands,” he said. “From Prof. Ambeth Ocampo’s thought-provoking historical insights, Dr. Syjuco’s novels featuring sociopolitical commentary, Ms. Gutierrez’ poetry reflecting her multicultural narrative, Ms. Mananquil-Trillo’s stories of empowerment, Messrs. Tan and Kajo’s focus on Filipino myths and folklore for their comics and animation, and Mr. Lacuesta’s ease of shift from screenplays to short stories and novels, the next generation of Filipino readers have a wide range of selection to choose from.”

The ambassador added: “I am proud of these authors’ commitment to their craft, and their desire to write distinctively Filipino stories that will also resonate universally. I hope the Filipino youth and our kababayans especially [those] here in the UAE— will be inspired to likewise create and write the Filipino narrative.”

HYDERABAD—Regional and Indian youth leaders were urged to harness their skills and capabilities in helping advance peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.

CHARGE d’Affaires and consul-general Pablito A. Mendoza (left) presents the Deed of Donation to Prof. Isabella Fontana and Prof. Annick Castiaux BRUSSELS PE

AMBASSADOR Alfonso A. Ver took part in the book signing done by Budjette Tan (left photo) and Prof. Ambeth Ocampo ABU DHABI PE

FILIPINO delegates in the fourth Asean-India Summit

Tourism&Entertainment

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

The QuainT Charm of Salzburg

Iwas in transit in austria before taking another train to Venice, Italy. I decided to go to a city I have yet to visit. Thankfully, salzburg was along the way of my planned route.

I’ve heard good things about the city and its connection to the musical “sound of Music” (of course!). It felt like a good idea to drop by and explore a new destination that calls out to me.

Quaint and charming

A S I w as only transiting through Salzburg en route to Venice, I didn’t have much time in the city. ho wever, I at least had one full day to catch a glimpse of it. I’ve been to Vienna before; my immediate impression was that Salzburg wasn’t like the capital. It had a more laidback atmosphere (it must be the mountain setting) compared to the big city. This fact alone made

me like Salzburg already. I didn’t stay in the old town, but I was near one of the city’s main attractions, the Mirabell Palace. If you’ve seen the movie Sound of Music, you’ll immediately recognize the Mirabell Palace’s façade and some of its halls. The palace underwent a remodeling in the 1720s to fit a Baroque architectural aesthetic. It was later restored to a Neoclassical design in the 1810s.

Inside you’ll find the Marble h a ll, a beautiful room where functions and concerts take place. As much as I’d like to see more of the palace, access is limited to visitors to a few rooms. Not too far from Mirabell Palace is the lovely and centuries old altstadt or old town. The latter is a UN e S CO World h e ritage Site where I could spend hours meandering through its narrow streets. The area is home to many shops, restaurants, and cafes where

visitors can take a break. At Residenzplatz, you can visit some of the city’s museums such as the Salzburg Museum and the DomQuartier. The quaint buildings lining each street will make you pause and wonder if you’ve traveled back in time. Salzburg isn’t just famous for its mountainous setting or its association with the “Sound of Music,” it’s also the birthplace of one of the most famous composers and musicians, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Visit

his house to learn more about the virtuoso and get a peek into his formative years.

Once you emerge from the narrow lanes and beautiful buildings, you’ll find yourself in one of the city’s quaint squares. h e re you’ll get to sample local food sold at the stalls, buy a souvenir, or some fresh fruit. At the center of these squares, you’ll often spot a towering and fetching church. The Salzburg Cathedral’s more than 70m high twin towers, marble statues, and beautiful white façade are features you can’t ignore. Its cavernous interior, frescoes, and intricate details lining the walls will draw your eyes to the front, side, and to the ceiling. St. Peter’s Church is another noteworthy addition to your itinerary. It dates to 1143 and is an integral part of the city’s culture and history. Inside you’ll see St. Rupert’s rock-hewn tomb, monuments, religious paintings and frescoes, and monuments.

I made my way up to the h ohensalzburg Fortress to not only get bird’s eye views of the city, but to learn more about its history. The fortress dates to 1077 but most of the structures you’ll see are from

the 1500s. The fortress contains defensive gateways, a courtyard, the Church of St. George, and the Princes’ Apartments. I took my time exploring the attractions and enjoying the views of the city below. I imagined royalty and Prince-Archbishops roaming the same courtyard, entering the church, and looking out at the same views as I did. I took one last look at the towers and domes of the city’s most famous churches and walked back down to the old town.

Salzburg’s historic center is one of the most well-preserved in e urope. Add the fetching baroque architecture all over the city with the mountains as a backdrop, you’ll find yourself in a place that you wouldn’t want to leave. Salzburg isn’t a big and imposing metropolis, it’s small enough to immerse yourself in, even if you don’t get to stay long. A day or so allows you to see the main attractions such as Mirabell Palace, hohensalzburg Fortress, Residenzplatz, Salzburg Cathedral, and the old town. A day is insufficient to really get to know a place, but if that’s all you have, Salzburg can satisfy your wanderlust.

48th InternatIonal BamBoo organ FestIval showcases lIve concerts

The International Bamboo Organ Festival will welcome again the general public at St. Joseph’s Parish Church (300 seats) to attend the live concerts for the 48th year in a row. The festival opens this February 23 with a Gala performance for the sustaining members and sponsors of the I nternational Bamboo Organ Festival with a repeat performance on February 24 and 25 featuring “Baroque Music from eu rope and Latin America.” eudenice Palaruan will

conduct an ensemble composed of the Collegium Vocale Manila (formerly Villancico Vocal en semble), the Manila Baroque en semble, and soloists Raphael Leone, piccolo (Austria), Carolyn Kleiner-Cheng, harpsichord, and Armando Salarza, organ.

O n Saturday, February 25 at 5:00 p.m., David Kendall, Ph.D., visiting professor of music at UST, will give a lecture on “Music in the Philippines during the Spanish er a,” preceding the concert that follows at 8:00 p.m.

The yearly Festival Mass will be

held on Sunday, February 26, at 4:00 p.m. at the San ez ekiel Moreno Oratory (SeMO) located along the C5 e x tension in Pulanglupa, Las Piñas (Villar Sipag Compound). Presiding the celebration will be Fr. Sam A gcaracar, SVD, rector of the SVD Seminary in Tagaytay concelebrating with Msgr. Bobby Olaguer, parish priest of St. Joseph’s Parish in L as Piñas. Organists are Luc Ponet (Belgium) and Armando Salarza together with the Las Piñas Boys Choir d irected by Rey Joseph Peña.

Our guest organist of this year will be Luc Ponet, visiting the festival for the 6th time since 2001. T hose who would like to hear the Bamboo Organ and the variety of sounds it can produce have to attend this recital scheduled for Monday, February 27. he w ill have two more organ recitals; one in San Beda Manila (February 25) and in Betis, Pampanga (March 2).

The closing concert will be on March 2 at 8:00 p.m. at SeMO (800 seats) and on March 4 at 8:00 p.m.

at St. Scholastica’s College Chapel (240 seats) for the performance of excerpts from the St. Matthew’s Passion by J.S. Bach. This masterwork will be heard for the first time i n Manila, performed by the Collegium Vocale Manila and the Manila Baroque ensemble under the competent direction of Beverly ShangkuanC heng. The first part will present music for the holy week with the Las Piñas Boys Choir and Armando Salarza at the organ. Tickets are available at SM Tickets

(www.smtickets.com) or you can call the Bamboo Organ office at 88257190 / 8820-0795 and look for Ms. Beth Dela Cruz. We advise the public to reserve or to purchase their tickets in advance. Seats are limited at St. Joseph’s Parish Church and at St. Scholastica. You can also visit our new web site at www.bamboo-organ.com for the latest news and updates about the festival, and don’t forget to follow our Facebook

Story & photos by Joshua Berida

t h e iconic mirabell castle and gardens is made famous by film “ the sound of music.”

s al z Burg cathedral is the salzburg's most important sacred building.

m ar B le hall inside mirabell Palace is a dream destination for being the “most beautiful wedding hall in the world.”

m ozart’s birthplace is a must-visit by fans.

o n e can find mozart’s statue located in the center of salzburg’s old town.

the Baroque style Kollegienkirche church is dedicated to the Immaculate conception.

Be mesmerized by the overlooking view of salzburg.

h o hensalz Burg Fortress sits on hill situated in the outskirts of the city.

s t Peter’s church is known for its distinctive christian architecture and location for the famous movie “ the sound of music.”

co lleg I um vocale manila

l a s Piñas Boys choir

Baroque ensemble

How e-wallets changed the lives of Filipinos during the pandemic

pay them a certain amount, as this would normally take several hours of lining up. Most online sellers only accepted these methods of payment. Very few of them had GCash because things were very different then.

opened easier ways to save money, invest, get insurance coverages, and even loan funds. Thanks to its current 76 million-strong user base, GCash is now the No. 1 e-wallet and the Philippines’s only double unicorn.

Brankas, Element advance online fraud detection in open finance

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor

AFTER losing $260 million to digital scams in 2019, online fraud continues to emerge as a top critical enterprise risk for Southeast Asian businesses. In the Philippines alone, such cases jumped in the logistics sector by 236 percent in the second quarter of 2022 from a year ago; telecommunications, up by 45 percent; and gambling digital fraud rose by 32 percent.

With this in mind, Brankas, the leading global open finance technology provider, and Element Inc., the privacy-led, modern artificial intelligence (AI) pioneer in digital identity services used to verify a person´s information quickly and seamlessly, have banded to introduce an additional layer of security to detect potential frauds.

Specifically, they have partnered in the open finance product, called the Brankas Direct, which is now available in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. Through this, businesses can replace manual bank transfers as a checkout option, allow direct e-wallet top-ups, and expedite loan repayments to multiple banks via a single flow.

In addition, they have tied up for the Brankas Open Core, which enables a seamless onboarding process for customers opening new bank accounts, or Loan Management Solutions using the core banking suite of Brankas.

“Element has the most comprehensive eKYC [Electronic Know Your Customer] offering in the region, localized for specific markets. Their liveness check products and connectivity central databases for identity checks can make Brankas’ Open Banking products more fraud-proof,” said Brankas chief executive officer (CEO) and Cofounder Todd Schweitzer.

FOR many of us, life now has been divided into two eras: pre-pandemic and the present. But there was an in-between—the dark days when we all didn’t know what was going to happen and we were counting infections and fatalities.

During the pandemic, specifically during ECQ and GECQ days, one of the things I looked forward to was the buying and selling of photo cards and other K-pop related merchandise on Twitter every Friday. It meant several hours of fun. It was less about buying and more about forgetting the troubles and uncertainties most of us had during that period.

Pre-pandemic, we would pay for online purchases by making bank deposits or via express payment methods. We would ask someone to do it for us and

Well, in the midst of all that online buying and selling during the pandemic, everyone realized how convenient GCash was. You didn’t even have to be a Globe subscriber. You could be a subscriber of the other network and still have a GCash e-wallet. Pretty soon, we all had GCash. Every online seller, owner of a small stall in the mall, Grab driver and rider, and delivery people now have GCash. In the online shopping milieu, GCash payment reigns supreme. Last week, I was with my boss and a delivery person called her. She had a delivery from an e-commerce platform and it was supposed to be COD. She simply told the delivery person, as she was out of the house, “Let me send you the payment via GCash.” And it was done. I no longer go on my Friday night Twitter buying sprees but will always remember those times with a smile.

GCash is now very much a part of our lives, even post-pandemic. We even pay our utilities bills via GCash. As of March 2022, GCash had an average of 60 million users. This accounts for about 83 percent of the adult population in the Philippines.

Aside from hassle-free payments, GCash has

GCash has launched the “#GCashStories—Mga Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pag-asenso” campaign to encourage Filipinos to come forward with their heartwarming GCash stories. “With over 70 million people using GCash, we have millions of stories to tell. Every story, big or small, is a story worth telling because they are stories of progress and hope. It’s the story of how GCash has helped millions of Filipinos. It’s my story, it’s your story, it’s our story together,” said Neil Trinidad, chief marketing officer at GCash The #GCashStories digital series features modernday stories of progress, showing how Filipinos have improved their way of life with GCash. The series begins with the story of Cocoy Rubio, who lost his job as a bartender during the pandemic. Cocoy’s GCash story shows how he began his journey after being laid off to become an entrepreneur with his very own The Bike Coffee business in Cagayan De Oro. The film highlights how Cocoy used GCash to pay for his supplies and even applying for capital via GLoan, which provides fast, safe and affordable cash loans.

SEE “E-WALLETS,” A9

Cybersecurity spending for SMEs and enterprises in APAC to rise in ’23

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

The increased complexity of computing infrastructure, a need to improve the level of specialist security expertise, and geopolitical or economic uncertainty are the main factors driving cybersecurity spending for small and medium businesses and enterprises, according to the latest edition of Kaspersky’s annual IT Security Economics report. According to a recent PriceWaterhouseCoopers study, the increase in interest of businesses in cybersecurity caused by the use of digital technologies and the ever-evolving threat landscape has already resulted in improvements in IT security. To explore how much businesses currently spend on this crucial field and what their plans for further investments are, Kaspersky conducted 3,230 interviews across 26 countries from businesses with more than 50 employees. The respondents included 834 from Asia Pacific (APAC). The poll suggests that IT budgets for cybersecurity are set to increase again over the next three years for both SMBs and enterprises to cover a range of issues. Median cybersecurity budgets in 2022 were $3.75m for enterprises with $12.5m allocated for IT generally,

while SMBs invested $150k in IT security from $375,000 median IT budgets.

In Asia Pacific (APAC), Kaspersky said SMBs and enterprises here are set to increase their online defense budget by 3 percent more than the global average at 14 percent. Among the reasons to increase cybersecurity spending, respondents from APAC especially noted the complexity of the IT infrastructure (61 percent for both local SMB and local enterprise), and a need to improve the level of specialist security expertise (56 percent for both sectors). New potential risks occurring due to increased geopolitical or economic uncertainty were highlighted as reasons for investment increases for 45 percent in SMBs and 50 percent in enterprise organizations.

“The recent Ernst and Young CEO Outlook Pulse revealed the combined pandemic-related disruptions, rising inflation, geopolitical tensions, and climate change haunted enterprises in the Asia Pacific region last year. Adding up to this are the cybersecurity incidents like data breaches and ransomware attacks which crippled major businesses in the region in 2022. Increasing spending on cybersecurity is a right step toward building companies’ defenses against cyberattacks and protecting their assets against

black swans which 2023 may bring,” comments Chris Connell, managing director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

Meanwhile, Business Network International (BNI) reported that digital technology played an important role in its networking between members during the pandemic.

BNI Manila central business director Ronnie Marquez said the organization was able to generate huge business deals among its members through the use of digital technonlogy.

“In the Philippines, with over 40 chapters and more than 1,200 members, businesses generated P4 billion in the last 12 months alone. At the height of the pandemic, we quickly pivoted to digital solutions and were able to launch online chapters that helped ensure growth in terms of membership and what we call TYFCB [businesses passed between members across multiple industries],” Marquez said.

BNI Manila organized on February 10 the CONNECT MNL conference, which featured resource persons and business leaders who discussed different topics concerning business matters in the “new normal”. These included analyst Jonas Ravelas, business expert Ricky de Vera, and Lucien Dy Tioco of Philstar Media Group.

“Brankas has been a leader in open finance and continues to advocate for adoption across the region. Element is looking forward to supporting open finance products to make onboarding and authentication much easier and safer for our end users, and this product paves the way for more use cases in the future,” added Element Inc. CEO and cofounder Adam Perold.

Ex-Apple designer behind Charles III’s coronation emblem

BY DANICA KIRKA The Associated Press

LONDON—The official emblem of King Charles III’s coronation, created by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive and his associates, honors the monarch’s love of nature by joining the flora that symbolize the four nations of the United Kingdom in a single image.

The rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and the shamrock of Northern Ireland form a picture of St. Edward’s Crown, which will be placed on the new king’s head when he is crowned May 6 at Westminster Abbey. The emblem revealed by Buckingham Palace on Friday is rendered in the colors of the Union flag, with the crown depicted in blue surrounded by further drawings of the four plants in red, all on a white background.

“The design was inspired by King Charles’ love of the planet, nature, and his deep concern for the natural world,” Ive said in a statement.

“The emblem speaks to the happy optimism of spring and celebrates the beginning of this new Carolean era for the United Kingdom.”

The emblem was designed by Ive and his creative collective, LoveFrom.

Ive holds some 14,000 patents globally, as well as honorary doctorates from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as the Royal College of Art, where he is chancellor.

The emblem will be available for use for all activities associated with the coronation, including community and national events.

EU calls out Twitter for incomplete disinformation report

BY KELVIN CHAN

The Associated Press

LONDON—Twitter failed to provide a full report to the European Union on its efforts to combat online disinformation, drawing a rebuke Thursday from top officials of the 27-nation bloc.

The company signed up to the EU’s voluntary 2022 Code of Practice on Disinformation last year—before billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought the social media platform.

All who signed up to the code, including online platforms, ad-tech companies and civil society, agreed to commit to measures aimed at reducing disinformation. They filed their first “baseline” reports last month showing how they’re living up to their promises.

Google, TikTok, Microsoft as well as Facebook and Instagram parent Meta showed “strong commitment to the reporting,” providing unprecedented detail about how they’re putting into action their pledges to fight false information, according to the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm. Twitter, however, “provided little specific information and no targeted data,” it said.

“I am disappointed to see that Twitter report lags behind others and I expect a more serious commitment to their obligations stemming from the Code,” Vera Jourova, the commission’s executive vice president for values and transparency, said in a statement. “ Russia is engaged also in a full-blown disinformation war and the platforms need to live up to their responsibilities.”

In its baseline report, Twitter said it’s “making real advancements across the board” at fighting disinformation. The document came in at 79 pages, at least half the length of those filed by Google, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok.

Twitter did not respond to a request for further comment. The social media company’s press office was shut down and its communications team laid off after Musk bought it last year. Others whose job it was to keep harmful information off the platform have been laid off or quit.

EU leaders have grown alarmed about fake information thriving on online platforms, especially about the Covid-19 pandemic and Russian propaganda amid the war in Ukraine. Last year, the code was strengthened by connecting it with the upcoming Digital Services Act, new rules aimed at getting Big Tech companies to clean up their platforms or face big fines.

But there are concerns about what shows up on Twitter after Musk ended enforcement of its policy against Covid-19 misinformation and other moves such as dissolving its Trust and Safety Council that advised on problems like hate speech and other harmful content.

An EU evaluation done last spring before Musk bought Twitter and released in November found the platform took longer to review hateful content and removed less of it in 2022 compared with the previous year. Most other tech companies signed up to the voluntary code also scored worse.

Those signed up to the EU code have to fill out a checklist to measure their work on fighting disinformation, covering efforts to prevent fake news purveyors from benefiting from advertising revenue; the number of political ads labeled or rejected; examples of manipulative behavior such as fake accounts; and information on the impact of factchecking.

Twitter’s report was “short of data, with no information on commitments to empower the factchecking community,” the commission said.

Thierry Breton, the commissioner overseeing digital policy, said it’s “no surprise that the degree of quality” in the reports varies greatly, without mentioning Twitter.

The commission highlighted other tech companies’ actions for praise. Google’s report indicated that it prevented more than €13 million ($14 million) of advertising revenue from reaching disinformation actors, while TikTok’s report said it removed more than 800,000 fake accounts.

Meta said in its filing that it applied 28 million fact-checking labels on Facebook and 1.7 million on Instagram. Data indicated that a quarter of Facebook users and 38 percent of Instagram users don’t forward posts after seeing warnings that the content has been flagged as false by fact-checkers.

realme 10 Pro 5G: A new vision

sunlight with support for 6 Levels Refresh Rates that adapt according to your current activity. There’s also mention of a double-reinforced glass for added protection so I’m sure it could survive a few bumps and falls. No smash tests for this one though.

YES, you can buy yourself flowers, write your name in the sand, and love yourself better than anyone can, but would you say no if someone gave you a realme 10 Pro? realme has just released its newest flagship duo, the realme 10 Pro 5G and realme 10 Pro+ 5G in time for Valentine’s Day. Besides a few upgrades from its predecessors, the

two smartphones bring flagship-level displays to the midrange price point with its #DisplayNewVision tagline.

What’s there to love about these new Pros?

This week, we’ll take a look at the realme 10 Pro 5G, but instead of our usual review format, we will concentrate on the phone’s highlight features and assess their relevance in real-life use.

EXPERIENCE EVER?

10 Pros, we were tasked to take some creative shots to show how easily the realme 10 Pro 5G can blend in with everyday objects, because of its slim profile and even slimmer bezels. So of course, I went to shoot mine at my favorite place, the toy store, hiding it among the boxes of board games, action figures and stuff toys. You can check out the posts by searching for the #SpotTheRealPros hashtag.

The realme 10 Pro 5G has a 6.72” FHD+ LCD with a 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio and 392ppi that the brand refers to as “Boundless Display.”

What makes it “boundless” is its 93.76 percent screen-to-body ratio made possible by the ultra-thin 1mm side bezels, and 1.15mm top bezel. It does have a noticeably wider chin measuring 4.2mm but compared to other phones it still is one of the thinnest.

The 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate offers a fluid or seamless smartphone experience, making it an ideal device for those who like to multitask. It can max out at 600 nits of brightness and could go up to 680 nits when used under direct

If you love watching videos, whether its via streaming, YouTube or TikTok, the realme 10 Pro 5G provides an immersive viewing experience that’s complemented by loud stereo speakers. There’s UltraVolume mode that takes the volume all the way up to 200 percent but it sounds a bit distorted and tinny, so it’s better to just keep it at around 90 percent max. Displays usually take a backseat to megapixels and gigabytes when brands promote their smartphones features, but considering that the screen is the primary medium through which we interact with our phone, it needs to be clear, sharp, with accurate colors to enhance the user experience. A high-quality display can provide a more enjoyable and engaging visual experience,

be it watching videos, playing games or just reading some web articles and ebooks.

TRULY OUT OF THIS WORLD?

boxy design has become quite common, that hyperspace gold finish certainly is out of this world. The realme 10 series has a significantly different design from the previous generation with the curved features replaced by flat and sharp edges. This has become somewhat of a trend since last year with the flat edge on the sides and dual circular camera modules on the back.

The back finish, however, is undeniably stunning. realme calls it “Hyperspace Design”—an exclusive to the Hyperspace Gold color variant. It is said to be inspired by the scenic visuals of going through a hyperspace tunnel. The patterns and light effects on the back of the phone give an illusion or sense of depth to one’s eyes when tilted at an angle. The downside is that the device is a nightmare to photograph because of the reflections, and it’s such a fingerprint magnet. You’d definitely want to slap a plastic case on it. On the other hand, the Dark Matter and Nebula Blue are much tamer color options and have “nebula particles” all over giving it a sandblasted matte finish.

The realme 10 Pro also improves upon dimensions and weight compared to its predecessor. Despite having a bigger 6.72-inch display (vs. 6.6 of the 9Pro), the realme 10 Pro is a tad shorter, slightly narrower, and has a thinner 8.1mm body. It’s also lighter by a few grams, tipping the scale at 190 grams unlike many 6.7inch smartphones that weigh more than 200 grams.

A TRIED AND TRUE CAMERA SYSTEM

ON paper, the 108MP camera of the realme 10 Pro 5G is quite a leap from the 64MP shooter of the previous realme 9 Pro. But that megapixel bump does come at a cost—as the wide angle and macro lenses are both gone. OK, so nobody will miss the macro, but at this price point, a wide-angle lens is something that’s almost automatic. So, essentially, the realme 10 Pro only has one usable camera on its back as the second one is just a depth sensor. The good news is that 108MP Pro Light Camera does live up to what you’d expect from a realme smartphone.

The company mentioned a few technologies that should help the realme 10 Pro take better photos. Nonapixel Plus Technology enables it to take great images and videos even in low-light settings allowing pixel binning or the combining of 9 pixels into one for improved photography in darker situations. There’s also a new Super Group Portrait that has more intelligent face detection when taking photos on 108MP Mode

In our tests, the realme 10 Pro is a decent shooter that produces nice daylight photos with a high level of detail. Colors are more on the saturated side, so if you prefer this to natural hues then you’ll be happy with the results. Sharpness is also one of the camera’s strengths producing good contrast and adequate dynamic range. In low light, the AI automatically switches to night mode, though you can get better photos by manually choosing it.

You can shoot videos only up to 1080p 60fps, and it can get jittery when moving the phone or when you are walking while taking videos. There is an Ultra Steady option but it just lowers the frame rate and does very little to improve the quality.

The 16MP selfie camera does an OK job and you’ll be happy with the results (just don’t max out the beauty filters) as long as you get the light and angle right. A bit more detail and a sharpness would have made it better. In portrait mode, the bokeh effect is capable of good edge detection giving you that nice bokeh background.

FINAL WORD

THE realme 10 Pro suffers a bit from being the middle child of the series, but it does offer a fairly balanced set of features for those who are looking to upgrade from their 2-year-old phone. In keeping it real, the display and design are indeed the realme 10 Pro 5G’s standout features. But it also has a camera that can take great photos, and a snappy processor than can handle multitasking easily and a bit of light gaming. If realme’s new vision is to produce a good all-around device, it’s off to a good start. The realme 10 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB) is now available in both online and offline stores, priced at P16,999. ■

CONTINUED FROM A8

GLoan offers up to P125,000 instant cash without the need for additional documents.

GCash has also tapped several nongovernmental organizations to bridge the narratives to help solve real-world.

The e-wallet has teamed up with ABSCBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and Go Negosyo to help raise funds for their livelihood and entrepreneurship programs through #GCashStories.

Get a chance to win up to P10,000 worth of prizes when you share your own GCash story. Share how GCash helped you in your everyday lives, or how you helped someone using Gcash. Don’t forget to tag the GCash official TikTok account @gcashofficial and include the hashtags #GCashStories #Storytime. The post with the highest views and engagement will be picked as winners. ■

The World

Chinese developers struggle to avoid defaults despite government support

CHINA’S sweeping policy support for the property sector has been no quick fix for developers’ liquidity struggles, leaving some investors waiting until the last minute for cash.

Central China Real Estate Ltd. remitted funds this week for a dollar-bond interest payment that was originally due January 14, three people familiar with the matter said. The amount due was $9.75 million and there was a 30-day grace period to pay, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Central China’s investor relations department didn’t offer comment when reached by phone and email regarding the payment status.

Fellow developer Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Ltd. disclosed earlier this week it cured

two dollar-bond coupons before extra time to pay concluded and that it would do the same on a third note.

Builders using grace periods to push out debt payments are allowed under bond covenants. But property firms doing so even as Beijing undertakes a sweeping rescue campaign is a reminder of how severe the sector’s debt crisis has been while new-home sales continue to slump.

“We think the majority of private developers are still subject to tight liquidity given weak presales and difficulty in issu -

ing new bonds,” said Iris Chen, a credit desk analyst at Nomura International HK Ltd. “We will only turn more positive on this camp if they manage to issue new bonds offshore.”

China’s bevy of measures to ease the real estate sector’s unprecedented liquidity squeeze include lower mortgage rates on purchases of first homes and providing state guarantees to some builders’ new yuan notes. The moves stoked an unprecedented rally in the developer-dominated junk dollar-bond market, but the strength has lost steam this month.

Builders’ woes have resulted in record missed payments on dollar notes, and delinquencies are expected to remain elevated nearterm. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts predict the default rate for Chinese high-yield property firms will only ease to 28 percent this year from above 40 percent in 2022 on expectations that liquidity support may be “disproportionately directed towards

Biggest earners may not be the smartest workers–study

better-quality developers.”

For Central China, its parent sold a 29 percent equity stake in the midsized builder last summer to a government-owned entity in its home province of Henan. Stock and bond prices briefly soared after the deal was unveiled on hopes the move would provide state support to the firm. In recent months, the company also signed agreements with big state-controlled banks for billions of yuan in tentative credit lines.

Still, Central China waited until the end of a 30-day grace period in December to make a $7.8 million interest payment.

Some of the sector’s most high-profile defaulters, including China Evergrande Group, made bond payments during grace periods before eventually stopping remittances. Times China Holdings Ltd. joined that list in January after having previously cured multiple interest payments beyond initial due dates.  Bloomberg News

Thailand rules out recession risks after economy slumps

THAILAND’S economy unexpectedly contracted last quarter tracking a slump in exports, prompting officials to rule out the possibility of a recession this year amid a rebound in tourism.

Gross domestic product (GDP) declined 1.5 percent in the December quarter compared with the previous three months, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said Friday. That compared with a median estimate for 0.6 percent growth in a Bloomberg survey.

On a year-on-year basis, growth slowed to 1.4 percent in the same period, compared with the median 3.6 percent expansion seen in the survey. That dragged the Southeast Asian economy’s full-year expansion to 2.6 percent in 2022.

W hile the performance raised fears about the Thailand’s outlook, the council’s Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan said the economy is not expected to contract again in the first quarter of this year because of rising tourist arrivals and government stimulus measures.

The nation, which relies on tourism and trade to pump up private consumption, is forecast to host about 28 million foreign visitors after China reopened its border, helping the nation buck a global slowdown, according to NESDC. The agency forecast 2023 GDP expansion to be in a range of 2.7 percent-3.7 percent, down from 3 percent-4 percent prior estimate.

“GDP data miss poured cold water on the optimism about the economic outlook on the back of tourism recovery,” said Stephen Chiu, chief Asia FX & rates strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence in Hong Kong.

The baht extended decline against the dollar, falling as much as 0.7 percent. The benchmark stock index dropped as much as 0.6 percent.

“We still expect the currency to outperform on further tourism recovery,” Chiu said.

NESDC’s Danucha acknowledged that, for now, “even if other factors, especially tourism, are doing well, exports is the big drag.” Outbound shipments faltered, contracting in each of the months between October and December.

The nation welcomed 11.2 million foreign tourists in 2022, the most since the Covid outbreak, boosted by China’s reopening toward the close of the year.

A bout 28 percent of Thailand’s 40 million annual visitors before the pandemic were from China. Tourism typically accounts for at least 12 percent of the economy and a fifth of jobs while private consumption, which also benefits from travelers spending, makes up 50 percent of GDP. Along with exports that’s equal to more than half the output, they form the lifeblood of the Thai economy.

“It’s quite a surprise,” said Shreya Sodhani, an economist at Barclays Bank Plc. “While manufacturing and exports of good were expected to be weak, I think it is the weakness elsewhere that is surprising and the weak momentum will weigh on growth into 2023, despite the reopening of China.” Bloomberg News

IT pays to be smart, or so the saying goes. But the biggest earners may not be the workers who are the brainiest, according to one recent Swedish study.

The research, published in the European Sociological Review in January, found that higher general intelligence was correlated to higher wages—but only up to a threshold of about 600,000 Swedish krona ($57,300) a year. Beyond that point, the study found that ability plateaus as wages continue to rise. And earners in the top 1 percent score slightly worse than those in the income tier directly below them.

“We find no evidence that those with top jobs that pay extraordinary wages are more deserving than those who earn only half those wages,” wrote the authors of the study, which was led by Marc Keuschnigg, a senior associate professor for analytical sociology at Linköping University in Sweden.

“Extreme occupational success is more likely driven by family resources or luck than by ability,” the authors added.

The study analyzed the cognitive ability of 59,387 Swedish-born men at the age of 18 or 19 and their earnings during an 11-year window between the ages of 35 and 45. The research was based on a standardized intelligence test the men took as part of compulsory military service, which included

tests of verbal understanding, technical comprehension, spatial ability and logic.

Women and immigrants were not included in the study because military service was not mandatory for those groups between 1971-77 and 1980-99, when the initial data were recorded.

The research doesn’t account for non-cognitive abilities—such as motivation levels or superior social skills—that may help workers score high-paying jobs. The study’s authors also acknowledge other limitations to their work: For instance, the smartest people may not always opt for the highest-paying job over a more interesting or rewarding role.

(Academia, they note, is “neither the best-paid nor the most prestigious professional field.”)

Still, Keuschnigg sees the lack of a correlation between intelligence and salary at high levels as a warning sign about growing income inequality between the most wealthy and the rest of society.

Given that Sweden has a relatively narrow income gap, “we can speculate that we might see this even more in places like Singapore or the US,” he said.

“The decisions that top earners make are consequential for a lot of people,” he added. “So we as a society might want to have the right people in these top positions.” Bloomberg News

Putin’s war to lop estimated $190 billion off Russia’s economy in delayed reckoning

RUSSIA avoided an economic debacle in the aftermath of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, in what was an opening act of a slow-burning crisis that will play out in the years to come.

An economy Putin once wanted to make one of the world’s five biggest is on a path to lose $190 billion in gross domestic product by 2026 relative to its prewar trajectory, according to Bloomberg Economics, roughly the equivalent of the entire annual GDP of countries like Hungary or Kuwait.

But even as Russia logged its third straight quarter of contraction to end 2022, its downturn for the whole year was a fraction of the almost 10 percent collapse that was predicted a month after the invasion. The central bank has put last year’s drop at 2.5 percent and projects growth may resume already this year.

The decline probably intensified last quarter in annual terms and may be even worse to start this year, according to analysts polled by Bloomberg.

In what would be the sharpest contraction since the height of the global pandemic, data due on Friday will show GDP dropped an annual 4.6 percent in the fourth quarter, the Bloomberg poll showed.

“The effect of the sanctions is prolonged,” said Oleg Vyugin, a former top central bank and Finance Ministry official. “And the sanctions process hasn’t ended. More and more new ones are being introduced.”

The sanctions didn’t cover major Russian exports vital to world markets, such as oil and gas and farm products, though some restrictions on energy were added in the last few months.

Still, the resilience shown so far speaks to years of effort by technocrats close to Putin to steel the economy against disruption with policies that stowed away windfall energy revenue and tried to make Russia less dependent on some imports.

At stake now is Putin’s ability to sustain the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II by continuing to marshal the resources, but without antagonizing a population that’s increasingly worried about its financial wellbeing.

What Bloomberg Economics Says...

“Big countries with control of crucial resources, competent economic policy makers and powerful allies aren’t going to crumble in the face of even very severe sanctions. Russia is all four.”

—Alexander Isakov, Russia economist.

The job will only get harder this year as Putin’s government races to stave off a collapse in oil revenues and ramps up spending on social programs at a time when the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of men is hollowing out the labor market.

Analysis by Bloomberg Economics identified several clues to Russia’s economic survival after the imposition of unprecedented sanctions that included asset seizures targeting individuals close to Putin and saw about $300 billion in international reserves blocked.

The need of the US and its allies to preserve access to energy led them to strike a compromise in balancing punitive moves with their own self-interest. Russia actually pumped more oil, and high commodity prices meant it earned enough to prop up its income by seizing on demand from the likes of China and India.

Countries accounting for more than 30 percent of global GDP maintained trade ties and refrained from condemning the invasion, enabling Russia to rebuild supply chains and fight off economic isolation.

For Vyugin, a veteran Russian banker and economist, the sanctions were “less a knockout blow than a light jab.” Bloomberg News

Protests hit multiple Iran cities for first time in weeks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Protesters in Iran marched through the streets of multiple cities overnight in the most widespread demonstration in weeks amid the months-long unrest that’s gripped the Islamic Republic, online videos purported to show Friday.

The demonstrations, marking 40 days since Iran executed two men on charges related to the protests, show the continuing anger in the country.

The protests, which began over the September 16 death of 22-yearold Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country’s morality police, have since morphed into one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Videos showed demonstrations in Iran’s capital, Tehran, as well as in the cities of Arak, Isfahan, Izeh in Khuzestan province and Karaj, the group Human Rights Activists in Iran said. The Associated Press could not immediately verify the videos, many of which had been blurred or showed grainy nighttime scenes.

In Iran’s western Kurdish regions, online videos shared by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights showed burning roadblocks in Sanandaj, which has seen repeated demonstrations since Amini’s death.

Hengaw shared one video that included digitally altered voices shouting: “Death to the Dictator!” That call has been repeatedly heard in the demonstrations, targeting Iran’s 83-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other videos purportedly shot in Tehran had similar chants, as well as scenes of heavily protected riot police in the street.

Iranian state media did not immediately acknowledge the demonstrations.

The World Biden intends to speak with Xi to defuse tensions over balloon

Since they began, at least 529 people have been killed in demonstrations, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran. Over 19,700 others have been detained by authorities amid a violent crackdown trying to suppress the dissent. Iran for months has not offered any overall casualty figures, though the government seemed to acknowledge making “tens of thousands” arrests earlier this month.

The demonstrations had appeared to slow in recent weeks, in part due to the executions and crackdown, though protest cries could still be heard at night in some cities.

Forty-day commemorations for the dead are common in Iran and the wider Middle East. But they also can turn into cyclical confrontations between an increasingly disillusioned public and security forces that turn to greater violence to suppress them, as they had in the chaos leading up to Iran’s 1979 revolution.

Iran’s hard-line government has alleged without offering evidence that the demonstrations are a foreign plot, rather than homegrown anger.

The country’s rial currency has collapsed to new lows against the US dollar. Iran continues to enrich uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers and has enough of a stockpile to build “several” atomic bombs if it chooses. Meanwhile, Tehran arms Russia with the bomb-carrying drones Moscow has been using in the war in Ukraine. AP

China faces grilling in review of key rights by UN committee

GENEVA—China came in for a grilling Wednesday over its human rights record as a two-day hearing opened at the United Nations human rights office, with rights advocates raising issues like relocations from Tibet, Covid-19, reprisals against human rights defenders and a security law that crushed dissidents in Hong Kong.

With advocates of China’s Uyghur minority protesting loudly outside, Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu and a delegation of about 40 envoys from China, Hong Kong and Macau faced questions from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which reviews respect of those rights in nearly all UN member states every few years.

The six-hour hearings mark the first time a Chinese delegation has traveled to answer to a UN body in Geneva since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, UN officials said.

Ambassador Chen rattled off an array of accomplishments, including poverty alleviation, education, longer life spans in China as well as support for other countries in his opening remarks.

“No one can claim a perfect record in human rights protection, as there is always room for improvement. China still faces multiple problems and challenges in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights,” including “glaringly unbalanced” development and “stumbling blocks” in some areas of reform, Chen said. He cited problems in areas like education, jobs, medical care, housing and environmental protection.

The hearing was built around questions from submissions from nearly 20 nongovernmental groups, and conducted by independent experts working with the UN who

PRESIDENT Joe Biden sought to ease concerns about an alleged Chinese spy balloon and shootdowns of three other objects over the US in recent weeks, saying he intends to speak with President Xi Jinping to defuse tensions fanned by the uproar.

Biden said Thursday that intelligence agencies have no indication the three other downed objects were foreign surveillance aircraft but also promised new guidelines designed to secure US airspace. He also vowed to “responsibly manage” competition with China “so that it doesn’t veer into conflict.”

“We’re not looking for a new Cold War, but I make no apologies, and we will compete,” Biden said in remarks at the White House, his first extended effort to publicly address the episode.

Floating the prospect of a Biden-Xi call underscored the seriousness of the White House efforts to calm the relationship with Beijing. While Biden didn’t say when he planned to speak to Xi, they have done so before at times of heightened tension, including a call that lasted more than two hours when they confronted each other over Taiwan last July. They also met in Bali in November.

Bipartisan pressure

BIDEN has faced bipartisan pressure in Congress to provide Americans with more information about the alleged Chinese spy balloon that was downed by a US fighter jet on February 4 after crossing the US mainland, as well as three

make up the committee, which aims to help countries uphold their commitments under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Michael Windfuhr, deputy director of the German Institute for Human Rights and the committee’s country rapporteur on China, laid out a number of questions on issues as diverse as discrimination, access to lawyers, and assurances that Chinese multinational firms wouldn’t undermine human rights abroad.

“Dealing with China in six hours devoted to a state review is a challenge for the committee,” he said.

“The committee will therefore prioritize the most pressing human rights issues under the covenant.”

He asked how many organizations have been classified as having endangered national security under the hotly contested National Security Law in Hong Kong, and asked how China would improve transparency in the sharing of data about Covid-19 with the international community.

But Hong Kong officials, speaking in English, insisted that the security law has specific provisions for respecting human rights, particularly in the context of some trade union activities, which they considered to have violated the law and had nothing to do with labor rights.

“The Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region] government is dedicated to defend and protect the lawful rights and freedom of association in Hong Kong,” said Hoi-shan Cheung, assistant commissioner in Hong Kong’s Labor Department.

Chinese delegates were expected to provide at least some answers as the hearing on China—one of six countries before the panel this month—concluded Thursday. AP

other unidentified objects that were shot out of the skies over Alaska, Canada and Michigan in the following days.

The President said those objects weren’t related to the balloon incident and were likely tied to commercial or research ventures. But he added that the administration hasn’t determined definitively what they are because the debris hasn’t yet been recovered. He said he acted “out of an abundance of caution” in downing the other mystery objects.

“We don’t have any evidence that there has been a sudden increase in number of objects in the sky,” Biden said. Rather, he said the US military and civil aviation authorities have spotted more objects after tuning radar systems to be more sensitive following the Chinese balloon’s cross-country trip.   Biden sought to defend his handling of the balloon incident in response to Republicans who said he was too slow to act as well as denunciations from the Chinese government. He said the downing of the balloon had sent “a clear message” that violations of US sovereignty are “unacceptable.”

“I hope we are going to get to the bottom of this, but I make no

apologies for taking down that balloon,” Biden said.

New parameters Biden directed the government to create are intended to establish a better inventory of unmanned airborne objects and implement measures to better detect man-made objects in US airspace. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also work with other nations to establish global norms on launching those devices and securing high-altitude spaces.

Biden’s address came before he leaves the country for a February 20 trip to Poland around the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The White House has faced calls from Republicans and Democrats in Congress to provide more information to lawmakers and the public. The administration has provided closed-door briefings to members on Capitol Hill, but lawmakers have said the information should be public and that officials should provide more of it. Much of what Biden said on Thursday repeated details shared by other US officials in recent days.

Defusing tensions

THE US has sought to dial back concern about the Chinese balloon, saying that it added only limited benefits to satellite surveillance and that sensitive US military facilities took steps to limit electronic spying as it passed over. China has maintained that it was a weather balloon that went astray.

In a sign that both sides are eager to turn the page, Blinken is said to be weighing a meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference beginning Friday.

Still, tensions between the world’s two largest economies remain high. On Thursday, in a largely symbolic gesture, Beijing imposed fines and sanctions against two US defense companies,

Lockheed Martin Corp. and a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies Corp., due to their participation in arms sales to Taiwan, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

Charlie Moore, a retired lieutenant general who was a former vice director of operations at Norad, the North American Air Defense Command, and who is now at Vanderbilt University, said the US should make clear that there will be consequences if more balloons enter US territory.

“The Chinese must understand there is a diplomatic and economic price to pay for the overt violation of international law,” he said. “We should not conduct the diplomatic meeting with Secretary Blinken until this is resolved.”

Late Thursday, the Financial Times reported that Michael Chase, the US’s deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, will go to Taiwan in the coming days. That appeared to be a signal that while the US wants to stabilize ties with China, it won’t back down from other actions, including its nurturing of relations with Taiwan, that have angered Beijing.

The White House said the spy balloon episode revealed a wideranging espionage program the Chinese government used to target 40 countries worldwide. US officials have briefed other nations that it says were overflown by such spy balloons in the past.

The US is now working to recover the payload of the Chinese craft as well as the other objects it downed. Significant amounts of equipment have been recovered from the Chinese airship in waters off of South Carolina, but weather conditions have made the ongoing work difficult—and have prevented personnel from collecting debris from the three other objects that fell in remote locations. Bloomberg News

S. Korea, US to hold simulated drill on North use of nukes

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korean and United States militaries will hold a tabletop exercise at the Pentagon next week to hone their joint response to a potential use of nuclear weapons by North Korea, Seoul officials said Friday.

The one-day computer simulation set for Wednesday comes as the two countries push to strengthen their 70-year alliance in the face of North Korea’s increasingly aggressive nuclear doctrine.

The exercise is meant to focus on measures against North Korean nuclear threats and discuss how to boost a US extended deterrence— America’s ability to use its full capabilities, including nuclear, to deter attacks on its allies, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It said the exercise would set up possible scenarios where North Korea uses nuclear weapons, explore how to cope with them militarily and formulate crisis management plans.

Worries about North Korea’s nuclear program deepened in South Korea after the North conducted a record number of missile tests in 2022 and adopted a law that authorizes the preemptive use of nuclear weapons.

Many of the missiles tested were nuclear-capable weapons that place South Korea within striking distance.

In response to the intensifying North Ko -

rean threats, South Korea and US militaries have expanded their joint drills and stepped up pressure on the North to abandon its nuclear program. In January, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the US would also increase its deployment of advanced weapons such as fighter jets and bombers to the Korean Peninsula.

During their annual meeting in November, Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup also agreed to conduct tabletop exercises annually and further strengthen the alliance’s information sharing, joint planning and execution. Austin reiterated a warning that any nuclear attack against the US or its allies would result in the end of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s regime.

North Korea has previously slammed military drills between its rivals as an invasion rehearsal and responded with its own weapons tests, and could make an angry response to next week’s South Korea-US tabletop exercise.

Some experts say North Korea has used some of the South Korea-

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Rich Anvaya Cove International ushers in 2023 ladies tour

THE Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) unveils its new season in compelling fashion, drawing a power-packed international cast, led by aces from Taiwan and Thailand, for the Anvaya Cove Ladies International beginning February 22 at the posh Anvaya Cove Golf Club in Morong, Bataan.

T he organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. is all geared up for the upcoming $100,000 championship spread over 54 holes that will likewise set in motion the new LPGT season following a successful 2022 edition that culminated in a first-ever Match Play Championship at Villamor.

The Anvaya Cove International also serves as the second leg of this year’s Ladies Professional Golfers Association of Taiwan Tour (TLPGA), which has partnered with the LPGT in pre-pandemic times, sanctioning a couple of LPGT events in Taiwan and vice versa.

Th at guarantees a talent-laden field for next week’s battle at the wind-raked Anvaya Cove course with the TLPGA top players, headed by former LPGT Midlands leg champion Ching Huang, making up the core of the 70-player cast.

Spicing up the title chase in the event sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc. are some of the top guns from the Thailand LPGA Tour, including former LPGT winners Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng, Onkanok Soisuwan and Wannasiri Sirisampant, along with five Japanese, Hong Kong’s top player Isabella Leung and Manila-based Korean Kim Seo Yun, who finished second to top amateur Rianne Malixi at LPGT Riviera last year.

The other Thais tipped to contend for the championship are Chonlada Chayanun, Ornnicha Konsunthea, Punpaka Phuntumabamrung, Kultida Pramphun, Saraporn Chamchoi, Mookharin Ladgratok and Parinda Phokan.

Heading the local challenge are reigning LPGT Order of Merit winner Chihiro Ikeda, last year’s three-leg titlist Chanelle Avaricio and Pradera Verde leg and Match Play champion Harmie Constantino.

Cool Smashers eye victory No. 4 vs Cargo Movers

CREAMLINE sets out for a fourth straight victory when the Cool Smashers collide with the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers Saturday as Cignal and Petro Gazz tangle in a duel of resurgent teams in the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The Cool Smashers have never dropped a set in their imposing start against the Angels, HD Spikers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans and will enter their 6:30 p.m. match with all the momentum and confidence against a team reeling from a straight-set loss.

The 4 p.m. match between Petro Gazz and Cignal also packs a lot of promise with the well-rested Angels eager to score a follow-up to their 3-0 romp of the Flying Titans last February 9 and the HD Spikers back on track with a sweep of the Chargers after losing their first two games to the Crossovers and the Cool Smashers.

The momentum shouldn’t give the defending champions a false sense of security and instead encourage them to get better and stronger as they gear up for a showdown with equally unbeaten Chery Tiggo Crossovers next weekend.

They were just as fierce as they were against the Angels and the HD Spikers when they cut the tall Flying Titans down to size, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14, last Tuesday, that saw Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao and Ced Domingo match 15-point outputs to lead their lopsided triumph.

The troika is again expected to unleash their offensive might with Tots Carlos ready to explode after settling for a six-point showing the last time out following an 11- and 13-point production in the first two games.

B ut the Cargo Movers are also out to redeem themselves from a rather lackluster showing against the Crossovers last Thursday where no player able to score in double figures. Myla Pablo, who debuted for the team with 21 points against PLDT, slowed down with nine-point outputs in the next two.

A14 | SAturdAy, FebruAry 18, 2023

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

Tiger opens with 69 at Riviera, trails Homa, Mitchell by 5 shots

LOS ANGELES—The scene was similar to the last time Tiger Woods played against the world’s best. Fans packed onto every balcony on every level of the Riviera clubhouse Thursday, all of them straining for a rare sight of golf’s biggest star.

Woods had them cheering even louder at the end.

H e put on a show in his first competition in seven months, closing with three straight birdies and one big smile for a two-under 69 in the Genesis Invitational, leaving him five shots behind Max Homa and Keith Mitchell.

Woods went bunker-to-fairwayto-bunker on the 10th hole and had to make an eight-footer to save bogey. He was wild off the tee for another bogey on the 12th, leaving him over par on a mild, breezy afternoon.

A nd then he looked like the Wo o ds of old at the end—a tee shot to five feet on the par-three 16th, another birdie from 25 feet on the par-five 17th and then a big drive—a few yards longer than Rory McIlroy—on the 18th that set up 9-iron to 7 feet.

I was able to fight back and get it going,” Woods said. “It was a nice finish.”

HYUN HO RHO made a run of brave pars in the last seven holes to salvage a third straight 72 then watched Toru Nakajima flounder at the finish to snatch medal honors in the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Qualifying School at Splendido Taal on Friday.

The 18-year-old Korean slugged it out with Nakajima in a shootout in another windy day here but could only force a tie with a birdie on No. 10 before yielding the lead again with a bogey on the next. But he came through with a couple of clutch par-saves and preserved a bogey-free run to the finish to wrest control as Nakajima bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17.

He matched the Japanese closing par to snare the top honors in the 72hole Q-School organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. on a 289 total that included an opening 73.

Nakajima, who topped the PGT eliminations in 2015 at Eagle Ridge and in 2016 at Royal Northwoods, wound up with his worst card in four days, a 74, and settled for second at 290 while fellow Japanese Gen Nagai, just two strokes off the lead after 54 holes, bowed out with a frontside 39 and finished third at 293.

I’m really happy that my game was really consistent. I didn’t re-

SOUTH KOREAN SNATCHES WIN

ally made much mistakes and had good saves. So I think my game was pretty steady which helped me win this tournament,” said Hyun, who finished second to Kristoffer Arevalo in the Philippine Amateur Stroke Play Championship in April 2022 weeks after being disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard in the Philippine Junior Amateur.

Th is time, he made sure to put everything in order.

I’ve won a long, long time ago and my last good result was last year at Southwoods, so I’m so happy to win this Q-School,” said Hyun, who trains at Mount Malarayat.

Former national team member Gab Manotoc, meanwhile, rebounded from a woeful third round 80 and an early frontside 38 with an eagle on the par-5 No. 10 and two birdies in

the last four holes against a bogey as he rallied with a 71 and finished fifth behind Ferdie Aunzo, who pooled a 294 also after a 71, at 296. Th ree other local amateurs gained cards for this year’s PGT, including Russell Bautista, who placed 11th with a 303 despite a closing 81; Arevalo, who bucked a 77 and tied for 16th at 307 with Jonas Magcalayo (78) and Leandro Bagtas (80) and pro Allan Remata (76).

Jelbert Gamolo limped with an 81 while Jeffrey Pito-on ended up with an 83 and finished tied with Kim Seong Guk, who also skied to an 82, at 34th with 316s. But the Korean had thought his final round output won’t be enough to net him one of the berths in the Top 35 and left early, giving the last two spots to the Filipino bets.

Magsayo vows to train well for Figueroa fight

By Josef Ramos

FORMER World Boxing Council

(WBC) featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo vowed not to take lightly American Brandon Figueroa in their 12-round bout for the vacant WBC interim belt on March 4 at the Toyota Center in Ontario, California.

Magsayo, 27, said he’s thankful for the opportunity to regain his world title after losing in his first title defense to Mexican Rey Vargas last July 9 via split decision in San Antonio, Texas.

I know I won that fight, you can see Rey Vargas just fighting

to survive, but there’s nothing we can do but push myself hard against Figueroa,” Magsayo told BusinessMirror on Friday.

We can’t turn back time anymore. So we have to work harder and smarter this time,” he added. “I’m very thankful to Mr. Sean Gibbons and the PBC [Premier Boxing Champions] for giving me another opportunity.”

He also confirmed that he already separated with renowned trainer Freddie Roach—a team decision, he said—and named Roach’s assistant Marvin Somodio as his new trainer and coach for the Figueroa fight.

It’s just purely a team decision and Freddie knows it. I’m no longer training at the Wild Card Gym, but in Brickhouse Gym with Marvin,” said Magsayo, who sports a 24-1 win-loss record with 16 knockouts.

M agsayo’s fight organized by the PBC and Showtime.

M agsayo said Figueroa, 26, is “absolutely the kind of fighter you cannot take for granted.”

“ I don’t think of anyone right now but only him and my weight,” said Magsayo, who weighs in at 126 lbs. “He is just my focus, my priority.”

Figueroa is 23-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockouts.

Club Filipino likely to decide Seniors champion

MANILA Southwoods will play in the Championship division of the Philippine Airlines Interclub Senior tournament for the first time next week when the 74th edition gets going in Cebu.

D espite Southwoods winning a title in a similar team tournament last year, the Carmona-based squad is not looking at itself as a solid title contender. We are balanced, but not deep,”

non-playing captain Freddie Mendoza said.

P ressed to assess his squad’s chances against traditional powers Canlubang and Luisita, he said:

CALIFORNIA Precision Sports (CPS) and Parañaque Green

Berets won their openingday in girls’ pool play matches in almost convincing fashions Friday in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum.

C PS of coach Dr. Obet Estrella Vital relied on their experience playing as a regular team and with precision attacks beat Marikina Titans Volleyball Club, 25-11, 25-11, in a Pool D match.

P arañaque Green Berets, on the other hand, beat New Gen. Sta. Cruz Laguna, 25-11, 25-18, in Pool A, while Grace Christian College Foundation of Taguig City

“Our first four is solid, but our last four is iffy at best.”

Southwoods won the Founders Division the last time the Interclub was played before the pandemic and with the club welcoming Jun Jun Plane into the ranks after a storied Regular Men’s career, expectations are naturally high—especially after winning the Fil-Am in Baguio City last December.

National flag carrier Philippine

downed Parañaque Thunderbolts Volleyball Club (PVC), 25-20, 2518, in Pool B action.

The players performed well to my expectations although half of them are new,” said Vital, whose team is playing out of Antipolo City. “I’m really happy and we’re hoping we continue winning.”

C PS goes for win No. 2 against Santa Rosa City at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in the 36-team—20 girls and 16 boys—championships that will be played for four consecutive Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Matches with the medal plays for both genders set on March 12.

A ll are best-of-three matches, according to PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

SO where’s the gallery at Riviera?

Of course, the fans are tracking Tiger Woods as always. AP

H is legs held up fine, though still sore. The final task was making it up those 52 steps toward the clubhouse to sign his card. The next step is a quick turnaround. Woods finished about 5 p.m. local time, and faced a 7:24 a.m. start to the second round.

Homa played in the morning and also finished with three straight birdies for a 64. Mitchell played in the afternoon and birdied the last two holes to join him.

Jon Rahm opened with a 65 as he bids to return to No. 1 in the world. Matt Kuchar opened with a 30 on the front nine and settled for a 66, along with two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and Harris English.

Hardly anyone was watching them. That was to be expected with Woods playing. He has commanded all the attention for the last 25 years, and now Tiger sightings are rare because of legs that have been battered by knee surgeries (left) and a car crash (right). There also was that matter of rust, which went beyond his golf. He hasn’t heard this kind of noise since last summer at St. Andrews.

I haven’t played in a tournament in long time,” Woods said. “I didn’t look up as much. I was trying to calm myself down all day, figure out what the hell I’m doing out here.... I probably should have appreciated the fans more than I did, but there was so much going on in my head.”

The group certainly helped. For the third time in his last four appearances at Riviera, Woods played alongside Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, two of his closest friends in golf. They all birdied the 18th, McIlroy for a 67, Thomas for a 68. It was a treat for the thousands tha t followed them along.

The space behind the first tee at Riviera was so crammed that Seamus Power had to squeeze his way through fans to get to the putting green. Fans began chanting Woods’ name when he arrived. The applause when he was announced wasn’t quite as loud, mainly because so many people were holding phones high above their heads to get a picture. AP

only two rounds.

Airlines is the organizer of this prestigious international sporting event which brings players from various countries in PAL’s global network.

“ That had a very different format,” said Mendoza, referring to the Fil-Am’s five-to-play, four-to-count format for four days. The Interclub will have eight players per team, with only four players seeing action and the top three scores counting.

Players are also limited to playing

Two rounds each at Alta Vista and Club Filipino will be played, and Southwoods stalwart Thirdy Escaño believes that the difference will lie at Club Filipino because of its unpredictable bounces and blind holes.

If you’re used to playing perfectly-conditioned courses, this will be a very different feel for a lot of players,” Escaño said. “That’s where teams like Luisita and Canlubang have the edge.”

CPS Antipolo, Parañaque triumph

F2 Logistics’s Myla Pablo and Creamline’s Ced Domingo and their teams are in for a tough showdown.