BusinessMirror January 07, 2023

A broader look at today’s business

By Rex Anthony Naval

HILE the bulk of the ongoing modernization projects has gone deservedly to the Navy and Air Force due to their external defense commitments, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Philippine Army (PA), has been quietly building up its artillery and armor units as it gradually shifts from its internal security role to its territorial protection mandate.

As military professionals have learned through past decades, properly led, supplied and motivated artillery and armored forces have proven to be very decisive on the battlefield, as proven by campaigns in World War II in North Africa and Europe.

In the Philippine setting, the decision of the PA was to create more brigade combat teams, or BCTs, to fight and neutralize various threats.

The First BCT, or 1BCT, which was activated on December 9, 2018, and based in Sulu, is the first of such units that is expected to be able to move fast and decisively. It is considered the PA’s primary combined arms and rapid deployment unit.

BCTs are planned to be modern combined arms teams that would consist of infantry, mechanized, artillery, and aviation and special operations units that would allow for the utilization of land power maneuver concept and of its

capabilities to defeat current and emerging security threats.

Highlighting the importance of the BCT concept is the fact that “Salaknib” exercises with the US Army Pacific Forces (USARPAC) are geared at boosting the capabilities of the 1BCT.

Salaknib, which means shield in Ilocano, is an annual combined exercise geared at strengthening the interoperability of Filipino and American armies in a spectrum of military operations.

About 2,200 Filipino and US Army troops participated in last year’s edition of Salaknib, which took place in March. These troops focused on the capability development of the 1BCT, the PA’s primary combined arms and rapid deployment unit.

In its 2023 iteration, more than 3,000 Filipino and American troops will be participating. These exercises will take place in Central and Northern Luzon and in Mindanao.

Artillery, the king of battle

WHILE initiatives to train and create more BCTs are now under way, the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) activated last June 22 the 10th Field Artillery Battalion, which is equipped with 12 brandnew Autonomous Truck-Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) 155-mm/52-caliber self-propelled artillery pieces.

These howitzers were acquired from Israeli defense company Elbit Systems with the PA receiving the weapons in December 2021. PA spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad earlier said the ATMOS 155-mm howitzer system is a “shoot-andscoot” weapon that can be rapidly deployed on rugged terrain.

“The weapon incorporates an ‘inertial navigation system’ (INS)based gun-laying method and an automatic loader,” he added. The ATMOS 155-mm has a maximum range of 40 kilometers depending on the type of ammunition.

These howitzers are worth

P2.4 billion and were acquired under Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Program. The ATMOS 155-mm will augment the existing towed 155-mm howitzers still being operated by the AAR.

Eight units of the ATMOS 155-mm were deployed to conflict areas in Mindanao in September of last year.

Army gets 15 armored mortar carriers

IN line with this development, the Armor Division got a much needed boost in its offensive capabilities with the delivery of 15 M125A2 armored mortar carriers (AMCs), which are equipped with 120-mm mounted mortar systems (MMS).

Trinidad said these AMCs were delivered on December 29, 2021, and were also sourced from the Israeli firm Elbit Systems. It was successfully deployed in 2022 after passing technical inspection and acceptance committee inspection.

“The new AMCs are part of the PA’s modernization project that will capacitate the country’s land force’s credible defense posture from various threats, local and international,” he said.

The Cardom 120-mm recoil mortar system mounted on the M125A2 AMC has an autonomous, computerized system with a range of 7,000 meters and a maximum fire rate of 16 rounds per minute operated by four crewmen.

The US Army, the Israeli Defense Force and Nato countries use the AMCs with MMS. These new armor assets will beef up the PA’s

capability to deal with constantly evolving threats.

“With the realization of upcoming big-ticket modernization projects, the Philippine Army is on track to becoming a formidable and adaptive force capable of responding to a multitude of conventional and unconventional threats,” Trinidad said.

The AMCs are expected to provide close and immediate indirect fire support for maneuver units while quickly deploying in tactical situations.

Armor Division gets 1st Sabrah light tank MEANWHILE, the PA’s Armor Division in December got its first Sabrah light tank out of the 20 or -

The AMCs are under Horizon 2 of the Revised AFP Modernization Program and acquired under the Army’s mounted mortar acquisition project.

A SABRAH Light Tank based on the ASCOD platform mounted with 105-mm cannon as the main armament and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun was one of the Armor Pambato Division’s newest assets that paraded over the 87th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on December 19, 2022, at the General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

FACEBOOK.COM/ARMORPAMBATODIVISIONPA

Between battles, Ukraine’s soldiers have a place to recover

By Vasilisa Stepanenko The Associated Press

But this is not a spa. Uniformed Ukrainian soldiers are taking a break at this rehabilitation center in the Kharkiv region to restore their bodies and minds before going back to the front line.

The relentless 10-month war has prompted a local commander to transform a Soviet-era sanatorium into a recovery center for servicemen to treat both mental and physical ailments.

This rehabilitation is helping soldiers, at least for a week, to put themselves together,” said Oleksander Vasylkovskyi, a lieutenant colonel in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Vasylkovskyi remembers how soldiers suffered silently after returning home from fighting Russia in Ukraine’s Donbas in 2014.

Suicide rates among veterans increased in the following years, with many untreated cases of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He hopes a center like this can raise awareness of the need for mental health care and prevent suicides in the future.

Available treatments

HERE , soldiers are offered a variety of treatments: aquatic therapy in a hot pool to heal muscle aches;

red light therapy to improve heart and blood circulation, a salt room for better breathing; and for those having nightmares, electrosleep therapy—a Soviet-era low-frequency electrotherapy that is said to relax the nervous system and induce sleep.

Psychologists are also available, not just for the soldiers but also for their families dealing with the traumas of war.

The servicemen also undergo medical checks, explained Vasylkovskyi. “It’s the most important thing because a person develops several illnesses from the stress of fighting.”

In addition to the psychological scars of war, soldiers also come here to treat meningitis, contusions, amputations, lung and nerve inflammations, sleeping disorders, skin diseases, and cardiovascular illnesses, among others.

“ If someone has trauma and cannot walk, my department will put them back on their feet,” said Artem, a physical therapist working at the center who cannot reveal his last name for security reasons.

More than 2,000 soldiers have been treated here since the center opened in June. It receives sup -

port from international partners in Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, the US and Spain. The cost of one day of rehabilitation for one soldier is around €20, according to Vasylkovskyi. But more funding is still needed, he said, “because [the

war] is not over.”

Viktor, whose last name cannot be published for security reasons, worked as a miner before joining the army. He took part in the military operation that pushed Russian occupying forces out of the Kharkiv region.

For months, he slept in muddy, cold trenches. “We worked in conditions that were bad for our health. It’s bad, it’s damp, it’s wet,” Viktor explained as he sat in a room where the walls and floors are covered in thick salt to clear his damaged lungs. “We have back pain, leg pain, we carry heavy equipment,” he added.

tion center he was feeling reenergized. “I’m already determined to go further, continue my work, destroy the enemy, and bring us each day closer to victory,” Viktor said.

Family time BUT perhaps the most appealing aspect of this rehabilitation center isn’t the therapy but the ability to bring one’s family along for a couple of days.

relieved they could join him for a few days at the rehabilitation center and relax together.

Without official vacations, this is the only way that many soldiers can get proper rest.

“ I can see that men are returning to the unit after a week, rested and gaining more strength. And the thoughts that they had before go away,” Maksym said.

‘Too many’ SOME of those haunting thoughts are the memories of friends who died on the battlefield.

Four days into the rehabilita-

Maksym, who, like Viktor, cannot reveal his last name for security reasons, hadn’t seen his wife and son in five months. One of the hardest parts of this war, he said, is when “you can’t connect and speak to your loved ones.” He was

Army’s crucial shift to armor, artillery

A sked how many comrades he had lost, Maksym lowered his eyes and answered bluntly: “Too many.” dered from Elbit Systems.

The platform was displayed during the 87th founding anniversary of the AFP, which also took place last month.

“One Sabrah light tank based on the ASCOD platform mounted with 105-mm cannon as the main armament and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun was one of the Armor ‘Pambato’ Division’s newest assets that paraded over the 87th founding anniversary of the AFP on December 19, 2022, at the General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City,” the Armor Division said in a Facebook post.

The tank is now undergoing

rigorous testing before being accepted for service. The Armor Division is expected to receive another 19 Sabrah light tanks and 10 Pandur II wheeled armored vehicles from Steyr-Daimler-Puch between 2023 and 2024.

These tanks will man the newly activated 1st Tank Battalion of the Armor Division. The PA’s light tank acquisition project is under Horizon 2 of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

The contract is worth around P9.4 billion and was acquired via government-to-government mode.

Earlier, Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the service’s ongoing modernization efforts are allowing its units to help

the AFP in fulfilling its mandate of protecting the nation and the people, including in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

“Moreover, the command installed 234 very small aperture terminals in remote patrol bases to provide connectivity to troops and outlying communities. To deal with emerging threats, the command activated units such as the 10th Field Artillery Battalion (SP155), cyber battalion, five installation management battalions and three infantry battalions. It also reactivated the 1st Tank Battalion which will serve as the mother unit of existing and upcoming tank assets of the PA,” he added.

KHARKIV, Ukraine—Sitting on comfy armchairs in a low-lit room smelling of lavender and pine trees, the men take deep breaths as they close their eyes and listen to meditation music.

UKRAINIAN soldiers listen to meditation music during an aromatherapy session at a rehabilitation center in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Friday, December 30, 2022. The relentless 10-month war has prompted a local commander to transform an old Soviet-era sanatorium into a recovery center for servicemen to treat both mental and physical ailments.

AP/VASILISA STEPANENKO

UKRAINIAN soldiers take part in an aquatic therapy session in a hot pool at a rehabilitation center in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Friday, December 30, 2022. AP/VASILISA STEPANENKO

THE country’s manufacturing output posted a seven-month high in November, according to the latest Production Index and Net Sales Index data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The data showed the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) recorded a year-on-year increase of 5.9 percent in November 2022.

This was the highest rate since the 345.68 percent growth recorded in March 2022. The VoPI posted a growth of 5.3 percent in October 2022 and 28.6 percent in November 2021.

“Out of the 22 industry divisions, 15 reported positive annual growth rates, which was led by manufacture of machinery and equipment except electrical with 68.5 percent annual growth rate,” the PSA said.

Apart from the manufacture of machinery and equipment, except electrical, other gainers in November were the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, which grew 46.2 percent and the manufacture of chemical and chemical products at 29.4 percent.

However, data showed seven industry divisions posted annual decreases with manufacture of electrical equipment exhibiting the fastest contraction of 54.5 percent.

O ther losers in VoPI were the manufacture of basic metals, which contracted 25.1 percent; the manufacture of furniture, 19.2 percent;

and printing and reproduction of recorded media, 14.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in November 2022 was reported at 72.5 percent, from 72.4 percent in the previous month.

Almost all the industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent, except for manufacture of paper and paper products at 56.8 percent.

The top three industry divisions in terms of reported capacity utilization rate were manufacture of computer, electronic, and optical products (80.6 percent), manufacture of machinery and equipment, except electrical (80 percent), and manufacture of furniture (79 percent).

“The proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity [90 percent to 100 percent] was 18.7 percent of the total number of responding establishments. Meanwhile, 44.6 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, while 36.7 percent operated below 70 percent capacity,” PSA said.

The Production Index and Net Sales Index was formerly the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) report of the PSA.

The report monitors the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector. Cai U. Ordinario

Holiday jobs boost PHL employment by 49.71M, highest in 17 years–PSA

By Cai U. Ordinario

PREPARATIONS for the holidays boosted the country’s employment numbers and brought down unemployment to its lowest level in nearly two decades, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the results of the Labor Force Survey (LFS), the country’s employment rate reached 95.8 percent in November 2022, reaching 49.71 million employed Filipinos. The unemployment rate slowed to 4.2 percent with 2.18 million unemployed in November 2022.

The employment and unemployment rates were the highest in 17 years or since April 2005 when the government adopted the International Labor Organization’s (ILO’s) employment definitions.

Yung economic activities related to the holidays, that’s expected during the last quarter [and] employment in family-owned establishments tumaas so ito yung nag -hire sila ng workers or additional family members are being asked to help. So these are usual during the holidays,” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a briefing on Friday.

Based on PSA data, new entrants to the labor force increased year on year by 1.24 million in November 2022 and 54,000 compared to October 2022.

Mapa explained that the increase in

new entrants and employment as well as the decline in unemployment was driven by Christmas-related activities.

These activities included pre-Christmas bazaars, midnight sales or night markets and the extension of mall hours, among others that required extra hands.

However, given the seasonality of these developments, Mapa said, this trend may continue only until December but slow start in the beginning of 2023. Some firms, Mapa said, may offer more permanent positions to workers but not all of them will be absorbed.

“We expect this until December but by January, there could already be a decline [in this trend],” Mapa told the BusinessMirror on the sidelines of the news briefing on Friday.

The increase in employment owing to holiday preparations is also reflected in the increase in underemployment. The country’s underemployment rate stood at 14.4 percent in November.

However, a total of 7.16 million Filipinos were considered underemployed. This is 488,000 more underemployed compared to October 2022, but 457,000 less than the underemployed in November 2021.

The data showed visible underemployment increased by 392,000 to 4.639 million from the 4.247 million recorded in October 2022. However, the November 2022 data was 604,000

less compared to November 2021.

The PSA said there were 2.522 million Filipinos who were considered invisibly underemployed. This was a year on year increase of 147,000 compared to November 2021 and 96,000 from October 2022.

Filipinos who are visibly underemployed are those working less than 40 hours in a week and expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional jobs.

Those who are considered in invisibly underemployed are those working at least 40 hours in a week but still expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours.

“Creating an enabling environment to attract investments that can create more and high-quality employment, while improving the employability of Filipinos are among the major strategies to advance economic and social transformation,” National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

Balisacan added that measures to attract investments include the upgrading and expanding of infrastructure, and improving regulatory and bureaucratic efficiency.

The new Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, released on

By Manuel T. Cayon

INVESTORS eyeing to purchase the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)

Reinforcing Inclusive Support for MSMEs Bonds (BPI RISE Bonds) will be issued at par value and will be available for purchase next week.

The RISE Bonds will bear an interest rate of 5.75 percent per annum, paid quarterly.

Applications to purchase the BPI RISE Bonds will have a minimum investment amount of P1 million and additional increments of P100,000.

The offer period will begin on January 9, 2023 and will end earlier than previously announced. The final day of the offer will now be January 13, 2023—one week earlier than the original date of January 20, 2023. The planned issue and listing date of January 30, 2023 is unchanged.

“BPI is keen to use the offer of BPI RISE Bonds as an opportunity to support MSMEs, which the Bank sees as significant contributors to the Philippine economy. In fact, the Philippine Securities and Exchange

Commission has confirmed that the BPI RISE Bonds qualify as Asean Social Bonds,” BPI said.

“Bonds carrying this classification have been independently verified to have systems in place to ensure that proceeds raised will be directed toward projects that benefit society. This gives bondholders confidence that their investments will be used to make a positive social impact,” it added.

The bonds, BPI said, are securities that are exempt from registration under Section 9.1 (E) of the Securities Regulations Code. It will not also be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BPI Capital Corporation (BPI Capital) and ING Bank N.V., Manila Branch (ING) are the Joint Lead Arrangers of the offer; BPI Capital is the Sole Selling Agent.

BPI and the Joint Lead Arrangers reserve the right to update the offer terms and the periods and dates prescribed above, as deemed appropriate and with due notice.

Cai U. Ordinario

DAVAO CITY—A Bangsamoro Parliament member has filed a bill to declare a cave in TawiTawi a heritage site for being one of the earliest settlements in Southeast Asia. Member of Parliament Amilbahar Mawallil said the Balobok Cave in Bongao, Tawi- Tawi, should be preserved, promoted and developed as a heritage zone.

According to the bill’s explanatory note, “The cave is found to be one of the earliest human settlements in Southeast Asia, dating back to 8,000 years ago.”

“Because of excavation efforts in the area, ancient artifacts such as earthenware shards, polished stones, and bone tools were discovered there,” it added.

During the war waged by the

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has approved the proposed acquisition by AIA Philippines Life and General Insurance Company Inc. of 100 percent of shares in Medicard Philippines Inc.

“In a Commission Decision released today, the PCC found that the proposed takeover will not likely result in substantial lessening of competition in the markets for individual and group health or medical coverage,” PCC said in a news statement released on Friday.

“There will be no significant shift in the share of the parties in the market and the number of players will remain unchanged post-transaction,” the decision stated, as cleared by PCC Officer-in-Charge Chairperson Johannes R. Bernabe, Commissioners Emerson B. Aquende, Marah Victoria S. Querol and Michael B. Peloton.

According to the antitrust agency, while Medicard is among the top health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in the Philippines at the time of the merger holding 16.93 percent of the market share, it competes with Maxicare HealthCare Corporation that holds 36.29 percent; Asalus Inc. (Intellicare) with 26.12 percent; PhilHealth

Care Inc. with 4.89 percent; Value Care Health Systems Inc. with 4.20 percent, and other HMOs composing 11.57 percent of the remaining share in the market.

The PCC noted, however, it expects that the current concentration of Medicard’s market shares will “spread thinner” when reviewed to compete not only with other HMOs but also insurance companies offering similar services and health plans.

Currently, it said, 29 health maintenance organizations and 30 life insurance companies compete in providing individual and group health or medical coverage.

In its market analysis, the PCC Mergers and Acquisitions Office also found that “customers are able to switch easily to other health or medical coverage firms, since majority of health maintenance organization [HMO] plans run only for a year and policyholders are not barred from switching providers.”

The PCC Mergers and Acquisition Office also noted that with information on their product offerings “readily available to the public and agents constantly jockeying” to secure a sale, customers can easily switch to another provider.

This low barrier to switch to different competing firms, PCC noted, is a

sign of a competitive market.

The antitrust agency said it also observed that customers looking for group health or medical coverage have “high bargaining power” and can negotiate with service providers for better terms.

“The high bargaining power of these customers pose sufficient competitive constraints as well for the merged firm,” PCC noted.

AIA is considered the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group, which is present in 18 markets—wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR and a 49 percent joint venture in India.

In the Philippines, AIA Philippines was formerly known as Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company or AIA Philam Life, a life ins urance company.

On the other hand, Medicard is among the largest HMO in the Philippines with over 920,000 members and nationwide coverage in 523 hospitals and 641 clinics engaged with the services of 23,000 doctors and 817 dentists.

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the cave also served “as a natural shelter for the combatants in the 1970s.”

“Due to the significance of this archaeological site, it is only natural for the Bangsamoro government to preserve, protect, promote, and develop the Balobok Cave,” Mawallil said.

He filed Bangsamoro Transition Authority Bill No. 197, also known as the Balobok Cave Preservation Act of 2020.

Balobok Cave, located in Barangay Lakit-Lakit in Bongao town, is a rock formation that forms part of a cave system situated along the coast, he said.

Under the measure, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) and the Environment ministry would be in charge of protecting, developing, and promoting the cave site.

A comprehensive plan for its preservation, protection, rehabilitation,

December 31, 2022, also outlines key strategies to increase the incomeearning ability of Filipinos.

These include expanding opportunities for life-long learning, training and retraining programs, and developing the adaptability of the current and future workforce to the changing demands of the labor market.

The PDP also includes strategies to enhance labor market information systems and employment facilitation services.

“The strategies of the PDP 20232028 intend to reinvigorate job creation, particularly high-quality jobs.

Expanding our pool of high-quality work force will also support our goal of economic and social transformation to accelerate economic recovery and ensure that it will be inclusive and resilient. This thrust then brings us back on track in empowering every Filipino to have a “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay,” Balisacan explained.

The Neda also said the labor force participation rate rose to 67.5 percent in November 2022 from 64.2 percent in the same month last year.

An additional 3.2 million Filipinos, of whom 2.5 million are women, entered the labor force. This development increased women’s labor force participation to 57.8 percent from 52.2 percent last year.

infrastructure installation, development into ecotourism, management and maintenance will also be formulated by the BCPCH, Ministry of Environent and Natural Resources, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism and the Tawi- Tawi Provincial Government.

A regional heritage zone refers to historical, anthropological, and artistic geographic areas that are culturally significant to the Bangsamoro region, Mawallil said.

Bangsamoro Parliament bill declares Balobok Cave in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi a heritage site

DOJ chief’s son cleared of drug possession rap

By Joel R. San Juan

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Las Piñas City on Friday declared the eldest son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla not

guilty of the illegal drug possession charges filed against him after he was caught receiving a parcel containing 893.91 grams of kush, or high-grade marijuana, valued at P1.25 million.

The ruling came barely three

months after Juanito Jose Remulla III was arrested in his home following a “controlled delivery operation” conducted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in October 2022.

Juanito’s arrest triggered calls for Remulla’s resignation so as not to influence the outcome of the investigation on the case but the latter stayed on to his post.

The justice chief, however, dis -

tanced himself from the case and refused to entertain questions related to his son’s case.

“After an assiduous review of the evidence of the parties in this case, there is reasonable doubt that accused received and possessed the parcel delivered to him with the knowledge, consciousness, and awareness that said parcel contained the alleged two bags of marijuana,” Las Piñas RTC Branch 179 Acting Presiding Judge Ricardo Moldez II said.

Judge Moldez noted that for a successful prosecution of an offense for illegal possession of dangerous drugs, the prosecution must establish three important elements, such as: (a) the accused was in possession of an item or object identified as a prohibited drug; (b) such possession was not authorized by law; and (c) the accused freely and consciously possessed the said drug.

Juanito as defense witness

JUANITO, who was presented by the defense as its lone witness, claimed that on October 11, 2022 at around 11 a.m., he was awakened from sleep by his girlfriend informing him that there were two deliverymen waiting for him outside his house.

When he went out of the house, he saw two men clad in delivery clothing, wearing matching bull caps and asked him if he was Juanito Remulla.

After confirming that he was the person they were looking for, the supposed deliverymen told him that there was a delivery for him but he told them that he was not expecting a delivery.

He added that he was also asked if he knew a certain Benjamin Huffman to which he replied in the negative.

After presenting his driver’s license as proof of identity, he heard one of the men said: “Meron Juanito, tapos meron Remulla, pwede na ito.”

Thereafter, he was presented a long bond paper with boxes for him to sign and a brown nondescript box without any identifying marks.

After signing, the box was handed to him and the men took pictures of him and then he was immediately arrested.

Juanito told the court he did not receive the parcel and that it was just handed to him.

He recounted that he even threw the box away as he felt he was being set up.  Juanito said he did not file a case against the persons who arrested him because he was not given the opportunity to do so.

Possibility of tampering of evidence

IN ruling in favor of Juanito, the court

said the testimonies of prosecution witnesses failed to clearly prove the existence of “animus possidendi” or the intent to possess on the part of the accused.

The court noted that Juanito’s reactions were consistent with a person who was not expecting a parcel or a package from a certain Benjamin Huffman or from any other person unknown to him and who is oblivious to the parcel’s contents.

The court also pointed out that in a controlled delivery, the mere designation as the consignee or even the acceptance of a package containing illicit items, by itself, is not sufficient to establish criminal liability.

It stressed that other circumstances must be present to show that the recipient was really aware of its contents.

Under Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, a controlled delivery happened when the consignment of any dangerous drug is detected and the law enforcers knowingly allow the package to travel its destination or to the address of the consignee in order to establish the person/persons involved in the commission of the offense.

“Unfortunately, apart from showing that the package or parcel was handed to the accused, the prosecution did not present other evidence to show that the former knew that it contained marijuana. The prosecution failed to show that accused, by receiving the parcel, knew that he was also possessing illegal drugs,” the court declared.

Furthermore, the court said it has “serious reservations” on the integrity and evidentiary value of the dangerous drugs allegedly seized.

It noted that there is nothing in the records that would show how the parcel was handled, stored and preserved from the time it was discovered on September 28, 2022 by the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF) until it was turned over to a Customs examiner.

“The prosecution failed to establish that during the ‘detection stage’ or before the parcel allegedly containing the illegal drugs were turned over to the PDEA that precautions were taken to ensure that there had been no change in the condition of the parcel and its content and that there was no opportunity for someone not in the chain to have possession of the same during the said period,” the ruling pointed out.

“Because of these, this Court is unable to discount the possibility of evidence tampering on that occasion,” it added.

Davao biz bureau extends operating hours for applications and renewals

By Manuel T. Cayon

DAVAO CITY—The Business Bureau announced that it would extend its working hours to the evening of the last day of the filing business permit application and renewal fees, on January 31, as it noted a swarm of taxpayers and business owners processing their applications as early as this week.

It said the extended hours of January 31 processing of their applications and payment of taxes would help others who may still be trapped in the deadline rush to avoid surcharges.

On January 31, the cut-off day for business permit processing for the year 2023, the Business Bureau would be extending its operating hours for its one-stop shops in the Sangguniang Panlungsod building and Almendras Gym from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the one-stop shop NCCC Mall Buhangin would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The one-stop shops in the Calinan Gym as well as the ones in the District Treasury Offices of Toril, Tugbok, and Bunawan would be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

But taxpayers would still have a lot of time between now and before the January 31 cutoff.

There are Business Bureau one-stop shops in the Sangguniang Panlungsod building, Almendras Gym, NCCC Mall Buhangin, Calinan Gym as well as in the District Treasury Offices in Toril, Tugbok, Bunawan, Baguio, Marilog, and Paquibato.

Business Bureau Head Maribel Paguican

said operating hours in these locations were extended from Mondays to Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bureau will also be operating on January 29, a Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She said that for the first two working days of January, the Business Bureau was met with many business tax payers hoping to beat the deadline for business permit issuance.

“As of two days processing, we were able to generate 5,323 applications. If you compare that to last year’s performance, there is an increase of almost 1,000 in applications,” Paguican revealed on Thursday.

To make the permit application process more convenient, the Business Bureau called on taxpayers to process their permits online through the office’s online application system. She said online processing and payments will not only decongest the bureau’s processing centers but will also speed up the process for the applicants.

However, those who are unable to access the bureau’s online platform may go to the nearest Business Bureau one-stop shop. The one-stop shop is a streamlined processing service that aims to save taxpayer’s time and money by simplifying the business permit application process and removing unnecessary steps to the assessment process.

“We [eased on some of]our requirements, like the barangay clearance, which is no longer a requirement because it is already incorporated in our one-time assessment and one-time payment. No need to go to other locations. We call this a one-stop shop,” Paguican said.

MetLife retirement solution seen solving aging concerns in Asia

CHINA has become the first market in Asia to launch

MetLife’s new retirement solution, 360Future.

With one of the world’s fastest aging populations and with significant unmet demand for elderly care services, the Chinese are increasingly worried about life after retirement.

“Beyond the obvious concern of saving enough money to retire, people are worried about their health and finding meaningful ways to spend their time in retirement,” said MetLife China CEO Siyi Sun.

China is not alone in this situation.

With Asia’s elderly population projected to reach nearly 923 million over the next few decades, this will make Asia one of the oldest regions in the world.

MetLife created 360Future to help people in Asia prepare for retirement earlier and better support them as they age. The comprehensive solution combines retirement savings and insurance protection with health and wealth services to support customers and their elderly family members in retirement.

“The launch of 360Future is another key milestone in our transformation journey from traditional

products to holistic customer solutions. It aims to provide all-round retirement support to help our customers prepare early, protect their family and enjoy a prosperous life post-retirement,” added Sun.

“As they plan for their own retirement, many people are also helping their parents navigate healthcare and lifestyle challenges as they grow older. We’ve designed a sharable solution that not only helps them prepare financially for their own future, but also includes benefits they can access before retirement, like medical appointment companions, homecare support and counseling to support their elderly family members,” said Sanjeev Kapur, Chief Marketing Officer of MetLife Asia.

The solution follows MetLife’s successful roll out of 360Health in Asia, which like 360Future, is a holistic solution that combines insurance protection with comprehensive health services delivered through a simple, digital experience.

“MetLife has created a concept that can be replicated in other markets to better support our customers in Asia to be better prepared and transition into retirement with greater confidence,” he added. AP/BUSINESS

WIRE

Congress earmarks ₧254 million cash gift for 2023 centenarians

CONGRESS—and in particular, the House of Representatives— is invested with the “power of the purse.” The representatives of the people are the ones who approve the country’s budget, including the appropriation of funds for a specific purpose—like benefits for the elderly.

Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., House appropriations committee vice chairperson, said on Monday that Congress has set aside P254 million to pay for the P100,000 one-time cash gift given to Filipinos who will reach the ripe age of 100 years old in 2023. We have earmarked money for our centenarians, he said.

“We in Congress are absolutely determined to sustain the annual

funding required for the P100,000 cash gift of every Filipino who turns 100 years old,” Campos said.

The move was in response to an earlier request of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for funding of the centenarians’ cash benefits in 2023.

DSWD said there are 662 Filipino centenarians in 2023, or those who are 100 years old and older who are entitled under the law to receive P100,000 cash

Bill giving senior citizens 20% off on road toll fees pushed

QUEZON City Rep. Marvin

Rillo wants to expand the transportation and road use privileges of the country’s senior citizens by granting them a 20 percent discount on the toll fees levied by expressway and skyway operators.

“Senior citizens who own motor vehicles deserve special access to skyways and expressways, including a 20 percent reduction in toll charges,” Rillo said in a news release on Sunday.

As proposed by Rillo in House Bill No. 5277, senior citizens would enjoy 20 percent off all toll fees payable via radio frequency identification (RFID) or similar devices.

For the availment of the proposed discount, the motor vehicle must be registered in the name of the senior citizen, who must submit a copy of his or her Senior Citizen ID card to the expressway or skyway operator when applying for RFID installation.

“Our measure seeks to give more meaning to the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the State to prioritize the rights and welfare of the elderly,” Rillo said.

Article XV Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the family has the duty to care

for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security. The proposed measure gives life to the essence of this provision under the 1987 charter.

Rillo’s bill requires the Department of Transportation’s Toll Regu-

The last living link

latory Board and other agencies to enforce the discount.

The measure seeks to further upgrade the Expanded Senior Citizens Law that bestows a wide range of perks to all Filipinos who are 60 years old and above.

At present, senior citizens enjoy a 20 percent discount and value-added tax exemption on airline and ship passenger tickets, and on the fares of railways and public utility vehicles, including shuttle and ride-hailing services. PNA

merely waiting to be re-called into existence.

gift from the government.

“Since 2017, we have been setting aside an aggregate of over P1 billion, including the sum allocated for this year, to pay for the cash grant of more than 10,000 Filipino centenarians,” Campos said.

The P254 million earmarked for the Centenarian’s Gift in the 2023 General Appropriations Act is 43 percent higher than last year’s P178 million, according to Campos.

Under the Centenarians Law of 2016, or Republic Act No. 10868, every Filipino who reaches 100 years old, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, is entitled to receive the P100,000 tax-free gift plus a congratulatory letter from the President.

Funding is lodged in the annual budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which pays out the gift.

The gift is on top of all other rewards that centenarians may receive from their respective local governments or from other sources.

In Makati City, for instance, the local government pays on its own a separate P100,000 one-time cash gift to every resident centenarian.

Thus, a Makati resident who reaches 100 years old receives a combined cash gift of P200,000 —P100,000 from the DSWD and P100,000 from the city government.

Since 2016, Makati has so far rewarded 79 resident centenarians with P100,000 each.

Taiwan senior citizens test e-skills in League of Legends

By Taijing Wu and I-Hwa Cheng The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan—A year ago, 65-year-old Chiang Yi-Shu knew nothing about computers. Now, she is a League of Legends player who has just battled in her first-ever esports tournament.

Chiang is one of the players on Hungkuang Evergreen Gaming’s team, established this summer. The team, whose members range from 62 to 69 years old, was founded by Huang Jianji, the director of the department of multimedia game development and application of Hungkuang University.

“Frankly speaking, I knew very little about computers. I never thought of learning about it, because I prefer interactions with people,” Chiang said. “But when I started to play, I figured out that it was good for the brain. And especially the use of hands, you need to have dexterity.”

Chiang has been practicing at home and at the university when

she has time. She plays about five hours every week, according to her coach, Ego Hsu. Though she lives in New Taipei City, she traveled to the university in Taichung, an hour away by high-speed rail, for the training class every week in preparation for competition.

There is one difference in the approach to the game. With elderly team members, Hsu said the focus is less on killing, which is the main objective in battle-tournament games like League of Legends.

“So, when they play a game, I would make them enjoy it instead of killing their characters all the time. I think that having the character killed all the time would cause them depression. If they have their character killed quickly, I will blame myself because it would be my fault not to have taught them well,” she added.

Although the team lost in Saturday’s tournament, for Chiang and her teammates, just playing the game has been a chance to learn something new, and overcoming her initial ignorance of technology.

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

RECENTLY, my family visited my Imang Nena who lives in Angeles City, Pampanga. Her full name is Elena Punzalan Tayag Candelaria, the last living sibling of my late father, Fidel P. Tayag. The youngest of their brood of six, she is now 98 years old.

She is our collective Ima, for as long as she breathes, she represents our parents who have all passed on, filling the parental void in the lives of our respective families. Ima is an emotionally loaded Capampangan term of endearment for mother.

I told my wife and children that we should go and pay our respects to her because you never know. It could be

her last Christmas.

Two years ago, in December B.C. (Before Covid) we also dropped by to see her. That time, although she was already physically weak, her mind was still very much alert.

I took that chance to ask her about the past, especially that of her family’s branch of the Tayags of Pampanga who all trace their roots in the said province and I wanted to know who’s who and how they are all connected. Our side of Tayags was a pretty big clan then. But as the years went by, the wide circle kept getting smaller and smaller.

Now Imang Nena is the only thread that connects us to the vanished el-

ders of the clan. That’s why on that visit, I was peppering her with questions. I knew it was a race against time.

As she searched her memory, Imang Nena seemed at first invigorated. The French writer Marcel Proust in his novel “In Search of Lost Time,” shows that our former selves can live again in dreams and even in our waking state. Time may be the destroyer but memory is the great preserver. And as someone else said, the past is never past because it is now within us. It is

But alas she could do only so much remembering and talking about the past, so after a while, she got exhausted and our session winded down to a halt. I made a promise to myself that I would return to extract more golden nuggets from the treasure of her memory.

But then the pandemic unexpectedly came. For two years, it wasn’t possible to go back to see her.

Lo, what a difference two years can make! Now she can no longer recognize faces. She also doesn’t speak anymore. But from time to time, a flicker of recognition comes to her face and she manages to make a half smile. But most of the time she just stares blankly, a ghost in a shell, to borrow the title of a popular anime series.

I then realized that I had lost her. The umbilical cord to her memory has been cut. The pandemic has robbed 98 years’ worth of family history straight from a first-hand source.

I could only turn to Zon and Anne, and told them to continue taking good care of her, a pains -

taking thankless task that can tax even the best caregiver in the world. These two lovely dutiful daughters of Imang Nena are the designated “martyrs” in the family, as our tradition dictates. But I sensed they are happy to be doing it. It’s all out of genuine filial devotion; the last measure of their love for their dearest mother.

From what they told us, indeed, Imang Nena is indeed lost to the past. For she keeps seeing and calling out to her Coya (old brother) and Aunt Maring, who are all deceased as if they are there.

When I took a closer look at my Imang Nena’s face, her wrinklefree skin amazed me. Her eyes are bright and limpid as before. It’s as if for nine decades she just breezed and skimmed through the surface of time and did not let herself be ravaged by life’s hurts, disappointments, and frustrations.

In childhood, during town fiestas, Christmas day, and summer vacations, we used to visit their house in Mabalacat and play with our cousins, Cong Jess, Zon and Ernie. Relly, Lisa and Ann came later. They had a large backyard with fruit trees where we frolicked

all day long.

As an aunt she was very affectionate to my siblings and me. She was also a devoted wife to her late husband, Bapang Dong, who was a soft-spoken, even-tempered uncle. In my mind, I see him donning dark glasses, always smiling, always interested in how we were doing even when we were already mature adults.

As we took pictures before bidding adieu, everyone squealed in delight, as we were able to coax a half-smile from her. I couldn’t help thinking that very soon the images will all be what are left of her existence at some point in time. We will of course keep them in an album for a future grandkid to look at, hopefully someone with genuine keen interest in knowing and establishing a connection to our family’s past.

We waved goodbye to Imang Nena still with that blank stare. Would she still be sitting in that chair when we come back?

Deep in my heart I felt a pricking sensation, knowing that her passing would presage our own passage from this world to the next.

THE Mindanao Avenue toll plaza. Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo wants to expand the transportation and road use privileges of the country’s senior citizens by granting them a 20 percent discount on the toll fees levied by expressway and skyway operators. PNA PHOTO

MAKATI City Rep. Luis Campos Jr.

BusinessMirror

ADMU tops world universities’ debate competition in Spain

ATENEO de Manila University (ADMU) emerged victorious among 260 higher educational institutions in the world’s largest debate stage this week.

Carrying the country’s colors in the contest, the duo of David Africa and Tobi Leung outwitted and outsmarted international peers at the 42nd World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC), which ran from December 27 to January 4. Africa and Leung triumphed over counterparts from the United States (Princeton University), Israel (Tel Aviv University), Bulgaria (Sofia University) during the grand finals in Madrid, Spain’s Cines Callao theater early morning last Wednesday, Philippine time. It was a breakthrough victory for the Philippines in the tournament’s 42-year history.

Their debate centered on the motion of the preferability of a world where all individuals have a strong belief in the

philosophy of “I am, because we are,” as embodied by the idea of “ubuntu.”

In the final round, an information slide flashed the tenet of ubuntu, which asserted that “people’s identities should be shaped by their communities, and their obligations should be primarily owed to such.

A fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics with Specialization in Data Science student, Africa shared that their WUDC success is “a dream come true.”

He stated in an interview with CNN Philippines that their win “means being able to proudly rep -

resent the school, country and continent on the international stage, and show the world that Filipino eloquence and critical thinking have always been world-class.”

Adjudged as the tournament’s eighth-overall best speaker during the elimination rounds, the Atenean added that the victory was “a culmination of a long period of heartbreak and struggle.”

A great majority of winners and grand finalists have so far emanated from English-speaking countries such as the US, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand since the tournament started in 1981.

In 2004 the group from Singapore Institute of Management was the lone Asian team to break the trend, on behalf of the continent.

Two delegations from ADMU were able to land in the final round in 2021, one of which was headed by Africa. It was the first time the Philippines landed in the grand

finals of the said tilt.

The country though failed to capture the title in the said year and in 2022, but finally bagged the WUDC crown in its recent edition.

For Africa, “the period of regaining the motivation and inner strength to try again was difficult—especially now that I would have to travel [to the tournament] in person. It means the world to give this journey the closure and satisfaction of a job well done.”

Leung, a sophomore Atenean in the same course and specialization of Africa, was hailed as the competition’s second-best speaker---the highest ever achieved by a Filipino in the WUDC.

The debate adheres to the British Parliamentary format, where four teams of two members composed of the opening and closing sides of mock government and opposition benches will argue on a motion, which is given a mere 15 minutes prior to the round.

Teen launches art therapy project for kids Nestlé, NDAP honor students in 1st nutrition interschool tilt

NESTLÉ Phils., with its partnership with the Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines (NDAP), recently awarded winners of the first Nutrition Masterclass Interschool Competition.

The contest challenged students to make nutrition topics more understandable and relatable for Filipinos through short and animated videos.

AT the height of the pandemic lockdown in June 2020, a student from the International School-Manila started an educational initiative to provide kids with a creative outlet.

Sophia Lopez, then 15 years old at that time, called her project “Press Play.” It focused on providing art therapy and helping kids cope with the quarantines, as well as the stress and boredom that went with the abrupt end to face-to-face classes.

In partnership with Disney Art Attack and Hallmark Phils., Lopez turned Press Play into a platform to gather art materials for free distribution to children’s homes across Metro Manila. From its web site (www.pressplayph.com), instructional videos guide children in turning bundled art materials they receive into artworks.

“[Lopez] started Press Play because, during the nationwide lockdown, she thought of kids in children’s homes who did not have access to online learning,” said Trina Alindogan of Disney Art Attack and Hallmark Phils. “She believed that art therapy projects, like creating paper flowers and Christmas trees from paper plates, would provide them with an outlet that would be beneficial to their mental health.”

Also through its tie-up with Hallmark Phils., Press Play was able to produce and sell Christmas wrappers and cards designed by the children. It likewise linked up with Knowledge Channel, the Philippines’s pioneer and largest provider of online education, to produce a fun video on the origins and process of creating the much-loved Filipino dessert halo-halo Now 17 years old and a 12th grader, Lopez has earned the admiration of partners like White Cross Children’s Home’s executive director Mely Reluya and Virlanie Foundation’s communications manager Chez Ebot for her project.

“Learning while watching [the Press Play videos] was one of the easiest ways of catching the children’s attention. In drawing and creating artworks, the children were able to express their emotions and feelings, especially when they could not go out. They were happy showing their finished artwork,” Reluya stated.

“On behalf of the Virlanie Foundation, we… [appreciate your kind donation. The girls really enjoyed the art activity, which is very helpful during this health] crisis. Your support is a great vote of confidence in our mission,” Ebot told Lopez.

The team from University of Santo Tomas emerged as champion among the seven schools that participated. The group of Ciara May Dolfo, Trisha Ysabelle De Guzman, Rica Marrie Ganzon, Angelica Magullado and Czarina Rodriguez shot a video that highlighted the importance of eating breakfast, especially to keep kids energized throughout the day.

Students from Batangas State University were adjudged as first runners-up, also for their breakfast clip; while Colegio de San Juan de Letran took home the second runner-up prize for explaining fad diets, and what Filipinos need to know about them.

“The digital age has provided various platforms that help improve the way we educate Filipinos about proper nutrition. With this competition, our nutrition students were able to leverage [on online platforms like YouTube to disseminate key information that can help guide Filipinos…in making] better health choices,” explained Zenaida Velasco, presi -

dent of NDAP. “We are grateful for the support of Nestlé Phils. in making this competition possible, as we share a common goal to [aid] the professional growth of registered and future nutritionists and dietitians.”

The Nutrition Masterclass Interschool Competition ran from September to November 2022, and was open to nutrition undergraduates from participating schools. Entries were judged by NDAP and Nestlé Phils. based on the accuracy of the information discussed, creativity and originality in presenting the topic, and its effectiveness in reaching its target audience.

Others that competed were Cebu Doctors University, Centro Escolar University, Manila Tytana Colleges, and University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

Jose Uy III, senior vice president and head of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustain -

ability at Nestlé Phils. said: “As the Kasambuhay for Good of Filipinos, [we will continue to partner with organizations like NDAP in underscoring the importance of nutrition education which enable] children and their families to lead healthier and happier lives. We encourage and look forward to helping empower nutrition students [in leading the discussion about simple, yet key health topics like] eating breakfast, having balanced diets, and drinking enough water and milk.”

Aside from the Nutrition Masterclass Interschool Competition, Nestlé Phils. and NDAP have also launched the Nestlé Nutrition Masterclass web site that carries articles, journals and other locally-relevant resource materials for registered Filipino nutritionist-dietitians. They also jointly organize free webinars for NDAP members, and help create nutrition videos for the benefit of the general public.

Japan envoy joins Philajames’ 50th year, awards ceremony

AMBASSADOR Kazuhiko Koshikawa joined last month’s commemoration of the Philippine Association of Japanese Government Scholars’ (Philajames) 50th founding anniversary at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB).

Together with Embassy of Japan officers, Koshikawa partook in the festivity led by Philajames president D r. Nappy Navarra and UPLB’s chancellor Dr. Jose Camacho.

Established in 1972, the Philajames is the official alumni association of Filipinos who studied in Japan under the scholarship program of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The organization is an active partner of the embassy in locally promoting the scholarship

program and Japanese culture.

The MEXT scholars’ annual predeparture briefings and welcome receptions, along with seminars that introduce the MEXT scholarship program to schools and universities in the Philippines, are among their various activities that help boost ties between the two countries.

During the ceremony Koshikawa also awarded the “Ambassador’s Commendation” to the Philajames in recognition of its achievements.

In his message, the envoy expressed his high regard for the association’s tremendous contribution to the development of postwar Japan-Philippines cooperation. He also shared optimism over the organization’s future.

“I sincerely hope that, through the activities of Philajames, many

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Group urges solons to cancel students’ military training

By Roderick L. Abad

STUDENT Leaders Against Mandatory (SLAM) ROTC, a newly launched coalition of high-school learners, appealed to members of the Senate to halt a measure for the two-year mandatory National Citizens Service Training (NCST) program, and a noncompulsory four-year Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) course.

Failure to do so will compel the group to “turn to the street-parliament,” as it vowed to greet the new year with swarming protest actions to block the passage of House Bill 6687, or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act, which the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading on December 15, 2022.

“We deplore the 276 congressmen who gave their affirmative votes. With only a little over six months since the national elections, you have already forsaken us, giving us a grim image of what to expect for the rest of your terms in office, and more motivation for us to take it upon ourselves to oppose your leadership,” said Sophia Beatriz Reyes, current president of the Philippine High School for the Arts student government— one of the councils that initiated the alliance.

“We would like to send an early message to our senators who plan to emulate their house counterparts and desist from pursuing NSTP and ROTC if they don’t want the youth to flood the streets in 2023,” Reyes added, as she echoed the last lines of their joint statement about carrying the demands

in all possible spaces.

SLAM ROTC is composed of representatives from student councils and student publications in senior and junior high schools nationwide, with the common goal of deterring such bills in time for the senate deliberations.

Student leaders abhorred that there was nary a single lawmaker—both from the lower and higher houses of Congress—who reached out and talked to them, despite being central stakeholders in the proposed measure.

“This is what a dysfunctional democracy looks like,” Reyes claimed. “Millions upon millions of our country’s future are being enrolled by the government to a program that will divert our attention away from our academics; yet, not a single one of us [was] consulted.”

For joint convenor Braille Nichole Kwek of Camotes Visayan Institute in Cebu, the coalition is “not in the business of merely opposing the enactment,” but also would like “to redirect the attention of lawmakers to the more pressing issues they need to prioritize.”

“We need their promised and long-overdue review of the K-12 program. We need additional funds to address the ever-widening gaps in the education sector since the [pandemic’s] outbreak. We need transportation and housing subsidies. We need them to reinstate the scholarships they took away,” Kwek asserted.

The joint statement of the student councils is posted at tinyurl. com/SLAMROTC , and remains open for signatories of student organizations from local high schools.

Learn, master a foreign language at Mapúa Univ.

talented young Filipinos will continue to study in Japan as MEXT scholars, and that they will contribute to the development of the Philippines [while playing a pivotal role in strengthening the relations between our countries],” the diplomat said. Accordingly, Dr. Camacho also shared his deep gratitude for the MEXT scholarship program and its alumni. He likewise shared his pleasure in knowing that Filipinos who studied in Japan have become a bridge between the two nations. He obtained his Doctorate in Economics at Kyoto University.

The Philajames’ “Tsunagari… Kawingan” coffee table book was also launched to commemorate the golden foundation year, followed by a tour of the UPLB Bazaar and One Stop Shop.

MAPÚA University is offering short-language courses through its Continuing Education and Special Competencies (CCESC) program.

Offered in various modes are Nihongo (Japanese traditional language) and Mandarin (Chinese traditional), aside from English speech and writing.

Mapúa offers an elementary Japaneselanguage course: a comprehensive 30-hour, 10-day training workshop covering pronunciation and practical conversational skills. Said class is ideal for beginners, as it expands learners’ vocabulary and grammar, while building up their listening and conversational skills.

Mandarin is also offered by Mapúa CCESC. Highly-proficient instructors teach students the nuances of the language for 30 hours for short-course takers, or 45 hours for students who have Mandarin in their curriculum within a 10-day period to help them prepare for upcoming business, leisure, careers or study trips.

After the course students will be able to express their thoughts and engage in daily conversations using the correct pronunciation and intonation in Mandarin, with basic comprehension of written texts and an understanding of Chinese culture.

Aside from Asian languages, Mapúa also has enrichment English-language classes in speech and writing. English Business Writing classes help employees elevate the quality of their professional correspondence at the work place. This 32-hour, four-day training work-

shop covers principles of writing, grammar, pragmatics and writing exercises.

Students can also sign up for the 24-hour, three-day speech training class to speak fluently and confidently in any business setting, while specialized courses on Business Communication and Presentation Skills are also being offered by the Mapúa training center.

Jemmabel Hernandez, CCESC director, said that having a good grasp of a second language builds confidence, while improving cognitive skills like memory, problem-solving, verbal and spatial acuity, attention, reading, and reasoning.

“Knowing a second or third language encourages people to become global citizens, and boosts their chances of being competitive internationally—whether in a professional, academic, or personal setting,” Hernandez explained. “It also helps [them] forge meaningful connections with people from across the globe, and develop a culturally diverse world-view.”

Mastering a foreign language increases local and overseas employability. Bilingual or multilingual professionals are sought-after in fields such as marketing, banking, real estate, research, tourism, product management, and operations for their rare skill, which is highly useful in various occupations.

Participants who enroll in any of the courses have the option of joining classes conducted face-to-face or online. After completion, students will receive certificates from Mapúa CCESC.

START to speak in a “different tongue” through various courses in Mapúa.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas team members (from second to sixth from left) emerged as competition champions.

“PRESS Play” creator Sophia Lopez

Ticao island: of baby sharks, a unique waTerfall, and prisTine waTers

-

IncredIbly surreal, I think to myself as we glide over the choppy waters off the bicol Peninsula towards the island of Ticao. My excitement at finally making it to Masbate, the 77th province I’ve visited in the Philippines, was palpable as our boat inched closer to the isle’s powdery shores.

Aside from being one of Masbate’s three main islands, Ticao is also home to the Halea Nature Park. The waters around this marine environmental park are home to newborn sharks, bountiful undersea treasures, and a thriving coral reef that nature has sculpted

and decorated with jagged rock formations covered in lush greenery.

Halea natural park is located on San Miguel Island, one of two islands on the northern tip of Ticao, the other being Bagababoy Island. A winding coastline is broken up by a few beach coves, and it was in the

biggest of these that we anchored our boats and set up our boodlefight lunch.

Baby Sharks Doo Doo Doo Doo Af T er chowing down our tropicalthemed boodle feast, we lounged around underneath the shade of the many trees and planned our next activity. When our guide, the divemaster Junery told us about the high chances of spotting baby sharks even in the shallows, the catchy children’s song “Baby Shark” instantly played inside my head.

We went to the waters in the next cove in batches of six to eight so as not to crowd the habitat of the pre-teen sharks. Our turn came as the waves picked up, making it more challenging to snorkel while wearing a life jacket. A couple of my free diver companions Milet and ferdz quickly discovered a school of juvenile sharks. Cautiously venturing further from shore, I spotted a single little shark a few meters ahead of me. As frightening as I thought it would be, it turned out

to be really harmless.

Perhaps, if I saw an adult shark the musical score from the movie Jaws will replace the baby shark song in my head.

A waterfall that meets the sea T H er e are only around 40 waterfalls in the world that directly debouche into the ocean and one of them can be found here on Ticao Island, Masbate. Catandayagan fa lls, located on the western section of the island, features a cascade of more than a hundred feet plunging over the edge of a seashore cliff into the clear waters of Masbate Pass.

As our boat circles to the other side of Ticao Island facing mainland Masbate, we were introduced to a rare view of Catandayagan fa lls from afar. Despite the great distance, I could already see the white streaming waters falling from the cliffside and straight into the ocean.

Coming closer only made it appear more dramatic and spectacu -

lar. I’ve seen all shapes and sizes of waterfalls before from wide, tall, to multi-tiered but this one clearly appears in a rarified form.

As soon as we docked 50 meters from the wall of the rocky face of the island, I stood on the boat’s edge face to face with the towering and jaw-dropping Catandayagan fa lls. It was a sight to behold watching endless streams of fresh water crashing into the saline sea below with a deafening noise.

Our lady companions from the boat dived into the water with their life vests on and not long after, the deafening boom of the waterfalls merged with the sounds of their delighted giggling.

More rock and reasons to come back

T H e rock formations at Borobongkaso islet caught our attention as we traveled to our overnight destination, Ticao Island r e sort, a popular spot among scuba divers. To achieve a better view of the pristine waters and the islands of Ticao and

Masbate,

Later in the night as we enjoy another feast this time highlighted by a whole Lechon; our guides shared with us more reasons to come back. This includes going out on a scuba diving exploration to witness the many Manta r ays, hammerheads, whale sharks, thresher sharks, and tiger sharks that are normally spotted in the marine life-rich waters of Ticao Island.

Waiting for sleep to come while I sway on a hammock tied in front of my small villa, I recounted the day’s happenings and easily convinced myself to come back for more of what the island had to offer. e x ploring the island’s picturesque tiny towns and the undersea wealth, as well as seeing baby sharks, swimming in crystal-clear seas, and being delighted by the uniqueness of Catandayagan fa lls, are more than enough reasons to return.

PTAA all set for next year’s 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023

TH e Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), the largest and most prestigious travel agency association in the country, is always at the forefront in helping advance the travel industry’s growth and expansion. for next year, PTAA is launching its annual and most anticipated travel event, the 30th Travel Tour 2023 and the 8th International Travel Trade e x po 2023 slated on february 3 to 5, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center in MOA Com -

plex, Pasay City.

As projected, the 30th Travel Tour e x po 2023 will be much bigger and more exciting than the previous year’s expo in terms of total exhibit area, foot traffic, numbers of exhibitors, travel deals and packages and entertainment activities.

The 30th Travel Tour e x po 2023 is expected to occupy two floors of the SMX Convention Center as compared to a single floor this year. To fill up this space, it expects to attract about 300 exhibitors for 2023.

This means more floor area for exhibitors offering more travel accessories, travel deals and packages and other travel related services. In terms of foot traffic, organizers have projected 80,000 to 100,000 visitors for the Travel Tour e x po 2023.

As early as November of this year, Travel Tour e x po organizers has confirmed about 250 exhibitors have signed up, occupying 700 booths of which 16 are airlines companies both local and international, with 96 hotels and resorts partici -

pating. These numbers are expected to go up as the event date nears. “ for the exhibitors, we expect more to join us as the Travel Tour e x po is not just a place to sell their products and services but more importantly, it is a perfect vehicle to promote their business. At the expo, they can showcase their travel services, tourist attractions and travel packages. As thousands visit the travel expo event every year, it is definitely a place where they can get maximum exposure for their

businesses,” PTAA President Michelle Taylan said.

As the world economy opens up, local and international travel deals are being offered by several travel agencies. “Travel agencies have conceptualized several travel deals like the group travel package, one has to join a big group of tourists to avail of the big discounts and this is inclusive of transport fares, hotel accommodation, and food. The client will just have to book in advance and choose an installment plan with

low down payment to make their travel experience really affordable,” Taylan added.

With the success and popularity of the Travel Tour e x po, it has become a significant event in the travel industry as it help boost business in the travel industry. As thousands of travel transactions are consummated during the event valued at several millions, it will definitely improve the recovery effort of the travel industry as well as the Philippine economy in general.

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Story & photos by Marky Ramone Go

you can climb over mas

sive rocks of varying forms that look like it was piled up together by a giant’s hand.

On board boats, visitors can get this close at the Catandayagan falls.

The beach welcomes visitors who look forward to a baby shark sighting.

The amazing scenery was captured while standing on the boat near the falls.

PileD up by nature, the Borobongkaso Rock looks dramatic under soft light.

Swi MM ing is more delightful in the pristine waters of Ticao island.

hAle A nature Park is simply beautiful. Drone shot by Milet Miran Da

www.businessmirror.com.ph

A bike that keeps you fit while working: Are you onboard?

WORK-LIFE balance is not a new phrase but at the height of the pandemic, when most people stayed home, it was something most of us wanted to achieve.

But how do you achieve this balance when you’re working all day, wearing your pajamas, off your small dining table? How do you say, at 5 or 6 pm, that “it’s been a long day” and really and truly log out? Difficult, right?

Any help in this department is welcome. So we’ve had our moments: Dalgona coffee, baking, Korean dramas, K-pop, and many other distractions.

But truthfully, we haven’t gotten much help in the hardware department in order to achieve work-life balance.

Acer has just announced a wide range of PCs and peripherals that aims to help people achieve that work-life balance they need.

At CES 2023, the brand launched a range of all-inone desktops, laptops, and gaming machines.

In his opening talk at the online press conference ahead of CES 2023, Jason Chen, CEO of Acer, announced that the company has sold 500,000 of its eco-conscious Vero products worldwide.

Acer has cut 160 tons of CO2 emissions with its suppliers, with a goal of 20 percent to 20 percent PCR on PCs and displays by 2025.

The refreshed models of the brand’s Aspire all-inones and laptops were designed to support families’ day-to-day productivity and entertainment needs.

The Aspire 5 Series laptops come with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs, while the lightweight Aspire 3 Series notebooks deliver ready-to-go performance. The Acer Aspire S all-in-one PCs come in 27-inch and 32-inch models, each one equipped with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors and Windows 11.

The thin and light Swift Go laptop comes in 14- and 16-inch variants with high-resolution and fast refresh rate OLED displays, 13th Gen Intel Core H-series processors, all day battery life, impressive cooling systems, and a range of ports that includes USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and a microSD card reader. Each laptop supports up to 2 TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage and up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory. The Acer Aspire S Series all-in-One PCs were designed to support computing and entertainment needs and help provide users with a minimalist yet modern workspace.

Another Acer unveiling is its 3D Ultra stereoscopic viewing feature dubbed SpatialLabs TrueGame. This feature is a glasses-free 3D gaming mode where gamers can see games with enhanced stereo rendering capabilities, projecting images with depth and 3D geometry.

For gamers, the brand announced two Predator

Helios gaming laptops and two Predator gaming monitors. The laptops have 16- or 18-inch screens and feature latest 13th Gen Intel Core mobile processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs. The new Predator Helios comes with an option for a 250Hz Mini LED display, which are brighter and can last longer.

For me, the most exciting parts of the Acer Global Press Conference were the announcements of two new products that people could indeed use to help achieve work-life balance.

First, Acer brought out the Halo Swing Smart Speaker with Google Assistant. Featuring DTS Sound and LED dot display, the speaker guarantees durable form factor with IPX5-rating for water- and dust-resistance. The speaker highlights enhanced audio and bass in 360-degree projection and has a reactive RGB-lit base that adjusts to various music genres while playing. The base lighting also changes colors when interacting with Google Assistant and can transform into a light source. The speaker also provides added convenience and ultra-responsive device control for multiple users and is supported by Google Home and the Acer Halo Swing App.

The list of things that the Acer Halo Swing Smart Speaker can supposedly do is amazing. The speaker allows users to play their favorite music, control the volume, find information about the song they are listening to hands-free. Using their voices, users can

RCBC’s app scores YouTube award

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor

THE Yuchengco-owned Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has won “The Challenger” accolade for 2022 at the highly-coveted YouTube Works Awards, making it the very first Philippine bank to ever receive this recognition.

Its all-in-one banking app DiskarTech, with its ad dubbed “Utang ni Tatang” (The Old Man’s Debt) that celebrates promdis (a Filipino slang referring to people from the province or rural areas) and their resourcefulness enabled by its extraordinary features, earned the plum.

The app is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The promotional video starts with its title sequence, followed by the opening scene wherein the main character, Tatang, welcomes his visitors from Manila into his provincial home. Mosquitoes suddenly bother the visitors. This changes the elderly’s aura altogether.

Come nighttime, he overhears the couple complaining which takes him over the edge. As the plot twist, Tatang surprises his guests with a hilarious and effective solution.

Afterwards, the film shows a familiar face from DiskarTech commending the old man’s brand of resourcefulness, which is in line with its benefits and features.

This only multi-lingual finance app in both Taglish and Cebuano makes banking more accessible

plan their day, set alarms, and control smart devices around the house.

My favorite out of the new products announced is the bike called eKinekt BD 3. The eKinekt has a premise that is quite remarkable. It prioritizes productivity and providing the user a comfortable place to work all day while burning calories through a rigorous workout.

The eKinekt BD 3 converts energy from the rider’s pedaling power to charge laptops or other devices and is being touted as the best way to combat a sedentary lifestyle.

Acer said that an hour of constant cycling at 60 revolutions per minute on the bike desk can generate 75 watts of self-generated power.

The bike’s desk has two USB Type-A ports and one USB Type-C port for device charging. There’s also has a bag hook and a beverage holder.

The eKinekt has Working and Sports Modes that will allow users to easily shift desk positions while pedaling to either focus on tasks or workouts. An app will help review progress over time, and shows information such as duration, calories burned, and watts generated.

I’m really interested to see if this concept takes off. As someone who once spent hours on an exercise bike daily and wished for something like the eKinekt, I’m onboard—but I’m curious to see how other people will receive it. ■

Delivering highly contextual and conversational customer service experiences

), a leading global technology company, today launched new tools for Zoho Desk, the company’s flagship customer service platform, to help customer service teams evolve with the changing needs of customers and meet heightened

Zoho Desk, which has achieved 45 percent yearover-year revenue growth for the past five years, now serves more than 100K businesses globally. New capabilities include Blended Conversations, a seamless combination of human-driven and botpowered conversational service experiences, as well as several refinements to the user interface. These developments enable customer service agents to improve engagement and deliver higher-value customer experiences, removing the guesswork for agents and drastically minimizing friction that often

“During these challenging economic times, the best companies are doubling down on customer retention while simultaneously trying to do more with less,” said Gibu Mathew, vice president and

“Great service experiences address this by forming the bedrock of sustainability through economic downturns. Blended Conversations in Zoho Desk addresses exactly this outcome by cleverly combining human and bot agents while also reducing friction, frustration and costs-to-serve.”

Blended Conversations for Zoho Desk allows customer service agents to deliver the best experience in the moment by delegating the majority of manual and transactional tasks to bots, while remaining in control of the overall service experience. With fast and easy deployment that does not require external help, Zoho Desk allows brands to scale their conversational service experiences through higher agent productivity without compromising on the quality of CX. This experience is a culmination of Zoho’s Instant Messaging (IM) Framework and Guided Conversations, a low-code builder for selfservice experiences.

The IM Framework allows organizations to integrate any messaging service they use with Zoho Desk, and comes pre-integrated with services like WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.

Guided Conversations for Zoho Desk allows business users to build powerful self-service flows that are useful throughout the customer journey, and help customers quickly and securely manage their relationship with the organization.

It offers service teams tighter collaboration and integration with other Zoho marketing apps at no extra cost, including Zoho’s CX Platform Zoho CRM Plus, for example.

for people in the provinces. Opening an account is a breeze. With just one valid identification, users can get a 3.25-percent annual interest rate for savings, avail of its loans, pay bills, and many more.

“DiskarTech affirms its commitment to make Filipinos’ lives easier with online banking that’s more accessible and convenient. Our spin on the Pinoy kulambo [mosquito net] is our representation on the financial security that every Filipino deserves,” said Lito Villanueva, executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer of RCBC.

This commercial was made in collaboration with agency Katok and has since garnered 7.4 million views on Facebook since late October. More information is available at

THE Acer eKinekt BD 3 is an exercise that runs on your kinetic energy.

Post-holiday gi�t guide:

Like a Bose

and realize how much sound is being filtered out. Virtual silence is great for listening to music, but there are times when you need to hear the outside world as well. Improved transparency in Aware mode allows your surroundings to pass through the earbuds sounding as natural and lifelike as possible.

OF all the new brands I’ve been able to work with this year, I have to say that finally being able to work with Bose and getting to try some of their speakers has been one of the highlights of my year.

I’ve always been fascinated by audio devices and there was a time when I had 50 speakers and headphones/earphones in my collection from different brands, but my grail has always been Bose.

Since Christmas is probably the only other time of the year besides your birthday when you can splurge with less guilt, now is probably the best time to give yourself a post-holiday treat to the best audio experience and enjoy your favorite playlists like a true boss.

BOSE QUIETCOMFORT EARBUDS 2: A QUIET PLACE

IF you are looking for the best noise-canceling earbuds, look no further than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. Remember the movie A Quiet Place when everything would suddenly turn silent during Regan’s (the deaf girl) scenes? That’s the same feeling I got when I first tried on the Bose QuietComfort II—minus the threat of the deadly monsters.

From the company that invented noise-canceling headphones, Bose once again sets the standard with improved design and controls, a “Fit Kit,” and a new sound calibration technology called Bose CustomTune that begins the moment you put on the earbuds.

Starting with the design, the QuietComfort Earbuds II is about one-third smaller than its predecessor, weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, and has an even smaller charging case. It is available in Triple Black and Soapstone (white) colorways. Because no two ears are the same, even on the same person, the new two-piece Fit Kit system features separate ear tips and “stability bands” in three size options ensuring an optimal fit to your ears. The stability band hugs the contour of your ear while the umbrella-shaped silicone ear tip creates a firm seal at your ear’s opening. This gives users more flexibility and get the most comfortable fit and tight seal by using a combination of the bands and tips. As a final step to ensure an ideal fit, a Fit Test available in the Bose Music app checks for an accurate seal by using the same tone employed by the CustomTune sound calibration to check for leaking sound. If you’re someone who can’t get a secure fit with the AirPods Pro 2 or other earbuds, this new Fit Kit is reason enough to choose the QuietComfort Earbuds II.

As for the new Bose CustomTune technology, every time you place the buds in your ears, a proprietary tone is played and a microphone measures your ear canal’s acoustic response. This is used to precisely tailor both audio and noise cancellation performance especially for you, and you definitely notice that the noise canceling has undergone some optimization— all within less than half a second.

CustomTune also calibrates the noise reduction signal to your ears, targeting frequencies that were previously difficult to reduce—like voices of nearby coworkers, screaming babies on the bus, or family distractions in your home office, and continuously adapts to changing noise in your environment to maintain the best level of noise cancellation.

Trying them out while riding the MRT and while walking the busy streets of Makati, I was so impressed with how much sound it reduced. You can still hear people’s voices, and make out the train announcements, but they seem to be muffled by about 70 percent.

Even without playing music, when I just want to enjoy a few minutes of silence to focus, or maybe take a break from all the background noise and go to my quiet place, I’d just put on the QuietComfort Earbuds II to drown out all the distractions.

It’s almost a little startling when I take the buds out of my ears or put them into transparency mode

The QuietComfort Earbuds II optimizes the sound frequency profile to the unique properties of every ear, so the sound that reaches the eardrum just as the artist intended—lifelike, balanced audio with nuance, clarity and depth. Its high-efficiency drivers and proprietary acoustic port design produce deep low notes and exciting, lifelike sound no matter how loud (or soft) you like to listen.

The QuietComfort Earbuds II also has an IPX4 rating and has been proven to withstand sweat from a great workout and rain from a sudden shower. It offers up to six hours of battery life with three additional charges provided by the case. The case can fully charge the buds in one hour, while a quick 20-minute charge provides up to two hours of playback.

From the comfortable fit, superb sound quality, and the best noise-canceling tech available today, it doesn’t get better than Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. It not only makes a perfect gift for Christmas but is also a solid investment that you’d enjoy using for the next several years.

BOSE HOME SPEAKER 500

THE Bose Home Speaker 500, on the other hand, is a room speaker that’s best used for streaming music and has the widest soundstage of any smart speaker available today. It’s designed to fit any room aesthetic with a seamless elliptical shape and an anodized aluminum chassis that, if you opt for the silver model, reflects the light in your room beautifully. The black version on the other hand looks just as elegant and might be a better option for those who want a more unobtrusive design.

It has a small full-color screen on the front that displays album artwork as you play music and can also display the time.

I tried the Bose Home Speaker 500 at their newest store at the SM Mall of Asia near IKEA, playing songs from my Spotify Wrapped playlist. No matter what genre I chose—rock, pop, classic, acoustic—the sound quality was really impressive. I almost didn’t want to leave the store. It uses two custom drivers pointed in opposite directions, so sound reflects off surrounding walls, separating instruments to the far left and right, and placing vocals where the artist did.

When it comes to music playback you have a few different options; you can connect your device to the speaker via an AUX cable, wirelessly connect via Bluetooth, or set the speaker up on your home’s WiFi network. It also supports different streaming services and you can even assign presets and playlists via the app.

BOSE SOUNDLINK FLEX

SOMETIMES you just want something simple, portable and durable, and for that you might want to check out the Bose Soundlink Flex.

Available in four colors—Carmine Red, Black, White Smoke and Stone Blue—the SoundLink Flex is built to handle some bruising with its powder-coated steel grille and silicone exterior, making it adventure-ready. It’s tough exterior can withstand almost any mishap, while its powder coat won’t peel or flake and is resistant to rust corrosion and UV light.

It has also been rigorously tested to meet an IP67 rating, so it’s both waterproof and dustproof inside and out.

You don’t have to worry about it getting splashed or even falling into the pool

as it floats. Bose said it will even play when dunked in water while dust protection means you can bring it with you to the sandy beach.

But more than just a pretty package the SoundLink Flex also delivers on sound quality with an innovative transducer that ensures the clearest possible sound, meaning you hear distinct instruments, nuances in the vocals, and balanced treble and bass.

The PositionIQ Technology of the SoundLink Flex automatically adjusts to its orientation to optimize the sound. Whether it’s standing upright, lying on its back, or hanging from its tear-resistant utility loop, you’ll always hear your music in full, balanced tones.

It can go for up to 12 hours on a single charge, and when it’s time to power back up, you can recharge it quickly via its USB-C port. All that said, if you are looking for a wonderfully easy-to-use speaker that you can take anywhere and sounds amazing, the Bose SoundLink Flex is the speaker you’d want to put underneath your Christmas tree.

With branches at SM City North Edsa, Ayala Malls TriNoma, SM Megamall, The Power Plant Mall, Glorietta 3, Greenbelt 5, SM Aura Premier, SM Mall of Asia North Parking and Bose IKEA, Bose is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Eleksis Marketing Corp. ■

Alibaba Cloud rolls out Cloud One program to boost digitalization capabilities of local companies

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

ASIA-PACIFIC (APAC) major cloud provider leader Alibaba Cloud recently introduced the  “Cloud One” program that aims to help eligible Philippine companies maximize emerging digital technologies and proactively address diverse challenges in various industries while co-creating inclusive digitalization across various stakeholders.

Leo Liu, general manager of the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau SAR, said Alibaba Cloud One aims to provide Philippine businesses with resources onboard including free services to support migration to Alibaba Cloud, streamlined access to the Alibaba Group ecosystem of solutions, including those around e-commerce and payments, free access to industry experts and cloud training to further help in growing their businesses.

to potentials.

Aside from the Philippines, Liu named Hong Kong, Macau SAR and the rest of Southeast Asia as very attractive markets because they have strong potentials.

“We believe in the unbounded potential of businesses and brands in the Philippines that can be unlocked through digital technology. And that is why we aim to bring such products and solutions within their reach through initiatives like Alibaba Cloud’s latest Cloud One program. We look forward to welcoming new participants into this project,” Liu said on the sidelines during the recent launch of Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group.

be Cloud forward to welcoming new participants into this said

Meanwhile, Alibaba announced it has signed a major agreement with the country’s leading content provider, ABS-CBN.

Allen Guo, country manager for the Philippines, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said Alibaba Cloud’s Object Storage Service (OSS) will provide the storage needs of the broadcast giant. He said the service is designed with 99.9 percent durability to ABSCBN with industry-leading scalability and a highavailability cloud-based storage management system useful in its growing distribution efforts. He said OSS also offers ABS-CBN flexible, cost-effective archiving and data protection through its cloud backup feature, minimizing the need for physical infrastructure.

Migrating existing data from one storage to another is also made seamless by the OSS through its compatibility with multiple online data sources.

“As more traditional media outlets enter the digital content world, the importance of data storage, management and security is pushed to the forefront of conversations. We expect this initiative will help ABS-CBN create a new way of managing their content on cloud—lower latency, high availability, and providing the scale needed as they grow,” Guo said.

Liu urged  local organizations to pursue innovation to achieve growth. “We not only provide the cloud infrastructure but our own best practices that have been proven successful. We also offer our cutting-edge cloud technologies for cloud computing technologies,” he said.

China builders’ rally poised to continue on govt support

THE surge in Chinese builders’ stocks and dollar bonds isn’t over as buying momentum driven by supportive government policy is likely to persist, some investors say.

The recovery has been driven by a flurry of measures aimed at stemming China’s property crisis, after efforts to crack down on debtfueled speculation in the sector brought on a liquidity crunch. The fallout included a record amount of offshore-bond defaults and projects being suspended as builders ran low on cash.

Prices for high-yield notes, a sector dominated by property firms, have reached levels last seen

in January 2022 at an average 75 cents on the dollar, according to a Bloomberg index. They bottomed November 3 at a record low of 49 cents. Meanwhile, a Bloomberg Intelligence gauge of builders’ stocks has soared more than 70 percent from an 11-year low.

“China property dollar bonds will continue to ride on the momentum for some time, and we don’t expect to see any major negative news for the sector

in the near term,” said Wonnie Chu, managing director of fixed income at Gaoteng Global Asset Management Ltd. “Investors in the dollar-bond market have been chasing yields as well, which helped this rally.”

It’s been a drastic reversal from the dark clouds hanging over the sector since mid-2021, when new-home sales began falling. In recent months, Beijing has ushered in a rash of support measures targeting developers’ liquidity and the sales slump. JPMorgan stock analysts wrote this week that more easing news “could drive short-term excitement in January” before a possible February pullback.

The government said late Thursday that it would allow an extension of lower mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers under

certain conditions, while the housing minister made a fresh pledge to help builders’ financing needs.

Property dollar bonds rose at least 1 cent Friday, according to credit traders, and the BI builder stock gauge rose as much as 2.1 percent.

Chu said the policy support has improved some developers’ funding channels and liquidity situations. “Some policy may even help stimulate demand in the longer term as buyer sentiments improve,” she said.

But the recent default by builder Times China Holdings Ltd. shows that government help may not be a panacea.

“I don’t believe all of the names rebounding will be survivors,” said Chu. “For those lacking solid funding channels, we will take profit gradually.” Bloomberg News

Putin orders 36-hour weekend truce in Ukraine, but Kyiv won’t take part

KYIV, Ukraine—Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his armed forces to observe a unilateral 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Orthodox Christmas holiday, the first such sweeping truce move in the nearly 11-month-old war. Kyiv indicated it wouldn’t follow suit.

Putin did not appear to condition his cease-fire order on Ukraine’s acceptance, and it wasn’t clear whether hostilities would actually pause on the 1,100-kilometer front line or elsewhere. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the Russian move as playing for time to regroup its invasion forces and prepare additional attacks.

At various points during the war that began February 24, Russian authorities have ordered limited, local truces

to allow civilian evacuations or other humanitarian purposes. Thursday’s order was the first time Putin has directed his troops to observe a cease-fire throughout Ukraine.

“Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a cease-fire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ,” Putin’s order said.

The order didn’t specify whether it would apply to both offensive and defensive operations. It wasn’t clear, for example, whether Russia would strike back if Ukraine kept fighting.

Ukrainian officials led by Zelenskky dismissed Putin’s moves.

In his nightly video address,

Zelenskyy stopped short of stating his forces would reject Putin’s request to suspend fighting, instead questioning the Russian leadership’s motives.

“Now they want to use Christmas as a cover to stop the advance of our guys in the Donbas for a while and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized people closer to our positions,” Zelenskyy said. “What will it give? Just another increase in the count of losses.”

Zelenskyy claimed that since he unveiled a peace plan in November, almost 110,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, and he accused the Kremlin of planning the fighting pause “to continue the war with renewed vigor.”

The most comprehensive recent Western estimate of Russia’s military losses was from a senior US military official, who said in November

that about 100,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded. Russian authorities haven’t provided any recent figure for their military casualties.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that Russian forces “must leave the occupied territories—only then will it have a ‘temporary truce.’”

Ukraine’s National Security Council chief Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian TV: “We will not negotiate any truces with them.”

He also tweeted: “What does a bunch of little Kremlin devils have to do with the Christian holiday of Christmas? Who will believe an abomination that kills children, fires at maternity homes and tortures prisoners? A cease-fire? Lies and hypocrisy. We will bite you in the singing silence of the Ukrainian night.” AP

Mexico nabs son of drug lord ‘El Chapo’ before Biden visit

MEXICO CITY—Mexican security forces captured Ovidio Guzmán, an alleged drug trafficker wanted by the United States and one of the sons of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, in a pre-dawn operation Thursday that set off gunfights and roadblocks across the western state’s capital.

Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Army and National Guard personnel had captured a son of “El Chapo.”

Sandoval identified him only as Ovidio, in keeping with government policy.

Ovidio Guzmán, nicknamed “the Mouse,” had not been one of El Chapo’s better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years ago. That attempt similarly set off violence in Culiacan that ultimately led President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to order the military to let him go.

Thursday’s high-profile capture comes just days before López Obrador will host US President Joe Biden for bilateral talks followed by their North American Leaders’ Summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Drug trafficking, along with immigration, is expected to be a top talking point.

“This is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and major victory for the rule of law. It will not, however, impede the flow of drugs into the US Hopefully, Mexico will extradite him to the US,” Mike Vigil, US Drug Enforcement Agency’s former chief of International Operations, said Thursday.

Vigil said that Ovidio Guzmán was involved in all of the cartel’s activities, especially the production of fentanyl. A 2018 federal indictment in Washington, DC, accused the younger Guzmán of conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the United States.

The CDC said last July that more than 107,000 Americans had died from a drug overdose during the year ending January 2022, most of them involving opioids including illegally made fentanyl.

López Obrador’s security approach reversed years of what came to be known as the kingpin strategy of taking down cartel

leaders, which led to the fragmentation of large cartels and bloody battles for dominance.

López Obrador put all his faith in the military, disbanding the corrupt Federal Police and creating the National Guard under military command.

The capture was the result of six months of reconnaissance and surveillance in the cartel’s territory, and then quick action on Thursday, Sandoval said. National Guard troops spotted SUVs, some with homemade armor, and immediately coordinated with the Army as they established a perimeter around the suspicious vehicles and forced the occupants out to be searched.

The security forces then came under fire, but were able to gain control of the situation and identify Guzmán among those present and in possession of firearms, Sandoval said.

Cartel members set up 19 roadblocks, including at Culiacan’s airport and outside the local Army base, as well as all points of access to the city of Culiacan, Sandoval said, but the Air Force was able to fly Guzmán to Mexico City despite their efforts, and he was taken to offices of the Attorney General’s organized crime special prosecutor.

Sandoval said Guzmán was a leader of a Sinaloa faction he called “los menores” or “the juniors,” who are also known as “los Chapitos,” for the sons of El Chapo.

Other “little Chapos” include two of his brothers—Iván Archivaldo Guzmán and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán—who are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

The Chapitos have been taking greater control in the cartel because Zambada was in poor health and isolated in the mountains, Vigil said. “The Chapitos know that if el Mayo dies, (the cartel) is going to break apart if they don’t have control.”

“It’s going to be very important that the US requests Ovidio’s extradition quickly and that Mexico does it,” Vigil said. US Homeland Security Investigations had posted a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Guzmán early last year. AP

House gridlock over Speaker now longest since civil war

THE Republican impasse over choosing a House speaker has now dragged on longer than balloting for the post in any other US Congress since before the Civil War.

Kevin McCarthy’s failure to win a majority vote a ninth time means the election will stretch beyond the number of ballots it took Republican Frederick Gillett to secure the position in 1923, a contest with eerie parallels to the current conflict.

The 1923 Congress was the first since 1859 to take more than one ballot to choose a speaker. Thirteen of the 14 multiple-ballot speaker elections occurred before the Civil War, when party divisions were muddled by regional passions over slavery. In 1855, it took 133 ballots to choose a speaker, and in 1859 it took 44 ballots.

Gillett, a Massachusetts Republican who had been speaker the two prior Congresses, in 1923 faced a revolt comprised of 20 dissidents, the same number of those who are battling McCarthy. And opponents of both men were demanding rule changes to empower a minority within the party, according to a blog post by Jeffery Jenkins,

a University of Southern California public policy professor who co-authored a book on the history of House Speakers.

Gillett originally had risen to be Speaker in 1919 in part because he was expected to be passive, with one reporter describing him as someone who didn’t drink coffee in the morning “for fear it would keep him awake all day.”Behind the scenes, conservative Republican leaders tightly controlled the House.

Then in 1923, a group of 20 Republican progressives opposed Gillett’s election while calling for changes to give them more power within the House.

G illett at first refused but then capitulated on the third day of the deadlock. With the demands met, 18 of the 20 progressives cast their ballots for Gillett.

Gillett, a 32-year veteran of the House, left at the end of the term after mounting a successful run for the Senate.

T he next speaker, Nicholas Longworth, bolstered by an enlarged Republican majority, then exacted revenge on the dissidents, stripping them of their committee assignments and seniority.

12.

TO

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CEBUANO KARTER WILLIAM GO: GOING FULL THROTTLE AT 14

CEBUANO karter William John

Riley Go goes full speed ahead as he continues to pursue his Formula 1 dream at a young age of 14.

A fter winning three karting crowns in 2019, the 14-yearold prodigy became the first Filipino to bag a podium finish in three competitions in Europe he highlighted with the 2022 ROK Super Finals championship in Lonato, Italy, last October 18 to 22.

G o finished the 20-lap competition with a time of 16 minutes and 12.687 seconds, beating 36 racers from more than 10 countries in the Super ROK category.

He was also awarded the Pole Position and Fastest Lap trophies in the process.

There was a surreal amount of joy from myself and everyone who supported me. This one-of-a-kind milestone would not have been possible without my family, my team…” Go said. “The experience that motivates me to keep moving forward to reach my dreams despite how ambitious it may seem.”

G o was also the first Filipino to make the podium in second place at the 2022 FIA Karting Academy in Genk, Belgium, and at the WSK Euro Series in Lombardia, Italy, where he finished in third place.

G o has been competing locally and in Asia since he was seven years old. He described racing Europe as “the home of the best of the best in karting” and one that ranks high in his bucket list.

I knew becoming victorious in the continent was extremely challenging due to the amount of talent and experience in the grid,” he said. “Nevertheless, I decided to keep dreaming of that championship win since there was no harm in doing so anyways.”

B orn and raised in Cebu, Go’s love for racing began after a family friend brought him to local races.

I was finally able to join a karting clinic when I was six,” he said. “I have been begging my parents to try karting since I was a little boy and I was happy that I was finally able to do it.”

He added: “My dad’s friend influenced me as he would invite me to tag along and watch karting and car races in Cebu. It was then that I realized I enjoyed watching the races and wanted to follow in their footsteps and become a racer, too.”

He turned professional in September 2015.

Back then, my parents and I only knew so little about racing. With some helping hands and hard work during only a few days of practice, I still managed to come home with a trophy,” he said. “Although it was not the best outcome, I was delighted and grateful, considering it was my first race. From then on, I was already hoping to join more races in the future.”

A fter winning his first national competition in 2017, he has competed in various competitions in Asia.

I n 2019, he became the first Filipino to win three overall Karting Championships in one season—IAME

Asia, ROK Cup Singapore and Asian

Open Karting Championship.

L ast December 29, Go received a plaque of appreciation during the 19th and 20th Golden Wheel Awards in Manila for his “Invaluable support to the development of Motor Sport in the Philippines.”

The annual awards are organized by The Golden Wheel Award Foundation and recognizes top motorsport talents in the Philippines.

The past seven months changed me tremendously and it molded me into who I am today,” said the son of Wendell and Virna Go. “It made me realize that not every race could be ours, the importance of my overall health [through proper exercise and nutrition], keeping a balance between racing and school, how days off the track can be made fun with the right company, and that I have the best support system—my family who stands by my side every step of the way.”

G o’s 2023 calendar is hectic but prestigious—FIA European World Championship, WSK Euroseries and Super Master Series, all set in Europe.

For 2023, I want to capitalize on what I did last year. From the win in the Rok Cup Superfinal race, to the WSK and FIA academy podiums, I want to do better so I can hopefully bring pride to the Philippines in the world of motorsports,” he said.

H is main goal is to transition to Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport which entails honing his skills in karting and proceeding to the next level—Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2 and, finally, Formula 1.

PSC HEAD TALKS POC, UNITY

By Josef Ramos

RICHARD “DICKIE” BACHMANN

on championing teamwork to cooperation and collaboration as he spent his third day Friday as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

“I’m not the savior of Philippine sports nor the PSC,” Bachmann told BusinessMirror on Friday. “I need the help of everyone.”

B achmann, 54, was sworn in as the 12th chairman of the PSC on Wednesday by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang and buckled down to work by meeting his board composed of Olivia “Bong” Coo and her newly-appointed fellow

Diaz-Naranjo tempers expectations in performance in heavier 59 kgs

HIDILYN DIAZ-NARANJO’S

journey to a second Olympic gold medal looks bumpy and circuitous as she virtually starts from scratch in a heavier weight division at 59 kgs of women’s weightlifting.

A nd the path to Paris 2024 could see Diaz-Naranjo deviating away from the 32nd Southeast Asian Games which Cambodia is hosting from May 5 to 17.

D iaz-Naranjo told BusinessMirror that she has to choose her competitions this year and early 2024 to prime her mind and body for a shot at a second Olympic gold.

I will be heading to 59 [kgs] and that would be a very challenging preparation and competition, it’s not easy,” Diaz-Naranjo said. “I might not win at the start, but I will qualify and win the gold in the Paris 2024 Olympics, I’ll do my best.”

She hinted that she’s starting like it’s all over again.

I would like to tell everyone that the life of an athlete is not always on the positive side…or you always have to win, I just want to say that,” the 31-year-old Diaz-Naranjo said. “I will accept whatever results and I hope my fans will also accept that.”

It took Diaz-Naranjo four Olympics—Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016 and finally Tokyo 2016—to win for herself and the country a first Olympic gold medal.

But with the 55-kg division bumped off from the Paris program, she decided to compete in the next heavier weight division.

“ But what’s important is we always fight to achieve our goals— and that’s to win my second Olympics gold medal,” she said.

C ambodia could be stricken off

Bacojo bags 2 silver medals in HK

THE

Singaporean Elliot Wong Yen-Hsiu in the standard category and also bagged silver in the blitz contest.

The Cambodia Games run

the Asian

qualifier—which are set May 3 to 13 in Jinju City, South Korea.

D iaz-Naranjo didn’t confirm if she’ll skip Cambodia although it’s most likely she will as she needs to follow up on her world championships success in Bogota, Colombia, where she won her first gold in the competition via sweep of the three golds in the 55 kgs class.

The following events are men’s 61 kg, 73 kg, 89 kg, 102 kg and +102 kg then women’s 49kg, 59kg, 71 kg, 81kg and +81 kg. Diaz-Naranjo, after the Worlds in Colombia, is set to compete for five more Olympic pre qualifiers to get points and qualify for the French capital’s biggest sporting spectacle.

D iaz-Naranjo’s fellow Tokyo Olympian, Erleen Ann Ando, will also shoot for a slot in the 59 kg class— although each country could only qualify one athlete per weight class in the Olympics. Josef Ramos

Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Coming out of that three-hour meeting, Bachmann released a twoparagraph official statement saying he would be putting the athletes’ welfare as tops in his priorities as well as the national sports associations.

He also vowed to bring the management skills he learned as a basketball executive as he thanked his former team Alaska, mentor Wilfred Uytengsu and the basketball community.

There was no mention of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the highest governing body of sports in the land.

But on Friday, Bachmann said he would strengthen the PSC’s ties with the POC and vowed to establish Paris Olympics task force.

He clarified that he would be working with the POC, headed by Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino “for the betterment of sports and the national athletes.”

I want to strengthen my relationship with the POC,” he said. “They wrote me a congratulatory

letter and I will respond to that letter. I would ask him [Tolentino] if we can create a working task force for all the events leading the Olympics.”

I really need the cooperation of the POC. The more involved they are and the more we work together, the better,” said Bachmann, a replacement for Noli Eala who was PSC chairman for four months. “We will be having a meeting soon.”

Th at meeting, BusinessMirror learned, would be Saturday.

B achmann said he would live up to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s “unity” slogan.

“ I cannot do it alone and I’m also learning. I need everyone’s cooperation and help from this office not only from the commissioners and the POC…the private sectors to make this succeed,” he said. “Everyone should be working together.”

He also said he won’t be rushing President Marcos on the appointment of a fourth commissioner to complete the PSC board.

I will just wait for the president to appoint another commissioner,” he said.

Pampanga, San Juan unscathed

THE Pampanga G Lanterns and San Juan Kings made short work of their respective opponents Thursday night to stay unscathed in the Manila Bankers LifePilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

M ichael Garcia uncorked 19 points, on top of three rebounds and five assists, as Pampanga thumped Bagong Cabuyao-Homelab Nation, 103-83, for its third straight win.

Former Philippine Basketball Association big man Jamer Jamito chipped in a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Alecis Ramos and Jayson Apolonio combined for 22 points as the Lanterns sustained the fiery showing they flashed in an 83-59 shellacking of Quezon City last December 29.

Pampanga raised its record to 3-0 won-lost in the tourney presented

intellectual sport and support our players,” he added.

by Winzir and co-presented by SCD Cosmetics and Dumper party-list, and supported by NET 25, Adcon, Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos and Finn Cotton.

C abuyao slipped to its fourth straight defeat as against a victory.

San Juan dismantled San Pedro Laguna-ARS, 94-61, to also remain unbeaten in three outings.

R ence Nocum went one rebounds shy of a double-double with 19 points for the Kings, while Michael Calisaan had 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Ejie Boy Mojica also added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who scored a big follow up to their 69-60 triumph over Bulacan last December 22.

The Warriors dropped to 1-5.

Joel Jolangcob carried the fight for Cabuyao with 18 points, three

James Yap back for 1 conference

JAMES YAP returns to the Philippine Basketball Association after he signed a one-conference contract on Friday with Rain or Shine.

Yap missed the Commissioner’s Cup to run as councilor in San Juan. He won.

He will be back in an Elasto Painter uniform for the Governors’ Cup set to begin late this month.

Yap, 40, last played in 2021 in the Philippines Cup bubble in Bacolor, Pampanga, under former Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina. He averaged 7.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in the conference.

Despite being in the sidelines in most games under returning coach Yeng Guiao, Yap has been joining practices in season 47.

R ain or Shine team governor Atty Momerto Mondragon didn’t reveal the details of the former MVP Yap’s contracts.

The 18-year veteran and seventime champion said that he would balance his work as councilor and a professional player. Josef Ramos

Malixi struggles in second round at Florida golfest

RIANNE MALIXI bogeyed two of the last five holes at the front and hobbled with a 73, virtually bowing out of title contention after two rounds of the Women’s Orlando International Amateur, which produced a new leader in American Megan Schofill at the Orange Country National Golf Center and Lodge in Florida, Thursday.

W hile mishits marred her frontside windup, putting woes continued to hound the young Filipina shotmaker, who blew a oneunder card after 11 holes with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 9 of the Panther course, her 37-36 round keeping her at tied 20th at 144 that included a first round 71.

But from five shots down Wednesday, Malixi heads to the final 18 holes needing to overhaul a huge 10-stroke deficit as Schofill scorched the par-72 layout with eight birdies against a bogey for a 65.

Counting her first round 69, the American pooled a 10-under 134 and grabbed a one-shot lead over erstwhile leader Virginie Ding of Hong Kong, who slowed down with a 69 after a 66 for joint second at 135 with American Ami Gianchandani, who carded a 68.

M alixi, whose campaign is backed by the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), had hoped for a better showing at Panther after saving a 71 at Crooked Cat. But after sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 11, she missed makeable chances in the next three, including a sixfooter on the par-5 No. 14.

She also muffed a par-putt bid from eight feet after missing the par-3 15th and blew cracks at birdies inside six feet in the next three. She finally gunned down a birdie on No. 2 but hit an errant approach shot on No. 5 that led to another bogey and after another couple of failed birdie bids, she yielded another stroke on the last hole.

Despite her mediocre showing, Malixi safely advanced to the final round and remained hopeful of a big comeback in an attempt to improve on her ranking and build some kind of momentum for the Annika Invitational slated January 15 to 17 at the Eagle

B acojo, 16, settled for second place behind 11-year-old

B acojo won his last two matches for 5.5 points in the seven-round Swiss System tournament with Wong earning 6.0 points to rule the event that gathered players aged 10 to 17 from Korea, Malaysia,

Although chess is a mind sport, a four- to five-hour game demands no less energy than a typical physical sport, and the players also need to put in much time in training,” said Geoffrey Kao, honorary president of the Hong Kong federation.

I hope that more and more people in Asia will learn about chess as a mentally and physically rewarding

Ayana Nicole Usman and Alexandra Sydney Paez were the other Filipinos in the tournament.

WILLIAM JOHN RILEY GO should be needing longer arms to cover his growing collection of trophies.

Philippines’ Mark Jay Bacojo brought home two silver medals from the recent Hong Kong Bauhinia U18 Chess Invitational hosted by the Hong Kong Chess Federation at the Regal Oriental Hotel in Kowloon City.

MARK JAY BACOJO (center) with (from left) Chief Arbiter and Hong Kong Chess Federation president and chief arbiter KK Chan, Ayana Nicole Usman and Alexandra Sydney Paez.

her 2023 program—in the process preventing her from winning a third consecutive SEA Games gold medal.

simultaneously with

Weightlifting Championships—a Paris Olympics

bordered

commissioners Edward Lim Hayco and Walter Francis Torres.

HIDILYN DIAZ-NARANJO trains vigorously with her husband and coach Julius Naranjo.

TOLENTINO BACHMANN MALIXI