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ANOTHER MIDEAST EXTRACTION PLAN
Seventeen years since its Middle East-wide mission to shuffle within the region or totally move out thousands of Filipinos just before the invasion of Iraq, the Philippines rushes to evacuate workers in at least three countries amid another unfolding desert drama. At its center is the same man, retired general Roy A. Cimatu. By Jonathan L. Mayuga
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S the safety of Filipinos hangs in the balance in the current Middle East drama prompted by the targeted US killing of a top Iranian general near the Baghdad airport early this month, the Philippines is racing to execute a Level 4 alert which mandates, among others, forced or mandatory evacuation of Filipinos.
At the center of the interagency effort is Environment Secretary and Philippine Special Envoy to the Middle East Roy A. Cimatu, who was assigned a similar mission in late 2002, months before the United States invaded Iraq on supposed information that Saddam Hussein kept weapons of mass destruction. This time, Cimatu flew from Manila to Doha, Qatar, via Philippine Airlines at exactly 1 p.m. on Thursday (Philippine time) to set up a command center there with the intention of convening Philippine Embassy officials immediately upon his arrival.
Over the past three days, Cimatu gave his thoughts about the situation, revealing in hindsight some details of how the Philippine government plans to execute the mission to move Filipinos out of harm’s way and, if war breaks out, safely bring them home.
Anything can happen
THE unpredictability of the situation in the Middle East, the former Armed Forces chief of staff reiterated, calls for the forced, or mandatory, evacuation to other countries of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon
to safer places. Tasked by President Duterte to lead the Philippines’ crisis management committee, Cimatu said evacuating Filipinos who may be in imminent danger, particularly those in Baghdad, will continue as planned, even as both Washington and Tehran on Thursday gave indications of easing up. In the trained eye of the retired Armed Forces chief—and his knowledge of geopolitics and precious wisdom drawn from his 2002-2003 mission, Cimatu believes the situation remains highly volatile despite recent developments where both Iran
and the United States promise to exercise restraint. “It is better to err on the side of safety,” he said before flying to Doha, insisting that evacuating Filipinos out of Iraq should begin as soon as possible while the Baghdad International Airport remains operational. The official noted that private airlines, in case the situation deteriorates, may eventually cancel flights going in and out of Baghdad. The same may eventually happen in other airports inside and outside Iraq, which will leave them Continued on A2
Analysis: Trump changes terms of 2020 race with Iran turmoil
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By Steve Peoples | The Associated Press
EW YORK—The election was always going to be about Donald Trump.
But over the span of a few days, the years-long focus on the Republican President’s performance on the economy, health care and immigration has been overtaken by an urgent debate over foreign policy and war. And as the sprint to Iowa’s February 3 caucuses begins, both Trump and his Democratic rivals are being forced to navigate a delicate and dangerous military conflict with Iran that injects a new level of uncertainty into the 2020 contest. For Democrats, the politics of war now could play a major role in shaping how voters view the winnowing field. And for Trump, who relentlessly cheerleads the American economy, it marked a departure from the standard fare of his
rallies and tweets and became the most dangerous moment of his three-year-old presidency. In a carefully scripted speech, the brash president met the moment with a rare dose of restraint. Less than 24 hours after missiles from Iran rained down on military bases housing US troops in Iraq, he downplayed the impact of the attack. “The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,” a solemn Trump declared. The measured approach reflects the political sensitivity of a situation that Trump helped create by ordering the killing of Iran’s top general late last week. The President is leading a political party openly feuding with
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.6030
PRESIDENT Donald Trump arrives to address the nation from the White House on the ballistic missile strike that Iran launched against Iraqi air bases housing US troops, January 8, 2020, in Washington. AP
itself over America’s role in global affairs. One faction is cheering his “America First” campaign promises to stop “endless wars.” Another wants Iran to pay a painful price for an attack that violated the clear red line Trump outlined in a social-media post days earlier. For a day at least, Trump appeared to placate both factions with a speech that toed the line between humility and strength. Fox News host Sean Hannity, who appeared to be cheering for a fierce US counterattack before Trump’s speech, was unusually silent in the hours afterward. Sen. Rand Paul, perhaps the Senate GOP’s most fervent isolationist, tweeted that he was “pleased that President Trump has pulled back and taken the preferred path of no further military action.” This phase of the conflict has only just begun, however. The President’s actions in the coming days and weeks will mean far more than the scripted words in one speech. Trump, of course, Continued on A2
n JAPAN 0.4621 n UK 66.1280 n HK 6.5151 n CHINA 7.2995 n SINGAPORE 37.4476 n AUSTRALIA 34.6985 n EU 56.2048 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4906
Source: BSP (January 10, 2020)
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Another Mideast extraction plan Continued from A1
with the narrow option of risky long travel by land to any country where Filipinos will be allowed entry and can find safe haven while waiting for repatriation back to the Philippines.
Talking from experience
CITING his experience in 2002 when he led the Arroyo administration’s crisis management team that led the repatriation of thousands of Filipinos out of Iraq, Cimatu said the best time to move Filipinos out of the Middle East country—caught in the US-Iran conflict because it hosts thousands of US forces—is “now.” Why? Because the possibility of another retaliatory attack by either Tehran or Washington may lead to a fullblown war, and the certainty of flight cancellations or military operations that will include putting up of road blockades. These will make the movement of Filipinos out of conflict areas highly risky and even more difficult. What’s more, he said at his predeparture briefing, most countries in the largely desert region have their own set of missiles for defense purposes, so attacks on perceived US facilities or US-friendly zones in other countries besides Iraq, Iran and Lebanon are possible. When he meets with Philippine embassy officials in the Middle East, Cimatu said he will immediately call for a logistics inventory—first and foremost— food, medicine, and vehicle and
fuel, while identifying the best mode of transportation available.
Master plan
CIMATU said the Philippines has a master plan to get all Filipinos out of harm’s way but said there’s no one size fits all, adding that a plan unique for each country is needed. He said the mode of transportation would still be identified in the next few days, and would have to be, from experience, multi-modal. That strategy may be seen in the fact that “all hands on deck” is the approach taken, logistics-wise. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has made sure Philippine military and Coast Guard assets are available to ferry OFWs from safe havens where they may be brought after extraction from hot zones. The Philippine embassies in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon where Level 4 Alert was raised simultaneously this week are compliant and have in fact started executing exit plans for Filipinos. In Iraq, more than 1,600 have been registered and ready for evacuation. The same is happening in Iran and Lebanon, Cimatu said. The plan, he said, eventually is to repatriate all Filipinos out of countries facing serious threats of attacks, insisting that it will be done even if Filipinos insist on staying. “We will insist that they be evacuated to safety,” he said.
Safe havens
THOSE in Iraq, he said, may find safe haven at the Philippine em-
bassy in Baghdad while awaiting repatriation. Cimatu said he thought of finding safe havens for those outside of Baghdad, which, he said, is a “hot spot” because of the presence of the United States embassy and American facilities which are potential targets by Tehran. Finding temporary shelter for Filipinos who are ready to leave Iraq, he said, may compel the Philippines to book them in hotels while waiting for their flights, which can be done in batches. By batches also means the government booking the available commercial flights back to the Philippines. Travel by land onboard buses using the most possible safe routes declared as “peace corridors” will be used to get to the nearest airport.
Proper coordination
PROPER coordination by Philippine embassy officials in each country where Filipinos may travel to for their safety is crucial to every plan. Cimatu noted that in 2002, it became known to him that some countries are very strict and would only allow Filipinos a certain number of days to stay in their country. “Some countries will allow up to three days,” he said, adding that during that short window, the flight must be scheduled.
Undocumented Filipinos
CIMATU—and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III—expressed concern in the case of undocumented Filipinos, the number of
PRESIDENT Duterte talks with security officials at Malacañang on January 5, 2020. Duterte has ordered the military to prepare to deploy its aircraft and ships “at any moment’s notice” to evacuate thousands of Filipino workers in Iraq and Iran should hostilities erupt there. ALFRED FRIAS/MALACAÑANG PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS DIVISION VIA AP
whom remains unknown until now. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), around 2.1 million overseas Filipino workers are working in the Middle East. Apparently, however, citing his experience in repatriating Filipinos in Iraq more than 15 years ago, the number of Filipinos may swell as the situation worsens. Another problem in repatriating undocumented Filipinos is the fact that they have been staying in unknown locations in the Middle East. The solution to that, he said, is by appealing to the relatives of undocumented OFWs back home to communicate the identity, location and, if possible, coordinate with the Philippine embassy in Manila to facilitate the repatriation of the undocumented Filipinos. Cimatu, however, said that undocumented Filipinos need not fear being prosecuted, as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has agreed to provide necessary travel documents for them to be able to leave the Middle East without hassle.
Filipinos with foreign spouses
ANOTHER concern, said Cimatu, is dealing with Filipinos who married foreigners, had children and have settled in Middle East countries. This situation, he said, calls for further coordination with the government of the Filipinos’ spouses, such as in Iran, where he was told that many, if not more than half of Filipinos, are with Iranian husbands and children. The lingering question is whether the married couple will be allowed to go together—or be separated—which will be devastating to the family, particularly the children. “If the government will allow their nationals to leave their country and join their spouses going to the Philippines, that’s good. If not, it will be a problem,” he said.
Worst-case scenario
WHILE hoping and praying for the best, Cimatu said he also expects the worst and hence, the Philippines must plan and prepare to execute such plan drawn with the worst-case scenario in mind.
“Over-preparation is better than under-preparation,” he told reporters at a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 before boarding. A worst-case scenario for Cimatu means airports are closed and military operations have started in case of a full-blown war. This means a greater risk for Filipinos traveling distant lands to the nearest airport in another nearby country. Cimatu said they are looking at requesting host countries to allow flights using private airstrips, or travel by boat or seacraft of Philippine Coast Guard or Navy, which will be costly as it requires the use of a lot of fuel. Another worst-case scenario, he said, is when Filipinos become targets. Cimatu feared that in such case, as the threats become even grave and the risk of traveling rises further, the best time for Filipinos to leave would be “as soon as possible”—before the tension and threat escalate and develop into a full-blown war between the US and Iran, and possibly, involving other forces sympathetic to either of the two countries.
Analysis: Trump changes terms of 2020 race with Iran turmoil Continued from A1
has struggled with discipline and consistency throughout his presidency—especially on social media. One misplaced tweet, or offhanded comment, at a political rally could shatter the fragile peace. He was scheduled to face thousands of his supporters Thursday night in Ohio, where his thoughts on Iran almost certainly won’t be as scripted. “Trump’s not out of the woods,” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who predicted that remnants of the military conflict would help shape the 2020 election even if no further military action takes place. Indeed, even if the infighting within his party dies down, Trump will face legitimate questions in the months ahead about his muddled foreign policy, which has scrambled alliances across the globe and emboldened some of America’s most dangerous adversaries, including Russia and North Korea. After maligning Nato for much of his presidency, Trump on Wednesday called for the alliance of Western nations to take a greater role in the Middle East. And he falsely blamed the Obama administration for providing funding for the Iranian missile attack, ignoring his own 2018 decision to abandon the international agree-
ment to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. During a campaign appearance in Chicago, Democratic White House hopeful Michael Bloomberg urged Trump not to act “rashly or recklessly.” The prospect of a wartime election may be new in 2020, but the shift would mark a return to normalcy of sorts in presidential politics, at least in this century. International affairs and military conflict have played a central role in almost every presidential contest since 2000. The 2004 contest came just a year after President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq. Obama beat Republican war hero John McCain in a 2008 election shaped by voter fatigue over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And in 2016, Trump effectively turned the tables by casting Democrat Hillary Clinton as an establishment-minded globalist who would pursue endless wars. While Trump sought to deescalate on Wednesday, Democratic candidates sorted through what the conflict means for them. No one stands to gain—or lose— more in a foreign policy election than former Vice President Joe Biden. “Biden just won the nomination,” South Carolina-based Democratic strategist Boyd Brown, a Biden supporter, said as the first
news reports revealed the extent of the Iranian missile attacks. While Brown is far from objective, variations of his idea rippled through the political stratosphere as Democratic voters paused to rethink the terms of a 2020 nomination fight through the lens of war. The party’s far-left wing, in particular, was forced to face the fact that the overwhelming strength of their preferred candidates, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, lies in their grasp of domestic priorities like health care and income inequality, not international affairs. For all his experience on the world stage, however, Biden has yet to put to rest stubborn questions about his 2003 vote as a Delaware senator to authorize military force against Iraq. It was that vote, followed by Bush’s invasion, that triggered nearly two decades of military conflict that shapes conditions in the Middle East today. But despite any questions Democrats will face, do not expect Trump to cede his leading role in the 2020 drama anytime soon. As the world waits to see whether the peace with Iran will last, Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate is just days away.
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Science
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Sunday
Sunday, January 12, 2020 A5
Duterte confers on Dr. Emil Javier the Order of National Scientist coconut plantlets
Diesel engine agricultural machine
Tawa-tawa supplement
President Duterte congratulates Dr. Emil Javier (right), who he conferred with the Order of National Scientist at the Malacañan Palace on January 7. With them is Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña (left). Alfred Frias/Malacañan photo
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resident Duterte conferred the Order of National Scientist on Dr. Emil Q. Javier at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on January 7. Javier was named National Scientist of the Philippines by virtue of Proclamation 781, signed by President Duterte on August 2, 2019. “The work of Emil Q. Javier, PhD, in the field of agriculture, through spearheading the Institute of Plant Breeding, UP Los Baños, which popularized high-yielding crops and disease-resistant varieties in the country and in Asia, evinces his outstanding contributions to the progress of science and technology in the Philippines and the world,” the proclamation cited. The presidential proclamation further stated that “[Javier] played an
active role in the efforts to inform the public about the nature of science, and its potential to improve people’s access to food and health, and to emphasize the need for high safety standards in both research and production of biotechnical innovations.” “Dr. Javier is a scientist who has a great influence, especially in how we should view and understand the world. However, he did not use his influence for fame, power nor money. Instead, he used his knowledge and focused his studies to cater those who really are in need and those who need help,” Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said. The title of Order of National Scientists is the highest honor conferred by the president of the Philippines to a Filipino with outstanding achievements in science and technology. DOSTPH
Ebarvia wins 2019 DEN award; first awardee from PHL
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ilipino Assistant Scientist Dr. Benilda S. Ebarvia was awarded the 2019 Developing Economies National Metrology Institute (DEN) Award in rites at Le Montage in Sydney, Australia, on December 4, 2019. Ebarvia was the first DEN winner for the Philippines. She bested others from 16 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Dr. Toshiyuki Takatsuji, of the NMI of Japan and chairman of the Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP), handed the award to Ebarvia. Ebarvia is the head of the Metrology in Chemistry (MiC) Laboratory of the National Metrology Laboratory (NML) of the Industrial Technology Development Institute-Department of Science and Technology (ITDI-DOST). She received the award for having played a key role in establishing the MiC lab at NMLITDI-DOST, and raising funds for its operations, including raising awareness of metrology among stakeholders in the country. However, she is best represented by her work
in developing the first reference materials (RMs) in the Philippines. RMs are means to confirm methods and to assess accuracy of measurement results for use by measurement laboratories to analyze, for example, content of properties in foodstuffs, e.g., aflatoxin in milk powder, and aflatoxins B and G in peanut butter products, among others. These are useful also in proving what makes up a particular food, its micronutrients, or the extent of its authenticity. Further, Ebarvia’s RM work supports results of measurement laboratories to ensure that local commodities can pass stringent international trade standards on food quality and control. APMP established the DEN Award in November 2010. It aims to highlight contributions and to recognize outstanding achievements of an individual from APMP’s 17 member-economies in advancing metrology efforts in their country and within the Asia-Pacific region. It gives the award to only one individual every year, with APMP reserving the right to declare no winner within an award year.
AMGuevarra/S&T Media Service
Marinduque native pigs
Hybrid trimaran
Agapay robotic arm
Hybrid electric road train
Anti-dengue drug
DOST to intensify marketing of its developed products, techs
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he Department of Science and Technology disclosed its plan to intensify the commercialization of DOST-developed products and technologies in 2020. Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña during the flag ceremony at the DOST Compound in Bicutan, Taguig City, last week enumerated some of the agency’s areas of accomplishments that he wants to fully commercialize this year. The technologies’ areas of application range from health and medicine, agriculture and mass transportation: n The 18 active ingredients discovered in local plants for developments as nutraceuticals and drugs through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s Tuklas Lunas Program. These include the tawa-tawa herbal supplement by Herbanext, and the anti-dengue herbal drug
by Pharmalytics Corp. that will be commercialized late this year. n Biomedical devices, like the Agapay and Tayo, that assist injured patients, and the local ventilator called Ginhawa (ReliefVent), which is much cheaper compared to imported ventilators. n Som at ic embr yogenesi s technology (CSet) for coconut propagation. De l a Peña sa id t here are f ive i nst it ut ions c u r rent ly doing coconut propagation research, including University of the Philippines Los Baños, UP Mindanao, Visayas State University and Philippine Coconut Author it y w ith its t wo centers in Zamboanga and A lbay. “Before we get only one tree
Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña at the DOST flag ceremony.
from a mature coconut fruit. But in the first part of the research, UP Los Baños harvests more than 300 planting materials from one fruit using tissue culture,” de la Peña said. n The technology to improve native livestock through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the DOST. The project, led by the Marinduque State College, is focused on the proliferation of native pigs. n Commercialization of mass transportation technology developed by the DOST is also a
top priority. De la Peña said the Hybrid Trimaran, currently being developed in New Washington, Aklan, could be possibly launched on the first semester of 2020. The hybrid trimaran is envisioned to carry 150 passengers, four vans and 15 motorcycles. n The 12-horsepower diesel engine developed by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center will have a crucial role in agricultural modernization. De la Peña said there are two private companies that are very eager to be licensed to manufacture the engine. S&T Media Service
Talaandig, other IPs, to benefit from R&D on bamboo musical instruments D
Datu (Chieftain) Rodelio “Waway” Saway plays the pulala.
atu Rodelio “Waway” Saway is not called tatay (father) for nothing. A teacher at the Talaandig School of Living Traditions and a well-known performing artist, Saway has been keeping the Talaandig musical heritage intact by mentoring young members of their tribe. Community artists would always go to their Tatay Waway to learn how to play and craft their indigenous musical instruments. “We use our traditional instruments to pray and connect with the divine. Playing them is like opening a portal to the spiritual world,” explained Saway, who has traveled the world flaunting the Talaandig’s own brand of music. “Despite the availability of tools that makes the production of bamboo musical instruments easier, there are still issues affecting the durability of the instruments. There are times our BMIs crack when brought to temperate countries. Some get infested by bukbok [powder-post beetle],” he noted. Under the leadership of the Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-
Ornate patterns are etched on a bamboo flute.
A datu plays the takumbo (parallel-stringed zither). FPRDI), a research and development (R&D) program is now being conducted aimed at making better-quality BMIs. The initiative is in partnership with University of the Philippines Diliman’s Center for
Ethnomusicology and the Philippine Normal University. It targets to develop technologies that can help people, like Saway, and other local BMI makers and users. “We have been going around various
indigenous communities [or peoples] and BMI production sites in the country to talk to key people, and understand how important BMIs are in their local culture. We want to know how we can work together with them to improve these instruments,” shared Program Leader Aralyn L. Quintos. The R&D program seeks to develop technologies that will prolong the life of bamboo, without negatively affecting the musical instruments’ sound quality; standardize the production of selected BMIs; develop prototype design; analyze raw material sources and existing markets; and build a BMI-processing
facility. According to Saway, long before their BMIs have been mass produced, they have been traded for other important things. He has crafted numerous BMIs, including the pulala (lip valley notch flute), tumpuy (chip-on-ledge flute), hulagteb (side-blown flute), takumbo (parallel-stringed zither) and bantula (slit drum). “We have a lot of creative people here. The Talaandigs have been producing BMIs for a long time already, and I think we are ready for their mass production. What we lack, however, are technologies, particularly a treatment facility for bamboo,” Saway explained. Living at the foothills of the Kitanglad Mountain Ranges in Bukidnon, the Talaandigs create music reminiscent of the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. The DOST-FPRDI, together with its partners, is dedicated to helping them preserve their rich musical tradition. Apple Jean C. Martin-de
Leon/S&T Media Service
Faith
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Images of Filipinos’ devotion to the Black Nazarene
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ulling the rope tied to the andas (bier) carrying the image of the Black Nazarene, struggling to get onto the andas, walking barefoot during the kilometers-long procession, falling in long queues to kiss the feet of the image, wiping the life-size image with small pieces of cloth, the elderly carrying their young or sick children or relative.
A MOTHER and her child sit beside the image of the Black Nazarene during the blessing of its replicas and procession near Quiapo Church in Manila on Wednesday. ROY DOMINGO
a GIRL is raised by her parent beside the image of a replica of the Black Nazarene. NONIE REYES
Devotees in a commotion as they pull out the rope as millions of devotees joined the procession of the Black Nazarene that started at Quirino Grandstand in Manila going to Quiapo Church during the Feast of the Black Nazarene. ROY DOMINGO
Devotees struggles to get onto the andas carrying the image of the Black Nazarene amid a sea of thousands of devotees. Nonnie reyes
A devotee of the Black Nazarene passed out. Most of the devotees walk barefoot in maroon and yellow shirts, jostle each year to touch the ropes pulling the carriage of the Black Nazarene or throw white towels to wipe the statue believed to have miraculous powers. NONIE REYES
Devotees raise the small replicas of the Black Nazarene during the Mass at Quiapo Church. NONOY LACZA
These are just a few of the common sights every January 9 as millions of Filipinos show their devotion to the Black Nazarene during the Traslación, or transfer of the Black Nazarene image from Quirino Grandstand in Intramuros to Quiapo Church. Having been devoted for years, people did not mind the “minor sufferings,” saying they are willing to sacrifice to repay for the Nazarene’s having answered their prayers, or are asking for answer to their prayers. An actress said on television that she has become a devotee for 15 years now after she was healed of her illness when she prayed to the Nazarene.
A father also promised to join the Traslación for the rest of his life after his son was healed from an illness. The image of the Black Nazarene and the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, or the Quiapo Church, where it is enshrined, are among the most popular images and churches in the country because they have become the people’s “last succor” as they believe in its miracles. “Saint John Paul II recognized the church as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene because of its role in strengthening a deep popular devotion to Jesus Christ and because of its cultural contribution to the religiosity of the Filipino people,” Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, former rector of Quiapo Church, said in Quiapochurch.com. In relating the history of the Black Nazarene, Ignacio said, a first group of Augustinian Recollect missionaries landed in Manila in 1606 from Mexico. “They brought with them a dark image of Jesus Christ kneeling on one knee and carrying a large wooden cross. The image was first enshrined in Saint John the Baptist Church at Luneta in 1606 and, after two years, was moved to a bigger church nearby. Over a century and a half later, in 1767, the image was transferred to Quiapo Church, whose patron is also Saint John the Baptist,” he added. Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr. from Loyola School of Theology, meanwhile, clarified that the image was not charred but, in fact, dark through to its core, as it was carved from mesquite wood. Vengco based this claim on personal research in Mexico, where he said the wood was a popular medium in the period the statue was carved, and likened it to Our Lady of Antipolo, of similar provenance and appearance, the Quiapochurch.com said. In his homily at the midnight Mass at the Quirino Grandstand, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila noted the relevance of the theme of the 2020 Traslación: “Iba’t Ibang Kaloob, Isang Debosyon, Tungo sa Isang Misyon [Different Gifts, One Devotion in Response to the Mission]” to the life of Jesus Christ. He said Jesus Christ fulfilled His mission to save humanity from their sins not out of obligation, but out of love. Tagle urged the devotees of the Black Nazarene to emulate the example of Jesus Christ in expressing their faith during the Traslación. “For the devotees, devotion should lead to mission. No one can say they cannot carry this mission if they will look into their gifts they received [from God],” Tagle said. Lyn Resurreccion and Samuel P. Medenilla
Methodists propose split in gay marriage, clergy impasse Proabortion women perform
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ASHVILLE, Tennessee—United Methodist Church (UMC) leaders from around the world and across ideological divides unveiled a plan last week for a new conservative denomination that would split from the church in an attempt to resolve a decades-long dispute over gay marriage and gay clergy. The proposal, called “A Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation,” envisions an amicable separation in which co n s e r vat i ve c h u rc h e s fo r m i n g a n e w denomination would retain their assets. The new denomination also would receive $25 million. The proposal was signed in December by a 16-member panel, who worked with a mediator and began meeting in October. The panel was formed after it became clear the impasse over LGBTQ issues was irreconcilable. The next step could come at the church’s General Conference in May. Methodist Bishop Karen Oliveto, the denomination’s first openly gay bishop, said the United Methodist Church leadership “was clearly at a point in which we couldn’t agree to disagree” over same-sex relationships. “I’m actually really sad that we couldn’t build
a bridge that could have provided a witness to the world of what unity amid diversity and disagreement could look like,” he said. Oliveto was challenged by the denomination’s highest court, the Judicial Council, in 2017 when it declared that the bishop’s consecration “was incompatible with church law.” However, Oliveto was allowed to remain as the resident bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference, which includes United Methodist Churches in Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and a section of Idaho. Asked what a post-separation world looks like for the church to move forward, Oliveto said, “We are no longer using LGBTQ people as scapegoats.” Members of the 13 million person denomination have been at odds for years over the issue, with members in the United States leading the call for full inclusion for LGBTQ people. The rift widened last year when delegates meeting in St. Louis voted 438-384 for a proposal called the Traditional Plan, which affirmed bans on LGBTQ-inclusive practices. A majority of US-based delegates opposed that plan but were outvoted by US conservatives teamed with delegates from Methodist strongholds in Africa and the Philippines.
Methodists in favor of allowing gay clergy and gay marriage vowed to continue fighting. Meanwhile, the Wesleyan Covenant Association, representing traditional Methodist practice, had already been preparing for a possible separation. Concern over the future of the church pushed members, led by Bishop John Yambasu of Sierra Leone, to convene a group to share ideas across the theological spectrum. New York Bishop Thomas Bickerton said that turned into the final panel, made up of moderates, progressives and traditionalists from Africa, Europe, the Philippines and the United States. Bickerton, who heads 438 Methodist churches in New York, said while he thinks it is an amicable solution, “there is a degree of heartbreak within me because I never thought we would reach this point. However, we are at this point. The differences are irreconcilable. This is inevitable.” The Rev. Keith Boyette, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and one of 16 people on the mediation team that developed and signed the separation proposal, said he is “very hopeful” the plan will be approved. This is the first time that “respected leaders of groups from every constituency” have come
together to form a plan, he said. “And this is the first time that bishops of the church have signed on to an agreement like this.” While other mainline Protestant denominations have embraced gay-friendly practices, the United Methodist Church has not, though acts of defiance by pro-LGBTQ clergy have multiplied. Many have performed same-sex weddings; others have come out as gay or lesbian from the pulpit. Texas Bishop Scott J. Jones praised the panel for its contribution to the ongoing discussions about human sexuality but “it should be emphasized that a statement by 16 leaders does not necessarily mean that its provisions will be adopted.” “The protocol itself says it was developed in service to the general conference delegates who will decide on its adoption or amendment. Other plans may well be considered as alternatives,” he said in a statement. “Significant questions remain to be answered about the Protocol’s implementation. The Judicial Council will need to rule on its constitutionality. The feasibility of its financial provisions must also be evaluated.” AP
in front of Mexican cathedral
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EXICO CITY—A dozen women wearing green scarves lined up in front the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City’s central square on Sunday to call for legal and safe abortions throughout Mexico. Abortion is highly restricted in the country of 120 million inhabitants, with the exception of the capital Mexico City and the southern state of Oaxaca, where the procedure is allowed up to 12 weeks of gestation. To the sound of a metal spoon clanking against an iron frying pan, the women performed a variation of “A Rapist in Your Path”—the viral dance sequence concocted by the Chilean feminist collective La Tesis to protest violence against women. The moves are the same, but the words have changed; in this version, an “objector” stands in their path. “The patriarchy is a judge that judges us for living, and our punishment is to force us to give birth,” the women sang while tapping their heels on the ground. The group dubbed themselves Aborting Queens, since the performance took place on the eve of the Three Kings’ holiday—when children
in Latin America receive gifts purportedly from the wise men who bestowed myrrh, gold, and frankincense on baby Jesus. Performer Perla Rosales, 25, said she aborted three years ago because she felt she wasn’t ready to be a mother. “I would love to be a mom, I love children, but as I want to decide when, how, where, why I am going to be a mom—I want all the other women to do the same,” she said. “At this moment I don’t want a child. I don’t have the economic possibilities, nor the time, nor the desire to be a mom.” The performance took place in a small plaza in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heavens, which is also the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. “We wanted to do it there to single out the church, the structure as such and religion in general, as at fault for our oppression,” said Fanny González, 26, who accompanies women to abortions. Surveys by pollster Mitofsky show that a slight majority of Mexicans believe all women in the country should be allowed to abort. AP
Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror
Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua
Sunday, January 12, 2020
A7
Borders of an Empire:
The German Limes
The Funny Lion façade that welcomes every visitor.
Porta Praetoria is the northern gate of the legionary camp Castra Regina, now Regensburg.
The Island where The Funny Lion can be found
The author and the remains of the foundations of the Roman annex fort in Osterburken.
Story & photos by Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero
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he German Limes, meaning limits, complements the UK’s Hadrian and Antonine Walls in demarcating and representing the boundaries of the former Roman Empire at its greatest extent in the 2nd century.
As a large-scale engineering and military project, the two German sections thematically called Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes (there is also a Lower Germanic Limes) are said to be the longest network of structures of a singular function ever constructed in Europe. It cuts through Germany from the northwest to the southeast running across forests and parallel to rivers. Covering a total distance of 550 kilometers, the Upper GermanicRhaetian Limes became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005. My recent trip to Germany allowed my friend and I to drive around to see three major components of the Limes: A Roman fort in a small village near Ingolstadt, another one in Osterburken in the state of Baden-Württemberg and, lastly, in Regensburg.
Castra Vetoniana. The weather
forecast was not promising when we headed out to Ingolstadt. On the way, as predicted, it started to rain, and we could only hope that it would stop as we got closer. Lying on top of a hill, Castra Vetoniana provides a commanding view over the village of Pfünz. Thanks to the rain, the parking lot was empty and so we had the whole site all
Story by Jonathan P. Enriquez
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The remains and reconstructed section of Castra Vetoniana in Pfünz, Bavaria.
to ourselves. Luckily, after five minutes, the sky cleared up, and the structures were better revealed to us—indeed, a most dramatic introduction to the Limes. As with most Roman cohort camps, Castra Vetoniana had defensive ditches and walls, as well as several buildings within. A section has been carefully reconstructed, allowing visitors to visually interpret the site. The recreated section comprises a tower, a gate, and the curtain wall that connects the two structures. We walked by the wall and then along the earthen trenches, reading a few information boards installed on the way. The patina-covered remains of the other three gates have been recovered and exposed for viewing, too. It was also in Pfünz were we first saw a Römersäule, one of the nine historic stelas erected in the early 1900s, commemorating the initial interests made in mapping the Limes.
Osterburken. In figuring how to get to Maulbronn from Würzburg, my friend suggested a route that would pass through old towns. As I was not too keen on seeing more timber-framed houses, I took another look at the map and saw Osterburken instead. What drew me toward it were more Roman ruins. Osterburken houses a unique double fort. It also has a reconstructed watchtower that
stands on the side of a hill, and the views from our short walk from the parking lot toward it were delightful. Just like in Pfünz, we were the only visitors then. The remains of the double fort in town, on the other hand, are probably the most authentic constructions dating back to Roman times that we saw. The outline of the annex fort is clearly visible as its foundations are still intact. The site of the annex fort was landscaped as a Limes Park, allowing locals and visitors to fully enjoy the archaeological site while preserving whatever remains of it. The adjacent main fort, however, lost almost all its structures as modern houses have long taken up the site where it once stood. Only the remains of the wall that it shared with the annex fort stands nowadays.
Castra Regina. There is truth in the saying that Regensburg is “Italy’s northernmost city.” Regensburg was, in fact, built on the site of Castra Regina, a Roman legionary camp. Not much remains of this important fort except for two sections of Roman walls and Porta Praetoria, the second-oldest extant Roman gate north of the Alps. Since Porta Praetoria opens toward the Danube, it is the reason why Castra Regina is sometimes associated with the Danube Limes section that occurs more on the Austrian side. The gate is now
incorporated into the north wall of the Bishop’s Court. The unapparent Roman walls are tricky to locate. But once found, it is easy to distinguish them from latter-built walls as the former were constructed using larger stones. The longest stretch of wall can be seen underground inside a parking building. During the construction of the building, they accidentally came across the structure. They are now encased with a protective glass, but still visible to anyone walking down the basement. Regensburg is already a World Heritage Site as an old town. Unlike the ones in Pfünz and Osterburken, however, Regensburg’s Roman components are still to be included in the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, a prospect tag being sought in 2020. When that happens, Castra Regina will instantly be catapulted to the elite group of monuments twice declared as historic sites of “Outstanding Universal Values,” a bragging right that Germany has yet to secure. Considering the extent of the Limes, its rich history and its array of structures and landscapes that can be seen and experienced (400+ sites), it has been positioned by Germany as a premier travel route named “Limes-Straße.” It targets not only history geeks, but also hikers and bikers alike. I aim to see more next time.
TPB achieves ISO 9001:2015 reaccreditation The Tourism
Promotions Board Philippines once again proves its commitment toward the continuous improvement of its management systems by successfully maint aining it s ISO 9 0 01:2015 certification. The audit performed by the Certification International Philippines Inc. showed that the quality management systems in place at TPB has seen remarkable improvements and discovered no nonconformities in the organization’s existing processes on design, development and provision of Philippine tourism marketing and promotions versus the ISO standards. An attached agency of the Department of Tourism, TPB exists to market and promote the Philippines domestically and internationally as a world-class tourism and MICE destination.
oron’s irresistible beauty made itself as one of the top destinations in the Philippines. Known for pristine water, beautiful limestone formation and majestic lakes and lagoons, Coron has been ranked among world-class tourism spot for both local and foreign travelers. Located at the northern part of Palawan, Coron is surrounded by magnificent nature’s attractions. The town boasts the Kayangan Lake, which hides behind mountain and surrounded by limestone cliffs, is considered cleanest lake in the country. The Twin Lagoon’s clear water is perfect for swimming and kayaking. Siete Pecados, a marine sanctuary, is home to different species of fishes, corals and sea creature; an ideal spot for snorkeling. Truly, Coron is blessed with nature’s beauty that caught the eyes of Nikki Cauton, chief executive of The Funny Lion. He easily fell in love with the Instagrammable splendor of Coron after he visited Calauit Safari Park and Maquinit Hot Spring. Cauton and his wife decided to open a boutique hotel in Coron and branded as The Funny Lion. The elegantly designed The Funny Lion hotel has become an ideal choice for travelers, couples, families and flashpackers in the area of Coron. These flashpackers are group of tech-savvy travelers and works mobile. These types of travelers are not into ultra-luxury but they want a comfortable hotel to stay in. The Funny Lion’s cozy-designed hotel rooms goes well with the island feel. On the roof deck, there’s a bar with a Jacuzzi wherein clients can relax and enjoy cold drinks, while witnessing the gorgeous sunset at Coron Bay as the sun touches the horizon.
Spreading joy and hospitality
“After five years of operations in Coron, we are opening The Funny Lion in Puerto Princesa and El Nido. We believe we already have following for The Funny Lion brand and, hopefully, we can make a synergy for the three resorts. Maybe they can fly via Puerto Princesa, go to El Nido then take a craft going to Coron,” Cauton said during the hotel’s fifth anniversary and thanksgiving dinner. Cauton also mentioned their plan to operate a 70-room development in a Puerto Princesa property while they are looking at 50 rooms for The Funny Lion El Nido. The young CEO said that The Funny Lion in El Nido and Puerto Princesa will offer different experiences from Coron that would excite tourists nevertheless. “We want each and every hotel to be different from the other. We want them to have a heart of their own. Once the guest steps in, we want them to feel that the hotel has a soul. That’s how I see our resort development should be,” said Cauton. “Coron is still quaint town compared to El Nido and we can say the two towns cater to different markets in some ways. More flights coming in will be more beneficial. There’s
The island view at Pride Rock Deck.
The Funny Lion Management Team: Joy Anne Denoga-Bautista, VP for Sales and Marketing; Lyba Godio, COO; Katalene Ross Agmata, marketing director; and Michael Mahinay, resort manager JPE
opportunity for all those areas which would be beneficial for the location,” he explained. He also mentioned he wants to infuse the vibe of the locale into the design of the rooms and facilities, and bring the art scene into that development. “In El Nido, there are lot of beaches and limestone formation. We want to capture that beauty and integrate to the hotel designs and architectural works, like recreating the limestone to the wall of the building,” he added. Both El Nido and Puerto Princesa developments are expected to be opened by the second quarter. “The joy in the hospitality business is to make guest feel special. That makes the hotel business fun for us,” sharing his humble beginnings in managing his first hotel property in Panglao, Bohol. A lawyer with no background in the hospitality industry, Cauton recalls how he and his wife were hands on in preparing breakfast, checking in and driving guests around. “When we join international travel fairs, we want to know what other international brands are doing to raise the bar of hospitality industry. We do not just promote our properties, but we also represent and sell the Philippines as a great tourist destination,” he added.
Making a difference
For years, Cauton and his team is an active advocate of promoting book reading and feeding program for grade-school pupils in Coron, Palawan, and Panglao, Bohol. He and his staff dedicate their time to bring reading materials in English, Filipino or Visayan dialect. “Also, nutrition is an important part of the holistic development of a person. If kids were not fed well, it will be hard for them to study. These two goes well for them to be successful members of the society,” he added. Cauton believes in the importance of giving back to the locale and sustainable practices to empower people so they can make a huge difference in the future.
A8
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Sports BusinessMirror
Editor: Jun Lomibao | mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
goal-mouth rough plays now a rarity in NHL I
By Larry Lage
The Associated Press
T’S still no man’s land in front of National Hockey League (NHL) goaltenders, a forbidden place for offensive players who risk hard shoves, cross-checks—or worse—when they settle in. But it isn’t nearly as rough and tumble as it used to be. The league has cracked down on the over-the-top physical play in general and that includes going after players who park themselves in front of the net in hopes of blocking a goalie’s view, tipping in a shot or sliding in a rebounding puck for a greasy goal. The savage blows once seen on a nightly basis are now far more rare, certainly in the regular season. “It has changed drastically,” San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns said. “I think they’re trying to create more goals and that’s one way to try to do it. It’s a great place for forwards to go to make a big difference.” James Neal is one of those players. The Edmonton winger has scored 19 times this season, putting him on pace to approach his career high of 40 goals. Neal honed his puck-tipping craft a lot last summer and it helps that he is surrounded by a lot of talent that opens up space on the ice. “It’s definitely something I’ve worked on, and it’s really helped,” Neal said. “I’ve scored a lot more goals in front this year.” Net-front play is critical in every NHL game simply because goalies tend to stop shots they can see. Interfere with their view, their concentration, and the pucks start going in. Tipping a fast-moving puck with a stick to change the trajectory of a shot is another way to score, and being in front of the net is the best place to employ that mix of skill and luck. It’s up to defensemen to move opponents out of the way without drawing a penalty that could give the other team a power play. This game within the game has evolved over the years.
Former Detroit forward Tomas Holmstrom, who is widely regarded as one of the game’s great net-front players, paid the price for his No. 1 role from 1996 to 2012. Holmstrom was hit with fists and sticks, sometimes both, as teams tried to get him off his spot in front of the crease. “He got abused pretty good back in the day,” Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard recalled. That didn’t stop him as he did the dirty work to help the franchise win four Stanley Cup championships. “I grew up in Detroit and watched him for a long time,” Colorado defenseman Ian Cole said. “Not only was he so good at establishing that position, and holding that position, he was unbelievable at tipping the pucks. He was also really good at knowing when to let pucks go.” Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov is another player who makes a living in front of the net. “He seems to get his stick on everything and he takes your eyes away,” Howard said. In today’s game, it is difficult to defend the front of the net because physical play against someone without the puck often draws a penalty. Cole said the key is to try to prevent opponents from getting where they want to be. “It’s really tough to move guys when they’re already there,” Cole said. “There are things you can do, but you’re probably going to 100 percent take a penalty. Just the way your skates are, you’re not going to be able to push guys sideways. They’re going to dig their edges in and not going to move. Then you start to push them forward and they rotate their foot and you can’t push them forward.” Goalies, while the puck travels from stick to stick, stay on the move ever so slightly so that they can see what they’re trying to stop. “As a goalie, our eyes are our everything,” Howard said. “If you see the puck, nine times out of 10 guys are going to stop it.” And that’s easier said than done.
It’s still somewhat startling that the league didn’t hire its first black head coach of the modern era until 1989, when Art Shell was picked in Oakland.
Black coaching hires still at dismal level By Tim Dahlberg The Associated Press
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Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) works for the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period of their game in December in Florida. AP
English FA to review allowing betting firms to air cup games
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ONDON—The English Football Association is reviewing its decision to allow broadcast rights for FA Cup games to be sold for streaming by betting companies. Online betting platforms are currently the only way to watch some FA Cup games in Britain despite the FA announcing two years ago that it would end partnerships with gambling firms. While Bet365 also aired games last season, criticism of the deal came about because the FA used third-round games last weekend to campaign around mental health. Claire Murdoch, a mental-health director at the National Health Service, called the betting company’s streaming of FA Cup games “another owngoal from the gambling industry.” The British government weighed into the discussion on Wednesday, with Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan writing on Twitter that “things have moved on since the contract was signed and I hope they will reconsider.” The FA is locked into a broadcasting contract that was signed before it decided to terminate a sponsorship with Ladbrokes amid concerns about the prevalence of gambling in soccer. The FA’s contract is not directly with the Bet365 company. The governing body has a media rights agreement with IMG, which then sells the rights under terms agreed in 2017 that allow deals with betting firms.
“This deal was agreed before we made a clear decision on the FA’s relationship with gambling companies in June 2017 when we ended our partnership with Ladbrokes,” the FA said in a statement. “We will review this element of the media rights sales process ahead of tendering rights from the 2024-25 season.” IMG is in a joint venture with The Associated Press, operating the SNTV sports video news agency which carries footage from FA Cup games. AP
Chelsea’s Ross Barkley celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during an English FA Cup third-round match against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge in London over the weekend.
YEAR ago, Richard Lapchick was at least willing to consider it might be cyclical. Not any longer. Not after all but one of the coaching vacancies in the National Football League (NFL) have been filled. Not after—in a league where 70 percent of players are minorities—blacks have been hired for only two of the 19 open head coaching spots over the last three years. “It’s very discouraging that this continues to happen,” said Lapchick, the director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida. “It’s not like there are no qualified candidates. These people are out there and ready.” They may be ready, but NFL owners apparently aren’t. Despite the adoption of the Rooney Rule in 2003 to increase the number of black head coaches, there are only three among the four minority head coaches (Washington’s Ron Rivera is Hispanic) currently employed in the league. And, with only the Cleveland Browns still looking, that number won’t be changing much—if at all. “There’s not much to be optimistic about from this year’s results for sure,” said Lapchick, who annually gives sports league grades on their efforts to diversify. “This is a serious cause for concern that we’ve now gone three years with the lowest numbers we’ve had in a long time.” Just why those numbers are so low is open to debate, especially since the NFL has made efforts over the past two decades to promote minority hires. The Rooney Rule not only mandated that teams interview coaches of color for coaching vacancies but was later updated so that the general manager job was included. And before last season, the rule was toughened so that teams couldn’t skirt the requirements with sham interviews. Still, the number of black head coaches stands at just three, down from a peak of eight. The situation in the GM’s office is even more bleak, with just one black general manager. Not exactly the type of progress envisioned when former Steelers owner Dan Rooney spearheaded the minority hiring rule nearly 20 years ago. The numbers are so bad on the GM side that Lapchick gave the league an F grade in that category for racial and gender hiring practices as part of an overall B grade. “It’s a serious problem,” Lapchick said. “It’s fair to say nobody is feeling pressured to diversify, especially at the club level.” If it’s a problem, it’s one that doesn’t get a lot of attention outside of the annual head coach hiring season. That might be, Lapchick said, because players themselves have been relatively silent on the subject even while speaking out on social issues outside the league. It’s also true that as recently as the 2018 season, there were eight black head coaches before five of them got fired. NFL defenders point to that stat and argue that the latest hirings are indeed cyclical and the low current number of minority coaches is an aberration. NFL owners are so desperate to win, they say, that they would hire their worst enemy if they thought he had the best chance of getting them to a Super Bowl. But while the Rooney Rule requires interviews, it doesn’t require hirings. It also doesn’t cover the offensive and defensive coordinator positions that have traditionally been stepping stones to the head coaching job and, on the offensive side at least, have traditionally been white. And, like it or not, the NFL remains a closed society where the good ol’ boy network remains powerful. It’s still somewhat startling that the league didn’t hire its first black head coach of the modern era until 1989, when Al Davis named Art Shell in Oakland. It took 13 more years before Ozzie Newsome became the first black general manager in Baltimore. Not a great history to defend, and the lack of minority head coaches is just as indefensible. Indeed, the NFL deserves low grades for its hiring practice both on the sidelines and in the executive offices. The league is failing the very players who make billionaire owners even richer and, at some point, the players are going to decide they want to have a say about it. There’s no debate that coaching is a brutal business no matter what color your skin is. Coaches are hired to be fired, and all but the most successful eventually lose their jobs for not winning enough. What isn’t debated is this: There’s plenty of good black coaches out there. And they deserve a chance to succeed.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16
US President Donald Trump, 73
Are child crusaders, heroes fair game for adult critics?
Are child crusaders, heroes fair game for adult critics? munications professor who focuses on family, bullying and identity, said that’s only part of the story for young people who prematurely find themselves in adult spaces. “These are individuals who are emotionally driven and passionately obsessed with having a dialogue,” he said. “I don’t feel that they should be held to a standard that we hold, for instance, a president or an ambassador.” Finding that line isn’t easy. “We all need to jump in. It’s not just Greta’s family. It’s not the Parkland kids’ families. It should be all of us jumping in when we see something or hear something that might be completely out of line with the values of this country,” West said. “We don’t have the value as a country of attacking young people who might be activists.” Continued on page 8
Climate activist Greta Thunberg (from top left, clockwise), female education activist Malala Yousafzai, gymnast Gabby Douglas, tennis superstar Serena Williams and pop star Billie Eilish By Leanne Italie The Associated Press
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EW YORK—The point where childhood ends and adulthood begins isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Add the limelight and things can get complicated for young people who either voluntarily or through circumstances live very public lives.
Those public lives often come with heaping helpings of adult-size sniping. But are children and adolescents who find themselves under global microscopes still entitled to age-appropriate protection from the harshness of public discourse? And, more important, can they handle it? Children and teens, in this era of blurred boundaries, have at their disposal mobile megaphones—for the first time in human history—to reach the entire world. That allows them to be heard, and potentially taken seriously, by hundreds of millions of people, all the way up to heads of state who include the president of the United States. But does it give those who hear them the right to slap back? At what point does the imperative to treat children more gently collide with their decision to enter the marketplace of ideas—and what happens when it does?
In 2012, 16-year-old gymnast Gabby Douglas became the first African-American woman—and woman of color of any nationality—to win Olympic gold in the individual all-around. The feat was joyous, but some on social media bemoaned that her hair wasn’t perfect. The teen clapped back: “Are you kidding me? I just made history. And you’re focusing on my hair?” When climate activist Greta Thunberg, who just turned 17, was named Time Magazine’s 2019 person of the year, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to call her choice “ridiculous,” going on to say: “Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!” To that, Thunberg responded by changing her Twitter profile to mock the president’s words. She told The Intercept: “Honestly, I think it’s funny.” Since Serena Williams was a teen, when Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize after being shot in the face, with the ascent of 18-year-old pop star Billie Eilish and in the aftermath of the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that turned young survivors into gun control activists, the treatment of young people in the public eye has had its ups and downs. “For anyone who shares public opinions about civic and social issues, like Greta Thunberg and the Parkland teens have done, it can cut both ways. It can be empowering for young people to use their voices in such a public way. Young people can also be especially effective in changing public conversations about important issues,” said Dr. Parissa Ballard, a develop-
2 BusinessMirror
mental psychologist at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “People listen to young people in a different way.” “At the same time, public political engagement can be very stressful and can put young people in a vulnerable position when they receive criticism or people publicly disagree,” said Ballard, whose research focuses on the intersection of civic engagement and adolescent health and wellness. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who began speaking out for gun reform soon after the shooting there were already in a devastating position when they faced accusations that some were “crisis actors” and the group was under the manipulation of gun control advocates. The teens were unfazed. “There are people who are going to be putting us down. It doesn’t matter. Everything we’re doing, it can’t be stopped,” Diego Pfeiffer, an 18-yearold senior at the time, told The Miami Herald in February 2018. “We are children and we have a message. They are bashing survivors of a school shooting. You can go ahead, but our message is going to be heard loud and clear.” Development psychologists prefer to speak of stages when describing life’s slide from childhood into adolescence and on to young adulthood, such as the onset of biological changes and shifts in social roles. Some use more rigid measures, considering childhood to extend through age 12, with adolescence roughly between 12 and 18 and young adulthood the period between 18 and 25. Richard West, an Emerson College comJanuary 12, 2020
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JBK (composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio)
BEYOND THE X-FACTOR JBK SCORES BIG WITH HIT BALLAD ABOUT HEARTBREAK
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By Leony R. Garcia
OWARDS the end of 2019, the vocal trio simply known as JBK (composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio) surprised everyone, including themselves when their latest release, “Anestisya” became a huge radio hit for popular music stations like Barangay LS, Wish 107, MOR and Win Radio. Less than three weeks after it was first uploaded in October 4, the piano-driven ballad’s lyric video has garnered over 284,000 views on YouTube, making the song a certified hit on social media as well. Composed by entertainment journalist Jojo Panaligan a.k.a. Yman, the ballad is about coping with heartbreak, something that resonates particularly with
millennials. Panaligan said the song was actually recorded way back in 2015 as a demo based on the inspiration “that guys often hide their true feelings especially when they’re broken hearted because that’s what society expects from them.” “JBK recorded it with only guitar and vocals. They didn’t know I had it done in full arrangement.
But I had no intention of releasing it. Eventually, they heard the song completely done and from then on, they have been asking it from me so they could release it as a single. I kept saying no, three years straight,” Panaligan recalled. “It sounded even better, more polished and more relatable to young listeners when JBK recorded it!” And when Panaligan finally relented for its release, “Anestisya” became an instant hit much to the delight of JBK which was formed six years ago while the trio were undergoing a workshop for their common love for music. “We’re glad that Sir Jojo still chose us to do the final song,” said Bulot. Del Rosario added that “Anestisya,” sung from the point of view of a guy is typical of how a man usually stays silent after a
woman breaks his heart, as if he was given anesthesia to numb his pain and to make it appear to the world that he’s okay. “Since anesthesia only temporarily numbs the pain and does not totally eliminate it, the man will still eventually feel it and he finally breaks down when no one is around to see him in pain,” Del Rosario added. Just two years ago, the vocal trio was the toast of the UK-based reality talent search show, “The X Factor.” Their impressive run in the series got them as far as the semifinals. They said they have learned a lot from their stint in London, one of which is it’s not enough to be merely good singers or performers. “It’s equally important that you also have your own original material. You can’t just do Continued on page 6
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WINNER AND PHL FANS CROSS PATHS THIS JANUARY
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By Carla Mortel Baricaua
NOTHER pretty nebula ocean will soon flood the Mall of Asia arena as WINNER returns to conquer the stage for its [CROSS] Tour in Manila on January 25. The nebula is deemed to be Winner’s fandom color, a cluster of white, blue, and purple as emitted by its official light stick.
As K-pop’s most recognizable quartet, debonair members Yoon, Jinu, Hoony, and Mino made another mark with the recent release of their third mini-album "Cross." Filipino Inner Circle (fandom name) highly anticipates the energetic live performances of their leading track “So So,” as well as solo cuts from Hoony (Flamenco) and Yoon (Wind) from their newest album. In addition, audiences are also expecting the solo stages of Mino of his monster hit, “Fiance” from XX album, and Jinu’s solo debut song, “Call Anytime” from his
Jinus’ HEYDAY album. Of course, their setlist wouldn’t be complete with their roster of hit tracks such as “Really Really,” “Movie Star,” “Everyday,” “Millions,” and “Ah Yeah,” the one track that garnered “All Kill” status on eight Korean music charts, and topped in 19 regions in the iTunes Album charts. On top of each member’s strong vocal prowess and styling, Winner’s performances under this tour will surely be long remembered since this time they’re going to be accompanied with a live band, a first of the group’s concert tour. Moreover, this tour is especially
YG Entertainment / Via ygfamily.com
important to the Inner Circle for this could be the group’s last tour activity before Jinu’s mandatory military enlistment this year. The Winner [CROSS] Tour kicked off with a 2-day sold out concert in KSPO Dome in Seoul on October 2627, 2019. This was followed by other sold out concert dates in Taipei, Jakarta, Macao, and Bangkok. After the Manila leg, the tour will proceed to Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh, and The Star Theatre in Singapore. Filipino Incles or ICs (Inner Circle for short) last met their K-pop idols in Winner’s Everywhere tour in November 2018. The local fandom warmly and enthusiastically received the group’s solid performances that created cherished memories, punctuated by the hilarious skits, touching messages by each member and
that promise of a comeback to the “City of Love, City of Music, City of Pleasure,” as uttered by Mino. Winner members first appeared on the Manila stage as special guest of the All Or Nothing concert by the label mates and former girl group 2NE1 in 2014. Under YG Entertainment, the group officially debuted on August 15, 2014 after emerging as the winning group of the WIN: Who is Next? survival reality show. After which, they released the track “Empty” from their first full album 2014 S/S that bagged the group six Best New Artist awards. Originally, Winner has five members, however, Taehyun left the group, citing health reasons, in November 2016. The Winner [CROSS] Tour is presented by YG Entertainment, Live Nation Korea, and PULP Live World.
PEACE, LOVE & MUSIC RULE AT RAKRAKAN FESTIVAL 2020
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NOTHER year calls for another celebration! Question is, are you ready? The biggest, loudest, and boldest music and arts festival of the country RAKRAKAN FESTIVAL is set to make history again celebrating Peace, Love & Music to kickstart the year! Setting stage on the CCP Open Grounds, Pasay City on February 29, 2020, prepare to be drowned in the music as back-to-back performances from OPM’s finest will serve us the most unforgettable day of our year.
Still consistent with an unbelievably huge production set-up complete with 120 OPM artists, 6 main stages playing simultaneously ‘til the wee hours of the next day, a brand-new skate clinic, live art exhibitions, a merch bazaar, food stalls—name it! Who’s playing on what stage? Things are cooking up and you just got to be on the lookout! Fun fact: there will be a brand-new stage to be introduced in the following days! Of course, Rakrakan Festival 2020: Peace, Love & Music
wouldn’t be really complete without the fun pocket events to keep the Rakrakan crowd up and running! Aside from the usual, there will be new activities to be introduced and it’s really something to look forward to— so better keep all eyes and ears locked! Tickets are now available at all SM Tickets outlets nationwide. Grab yours now before early bird tickets run out! Prices are as follows: Regular Pre-Sale: P400 Regular Early Bird: P500 Regular Door: P600
VIP Pre-Sale: P1500 VIP Door: P2000 Start your year right and celebrate the leap year with a bang! DON’T MISS IT! Rakrakan Festival 2020: Peace, Love, and Music is presented by Rakista Radio and Red Horse Beer Muziklaban; copresented by Dickies; with Official Venue Partner, Cultural Center of The Philippines. Visit www.rakrakanfestival.com and Rakrakan Festival’s official Facebook page for more details.
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soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | JANUARY 12 , 2020
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SIC OUR BUSINESS
SHOEGAZE REDUX
A PERFECT DAY WITH SONNET LVIII
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By Rick Olivares
onday Night, the 30th of December, 2019, at 70s Bistro felt somewhat right. Two nights previous, during that wonderful debut of The Shoegaze Collective at Mow’s, well, it wasn’t. At least for Sonnet LVIII. Of the four surviving members, bassist Romel Cajayon was unavailable and although Mike Ducusin of populardays capably filled in, well, it still wasn’t well… quite Sonnet LVIII.
70s Bistro was a bit more like it. When they first performed there in the mid-1990s, it was Backbeat Night and they played with The Youth, Feet Like Fins, and Tribal Fish. Back then, there were tables literally beside the stage and the front of the club was a bit more al fresco. However, Sonnet LVIII’s history is more Club Dredd as Romel was the sound tech there (it is there where he gave me the band’s demo in hopes of being signed up by Universal Records after I inked Datu’s Tribe and Parokya ni Edgar to their first professional contracts) and that is where the band usually performed. With that legendary club long consigned to the dustbins of yesteryear and sainted memories, 70s Bistro, that venerable club put up in 1992, was just right. Although Skies of Ember – billed though they were -- did not perform this Monday night, I felt goosebumps seeing their name on that signboard.
And what made the evening even better was that Club Dredd’s owner Patrick Reidenbach was in the audience. Other Dredd veterans present included Betrayed’s Boyet Miguel and Iman Leonardo now of Prank Sinatra but who performed at that Edsa club with his Goth band, Dominion. During those days, Skies of Ember performed with Dominion in the same bill as Iconoclast and Prominence of Cathedrals. But Sonnet LVIII and Skies of Ember (as well as the Goth bands) were ahead of their time; at least locally. That is why I never got to get Universal to sign them. We had two boardroom discussions about them and the company felt that even if I scored massive hits with Datu’s Tribe and Parokya ni Edgar, it was deemed Sonnet LVIII wasn’t going to sell. I was crushed. Now 23 years later, Sonnet LVIII was independently and officially releasing their old album Owe No Homage Unto the Sun -- on vinyl --
Sonnet LVIII (Photo from the band's Facebook page)
as Crossing Oceans. I felt so happy for the band; more so, to see people queueing up to buy the record. It is great to see these guys get their due. Like Slowdive did two decades after their magnum opus Souvlaki. Dale has always been one of the most creative guys around with all his musical projects and I have followed them from Apple Orchard to Some Gorgeous Accident. We got re-acquainted exactly two years ago to this evening. That was December 30, 2017 at 12 Monkeys when I hosted Sugar Hiccup’s supposedly farewell gig and where they released their fourth and final album -- the aptly titled, "Closure". He gave me a copy of Some Gorgeous Accident’s last release then and I thought that was such a beautiful album. When I got a copy of Crossing Oceans (we met up near his parents’ condo in Mandaluyong), I got goosebumps. Not only was there this sense of… finally… but the album artwork had this 4A.D. Records feel. And when they finally hit the
Sonnet LVIII at the 70s Bistro
stage. Reidenbach and I huddled and said, “Man, I’ve got goosebumps all over.” And a little over a day before this Sonnet LVIII show, Vaughan Oliver, that celebrated graphic artist who designed 4AD Records’ album covers from the Cocteau Twins, the Breeders, Pixies, and others and whose work became the style espoused for shoegaze and dream pop, had passed away. Call it a strange confluence of events... or mayhap, incongruous symmetry that led to the December 30 show of Sonnet LVIII. Hearing “Hurricane Aurora” and later, “Treasure Heaven”.... they were solid this night. If you listened to them back during the Dredd days, they were like a wall of Sound. They are much better musicians now and although Romel was getting cramps because he had not played in a while, I was blown away. One person even ventured his opinion that it will be quite a trip to listen to Sonnet LVII and shoegaze music while stoned immaculate. He sat on the floor next to the sound booth stoned all right. And the band ended with “Perfect Day”. If that isn’t serendipitous then I don’t know what else can be such. Outside, I told Sonnet LVIII guitarist Ron Cajayon, “Maybe you guys should record new stuff. With shoegaze more popular today than it ever was -- who knows?” “We will talk about it,” smiled Ron. I added, “Just don’t wait another 23 years before doing so.” And we laughed. Yes, it was a perfect day.
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JANUARY 12 , 2020 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com
Sound trip BusinessMirror
YOUR MUSIC OUR BUSINESS
ANNIEWHEREWEGO By Annie S. Alejo
VOICES DIVINE, HEARTS INTERTWINED
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T always thrills me when, sometimes by a stroke of luck, I end up watching performers that simply blow my mind. They don’t always have to be the biggest pop stars in the world or everyone’s favorite Facebook flex. When talented people I know nothing about are simply just a joy to watch, it’s like a gift from heaven.
Take this married couple Rachelle Gerodias and Byeong In Park, for instance. She is a Filipino soprano with a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Vocal Literature from the famed Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and has appeared in numerous opera productions in the US, Japan, here in the Philippines, and other Asian countries. He is a Korean baritone who trained under the great tenor Francisco Araiza at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany, and had been a guest soloist at the Graz Opera Theater performing roles in La Boheme and Lohengrin. Their impressive resumes are only matched by their mindblowing voices. I don’t always go out to watch operas, but I chanced upon a concert they
L-R: Mike Toledo, Byeong In Park, Rachelle Gerodias, and former senator Atty Joey Lina at the ‘Ngayon Na, Kabataan’ fundraising concert
headlined in December called “Ngayon Na, Kabataan.” It was a fundraising dinner for the Knights of Rizal aimed to support their youth programs centered on the ideals and teachings of Jose Rizal. During the show, both headliners sang arias, solos, did duets, busted out some Broadway, and even OPM songs. Byeong In may not speak a lot of our language but when sings a Tagalog love song in his strong baritone, all bets are off. At a rehearsal, he sang a sample of “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal” to Rachelle, after which she sighed and said she has fallen in love all over again. The couple clearly has easy chemistry and real admiration
for each another. During a break in rehearsal, Rachelle shared how Byeong In sort of tricked her into going out on a date with him by pretending he invited all their coperformers out. He just sat there smiling and nodding as Rachelle told a few more stories, including the time they were choosing a name for their first-born son. Apparently, they wanted to name him after our national hero until Rachelle realized the baby would end up with the name Jose Rizal Park. After a bit of explaining, Byeong In agreed to go with another name. On stage at “Ngayon Na, Kabataan,” their chemistry was more overtly expressed with their
Beyond...
powerful intertwining voices that filled the Tent City and captivated the audience of about 700. Their guests were also a revelation especially to those who hadn’t seen them before. One highlight was Rachelle’s glorious duet with guest performer Atty. Joey Lina on “The Prayer.” The former senator and current president of The Manila Hotel shared he’s had no formal training, but man, can he sing! The other guest performer, Atty Mike Toledo, also did not disappoint. It is always great to be stunned by new experiences. May this new year bring all of us beauty and joy when we least expect it. Happy 2020!
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covers all the time.” After their UK stint, JBK vowed to stick together as a group even though they have individual careers in showbiz. Del Rosario is doing some guest appearances on soap operas, Ordonio is part of Magnificat — a musical written by Ryan Cayabyab with its latest edition directed by Laurice Guillen, while Bulot has been doing Rak of Aegis as Tolits. In the meantime, the boys are just too glad to be seen in TV shows and radio programs promoting “Anestisya.” With more singing engagements now, JBK vows
to release more new materials as they consider the likes of Ben&Ben, IV of Spades, Bruno Mars and even legends like the Apo Hiking Society and Tito, Vic and Joey as among their inspirations. The group has recorded three new songs “that were written and composed by us and we will be releasing more songs next year.” As for Panaligan, the composer vows to release more of his compositions that has yet to see the light of day. As for the artists that he would like to record his songs, JBK remains as a top priority.
Future Filipino work force values office setup, prefers flexible workspaces
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes
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ilipino students who are about to enter the work force have identified office setup as one of their biggest factors in employer selection, adding that they prefer flexible workspaces over traditional formats. In a study by major coworking and staff leasing service provider KMC Solutions, titled “The Preferred Workspace: Attracting and retaining talent in the Philippines through workspace design,” around 83 percent of respondents said that the office setup is an important factor in employer se-
lection, next to compensation and growth opportunities. In particular, the respondents said they want to work at a flexible workspaces. “The flexible workspace industry is growing but is relatively still a niche industry,” Riccardo Corsini, vice president of marketing and strategic partnerships for KMC Solutions, told the BusinessMirror in a recent interview. Designed to inform foreign businesses planning to enter the Philippine market along with business operators and entrepreneurs who are already here, the study involved students ages 19 to 22 years old who are graduating with degrees that typically lead to office jobs, and have completed at least 150 hours of internship experience and living and studying in Metro Manila. Courses of the respondents include architecture and engineering (40 percent), business and marketing (36 percent), information technology (14 percent), communications (8 percent) and fine arts, and design and architecture (4 percent). The survey respondents were asked to
enumerate which office features they preferred in their office space. Their answers were grouped into four categories, namely, Physical Structure, Furniture, Design and Amenities. Under Physical Structure, 95 percent of the respondents gave natural sunlight the highest score of importance, crediting how it “lifts the mood” of the office and results to optimism. They said big windows and high ceilings enable them to breathe freely and relax a bit better, too. As for Furniture, respondents said they were open to working in shared spaces, but they still require a degree of privacy in their work areas. Last, in terms of amenities, health care is a top priority for Filipinos. The presence of health-care facilities such as clinics and breastfeeding stations made them feel more secure “and gave them an impression that the company can provide for their long-term needs while they are employed there.” Vending machines were also cited, together with break out areas and entertainment rooms, such as movie/sports
viewing and video gaming areas and billiards/arcade equipment. Moreover, the study determined that Makati remains the choice of the respondents for their preferred workplace. Developed by the oldest business conglomerate in the country Ayala Corp., the city’s CBD has retained its old appeal because of its strategic location and familiarity even to the younger generation of the work force. “More than half [55 percent] prefers to work in Makati,” Corsini said. He expounded that flexible workspace does not cover only flexible arrangements, as the setup also aims to improve the bottom line for clients and to boost financial and organizational efficiencies. The respondents also believe that creatively designed workspaces lead to higher morale of employees, as well as increased productivity and improved employer brand image. “This research would also help companies moving to the Philippines, in terms of what Filipino employees would want,” Corsini said.
Most millennials now prioritize responsible investing: survey
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lmost 8 out of 10 millennials now prioritize socially responsible and impactful investing, according to a new global survey. The global poll of 1,125 people by independent financial services and advisory organization deVere Group identified that 77 percent of millennials, or those born between the early 1980s to the mid1990s and early 2000s, cite Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing as their top priority when considering investment opportunities. “Millennials understand that it is perfectly possible, and increasingly necessary, to make a profit while positively and proactively protecting people and the planet,” deVere CEO and founder Nigel Green said. “These principles will fundamentally reshape the retail and institutional investment landscape in
the next decade.” The first component of the ESG credentials refers to “environment,” which refers to the consideration of issues
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such as climate-change policies, carbon footprint, and use of renewable energies. Meanwhile, “social” includes workers’ rights and protections. Last, “goverJanuary 12, 2020
nance” covers executive compensations, diversity of the board and corporate transparency. “Research has shown that investments that score well in terms of ESG credentials often outperform the market and have lower volatility over the longrun,” Green said. “For this reason and, importantly, because the biggest-ever generational transfer of wealth—likely to be around $30 trillion—from baby boomers to millennials will take place in the next couple of years, ESG investing is set to grow exponentially in the 2020s.” Green added that as responsible investing becomes increasingly mainstream, and millennials become the major beneficiaries of the transfer of wealth, we can also expect institutional investors, such as pension funds, among others, to pile into ESG over the next few years.
The mental-health crisis on campus and how colleges can fix it By Marty Swanbrow Becker
and support and skill-building groups. For an example of a program designed to increase social support in high schools and one that could work for colleges, see the Sources of Strength program.
Florida State University
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hen college students seek help for a mental-health issue on campus—something they are doing more often—the place they usually go is the college counseling center.
But while the stigma of seeking mental-health support has gone down, it has created a new problem: College counseling centers are now struggling to meet the increased demand. As a researcher who examines problems faced by college students in distress, I see a way to better support students’ mental health. In addition to offering individual counseling, colleges should also focus on what we in the mental-health field refer to as population health and prevention. These efforts can range from creating more shared spaces to increase social connections to stave off feelings of isolation, to reducing things on campus that threaten student well-being, such as discrimination and violence.
What’s behind the problem Student mental-health distress has escalated to high levels in the US. The American College Health Association found in 2019 that over the past year, 87 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do, 66 percent felt overwhelming anxiety, 56 percent felt things were hopeless and 13 percent seriously considered suicide. Contributing factors include distressing and traumatic circumstances during college, such as assaults, in addition to academic performance demands.
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The college experience is not the only factor, however. Students are also coming to college with preexisting mentalhealth challenges. For instance, over 80 percent of students who think about suicide during college had first thought about suicide before college. Some college campuses may add counseling staff to try to meet the increased demand for counseling centers, but not all campuses can afford to do this. Even if they do, it still might not be enough. Students need alternate ways beyond college counseling centers to address their mental-health needs. By being more proactive and equipping students to deal with mental-health issues before they become too large to manage, fewer students will need crisis services— and those that need them will be able to get them sooner—because more students will have the tools to work through their problems earlier on their own. To improve the overall health of their population of students, here are four areas where I think colleges should focus.
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Empower students Colleges must help students assess their strengths and over-
all resilience. By empowering students with increased self-knowledge, they can more adeptly identify problems early and access supportive resources. Campuses could help motivate and encourage students to monitor their progress through creating an online portal where students can access tools, such as those promoting skill development in the areas of mindfulness, time management and career reflection. There’s such an online portal—known as the Student Resilience Project—at the university where I teach, and results are promising.
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Provide stressmanagement resources
Colleges and universities should create processes and tools for students to improve their ability to manage stress. For example, the campus could create a decision tree that helps students identify when and where to reach out to get help with their specific concerns. A Web-based portal can tell students where to locate campus-based support services, such as coaches, advisers and counselors, or peer-to-peer education
Take preventive measures
Research shows that helping many people lower their risk improves the benefit for the larger population more than focusing on those at the highest risk. This suggests that colleges should look at the factors that are contributing to stress—such as substance use, discrimination, assaults and the pressure around figuring out one’s major and career—and then work to reduce their influence. Promoting resources for early intervention in these areas can help students cope with stress and build time management skills.
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Launch wellness campaigns
Colleges should create a wellness campaign. Students, faculty and staff should be trained in how to work together to improve the mental health of everyone on campus, including identifying others in distress, intervening with them and referring them to help. The campus should advertise their vision and initiatives to get the message out to all members of the community. These wellness campaigns are aspirational at the moment, but I am currently working with several colleges to make these campaigns a reality. When colleges shift their focus to population health and prevention, in my view it should lead to an improvement in the health and well-being of students and free up counseling centers to treat the students most in need of mental-health support. The Conversation /AP
Are child crusaders, heroes fair game for adult critics? Continued from page 2
Jumping in is exactly what former first lady Michelle Obama did on Twitter after Trump’s “chill” tweet about Greta. “Don’t let anyone dim your light,” Obama urged Greta. “Like the girls I’ve met in Vietnam and all over the world, you have so much to offer us all. Ignore the doubters and know that millions of people are cheering you on.” Eilish, who grew popular in 2016 with her SoundCloud single “Ocean Eyes,” has long been surrounded by family in her entourage, including her parents and her older brother and collaborator, Finneas Baird O’Connell. But fame has had its rough spots nonetheless.
“I forget sometimes that they’re not literally my friends,” she told Variety of her fans. “It’s weird, like, that’s probably the biggest con in it all: that people I’ve never met think I’m really close friends with them. And then they forget that I’m not, and sometimes say stuff at meet-and-greet or post things that are joking or sarcastic about how bad I look in [a certain] photo, and I’m like, wow, that’s so mean. But then I remember that it’s just part of being friends—you make fun of your friends as a joke, and they make fun of you back—so it’s all love, and I really, really don’t want it to change.” Ballard, too, sees a key role for supportive adults when public young people face detractors, especially those like Greta and
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the Parkland survivors who are up against grown-ups with immense power and resources. “Adults can support young activists by helping them understand the range of possible reactions they might get and to help manage their expectations about public political engagement,” she said. Daryl van Tongeren, an associate professor of psychology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, specializes, in part, on questions of morality. “I think sadly in our society they do sometimes forfeit their childhoods, but I don’t think that they should have to,” he said. “I think as a society we view them as no longer being children and somehow January 12, 2020
we now have rights to kind of put them in a different realm, put them in a different category. It’s a moment for us to pause and say, just because this is happening, does that mean that it’s good or it’s healthy or it’s right?” Williams, who is now 38 and owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles, knows some of the issues well. “People have been talking about my body for a really long time,” she told The Fader in 2016. “Good things, great things, negative things. People are entitled to have their opinions, but what matters most is how I feel about me, because that’s what’s going to permeate the room I’m sitting in.”