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Dealing with cyber felons Constantly at risk from online attacks, PHL urged to adopt AI, automation, security operations

By Roderick L. Abad

C

Contributor

YBER felons are here to stay, unless both the public and private sectors work together to protect the cyber landscape in the Philippines from their unscrupulous activities on the web.

Based on Fortinet’s commissioned survey on the state of Security Operations (SecOps) in the Asia-Pacific region that IDC conducted from October to November 2023, phishing and ransomware are the topmost cyber threats in the Philippines, with over 50 percent of organizations ranking them as their biggest concerns. Other risks are identity theft, patching vulnerabilities, and insider threats.

Phishing, which is getting people to click on a link, install an application or open a document, will lead to a ransomware attack or an identity theft, Fortinet Vice President for Marketing and Communications in Asia, Australia and New Zealand Rashish Pandey said in a media briefing on January 16.

Ransomware, he noted, is a threat vector that has evolved further in the last couple of years. In fact, the study revealed that it has actually doubled nationwide, with 56 percent of organizations reporting at least a doubling of incidents from 2022 to 2023.

“What we are seeing now is [that] even if you pay the money, they will extricate the data and sell it outside, or even if you pay the money, they will not give you the data; they’re just deleted,” he said of how ransomware companies are now acting like large organized crime syndicates that even offer the so-called ransomware-as-a-service for a few hundred dollars. “These organizations are so big. Some of them have more than a billion dollars in revenue in a year.”

Besides phishing and malware, other significant vectors include social engineering attacks, Internet of Things vulnerabilities, and insider threats. Eight of 10, or 82 percent of the respondents, feel that remote work has led to an increase in the latter’s cases. The top executive attributed this to insufficient training, lack of employee care, and inadequate communication.

FORTINET Vice President for Marketing and Communications in Asia, Australia and New Zealand Rashish Pandey

FORTINET Philippines Senior Manager for Systems Engineering Nap Castillo

Apart from talent shortage, what’s concerning is that 92 percent of participants find it challenging to keep their team’s skills up to date with the rapidly changing threat landscape. Hence, they prioritize the ability to automate (62 percent) as a key skill for Security Operations Center teams, along with the ability to multi-task and have critical thinking, as well as the right set of certifications.

than 50 percent said they get about 220 incidents daily. Alarmingly, three out of four do not conduct regular risk assessments, thus worsening the challenge of timely detection. The top five alerts the SecOps teams face are suspicious e-mails, malware detections, suspicious user behavior, account lockouts, and multiple failed login attempts.

“In the Philippines, there’s only one security professional for 195 employees. This professional has to manage on an average about 44 incidents a day. And it takes about 11 minutes to deal with each alert,” Pandey cited. “And what makes it worse is that almost a quarter [74 percent] of them have looked to at least 25 percent of the alerts that are false positives. We are talking about two, three hours of the day just dealing with noncritical or false positive alerts.”

More than four-fifths or 82 percent of teams take more than

Automation to the rescue

NOT depending much on manual labor, 94 percent said that they have adopted automation and orchestration tools in their SecOps. Notably, around 92 percent have experienced significant productivity gains, with at least 25 percent improvement in incident detection times attributed to automation.

Preparedness-wise, almost half or 48 percent of the engaged organizations express concerns about being under-equipped to contain risks. On average, more

Continued on A2

Impact of new innovations, security teams shortage

“IN THE PHILIPPINES, THERE’S ONLY ONE SECURITY PROFESSIONAL FOR 195 EMPLOYEES. This professional has to manage on an average about 44 incidents a day. And it takes about 11 minutes to deal with each alert. And what makes it worse is that almost a quarter (74 percent) of them have looked to at least 25 percent of the alerts that are false positives. We are talking about two, three hours of the day just dealing with noncritical or false positive alerts.”—RASHISH PANDEY

KOLDUNOVA ANNA | DREAMSTIME.COM

WHILE emerging technologies have promising benefits, he warned that they also have an effect on cybersecurity if “exploited by the threat actors.”

Hybrid work, artificial intelligence (AI), and information technology/operational technology (IT/OT) system convergence pose significant challenges.

Cloud technology adoption emerges as a main problem, affecting organizational vulnerability to web threats.

Online threats may be alarming, yet there are not enough people dedicated to cybersecurity to provide an effective response. This is evident in the study that shows only 50 percent of businesses have dedicated IT resources for security teams.

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 55.8280 n JAPAN 0.3768 n UK 70.9406 n HK 7.1384 n CHINA 7.7582 n SINGAPORE 41.5449 n AUSTRALIA 36.6790 n EU 60.7297 n KOREA 0.0417 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.8855 Source: BSP (January 19, 2024)

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Did China’s economy really grow 5.2 percent in 2023? Not all agree

By Tom Hancock

L

Bloomberg News

ONGSTANDING suspicions about the accuracy of China’s official GDP growth data have spurred a market for alternative calculations, which kicked into action this week after Beijing announced economic expansion for 2023 was in line with its annual target of around 5 percent.

Beijing’s investment data, which shows surging manufacturing and infrastructure spending outweighed the drag from property.

Others disagree. Overall investment was broadly flat last year, meaning GDP data “significantly overstated” China’s growth in 2023, according to Logan Wright, a director at Rhodium Group. He said the real figure was likely around 1.5 percent.

Doubts about China’s official investment statistics—which measure spending on things like housing, factories and infrastructure—have been fueled by frequent revisions in recent years, and the latest data implies an unusually large adjustment.

Fixed asset investment, or FAI, increased 3 percent in nominal terms in 2023, the Statistics Bureau said. But it added that the total amount of investment, at 50.3 trillion yuan ($7.1 trillion), couldn’t be directly compared with the amount it reported for 2022 due to factors, including “problematic data discovered during statistical law enforcement inspections.”

‘Staggering’ adjustment

There’s a consensus that the economy grew last year, propelled by a rebound in consumption after pandemic restrictions were lifted. That’s readily visible in data compiled outside China’s National Bureau of Statistics—such as the number of domestic flights, or the revenue growth of consumer-fo-

cused companies.

What’s also agreed between official and independent estimates is that a sharp drop in real-estate construction, alongside strained local government finances and falling exports, posed downward pressure on the world’s second-largest economy.

One divergence centers around

THE FAI growth number for 2023 implies a downward revision of 7 trillion yuan, or 17 percent of total investment for the previous year, according to economists at Pantheon Macroeconomics. They called the adjustment “staggering.”

Rhodium’s growth estimate for 2023 is at the low end of a broad scale. A sampling of independent estimates gathered by Bloomberg showed others with expansion figures ranging as high as 7.2 percent.

AN aerial drone photo taken on January 16, 2024, shows vehicles at a terminal of Dalian Port, northeast China’s Liaoning Province. CHEN WEI/XINHUA VIA AP

That lack of consensus is one reason the official number endures as a reference point for markets and discussions of China’s economy.

Rhodium takes a “bottom-up” approach, gauging the contributions of consumption, investment and net exports to headline growth based on lower-level data, such as real-estate investment, credit-card lending and government spending.

Often, the information still comes from official sources and is more reliable than the headline growth figure, argues Wright.

Different outcomes

BUT others taking a similar approach produce different growth estimates.

QuantCube Technology’s GDP China Nowcast indicator, which is based on a range of non-official data ranging from air pollution figures to shipping and text analysis of online reports, has “closely matched official releases” this year, the company said.

Doubts about China’s GDP data tend to spike when the economy slows, with skepticism peaking after Beijing reported 2022 growth at 3 percent despite widespread lockdowns. Coronavirus controls that year reduced GDP by 3.9 per-

cent, according to a forthcoming paper in the China Economic Review based on data from nighttime lights tracked from space.

A lower estimate for growth in 2022 can mean that the 2023 number ends up higher. One example is Fathom Consulting’s bottom-up estimate, based on official data series that econometric techniques suggest are less subject to manipulation. Their verdict: 7.2 percent growth last year, following 0.9 percent growth in 2022.

“These base effects are over now, and our estimate for 2024 is again back to more ‘normal’ rates,” of around 4 percent, said Juan Orts, an economist at Fathom.

Some economists doubt the accuracy of bottom-up measures altogether. One reason: as China’s economy advances, the structure of activity shifts.

Around a decade ago, the “Li Keqiang index” was in vogue, named after China’s former premier, who was cited saying he relied on estimates of electricity use, rail freight volumes and bank loan growth as a proxy for GDP. But it’s fallen out of favor, because China’s economy now consists mainly of services, with heavy industry having a smaller role.

An alternative approach is to take China’s official, nominal GDP numbers—which aren’t adjusted for inflation—and then applying an independent price deflator to come up with a real growth estimate. The approach gained popularity before the pandemic, when China’s official deflator became widely seen as a tool for smoothing out the real GDP expansion rate.

However, agreement is lacking on the best deflator.

Pantheon Macroeconomics says real GDP rose about 4.9 percent last year, using its deflator. But TS Lombard came up with 3.6 percent using its own adjustment formula.

At Goldman Sachs Group Inc., economists have experimented with a measure of growth based on non-Chinese data, relying on figures on imports from China plus a correlation measure between exports and growth. The result for recent years was “fairly consistent with official GDP growth,” they concluded in an October report.

Other estimates based on commodity consumption and industrial output were “modestly lower” than official data. “Just how much has China’s economy slowed?” they asked. “This simple question is hard to answer.”

Dealing with cyber felons Continued from A1

15 minutes to validate an alert, highlighting the need for automation. Apparently, 100 percent of organizations all over the country plan to implement automation and orchestration tools within the next 12 months. The research, likewise, highlights that 70.7 percent prioritize faster threat detection, as 58.5 percent aim to increase overall threat detection capabilities via automation.

Meanwhile, 50 percent said that the top areas for automation include maximizing visibility, automated responses, and threat intelligence, and optimizing the operational efficiency of existing security resources and intelligence.

The top five priorities include boosting network and endpoint security, empowering staff cyber awareness, elevating threat hunting and response, updating critical systems, and performing security audits.

The 2023 Fortinet-IDC Asia Pacific SecOps survey engaged 550 cybersecurity leaders across 11 markets in the region, including 50 from the Philippines.

Costly, widespread breach

APPARENTLY, with reports on the spate of cyber attacks that recently compromised some government agencies’ portals and private companies’ infrastructure, the Philippines is seemed to be constantly confronted by this costly challenge moving forward.

Fortinet reported in May 2023 that the cost for each security breach in the country was at a whopping $1

million or P55 million.

“The average cost, I think, it’s roughly around the same amount [this year],” Pandey said when pressed on the economic impact of cybersecurity infringement. “What we are seeing, though, is [that] the frequency of those attacks is increasing. So it may not be [a case of you being] breached two times or three times in a year. It could be five times, eight times, 10 times in a year. So the overall volume of the cost of remediation goes up, and it also depends on the nature and the sophistication of how well they are progressing.”

This is where cybersecurity providers like Fortinet come in. The company serves thousands of customers from across all verticals in the Philippines. It has the biggest market share when it comes to security solutions deployed on various industries like government, retail, financial services institutions, and service providers, among others.

“Our job is to make sure that with automation and AI, we can lower the cost [of remediation],” said the regional marketing and communications officer of Fortinet.

On average, the company sees millions of attacks being received in the Philippines every day. Based on its data in the third quarter of 2023, it stops a mean of 16 million viruses, botnets and exploits from entering into its customers’ infrastructures daily. A thirdparty organization gives the firm up to 90 percent success rate in stopping malware.

Industry analyst Virus Bulletin, likewise, ranked it among

the top vendors that have the least number of false positives.

Pressed on how to hack-proof one’s organization, he recommended the concept called “defense in depth,” which means not just relying on one but multiple layers of protection built in. With this, even if a threat actor gets into one side, it can be blocked from other layers without causing much damage to the whole system.

Knowing that “the threat landscape and the tactics for the Philippines are changing very, very rapidly in our industry,” Pandey stressed that it’s “an ongoing process that we need to be more secured than we were yesterday.

We need to be more advanced than we were yesterday to stop those threats.”

Since they have been leveraging on AI and machine learning for the past decade, Fortinet Philippines Senior Manager for Systems Engineering Nap Castillo assured their existing and potential clients that they will keep on improving their offerings to help shield them and the entire country from cyber attacks henceforth.

“With over decades of machine learning, artificial intelligence, data gathering and processing, we are able to provide a more improved security posture to our customers.

We are committed to continuously innovate this security functionality and inspection to make sure that we improve it further and the solution is accurate, as well as able to address the different limitations that have been encountered in the past,” he stressed.

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

News

BSP still awaits appointment of admin rep in MB–Bobier

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is still awaiting word on who will be appointed by the President as the administration representative in the Monetary Board (MB), the highest policymaking body of the central bank.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently appointed former Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno to a fresh 6-year term in serving the MB after he was replaced by former Senator and National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Ralph G. Recto.

However, in the Media Information Session of the BSP with reporters on Friday, BSP Deputy Governor Eduardo G. Bobier said there is no assurance that the Secretary of Finance will be the one to represent the government in the Monetary Board.

“Just to be clear, the provision says representative from the government. So, for now, there is an appointed Secretary of Finance. But, me personally, I’m not sure if the Secretary of Finance will sit as member of the Monetary Board because the provision says representative from the government,” Bobier said.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. said there were years when the government representative to the MB was the Secretary of the Neda and there were years when it was the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who occupied the post.

These happened during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo who appointed former Neda Secretary Romulo G. Neri to the MB as well as former Trade and Industry Secretaries Mar Roxas and Peter Favila to the highest policymaking body of the BSP. “So, it’s not necessarily that, it’s not automatic, it depends on who is appointed,” Dakila said.

Bobier also said the appointment to the MB to represent the administration can only be a Cabinet member, not just any senior government official, as indicated in the New Central Bank Act. Section 6, Article 2 of the New Central Bank Act provides the details on the Composition of the Monetary Board. Section 6b states that a member of the Cabinet will be designated by the President of the Philippines to become part of the MB. If the government representative to the MB is not present during a meeting, his or her Undersecretary will be designated as his or her alternate.

Based on Section 8, Article 2 of the New Central Bank Act states that members of the Monetary Board must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, at least thirty-five (35) years of age, with the exception of the Governor who should at least be forty (40) years of age.

These must be of good moral character, of unquestionable integ r it y, of k now n probit y and patriotism, and with recognized competence in social and economic disciplines. Cai U. Ordinario

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PHL posts $3.7-B BOP surplus in ’23–data

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

@caiordinario

HE Philippines ended 2023 on a high note as the Balance of Payments (BOP) marked its highest surplus in December since 2020, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The data showed the country recorded a BOP surplus of $3.7 billion at the end of 2023, while December 2023 also recorded a surplus of $642 million.

The BOP in 2023 was the highest since 2020, when the surplus reached $16.02 billion, while the December 2023 data was the highest since the $1.51 billion in October 2023.

“Based on preliminary data, this development [full-year BOP data] reflected mainly the improvement in the balance of trade alongside the higher net inf lows from personal remittances, trade in services, and foreign borrowings by the National Government [NG].

Further, net inf lows from foreign direct investments contributed to

the surplus, albeit lower during the period,” BSP said.

The full year BOP surplus was a reversal from the $7.3 billion deficit recorded in the same period a year ago, while the December 2023 data was higher than the $612 million BOP surplus recorded in the same month last year.

“The BOP surplus in December 2023 reflected inflows arising mainly from the NG’s net foreign currency deposits with the BSP, net income from the BSP’s investments abroad, and the BSP’s net foreign exchange operations,” the BSP said.

The BSP said the BOP data summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world in a specific period. The data is obtained from administrative and statistical reports, surveys, and the BSP’s International Transactions Recording System (ITRS).

The data is used for national and international policy formulation as

AFP chief reactivates counter-intel group

By Rex Anthony Naval

I

N line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for a more innovative approach in addressing the country’s security threats, the military reactivated its Armed Forces of the Philippines Counterintelligence Group (AFPCIG) on Thursday.

M i l it a r y c h ief Gen. R omeo Brawner Jr. spearheaded the reactivation ceremony for the AFPCIG, which was organized in 1989 but deactivated 1995.

He emphasized the important role of the AFPCIG in securing the nation in an ever-shifting global landscape and encouraged

its members to strive for excellence, embrace innovations, and uphold the highest standards of integrity.

“To the valiant men and women of the AFPCIG, the security of our beloved nation rests upon your capable shoulders. Your tireless efforts will ensnare any threats

well as macroprudential surveillance and monetary policy analysis.

BSP data earlier showed that gross international reserves (GIR) level increased to $103.8 billion as of end-December 2023 from $102.7 billion as of the end of November 2023.

The latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.8 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

Moreover, it is also about 6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.8 times on residual maturity.

BSP said short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external debt with an original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium and long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months.

and guarantee the safety of our treasured citizens. May the AFP Counterintelligence Group ascend to unimaginable heights, preserving the rights and liberties of our great nation,” Brawner said.

Du r i ng t he Ja nu a r y 15 A FP Com m a nd Conference, Ma rcos d i rec ted t he m i l it a r y to “reconf ig u re its approac hes to dea l ing w it h d i f ferent t h reat g roups” fac i ng t he cou nt r y.

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Sen. Jinggoy acquitted of plunder, convicted of direct, indirect bribery in pork barrel scam

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE anti-graft court Sandiganbayan acquitted Senator Jinggoy Estrada of plunder charges in connection with the alleged misuse of his multi-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as pork barrel funds.

Also exonerated by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division was his co-accused and believed to be the pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

However, in a decision released on Friday January 19, the Sandiganbayan convicted Estrada for one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery.

For the direct bribery, which is defined and penalized under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), the Sandiganbayan sentenced Estrada to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of eight years to nine years.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of P3 million.

For the indirect bribery, the anti-graft court sentenced the senator from two years to three years of imprisonment.

The Sandiganbayan also sentenced him to suffer the penalties of suspension and public censure, with the accessory penalties of suspension from public office, from the right to follow a profession or calling, and that of perpetual special disqualification from the right to suffrage.

E s t r a d a’s c o n v i c t i o n f o r d i re c t bribery stemmed from the P9.87 million he and his deputy chief of staff Pauline Therese Labayen received from Napoles as commission for choosing her nongovernment organizations (NGO) as project implementor of his pork barrel funds.

“Being a senator who is allocated with PDAF, he exercised full control over the release thereof and had the sole discretion

as to the livelihood project that would be funded by it. His endorsements of Napoles’ NGOs to implement projects could not have materialized if not for the public office he held,” the 396-page ruling stated.

“Verily, with the concurrence of all the elements, accused Estrada can be convicted of direct bribery under Article 210 of the RPC,” it added.

The indirect bribery stemmed from the amount of P1.5 million that he received from Napoles through Ruby Tuason as advance commission pending utilization of his PDAF allocation.

“Here, accused Estrada became liable for indirect bribery on the very moment that he accepted and kept the amount given to him,” the ruling said.

“Corollary to this, Senator Estrada obviously intended to appropriate the money as his own since he accepted the money without hesitation,” the ruling pointed out.

“In fac t, he even thanked Ruby Tuason after receiving the money without hesitation. These acts unambiguously establish bad faith on the part of Senator Estrada,” it added.

It also noted that Estrada received another sum of money from Napoles in the amount of P4.2 million as second tranche.

“It is of no moment that he returned the entire amount ‘a few days’ after accepting the second bribe money since the crime of indirect bribery was already consummated when he unequivocally accepted it from Tuason. Senator Estrada’s reluctance came after he accepted the bribe money and seems to be a mere after thought.”

On the other hand, Napoles was found guilty of five counts of corruption of public officials under Article 212, in relation to Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code.

She was sentenced by the anti-graft to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of eight

For emergency projects: Rep. Co justifies legality of unprogrammed funds in GAA

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

H

OUSE Committee on Appropriations Chairman Zaldy Co on Friday said unprogrammed funds are legal and designated for emergency projects listed on the government’s “wish list” in the event of surplus revenues.

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co clarified that these funds are not obligatory contracts, nor are they part of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) or programmed funds.

Co added that unprogrammed funds serve as a contingency plan, allowing the government to address unforeseen emergencies, such as the impact of Covid-19.

This was Co’s response when asked about the petition filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the constitutionality of unprogrammed funds in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Co said unprogrammed funds are legal and are only released after a certification from the Department of Budget and Management and the Treasury that there is extra revenue.

“These funds have been a longstanding practice, providing flexibility to respond to urgent needs. They are released only after certification from the Department of Budget and Management and the Treasury, confirming the existence of extra revenue,” explained Co.

Co said unprogrammed funds have been included in previous national budgets, including this year’s, as a good planning practice for emergency situations.

He said this proves that Lagman agreed then that unprogrammed funds are legitimate budget items.

Co said that Lagman, having served as a congressional representative for many years, had previously approved national budgets containing unprogrammed funds, underscoring their legitimacy as essential budgetary components.

Addressing allegations about Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte receiving P51 billion in unprogrammed funds, Co stated report is still in the process of verification.

DND, JICA discuss plans to beef up Philippine maritime security

T

H E strong par tnership between Filipinos and Japanese people was further highlighted Thursday when a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited the Department of National Defense (DND) to discuss further on to improve the country’s maritime domain awareness capabilities.

The JICA delegation was headed its Director General Tanaka Hiroo who met with DND Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The meeting was intended to determine

how the Japanese Government, through the Official Development Assistance and Official Security Assistance [OSA], could further contribute to enhancing the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities amid the evolving security challenges in the region,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

Also present was Japan Ambassador to the Philippines, Koshikawa Kazuhiko, and other Japanese Embassy officials.

“Highlighting the impor tance of sustaining regional peace and stability,

Secretary Teodoro reaffirmed the DND and AFP’s [Armed Forces of the Philippines] full commitment to working with JICA in identifying maritime security cooperative projects, while adapting a holistic approach to address traditional and non-traditional security concerns for long-term economic development,” Andolong added.

During the state visit to the Philippines of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in November 2023, the Philippines and Japan signed and exchanged notes on Japan’s OSA, worth JP¥600 million grant aid of coastal

He acknowledged the significant amount and indicated the ongoing effort to obtain supporting documentation.

Earlier, Lagman said the President’s NEP proposed a cap of only P281,908.056,000 for unprogrammed appropriations, a ceiling that Congress is explicitly prohibited from surpassing under Sec. 25(1) of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

“The excess of P449.5 billion over the P289.1 billion proposed by the President for unprogrammed appropriations is an unconstitutional act of the Congress that is tainted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to a lack or excess of congressional jurisdiction, and perforce must be nullified,” he added. surveillance radars to the Philippines.

“Secretary Teodoro also encouraged the JICA delegation to engage with relevant government agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, among others, and Local Government Units to further capacitate not just the capability requirements of the Philippine Navy, but also maritime law enforcement agencies and Filipino fisherfolk,” Andolong noted.

He added the meeting ended with possible cooperation on information sharing, hardware and software support, and technical assistance. Rex Anthony Naval

years to 10 years and ordered to pay a fine of P29,625,000.

Likewise, Napoles was found guilty of another two counts of corruption of public officials and was sentenced from two years to four years of imprisonment.

She was directed by the Sandiganbayan to indemnify the government in the amount of P262,034,000, by way of civil liability, with interest of 6 percent per annum reckoned from the finality of the decision until payment.

The Sandiganbayan stressed that the prosecution was able to sufficiently prove that pork barrel funds were transferred to NGOs under the control of Napoles for implementation of various projects, which turned out to be fictitious.

However, Estrada and Napoles “were acquitted of the crime of plunder based on reasonable doubt, for the failure of the prosecution to prove that the threshold amount has been met or that a public officer

[i.e., Estrada] has amassed, accumulated or acquired, direct or indirectly an ill-gotten wealth” in the amount of at least P50 million.

“Thus, the total amount of P262,034,000.00, which are public funds transferred by implementing agencies to the two NGOs of accused Napoles, constitutes the actual damages suffered by the government resulting from the unlawful scheme, as sufficiently proven by the prosecution,” the Sandiganbayan said.

It can be recalled that on March 28, 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a joint resolution indicting Estrada along with Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and several others for plunder and graft.

Estrada was accused of pocketing P183 million from his pork barrel fund through the scheme perpetrated by Napoles.

The S andiganbayan had already acquitted Revilla while Enrile is out on bail pending resolution of his case.

PEZA readies locators for possible disruption amid Red Sea attacks

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

T

HE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it is preparing its locators, particularly those who export and source goods to and from Europe, for the possible impact of trade disruption caused by attacks in the Red Sea. In a Viber message to reporters, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga underscored that “the closure and shutdown of the Red Sea to trade will make shipping costs expensive and add 10 days for the exchange of goods between Europe and Asia.”

Panga said this would “definitely” affect global trade, such as delay in production and deliveries of products and resources, thereby increasing the cost of goods.

“The effect of which will be higher inflation in different parts of the world,” the PEZA chief noted.

“At PEZA, we are already preparing for this by collaborating with the affected RBEs [registered business enterprises] sourcing/importing and exporting to and from the EU and the Mediterranean to ensure that the least possible effects would be felt as contingencies are set in place in advance of any major conflict,” he explained.

Panga noted that while traders are “yet to feel the effects in the Philippines,” he emphasized that they are already “proactively working together with other concerned agencies to de-risk global supply chains that may affect our locators in particular and the whole economy in general.”

Last January 4, United Kingdombased think tank Oxford Economics said if the Red Sea were to remain closed to shipping for several months and “shipping freight costs stayed around twice the level of mid-December, this could add 0.7 ppt [percentage points]

to annual CPI [Consumer Price Index] inflation rates by the end of 2024.”

The UK-based think tank noted that the recent wave attacks on ships sailing through the Red Sea— through which around 30 percent of all container shipping traffic passes—has “major ramifications” for the shipping industry.

In fact, it noted that some shipping companies have already announced suspensions of sailing though the region, diverting ships instead around the Cape of Good Hope.

Explaining the impact, Oxford Economics said, “A ship traveling at 16.5 knots from Taiwan to the Netherlands via the Red Sea and Suez Canal takes about 25.5 days to complete the journey. But this rises to about 34 days if the journey is diverted.”

“While a nine-day delay to a single shipment doesn’t sound overly dramatic, the cumulative impact is considerable [since] it’s been widely reported that the extra shipping times caused by an effective closure of the Red Sea could reduce global shipping capacity by 20 percent,” the think tank noted.

In a Viber message sent to the B u s i n e s s M i r r o r t wo weeks ago, Association of International Shipping Lines Inc. (AISL) President Patrick Ronas said those who import from Europe and Africa would be affected.

“It will now take longer as the journey will now be longer. In terms of transit times, it is expected to add 2 to 3 weeks, as vessels will be going around the Cape of Good Hope. It will be a roundabout route. Delays are inevitable at this stage,” Ronas said.

Ronas earlier recommended that Philippine exporters check their carriers or shipping lines on the expected arrival of their goods to “manage expectations.” (Full story here: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/01/08/ red-sea-attacks-on-vessels-hikingshipping-cost-experts/)

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British D-Day veteran marks 100th birthday

D-Day veteran Bill Gladden speaking at his home in Haverhill, England on January 12, 2024. Gladden spoke to the AP on the eve of his 100th birthday, he is a veteran of the 6th Airborne Armored Reconnaissance Regiment, part of the British 6th Airborne Division, he landed by glider on the afternoon of DDay, June 6, 1944, in Normandy. AP Photo/Alastair Grant

By Danica Kirka | The Associated Press

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ONDON—British D-Day veteran Bill Gladden turned 100 on Saturday, a day after his niece threw a surprise birthday party for him. It was a big fuss he didn’t really expect, though the old soldier had tears in his eyes long before he caught sight of a cake decorated with a replica of his uniform and the medals he earned.

But Gladden isn’t focused on his birthday this year, big as it is. He’s looking six months down the road.

That’s because the event he really wants to attend is the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6. It may be the last of the big events marking the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe because so few of the 850,000 troops who took part remain. Gladden wants to be there to honor those who are gone—to remind people that victory did not come cheap.

“If I could do that this year, I should be happy,’’ he told The Associated Press from his home in Haverhill, eastern England, where he still lives on his own.

“Well, I am happy now, but I should be more happy.”

A dispatch rider with the 6th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment, Gladden landed behind the front lines on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in a wooden glider loaded with six motorcycles and a 17,000-pound (7,700-kilogram) tank. The unit was part of an operation charged with securing bridges over the River Orne and Caen Canal so that Allied forces moving inland from the Normandy beaches could use them.

Based in an orchard outside the village of Ranville, Gladden spent 12 days making forays into the surrounding countryside to check out reports of enemy activity.

On June 16, he carried two injured soldiers into a barn that was being used as a makeshift field hospital. Two days later, he found himself at the same barn, his right ankle shattered by machine gun fire.

Lying on the grass outside the hospital, he read the treatment label pinned to his tunic: “Amputation considered. Large deep wound in right ankle. Compound fracture of both tibia and fibula. All extension tendons destroyed.

Evacuate.”

Gladden didn’t lose his leg, but he spent the next three years in the hospital as doctors performed a series of surgeries, including tendon transplants, skin and bone grafts.

After the war, Gladden married Marie Warne, an army driver he met in 1943, and spent 40 years working for Siemens and Pearl Insurance. They had a daughter.

These days he’s more likely to talk about how proud he is of his family than he is to reminisce about D-Day. But his wartime story is preserved in a scrapbook that includes a newspaper clipping about “the tanks that were built to fly,” his drawings and other memorabilia.

There’s also a scrap of parachute left behind by one of the paratroopers who landed in the orchard at Ranville. As he lay in the hospital recovering from his wounds, Gladden painstakingly stitched his unit’s shoulder insignia into the fabric.

The edges are frayed and discolored after eight decades, but “Royal Armoured Corps” still stands out in an arc of red lettering on a yellow background. Underneath is a silhouette of Pegasus, the flying horse, over the word “Airborne.”

“These are the flashes we wore on our battledress blouses,” says the caption in neat block letters.

Nothing has faded from memory though. At his party, people celebrated his service and offered a booming happy birthday chorus.

“I just think he’s a legend, what he’s been through, what he’s seen, what he’s done,’’ said his niece, Kaye Thorpe. “He’s just amazing, and he’s still bright as a button on top.’’

For men like Bill Gladden, though, there was no I in D-Day. Even as he celebrated his 100th birthday, somehow it wasn’t just about him. Instead, he echoed the words of many who survived the invasion.

“When you think of all those young lives that lay in those cemeteries abroad, the Allies and us won the war but (victory) was a very expensive one, life-wise,’’ he said. “Because so many youngsters died.’’ Associated

Press writers Mayuko Ono and Alastair Grant contributed.

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, January 20, 2024

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DSWD hits 99% annual target for 2023 centenarian program

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

he Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached 99 percent of its annual target for the implementation of the centenarian program in 2023.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez, who is also the agency’s spokesperson, said that a total of 2,444 centenarians, or 99.15 percent of the program’s annual target of 2,465, were recognized and provided with centenarian incentives by the DSWD. “This achievement underscores the department’s commitment to the well-being and support of our

elderly citizens, as well as in recognition of their significant contributions to nation-building,” he said in a statement.

According to Lopez, the provision of centenarian gifts to Filipinos who reached 100 years of age and above is part of the implementation of the Centenarian Program, as mandated by Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.

Centenarian Maura Agripa shows the P100,000 check she received from the Taguig City government on her 100th birthday on September 26, 2023. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has reached 99 percent of its annual target for the implementation of the centenarian program in 2023. Photo courtesy of Taguig PIO

Under the program, centenarians residing in the country or abroad are provided with P100,000 cash incentives and a Letter of Felicitation signed by the President of the Philippines

congratulating them for their longevity.

Aside from the cash gift, the DSWD provides a posthumous plaque of recognition for a deceased centenarian, which may

be received by the nearest surviving relative.

“More than these incentives, the program reflects the government’s dedication in honoring the resilience of all Filipinos who reached 100 years of age,” Lopez said.

Lopez also emphasized that the DSWD has allotted more than P186 million to fund the implementation of the centenarian program this 2024.

“We assure you of our unwavering commitment to the continued implementation and enhancement of the program, ensuring that deserving centenarians will be reached and provided with incentives,” the spokesperson said.

Lopez reiterated that the DSWD will closely coordinate with the LGUs and the NCSC to improve the planning and budgeting for the effective and efficient implementation of the law.

Congress urged No mandatory retirement for creative agers to institutionalize long-term care program for seniors

By Nick Tayag

my sixty-zen’S WORTH

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lawmaker has called on Congress to pass a law that will institutionalize a national long-term care program for senior citizens to enable them to lead dignified, healthy, and secure lives.

Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said he envisions the long-term care program as a complementary measure to existing laws granting social pensions to indigent elderly Filipinos.

He said that while the recent increase in the pension amount from P500 to P1,000 under Republic Act 11916 is beneficial, it is not sufficient to cover the comprehensive needs of seniors, including quality healthcare, insurance, shelter, and other essential services.

Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the fund for social pensions has doubled from P25.3 billion in 2023 to P49.81 billion.

“While doubling the amount of the pension benefit is a big help to our indigent lolos and lolas, this is, admittedly, not yet enough for them to be able to shoulder the costs of quality health care, insurance, shelter, and other services that they need and should be entitled to in their twilight years,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan noted that many poor elderly Filipinos usually survive by living with their children or relatives or by taking on odd jobs, while others have either been neglected or abandoned.

“Our senior citizens have contributed a wealth of wisdom and experience and spent their lives helping carve a vibrant future for our country. We should honor, respect, and care for them by putting in place a long-term comprehensive program that would provide them with social protection, quality healthcare, and an environment that supports their active engagement in community activities as much as possible,” Yamsuan said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2020 census, there are 9.22 million Filipinos aged 60 and above.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has identified 4.1 million indigent senior citizens in 2023.

In response to these challenges, Yamsuan has proposed House Bill (HB) 7980, also known as the Long-Term Care for Senior Citizens Act. The bill aims to address poverty and vulnerability among the elderly by implementing initiatives that protect them from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and discrimination.

Key provisions of HB 7980 include targeted livelihood programs, social insurance, and financial support schemes to prevent income loss and unemployment due to old age.

The bill also emphasizes the social development of seniors, encompassing lifelong learning, non-formal education programs, and activities that enable active engagement in community life.

Yamsuan said the proposed bill will ensure the availability of integrated and innovative elderly-focused social services at the local level, with a focus on disease prevention, curative and rehabilitative healthcare, and other forms of support, including home nursing services and hospice care.

The joint implementation of the program is outlined to involve the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), and the DSWD. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

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n Philippine society, the law mandates retirement. This means that upon reaching a certain age, a person is finished, useless, and unproductive. He should be put to pasture, like a cow that can no longer be milked. Give him incentives like senior citizen discounts and “ayuda” and he’ll be happy and contented.

Alas, society is making a mistake by banishing senior citizens to oblivion too soon. So much productive juices can still be squeezed out of millions of retired seniors who are still very much alive and kicking as the cliché goes.

Be that as it may, to use an old cliché, let’s look at the silver lining in the cloud of mandatory retirement.

As senior citizens, in our 60s, 70s and 80s, we’ve been through two ages: teen-age and middle age. We are now in the final third part of life. Peter Laslett, the British historian calls it “The Third Age.” For him, this is a period of life that is full of limitless possibilities. No company, no boss, no shareholder owns our time. We are on our own, for better or for worse. We can now focus on taking full ownership of the most important asset in our life: ourselves!

To quote Mitch Albom, a retired professor of sociology who became famous for his book “Tuesdays with Morrie,” we are now free “to experience the inner satisfaction of choosing to create a life that reflects our reasonable and adventurous desires and aspirations, thus freeing our-

selves from ageist assumptions that tell us we are finished, useless, and of little value.”

Think of post-retirement as an occasion for self-actualization, for doing those things that have the most personal meaning, that keep you challenged and actively learning.

Richard Lacayo, a former art and architecture critic, says old age is not a time to be dismissed and forgotten but can in fact be a “Time of Triumph.”

He mentions six great artists who attained their time of triumph after 60.

Titian, Goya, Monet, Matisse, Hopper and Nevelson—they all produced some of their greatest work in their advancing years.

What was the thing these elderly artists had in common? They were able to unlock their innate creativity.

The key to unlocking the creative genius in each of us is self-empowerment through the arts. The so-called “expressive arts,” which encompass the visual arts, music, dance/movement, writing, and acting in a play have been recognized as effective empowering tools that can assist in the aging process.

Why not launch a nationwide community-based program called “Arts Education for Creative Aging?”

It’s a way to encourage senior citizens aged 60 to 80 to leave their homes and participate in art learning workshops suited to their aptitude and talent and join their fellow seniors in dance, music, acting, writing and visual and digital arts activities of their own choosing.

Research shows that professionally-led arts education for the elderly fosters positive aging because it promotes physical health, enhances a sense of well-being among older adults, improves quality of life for those who are ill, and reduces the risk factors that lead to the need for long-term care.

These workshops can be done exclusively for seniors or may be open to intergenerational mixing of the old with the young. Can you just imagine it – lolo and lola doing water color painting together with their grandkids?

The cynics will scoff at it and say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.

All I can say is that we’re not out to teach them “new tricks” but to awaken the dormant creativity that’s in every human person. Remember the old English proverb: “There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle.”

There is a valuable resource of older artists who can be tapped to serve as teachers or mentors in these art classes.

This proposition is very doable. I know a group of senior plein air artists willing to give lessons on call. Retired pianists or orchestra members can be coaxed to give music appreciation classes as well as basic instrumental playing such as the violin, flute or trumpet. Why not bring National Artists as guest resource persons?

Corporations and organizations from the private sector should consider the idea seriously. It will be a good CSR program to champion, starting with their own retiring employees or executives. It will not only have a meaningful social impact, but it will also score a lot of goodwill points for their organizations.

Progressive and enlightened LGU leaders will earn the lifelong gratitude of the growing army of senior constituents and their families by implementing the program in their local communities. Imagine them coming home brimming with excitement to share their newfound skills with their grandchildren?

Surely, members of the Senate and House of Representatives can allocate some funding for this program.

There’s no getting around the fact that we all age. The good news is that aging creatively — through the arts — holds the promise of being active and enjoying the bonus years that increased life expectancy has gifted us.

And at this late old age you’ve done a lot, so you have a lot to work with.

And the best thing about it is, like Mitch Albom said, “there is no forced retirement for aging creatively.”

Education BusinessMirror

A6 Saturday, January 20, 2024

Editor: Mike Policarpio

online learners flock to Coursera’s Japan ambassador: Learning is key Fil. data-centric courses for career success to peaceful and harmonious future P

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HE Japanese envoy to the Philippines underscored the significance of international cooperation in fostering peace and collaboration among nations.

Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa keynoted the closing ceremony of the “Asian Peacebuilders Scholarship (APS) Program” which celebrated 16 years of commitment to peace and development, as well as its last batch of scholars.

The said program—a collaborative initiative of The Nippon Foundation, the University for Peace, and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)—has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of peacebuilding

practitioners and development leaders across Asia. Over the course of 16 years, it has supported the postgraduate education of more than 400 scholars from Japan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Koshikawa’s keynote address emphasized the critical role programs like the APS and education play in building a peaceful and harmonious future.

The closing ceremony was

AMBASSADOR Kazuhiko Koshikawa JAPANESE EMBASSY

graced by the distinguished presence of ADMU president Rev. Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ and vice president for Higher Education Dr. Maria Luz C. Vilches, University of Peace rector Dr. Francisco Rojas and vice-rector Dr. Juan

Carlos Sainz Borgo, School of Social Sciences dean Dr. Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu, and The Nippon Foundation’s program manager Kiyomi Takahashi.

T he event a lso welcomed members of t he d iplomat ic corps, esteemed faculty members, and administrators from ADMU and the University for Peace. Additionally, scholars and alumni from various programs of The Nippon Foundation added to the distinguished gathering, highlighting the program’s broad support and lasting impact on individuals dedicated to promoting peace.

Musical performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers added a cultural touch to the ceremony, and a video presentation showcased the three-day closing activities. After the ceremony, a lively cocktail reception allowed attendees to engage in networking and reflection.

Educ champions hail stakeholders’ views on senior HS program pause

By Roderick L. Abad

rennial problem of congestion is to encourage the students to transfer to private schools where they can avail of vouchers to subsidize their schooling under the [Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Pr ivate Education or ‘GASTPE’] program,” they said.

Amid GASTPE’s ample budget hike in the 2024 national appropriation to support transferees, they noted that the Education Department “must first rid itself of diploma mills and ‘flyby-night schools’” that have contributed to the declining quality of education in the country, and have served as a “milking cow” of sorts for unscrupulous individuals.

Based on reports they cited, these illegal businesses charge exorbitant school fees, including pricey field trips, uniforms, and superfluous expenses that do not contribute to the holistic development of students. “ T he preva lence of these schools is a challenge not only endured by students and their parents, but also by our teachers and the general taxpaying public as well,” the groups said.

“We call on the DepEd to release the audit of…schools that have accessed ‘GASTPE’ and their evaluation of these questionable schools. Our hardworking taxpayers deserve better if we truly aspire for a well-informed and intelligent society.”

Chevron marks Volunteer Day with career training and values formation for Don Bosco Pugad’s youths

a favorite hangout and meeting place of parishioners after attending mass.

Chevron and Don Bosco Pugad also launched the “Caltex Pugad Mobile Mechanics,” an auto repair program created to bring the latter’s skilled car maintenance personnel to its customers’ homes.

“Our partnership with Don Bosco goes back many years.

We’ve been involved in providing equipment and assisting in training Pugad’s youth and housewives of [Barangay Pio del Pilar’s] nearby residents in meat processing and making pan de sal, among other corporate social responsibility [CSR] projects,” recalled Atty. Raissa Bautista, who is CPI’s corporate affairs manager.

“Our ongoing collaboration with Don Bosco Pugad represents a sustainable partnership that we take great pride in. We’ve brought foreign executives here to highlight this project as an integral component of our enduring CSR initiatives,” Atty.

Bautista added. “We commend Don Bosco Pugad not only for incorporating spiritual teachings and values in its endeavors, but also for seamlessly integrating livelihood components and applications as in activities involving their bakeshop and cafe.

These create a sustainable cycle that aligns…with our goals, and we are…proud of the results.”

Every year Chevron employees devote their time and energies to directly serve their host communities. This year’s theme focused on youth empowerment through career training and labor force preparation.

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DVOCACY groups Teachers D ig n it y Coa l it ion (TDC) and Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) welcomed the pronouncements of different stakeholders on the issue of the stoppage of the senior high school (SHS) program at state and local universities and colleges or SUCs and LUCs. “It is our ardent wish that we all work together to avoid exacerbating the education crisis that has already beset us by mechanically shutting down the program without ample consideration of its impacts on teachers and learners alike,” TDC and Spark said in a joint statement issued

on January 14.

Given the Department of Education’s (DepEd) outstanding classroom backlog of about 165,000, the groups asserted that accepting displaced SHS students will be the main concern. The situation could lead to congestion in public-school classes, thus adding on to the burdens of teachers, according to the groups.

TDC and Spark suggested to DepEd to consider the affected students’ geographic distribution to prevent enrolling them in schools miles away from their residences, which will result to additional costs to their families. “ Yet, anot her defau lt response of the DepEd to the pe-

YOUNG men from Don Bosco Pugad received coaching and career training from Haraya Coaching sponsored by Chevron Phils. Inc.

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ARKETER of the Caltex brand of fuel and lubr ic a nt s C he v ron Phils. Inc. (CPI), together with the Caltex Makati Credit Cooperative (CMCC), recently partnered with Don Bosco Pugad to provide professional coaching and career training for the latter’s disadvantaged youth.

The activity marked CPI’s annual volunteering activity for 2023. Twenty marginalized youth-scholars from Don Bosco Pugad were selected to participate.

Dur ing t he prog ram, t he young men talked about their

strengths, experiences, and future goals through a series of enriching and interactive activities. Besides coaching and training, attendees received tips from Chevron representatives on skills and knowledge needed to navigate formal interviews and the professional world.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chevron and CMCC for the invaluable support they’ve provided,” shared Rev. Fr. Pat Villasanta SDB, who is the executive director of Don Bosco Pugad.

“Their assistance will help in creating a positive influence in the lives of the ‘Pugad boys,’ along-

side our organization’s efforts.”

Chevron has a long history of partnership with Don Bosco Pugad as part of the “Caltex Energy for Learning” initiative.

CPI had provided commercialgrade equipment such as mixers, rollers, as well as liquefied petroleum gas. The partnership birthed several livelihood projects, such as the Manna from Heaven Bakeshop which sells bread and pastries to the surrounding subdivision and condominium residents. The success of the bakeshop led to Pugad’s quaint Coffee and Saints Café, which has become

OPULAR courses on entrylevel digital skills and lifelong learning have shown increasing demand, as Coursera Inc. released its annual study of learner trends based on data from over 2.1 million registered learners in the Philippines.

The latest data from one of the largest global online-learning platforms offers insights into the skills, competencies, and subject-matter most desirable to Filipinos.

Last year, Coursera saw a huge surge in interest for Generative Artificial Intelligence or “GenAI” content, with searches increasing by five-fold in the Philippines compared to the previous year. Top three Coursera courses on the topic among Filipino learners include “Introduction to Generative AI” by Google Cloud, “Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT”

by Vanderbilt University, and the newly launched “Generative AI for Everyone” by DeepLearning.AI. The latter, developed by AI pioneer Andrew Ng, has become the fastest-growing course globally on Coursera in 2023 within just six weeks of its launch.

This year’s data shows that Filipino learners are particularly enthusiastic about courses that provide high-demand technology and data science skills, indicating a keen desire to gain the competencies needed to thrive in the modern, digital economy. The most popular course among Filipino learners is Google’s “Foundations: Data, Data Everywhere”—a popular choice for those seeking to build foundational literacy to stay competitive in an increasingly datadriven world.

The 2023 data showcases that Filipino learners are particularly enthusiastic about courses around personal development, as well as prioritizing mental health and wellbeing. They explored the human mind through courses like “Learning How to Learn” from Deep Teaching So-

lutions, and Yale University’s “The Science of Wellbeing.” These courses emphasize the importance of lifelong learning and personal well-being, reflecting a balanced approach to self-improvement.

There was also a rising uptake of courses that are part of entry-level Professional Certificates, which require no background knowledge or college degree, and teach the skills needed for entry-level roles. Eighty percent of the top courses in the Philippines like Google’s “Foundations of Project Management,” “Prepare Data for Exploration” and “Technical Support Fundamentals” are part of these programs.

“In 2023, Filipinos’ passion for learning soared on Coursera. Their interest in GenAI, tech, and data skills not only reflects their thirst for cutting-edge knowledge, but also their commitment to staying at the forefront of the digital revolution,” said Managing Director Raghav Gupta of Coursera Asia-Pacific. “In the year ahead, we’re excited to use GenAI to transform education, [as well as provide personalized, engaging and inclusive learning. The renewed focus on lifelong learning, tech and human skills, plus] blended learning on campuses will be the key to employability in the AI-driven world.”

2023’s 10 most popular courses in the Philippines are: (1) “Foundations: Data, Data Everywhere,” (2) “Foundations of Project Management,” (3) “Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions,” (4) “Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce,” (5) “Technical Support Fundamentals,” (6) “Foundations of User Experience [UX] Design” and (7) “Prepare Data for Exploration”—all by Google; (8) “Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects” by “Deep Teaching Solutions;” (9) “Process Data from Dirty to Clean” also by Google; and (10) “The Science of Well-Being” by Yale University.

IC design firm opens avenues for more Fil. microelectronics eng’rs

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WHOLLY Filipino-owned integrated circuit-(IC) design solutions company recently urged the government to form a partnership with the academe and the private sector in producing a comprehensive program that will enable the country to develop microelectronics engineers.

Xinyx Design Consultancy and Services Inc. president and general manager Charade Avondo told the BusinessMirror that a Southeast Asian country has been getting the lion’s share of the IC design from electronics companies around the world, which is reflective of the microelectronics engineering sector’s potential: “In Vietnam, a microelectronics engineer earns an equivalent of P200,000 per month.”

According to Statista, revenue in the IC market is projected to reach $5.35 billion in 2023, with a projected annual growth rate or CAGR between 2023 and 2027 of 11.50 percent, resulting in a market volume of $8.27 billion by the end of that period. Meanwhile, the Semiconductor Industry Association in Washington released a study revealing that the United States faces a significant shortfall of 70,000 technicians, computer scientists, and engineers in the semiconductor industry by 2030.

Avondo said the Philippines needs to yield 2,000 to 3,000 microelectronics engineers yearly to address global demand. Although the country is capable of producing these engineers, she lamented that many schools are closing down their programs producing the said professionals because of the low turnout of enrollees: “That is our problem, and the government needs to help us.”

She said Xinyx is doing its part to solve the problem, as it is providing expensive tools to a university “usually for three years.”

According to Corporate Communications Executive Christine Gojar of Xinyx Design, the tools being referred to are

for Electronic Design Automation that the semiconductor-design industry uses to design circuits: “Industry-grade EDA software like Cadence or Synopsys is prohibitively expensive, which is why the IC Design specialization in some universities requires support.”

Still, she said academic licenses that cost P1 million pesos for 20 seats are much cheaper than one commercial license for 50 academic seats. While there are free tools to be found online, learners working with industry-grade ones during their undergraduate years make a real difference in reducing the skill gap between academe and industry: “It has been taking us up to 18 months of training and immersion before fresh engineers become revenue-generating.”

For universities and colleges, Gojar said the company allots supplementary laborator y-setup consultation w ith training and immersion for faculty, so that the academic license is utilized to the fullest while active.

She said that on-the-job trainees are given IC design-engineering internships to the level of exposure of a given batch, ranging from classroom-type training to actual project immersion: “We provide internships at the undergraduate and graduate level.”

Xinyx Design has more than a decade of experience in the field of custom analog design and custom digital design. Fourteen years after its founding, the firm has grown from nine engineers to 350. The company has earned the reputation for reliability and excellence, with a portfolio that includes more than 20 top global customers and over 650 project releases.

Countering the exodus of the Filipino engineers, Xinyx has opened an office in the Netherlands to give them the opportunity to work and be trained abroad.

Avondo shared that “I have clients also who gave high excellent ratings to their engineers—a testament that they are world-class talents.” Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Tourism&Entertainment AUTUMN IN NEW YORK BusinessMirror

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

Saturday, January 20, 2024 A7

Falling in love at Central Park

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Strawberry Fields plaque dedicates this place in the park for John Lennon.

Story & photos by Arabelle Jimenez

tart spreading the news! New York, New York is truly one of the best cities in the world, and a convenient place to live in.

This concrete jungle where dreams are made of has everything you need, whether you are there for work, studies, or vacation. It has four seasons where one can experience the chilly winter, the colorful fall, the freshness of spring, or the sticky hot summer.

I consider New York City my second home, as my daughter, Alyssa Bianca Mendoza is a resident of the Big Apple.

Every time I visit her, there is always something new to discover. My latest visit was in the autumn of 2023, where I did my best to be on time for the colorful fall foliage.

Where is the best place to experience the fall in this city that never sleeps? Go to Central Park, which is accessible by the metro from any part of the city. Exploring this vast park will take you more than a day to see everything, and experiencing it during the fall will truly make you fall in love.

Central Park is not only a recreational hub but also a place where nature, art, and culture converge. It serves as a stunning backdrop for outdoor concerts, exhibitions, and public gatherings. Whether you’re looking to engage in outdoor activities, appreciate art and architecture, or simply unwind amidst nature, Central Park offers a vast array of experiences that make it a beloved destination for both locals and visitors.

Central Park is an iconic public park located in the heart of Manhattan, New York City. It spans approximately 843 acres (341 hectares) and is one of the most visited urban parks in the world. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is known for its beautiful landscapes, diverse attractions, and recreational

opportunities.

The park was established in 1857 and officially opened to the public in 1876. It offers a tranquil retreat from the bustling city and provides a variety of activities for locals and tourists alike. Central Park is divided into several distinct areas, each with its own unique features.

It is a pleasant surprise to discover that Central Park is more than just a “park”. Some of the notable attractions within this green area of New York City include:

“Imagine” from John Lennon’s song gives tribute to the fallen Beatles artist.

Author Arabelle Jimenez and her daughter Alyssa Bianca Mendoza take a stroll in the Literary Walk of Central Park.

Enjoying the fall foliage in Central Park, New York City

1. The Mall and Literary Walk: A tree-lined pedestrian pathway where you can enjoy strolls and admire the statues of famous authors and poets.

2. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain: A grand terrace overlooking a beautiful fountain and a lower level called The Arcade, which hosts various performances and events.

3. Central Park Zoo: A small but charming zoo that houses a variety of animals, including penguins, sea lions, snow leopards, and more.

4. The Great Lawn: A vast open space ideal for sunbathing, picnicking, and various recreational activities such as frisbee, concerts, and sports.

5. Central Park Conservatory Garden: A meticulously maintained formal garden featuring stunning flower displays, serene fountains, and picturesque pathways.

6. The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir: A scenic body of water encircled by a jogging track, offer-

Throw a coin in the Bethesda Fountain and make a wish. ing panoramic views of the park and skyline.

7. Belvedere Castle: A picturesque cast le-l i ke str uct ure t hat serves as a visitor center and provides breathtaking views of the park’s surroundings.

8. Strawberry Fields: A designated area in Central Park dedicated to the memory of John Lennon, a member of the Beatles. It is a peaceful spot with a mosaic tribute to Lennon and often attracts fans and music lovers.

9. Bow Bridge: A picturesque castiron bridge that spans across The Lake in Central Park. It is a popular location for romantic walks, photography, and even weddings.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

10. The Conservatory Water: A tranquil pond where visitors can enjoy remote-controlled boat races and model boat sailing. It’s particularly popular among children and boating enthusiasts.

11. Shakespeare Garden: A charming garden featuring plants and flowers mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. It’s a delightful spot to walk, sit, and immerse yourself in nature while surrounded by literary references.

12. Ice Skating Rink: During the winter months, Central Park transforms one of its areas into a beautiful ice skating rink. Skating enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy gliding across the ice surrounded by the park’s win-

The Mall and Literary Walk: A tree-lined pedestrian pathway

ter scenery.

13. The Ramble: A dense woodland area with winding paths, serene streams, and an abundance of wildlife. This section of the park provides a peaceful retreat for birdwatching, walking, and escaping the bustling city atmosphere.

14. Cleopatra’s Needle: An ancient Egyptian obelisk standing near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is a fascinating historical artifact and one of the few surviving ancient Egyptian obelisks in the world.

15. Central Park Carousel: A classic carousel featuring beautifully crafted horses and nostalgic music. It’s a favorite attraction among families and

children, offering a whimsical ride within the park.

Central Park also provides opportunities for outdoor sports, such as baseball, soccer, tennis, and horseback riding. There are numerous walking and biking paths, as well as designated areas for rollerblading and skateboarding.

Throughout the year, Central Park hosts various events and activities, such as concerts, theater performances, art exhibits, and festivals. It’s also a popular spot for filming movies, making it recognizable in countless productions.

Whether you’re looking for relaxation, exercise, outdoor entertainment, or simply a break from the urban environment, Central Park offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all.

Go ahead, and fall in love.

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Masungi Georeserve’s ancient limestone and eco-adventures

By John Eiron R. Francisco Photos by Bernard Testa

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ave you traveled hundreds and thousands of islands in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, or perhaps explored the Philippines as a whole? If there’s a gem missing from your bucket list, consider Masungi Georeserve—an extraordinary wildlife sanctuary that transcends typical tourism and not just elevate the travel journey but also foster environmental awareness among visitors.

Masungi Georeserve is situated in Baras, Rizal, within the southern part of Sierra Madre Mountain range, with a 10-kilometer limestone spine harking back to the Paleocene period, surpassing 60 million years in age after the extinction of dinosaurs. This ancient limestone formation beckons to be explored, whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a novice hiker.

So, envision yourself exploring this well-preserved area, just a two-hour drive away from Metro Manila and reminiscent of the dreamy landscapes portrayed in science fiction adventure movies, where walking through the karst terrain it gives the sensation of stepping into a different dimension, where the ancient limestone formations are not merely a dream, but a tangible experience.

Masungi Georeserve houses a diverse array of species, with over 400 documented types of flora and fauna. There’s no need to worry about visitors causing any disturbance, as the park rangers will

be on hand to guide and assist the guests before and during the trek, offering a deeper understanding of the area.

What adds to the appeal of Masungi Georeserve’s system in welcoming visitors is their emphasis on preserving the private experience of each group of travelers. They allocate a 30-minute gap before the next group begins the trail to ensure that tranquility, cleanliness, and safety are maintained.

Furthermore, visitors gain a genuine appreciation for the positive transformation of Masungi Georeserve from a once barren landscape and a site of various illegal mountain activities over two decades ago.

This wildlife sanctuary stands in stark contrast to its previous state that offers not just a place to check off your travel list, but an environment where profound appreciation resonates and extends from the commitment of forest rangers to the beautiful nature itself.

Exploring Masungi Georeserve for the first time is a truly awe-inspiring experience with a “wow factor,” in every element. This factor goes beyond the typical amenities found in other tourist destinations, but what makes Masungi Georeserve truly exceptional is the profound experience and awareness it imparts—an encounter and lessons that will stay with you even after leaving the trail, where it offers a unique environmental lesson that people can share with others and into their community.

Masungi Georeserve offers various trails for visitors with advance reservations, and it’s recommended to explore the reserve in groups.

On the “Discovery trail,” guests can explore the area and encounter the unique karst terrain. The trek typically lasts three to four hours but can be adjusted based on the guests’ preferences and capacity.

The ranger explained that the “Discovery trail” is named so because guests can uncover many things, including different species, as they walk through the karst terrain.

The diverse topics that the ranger can discuss on including Masungi’s Animal Biodiversity, Plant Biodiversity, Geology (including Fossils, Deforestation, Illegal Logging, Sustainable Bamboo Use, Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Levels, Cave Characteristics, Composition and Rise of Limestone, Paleocene Age, and Sinkholes).

Beyond its educational experience and towering trees, huge limestone and the soothing sounds of nature that can bring peace to your mind, Masungi Georeserve also provides a picturesque and immersive experience with their famous Spiderweb (Sapot ni Ric), Duyan (Hammock) and the so-called Nanay (Mother) and Tatay (Father) viewing decks.

There’s also a complimentary light snacks post-trail and student activity sheet provided at the conclusion of the trail.

But, prior to reaching the destination, the trail presents its challenges featuring huge rock steps and certain sections

Behold the intricate beauty of ‘Sapot ni Ric’—a captivating and immersive spider web feature at Masungi Georeserve.

Discover plenty of ‘pahingahan’ spots, perfect for relaxation, within the expansive Masungi Georeserve.

Embark on a fascinating walk through the captivating limestone formations at Masungi Georeserve.

Savor the post-trail delights: ‘Nilagang Saging’ paired with a refreshing juice—a complimentary treat for Masungi explorers.

adorned with large rope courses for climbing. It is advisable to don comfortable wear and footwear, with Masungi providing the necessary protective gear.

If you’re feeling thirsty during your visit, you can either bring your own bottled water or use the water station at the briefing station and the end of the trail.

Another option is the “Legacy trail,” where guests can experience a day in the life of the forest rangers as you hike up Mt. Susong Dalaga to participate in

hands-on tree planting and nurturing work with the rangers.

While the “Pocket trail” allows visitors to enjoy a relaxed walk along specific sections of the Discovery Trail, guiding them through a secondary forest, a cave, limestone peak, and bamboo groves.

This unique trail provides insights into the history and conservation initiatives of Masungi Georeserve. Notably, this trail option is exclusively available for students from educational institutions.

With numerous choices and experiences to contemplate, Masungi Georeserve conservationists emphasize that despite facing challenges like land grabbing, speculation, and illegal mountain activities, the reserve remains resilient due to dedicated preservation initiatives. Acknowledging tourism’s significance, the management sees it as a crucial instrument for conserving the area that aligns with sustainable development goals, ensuring growth, and fostering the reserve for future generations.

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Saturday, January 20, 2024 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

THE Aspire Vero 16, the latest from Acer’s Vero product line, is made for those who want an eco-conscious option without sacrificing performance (left).

Samsung Experience Store in SM Megamall houses the SLBS Studio-Stray Kids collection. PHOTOS

PLDT, Smart and TikTok PHL provide training to MSMEs

FROM ACER AND SAMSUNG PHILIPPINES

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

Acer unveils new and revamped PCs at CES 2024

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CER unveiled its CES 2024 showcase at the MOA Arena last weekend with new and revamped PCs and additions to its Acerpure line of air circulators and purifiers. The new laptops include Microsoft Copilot on Windows and have a new built-in Copilot key so you can easily access AI companion in Windows 11.

The new Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition laptop comes with a suite of AI-powered SpatialLabs applications for 3D viewing and content creation without the need for specialized glasses. The new 15-inch laptop integrates SpatialLabs’ advanced optical solutions with the power of up to Intel Core i7 processors and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPUs to project 3D images and scenes.

SpatialLabs Go uses Acer’s proprietary AI models to transform 2D content to 3D in real time and generates depth maps for 2D content and turns it into stereoscopic 3D. Meanwhile, The Swift Go 16 and Swift Go 14 have a 1440p QHD webcam that comes through in higherquality video, paired with Acer PurifiedView’s AIboosted features for video calls, such as Background Blur, Automatic Framing and Eye Contact. Acer PurifiedVoice 2.0 technology with AI noise reduction pairs with the laptops’ three microphones to capture crisp, clear audio and reduce background noise and

voices. The two laptops highlight the Swift line’s thin and light aluminum chassis, which can be opened to 180 degrees so they lay flat for easy collaboration.

The Swift Go has an option for a multi-control lighting touchpad for direct media commands, and their OceanGlass touchpad further ensures a smooth and productive experience with 44 percent larger scrolling space.

Both models have the TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe display certification to help reduce the effects of eye strain. The Swift Go laptops now support up to 32GB LPDDR5X memory and up to an upgradable 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD with dual slots.

The Aspire Vero 16 is the latest from Acer’s Vero product line. It is made for those who want an ecoconscious option without sacrificing performance.

For the Vero 16, Acer has increased the usage of postconsumer recycled (PCR) materials on the chassis, double that of the 2021 model.

The chassis’ texture has no volatile organic compounds, paint, or additives, and is made with 60 percent PCR material, resulting in less CO2 emissions during production.

The OceanGlass touchpad, made with ocean-bound plastic, is shipped in 100 percent recycled packaging, and comes with EPEAT Gold certification. The 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and thin bezels is an excellent choice for work or entertainment.

The Predator Helios gaming laptop comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs with DLSS 3.5 technology and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus so you can expect a boost in performance features and AIpowered graphic capabilities. The laptop also comes with one month of XBox Game Pass Ultimate.

SAMSUNG EXPERIENCE STORE LAUNCHES SLBS STUDIO’S-STRAY KIDS COLLECTION SAMSUNG recently launched the SLBS Studio’s

collaboration with K-pop global sensation Stray Kids at the Samsung Experience Store in SM Megamall.

The collaboration includes cases and accessories exclusively made for Galaxy devices, including the special edition Galaxy Z Flip5 Stray Kids Edition, Galaxy Watch6 Stray Kids Edition, Galaxy Buds2 Pro Stray Kids, SKZOO cases, and even limited-edition photocards.

■ GALAXY Z FLIP5 STRAY KIDS EDITION (P80,990) AND FLIP AND FOLD CASES: This collection combines the fashionable flip phone with the different charms of Stray Kids through specially designed flipsuit cases that perfectly fit the Galaxy Z Flip5’s Flex Window and flipsuit cards featuring unique videos of each member. The collection also includes an eco-friendly Stray Kids 15W high-speed wireless charger for a sustainable lifestyle, beads strap, and an NFC-themed keyring and theme tok which includes wallpapers, icons and more through NFC connectivity.

There is also a variety of Stray Kids flip cases (P2,100) and Galaxy Fold5 cases (P2,100) available as part of the Eco-Friends line, which combines iconic designs with recyclable materials to allow you to express your style in a sustainable way. The Galaxy Fold5 has a 7.6-inch Main Screen and long-lasting battery.

■ GALAXY WATCH6 STRAY KIDS EDITION (P24,990): The Galaxy Watch6, which comes with a fashionable black and white strap and leather pouch, has wellness features, from sleep monitoring tools to getting a good night’s rest.

■ GALAXY BUDS2 PRO STRAY KIDS EDITION (P19,390): The Galaxy Buds2 Pro Stay Kids Edition includes metallic bud covers inspired by Stray Kids’ official compass-shaped light stick and comes with a Stray Kids postcard. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro offers vivid high-quality sound and ergonomic design and active

SEE “ACER,” A9

PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recently partnered with TikTok Philippines Inc. through their eBiznovation Buy Local Bazaar Caravan, training micro-, small- and mediumsized enterprises (MSMEs) in Visayas to use the TikTok platform to grow their market and boost their businesses online.

Marylou Gocotano, PLDT and Smart stakeholder management Visayas relations head, said the eBiznovation bazaar traveled to Borongan City in Eastern Samar, Municipality of Miagao in Iloilo, and Municipality of Sibalom in Antique.

“We are proud to spearhead this effort to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of MSMEs, especially in the different cities and provinces in Visayas.

With the right skills and support from partners like Tiktok, small businesses can tap into digital channels to showcase their products and expand their livelihood,” she said.

Through a whole-day training session with hands-on workshops, Gocotano said participants in the caravan were taught best practices for creating engaging content, building their brand on Tiktok, connecting with more customers worldwide, and selling products through the platform.

Moreover, participants were also given training on the basics of internet safety, and were introduced to the Maya Business App to streamline their payment processes, enabling safe and more efficient online transactions.

“I hope our MSMEs will use this training to their advantage so they become empowered to thrive in the digital era. On behalf of the Municipality of Miagao, I extend my heartfelt thanks to PLDT and Smart for selecting us to be participants of this bazaar. This will forge a path of progress, bridging opportunities for local entrepreneurs through technology,” said Japhet Grace Moleta, SB Member of LGU Miagao.

PLDT Group is dedicated to advancing inclusive technologies, ensuring that progress leaves no one behind. Through initiatives like this, the group not only bolsters livelihood opportunities but also aligns with the government’s overall digitalization thrust, championing digital upskilling among Filipinos as a founding member of the Private Sector Advisory Council and supporter of the Go Digital Pilipinas Movement.

PLDT and Smart’s eBiznovation program is aimed at leveraging technology to enhance income and market access for MSMEs, cooperatives and other key economic sectors. These initiatives are part of the PLDT Group’s broader agenda of contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Now, there’s an all-in-one solution for seamless real estate buying experience ALL set to go house-hunting but worried about the long and winding process of tripping, buying and searching for the best home loan rates? Fret no more—there’s now a groundbreaking online solution that will dramatically simplify the process so you can make your dream home a reality faster and easier.

The new MatchHome (www.matchhome.ph) is a comprehensive real estate service that guides people through every step of the home-buying process. From matching the best property to securing a mortgage loan, MatchHome offers an all-in-one solution for a seamless and hassle-free experience.

MatchHome is an “all-in-one” real estate platform that empowers every Filipino to achieve their dream of home ownership, regardless of their financial circumstances.

“Owning a home is the ultimate dream of many Filipino families. In the past, the journey to realizing this dream begins with finding a property they like and shelling out the initial downpayment. After this,

they are often left to their own devices—sometimes they end up paying the reservation fee for a property they really cannot afford, or going from bank to bank to find viable financing options,” says MatchHome president and CEO Kevin Carreon.

“With MatchHome, they can find all the resources they need—from searching the property, to assessing if it’s a good fit for them and finding the financing service to help them complete the purchase. This portal was developed to help fulfill their dream home from start to finish.”

MatchHome, the first platform of its kind in the country, offers users a live inventory of properties that is constantly updated.

These include real estate projects from top developers such as Alveo, Amaia, Avida, Filinvest, Megaworld, Phinma Properties, Robinsons Land, SMDC, Vista Land, and many more. This feature gives customers extensive reach for viewing or searching properties with ease.

Home buyers can also benefit from MatchHome‘s free assessment feature, which can help them make informed decisions on their property purchase. Not only that, the platform offers loan assistance to simplify the whole financing process.

Users can also settle their financial transactions with ease as MatchHome has an extensive list of partner banks such as Asia United Bank (AUB), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Banco De Oro (BDO),

Chinabank, East West Bank, and Metrobank, to name a few, as well as home loan companies including HC Mutual, and PNB OPHL (Own a Philippine Home Loan).

To know more, visit www.matchhome.ph or download the MatchHome Partner Central app for free on Google Play and the Appstore.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Saturday, January 20, 2024

Honor X9B 5G: Ultra tough, but should you buy it?

W

HAT do Jo Koy and the Honor X9b 5G have in common?

They’re both being dropped, smashed and run over on social media.

Though my partner and I are still divided about our opinions on Jo Koy (I’m a big Ricky Gervais fan), we both agree that Honor’s newest phone is indeed the toughest one we’ve tested.

While most people were busy with family gatherings and holiday preparations, we were trying to challenge Honor’s claims and putting the X9b to the limits. We brought it to the mall and dropped it on all sorts of surfaces—wood, tile, granite, marble, etc. We then switched over to smashing different nuts and fruits, and even threw it down a flight of concrete staircase. As much as we tried to follow the 5ft suggested drop limit, there were times we got carried away and the loud sharp sound of glass hitting the floor still haunts me.

And just like us, it survived the holidays.

But our testing was far from over. Earlier this week, Honor held the “Toughest Challenge” event at the Alpadi Estate in Rizal, and like free drinks at an all-you-can-eat buffet, we again subjected the Honor X9b 5G to even more abuse. We hurled from a height of 50 feet like a dart, used it as bullseye for both archery and paintball shooting, and did a relay race smashing tiles and concrete blocks. Last year, Honor used a limousine; this time they got a Hummer to run over their new smartphone.

And at the grand launch held January 12 in Marriot, Honor showed a video of a drone carrying the Honor X9b 5G up a 100ft high before dropping it on a solid concrete surface.

It still survived.

I’ve gotten a lot of messages asking if all those viral videos we did of the Honor X9b were legit, and I’d say those who followed the 5ft drop limit were definitely real. But as far as those really outrageous ones you watched? You have to read till the end.

TOP HONORS

IT’S only been barely a year and a half since Honor made its return to the Philippine market, and it had a very busy 2023, launching smartphones that were well received like their flagship Honor Magic5 Pro and its foldables Honor Magic V2; or went viral like the Honor 90 5G and Honor 90 Lite, and their entry level phones like the Honor X5 Plus, Honor X6a, Honor X7a, and Honor X8. But nothing comes close to the Honor X9b’s record-breaking predecessor, the Honor X9a.

In our interview with Honor Philippines vice president Stephen Cheng, he recalled that they initially only had 40,000 units of the Honor X9a,

but because it kept selling out, they had to order repeatedly more stocks. That number doubled and tripled quickly after launch, eventually becoming the brand’s best-selling phone of the year with about 300,000 units sold. The Honor X9a also became the best-selling smartphone in its price range, sending a clear message to competing brands. Honor has made a formidable comeback and is clearly poised to capture a larger share of the market.

Because of its success, all eyes are now on Philippine market, but Cheng said they are confident that the Honor X9b will be able to duplicate or even surpass their previous sales because of all the improvements they made on the smartphone.

360° ANTI-DROP PROTECTION

THE Honor X9a set a high bar for durability and the Honor X9b further raises that standard offering not only offering a tough display but a full 360° Anti-Drop Protection.

Pao Oga, PR Manager of Honor, told us that unlike its predecessor, the durability of the Honor X9b 5G extends beyond its screen. The device features 360° Anti-Drop Protection, ensuring that every angle is safeguarded against falls and impacts. The phone’s innovative design includes micro-level gaps within its structure, functioning like an airbag to absorb shock and prevent screen cracks or internal damage.

The Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop display is a complete system designed to withstand extreme conditions.

This structure is capable of resisting drops from heights of up to 1.5 meters, even on hard surfaces like marble. It also boasts of a three-level protection system for its display. First is deep seal protection, an internal sealing protection for small components; next is a wraparound cushioning material which surrounds the screen; and lastly, a single point reinforcement protection where the narrow slit of the screen is reinforced to enhance stability. This system provides multiple reinforcements not just to the screen, but also to the phone’s frame and internal compartments. Additionally, the new Honor cushioning material, with its micron-sized pores, can absorb up to 1.2 times the impact of a drop, adding another layer of defense.

Because of this, the Honor X9b 5G’s durability has been certified by Switzerland’s SGS, a leading global authority in inspection and testing. It is the first smartphone to earn the Five-Star Overall Drop Resistance certification, not just meeting but setting new durability standards. This recognition by SGS assures users of its robust build, superior durability and exceptional resilience to physical impacts.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

MORE than its enhanced durability, the Honor X9b 5G also brings with it a lot of improvements compared with its predecessor.

Starting with its looks, the Honor X9b 5G’s triple camera module has a “Rolex-inspired” design and is engineered with the same precision as high-end luxury watches. The phone’s body, particularly the Sunrise Orange variant, is encased in vegan leather which adds an element of sophistication and offers a tactile experience that is both luxurious and skinfriendly. The two other color variants, Emerald

Green and Midnight Black, both have a matte finish that makes it resistant to annoying fingerprint and smudge marks. The curvature and edgeless design offer an easy and snug grip while its lightweight design measuring 7.98mm and 185g makes it comfortable to use even for long periods of time.

For its display, besides its reinforced screen, the Honor X9b 5G features an edgeless 6.78-inch AMOLED Curved Display, providing a 2652 x 1200 pixel ultra-clear 1.5K resolution and 1.07 billion colors. It also has a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz ensuring smooth visuals that are sharp and full of detail whether you are playing fast-paced games, or just browsing through your social media feeds. You can also expect a number of professional eye-protection features including 1920Hz PWM Dimming, Low Blue Light, Dynamic Dimming, and Circadian Night Display, so you have less worry when you are binge watching you new favorite series.

To deliver a better photography experience, the Honor X9b 5G is now equipped with a 108MP (f/1.75) Ultra-Clear Main Camera, 5MP (f/2.2) Ultra-Wide Camera, 2MP (f/2.4) Macro Camera. The main camera is equipped with a high-performance motion capture engine and 3X zoom, for greater clarity and detail. In our tests, photos using the main camera showed a lot of improvement, but the ultrawide and macro camera, unfortunately, remains average at best. For videos, you can shoot up to 4k at 30fps. Stability could still be improved but that noise reduction feature for the mic is quite useful. For selfies, you have a 16MP front camera that can shoot up to 1080p videos.

Underneath its elegant exterior, the Honor X9b 5G remains a fairly powerful and reliable smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4nm) processor, an octa-core 1.8GHz CPU and an Adreno A710 GPU. You can either choose from an 8GB + 256GB or 12GB + 256 storage variant. On the software side, the Honor X9b 5G ships with Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2, providing a more intelligent and convenient experience for users, my favorite feature being Magic Text which lets you extract text from an image easily.

Completing its highlight features is an impressive 5800mAh battery that supports 35W SuperCharge feature, enabling it to last up to three days on a single charge. This endurance is further bolstered by IP53 Water and Dust Protection, ensuring the device’s

resilience in various environments.

FINAL WORD

BREAKING your phone is probably the most common cause for unexpectedly needing a new one (unless it’s lost or stolen). After using the phone for almost a month now, I can confirm that the Honor X9b 5G definitely lives up to its promise of durability. I do have to remind you that all those tests we did were quite extreme and I strongly advise against trying it out on a phone you bought with your precious money. Remember, at the end of the day, glass is still glass.

It might not be a gaming or camera-centric device, but it can still handle casual gaming and its cameras can produce great photos with the right lighting and setup.

It is designed for the majority of casual users who need a phone that could survive the tantrums of their kids, their clumsiness, and bouts of absentmindedness.

It’s a great choice if you need something that can take all sorts of daily abuse, and perfect for couriers and riders who need a phone that can endure those sudden weather changes because of its IP53 Water and Dust Protection.

The Honor X9b 5G retains its P16,990 price. Those who preordered before yesterday, January 19, 2023, will get an Honor Gift Box and Honor Choice Earbuds X5 worth P4,000. ■

Acer...

CONTINUED ON A8 noise canceling.

■ SKZOO ACCESSORIES: There are also SKZOO flip and flat cases, NFC theme key rings (P1,100), theme toks (P1,200), theme cards (P800) and more.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro SKZoo edition (P19,390) comes with all eight SKZOO characters.

For every purchase of the Galaxy Z Flip5 Stray Kids Edition or the Galaxy Watch6 Stray Kids Edition, you get a set of eight free photo cards worth P500 each.

Meanwhile, a purchase of any Stray Kids or SKZoo accessory worth P2,000 lets you take home one random photocard.

For more information, follow Samsung’s socialmedia pages at @SamsungPH.

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Sports BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, January 20, 2024

Sabalenka on track at Melbourne Park

Krueger, Macaraeg give Groseclose big boost at Winter Youth Olympics

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By Josef Ramos

ANGWON, South Korea— Peter Groseclose sees action in the first of his three events at the Fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games on Saturday morning and although he admits that the 1,500 meters of short track of speedskating isn’t his forte, his getting all the boosts he needs.

“I want him to gain a lot of experience from high-pressure situations like this and get the best results as an athlete,” said his coach John-Henry Krueger, who clinched a speedskating silver for the US at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics and a mixed team bronze as a naturalized athlete for Hungary in Beijing 2022.

“He is a contender for a medal here,” added Krueger of Groseclose, who’ll be at the 12,000-seat Gangneung Ice Arena for the 1,500m starting at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. in Manila competing against athletes from 33 other nations.

Julian Macaraeg, one of two Philippine athletes at the Lausanne 2020 games, also told BusinessMirror that Groseclose is capable of stealing the show.

“There’re a lot of countries which have been preparing their athletes for this moment, but Peter’s been doing the same…if not more,” said Macaraeg, now 20, who reached the 500 meters quarterfinals but missed advancing in the 1,000 and 1,500 in Lausanne.

“From the results I’ve seen in his past races, I believe Peter has a great chance to be on the podium,” added Macaraeg, who was joined in Lausanne by alpine skier Ana Noelle Wahleithner.

Groseclose knows the 1,500m is his weakest event, but stressed he’ll go for it no matter what.

“To be honest, it is my weakest distance, but I’m not bad at it, I’m more of a sprinter and this is more of an endurance race,” said the 16-yearold Washington DC-based Groseclose on Friday.

“But I will do my best and I can be competitive to it,” added Groseclose, who had to skip Friday’s opening ceremony so as not to tire himself for the first of his three events in these games.

The games opened simultaneously at the Gangneung Oval and

Pyeongchang Dome on Friday with freestyle skier Laetaz Amihan Rabe as the lone flag-bearer during the parade of athletes.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and secretarygeneral Atty. Wharton Chan and chef de mission Ada Milby attended the opening ceremony for the games.

“Short track is very unpredictable. So as a coach, I want him to focus on every race just one at a time and not thinking too far down the road,” Krueger said.

“If that’s a good race, that’s great. If that’s bad, we have to focus on the next.”

“The general consensus is [host] South Korea is the most powerful team in the World Cup junior competitions, but I’m really glad and ready to compete against them so let’s see,” Groseclose said.

“These Youth Olympics happen once in a lifetime, they happen every four years and I’m glad to have this opportunity to get an experience and be part of this event,” said Groseclose, who will also see action in the 1000m on Sunday and 500m on Monday.

Macaraeg said that what Groseclse also needs is to have fun and be at his competitive best.

“It’s normal to be nervous competing at a stage like this, but in all honesty, this is a place to just enjoy and be in the moment,” said the Business Economics sophomore at UCLA. “Peter’s a great young skater who has so much potential. Having the Youth Olympics as probably his biggest stage yet is definitely going to be a memory of a lifetime.”

“I’ll be rooting for Peter. I’ve been staying up to date with his performances this year and I’m excited to see what he’s able to give to the table,” he added.

The third athlete on Team Philippines, Avery Balbanida, is arriving here on January 25 ahead of the crosscountry skiing events on January 29 and 30.

THE US’s Amanda Anisimova, Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka and Russia’s Anna Blinkova react following their second round victories at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park Thursday. AP

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ELBOURNE, Australia— Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Lesia Tsurenko.

The second-seeded Belarusian, who won her first Grand Slam title here 12 months ago, needed just 52 minutes for victory at the Rod Laver Arena.

She has dropped just six games in three rounds so far.

“Last year, Iga [Swiatek] won so many sets 6-0 and

this is one of the goals, to try to get closer to her,” Sabalenka joked. “I’m just super-happy with the level I’m playing so far. Hopefully I can just keep going like that or even better.”

The pair did not shake hands—as is the convention for Ukrainian players against opponents from Russia or Belarus—but Tsurenko congratulated Sabalenka verbally.

Sabalenka will play Amanda Anisimova, who continued her comeback with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Paula Badosa. Anisimova, who took seven months out of the game last year for mental health reasons, hit 40 winners on her way to the fourth round.

“It’s quite unbelievable,” the American said. “For sure taking a step away from the game...gave me a new perspective. I’m trying to be in the present. I think in the past I was getting too caught up in the past and the future.”

Sabalenka said she expects a tough battle against Anisimova, who has won four of their five matches.

“She’s an incredible player and I’m really happy to see her back,” Sabalenka said.

Men’s No. 4 Jannik Sinner moved into the fourth round without losing

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Friday, and Medvedev was still there signing autographs as the clock ticked closer to 4.

The long tiebreaker and the uncertainty over the starting time, he said, meant his eating and warming up routines were thrown out of kilter.

“When I went on court I was a little exhausted already,” Medvedev, a two-time Australian Open finalist, explained to the scattering of fans still in the arena well after the last trams had finished running for Day 5.

It won’t go down as a classic, but still had plenty of drama.

Medvedev needed a medical timeout for blisters on his right foot after the second set, and he spiked his racket into the court after missing a chance to break Ruusuvuori’s serve late in the fourth.

Then he had trouble tying the laces of his right shoe right before the deciding fifth set.

Looking at the clock, he was frank with the people who’d stayed there until a couple of hours before the sun was due to rise.

“Honestly guys, I would not be here,” Medvedev said in an on-court interview. “Thanks for staying. If I would be a tennis fan and I would come, at 1 a.m. I would be like ‘OK, let’s go home. We’re going to catch the end of the match on the TV.’” It was the latest finish so far this year, but not close to the tournament record. Andy Murray finished off Thanasi Kokkinakis just after 4 a.m. last year in a second-round match that lasted five hours and 45 minutes.

Malixi recovers in final round with 70, shares eighth place

R

IANNE MALIXI birdied four of the last six holes for a threeunder 70 and finish in joint eighth place in the Australian Amateur won by Japan’s Mamika Shinchi at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Victoria Friday.

Despite another shaky start that saw her slip back from joint 12th with a frontside 37, the emerging Filipina star finally found her rhythm, range and putting touch in the closing holes, gaining strokes on Nos. 13.

15, 16 and 18 for a 33 and a four-day total of 293.

She finished 11 strokes behind Shinchi, who pounced on erstwhile local leader Amelia Harris’ bogeymarred 40 at the front and won by two with a blistering seven-under 66.

That included eight birdies in the last 11 holes as the Japanese

overhauled a six-shot deficit while checking a roller-coaster round of two birdies against three bogeys in the first seven holes.

But she closed out her frontside stint with back-to-back birdies, earned another stroke on the 10th then birdied Nos. 13 and 14 to take command.

Though Harris rebounded with birdies on Nos. 10 and 13, she fell back again with bogeys on the next two holes before winding up with three straight birdies, which Shinchi matched to clinch the victory on a 10-under 282 total.

Harris wound up with a 74 for a 284 while first round leader Aina Fujimoto, also from Japan, and Aussie Eunseo Choi shared third place at 285 after 67 and 68, respectively.

Earlier, Malixi, out to salvage a Top 10 finish after scoring a breakthrough win in the Australian Master of the Amateurs last week, opened with four straight pars then bogeyed the fifth.

The International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed campaigner recovered with a birdie on the next but failed to get up-anddown on the seventh.

But after another three-par game at the back, Malixi got going, birdying the par-5 No. 13, picking up another stroke on the par-3 15th and dominating the last two long holes to complete her big fightback.

Looking ahead, Malixi’s performance bodes well for her upcoming campaign in the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship from February 1 to 4 in Pattaya, Thailand.

a set, thanks to a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sebastian Baez.

The Italian won 18 of 25 points at the net as he set up a fourth-round clash with either 15th-seeded Karen Khachanov or Tomas Machac.

Her hand and her legs were shaking, she’d missed nine match points but also saved six, and Anna Blinkova was 41 points into a wild tiebreaker that was the longest ever in a women’s Grand Slam event.

Elena Rybakina, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, was just as anxious on the other side of the net.

When Blinkova lunged to retrieve a backhand, aiming just to keep the rally alive, and Rybakina’s next backhand sailed wide, it finished off a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (20) second-round victory Thursday that she’ll never, ever forget.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion who was runner-up here last year to Aryna Sabalenka, saved two match points in a third set that contained six service breaks.

Blinkova twice served for the match but couldn’t finish off, and a double-fault in the 12th game sent it to a 10-point tiebreaker. Once there, 13 minutes after her first match points, Blinkova had two more points at 9-7 but again Rybakina saved them, and so it went on.

Blinkova, smiling, later described it as the “endless tiebreaker.” It went on for 32 minutes until Rybakina’s backhand error ended it.

In terms of points—42—it was the longest

tiebreaker ever in a women’s major.

“It was super tough. I had so many match points,” said Blinkova, who is ranked 57th and had 13 first-round exits in her previous 20 majors. “I tried to be aggressive but my hand was shaking. And my legs, too!

“I tried to be calm, as much as I could.”

It was one that Rybakina will dwell on, too. She knew she wasted chances.

But “I’m really proud that I could fight till the end,” Rybakina said. “I mean, you can’t always play perfect.

And of course I could have lost it even earlier.”

It was a long, tough night for the tournament’s No. 3 seeds on Melbourne Park’s main court.

Daniil Medvedev had to rally from two sets down to beat Emil Ruusuvuori, 3-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0, in a foyr-hour, 23-minute match that ended at 3:39 a.m. local time.

Day 5 started with top-ranked Iga Swiatek had a narrow escape when she rallied from 4-1 down in the third set to beat 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Swiatek was down two service breaks in the deciding set before she went on a five-game winning roll to finish off a match that featured wild momentum shifts and a 25-minute rain delay in three hours and 14 minutes.

Swiatek, a four-time major winner, next faces No. 50-ranked Linda Noskova, who beat US qualifier McCartney Kessler 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

Fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula’s run of three consecutive quarterfinals in Australia was ended in a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Clara Burel. Her fellow American, 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens, took out No. 14 seed Daria Kasatkina, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, and advanced along with No. 11 Jelena Ostapenko, No. 12 Zheng Qinwen, No. 19 Elina Svitolina and No. 27 Emma Navarro. AP

PSA Citations for best of 2023 in awards night

Medvedev books win at 3:39 a.m., signs autographs ‘til close to 4 a.m.

ELBOURNE, Australia— If he wasn’t on the court competing, Daniil Medvedev doubted anything would have kept him at Rod Laver Arena until almost 4 in the morning.

The third-seeded Medvedev lost the first two sets of his second-round Australian Open match against No. 53-ranked Emil Ruusuvuori before coming back to win 3-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0 in four hours and 23 minutes in the latest finish of the week.

They’d walked onto Rod Laver Arena to start hitting at 11:07 p.m.

Thursday after women’s No. 3 Elena Rybakina lost the longest tiebreaker ever in a women’s Grand Slam event, 22-20 to Anna Blinkova.

The match ended at 3:39 a.m.

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

And that was only good enough for second place on the all-time list.

The latest-finishing match in Grand Slam history ended with Lleyton Hewitt beating Marcos Baghdatis at 4:34 a.m. in 2008.

After player complaints last year, Australian Open organizers decided to extend the tournament by adding a 15th day and starting on a Sunday for the first time.

The first round was split over three days, and no matches went past 2 a.m. AP AN exhausted Daniil Medvedev takes his shoe off to have a blister attended to during his second round match against Emil Ruusuvuori. AP

T

HE San Miguel Corp.Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night will give citations a long list of athletes, personalities and entities on January 29 at the Grand Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.

Gold medalists at the 19th Asian Games, 32nd Southeast Asian Games, Asian Para Games and ASEAN Para Games lead the bulk of the citations to be handed out by the 75-year-old media organization now led by its president, The Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran.

The country won four golds in the Hangzou Asiad, 58 golds in the Cambodia SEA Games and 34 and 10 golds in the Asian and ASEAN Para Games, respectively.

World No. 2 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena will receive two citations for his record-breaking feats in both regional meet, besides the Athlete of the Year award during the traditional awards night presented by ArenaPlus, the leading sports entertainment in the Philippines, along with major sponsors Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, PLDT/ Smart and Cignal and backed up by the Philippine Basketball

Association, Premier Volleyball League, 1-Pacman Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero and Rain or Shine.

Registration starts at 6 p.m.

Awardees and guests who don’t receive a hard copy of their invitations ahead of the awards night can get them at the registration table at the venue.

The Gilas Pilipinas men and jiujitsu’s Annie Ramirez and Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa won the three other gold medals for the Philippines in Hangzhou.

Also to be cited are Bianca Bustamante (motorsport), Creamline Cool Smashers (volleyball), Philippine Boys Bowling Team, Mark Lester Ragay, Mark Anthony Polo and Vincent Ventura (wushu), Team Bago City and Team Manila (softball), AP Bren (esports), Efren Bagamasbad (chess), Standard Insurance Centennial V (sailing), Kaila Napolis (jiu-jitsu), Darius Venerable (taekwondo), Rhichein Yosorez and Alyssa Mallari (muay thai), Kevin Pascua (obstacle course) and Veronica Ompod (powerlifting).

Double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo will also be cited for his feat at the Cambodia SEA Games, along with Olympians Eric Cray (athletics), Carlo Paalam (boxing), Nesthy Petecio (boxing), Kirstie Alora (taekwondo) and Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), among others.

Also to be honored is karate gold medal winner Jamie Lim, whose late father, basketball great Avelino “Samboy” Lim, will posthumously be recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Among the para athletes, showing the way are multi-medalists Ernie Gawilan, Darry Bernardo, Menandro Redor, Henry Roger Lopez, Angel Otom, Gary Bejino, Ariel Joseph Alegarbes, Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Andrei Kuizon, Evaristo Carbonel, Cheyzer Mendoza, Sander Severino and Armand Subaste.

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Saturday, January 20, 2024 A11 A6

A12 6A Saturday, January 20, 2024

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TheWorld Saturday, January 20, 2024 A13

Netanyahu says he told US that he opposes a Palestinian state

By Josef Federman, Najib Jobain & Jack Jeffery The Associated Press

J

ERUSALEM—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected calls from the United States to scale back Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip or take steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state after the war, drawing an immediate scolding from the White House.

The tense back and forth reflected what has become a wide rift between the two allies over the scope of Israel’s war and its plans for the future of the beleaguered territory.

“We obviously see it differently,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.

Netanyahu spoke just a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel would never have “genuine security” without a pathway toward Palestinian independence. Earlier this week, the White House also announced that it was the “right time” for Israel to lower the intensity of its devastating military offensive in Gaza.

In a nationally televised news conference, Netanyahu struck a defiant tone, repeatedly saying that Israel would not halt its offensive until it realizes its goals of destroying Gaza’s Hamas militant group and bringing home all remaining hostages held by Hamas.

He rejected claims by a growing chorus of Israeli critics that those goals are not achievable, vowing to press ahead for many months. “We will not settle for anything short of an absolute victory,” Netanyahu said.

Israel launched the offensive after an unprecedented crossborder attack by Hamas on October 7 that killed 1,200 people and took some 250 others hostage. Roughly 130 hostages are believed

by Israel to remain in Hamas captivity. The war has stoked tensions across the region, threatening to ignite other conflicts.

Israel’s assault, one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history, has killed nearly 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, caused widespread destruction and uprooted over 80 percent of the territory’s 2.3 million people from their homes.

The staggering cost of the war has led to increasing calls from the international community to halt the offensive. After initially giving Israel wall-to-wall support in the early days of the war, the United States, Israel’s closest ally, has begun to express misgivings and urged Netanyahu to spell out his vision for postwar Gaza.

The United States has said the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which governs semi-autonomous zones in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, should be “revitalized” and return to Gaza. Hamas ousted the authority from Gaza in 2007.

The US has also called for steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians seek Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem for their state. Those areas were captured by Israel in 1967.

Speaking Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Blinken said the two-state solution was the best way to protect Israel, unify moderate Arab countries and isolate Israel’s arch-enemy, Iran.

Without a “pathway to a Palestinian state,” he said, Israel would not “get genuine security.”

At the same conference, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said the kingdom is ready to establish full relations with Israel as part of a larger political agreement. “But that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state,” he said.

Netanyahu, who leads a far-right government opposed to Palestinian statehood, repeated his longstanding opposition to a twostate solution. He said a Palestinian state would become a launching pad for attacks on Israel.

He said Israel “must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River,” adding: “That collides with the idea of sovereignty. What can we do?”

“This truth I tell to our American friends, and I put the brakes on the attempt to coerce us to a reality that would endanger the state of Israel,” he said.

The comments prompted an immediate rebuke from the White House. Kirby said that President Joe Biden would “not stop working” toward a two-state solution.

Before October 7, Israeli society was bitterly divided over Netanyahu’s plan for a judicial overhaul. Since the attack, the country has rallied behind the war. But divisions have once again begun to surface over Netanyahu’s handling of the war.

Families of the hostages and their many supporters have called for a new cease-fire that could bring them home. Hamas released over 100 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during a weeklong cease-fire in November.

Dozens of people attended a somber gathering in Tel Aviv in solidarity with the family of Kfir Bibas, the youngest Israeli hostage, marking his first birthday. The red-haired infant and his 4-year-old brother Ariel were taken hostage along with their mother, Shiri, and their father, Yarden. A ll four remain in captivity.

Commentators have begun to question whether Netanyahu’s objectives are realistic, given the slow pace of the offensive and growing international criticism, including genocide accusations at the United Nations world court, which Israel vehemently denies.

Netanyahu’s opponents accuse him of delaying any discussion of postwar scenarios to avoid looming investigations of governmental failures, keep his coalition intact and put off elections. Polls show that the popularity of Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption Continued on A14

TheWorld BusinessMirror

A14 Saturday, January 20, 2024

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US forces strike Houthi sites in Yemen as Biden says allied action hasn’t yet stopped ship attacks

By Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani & Tara Copp

W

The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—US forces on Thursday conducted a fifth strike against Iranianbacked Houthi rebel military sites in Yemen as President Joe Biden acknowledged that the American and British bombardment had yet to stop the militants’ attacks on vessels in the Red Sea that have disrupted global shipping.

The latest strikes destroyed two Houthi anti-ship missiles that “were aimed into the southern Red Sea and prepared to launch,” US Central Command

said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. They were conducted by Navy F/A-18 fighter aircraft, the Pentagon said.

B i d e n s a i d t he U S w ou l d

UGANDA President Yoweri Museveni, center, attends the IGAD summit in State House, in Entebbe, Uganda on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states arrived in Uganda to discuss tension between Ethiopia, Somalia and fighting in Sudan. AP/PATRICK ONEN

EU, AU, US say Sudan war and Somalia’s tension with Ethiopia threaten Horn of Africa’s stability

By Tom Odula

The Associated Press

N

AIROBI, Kenya—The African Union, European Union, and United States called Thursday for an immediate cease-fire and constructive dialogue between warring factions in Sudan.

The groups also called for an end to tension between Somalia and Ethiopia over an agreement signed between Ethiopia and Somalia’s breakaway region Somaliland.

Representatives of the groups, who spoke in Kampala, Uganda, after the meeting of an East African regional bloc, said that the two crises are threatening regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

Sudan’s armed forces and the rival Rapid Support Forces have been fighting for control of Sudan since April. Long-standing tensions erupted into street battles in the capital and other areas including the western Darfur

region.

The AU, EU and US and UN noted that the fighting has displaced 7 million people and kept 19 million children out of school.

Michael Hammer, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, called on Sudan’s factions to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and to fulfill recent commitments to stop fighting.

“It’s time for them to take action consistent with their stated claims that they want to stop the fighting and meet the needs of the people,” Hammer said.

He spoke after the regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, held an emergency meeting of heads of states in Kampala to discuss the Sudan war and rising tension between Somalia and Ethiopia.

Hammer said the leader of Sudan’s army, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the commander of the paramilitary Rapid

continue the strikes, even though so far they have not stopped the Houthis from continuing to harass commercial and military vessels.

“When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis, no. Are they going to continue, yes,” Biden said in an exchange with reporters before departing the White House for a domestic policy speech in North Carolina.

Hours after Biden spoke, Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a prerecorded statement that its forces had carried out another missile attack against the Marshall Islandsf lagged, US-owned cargo ship Chem Ranger. Saree said the attack took place in the Gulf of Aden, the waters just south of Yemen.

That attack did not affect the ship, US Central Command said in a statement late Thursday.

“The crew observed the missiles impact the water near the ship,” there were no reported injuries or damage and the ship continued on its way, Central Command said.

Support Forces, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who is known as Hemedti, must follow through on their promise at a December 9 IGAD summit to reach an unconditional cease-fire.

“They will be responsible for the break up of Sudan if this conflict continues,” Hammer said.

The first step is an enforceable cease-fire that can be closely monitored, said Ramtane Lamamra, the UN envoy for Sudan.

“Guns must be silenced,” he said, adding that the war endangers “stability of the entire region and beyond.”

On Tuesday, the Sudanese government suspended ties with the east African regional bloc, accusing it of violating Sudan’s sovereignty by inviting the paramilitary leader to a summit.

Hemedti attended Thursday’s summit in Kampala but did not speak.

Amid the renewed calls for a ceasefire, the United Nations announced Thursday that the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, which is charged with investigating violations of human rights and international humanitarian law since April 15, began its work this week.

Mohamed Chande Othman, the factfinding mission’s chair, said investigations of alleged violations by the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces and other warring parties are under way, and particular attention will be paid to sexual violence and other violations against women and children, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council established the fact-finding mission in October 2023 with the aim of ensuring that those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are brought to justice. Dujarric said the mission will present an oral report on its initial findings at the council’s session that starts in June.

The continued harassment of the ships has driven the US and international partners to take extraordinary steps to defend them through a joint mission named Operation Prosperity Guardian, in which the consortium is trying to create a protective umbrella for the vessels by intercepting any missiles or drones that target them. It has also led the US and British militaries to take measures to knock out missile sites, radars and air defense systems to try to tamp down the Houthis’ ability to attack.

On Wednesday, the US military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against 14 Houthi-controlled sites.

That same day, the administration put the Houthis back on its list of specially designated global terrorists. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing, while also allowing vital humanitarian aid to continue flowing to

impoverished Yemenis.

“These strikes will continue for as long as they need to continue,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, adding, “I’m not going to telegraph punches one way or another.”

Despite sanctions and military strikes, including a large-scale operation carried out Friday by US and British warships and warplanes that hit more than 60 targets across Yemen, the Houthis keep harassing commercial and military ships. The US has strongly warned Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthis.

“We never said the Houthis would immediately stop,” the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said at a briefing, when asked why the strikes have not seemed to stop the Houthis.

Since the joint US and British operation got underway last Friday, hitting 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets in that initial round, the Houthis’ attacks

have been “lower scale,” Singh said.

For months, the Houthis have claimed attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They say their attacks aim to end the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ October 7 attack in southern Israel. But the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.

The attacks have also raised questions as to whether the conflict between Israel and Hamas has already expanded into a wider regional war.

“We don’t seek war, we don’t think we are at war. We don’t want to see a regional war,” Singh said.

The Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem, Jack Jeffrey in London, and Lolita C. Baldor and Sagar Meghani in Washington contributed to this report.

NATO to launch biggest exercises in decades next week, involving around 90,000 personnel

CHAIR of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer, center, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, left, and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Chris Badia prepare to address a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Ukraine is locked in an existential battle for its survival almost two years into its war with Russia and Western armies and political leaders must drastically change the way they help it fend off invading forces, a top NATO military officer warned on Wednesday.

AP/VIRGINIA MAYO

B

RUSSEL S —NATO w i l l launch its biggest military exercises in decades next week with around 90,000 personnel set to take part in months of drills aimed at showing the alliance can defend all of its territory up to its border with Russia, top officers said Thursday.

The exercises come as Russia’s war on Ukraine bogs down.

NATO as an organization is not directly involved in the conflict, except to supply Kyiv with nonlethal support, although many member countries send weapons and ammunition individually or in groups, and provide military training.

In the months before President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine in February 2022, NATO began beefing up security on its eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine. It’s the alliance’s biggest buildup since the Cold War. The war games are meant to deter Russia from targeting a member country.

The exercises—dubbed Steadfast Defender 24—“will show t hat NATO ca n conduct a nd sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers (miles), from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any condition,” the 31-nation

organization said.

Troops will be moving to and through Europe until the end of May in what NATO describes as “a simulated emerging conflict scenario with a near-peer adversary.”

Under NATO’s new defense plans, its chief adversaries are Russia and terrorist organizations.

“The alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the EuroAtlantic area via transatlantic movement of forces from North America,” NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, US General Christopher Cavoli, told reporters.

Cavoli said it will demonstrate “our unity, our strength, and our determination to protect each other.”

The chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said that it’s “a record number of troops that we can bring to bear and have an exercise within that size, across the alliance, across the ocean from the US to Europe.”

Bauer described it as “a big change” compared to troop numbers exercising just a year ago.

Sweden, which is expected to join NATO this year, will also take part.

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has said that the government in London would send 20,000 troops backed by advanced fighter jets, surveillance planes, warships and submarines, with many being deployed in eastern Europe from February to June. AP

Netanyahu says he told US that he opposes a Palestinian state Continued from A13

charges, has plummeted during the war.

Cross, which helped facilitate the hostage releases, said it was not involved in distributing the medicine.

Medicines bound for hostages enter Gaza

Fighting in Gaza

THERE was no word Thursday on whether medicines that entered the territory as part of a deal brokered by France and Qatar had been distributed to dozens hostages with chronic illnesses who are being held by Hamas.

The agreement was the first to be brokered between the warring sides since November. The deal includes large shipments of medicine, food and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians as well.

Qatar confirmed late Wednesday that the medicine had entered Gaza, but it was not yet clear if it had been distributed to the hostages, who are being held in secret locations, including underground bunkers.

The International Committee for the Red

HAMAS has continued to fight back across Gaza, even in the most devastated areas, and launch rockets into Israel. It says it will not release any more hostages until there is a permanent cease-fire, something Israel and the United States, its top ally, have ruled out.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have heeded Israeli evacuation orders and packed into southern Gaza, where shelters run by the United Nations are overflowing and massive tent camps have gone up.

Israel has continued to strike what it says are militant targets in all parts of Gaza, often killing women and children. Early Thursday, medics said an Israeli airstrike on a home killed 16 people, half of them children, in

the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Israel blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it fights in dense residential areas. Israel says its forces have killed roughly 9,000 militants, without providing evidence, and that 193 of its own soldiers have been killed since the Gaza ground offensive began.

On Thursday, the Israeli army said it had destroyed “the heart” of Hamas’ weapons manufacturing industry near a major north-south road in central Gaza. It said the complex included weapons factories and an extensive tunnel network used to ship arms throughout Gaza.

War reverberates across region THE war has rippled across the Middle East, with Iranian-backed groups attacking U.S. and Israeli targets. Low-intensity fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants in

Lebanon threatens to erupt into all-out war, and Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to target international shipping despite United States-led airstrikes.

The Israeli military said it fired an interceptor at a “suspicious aerial target”—likely a drone or missile—approaching over the Red Sea on Thursday, triggering air raid sirens in the southern city of Eilat. The Houthis have launched drones and missiles toward Israel that mostly fell short or were intercepted and shot down.

Meanwhile, Iran has launched a series of missile attacks targeting what it described as an Israeli spy base in Iraq and militant bases in Syria.

Jobain reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip, and Jeffery reported from London. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

21TH CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Ground Floor, No.28 Lot 12 Blk 94, R. Papa Ave. Cor. P. Garcia St. Phase 6, Afpovai, Western Bicutan, City Of Taguig

YANG, YONGZHEN Administrative Assistant 1.

Brief Job Description: Provide administrative support to ensure efficient operation of office. Answer phone calls, schedule meetings and support visitors.

Basic Qualification: Good practical experience with office management software like MS Office.

Strong problem-solving and organization skills.

Excellent communication skills with close attention to detail.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZOU, XUELING Mandarin Speaking Technical Support Specialist 9.

Brief Job Description: Places software into production by loading software into a computer. Entering necessary commands.

JI, RUIPENG Asst. Quality Assurance 2.

Brief Job Description: Oversee the construction of projects and monitor activities at worksites, manage crews, ensure health and safety codes are observed.

ZHANG, YUE HR Admin Officer 3.

Brief Job Description: Maintains personnel records, update databases and creates guidelines and FAQ documents about company policies.

Basic Qualification: Experience in the construction industry required, leadership role recommended, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to focus and keep calm under pressure.

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

Basic Qualification: Good practical experience with office management software like MS Office.

Strong problem-solving and organization skills.

Excellent communication skills with close attention to detail.

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

10.

4.

Brief Job Description: Communicate with client functional design in charge about the detail of requirement definition and function design explain development status and issue with team leads of the client.

Understand the clients. Develops original runtime architecture and develop standards including deliverable flow, template, description level.

Perform knowledge transfer about business requirements functional design written in required language to team lead and members.

GRIVOLET, BENOIT OLIVIER Order To Cash Operations Analyst

5.

Brief Job Description: Support to maintain and improve service performance metrics reports, as required. Provide status of work in process, assist in planning and coordinating execution of work, escalate issues in a timely and appropriate manner while pushing to identify resolutions.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or other relevant fields. Must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and written, in English language.

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

Basic Qualification: Graduate of Accounting, Finance or any Businessrelated course. At least 2 years work experience.

Experience in accounting EPRs (oracle, sap) is required. Written and spoken ability to communicate in English language for Accenture interaction.

GIRON DE LEON, RODRIGO Chief Financial Officer 11.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for preparing quality monthly financial statements and report to the Group, fulfilling strict deadlines and according to corporate requirements.

WONG CHENG FENG Client BPO Executive 12.

Brief Job Description: Serves as a liaison between the customer and various departments & ensures that basic CS functions are performed.

6.

Brief Job Description: The position will require candidates to take calls using any of the 6 languages to support our clients with their IT related incidents and requests.

WU, YU Administrative Officer/Interpreter 13.

14.

Brief Job Description: Reports on expenses. Update company databases.

Translate English to Chinese language.

7.

Brief Job Description: Conduct risk assessments, collecting and analyzing documentation, statistics, reports, and market trends.

15.

16.

8.

Brief Job Description: Ensure that risk management staff receive suitable induction training and information about riskrelated data from internal or external.

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

Brief Job Description: Panning and overseeing on-going projects and work closely with General Manager.

DING, ZHENNAN Site Superintendent 17.

CHAI CHUNG CHEK Mandarin Speaking Risk Control Supervisor

Brief Job Description: Responsible for ensuring the schedule, and providing detailed updates to protect managers/ stakeholder.

HAN, YA Project Manager

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

Basic Qualification: Good verbal and written communication skills in Mandarin language, and at least 6 months of work-related experience in this field.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing a team’s activities.

Ensuring project are completed on time.

FANG, AIGUO Project Coordinator

ACSTREAM MANAGEMENT INC. 9/f Sterling Centre, 131 Dela Rosa Cor. Ormaza Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

NGUYEN THANH DUY Mandarin Speaking Risk Control Manager

Basic Qualification: Marketing Management graduate. With at least 2 years of sales experience in the same industry and excellent communication skills, particularly in Chinese-Mandarin language.

18.

BABA, ABRAR ROUF Executive - Customer Service Advisor (Hindi) 19.

20.

Brief Job Description: Prepares progress reports and issue progress schedules to clients and oversee day to day field activities.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree holder in Business Management, and with experience as administrative manager in a construction company.

22.

23.

24.

Brief Job Description: Perform data analysis and advise senior managers on profit-maximizing ideas.

HASAN Indonesian IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintaining hardware and software installations.

LIE LING Indonesian IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintaining hardware and software installations.

WU, YINGHAI International Marketing Consultant 25.

Brief Job Description: To introduce the company’s main products to Chinese clients.

ZHU, FUBING Marketing Representative For China 26.

Brief Job Description: Create plan for international export market of steels.

LI, ZHONGJIANG Plant Technical Consultant 27.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous work experience in a related industry.

Fluent in Hindi and English languages.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With at least 6 months of call center experience. Fluent in Hindi and English languages.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous work experience in a related industry.

Fluent in Hindi and English languages.

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

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

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

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

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

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

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

Brief Job Description: Develop technical skills and guidelines for plant skilled worker.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in languages like English and Korean/ Chinese/Japanese for international transaction.

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

Basic Qualification: Skilled in languages like English and Korean/ Chinese/Japanese for international transaction.

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

Basic Qualification: Skilled in languages like English and Korean/ Chinese/Japanese for international transaction.

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., 133 Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 28.

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES ​​ FOUNDATION, INC. Units 401 A&d 4th Floor Culmat Building, #1270-1330 E. Rodriguez, Sr. Ave., Mariana, Quezon City

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

MACRO SHUN STEEL CORPORATION 74, R Jacinto St., Canumay West, City Of Valenzuela

Basic Qualification: Construction Experience & TBM Specialist.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

One to two years of work experience as administrative manager.

Brief Job Description: Contacting existing customers via telephone and email on a daily basis. Consulting with clients to provide the best solution for their business goal.

LIAW TIEN HOK Indonesian Financial System Manager

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

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With at least 7 years of workrelated experience in carbon project development. With superb verbal and written communication skills in English language.

GIGA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT INC. 2/f Lipam’s Building, 40 Presidents Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree holder in Business. At least 6-10 years of work experience.

Brief Job Description: Contacting existing customers via telephone and email on a daily basis. Consulting with clients to provide the best solution for their business goal.

Building customer relationships and managing accounts while increasing program revenue.

SHAH, ZOHAIB ALI Executive - Customer Service Advisor (Hindi) 21.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Proficiency in all Microsoft office applications and at least 5 years of work experience.

Brief Job Description: Contacting existing customers via telephone and email on a daily basis. Consulting with clients to provide the best solution for their business goal.

DEWAL, AVDHESH SINGH Executive - Customer Service Advisor (Hindi)

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

Basic Qualification: Must be Native Indonesian / Vietnamese / Singaporean / Korean / Japanese / Malaysian / Taiwanese / Indian / Cambodian / Thai / Chinese, and fluent in English language and respective native language. With at least a year experience in similar field.

Brief Job Description: Conduct field and desk-based feasibility assessment for forest carbon components of the project to determine the financial and protocol eligibility of the project. Lead the technical development and implementation of the carbon component within the project, including working closely with the safeguard lead.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

DATAMATICS GLOBAL SERVICES CORP. Units 304, 305, & 306 3/f, Rockwell Business Tower, Tower 1, Meralco Ave., Ugong, City Of Pasig

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous work experience in a similar role.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

CAROCCI, FRANCESCO Senior Manager For Carbon And Livelihood

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

CHINA INTERNATIONAL WATER AND ELECTRIC CORP. (BRANCH OFFICE) 5/f, Two E-com Mall Of Asia Complex Bldg., Harbor Drive St., District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Good verbal and written communication skills in Mandarin language, and at least 6 months of work-related experience in this field.

No.

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

YUAN, ZHENGXING Field Office Supervisor

MAHOUNGOU BOUETOUMOUSSA, AMOUR DIEUVEUILLE DESTINE SW/App/Cloud Tech Support Analyst

Basic Qualification: Good verbal and written communication skills in Mandarin language, and at least 6 months of work-related experience in this field.

AVANTICE CORPORATION 19/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any 4 yr. course, preferably IT or Engineering related. Strong working knowledge of the service desk function. Good knowledge level on multiple IT technologies.

Excellent communications skills both written and verbal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

ARMORED TRANSPORT PLUS, INCORPORATED 502 A, Armal Plaza Bldg., C. Raymundo Ave., Maybunga, City Of Pasig

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

LEBA, ENIEL Adv App/Cloud Supp & Eng Associate

Brief Job Description: Review financial statements, submit financial analysis and management reports and provide a basis for business management decisions.

Responsible for the subsidiary’s overall capital allocation, expense efficiency and sales analysis.

A15

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

AICE BRANDS ICE CREAM PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1702-1703, 17th Flr. One World Place, 32nd Street Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

YAO, FEIER Sales Area Supervisor

Saturday, January 20, 2024

CHEN, TIANWEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

BusinessMirror

A16 A6 Saturday, January 20, 2024

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

JIANG, ZE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

JIN, XIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LI, CHUNHUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LI, MENGNA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LU, YAYUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

SHI, KEXIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

XIANG, ZEFENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

YE, LIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHANG, WEIJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ALEXANDRE DA SILVA BARBOSA, JOAO PEDRO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

DAVYDOV, NIKITA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HENDRIKSON Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

KELLYN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

REVINA Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

No.

43.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

44.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

45.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

46.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

47.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

48.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

49.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

50.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

51.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

52.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

53.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

54.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

55.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

56.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

JEFFREY KON Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LIEW FOCK FUI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

WINNIE KONG YU LIAN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

AUNG AUNG Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

KYAW THEIN OO Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CHENG, TING-YUAN Taiwanese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

MURODOV, MEHROBJON Tajikistanis Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

AINDAUNG, KANOKWAN Thai Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

SAELU, NANTHIYA Thai Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

BAN, THI LAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

BE, THI HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CAO VAN THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CHU, VAN DINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

DANG VAN HAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

No.

57.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

58.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

59.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

60.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

61.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

62.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

63.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

64.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

65.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

66.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

67.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

68.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

69.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

70.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

DINH CONG TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

DO, VAN DUC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

DUONG, THI THAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HIN BAO LINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HOANG CHAN PHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HOANG, THI HA TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LE, THI LY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LE, THI THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LE, VAN TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LIENG KY HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LUU, THI YEN XUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

NGUYEN THI MAI LOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

NGUYEN, DINH NAM Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

NGUYEN, THI BICH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

71.

72.

73.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

NGUYEN, THI HONG NHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

NGUYEN, THI LIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

NGUYEN, THI PHUONG NAM Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

No.

84.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

80.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

NGUYEN, VAN LUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

NGUYEN, VAN LUC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

QUACH VONG KIN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

TRAN NGOC THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

TRAN, THI MO Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

TRINH, THI GIANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

85.

81.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

86.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

88.

82.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

83.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

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

89.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

90.

91.

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

HARTONO LIM Indonesian Language - Support Head Of Department

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

Brief Job Description: Assist in planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

Brief Job Description: Assist in planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

TOMMY HENDRAWAN Indonesian Language - Support Officer 92.

Brief Job Description: Assist in planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

JONI Indonesian Language - Support Supervisor 93.

94.

Brief Job Description: Identifies issues and gaps in current processes or document.

KIM, JINA Korean Language - Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

DONG, JIAOJIAO Mandarin Language - Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

HUANG, ZHENZHEN Mandarin Language - Support Officer

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Assist in planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

HUYNH MINH PHUONG Vietnamese Language - Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

PHOENIXFIELD, INC. 7/f Iacademy Plaza, 324 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave, Bel-air, City Of Makati

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SANDOZ PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2 6/f Ayala North Exchange Tower 1, 6796 Ayala Ave. Cor. Salcedo & Amorsolo Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

ISMAIL, AUN ALI Head, Supply Chain Management 99.

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

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

100.

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

101.

Brief Job Description: Manage paid ads Cross Border Seller.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin structural maintenance analyst, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment used by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin structural maintenance analyst will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and longterm goals.

SMARTMONETA INC. 6/f Iacademy Plaza, 324 Sen Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

GRACE MARIA SAMPUL Indonesian Language - Support Officer 102.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

LYDIA NATASSIA Indonesian Language - Support Officer 103.

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree holder in Economics or Finance.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

ZHANG, WENDI Associate, Business Development (Cross Border Exported SIP)

LU, QINGSHUAI Mandarin Structural Maintenance Analyst

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

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

XANH KY XUAN Vietnamese Language - Support Officer 98.

Brief Job Description: Assist in planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

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

SINOMA CBMIPH CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION 37b Rufino Pacific Tower, Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for implementation of global SCM processes and initiatives, facilitation of local S&OP process and for proper Net Requirement Planning and Order Management.

Basic Qualification: College graduate.

With at least 5 years of managerial work experience in the supply chain management industry. With excellent leadership, management, organizational and planning skills.

SHOPEE PHILIPPINES INC 37/f Seven/neo Net Parking Bldg., 5th Avenue E-square Crescent Park West Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

CLARA ALEXANDER ENDGE Indonesian Language - Support Supervisor 104.

Brief Job Description: Identifies issues and gaps in current processes of documents.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Indonesian language.

105.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Indonesian language to cater foreign markets.

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Korean language.

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

106.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluently speak and write in Mandarin language.

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Vietnamese language.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write Vietnamese language to cater foreign markets.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the planning & administration of the organization’s daily operation.

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

KAO, YU-CHIEH Chinese Customer Service Representative 107.

Brief Job Description: Developing and directing organization strategy and act as the company’s representative at foreign meetings.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous work experience in a similar role. Fluent in Chinese-Mandarin language.

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

VOGUE CONCEPTS, INC. (PROMOD; PARFOIS; ETAM; YVES ROCHER; EVER NEW; T.M. LEWIN; TRIUMPH AND CHARLES TYRWHITT) 2/f Kampri Bldg., 2254 Chino Roces Ave., Bangkal, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Vietnamese language to cater foreign markets.

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

SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE CORP. U-901 9/f Bpi-philam Life Makati, 6811 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Chinese language to cater foreign markets.

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

Brief Job Description: Identifies issues and gaps in current processes of documents.

KHUU VI HAO Vietnamese Language - Support Officer

108.

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

A17

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

FAM BUI THUNG Indonesian Language - Support Supervisor

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

RIZKY SUCI NUGRAHANI Indonesian Language - Marketing Officer

I GUSTI AGUNG BAGUS WIRAKUSUMA Indonesian Language - Support Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

FREDDY Indonesian Language - Support Officer

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

IQLYMA LESTARI NASUTION Indonesian Language - Marketing Officer

ANDY CHANDRA Indonesian Language - Support Officer

97.

VO THI TRINH HOA Vietnamese Customer Service

FLORENTINA IRIYANTI WINA Indonesian Language - Marketing Officer

Brief Job Description: Coordinating with other department managers.

96.

UNG GIA BAN Vietnamese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates.

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

95.

TRUONG TIEN DONG Vietnamese Customer Service

ANDREW GOMOS SIAGIAN Indonesian Language - Marketing Officer

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

87.

NGUYEN, THI THU HANG Vietnamese Customer Service

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Saturday, January 20, 2024

VAZ, ROY ANTHONY Finance Controller Brief Job Description: Analyze financial reports.

Basic Qualification: Strong communication skills both in English and Hindi languages & dealing with Indian companies.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 – Php 149,999 *Date Generated: Jan 19, 2024

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.