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Sunday, January 21, 2024 Vol. 19 No. 98

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 12 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

A ‘concrete’ step to sustainability Building materials and aggregates maker ushers in age of eco-friendly yet durable cement product

CORAL reef off Panglao, Bohol ALEXEY KORNYLYEV | DREAMSTIME.COM

S

By Manuel T. Cayon

OON, undersea infrastructure construction will be seeing a new fad, this time one that actively pushes and expands the revitalization of marine resources.

The world’s leading cement and construction manufacturer will conduct actual seawater tests to explore the use of construction aggregates and concrete, made from cement, for the construction or potential reconstruction of coral reefs.

That means it won’t involve the typical practice of stitching and wiring discarded tires together to create an artificial reef structure, a method that has proven to be toxic in Philippine waters.

In February, the first artificial reef structure will be submerged undersea off the coast of Medina, Misamis Oriental, to restore or reconstruct the rich coral reef system in the area.

Zoe Sibala, chief sustainability officer of Holcim Philippines, said the aggregates are bioactive concrete specifically designed by the manufacturer for marine construction.

This is possible with the active decarbonizing program of the Holcim Group, which has already led to the manufacture of new cement products with low carbon emission, or none at all.

Sibala said the company would also construct artificial reef structure in Mati, Davao Oriental.

“We are exploring two areas in Mindanao to promote the natural development of coral reefs using these bioactive concrete,” she said during the launching of Holcim

“We would ensure that our products assist our clients in coming up with more efficient building structures that aid in better energy conservation.”—Horia Adrian, president and CEO of Holcim Philippines

“With the sharp deterioration of the Coral Triangle, Holcim would like to contribute this new innovation to revive marine biodiversity.”—Zoe Sibala, chief sustainability officer of Holcim Philippines

Philippines’ Innovation Hub in Davao City on Tuesday.

Sibala said the bioactive concrete would also be suited for coastal protection and prevent further erosion of the coastal areas. Bioactive concrete is actually designed for marine infrastructure and thus, would be the best material to construct ports and bridges.

“With the sharp deterioration of the Coral Triangle, Holcim would like to contribute this new innovation to revive marine biodiversity,” she said.

Decarbonization

THE introduction of bioactive concrete specifically designed for ma-

AN artificial concrete reef designed for the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems, developed by Holcim in collaboration with its partner EGIS/Seaboost, featuring bioactive concrete. JULIEN DALLE, SEABOOST, VIA HOLCIM

HOLCIM Philippines has opened a facility in Davao where partners can virtually experience the global Holcim Innovation Hub, located in France, showcasing exciting new materials for more sustainable and innovative construction. From left: Holcim Davao Plant Manager Naldy Pepito, Chief Sustainability Officer Zoe Sibala, Davao City Promotion Center Head Christian Cambaya, Mindanao Development Authority Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, Department of Public Works Department Region 11 Director Juby Cordon, Holcim Philippines President and CEO Horia Adrian, Senior Vice President for Infrastructure and Industrial Sales Ram Maganti and Geocycle Philippines Head Sam Manlosa Jr. HOLCIM PHILIPPINES

rine construction is part of the array of new cement products in the market today that Holcim Philippines has offered to the construction industry. Their main feature is the reduction of carbon emission, one of the greenhouse gases (GHG) and the biggest source of ozonedepleting compounds.

Some of the new cement products were already introduced in the last two years.

Aside from the decarbonization of its new cement product lines, the Holcim company would also help the urban landscape with “more efficient and cost-effective buildings and help owners and occupants reduce their energy consumption.”

Ramakhrisna Maganti, head of Holcim’s infrastructure and in-

dustrial sales, said the company has developed another new cement product that has the characteristic of permeability to allow water to seep down back to the soil.

This is suited for road infrastructure in places that always suffer from flood during heavy downpour.

Maganti said the company has three major efforts to help address the climate crisis: reduce carbon emission, make buildings more energy efficient and encourage recycling of construction materials and the fuel to produce cement.

Fuel efficiency

THE company has also adapted recycling and the reuse of materials and waste to further up its ante in environmental-friendly pursuit of new products and services.

In the last five years, it has tapped solid waste for fuel and has been acquiring agricultural and municipal waste to help it wean away from using coal and fossil fuels for its operation.

Continued on A2

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)

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, January 21, 2024

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The Vatican’s top expert on AI ethics is a friar from a medieval Franciscan order

By Frances D’Emilio

R

The Associated Press

OME—Friar Paolo Benanti wears the plain brown robes of his medieval Franciscan order as he pursues one of the most pressing issues in contemporary times: how to govern artificial intelligence so that it enriches— and doesn’t exploit—people’s lives.

Benanti is the Vatican’s go-to person on the technology and he has the ear of Pope Francis as well as some of Silicon Valley’s top engineers and executives.

With a background in engineering, a doctorate in moral theology and a passion for what he calls the “ethics of technology,’’ the 50-year-old Italian priest is on an urgent mission that he shares with Francis, who, in his annual peace message for 2024 pushed for an international treaty to ensure the ethical use of AI technology.

“What is the difference between a man who exists and a machine that functions?” said Benanti in an interview this week with The Associated Press during a break at the Pontifical Gregoriana University, where he teaches

courses, including moral theology and bioethics, to students preparing for the priesthood. “This is perhaps the greatest question of these times, because we are witnessing a challenge that every day grows more profound with a machine that is humanizing.”

Benanti is a member of the United Nations’ Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence as well as head of an Italian government commission tasked with providing recommendations on how to safeguard journalism from fake news and other disinformation. He is also a consultant to the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life.

For the Holy Father

BENANTI says he helps “better clarify the more technical terms

HEAD of the Italian committee on artificial intelligence, Franciscan Friar Paolo Benanti who is also a consultant for The Vatican and discusses AI with Pope Francis, is interviewed by the Associated Press in Rome, Monday, January 15, 2024. AP

for the Holy Father” during their encounters. His knowledge came in handy for a 2023 meeting at the Vatican between Francis and Microsoft President Brad Smith that focused on how AI could help or hurt humanity.

Francis and Smith had also discussed AI “at the service of the common good” during a meeting a few years earlier, according to the Vatican. With a papacy heavily attentive to those who live on society’s margins, Francis has made clear his concern that AI technology could limit human rights by, say, negatively impacting a homebuyer’s mortgage application, a migrant’s asylum bid or an evaluation of an offender’s likelihood to repeat a crime.

“It’s clear that if we choose some data that aren’t sufficiently inclusive, we will have some choices that aren’t inclusive,” said Benanti, whose religious order was founded in the early 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced earthly riches and promoted charitable works.

Microsoft first reached out to Benanti several years ago for his thoughts on technology, the friar

said. In 2023, Smith did a podcast with Benanti in Rome, describing the friar as bringing “one of the most fascinating combinations in the world” in terms of his background in engineering, ethics and technology, to the AI debate.

Benanti, who was one year shy of obtaining his engineering degree at Rome’s Sapienza University when he forsook the degree—and also his girlfriend—to join the Franciscans in his 20s, described how AI could be a “really powerful tool” in bringing down the cost of medicine and empowering doctors to help more people.

Problem of governance

BUT he also described the ethical implications of a technology that could have the same capabilities as a human—or perhaps even more.

“It is a problem not of using [AI] but it is a problem of governance,’’ the friar said. “And here is where ethics come in—finding the right level of use inside a social context.”

Benanti noted that much of the data that informs AI is fed by low-wage workers, many in developing countries entrenched in a

history of colonialism and an exploited workforce.

“I don’t want this to be remembered as the season in which we extract from the global South cognitive resources,” he said. If one examines “the best tools that we are producing in AI” in the West, one sees that AI is “trained with underpaid workers from Englishspeaking former colonies.”

‘Compatibility’

HOW to govern AI is an issue that countries all over the globe are trying to resolve. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who worries that AI could lead to job losses, will make the technology a focus of this year’s G-7 summit being hosted by Italy. The European Union became a trailblazer late last year when negotiators secured a deal that paves the way for legal oversight of AI technology.

For his part, Benanti said that regulating AI shouldn’t mean limiting its development.

“It means keeping them compatible with that fragile system that is democracy, that today seems to be the best system,” he said.

A ‘concrete’ step to sustainability Continued from A1

It has worked with local governments to acquire their waste and has been successfully done in Pampanga, Bulacan and Manila areas around its Bulacan plant, said Sam Manlosa, head of Holcim’s Geocycle Philippines.

He said this recycling for fuel use would be used next in the Davao City plant.

2030 compliance

HORIA ADRIAN, president and CEO of Holcim Philippines, said the Holcim Group would strive to meet the 2030 climate-change targets in the Paris Agreement to substantially reduce global GHG emissions.

Citing the waste acquisition to be used for its fuel, Adrian told reporters that the manufacturer would strive to comply with reduced emission of GHG. He said the first batch of actions had been done by shifting to new fuel alternatives other than diesel, coal and

other fossil fuels.

He mentioned that the innovation hub established in Davao City would serve as a connection point for consumers and construction partners to explore the advancements made by the manufacturer in developing new products with lower carbon emissions.

The innovation hub, he said, is a hive of ideas to come up with products that suit the specific needs of clients. “These new products are designed for specific uses to help clients in their construction project optimize the use of cement, prevent wastage.”

“We would ensure that our products assist our clients in coming up with more efficient building structures that aid in better energy conservation,” he said.

Holcim Philippines said it opened its innovation hub in its Davao plant to cement its upgrade to being the country’s leading building solutions provider and to advance as well its banner program on provid-

ing decarbonized cement and aggregate products in the market.

The innovation hub is linked to Holcim Group’s research center in Lyon, France, and Holcim Philippines said it wanted to showcase several innovations of its traditional cement products. These include cement that allows water to percolate to the ground and superior masonry feature to cement aggregates from demolished structures that could be recycled as new construction aggregates and new cement material.

A video presentation during the launching of the hub here on Tuesday said the Lyon, France, innovation hub has a group of researchers to design and formulate new products. Some 15 countries are now connected or have links to this main innovation center.

Top-ranking company officials launched the hub on Tuesday as they also disclosed that the improved and innovated products have low carbon emission or none at all.

TheWorld

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Sunday, January 21, 2024

A3

Wary world delicately prepares for Trump’s White House return

By Bloomberg News

W

HEN Estonia’s muchfêted prime minister, Kaja Kallas, went to Washington in November, she didn’t just meet with White House officials. She also made sure to talk to key allies of Donald Trump.

A month earlier, her foreign minister was in the heart of Trump country, thanking workers at a Lockheed Martin Corp. factory in Arkansas for their contribution to his country’s security—in the form of the HIMARS multiple rocket launchers made there. “It’s important that we take these messages not only to Washington but also to other part of American society, to states that are perhaps a little more conservative,” Margus Tsahkna told reporters.

The outreach is just one example of how countries around the world are delicately—but urgently—preparing for Trump’s possible return to the W hite House. It’s a reality that’s likely to resonate at this week’s meetings of the global elite in Davos after the former president’s convincing win in the Iowa caucuses further tightened his grip on the Republican nomination, setting up a probable rematch with Joe Biden, who lags in national polls.

Back in 2016, Trump’s election stunned US allies and rivals alike.

This time, leaders aren’t taking any chances.

Residents of Washington’s Embassy Row have been scouring the city to meet ex-officials and anyone else close to the former president to get a read on his foreign policy plans. Some have even reached out directly to Trump, massaging his ego, or in Estonia’s case, seeking to head off his habitual complaint that Europe isn’t spending enough on defense.

Others are sounding the alarm publicly. “It is clearly a threat,” European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told French TV last week, citing the lessons of Trump’s first term.

Few in power are so open. But interviews with government officials from Europe to Asia, Africa and Latin America lay bare their concerns—in some cases, their hopes—about the impact of a Trump reprise, for security, trade, and climate action, and the balance of global power. Most asked not to be named discussing what’s nominally an internal US

matter, with the campaign only now picking up and predicted to be tight.

Fears, hopes MANY US allies are concerned about Trump’s America First rhetoric and threats to pull out of NATO, not to mention his protectionist trade policies. At European Union summits, some leaders are scared to even mention the prospect of his return for fear of making it more likely, one senior diplomat said.

With Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine heading into its third year, 2024 could be a tipping point for Europe’s security, said a Baltic official.

In the Middle East, Trump’s unquestioning embrace of Israel has some EU diplomats worried the Gaza war might worsen, fueling a new wave of refugees heading for Europe.

But some nations of the Global South see opportunities in the former president’s more transactional approach.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoyed a personal rapport with Trump and his government preferred the previous administration to Biden’s, which has lectured New Delhi on human rights even as it has sought to enlist its support against China, according to officials. Their fondest hope: Trump picks IndianAmerican Vivek Ramaswamy as his running mate.

Brazil, which assumed the Group of 20 presidency from India, sees President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s G-20 plans for climate action, poverty reduction and reform of the International Monetary Fund as vulnerable to a resurgent Trump.

Italy’s agenda for its G-7 presidency is similarly affected by the specter of his return. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also faces a personal and political dilemma, having cheered on Trump while in opposition at an event in Washington in 2019, but in office cultivating a close relationship with Biden.

Perhaps counter-intuitively, the view from Beijing is one of little change in the fundamental trajectory of China-US relations. Wang Yiwei, director of Renmin University’s Institute of International Affairs, noted that tariffs levied during the Trump presidency remain in place, and despite positive signals from last

year’s presidential meeting, what he called the US containment of China hasn’t changed, bringing “real harm.”

Trade worries IN fact, China’s economy would benefit modestly from one of Trump’s signature initiatives, the imposition of 10 percent across-the-board tariffs on imports and the likely retaliation it would bring, according to estimates by Bloomberg Economics. US growth and employment would slow. Canada and especially Mexico, fellow signatories of the USMCA trade deal, would suffer disproportionately.

Canada’s business community sees the USMCA as an existential issue – and it’s due for a joint review in 2026. Still, as a veteran of Trump’s first term, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took care to stay on good terms with him in public while his senior aides forged relationships with Trump’s staff behind the scenes. That gives his team some confidence they can “stick-handle” another Trump presidency, though no one pretends it would be easy.

Mexican officials are having conversations with all camps including people in Trump’s orbit, and see their successful dealings with Trump before on complex topics like trade and migration as giving them confidence they can wrangle him again. What’s more, even though June elections mean a new Mexican president is due to take office in October, a singular focus in Washington on migration at the southern US border is likely to be something of a relief after the Biden administration’s additional interest in democracy, human rights and the environment.

The EU, which engaged in titfor-tat sanctions with the Trump administration over US tariffs on steel and aluminum, wants to “Trump proof ” agreements with the US, though it’s not clear how successful those efforts will be.

One senior EU diplomat—who put the chance of a Trump return at 50-50—said there is a greater awareness of the bloc’s dependencies in energy and raw materials, and the need to address them.

His possible return has come up several times at official meetings.

Defense, security Many of the most critical—and

anxious—voices are to be heard in Europe, where governments are bracing for the potential impact of Trump 2.0 on Russian relations, the Ukraine war and the future of NATO. Several European delegations have been shuttling to Washington to reach out to Trump’s representatives and to the Heritage Foundation that’s working on his policy platform. The aim is partly to sound out who might be part of his administration to get a better handle on what to expect and to convey the message that Europe is paying its way in defense terms.

Personal ties are seen as key—something former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe grasped from the outset, according to Ichiro Fujisaki, Japan’s ambassador to the US from 2008-2012.

“Abe-san’s way was to play golf and have a lot of time together,” he said. “But then try not to give in but to speak personally about what he needs and what he has done for Trump.”

Still, Trump demanded more money from Tokyo to pay toward the upkeep of US bases in Japan. It’s a return to that quid-pro-quo approach to US security guarantees that worries many governments the most.

Taking no risks, Sweden, Finland and Denmark signed defense cooperation agreements with Washington in December. Finland is buy ing 64 F-35A fighter jets from the US, and last month announced investments to double artillery shell production.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, a favorite target of Trump’s in the past, has

made no secret of his preference for Biden, and there is anxiety in Berlin over what a new Trump administration could bring.

But Germany, too, is finally taking defense spending seriously, stepping up to help Ukraine militarily while deploying troops to the Baltic states. Scholz has said that Germany should be ready to step in if others—read the US—pare back aid for Kyiv.

Others in Europe worry that could come even before a change of administration, as Republican opposition has stalled US support this year.

Opportunities SOME sense a chance: France, which has consistently pushed for a more sovereign Europe in industrial and defense terms, is aware of the paradox that Trump Mark II may provide the best opportunity yet for Europe to overcome national reservations and come together.

The UK sees a possibility of restarting negotiations on a free trade deal with the US that was viewed by Conservatives as the prize of quitting the EU. Having made little progress under Biden, the prospects may be brighter under Brexit supporter Trump.

Trump is not much concerned about his European critics. “The last thing we’re really thinking about is a handful of people in Europe,” Chris LaCivita, a Trump senior adviser, said in a roundtable hosted

by Bloomberg News in Des Moines, Iowa, when asked about Lagarde’s comments.

Trump enjoyed warm ties with Saudi Arabia, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner has retained and built on his business relations in the United Arab Emirates,

including setting up a private company at Abu Dhabi Global Market late last year.

Trump’s temperament is in some ways more in tune with the UAE and other Gulf states, meaning there isn’t much that worries them about the prospect of his return.

But the reality is they’re becoming used to volatility in US foreign policy and are moving to solve problems by themselves without relying on Washington.

Sheer unpredictability is an issue for all governments, though: Even Russia bemoans the inability to count on any long-term stable foreign policy strategy

by Washington. With the war in Ukraine at a stalemate and likely to remain so this year, Russian eyes are on the US election.

There’s a general sense that things will go better for Putin and his entourage in 2024, with Trump’s re-election one of the main expectations, said a person familiar with the Kremlin’s thinking. Still, after uncontrolled enthusiasm over Trump’s election in 2016 quickly gave way to disappointment that he didn’t deliver more for Moscow, the view this time is cautious.

Whatever happens, the person said, the Kremlin will enjoy the spectacle. With

assistance from Ott Tammik, Milda Seputyte, Aaron Eglitis, Michael Nienaber, Ania Nussbaum, Samy Adghirni, Chiara Albanese, Jorge Valero, Natalia Drozdiak, Alex Wickham, Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Jing Li, Ilya Arkhipov, Henry Meyer, Jasmina Kuzmanovic, Andra Timu, Kati Pohjanpalo, Ewa Krukowska, Selcan Hacaoglu, Ben Bartenstein, Zainab Fattah, Isabel Reynolds, Brian Platt, Laura Dhillon Kane, Max de Haldevang, Simone Iglesias, Martha Viotti Beck, Katarina Hoije and Nancy Cook/Bloomberg

Journey

»life on the go

A4

BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Editor: Tet Andolong

Revelry and Staycations in Cebu’s Sinulog Festival

A

By Bernard L. Supetran

ll roads...and flights…lead to Cebu this January, quite literally, for the much-awaited Sinulog Festival which showcases the Filipinos’ religious devotion and a myriad of exciting side activities taking place in the fringes.

And despite the political intramurals and hiccups punctuating the festivity, the magnetic pull of the Sinulog and Cebu city and province is just too strong to resist. Those who love the street beat can join the revelry of watching dancing in the streets, while those who prefer a more laid-back environment can laze in the infinite hideaways which have made Cebu a top global destination.

Just a few heartbeats away from the airport, sun worshippers can easily frolic in the sun, sea and sand, and splurge in the swanky resorts of Mactan.

A new hotspot in the area is Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort located near the tip of the peninsula, which has been earning raves and excellent reviews since opening just over a year ago.

The 5-star, 10-story hotel boasts of 261 luxe rooms and suites, many of which has a panoramic view of the private white beach and Olango Island just across the Hilutungan Channel.

It has four multi-layered swimming pools, five function rooms, Sheraton-branded spa and fitness center, and an aquasports center for scuba diving enthusiasts.

Guests can go on a culinary journey on its four dining outlets, topped by 5 Cien which has a merry mix of international gourmet selections, Pinoy favorites and Cebuano specialties.

An intimate chic restaurant is Dip, which serves Nikkei cuisine which blends the culinary traditions of Japan and Peru. Buhi Cave Bar is a poolside watering hole carved out from the rock to create a cavernous ambiance while feasting on Mediterranean delights, bar chows, and the best spirits in town.

Developed by Cebu-based AppleOne Properties Inc., Sheraton Mactan is the first Marriott International Resort, and has already bagged a number of accolades for its upscale and innovative concept.

The award-winning developer will also open by mid-2004 its newest project, Fairfield by Mar-

Sardine run in Moalboal

Club Serena Resort in Moalboal

with 12 spacious and elegant suites and villas fronting the panoramic Basdaku long beach and Tanon Strait, one of the archipelago’s biodiversity-rich bodies of water.

Named after the mythical “serena” of the Filipino lore, it exudes the mesmerizing allure of the mermaid with its charming environment, facilities, green spaces, beachfront, and activity areas.

A new acquisition of AppleOne Properties, the property sports a fresh look showcasing the distinctive Filipino design style in with a modern vernacular twist which are evident in the lodging’s exteriors and interiors.

Tucked in the garden wing and facing the white beach is the garden villa true-blue Club Serena classic which features an enhanced iteration of the bahay kubo architecture, and native components, such as wooden floors, amakan walls, banig (mat) frames and accents, seashells, and the balcony which opens up to a relaxing scenery.

Watersports aficionados can plunge into the sea and swim with the swirling sardine run, Moalboal’s claim to fame for scuba divers, freedivers and snorkelers. Others can quietly paddle a kayak or a stand-up paddle board and marvel at the ocean’s vast expanse, or hop around the idyllic isles scattered across the Strait.

And when chowtime comes, the resort can whip up the tastiest dishes and concoct the best cocktails and spirits in this little corner of the world.

With the fun, sea and sand, Cebu is simply a quintessential getaway, with or without the drumbeats of the Sinulog Festival.

SuTuKil, a Cebuano specialty at 5 Cien of Sheraton Cebu Mactan

riott Cebu Mactan, a nine-story, 196-room business hotel which will further expand the leisure options in the area.

Located five minutes away from the airport, the hotel is attached to Mahi Center, a 5-level mixed-use business and lifestyle hub, the first of its kind in Cebu.

In the heart of the Queen City of the South is the Diamond Suites and Residences, a 3-star accommodation which is an ideal homebase in immersing in the revelry of the Sinulog, or simply exploring the sights and sounds of Cebu.

Situated in the fringes of Ayala Center, this boutique hotel is an intimate spot for comfort food and after-dinner bar unwinding away from the city’s crowded dining haunts.

For a consummate seaside hideaway in the southern part of the province, hie off to Moalboal town, which is known for scuba diving, freediving and beach bumming. Situated 86 kms southwest of the city, or a 2.5hour drive, the journey will take you to the eclectic municipalities which have managed to retain their Old World charm despite urbanization.

An exciting stomping ground in this coastal retreat is Club Serena Resort, an exclusive 1.3-hectare recreational complex

Sheraton Cebu Mactan

Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan

Science Sunday BusinessMirror

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

Sunday, January 21, 2024

A5

Study: Seaweed can be a resilient food after a nuke war R

ESEARCHERS have discovered that seaweed can be crucial for food security in case of abrupt sunlight reduction scenarios, as seen in scenarios like nuclear winter.

Seaweed is resilient in adverse conditions, so its growth and potential to enhance food security increases after more severe nuclear conflicts.

These were found in a new study on the potential of seaweed as a resilient food source. The research was published in the scientific journal “Earth’s Future” by a team of researchers from the Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (AllFED), Louisiana State University, University of the Philippines Diliman Marine Science Institute (UPD MSI), and the University of Canterbury.

Using an empirical model based on the seaweed Gracilaria tikvahiae, in combination with nuclear winter climate data, the researchers simulated global seaweed growth. Nuclear winter is a period of abnormal cold and darkness predicted to follow a nuclear war.

The research demonstrate that seaweed has the capacity to be cultivated in tropical oceans even after a major nuclear war between Russia and the US, the authors said.

Such a war would deliver 150 teragram (Tg) of black carbon to the atmosphere and could block out

the sunlight for years but enough to drive photosynthesis, they added.

This scenario leads to increased vertical mixing and decreased phytoplankton production, providing more nutrients to the seaweed.

Previous studies show that agriculture and fisheries production would plummet, so alternative food sources like seaweed will be critical in ensuring good security in sunlight reduction scenarios.

Ocean modeler Prof. Cheryl Harrison from the Louisiana State University said: “It’s only a matter of time before the latter [nuclear war and large volcanic eruption] happens, so we need to be ready.

Because the ocean does not cool as rapidly as land, marine aquaculture is a very good option.”

Seaweed can be quickly scaled up to meet a substantial portion of global food application demand, reaching about 70 percent within just 7 to 13 months, they said.

Most of this can be used for animal feed and biofuel, as human consumption is limited to 10 percent to 15 percent due to the high iodine content in seaweed, which could cause adverse health effects.

In addition to the current benefits of seaweed farming, researchers suggest investing in seaweed farming as a proactive measure for global food security, both now and after a catastrophe, the researchers urged

SEAWEED farming using long lines submerged 1m to 2m below the air-water interface in the subtidal approximately 5m depth in Quezon province. PHOTO FROM MYROLEDA ALGAE LAB.

DOST Invites SMEs, institutions to submit R&D projects for funding

T

HE Science department is calling on the local businesses, universities, communities, and other institutions in Northern Luzon to submit research and development (R&D) proposals in need of funding.

The D epar tment of S cience and Technology (DOST) made the call during its kick-off event for the 2024 Call Conference in Baguio City.

The event aims to enhance the competitiveness and productivity of various industries by funding high-impact R&D programs and projects.

Led by Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., the DOST also aims to strengthen the efforts on technology transfer and commercialization of R&D results.

“We aim toward attaining higher productivity and better quality of life for all. Our vision in DOST is to achieve this by enabling and providing science, technology and innovation [STI] explicit solutions,” Solidum said.

The DOST noted the high impact R&D centers in Northern Luzon like the Potato R&D Center at Benguet State University.

The center caters to the need for diseasefree or “clean” seed potatoes, which affects the quality and quantity of potatoes being produced.

The developed “clean” potato seeds

In his keynote speech at the kickoff event of the 2024 Call Conference in Baguio City, Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. says that the DOST aims to strengthen the efforts on technology transfer and commercialization of R&D results. DOST PHOTO

DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia says at the 2024 Call Conference in Baguio City that the DOST would like to ensure that the scientific efforts that it supports will respond to the needs of the stakeholders. DOST PHOTO

were reported to have doubled the yield of farmers from 66 percent to 180 percent compared to the old seeds This center was funded through the DOST Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (Nicer).

Another Nicer in the region is the Tamarind R&D Center at the Pampanga State Agricultural University on the “Development of S&T-Based Production Management Strategies for Tamarind”.

The project was able to expand the area of sour tamarind plantation in Central Luzon by 117 hectares and suppressed white-mold disease by as much as 100 percent through a plant growth promoter.

The project has produced 116 tamarind herbarium collections, 500 tamarind seedlings, and grafted 5,300 tamarind seedlings. The DOST gave the project a grant of P23.8 million.

A Nicer that focuses on wealth protection is being led by the Mariano Marcos State University under the establishment of Coastal Engineering and Management R e s e a rc h a n d D e ve l o p m e nt Ce nte r (Coaster), the project is “Enhancing Coastal Design and Infrastructure Intervention through the Establishment of Wave Testing Facility.”

The DOST released P51.8 million for

the project’s design, development, and deployment of wave and tidal gauge, as well as a water level monitoring system for installation in strategic locations in Region 1.

On health, the DOST is funding the establishment of the Biomaterials for Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research and Development Center that will focus on research on biomaterials for health applications.

To be located at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga, the R&D Center aims to be a key player in the development of local health technologies that will address priority diseases emerging from Central Luzon.

The program has set up animal and biomaterials preparation rooms. The program conducts three component projects addressing pressing health gaps in the region, such as gastroenteritis and rabies.

DOST Undersecretary for R&D Leah J. Buendia said that the “ultimate goal is for Filipinos to have a strongly rooted, comfortable and secure life. We would like to ensure that the scientific efforts that we support will respond to the needs and demands of our constituents and stakeholders. This is exemplified by our funded programs and projects that we believe will contribute to attaining this goal.”

S&T Media Service

2 govt science researchers shine in intl research meet

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WO Filipino government science researchers have won major awards in international conferences held recently.

Technology Innovation Division’s Alexis B. Dorado of the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) bagged the Best Research Paper Presentation in the 2023 International Conference on Resources and Environmental Research (ICRER) held in Hong Kong, China, on December 2 and 4, 2023.

Meanwhile, DOST-FPRDI Material Science Division’s Kim Wilmer M. Balagot was firstt runner-up in the e-poster competition during the 17th Asean Food Conference in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Dorado presented the paper titled “Sustainable Wood Stain Derived from Natural Dyes for Green Applications” that details how Philippine natural dyes can become a viable and eco-friendly alternative to primary colorants in wood stain formulations.

The paper won under the “Wastewater, Oil Pollution and Green Technology” category.

Balagot presented the poster “Evaluation of Physico-chemical Properties, Total Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Capacity and

DOST-FPRDI Technology Innovation Division’s Alexis B. Dorado receives the Best Research Paper Presentation in ICRER held in Hong Kong, China, from December 2 to 4, 2023. DOST-FPRDI PHOTO

Acute Oral Toxicity of Bignay (Antidesma bunius [L.] Spreng.) Wine Aged from Philippine Wooden Barrels.”

The study presents DOST-FPRDI’s new wine-aging technology that uses wooden barrels made from Philippine tree species,

DOST-FPRDI Material Science Division’s Kim Wilmer M. Balagot receives the award during the 17th Asean Food Conference from October 24 to 27, 2023, in Malaysia. DOST-FPRDI PHOTO

such as mahogany, mangium and santol.

Besides Balagot, also involved in the study were Kimberly M. Delica, Dr. Erlinda L. Mari, Engr. Caezar A. Cuaresma, Melvie C. Emprese, Ma. Jenny Q. Canizares and Neil C. Tanquilut.

The Asean Food Conference “aims to discuss the current and emerging issues, and the role of food science and technology in enhancing sustainable food supply chain that is affordable to all.” Apple Jean C. Martin-de Leon/S&T Media Services

This could potentially avert a significant number of deaths from starvation, according to resilient food expert Prof. Dr. David Denkenberger from the University of Canterbury.

In the Philippines, low-tech seaweed farming is the commonly implemented infrastructure.

Accord ing to laborator y head Prof. Michael Y. Roleda of Algal Physiology (AlgaE) laboratory of UPD-MSI, “We are engaged in the selection and curation of novel and climate change-resilient cultivars of tropical seaweeds (e.g., eucheumatoids and gracilariods) that possess superior traits in terms of growth, chemistry, and disease resistance.”

Roleda added that “the gene bank of UP-MSI provides a platform for selective breeding and production of high quality seedstrock for distribution to seaweed farmers.”

This effort by UPD-MSI significantly contributes to the goal of scaling up seaweed for future food production and security.

The preprint of this study was selected as one of the most exciting and interesting entries out of 17,000 submissions to the European Geosciences Union conference in Vienna (2023) and discussed in their press conference and blog.

According to lead author Dr. Florian Ulrich Jehn from AllFED,

the study opens avenues to further research about seaweed as a food solution after a nuclear war.

The researchers said unexpected aspect of the study is the revelation that seaweed exhibits high growth rates in a more severe nuclear war.

They added that it further adds to the many benefits of seaweed, including its capacity to mitigate eutrophication—excessive nutrient and consequently algal growth which can deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life—and its independence from arable land, freshwater, fertilizer, or extensive pesticide applications Another beneficial aspect of seaweed is that if fed to cattle it could also significantly decrease the emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

In addition, seaweed can be used to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, combating climate change.

They said that these factors contribute to making seaweed a subject of interest for both the scientific community and the general public.

The UP Marine Science Institute is one of seven academic institutes of the College of Science of University of the Philippines Diliman. It aims to advance, disseminate, and apply knowledge through research and development, and public service and extension in the marine sciences and related disciplines.

Studies: SEA’s agri sector grapples with challenges

S

TUDIES on challenges to agriculture in Southeast Asia include one that analyzes the c urrent concerns surrounding a potential rice crisis due to attacks on the infrastructure of Ukraine’s food export system and the onset of a severe El Niño in Asian rice-producing regions.

The paper, titled “Back in the Soup: Now What?” by food security expert and Harvard University professor emeritus C. Peter Timmer examines the global rice market’s outlook as of early September 2023.

Timmer’s paper is among the studies published in the December 2023 edition of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (Ajad).

Ajad is an internationally refereed journal published by the Philippine government-hosted, Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca).

According to Searca Director Glenn Gregorio, the combined optimism of the authors “offers a glimpse of hope for the ongoing role of the region as a significant global producer and exporter.”

Highlighting the possible repercussions of a spike in rice prices leading to widespread hunger through extensive hoarding, Timmer recommends that governments stabilize expectations to avert a rice crisis by maintaining a “reasonable interaction with market players,” Searca said.

Taking a historical perspective, he examines past rice crises and how different states addressed them.

Timmer emphasizes that “the focus should be on the impact of higher rice prices on the food security of the poor, rather than aggregate inflation.”

The paper by Jordan Calura and coauthors, titled “A Soil Analysis Approach to Assessing Potential Loss of Productive Lands Under Agricultural Land Conversion,” assesses the productivity of agricultural lands in Pura, Tarlac, Philippines, predisposed to agricultural land conversion.

Soil surveys and composite sampling indicate marginal suitability for rice and other crops, but with appropriate soil management, the land can be highly suitable for crop production.

The authors argue that land in Pura is productive and can benefit both agricultural production and land conversion.

For his part, Colorado State University professor emeritus Rober t Zimdahl commentary, titled “Institutionalizing Agricultural Ethics,” it is argued that the agricultural science curriculum lacks

consideration of the ethical dilemmas of agriculture on society.

Zimdahl suggests that agriculture— being a fundamental human activity— requires a defined moral foundation.

He warns that ignoring these ethical dilemmas may lead to justifications for technology and production practices being ignored, increased societal unrest, pressure for political action due to public dissatisfaction, and the continued concentration of food production in the hands of agribusiness companies, leading to the gradual disappearance of small farms, farmers, and rural communities.

Meanwhile, in their paper titled “Digital Technology Adoption and Potential in Southeast Asian Agriculture,” Jose Ma Luis Montesclaros and Paul Teng of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore gave an affirmative response to the question of whether digital technologies can play a more significant role in addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the region’s agriculture sector on food security, income, trade, and employment.

The authors propose a common framework for understanding the emerging digital technology in agriculture, offering insights into its adoption status in the region, key challenges, and policy opportunities for scaling up.

They identify shared challenges across the region, stemming from “climate change, degradation of land and freshwater resources, pests and diseases, declining crop productivity, high input costs, decreasing rural labor force, and aging farmers,”that need innovative solutions.

Examining the role of youth in farming, Kringle Marie Mercado and Henny Osbahr, in their paper “Feeding the Future: Knowledge and Perceptions of the Filipino Youth Toward Agriculture,” explore the youth’s inclination to enroll in agricultural degree programs.

According to Mercado and Osbahr, the youth play a crucial role in sustaining and developing a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agriculture industry.

Their case study in General Santos City in Mindanao reveals that while the youth are exposed to agricultural information, it has not translated into practical knowledge, with limited awareness of agricultural professions.

They suggest intervention programs starting early in the youth curriculum, along with social initiatives emphasizing in capacity building, to cultivate interest in the industry and encourage engagement in its professions.

A6 Sunday, January 21, 2024

Faith

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

Christian, Muslim leaders condemn Pope honors 9 Filipinos for service to Church violence ‘under the guise of religion’ C M

USLIM and Christian leaders met a few days ago in a display of interreligious unity more than a month after a deadly bombing rocked a Catholic Mass at a university in the southern city of Marawi.

The meeting took place on January 16 and 17 in Cotabato City, which was also in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the January 24 Peace Day. In deploring the December 3 attack that claimed four lives, they asserted that the killing of innocent civilians and religious believers is a “demonic act” that must be “condemned by the teachings of every religion in the world.”

“The killing of innocent civilians by terrorists under the guise of religion is a condemnable and cruel irreligious act that defiantly contradicts both Muslims

SECURITY authorities at the scene of the explosion at Mindanao State University in Marawi, on December 3, 2023. PHOTO FROM LANAO DEL SUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

and Christian beliefs,” they said a statement.

As religious leaders, they have agreed to be “pro-active against similar terrorist acts” by imparting the true teachings of

their respective religious traditions and sacred scriptures—the Qur’an and the Bible—to their followers.

“The way of interreligious dialogue is one of the most effective

ways of establishing a culture of peace, mutual respect and understanding among peoples of different faiths in the Bangsamoro and the whole country in general,” they added.

In attendance were 11 Muslim and seven Christian religious leaders in Mindanao, together with Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Among the signatories of the statement titled “Religions are for Peace” were Dr. Muhammad Nadzir Ebil, an Islamic Jurist from the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta; Emran Mohamad, the executive director of Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta; Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, the archbishop emeritus of Cotabato; Archbishop Angelito Lampon of Cotabato; Bishop Edwin de la Peña of Marawi; and, Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro. CBCP News

Bishop: Pray for release of 18 Pinoy seafarers in Oman

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CATHOLIC bishop has asked for prayers for the safe release of the 18 Filipino seafarers on board the seized oil tanker, ST Nikolas, in the Gulf of Oman last week.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo said they are praying for a peaceful resolution to the disagreement between Iran and the United States that would lead to the release of the seized tanker and its crew members.

“We place our trust in God’s miraculous love for peace, diplomatic settlements, and to soften the hearts of those who hold the oil tanker,” said Santos, who is also the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Bishop Promoter of the Stella Maris

BISHOP Ruperto Santos of Antipolo DIOCESE OF ANTIPOLO/FACEBOOK

Philippines.

“May each one respect life, promote common good, and protect individual rights

and welfare,” he said.

The bishop said they are also one with the families of the 18 seafarers in facing

the challenge of their loved ones being held captive.

He also said that they have already called for Masses to be offered for the safety of the seafarers.

“We are one and united with those families. We urge them to be strong and lift up everyone and everything to God. Be strong. Hold on to God. Pray with us,” said the prelate.

“We offer our Holy Masses for you and your loved ones,” he added.

Iran seized the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel while it was in transit between the Iraqi port of Basra and Turkey. At the time of the seizure, 18 Filipino seafarers were on board the oil tanker. CBCP News.

ARDINAL Jose Advincula of Manila on Wednesday prayed that the nine lay Catholics who were honored with papal award may be “models to inspire others to follow the path of love and service.”

During a Mass at the Manila Cathedral, the cardinal bestowed the Cross Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice upon Ramon del Rosario Jr., Manuel Pangilinan, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Maria Goolsby, and Arnulfo Veridico.

T he same recog nition, the highest papal award for laity, was conferred upon Roselina Quismundo, Elmer Sy, Tomasita Lim, and Corazon Rodriguez from the Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Joseph in Manila’s Sta. Cruz district.

Ayala Corp.’s Zobel de Ayala, Metro Pacific Investment Corp.’s Pangilinan, Phinma’s del Rosario are part of the board of trustees of Caritas Manila.

UnionBank’s Goolsby and Veridico, meanwhile, are long-time supporters of the archdiocese’s social action arm.

Bestowing the awards, the cardinal paid tribute to the awardees for being the archdiocese’s “longtime partners in the mission and collaborators in evangelization.”

“And, unworthy as I am, in the name of our Holy Father Pope Francis and the Church of Manila, we thank you for your commitment to the teachings of the Church and for your selfless service, which has touched the lives of many, leaving indelible marks on those you have served,” Advincula said in his homily.

The cardinal, however, said that the award does not mean that they can retire from the services they

THE Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal is given to people who serve the Church. First issued in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, it features a gold Greek cross with the images of apostles Peter and Paul. WIKIPEDIA CC

provide. On the contrary, he said it means that they must continue the work they have done “and do even more.”

“You are sent to look for many opportunities to do good for others and to make more of our brothers and sisters feel God’s care, compassion, healing and love through you,” Advincula added.

Addressing the lay faithful in general, he encouraged them to emulate Jesus “who does good to anyone in need anytime and anywhere.”

“Like them, the Lord also invites each one of us, unworthy as we are, to be His hands that serve and care, His feet that run to attend to those in need, His mouth that proclaims his Good News, and His heart that beats compassion and love,” he said.

The Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal, first issued in 1888

by Pope Leo XIII, features a gold Greek cross with the images of apostles Peter and Paul. CBCP News

Gaza’s oldest mosque destroyed by Israeli airstrike

It was a temple to Philistine and Roman gods, a Byzantine and Catholic church, and with engravings of Jewish objects

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HE Omari Mosque in Gaza was largely destroyed by Israeli bombardment on December 8, 2023. It was one of the most ancient mosques in the region and a beloved Gazan landmark.

The mosque was first built in the early seventh century and named after Islam’s second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, a successor to the Prophet Muhammad and leader of the early Islamic community.

It was a graceful white stone structure, with repeating vistas of pointed arches and a tall octagonal minaret encircled by a carved wooden balcony and crowned with a crescent.

The lower half of the minaret and a few exterior walls are reported to be the only parts of the mosque still standing.

Gaza is rich in cultural treasures, with some 325 registered heritage sites within just 141 square miles—including three designated for Unnesco’s World Heritage tentative list.

The Omari Mosque is one of over 200 ancient sites damaged or destroyed in Israeli raids since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

As a scholar of Islamic architecture and archaeology, I know the Omari Mosque as a building that embodies the history of Gaza itself—as a site of frequent destruction, but also of resilience and renewal.

While narratives about Gaza often center on war and conflict, Gaza’s rich history and pluralistic identity as expressed through its cultural heritage equally deserve to be known.

Layered histories

THE sun-soaked coastal enclave of Gaza, with the tidy stone buildings of its old city and its verdant olive and orange groves, has been a trade hub that connected the Mediterranean with Africa, Asia and Europe for millennia.

It was famed in particular as a transit point for incense, one of the ancient world’s most precious commodities.

Given its abundant agricultural and maritime riches, Gaza has known conquest by nearly every powerful empire, including the ancient Egyptians, the Romans, the early Islamic caliphs, the Crusaders and the Mongols.

Gaza’s history of repeated conquest m e a n t t h a t b u i l d i n g s we re o f t e n destroyed, reimagined and rededicated to accommodate changing political and religious practices.

New sacred structures were continually built over old ones, and they frequently incorporated “spolia,” or stones reused from prior buildings.

The Omari Mosque, too, was such an architectural palimpsest: a building embodying the layered, living material history of the city.

In the second millennium B.C., the site of the mosque is believed to have been a temple for Dagon, the Philistine god of the land and good fortune.

The temple is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the one whose walls were felled by the warrior Samson, who is locally believed to be buried in its foundations.

In 323 B.C. Gaza fiercely resisted the conquest of Alexander the Great, and the city endured devastating destruction when it was finally subdued.

Yet after Gaza was conquered by the Romans in 50 B.C. it entered a period of renewed wealth and prosperity.

A concentric domed temple was built for Marnas, a god of storms and the protector of the city, on the site of the future mosque.

He was venerated there until just before 400 A.D., when the Byzantine Empress Eudoxia imposed the new faith of Christianity and ordered the destruction of the temple.

mosque, and in the 13th century its elegant octagonal minaret was raised.

Yet the reconversion into a mosque preserved much of the Crusader church, and the majority of the nave and the western portal were still visible in modern times.

It was in this period that the mosque became famed for its extraordinary library containing thousands of books, the earliest dating to the 13th century.

After the library of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the Omari Mosque’s collection was one of the richest in Palestine.

In the 13th century, the mosque endured destruction by the Mongols as well as major earthquakes that would repeatedly topple the minaret. Its rebuilding after each of these disasters speaks to the centrality of the mosque in the communal life of the people of Gaza.

COURTYARD, arcades and minaret of the Omari Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Gaza. The image, at the US Library of Congress, was taken between 1867 and 1899 by Maison Bonfils. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The priests of the temple barricaded themselves inside and hid the statues and ritual objects in an underground room.

But the temple was destroyed and a Greek Orthodox church rose in its place.

The stones, however, preserved the tale: in 1879 a monumental, 10-foot-high statue of Marnas, portrayed in the guise of Zeus, was excavated and its discovery made international media headlines. The statue is now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

The Byzantine church, too, was destined to be transformed. In the early seventh century, the Muslim general Amr ibn alAs conquered Gaza, and the church was converted into the Omari Mosque.

Yet the continued presence of Gazan churches and synagogues attested to pluralistic norms that characterized the

region under various Islamic dynasties until the modern era.

Gaza under Islamic rule

GAZA thrived under Islamic rule: Medieval travelers described it as a remarkably fer tile, creative and beautiful cit y, with prominent Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities.

It was still a flourishing urban center when the European Crusaders arrived.

When the city fell to the Crusader King of Jerusalem, Baldwin III, in 1100, the Omari Mosque was converted once again—this time into a Catholic cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

The Muslim general Saladin defeated the Crusaders in 1187, and Gaza returned to Islamic rule.

The church was transformed back into a

The stones tell the tale

LATER, Gaza continued to flourish as a coastal por t city, where Muslims, Christians, Jews and others lived in the vast, cosmopolitan Ottoman Empire.

In the late 19th century, as scholars explored Gaza’s heritage, an eloquent reminder of the building’s layered history emerged: a relief on a mosque pillar depicting a seven-branched menorah and Jewish ritual objects, including a shofar, or horn, surrounded by a wreath.

The name Hanania, son of Jacob, was engraved in Hebrew and Greek.

Its date is uncertain, but it seems likely to have been a column from a synagogue reused during the building of the Byzantine church, which was used again in the building of the mosque: yet another layer in the architectural palimpsest that was the Omari Mosque.

A few decades later, during World War I, the mosque was severely damaged when a nearby Ottoman arms depot was targeted

by British artillery fire. In the 1920s, the stones were once again gathered and the mosque was rebuilt.

After the 1948 creation of the state of Israel, Gaza became the sanctuary of tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees. The area was primarily administered by Egypt until it was captured by Israel in 1967.

It was at some point after the 1967 war, when Jewish symbols had come to be associated with the state of Israel and its occupation of Gaza, that the menorah relief was effaced from the column in the mosque.

A future for the Omari Mosque

ON December 8, 2023, Israel became the most recent military force to target the mosque. The library, too, may have been ruined, a treasure house of knowledge that will not so easily be rebuilt.

A digitization project completed in 2022 preserves an imprint of the library’s riches.

Still, digital files can’t replace the material significance of the original manuscripts.

The hundreds of other heritage sites damaged or destroyed include Gaza’s ancient harbor and the fifth century Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the oldest churches in the world.

From today’s vantage point, it seems extraordinary that the menorah relief had endured for over 1,000 years: a Jewish symbol unremarkably cohabiting inside a Muslim prayer hall.

In truth, both the relief and its removal embody the story of Gaza itself, a fitting reminder of the many centuries of destruction, coexistence and resilience embodied in the mosque’s very stones.

And if the Omari Mosque’s richly layered history is any indication, the people of Gaza will raise those stones again. Stephennie Mulder, The University of Texas at Austin/ The Conversation (CC) via AP

Biodiversity Sunday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Sunday, January 21, 2024 A7

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Study: PHL eagle’s unknown behavior discovered

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

egg for about 58 to 60 days, with the male eagle hunting most of the time during the first 40 days of the eaglet’s life, while the female stays to protect the young.

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ESEARCHERS have discovered a lot about the Philippine eagle.

But its behavior in the wild remains largely unknown. Where they go, how much time they spend in the wild or how far they are willing to go hunting and leave their nest behind?

A recent research has succeeded in obtaining conclusive data about the bird’s behavior.

The study, “Space-time Homerange Estimates and Resource Selection for the Critically Endangered Philippine Eagle on Mindanao,” was made by Luke J. Sutton, Jayson C. Ibanez, Dennis I. Salvador, Rowell L. Taraya, Guiller S. Opiso, Tristan Luap P. Senarillos and Christoper J.W. McClure.

It was published on May 15, 2023, in IBIS International Journal of Avian Science.

For informed conservation action QUANTIFYING home-range size and habitat-resource selection are important elements in wildlife ecology and are useful for informing conservation action, the authors said in their paper.

“Many home-range estimators and resource-selection functions are currently in use. However, both methods are fraught w ith analytical issues inherent w ithin autocor related movement d ata f rom irregular sampling and inter pretation of resource selection model parameters to inform conservation management,” they ex plained.

The research used satellite remote sensing to provide updated estimates of the home-range size and first estimates of fine-scale resource selection for six adult Philippine eagles (Pithecophaga jefferyi), using a space–time autocorrelated kernel density estimate home-range estimator and non-parametric resource selection functions.

Findings: Distinct site fidelity THE study showed that all six adult eagles manifested distinct site fidelity, with continuous range residency between 2 km and 18 km, one month after tagging.

This means, the researchers said, the eagles kept coming back to the

Critically endangered; major threats

BOTH the majestic Mount Apo and the Philippine eagle in Davao Region are both revered by Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY. same areas over and over.

The scientists were able to determine that the eagles used habitat high in photosynthetic leaf and canopy structures, and avoided areas of oldgrowth biomass and denser areas of vegetation.

“This is possibly due to foraging forays into secondary forest and fragmented agricultural areas away from nesting sites,” the report said.

“For the first time, we determine two important fine-scale spatial processes for this critically endangered raptor that can help in directing conservation management,” the report added.

“Rather than employing traditional home-range estimators and resource-selection functions, we recommend that analysts consider spacetime approaches and non-parametric resource-selection functions to animal movement data to explore fully space-time and resource selection,” the researchers said.

GPS tracking device GLOBAL positioning satellite tracking devices were attached to each of the six Philippine eagles, allowing the team to monitor their exact location, McClure said in an interview via Zoom on January 12.

Refugee bear from Ukraine zoo finds new home in Scotland

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ONDON—An unlikely refugee from the war in Ukraine—a rare Asiatic black bear—arrived at his new home in Scotland on Friday and quickly took to a meal of cucumbers and watermelon.

The 12-year-old Yampil was named for a village in the Donetsk region where he was one of the few survivors found by Ukrainian troops in the remains of a bombed-out private zoo.

Yampil, who had previously been called Borya, was discovered by soldiers who recaptured the devastated city of Lyman during the Kharkiv counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, said Yegor Yakovlev of Save Wild, who was among the first of many people who led the bear to a new life.

The bear was found in a menagerie that had long been abandoned by its owners.

Almost all the other animals had died of hunger, thirst or were struck by bullets or shrapnel and some were eaten by Russian troops.

Yampil narrowly missed the same fate, suffering a concussion from a projectile that landed nearby.

“The bear miraculously survived,”said Yakovlev, also director of the White Rock Bear Shelter, where the bear recovered. “Our fighters did not know what ... to do with him, so they started looking for rescue.”

What followed was an odyssey that your average bear rarely makes, as he was moved to Kyiv for veterinary care and rehab, then shipped to a zoo in Poland, then to an animal rescue in Belgium, where he spent the past seven months, before landing in the United Kingdom.

Brian Curran, owner of Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder, Scotland, said his heart broke when

A BLACK bear named Yampil arrives in West Calder, West Lothian, Scotland, on January 12, after it was rescued from a zoo in the village of Yampil in war-torn Ukraine.

FIVE SISTERS ZOO VIA AP

he learned of the plight of the threatened Asiatic black bear.

“He was in terrible condition; five more days and they wouldn’t have been able to save him,” Curran said. “We were just so amazed he was still alive and well.”

The bear was skinny but not malnourished when he was found, said Frederik Thoelen, a biologist at the Nature Help Center in Belgium.

He now is estimated to weigh a healthy 440 pounds (200 kilograms), Thoelen said.

The nature center in Belgium, which usually treats injured wildlife and returns them to their natural settings, has taken several animals rescued from the war in Ukraine, including a wolf, a caracal cat and four lions, though those animals had not experienced the ordeal Yampil endured.

It was remarkable how calm Yampil was when he arrived in Belgium, Thoelen said.

The bear was trained in the past two weeks to move from his enclosure to the crate that would

“ It w a s t he Ph i l ippi ne E ag le Foundation [PEF] that trapped the birds. The earliest was in 2013 and the latest was in 2021,” McClure, director of Conservation Science at the Peregrine Foundation, told the BusinessMirror.

McClure was in the Philippines last year as part of the study and visited some of the project sites of the PEF in Davao.

Feeding areas; fidelity to territories HE pointed out that the team learned about how t he Ph i l ippine eagle hunts food.

“Basically, we knew the nesting habitats of these birds but we don’t know their foraging habitats,” he said.

“It [research] suggests that they use the lush areas for breeding, but will go elsewhere to hunt. They use the secondary forests or agricultural areas for hunting,” McClure said.

Likewise, the study was able to uncover the high fidelity of the eagles to the territories, underscoring the need to protect their habitat, and communicating to the communities not to harm or hunt the eagles.

Asked further to explain the research outcome, Ibanez said that as the paper predicted, it has something

transport him across Belgium to Calais, France, then across the English Channel on a ferry to Scotland.

Pastries from a local bakery were used to lure him into the cage, where he was sedated for the journey.

“We want to use the food that he likes most, and for most bears—and for people also—it’s sweet, unhealthy foods,” Thoelen said.

Thoelen had a sense of the bear’s weight as he drove the crate to the port.

“Every time when we had a red light or a traffic jam, when the bear moved a little bit, you could feel the van moving also,” he said. “You could feel it was a heavy animal in the back of the car.”

Yampil arrived at the zoo about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Edinburgh and immediately made himself at home.

He feasted on cukes (short for cucumber)— said to be his favorite food—and melon, said Adam Welsh, who works at Five Sisters.

The Asiatic black bear is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable to extinction in the wild. It can be found in central and southern Asia, Russia and Japan.

It is known for the distinctive white crescent patch on its chest that gives it the nickname moon bear. It can live for up to 30 years in zoos.

It’s not clear if the bear will go into hibernation.

The winter has been warmer than usual but colder days are on the horizon.

The zoo has other bears, but Yampil is the only Asian bear and unique in other ways.

“We’ve had circus bears, for example, that have been rescued,” Welsh said. “We’ve had bears rescued from places like roadside restaurants where they’ve been used as kind of roadside attractions and been kept in subpar conditions. But this is the first time that we’ve worked with an animal that’s been rescued from a war zone.”

Brian Melley /Associated Press

to do with prey animal availability and detection.

“If the forest has multiple canopy layers, it means there are more preys that can be accommodated. So there’s more food,” Ibanez, one of the authors of the paper and the director for Research and Conservation of PEF, told the BusinessMirror via Messenger on January 11.

On the other hand, Ibanez said that if the vegetation is not thick, it would be easier for the eagle to find potential prey and hunt.

“The eagle can easily maneuver and fly around the forest interiors,” he said.

Required forest area THE paper found out that the Philippine eagle requires at least 6,800 hectares (has), that is “27 times larger than the whole area of BGC in Taguig,” Ibanez explained, referring to Bonifacio Global City which is approximately 240 has.

“That’s how big a forest an eagle couple would require,” he pointed out.

However, 50 percent of the birds’ time is spent within a 1,200 has area, possibly a preferred or favorite hunting ground within its vast territory.

“This means the eagle hangs out and hunts for food in just 1,200 has

of the 6,800 has home range,” Ibanez explained.

“It’s like a person who lives in a subdivision with a big area but he only goes to his house and the clubhouse,” he added.

This led the authors to conclude that the eagles are only using areas where preys are abundantly found and leave the rest of the territory unexplored.

Territorial raptor AS the Philippine eagle is territorial, it is also a solitary creature. Scientists believe that the iconic raptor, named as the country’s Philippine national bird, pairs for life.

Once it has found a partner, the pair typically builds a new nest, if there are no ancient nests in the area that they can use, on large dipterocarp trees like the native species, lauan.

Philippine eagles can live up to 40 years or more in captivity. But in the wild, scientists say they would probably live a much shorter life because of habitat destruction and hunting.

Scientists say its reproduction takes five to seven years to sexually mature, lay a single egg every two years and wait for their offspring to make it on their own before preparing for the next egg.

Both eagle parents incubate the

THE Philippine eagle, also called the monkey-eating eagle, suggests that it hunts and eats monkeys, such as the Philippine long-tailed macaque.

The eagle is one of the largest and most powerful among birds of prey with its 7-foot wingspan It stands 3 feet in height from the tip of its crown to its tail.

An endemic species, the Philippine eagle can only be found in four major islands in the Philippines—eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.

Habitat destruction and hunting caused its population to decline and join the list of critically endangered species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 1994.

According to the PEF, at least one Philippine eagle is killed every year from hunter’s shooting.

Worse, as more forests are destroyed, the eagles are forced to hunt near human settlements. When this happens, humans protective of their livestock start hunting the birds.

Only around 392 eagle pairs are left in the wild according to latest estimate.

This figure, Ibanez said, can now be updated using a more exact model which they used in the latest study.

‘Protect not just the nest’ TO strengthen the protection and conservation measures for the Philippine eagle, McClure pointed out that protecting just the nest site is not enough.

“We also need to protect them the moment they go out to hunt,” he said.

With the research findings, he said the PEF can now reassess the population estimate of the Philippine eagle, which he admitted will entail costs.

“We need to have more transmitters and all,” he noted.

According to McClure, the PEF is doing a good job protecting and conserving the Philippine eagle, highlighting how it taps the Indigenous People and communities as partners, adding that it needs more support and funding.

‘Pawikan’ hatchlings released to Cavite coast

N

AIC, Cavite—Seventy-three Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys Olivacea) sea tur t les, or “pawikan,” were released on the coast of Barangay Labac on January 16, said Dennis Abrina of Cavite News and Photos.

Roger Bilugan of Samahan ng Labac Pawikan Patrollers and Jacinta Remulla led the release of the sea turtles. It was witnessed by the Cavite province media group.

The sea turtles were from the hatchling facility that has been taking care of turtle eggs since December 2014.

According to Bilugan, it took 60 days before the turtles hatched, then they were taken to the sea, their natural habitat.

“Based on our study, in order to save the hatchlings from predators, we release them when it is already dark so they could reach the deep sea,” Bilugan said in Filipino.

“Before, our patrolling was not intense. But we improved [in our method along the way], until we even reached the neighboring barangays in taking care of the turtle eggs. Every night, 20 member patrollers walk the shore of Labac to collect turtle eggs and put them in the hatchery facility until they hatch,” he added.

Bilugan added that their innovative activity is the tagging of each turtle with a satellite monitor courtesy of San Miguel Corp. so that they

ROGER BILUGAN of Samahan ng Labac Pawikan Patroller and Jacinta Remulla lead the release of 73 sea turtle hatchlings in Barangay Labac, Naic, Cavite, on January 16. PHOTO COURTESY OF DENNIS ABRINA/CNP can be monitored more.

According to the wildlife conservation group, World Wildlife Fund, almost all tortoise species are endangered due to poaching and overexploitation.

Remulla, daughter of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, said she joined the event to promote and protec the sea turtles, and ask for support from everyone to help protect the environment and the turtles.

“Am here to invite many sponsors and people, who are environmentalists,

to come and join us in supporting the Samahan ng Labac Pawikan Patroller, who are passionate about taking good care of our sea turtles,” Remulla said.

She added that many do not even know that there is a nesting facility in the town of Naic.

“Please feel free to contact the patrollers here in Labac. We invite you in this amazing experience,” she said..

According to the group, it has released around 7,000 hatchlings to the sea in 2023.

By Howard Feindrich The Associated Press

A

SMILE creased Daniil Medvedev’s face as he walked to the net in Rod Laver Arena at 3:39 a.m., finally a winner in the Australian Open’s second round after five sets spread across nearly four-anda-half hours in the third-latest finish in Grand Slam history.

Zero chance Medvedev would have been there at that time if he didn’t need to be. If he were one of the spectators in the nearly empty stands, and a match stretched past, say, 1 a.m., the 2021 US Open champion said, “I would be like, ‘OK, let’s go home. We’re going to catch the end of the match on the TV. Going to watch 30 minutes, then go to bed.’”

So why were Medvedev, a twotime runner-up at Melbourne Park, and the man he beat 3-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0 in a match that began there Thursday and concluded Friday, Emil Ruusuvuori...and the chair umpire...and the ball people...and the (few) spectators who remained still awake so late?

That’s not the sort of thing that happens in other sports.

“No one should be playing tennis at 330 am. This is looney tunes,” was a sentiment expressed by John Isner on social media and surely shared by others. Isner, of course, knows a thing or two about playing forever: He won the longest match in tennis history, an 11-hour, fiveminute marathon spread over three days at Wimbledon in 2010.

Why are they playing tennis nearly 4 a.m. at Aussie Open?

Sports

“It’s a very obvious thing that needs to change. I haven’t heard anyone really disagree with that,” Murray said.

“Just probably looks a wee bit more professional,” he added, “if you’re not finishing at 3, 4 in the morning.”

Not to mention what it does for the well-being of the athletes and the quality of the competition—during that match and subsequent ones.

Both Medvedev and Ruusuvuori were treated by trainers. Medvedev got some help from the chair umpire while tying his shoe at one point. The fifth set was lopsided and not all that entertaining.

“Yes, at night is probably our prime time and we can optimize viewers,” reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff said, “but also, we have to protect the players’ health.”

BusinessMirror

A8 | S

unday, January 21, 2024 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WHAT IS TENNIS DOING TO CHANGE IT?

WHY DO SOME TENNIS MATCHES FINISH SO LATE?

FIRST of all, there’s no such thing as a “game clock” in tennis, in general, and no such thing as “too late” at the Australian Open and US Open, in particular.

They play night sessions at those two Grand Slam tournaments, and have for decades, and if the start of one match happens to be delayed until 10 p.m. or even later— Medvedev and Ruusuvuori began warming up after 11 p.m.—they keep playing until someone wins.

In this case, they were pushed back because the match that preceded theirs—Anna Blinkova’s upset of 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina—lasted more than two-and-a-half hours and included a record-setting 22-20 tiebreaker.

It was also a day of ripple effects, because only eight of the 32 singles matches, including one of 16 in the men’s bracket, were done in straight sets (which is two sets for women, who play a maximum of three,

THE clock’s close to striking 4 a.m. as Daniil Medvedev is being interviewed. AP and three sets for men, who play a maximum of five).

WHAT ABOUT WIMBLEDON, FRENCH OPEN?

AT Wimbledon, the All England Club has an agreement with local residents to halt play at 11 p.m.

Night sessions at the French Open only began in 2021, and while there was a memorable

quarterfinal the following year between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic that ended after 1 a.m.—“TV decides. That’s the world we are living in,” Djokovic keenly observed about the late start of that one— it’s yet to have the sort of bleary-eyed finishes that Melbourne and New York produce semi-regularly.

The four latest Grand Slam

finishes happened in Australia—4:34 a.m. is the record, for a 2008 match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis—and No. 5 came at the US Open, a 2022 victory for Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner that wrapped up at 2:50 a.m.

ARE PLAYERS OK WITH THIS? NOT really.

“IF we’re going to be honest with

ourselves, what are people looking for? They’re not looking for five-hour matches.…I haven’t been able to sit through one,” two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka said. “It’s just too long.”

Andy Murray, owner of three Grand Slam titles, won a match that stretched beyond 4 a.m. at Melbourne a year ago and is certain that makes zero sense.

Free Cuban team: For ‘Homeland and Life’

M

RENNES’S Joris Gnagnon celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during their Europa League group match against Lazio at the Roazhon Park Stadium in Rennes, France, December 12, 2019. AP

Spanish pro soccer team wins weight issue case vs Frenchman

S

EVILLE, Spain—Sevilla has won a legal case against a former player at sport’s highest court, which ruled that it was justified in terminating the contract of defender Joris Gnagnon for being consistently overweight after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Spanish club said Thursday.

The former France Under-21 international had previously asked FIFA for compensation of more than €4.6 million ($5 million) plus interest for having his contract terminated in September 2021. The five-year contract was worth €11 million ($12 million).

Returning to Sevilla for preseason training in July 2021, Gnagnon was found to be “overweight at ‘level II [pre-obesity],’” the FIFA disputes panel ruling said 16 months ago.

Gnagnon went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the FIFA judges ruled that his claim with the soccer body was inadmissible because he also was pursuing the case at a

civil court in Spain. That civil claim was later withdrawn.

CAS said Thursday it had dismissed Gnagnon’s appeal against the FIFA ruling handed down in September 2022.

“The ruling ends a long procedure that began after the player’s postpandemic return to the club, in which he arrived severely overweight,” Sevilla said in a statement.

The FIFA ruling detailed Sevilla’s ongoing issues with his weight exceeding 90 kilograms (200 lbs), with the club also saying the defender repeatedly arrived late for training sessions and meetings.

Gnagnon turned 27 last week and has been a free agent since a six-month contract with French club Saint-Etienne ended in June 2022.

He comes from the same Paris suburb, Bondy, as Kylian Mbappé and was developed at Rennes before joining Sevilla aged 21. He returned to the French club for a loan spell during his second season in Spain. AP

IAMI—A month before their fellow major leaguers will report for spring training, Aroldis Chapman, Yuli Gurriel and several other Cuban big leaguers assembled on an intimate field in Miami this week and slipped on gear with reminders of home.

Joined by aspiring baseball prospects and grizzled retirees, they donned blue hats adorned with tiny Cuban flags and a rallying cry just above the red brim: “Patria y Vida,” they read.

“Homeland and Life.”

The breakaway group of players mostly born in and defected from Cuba is alternatively known as the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation, FEPCUBE, and most recently, the “Dream Team.” It aspires to represent the patriotic ideals of Cuban people, if not the Cuban government itself.

“We’re representing something bigger than ourselves,” manager Brayan Peña said.

No independent Cuban baseball team has competed in an international competition, but FEPCUBE had hoped to change that later this month at a tournament in Colombia.

Those plans were spoiled this week when organizers announced the tournament was canceled, citing reasons beyond their control.

The free Cuban team says the tournament was nixed under pressure from the Colombian and Cuban governments to keep FEPCUBE from participating.

The club is unaffiliated with the Baseball Federation of Cuba (FCB), the sport’s governing body in Cuba.

FEPCUBE organizers had previously conceded to playing under the “Dream Team” moniker, as well as ending their use of the “Patria y Vida” slogan after Colombian sports authorities denounced the team’s use of the Cuban flag and other national symbols.

“Sometimes things happen in life you have no control of,” FEPCUBE

president Armando Llanes Jr. said. “We just got to move on. The opportunities for us are too many ahead for us to be worrying and pondering on what just happened.”

The goal for the team of about 30 players remains the same.

“We’re representing the free Cubans,” said Peña, also a minor league manager in the Detroit Tigers farm system. “We’re representing something that we all have in our heart, and that’s our people. That’s the people that we love and that’s the people that have sacrificed so much for us.”

The mission brought together an impressive collection of major league talent this week.

During practice on Tuesday, Chapman, a seven-time All-Star, tossed pitches to a coach for about

half an hour. Jorge Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP, blasted balls into the outfield during batting practice.

Batting champion and Gold Glove winner Yuli Gurriel and his younger brother Lourdes Jr. briefly stopped their on-field work to sign autographs and take pictures.

The preparation went on, even after the Intercontinental Series in Barranquilla, Colombia, was called off. The Cuban club was supposed to compete with teams representing Colombia, Japan, Curacao, South Korea and the United States.

The dispute underlines the region’s complicated intersection of sports and politics.

The Colombian government had distanced itself from the tournament earlier this month because of the “free and independent”

THE women’s and men’s professional tours announced just before the start of the Australian Open that they’re instituting new rules this month to try to cut back on play after midnight.

One problem: Those rules apply only to events run by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)—not Grand Slam tournaments.

Tennis Australia added a 15th day to its marquee event by starting on a Sunday this year, instead of a Monday, which many saw as a grab for more money—but the federation said was intended to add some breathing room to the two-week tournament and reduce the likelihood of late matches.

Didn’t quite work out that way.

WHEN DOES MEDVEDEV PLAY NEXT?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV posted a photo of his watch at nearly 4:30 a.m. with the caption, “It’s late!” and a laughing-crying emoji. He figured he wouldn’t be getting to sleep until about 6 or 6:30 a.m. on Friday, which wasn’t ideal given he will be scheduled to play again Saturday, against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“I will try to give my everything,” Medvedev said. “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.” team of Cuban players, saying in a statement that it was a private event that the entity does not support.

Colombia rejected the “actions and demonstrations” of FEPCUBE that used the name and representation of Cuba without the authorization of the island.

Baseball is the premier sport in Cuba, but the talent and competition there has waned in recent years as hundreds of players have defected from the country to play elsewhere.

The island has largely prohibited professional sports since shortly after the Cuban revolution 65 years ago, with star players offered small payments from the government for national team participation.

Longtime sanctions by the US make it largely impossible for Cubans to play professionally for an American team without defecting.

Meanwhile, Cuba historically has not allowed Cuban players who defected on their national team rosters. AP

PLAYERS and coaches with the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation sing the Cuban national anthem before an exhibition game against Miami Dade College Wednesday in Miami. AP

BusinessMirror

How to get a job in the age of AI, according to a top LinkedIn executive

January 21, 2024

2

BusinessMirror JANUARY 21, 2024

YOUR MUSI

ZEPHANIE STYLE

Idol Philippines sensation on transitioning from singing to acting

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

T

IME indeed flies when we remember the hopeful Zephanie Dimaranan, only 16 years old back then, who won the singing competition Idol Philippines in 2019.

Five years later, the young singerturned-actress continues to let her powerful voice be heard while also venturing out into the world of acting.

Zephanie’s emotional rendition of “Kung Ang Puso,” originally written and performed by the band Unit 408, is the official soundtrack of GMA Network’s drama series Lovers & Liars. After weeks of fans begging Zephanie to release the full version of the soundtrack, she finally fulfilled their “wish.”

Originally a rock version, Zephanie’s approach to the song is on the ballad side, adding her signature “Zephanie style.”

Describing that the song was charged with overwhelming emotions, Zephanie said it was challenging at first to deliver a

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ZEPHANIE talks to SoundStrip in an online interview about Lovers & Liars’ soundtrack “Kung Ang Puso.”

dramatic take with the first verse already being emotional and heavy.

“Aside doon sa medyo masakit yung kanta, mabigat siya kasi it’s about one-sided love— trying your best, giving your all for love pero hindi naibabalik sayo,” Zephanie told SoundStrip in an online interview about the meaning of “Kung Ang Puso.” [Aside from the song being painful, it’s heavy because it’s about one-sided love—trying your best, giving your all for love but it’s not being reciprocated.]

‘Zephanie style’

SINCE “Kung Ang Puso” is a cover song, Zephanie said there’s already a lyric and structure in it.

“So kapag kakantahin ko siya, I have to make sure na at least there’s one part of the song na nagawan ko ng sariling style,” she noted. [So when I sing it, I have to make sure that at least there’s one part of the song that I made my own style.]

She went on: “I think this is the first time I’m going to describe what the ‘Zephanie style’ is. It’s more of the like the techniques that I do for the songs or the adlibs that make it my own.”

Whenever she was given a song to give her own take, she said that there had to be parts where people could say, “Ay! Si Zephanie to,” when they heard it.

Comparing the previous soundtracks she did to “Kung Ang Puso,” Zephanie said, “Mas matured version of me dahil yung voice ko rin nagbago na. People noticed na yung boses ko naging rounder na, lumaki na.” [It’s a mature version of me because my voice changed as well. People noticed that my voice got rounder, it got bigger.]

Wish come true

LAST year, Zephanie was tapped by Disney to sing “Aking Hiling,” the Tagalog version of “This Wish” from the animated

feature film Wish from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“It’s a dream come true,” Zephanie expressed, “Since I was a kid, part talaga ng childhood ko yung mga Disney movies and isa din yun sa mga nag-motivate sa akin, nag-develop ng hope for my dreams.” [Disney movies were a part of my childhood and it’s one of my motivations who developed the hope for my dreams.]

Finding each story from the movies very inspiring, Zephanie recalled that as a child, it made her hopeful whenever she would watch a Disney movie.

“It felt like I was in a movie nung nalaman ko po na [when I found out that] I will be singing the localized version of ‘This Wish’ which is ‘Aking Hiling,’” she said.

The song being localized, Zephanie felt she delivered the message of the song effectively by using the Filipino language.

“Nakaka-proud din po na nakanta ko siya sa language natin and maging isa sa mga Filipino na naging part ng mga kumanta ng Disney songs,” she added. [I feel proud that I sang it in our own language and to be a part of the Filipinos who sang Disney songs.]

Zephanie said that she’s grateful for that blessing as one of her big achievements last year and she hopes that it will open more doors for more opportunities in the future. And it did.

Singer-turned-actress

THE singer also ventured into the world of acting. Zephanie made her acting debut in GMA Network’s drama anthology series Sparkle U where she appeared in #Frenemies.

Now, Zephanie reprises her role as Sue being a main role in Sparkle U: #SoundTrip, a romantic musical series.

Talking about acting, Zephanie revealed, “Ito yung isang bagay na hindi ko na-imagine in my life that I would do kasi mahiyain po talaga ako.” [This is the one thing that did not imagine in my life that I would do because I’m really shy.]

In the beginning, it was a challenge for

ZEPHANIE (PHOTO CREDIT TO GMA ENTERTAINMENT)

her but when they started taping and saw the output in #Frenemies, she realized that she could do it after all, she said. “Kaya naman pala kahit nakakatakot.” [I did it even if it’s scary.]

On her first lead role, Zephanie said it was a surprise and promised to do better.

Rooted in music

ZEPHANIE revealed that they are currently working on her next album and that there’s going to be something new about it since many have changed including her voice, taste in music, and styles she developed throughout the years.

“This is something na kailangan nilang abangan,” she said. [This is something that they need to look out for.]

She also hoped for a concert to happen this year.

“Syempre bilang isa pa ring singer, kahit nag-start na ko mag-acting, iba pa rin yung focus and love ko for my music. Yun yung first love ko so we’re trying our best to give the people who support me yung mga hinihintay nilang projects,” she added. [Of course, as a singer still, even if I started acting, my focus and love for music are different. It’s my first love so we’re trying our best to give the people who support me the projects they’ve been waiting for.]

IC

soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | JANUARY 21, 2024

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BUSINESS

CARAT BONGS UNDER THE MOONLIGHT SEVENTEEN thrills Manila fans again in ‘Follow Tour’

F

By Bea Rollo

ILIPINO concertgoers in the Philippines have long dreamt of experiencing a live music performance in a stadium setting— something that hasn’t happened in a very long time. While stadium concerts have remained popular in other countries, most outdoor concerts here are usually held in makeshift “concert grounds,” which are usually vacant or parking lots transformed into events venues.

SEVENTEEN’s “Follow Tour” Asian leg lands a spot for the Philippines for two straight days. But what makes the event even more special is that it took place at the Philippine Sports Stadium, the country’s largest football stadium just beside the equally humongous Philippine Arena. This is also a first for the K-Pop superstars who have performed in the country numerous times in the past.

Love light

IT was a serene afternoon for Day 2 of SEVENTEEN’s “Follow Tour.” As I arrived at the grounds of the nearby Philippine Sports Stadium, queues were still quite lengthy even though some attendees had been there early in the morning. Others have put up little mats over the grass to camp.

Seeing and immersing myself in the Carat (what SEVENTEEN’s fan is called) community is truly an experience. Fan-made photo cards, stickers, bracelets, etc., were handed out to everyone at the venue, a culture in the K-pop stan community that had exhibited utmost generosity.

The breeze had yet to draw colder, but the warm welcome of the fandom had kept everyone at peak energy. More than the excitement at the scene, you could hear a multitude of ear-splitting roars outside the stadium exuded by the so-called “Team Labas” or fans who lined up over the barricades to send their love for SEVENTEEN even though they were unable to be part of the show.

Upon entering the stadium, I gazed at the

beautiful sunset that slowly turned into the night sky as the Carat Bongs (SEVENTEEN’s light sticks) were lit in sync with the music. An ocean of ecstatic fans filled up every seat one by one. The standing pit or the “Carat Zone” ticket holders had already prepared for the highly anticipated opening.

The show starts with a thrilling “SUPER” performance from their album FML. In an instant, the crowd grew wilder with chants and cheers. A hypedup first set consisting of their performances of “DON QUIXOTE,” “Clap,” “Don’t Wanna Cry,” “F*ck My Life,” and a sentimental rendition of their song, “Thanks.”

The whole stadium was pumped up during the performances of their hit songs “Left & Right,” “Hot,” “HOME; RUN,” and the latest, “God of Music.”

A promise sealed

APPROXIMATELY more than the 25,000-seating capacity of the Philippine Sports Stadium participated during the “Follow Tour.” The boys of SEVENTEEN have showcased a performance that made their mark on the Philippines’ history concert book as the first performers for a stadium concert.

The show also made a remarkable impression with mesmerizing performances of the group’s sub-units; the vocal unit with Seungkwan, DK, Joshua, and Woozi

captured the fans’ hearts with “PinWheel” and “Dust.”

These were followed by their performance unit consisting of Hoshi, Dino, Jun, and Minghao with a sultry take on “HIGHLIGHT” and “I Don’t Understand, But I Love U.” A jaw-dropping show from their hip-hop unit, Mingyu, Wonwoo, and Vernon delivered solid production in “Back It Up” and “Fire.”

SEVENTEEN’s success over the past years, bagging back-to-back daesangs (grand prizes) over Korean and international award shows, reflects how the group always gave back the love they received from Carats.

Their sub-unit BSS (BooSeokSoon), composed of Boo Seung-Kwan, Lee Seokmin or more popularly known as DK, and Kwon Soon-Young or Hoshi, was present during the Asian Artist Awards 2023 held at the Philippine Arena just last month.

Since S.Coups and Jeonghan could not participate in the show, the group promised to come back to visit the country with all of their members.

The group shared their sentiments for the two-day concert as the show came to a close.

Thanking everyone for a memorable concert, DK and Wonwoo wished Filipino Carats to stay healthy until they meet again.

Seungkwan, who had to sit out on the tour’s first day, is treated to a surprise fan project for his birthday. The lightsticks in the stadium were illuminated with bright orange light as the crowd sang him happy birthday.

“I was not able to perform yesterday, but I am so happy I was able to finish today,” Seungkwan says.

“I think I could start 2024 in a happy energy… since I was sick yesterday, I think I won’t be sick for the rest of the year,” Seungkwan added.

Beyond a dream to be part of a crowd that had raised the standard of what we should expect to experience an epic concert is the realization that SEVENTEEN’s “Follow Tour” is history itself.

The show’s finale is all the concert is summed up in two words, as the group’s encore song says—AJU NICE!

How to get a job in the age of AI, according to a top LinkedIn executive Jamie Dimon said recently that he thinks the next generation could have a three-and-a-half-day workweek. I’m curious whether you think we might start to see the gains with productivity pay off.

Whether or not all of these benefits translate into leisure time, or more focus on the parts of our job that we enjoy and inspire us, I think that remains to be seen. But the promise of spending less time on the mundane, repetitive tasks, or the things that don’t tap into our humanity that’s a wonderful positive and how we translate that into how we live our lives is a good question.

By Jo Constantz

D

Bloomberg

aniel Shapero has been at LinkedIn since 2008, when the Great Recession rocked the labor market. He’s since risen through the ranks to become the company’s chief operating officer, guiding the platform through significant strategic shifts.

Now owned by Microsoft Corp., the professional networking site is taking on its next big transformation: artificial intelligence. Shapero shares how to land a job in the age of artificial intelligence.

We’ll start with AI, the topic du jour.

What have you been hearing?

The biggest unknown, and probably the biggest change, is that almost every role is going to be rewritten in the context of AI. From engineers to salespeople, marketers, finance professionals to lawyers—everyone’s going to be leveraging AI in some way. And so how does the talent team think about hiring people based on knowledge of leveraging AI? And how do they equip people to learn the new skills that are required?

You could argue it’s the largest skills transformation that we’re likely to go through in our lifetimes. You might even say that one of the most important skills in any job is just going to be understanding how to unlock the power of AI in your day-today. And that’s a pretty abrupt evolution of what’s going to be required to be successful.

On his advice to a young person entering a world in the AI age, LinkedIn’s Daniel Shapero said, “learn how to use the tools, try them out, and see what [you] can do. Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com What do you see as the major skills that will be in demand?

When it comes to deploying AI technology, I think it will amplify trends we’ve been seeing for some time. So, you’ve already seen a tremendously competitive environment for data scientists or platform engineers.

Before you might have said, “Oh, those skills are confined to a set of companies at the forefront of those technologies.” I think we’re going to move to an environment where that’s critical for any company that wants to deploy effective AI tech.

Some companies are going all in and experimenting with AI, and other companies are holding back, watching how things play out.

What do you think is the best strategy?

We’re very privileged to have seen some of these new technologies before they became broadly visible in the world. We had an early insight into what was coming with ChatGPT, being part of Microsoft. We reformulated our product roadmap as a result of that.

And the question was: How does Linke-

dIn become an AI-first product, just like we became a mobile-first product or a social-first product? The question of how AI changes every part of the LinkedIn experience became a mission for the whole organization.

Do you feel like there’s an element of generative AI that’s overhyped?

From a technology perspective, the number of practical applications that are going to improve how people work that are ready now is like nothing I’ve ever seen. From writing a message, to helping describe yourself in a way that’s attractive to an employer—those are things that are here now.

To have a technology that we’ve only just seen less than a year ago come into practical use across a wide range of areas is unprecedented. So, I’m extremely optimistic, both about what is available today. And then you can ask bigger questions about what’s possible in the future. But the value of generative AI in workflows in many professional settings is very real.

JPMorgan Chase chairman and CEO

What advice would you give a young person entering a world in which AI is changing so much?

I would say, learn how to use the tools, try them out, and see what they can do.

People who are comfortable with these tools—just like people who are comfortable with technology in general—are going to have opportunities.

And as much as there’s going to be demand for technical skills, there’s going to be increased demand for human skills: communication and creativity. Successful schools will be the ones that foster those kinds of learning experiences for people in a way that’s going to be what employers are looking for.

Best piece of career advice?

The best career decisions that I’ve ever made have been about the people I got to work with. We’re all more malleable than we give ourselves credit for. We adapt to our environment.

And, so, the best decision I’ve ever made was when I chose to work around people who were going to shape me into the person I wanted to be, as opposed to career decisions about the specifics of the job or the task.

Cover photo by Anete Lusina on Pexels.com

Majority of Asia’s professionals want a new job this year

M

ore than three-quarters of professionals in Asia are considering taking new jobs this year, a LinkedIn report found, indicating that employees in a region known for long office hours are increasingly unwilling to “stick out” work they don’t want to do.

Some 77 percent of Asia-Pacific’s workers want to move to new roles, with the shift fueled by Gen Z and Millennials, according to fresh data by the social platform typically used to promote professional backgrounds. That’s slightly higher than the global figure of 73 percent, the report said.

The need for higher wages and a better work-life balance were the biggest motivators for professionals in the region to seek other employment, LinkedIn found.

The shift in mentality comes as the majority of organizations in Asia-Pacific plan to expand their workforces in the coming year, LinkedIn said, with the aim to increase hiring most pronounced in India, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia.

Nearly 60 percent of Asia-Pacific professionals were more optimistic about using artificial intelligence to make their job searches more efficient, compared to the rest of the world at

4 BusinessMirror

52 percent, LinkedIn found, while the emotional stress of looking for new employment was especially pronounced in Singapore and Australia.

Workers’ willingness to look for new opportunities—and companies’ desire to expand their workforces—contrasts with the economic uncertainty that’s rocked countries across the region in COVID’s wake. Those include the ripple effects of China’s economic wobbles, inflation that’s hurting consumer demand in India, and a spike in cost of living that’s worrying millions of Australians.

“The motivation for job changes of-

January 21, 2024

ten stems from the rising costs of living, prompting individuals to seek opportunities that align with inflation,” said LinkedIn career expert Pooja Chhabria.

“The desire for higher wages is likely due to the need for financial security amidst a challenging economic environment over the past couple of years.”

Some companies are requiring employees to return to the office post-COVID—another potential reason people might be looking for a more flexible working culture, Chhabria said. A desire for a more well-rounded lifestyle and better well-being is another driving factor, she added. Bloomberg